2005 Lotus Elise - Talk me into it or out of it...

[Ronbo]

Great car, congratulations!

[PorscheGAL]

Congrats.

Since your wife has named it, I am curious to see who drives it more. In our family, I drive our Lotus the most. I love the car.

As someone else said, you will get attention. People will ask about it every time you stop. I think it is great. There have been more than a few times where a young boy stares and mom wants to know about it. I have had many of them sit in the drivers seat and have a pic taken. I see it as my small part encouraging the next generation of car people. The moms are alway surprised how cheap they are for what they look like.

[Racerbvd]

[Nickshu]

Car arrived last night. It's awesome. Everything the seller made it out to be. A clean, 14K mile one owner car with not a scratch on it. For a 10 year old car it's as close to perfect as it could be. Can't wait to get a tag on it and drive it! Did a couple laps around the neighborhood last night, the sound is awesome!

[aschen]

congrats, a couple things

1. make sure the oil line failure point has been addressed, there is an official recall
2. get a baffled oil pan if you will be doing many track days
3. Make sure your battery is secured well, You dont want to have it liberated and crack up the rear body work from the inside.
4. Do some research on a toe link re-enforcement kit. It is prob not absolutely mandatory but if you do a alot of hpde or plan to run on r compound It is reccomended

[onewhippedpuppy]

That is awesome, congrats Nick!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

...........the sound is awesome!

Funny, as much as I love those cars I consider the sound one of the soft points.

Has there been exhaust modifications done to this car?

I saw a bunch of them at the Battle of the Brits on Sunday, they always seem to look more attractive in groups, just like women.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Funny, as much as I love those cars I consider the sound one of the soft points.

Has there been exhaust modifications done to this car?

I saw a bunch of them at the Battle of the Brits on Sunday, they always seem to look more attractive in groups, just like women.

Yes it has the Lotus Stage II exhaust upgrade, done by the dealer 500 miles after it was purchased new.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by aschen

congrats, a couple things

1. make sure the oil line failure point has been addressed, there is an official recall
2. get a baffled oil pan if you will be doing many track days
3. Make sure your battery is secured well, You dont want to have it liberated and crack up the rear body work from the inside.
4. Do some research on a toe link re-enforcement kit. It is prob not absolutely mandatory but if you do a alot of hpde or plan to run on r compound It is reccomended

Thanks!:

1.) Yes the oil cooler/oil line recall was done by the PO at the dealer. Have documentation from dealer included w/ the car.

2.) Yes, already looked at that. About $450 for the pan money well spent probably.

3.) Thanks for the tip, I had not considered it but will check the battery

4.) Last dealer service noted rear toe link wear at the last oil change. Paper says it's early wear, probably have some time, but it's high on the list. The car needs tires soon, prefer to do this upgrade, then tires, then alignment so I'm not paying alignment twice.

[Nickshu]

Pic from today with my Elise and Dad's 2003 996:

[Tobra]

that is a great car, excellent color, I like that your first pic is posted on 914

Don't forget to keep some sunscreen handy for top off driving.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by Tobra

that is a great car, excellent color, I like that your first pic is posted on 914

Don't forget to keep some sunscreen handy for top off driving.

No kidding, it's tons of fun to drive w/ the targa top off. The hard op is surprisingly easy to get on and off and the soft top pops on and fits in the boot. I am looking at a supercharger kit for it to install this winter.

And the sound, my God the sound!! With the Lotus stage II exhaust it sounds like a track from a video game like Need for Speed or something. Sweet!!!

[Skillet83]

Congrats Nick. Always fun to get a new, fun ride. Can feel the excitement in your posts. Hope you have a blast!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Mony

Fancied an elise once, they are great cars, don't get me wrong. But theres this one thing backing me off with them.. Is it the popularity? The image? I do not know. I ended up buying a 3.2 Targa, and I am happy with the decision. The Targa has much more "soul" if you know what I mean.

Hmm, I've never driven an Elise, but I'd guess that it's got some soul, and Lotus has history, but I'm not sure that the Elise has that much history, at least compared to the 911. Image? Popularity? I guess if you're looking for MORE of both, then the Porsche and 911 specifically is the car for you. Image? "What's the difference between a Porcupine and a Porsche? A Porcupine has the prick on the outside." Is that the image that you were looking for?

Elises are nice and fun, but I guess I can only buy cars with so much history with them! I say get a caterham!

I'd LOVE a Caterham (at least in theory). I suspect I'd also really enjoy an Elise too. I think a Caterham would be a weekend fun car. You could much more easily daily drive an Elise whether it's an ideal dd or not.

Originally Posted by aschen

If an Elise doesn't have soul and history, i am not sure what car does

Also not sure about popularity and image either. Surely there is a whole lot more 3.2 s on us roads than Elise's. Also almost nobody I meet has any idea what the car is really.

Yeah, that was my reaction to his post as well.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Hey guys here's the update, I completed the purchase on the car and it was shipped out today, will be delivered Monday! I'm so excited to get this beautiful car and to get back to the track again some. Our agreed price was $29K which I think was a great deal for a one owner 14K mile car. Here's a pic of her getting loaded into the trailer today, on the way to me now!

Wow, very nice.

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Envy is a b!tch.

Exactly!

[recycled sixtie]

I would hazard a guess that the Elise is more reliable than a P car. What with a Toyota motor it should provide many miles of fun driving.

Caterham? A bit too extreme and the Elise can handle more weather. I think you made the right choice.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by aschen

its not super car fast especially at higher speeds.

Are you quoting Yogi Berra?

[onewhippedpuppy]

I fairly certain that I would barely fit in an Elise. Which is good, because you are making me want one.

[Nickshu]

Yeah Matt there is definitely and art to getting in and out. My Dad is 6'1" and he fit in it with 2-3" headroom. But definitely not very comfortable for him. I'm shorter so I fit and feel fine in the driver's seat.

[Racerbvd]

its not super car fast especially at higher speeds.

Does run out of legs on VIRs long straight.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I fairly certain that I would barely fit in an Elise. Which is good, because you are making me want one.

The peddles are what I had the biggest issue with,