Anyone else out there going through ways they would be able to swing owning an Elise. I'm soo freaking excited about this car. I'm working on a proposal that will show my father why we need to get back into racing together and why we need the Elise to do it. It just might work, because I know he misses it just as much as I do.

So am the only only one here trying to come up with a scheme to own what might be the most fun to drive sportscar in the world? :P

Ike

Whoops, meant to put this in the louge, move please :)

If I could do without the rear seats, I'd have an Elise now. (being in UK I can get a 2nd hand S1 for £10k up).

There actualy quite reliable, but even here, if you break it, it can take a long time to get fixed. If you hit something even fairly soft, you can damage the ali body requiring a new tub and rebuild (£8-10k).

US elise will be safer to drive though, S1 was quite easy to spin at low speeds, they've worked on that a lot, S3 (federal) elise should be a much easier drive.

Without doubt the best handling road sports car on the planet. Which is also great for track, right out of the factory (no need for mods).

If its 100% track car, and wont see a highway then think about a caterham, westfield, tiger or radical, all much more track orientated.

I am dreaming about an Elise as well- ever since my trip to London when I saw them just parked on the street. WHen I read they were coming to the US- I was excited but unfortuntely I'll probably never own one- just not practical in New York City- unless it's a second car- and parking is like $300-$400 per month for a car here! Unless your Jerry Seinfeld and own awhole building in the city just for your cars. But it is #1 on my list if I ever sold a film script or TV pilot, etc....

Ike: There you go breaking my bubble again, I thought I was driving the most fun sportscar in the world. I hope your posting your question on all the other sports car forums, or this would mean you really are just picking on us. Or maybe in your eyes were the only ones that need an upgrade. When you get one, I will race you, and we will both have a fun meter in the car with us, then we'll compare slips.

I am trying everything I can think of to convince my husband we need one. I've even (sacrilege!!) contemplated trading in my baby to get one. The Elise has me drooling. My only problem is that it couldn't be my sole vehicle, because if, god forbid, something went wrong, the nearest Lotus dealer that know of is in Maryland, and I'd be out of a car for a while. But what an amazing car.....

Originally posted by Chuck Clifford
Ike: There you go breaking my bubble again, I thought I was driving the most fun sportscar in the world. I hope your posting your question on all the other sports car forums, or this would mean you really are just picking on us. Or maybe in your eyes were the only ones that need an upgrade. When you get one, I will race you, and we will both have a fun meter in the car with us, then we'll compare slips.

I know! The last thing I want is another sports car to hit the scene . Where can I get more info on the U.S. spec elise?

Probably the best place is to look at forums like www.elisetalk.com

$38500, due april 2004, 190bhp toyota engine, under 2000llbs. Aibags, ABS, electric windows, AC.

And a HUGE queue for them already. Dealers are getting 55 each in 1st year (possibly) out of 3-3500 total. Be prepaired for a wait.

Already trying to think up ways to get one. This is one amazing car!

Originally posted by Chuck Clifford
Ike: There you go breaking my bubble again, I thought I was driving the most fun sportscar in the world. I hope your posting your question on all the other sports car forums, or this would mean you really are just picking on us. Or maybe in your eyes were the only ones that need an upgrade. When you get one, I will race you, and we will both have a fun meter in the car with us, then we'll compare slips.

You can turn anything into a negative can't you Chuck, do you even know anything about the Elise? As you can see by the other posts I'm not alone in this. I'll post this on any car forum you like and you'll get the same kind of responses. The Elise is about as close to a pure enthusiasts car there is, I'm sure even the Z06 and Ferrari guys are drooling over them.

Tremble the car is going to be mid to high 4s 0-60 with around a 12 second 1/4 mile, and is considered by many to be the best handling car in the world (including most exotics). Go find some articles on ir or go to one of the forums and you'll most likely have the same lust for it that many other car enthusiasts have.

Ike

Originally posted by IkeWRX


Tremble the car is going to be mid to high 4s 0-60 with around a 12 second 1/4 mile, and is considered by many to be the best handling car in the world (including most exotics). Go find some articles on ir or go to one of the forums and you'll most likely have the same lust for it that many other car enthusiasts have.

Ike

WTF! Must have one must have one :eek:

No love for the Ariel Atom then???:(

IKE: I said nothing negative about the Elise. My sad attempt at sarcastic humor again fell short. But, The fact that you could post on any other sports car forum, but did not, proves somewhat of a point. Its a great car, an upgrade to almost any mass production sports car out there. Why is it only the RX-8 Forum had the first and probably only prviledge to ponder your question. Thank you, my point exactly.
0-60 in 4 seconds, I want to drive a car, not peal skin off my face. It kind of reminds me of the original superman movie. If you drove that thing in counter rotation to the earth, in a couple of hours, you would be just at the point of posting this thread.

nice sig pure temple

Elise?

Nope.. but I was going to purchase a 2002 Esprit before I got the RX8. The looks of the new elise just don't do it for me.

However, I'd swap valuable organs for a Lotus Exige. Anybody wanna work a trade? :p

This is the Lounge guys, it is an area NOT meant for the RX8. Besides, the Elise is a car in the RX8's tradition, light, high-reving and low engine torque.

Ike,
It seems people are overly sensitive your posts and are just looking to start a flamefest with you.

Originally posted by revhappy
This is the Lounge guys, it is an area NOT meant for the RX8. Besides, the Elise is a car in the RX8's tradition, light, high-reving and low engine torque.

lol, I think you'll find the elise is in Colin Chapmands traditions of light etc etc.

I know the RX-8 is light for its class but the origobnal elise was only 750kg. Compared to the rx-8's 1300. The elise is seen as a slightly lardy track car, but very light road car here.

S1 weighs less than a smart car!

Dont know if US will get an exige. S1 exige will not be road legal in US. S2/3 exige is prety much what US S3 elise is anyhow - but slightly diffrent body and more sportier setup (* read track oriented. Standard elsie is sporty, but tuned for road NOT soft tho).

And as for the Esprit, no more will be made once the current supply of gearboxes are used up. Renault have stoped making the box (and its the esprit's weak point too) and they cant get the car past current safety/emmisions if they have to get it rated again (with new gearbox/engine).

The Esprit may have a replacement coming soon - lotus need it , the elise has been the only new thing recenty and thats from 1996. Looks like the old M250 project hasnt exactly been resurected , but something else may have started from where it left off. heres hoping for something Noble m12 like. If TVR and Noble can crank out new moddles every few months why not lotus?

Originally posted by RobDickinson
lol, I think you'll find the elise is in Colin Chapmands traditions of light etc etc.

I know the RX-8 is light for its class but the origobnal elise was only 750kg. Compared to the rx-8's 1300. The elise is seen as a slightly lardy track car, but very light road car here.

S1 weighs less than a smart car!

Dont know if US will get an exige. S1 exige will not be road legal in US. S2/3 exige is prety much what US S3 elise is anyhow - but slightly diffrent body and more sportier setup (* read track oriented. Standard elsie is sporty, but tuned for road NOT soft tho).

And as for the Esprit, no more will be made once the current supply of gearboxes are used up. Renault have stoped making the box (and its the esprit's weak point too) and they cant get the car past current safety/emmisions if they have to get it rated again (with new gearbox/engine).

The Esprit may have a replacement coming soon - lotus need it , the elise has been the only new thing recenty and thats from 1996. Looks like the old M250 project hasnt exactly been resurected , but something else may have started from where it left off. heres hoping for something Noble m12 like. If TVR and Noble can crank out new moddles every few months why not lotus?

Yes, they are in much different classes. I didn't mention it in order to avoid another argument about what type of car the RX8 is.:p

Originally posted by revhappy
Yes, they are in much different classes. I didn't mention it in order to avoid another argument about what type of car the RX8 is.:p


hi

troll much

Originally posted by mikeb
hi

troll much

Thank you for the high-quality post. It amazes me how you produced over 3,000 of these in three months. :confused:

Originally posted by IkeWRX
Tremble the car is going to be mid to high 4s 0-60 with around a 12 second 1/4 mile, and is considered by many to be the best handling car in the world (including most exotics).
Ike
On street tires? Time to upgrade the fuel system and add more boost to the old FD.;)

Originally posted by Rick
On street tires? Time to upgrade the fuel system and add more boost to the old FD.;)

If you see an Elise just give him a thumbs up, at least that's what I'll do. And don't forget to wipe the drool from your face.

Originally posted by mikeb
nice sig pure temple

yeap nice.. it would look better with an 8 in the back ground thoug.. hhehe

Originally posted by Chuck Clifford
IKE: I said nothing negative about the Elise. My sad attempt at sarcastic humor again fell short. But, The fact that you could post on any other sports car forum, but did not, proves somewhat of a point. Its a great car, an upgrade to almost any mass production sports car out there. Why is it only the RX-8 Forum had the first and probably only prviledge to ponder your question. Thank you, my point exactly.


Assume much?

Originally posted by revhappy
Thank you for the high-quality post. It amazes me how you produced over 3,000 of these in three months. :confused:

Atleast I'm on the right FORUM

Originally posted by U. N. O.
yeap nice.. it would look better with an 8 in the back ground thoug.. hhehe
:D
Thanks guys. She's a beauty. girl isnt bad either :D

Ike, I think Chuck was just joking man relax

anyone want to photoshop a 8 in that backround

Originally posted by mikeb
anyone want to photoshop a 8 in that backround

:eek: :D

Originally posted by mikeb
anyone want to photoshop a 8 in that backround

i will take it :D

Originally posted by mikeb
Atleast I'm on the right FORUM

I'm on evolutionm.net and elisetalk.com too. Perhaps you may suggest that the moderators require VIN numbers and social security numbers to access this forum. :confused:

Originally posted by revhappy
I'm on evolutionm.net and elisetalk.com too. Perhaps you may suggest that the moderators require VIN numbers and social security numbers to access this forum. :confused:


Hi again

I meant You are on rx8 forum when you belong at evo

Boy, I must be lucky. My uncle has two reserves (options) on red Lotus Elises. He is getting the second one that comes to the dealer, the other option is on the 12th I believe. Can't wait to go for a ride. Funny thing is he used to have an RX-7 and im probibly getting an 8 so I know he will want to try it out. Maybe we can switch for a day...him drive the 8, I drive the Lotus. :D

Oh, and he decided on getting an Elise after he drove his buddies Elite and Elan......blowing away a Monte Carlo SS no problem.:)

Originally posted by mikeb
Hi again

I meant You are on rx8 forum when you belong at evo

Mike!..calm down man. I have an 8, but I also appreciate being welcomed at forums such as S2Ki & G35driver, as well as in this one. However, I don't consider myself as belonging here exclusively.

revhappy was simply in defensive mode...he knew that 'some' ('some' as in 'most of') people would get...icky (I can't find another word) about HIM praising another car. And BTW, the Elise is ONE SWEET VEHICLE. On a different category or different planet if you like.

revhappy: Sign up man!....you don't want to wait to get your Lotus man!

Originally posted by RX8-TX
Mike!..calm down man. I have an 8, but I also appreciate being welcomed at forums such as S2Ki & G35driver, as well as in this one. However, I don't consider myself as belonging here exclusively.

revhappy was simply in defensive mode...he knew that 'some' ('some' as in 'most of') people would get...icky (I can't find another word) about HIM praising another car. And BTW, the Elise is ONE SWEET VEHICLE. On a different category or different planet if you like.

revhappy: Sign up man!....you don't want to wait to get your Lotus man!

Hey there RX8-TX,

Thanks for the diplomacy!:) The Elise is really a fascinating car and I'm searching for ways to be in it. I'm going to wait after the first year at a minimum since its a new engine and tranny (ok well its been in the Celica for four years, but this is the first time Lotus has their hands on it), but that car has it all (except for reliability I guess).

Isn't it amazing how the enthusiast market has improved in the last couple of years? Remember the late 90's??? That was a dark time indeed.

Originally posted by revhappy
Hey there RX8-TX,

Thanks for the diplomacy!:) The Elise is really a fascinating car and I'm searching for ways to be in it. I'm going to wait after the first year at a minimum since its a new engine and tranny (ok well its been in the Celica for four years, but this is the first time Lotus has their hands on it), but that car has it all (except for reliability I guess).

Isn't it amazing how the enthusiast market has improved in the last couple of years? Remember the late 90's??? That was a dark time indeed.

I remember the '02 Dallas Auto Show (if there is a more mediocre show than Dallas....don't go) I went with a few friends. One of them made the exact same comment: "There are so many good things coming out in the next 4 years, that I don't know were to start..." he's driving a G35 Coupe as of right now...and trust me, he's missing the Miata experience. Maybe Elise down the road?

About the Toyota engine...I have no idea how reliable it is. But they are not using any FI at all. All they did is change tuning level, and most likely some internals. Celicas have been running for quite some time. I don't think Toyota would lend Lotus a 'problematic' platform.

Ahh, going back to all the new goodies coming out: most of them are not new, bu they are reaching the US for the first time. We are, after all, a nice chunk of car sales worldwide.

Cheers everyone!

If it has problems with reliablility it will shock me, especially with the engine. You want an engine that will last forever buy a Toyota, Nissan, or Honda engine. Even Suby for that matter, Japan knows how to build some long lasting engines without a doubt.

Ike

Originally posted by IkeWRX
If it has problems with reliablility it will shock me, especially with the engine. You want an engine that will last forever buy a Toyota, Nissan, or Honda engine. Even Suby for that matter, Japan knows how to build some long lasting engines without a doubt.

Ike

Ahhhhhh, man!...what about Mazda man!!...I felt it below my belt!
ouch!

Originally posted by RX8-TX
Ahhhhhh, man!...what about Mazda man!!...I felt it below my belt!
ouch!

Trouble maker! :p

this has nothing to do with the elise

sure, you can belong to 100 forum's or club---no problem

however, I dont go to other forums and start stiring crap up

Originally posted by mikeb
this has nothing to do with the elise

sure, you can belong to 100 forum's or club---no problem

however, I dont go to other forums and start stiring crap up

How could you possibly go to another forum, every waking moment is spent here posting 3 word responses to every thread on the board. Seriously, go look at the general forum, your name is on each on of them as the last posted and each post is about 1 or 2 minutes apart. I don't see how Revhappy's post was trolling in the least. In the last hour you have posted 43 times and you and I are the only ones here I think.

If anyone is trolling it's you, you have contributed no useful info, no intelligent discourse, and you seem to care nothing about anything in the thread besides the boobs in the sig., farming posts, and calling someone a troll.

The Elise IS in a different class than 8, and just about every other car on the planet, deal with it! You can do things with the Elise that you can't with the 8 and vise versa. The Elise is about as pure as sportscars come and is meant to be on a racetrack, the RX-8 is a more practical sportscar. There's nothing practical about the Elise and that's why Sportscar enthusiasts love it.

Ike

Originally posted by IkeWRX
There's nothing practical about the Elise and that's why Sportscar enthusiasts love it.

Ike

Bah, its totaly practical. It has a boot, and you'd be amazed the stuff that can go on the passenger seat. Just try keep it light, otherwise you screw the handling back from the hardware store :). What more do you need (shhh. forget the rear seats).

As for the engine, the toyota lump should be very reliable, even at 190bhp. BUT it wont go much firther than that (without FI), its already close to its maximum there, as has been found out by celica owners.

The engine/gearbox should be way more reliable than the rover k, which wasnt bad apart from the appaling head gasket problems.

It wont do 12 sec 1/4 miles not with 190bhp. 12 sec will be to 100mph. 0-60 will be slightly under 5 seconds - and it'll probably be fairly easy to get close to that without trashing the tyres or transmission.

Oh and it will be easy on gas too:D



EDIT :-
If you are realy interested then this thread may be of intrest:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=969

They placed an order a year ago and are #32 at their dealer. Dealer gets 50 cars in the first year. Expect a long wait or high price (unless you have an order placed already).

Originally posted by RobDickinson
Bah, its totaly practical. It has a boot, and you'd be amazed the stuff that can go on the passenger seat. Just try keep it light, otherwise you screw the handling back from the hardware store :). What more do you need (shhh. forget the rear seats).

As for the engine, the toyota lump should be very reliable, even at 190bhp. BUT it wont go much firther than that (without FI), its already close to its maximum there, as has been found out by celica owners.

The engine/gearbox should be way more reliable than the rover k, which wasnt bad apart from the appaling head gasket problems.

It wont do 12 sec 1/4 miles not with 190bhp. 12 sec will be to 100mph. 0-60 will be slightly under 5 seconds - and it'll probably be fairly easy to get close to that without trashing the tyres or transmission.

Oh and it will be easy on gas too:D

You might be right about the 12 second thing, it did seem a little low so I may have misread some of the articles I've looked at. There will still be HP to be had with the Toyota engine, an extra 20-30hp at the crank shouldn't be all that hard to come by without FI. On a vehicle that light 30hp would be pretty big. TRD was putting out a 230hp version of the engine, not sure if that's still the case however.

Ike

Thanks for the link, I think it's time to pay Dad a visit this weekend and try to rekindle that racing spirit in him :p

The Celica's engine is pretty much reliable except for the wearing of the lift bolts (bolt used to switch cams at 6000 rpms). On top of that, it doesn't survive misshifts very well. For those interested, you can do a search on lift bolts and misshifts in newcelica.org. The thing is, Lotus might have resolved those issues, so whether these problems will move to the Elise is anybody's guess.

Yeah, I'm not so worried about the engine and tranny (though I'd still like to wait a year to see how the lotus tweaks pan out - however with the wait list, I'd probobly be forced to anyhow), but moreso about other things - electrical system, leaky softtop, etc.

I thought Celica the GTS (180 HP) gets some nice gains from bolt-ons (intake, exhaust, etc.), but I could be wrong. Weight reduction on this car will yield incredible benefits, but its going to take some ingenuity because this car doesn't have a lot of excess weight. Still, in stock trim, it looks like it may beat the EVO 0-60, and in the 1/4 mile and certainly from a roll or on the highway. So, in stock from its plenty fast in a straight-line.

Now, I just need to find a place with a 2 car garage. :)

God that is the only car id ever give up the 8 for its so awsome. Its just a couple thousand out of my range tho ...........

Nice Sin, give us an update when you get it. Can't wait to hear your review! When are you supposed to take delivery?

Ike

amazing its a celica engine, does that mean celica can be a real potenial sports car with the right mods? wow there selling already

Originally posted by Dookie_Rx-8
amazing its a celica engine, does that mean celica can be a real potenial sports car with the right mods? wow there selling already

That engine isn't very mod friendly, however in a car that weighs under a ton it's one hell of an engine :)

Elise would be a blast to own if I only had the time to take it out to the track..

Okay, so it goes 0-60 in under 5 seconds. It's also over 1000 lbs lighter than a Mini Cooper.

As cool as it would be to own such an excellent track car, it's just that--a track car.. I wouldn't dare put myself in one of those things on the 405 or on LA roads.

What if they had put the Renesis in the Elise? That would have been totally awesome. Lighter and faster.

Originally posted by hotpot
What if they had put the Renesis in the Elise? That would have been totally awesome. Lighter and faster.

I believe the Toyota engine is lighter, though is putting out less ponies.

I don't know about the weights of either engine. Who knows. Who cares? :)

Bottom line, in a mid-engined car like that, it's far easier to fit a transverse engine than a longitudinal one.

So a front-drive powerplant is to be expected.

Personally, I'd rather see the S2000 motor in it. :D

Or even the RSX Type-S. Lots of torque too. Probably be quicker than the Celica-powered car.

Either way, my $4K shifterkart will eat an Elise at an autocross. :D

Originally posted by racerdave
I don't know about the weights of either engine. Who knows. Who cares? :)

Bottom line, in a mid-engined car like that, it's far easier to fit a transverse engine than a longitudinal one.

So a front-drive powerplant is to be expected.

Personally, I'd rather see the S2000 motor in it. :D

Or even the RSX Type-S. Lots of torque too. Probably be quicker than the Celica-powered car.

Either way, my $4K shifterkart will eat an Elise at an autocross. :D

You can get the Elise with the Teg Type R engine in it from an importer in the US :) Though I would imagine that has ceased with the Federal Elise around the corner.

Ike

Fun. That's what the elise is. And *only* that. If you own a second car, it's a nice toy to have, but other than that, I find it strange o see people considering to trade an rx-8 for it. Simply, because I make an assumtion, that somebody went rx8 because of its practicality combined with sport. The elise is a true UK minimalist/purist car, as many others said. Zero comfort, zero usability, zero security, zero everything .. maximum fun, though :) I'd like to drive one for a while one day, but I'd never shell out money to make this my only single car, if I can't afford something sensible alongside.

Originally posted by voon
Fun. That's what the elise is. And *only* that. If you own a second car, it's a nice toy to have, but other than that, I find it strange o see people considering to trade an rx-8 for it. Simply, because I make an assumtion, that somebody went rx8 because of its practicality combined with sport. The elise is a true UK minimalist/purist car, as many others said. Zero comfort, zero usability, zero security, zero everything .. maximum fun, though :) I'd like to drive one for a while one day, but I'd never shell out money to make this my only single car, if I can't afford something sensible alongside.

If I ever own one it certainly won't be my only car. Great little cars, but certainly not for someone that has to deal with varying weather conditions and drives 10k miles a year or more.