Lotus

[Toast54]

This weekend at a Home Depot, I parked next to a Lotus Elite. They're quite a bit smaller than I imagined..as I looked it over, the driver came up to it and we chatted a bit. He stood about 6'2", so I shifted the conversation to entry and egress.I don't think I have ever seen someone contort quite as much getting in a car. Reminded me of playing Twister in my youth

[Racerbvd]

Me in a buddies old Elise

[Toast54]

He said it uses a Toyota powerplant that's also available supercharged. I wonder if it's the same engine in the MR2? Made my back hurt watching him jackknife into it.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by Toast54

He said it uses a Toyota powerplant that's also available supercharged. I wonder if it's the same engine in the MR2? Made my back hurt watching him jackknife into it.

These are lotus Elite's. If it had a toyota motor it was probably an Elise as posted above. The motor is a 2ZZ for the usdm elise and exige. This motor was available in the celica GTS, Corolla GTS, and even a hot version of the Matrix. For some odd reason the MRS only got the detuned 1ZZ version





I was the designated driver for my 6'8" buddy one night in mine, it was absurd.

[Nickshu]

Lol the way Lotus does it is they design the car first then they say "oh crap we forgot to put in a space for the driver."

I used to have an Elise but not an Elite.

I couldn't imagine trying to restore or maintain the fiberglass monocoque on Elite!

Sent from my Galaxy S7 using Tapatalk

[unclebilly]

There was one of those in my run group in Time Attack back in 2010 or so. It was a pretty great car. Surprisingly, I was faster on the tight technical track, it was faster on the faster longer track (I think i could have fixed this with a 8:31 R&P). He crashed it at the track and we never heard from him again. The damage was pretty minor all things considered.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've driven several Elises over the years. They are relatively easy to get into and out of with the tops off, but boy, with the top on, what a nightmare. I wind up crawling in head first until my head is darn near sticking out the passenger window, then working my legs under the wheel as I slide my butt down past the door sill. It's not bad at all once you are in, really, there is plenty of room once you are seated.

These things do have a reputation for being declared "totaled" with very minor damage. Something about their bonded fiberglass/aluminum construction being impossible to repair, since pretty much everything is a "structural" component of the monocoque. Even one wangered fender will "total" one of these.

[aschen]

A pretty minor crash can easily total an elise, which unfortunately the biggest negative. There is no approved way to fix bent aluminum suspension pick up points.The bodywork is fiberglass and straignforwards to repair, but it is fragile and very expensive if a new clamshell is required

[racer]

iirc, the clamshells (front and rear sections) used to run about $5k alone. Then you have the aluminium structure to try and repair.. so yes, many were "written off" with only "minor" damage. That said, they are awesome. If I was 5'7 or less and 30-50lbs lighter, I'd be all overthem. They remind me of a 5/8 scale Boxster.. or what a 914 should be!

[Toast54]

Elise, not Elite....OK. I see them once in a while on Copart. Last one I saw was yellow and the back bumper had been knocked off.

[lane912]

[aschen]

Originally Posted by racer

iirc, the clamshells (front and rear sections) used to run about $5k alone. Then you have the aluminium structure to try and repair.. so yes, many were "written off" with only "minor" damage. That said, they are awesome. If I was 5'7 or less and 30-50lbs lighter, I'd be all overthem. They remind me of a 5/8 scale Boxster.. or what a 914 should be!

Im 5'11 230lbs and i fit fine, even with a helmet. Seat is 1 notch from all the way back though. In fact i find them quite comfy in a cozy sort of way. The ingress/egress is rough of course regardless of size

[ZOO]

Originally Posted by aschen

A pretty minor crash can easily total an elise, which unfortunately the biggest negative. There is no approved way to fix bent aluminum suspension pick up points.The bodywork is fiberglass and straignforwards to repair, but it is fragile and very expensive if a new clamshell is required

I owned one for two years. The above is the biggest reason I sold it. It was fantastic on track, but any off would leave me with a financial nightmare. The car is so fragile overall. But lots of fun. A brilliant, one trick pony.

My current M3 is much more useful all around.

[petrolhead611]

An Elie is light, very light, so of course it will be fragile. I have a friend who's 71,; he get in and out of his ok

[GH85Carrera]

I am 6 foot tall and not real skinny. I drove the Tesla version of the Elise. It was a real effort to wear the car. It was not sitting in it, it was like putting on clothes that are a size too small.

My 85 911 is a roomy giant car in comparison, and a bit heavy pig. The Tesla version was a blast. It was like having the first gear in a 911 Turbo and a 40,000 RPM redline. Just floor it and go and no shifting until you are are stupid speed. (Much like a early 911 Turbo with a 4 speed)

The Lotus would be a fun toy if you are young and limber and a 150 pound guy like F1 drivers. For an old fat dude, no way. It is a cool car however.

[Tervuren]

I am 6' 2", once in, I found the car very comfortable.

It gets a lot of attention.

The Exige is the supercharged version.

The one problem I have is the thick bar over the windshield obstructs stop lights. I either have to hunch down, have roof off and hunch over, or just wait to notice traffic moving.

[Alansglide]

Owned a Lotus Esprit for 5 years . Fun car to drive and scary fast once the turbo kicked in . I'm only 5 10 but getting out was a good way to find out how limber my body was .

[slow&rusty]

OP typed "Elite" but did you mean "Elise"?