Is it just my area, or are these things becoming extremely common?

This is the third Elise (it IS an Elise, right?) I've seen this week. Number of RX-8's I've seen: zero.

Yeah, they're becoming quite common. We have three around here - an orange one, a green one and a dark one (didn't see the color, it was sunset and I was far away). I see about 3 8's to one Elise though, so the 8 is still more common around here.

Can't wait for the used ones to hit the market in a couple years. Hopefully they up production a little bit, so I can get one cheap :D

there's 3 in New Hope? must be the wine people...

there's 3 in New Hope? must be the wine people...

Wine people, in Pennsylvania??? I have yet to see one on the road, but we still have yet to get a string of nice weather in Wisconsin so maybe I'll start seeing em soon. I did see a Westfield Megabusa this week though :D

i've seen 5 in the last 2 weeks.. not that i mind, they're gorgeous cars and the owners (i've talked to 3 of 5 of them) have been really cool.

I can't imagine why a fast, light weight, excellent handling, excellent looking, reasonably priced car would be common :b C6's are pretty common around here too.

My only complaint is that the only colors I see are red and yellow. there are some awesome elise colors out there! Why does everyone get red or yellow?! Prolly a dealership thing, but jeez.

In the last six months I've seen 3 of 'em (all different colors!), and the same number of 360 modenas. One 308 prancing horse, and one 80's Testarossa (ugh). One bright-yellow Esprit V-8. That one was being eyed intently by two motorbike cops, which I was eyeing in turn :D You could *see* the desire in their eyes for that Esprit to gun it.

As far as 8s go, I see at least one a day, normally more like 3 or 4.

About even with 350Zs, and that's about double the Crossfires (i see one of those maybe once every 2 weeks, if that.. no one wants the poor thing :p )

In the last six months I've seen 3 of 'em (all different colors!), and the same number of 360 modenas. One 308 prancing horse, and one 80's Testarossa (ugh). One bright-yellow Esprit V-8. That one was being eyed intently by two motorbike cops, which I was eyeing in turn :D You could *see* the desire in their eyes for that Esprit to gun it.

As far as 8s go, I see at least one a day, normally more like 3 or 4.

About even with 350Zs, and that's about double the Crossfires (i see one of those maybe once every 2 weeks, if that.. no one wants the poor thing :p )

It's just a whole new world of cars when you have to take things like practicality into consideration. With the weather around here even people that can afford them rarely buy cars like that. If I didn't have to worry about snow I'd probably be driving an S2K. I suppose I still could be if I had just kept my Maxima, DSM, or Audi as a winter car but paying insurance on two cars and maintaining two cars when one will do the trick just doesn't make sense to me even if I can afford it.

It's just a whole new world of cars when you have to take things like practicality into consideration. With the weather around here even people that can afford them rarely buy cars like that. If I didn't have to worry about snow I'd probably be driving an S2K. I suppose I still could be if I had just kept my Maxima, DSM, or Audi as a winter car but paying insurance on two cars and maintaining two cars when one will do the trick just doesn't make sense to me even if I can afford it.
that's kinda funny that you say that. the first owner i talked to was on the street. I asked him how he liked his elise and he said it drives great but it's not practical at all. That was the first thing out of his mouth.

meh... that's what 200 dollar beater cars are for.. when I lived in North Dakota (brr) I still had my miata.. she slept in the garage for a good chunk of the year, so cold that I was afraid the vinyl top would snap like sheet glass!

My other whip? A 1984 Escort, complete with thoroughly oxidized paint, a habit of drinking a quart of oil a month (!), a barely functioning AM radio, no ashtray (I smoke) but the hole in the floorpan made up for it... :D

The entire dash illumination would go out at random, but a good solid whack right on top of the instrument panel hood would bring it back on, in true Millenium Falcon fashin :D

Bonus: Didn't have to worry about door dings, never washed it in 3 years, it was the classic Winter Beater.

Not Bonus: Even with liability only, the Escort was pricier to insure than the Miata with full cover. Go figger that one out.. :confused:

meh... that's what 200 dollar beater cars are for.. when I lived in North Dakota (brr) I still had my miata.. she slept in the garage for a good chunk of the year, so cold that I was afraid the vinyl top would snap like sheet glass!

My other whip? A 1984 Escort, complete with thoroughly oxidized paint, a habit of drinking a quart of oil a month (!), a barely functioning AM radio, no ashtray (I smoke) but the hole in the floorpan made up for it... :D

The entire dash illumination would go out at random, but a good solid whack right on top of the instrument panel hood would bring it back on, in true Millenium Falcon fashin :D

Bonus: Didn't have to worry about door dings, never washed it in 3 years, it was the classic Winter Beater.

Not Bonus: Even with liability only, the Escort was pricier to insure than the Miata with full cover. Go figger that one out.. :confused:

I just can't see doing that when I can have a blast driving my car year round instead of 6-9 months out of the year driving a fun car and the rest of the year driving a pile.

I just can't see doing that when I can have a blast driving my car year round instead of 6-9 months out of the year driving a fun car and the rest of the year driving a pile.

In my case I was perfectly fine with it. I lived on-base, the drive to work was perhaps 10 minutes. Not even enough to properly warm up any car, really.

After I left there, I realized (by listening to the incessant lifter clatter) that those 3 years of 10-minute drives had done harm to the miata, harm that took 2 cans of SeaFoam to get rid of. But it all came out.. right out the tailpipe.

I try to compromise as little as possible in my choice of primary car. Two-seater preferred, with a rotary. If that's not doable, then I'll take whatever I can with two seats, but this time, the 8 was out, so I got a sensible, practical car.. I must be a heretical witch or something.. I should turn in my Itty Bitty Roadster Club card in. :D

Bluntly put, I'd rather drive a Triumph TR6 than an Accord. Daily.

The elise is *right* up my alley, but *just* outta my reach fiscally. Oh well.

In my case I was perfectly fine with it. I lived on-base, the drive to work was perhaps 10 minutes. Not even enough to properly warm up any car, really.

After I left there, I realized (by listening to the incessant lifter clatter) that those 3 years of 10-minute drives had done harm to the miata, harm that took 2 cans of SeaFoam to get rid of. But it all came out.. right out the tailpipe.

I try to compromise as little as possible in my choice of primary car. Two-seater preferred, with a rotary. If that's not doable, then I'll take whatever I can with two seats, but this time, the 8 was out, so I got a sensible, practical car.. I must be a heretical witch or something.. I should turn in my Itty Bitty Roadster Club card in. :D

Bluntly put, I'd rather drive a Triumph TR6 than an Accord. Daily.

The elise is *right* up my alley, but *just* outta my reach fiscally. Oh well.

I guess if I just had a 10 minute drive I might be able to deal with it. But I had many days this past winter where I was putting 150+ miles on a day in the snow and I think one day like that and that Escort would have been driven off a cliff...
In the WRX I get giddy when I have to drive in the snow :p

Yea, I know, but half the fun of a Lotus is the Mystique, of it being special. When I heard about it, I kinda though it'd be seen about as much as an NSX when that first came out (very, very rarely). But geez, the things are multiplying while I type!

I know enthusiasts have been waiting for it, but I doubt anyone else knows what it is... so I can't see it selling on snob appeal (which is the priority around here). I guess it's something to be different from the zillions of S2000 and Z3/4 owners.

Still not sure I like the looks in person... not BAD, just kinda looks like a toy, a kit car.

And didn't I read it has a Toyota engine?

Its spring time, the rich weekenders are out enjoying their cars. They will return to their BMW X5s soon enough.

It takes a nutjob to love a car like the Elise as a daily. I'd try. :D

As for the toyota lump, well, the thing's got 180 horses to move 1900 pounds.. oy. Makes me giddy just thinking about it. :D

I wonder if anyone in this forum has a wankel-powered caterham 7. I've been thinking about that for a while.. (or a 2 liter vtec 4 yo) ;)

It takes a nutjob to love a car like the Elise as a daily. I'd try. :D

As for the toyota lump, well, the thing's got 180 horses to move 1900 pounds.. oy. Makes me giddy just thinking about it. :D

I wonder if anyone in this forum has a wankel-powered caterham 7. I've been thinking about that for a while.. (or a 2 liter vtec 4 yo) ;)

I think I'd still have to take a Megabusa, 0-60 in the mid 3s, 10k redline, go kart handling. And if you turbocharge it 400+whp isn't out of the question :eek:

Only around 2000 Elises are sold in the US per year, IIRC. Around 20,000 Elises have been sold since the cars 1996 introduction, so it is very rare when compared to a car like the RX8 or 350Z that sell more than that annually.

one parks next to me everyday and drives 30-40 mins up from Boston, nice silver. I couldn't believe how small the front tires are????

when it's too cold or dare I say it's snowing, same guys got a nice 6 speed Volve S60R. Not a bad couple rides at all.

[QUOTE]

Missnmahseven: No need to apologize for your temporary loss. Sounds like your hearts still in the right place. I wish you a return soon to driving what your want.

Too bad that the 8 was out for you. In my case, I had to have back seats, so the 8 cabin configuration was ideal.

--My other car is a Miata 2001 SE--

[QUOTE]

Missnmahseven: No need to apologize for your temporary loss. Sounds like your hearts still in the right place. I wish you a return soon to driving what your want.

Too bad that the 8 was out for you. In my case, I had to have back seats, so the 8 cabin configuration was ideal.

--My other car is a Miata 2001 SE--

Um,... I drive an 8.. a shinka. :D

It's not exactly what I want, but it's bloody nice fersure, I allready went past the mad crush stage to outright love. :D

I think I'd still have to take a Megabusa, 0-60 in the mid 3s, 10k redline, go kart handling. And if you turbocharge it 400+whp isn't out of the question :eek:

Is that anything like a Radical SR3? That pup has a busa lump with a turbo, 12k redline, 300+ hp in a carbon fiber chassis.. something insane like 1400 pounds. I hear they are becoming very liked in the upper classes in SCCA.

300... 1400... too bad they're not street legal here (I think they *are* legal in the UK? Holy smokes..)

Only around 2000 Elises are sold in the US per year, IIRC. Around 20,000 Elises have been sold since the cars 1996 introduction, so it is very rare when compared to a car like the RX8 or 350Z that sell more than that annually.


And since they were just introduced to the US last year, I can't imagine there are even 2000 running around yet. I'm amazed at the sightings listed on here (though New Hope is an unusual place, and has more than it's fair share of expensive cars). I've seen exactly 2 on the road- once last September on the Tail of the Dragon, and once two weeks ago on the other side of the highway here in Richmond.

Just drive up to Canada and the Elise will be very very rare. We're still waiting on them to be approved by our government. Its unfortunate thats its been taking so long but Lotus is pretty keen on selling it in Canada.

Is that anything like a Radical SR3? That pup has a busa lump with a turbo, 12k redline, 300+ hp in a carbon fiber chassis.. something insane like 1400 pounds. I hear they are becoming very liked in the upper classes in SCCA.

300... 1400... too bad they're not street legal here (I think they *are* legal in the UK? Holy smokes..)

It's more like a smaller Caterham.

http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/megabusa.htm

the lotus elise is the only car i would trade my rx-8 in for, and i would do it in a heartbeat.

How about the Exige? You see them around too?


http://www.mcarsweb.com/lotus/exige.jpg

I've only seen one Elise, and it was green.

The idea of having a winter beater (or a car if I ever need to transport something) sounds like a good idea. I could have a track car as a daily all year here I think. That's something I might do in the future.

Wine people, in Pennsylvania???
There are quite a few wineries in PA. I don't know if any of it's good 'cause I don't drink, but there are a lot of them it seems. :)

There are quite a few wineries in PA. I don't know if any of it's good 'cause I don't drink, but there are a lot of them it seems. :)

There are wineries in all 50 states, only about 3 of those states makes wine that's worth drinking. I also think the only ones that really make much money are in those states as well. That's not to say that the people that own these wineries don't already have a lot of money :D

yup. some of the Pa wines are good. im not a big fan of all their wines but the Mount Hope wineries have a couple that i like.

there is also a little vineyard named Nissley Vineyards. They havw a wine called "Naughty Marietta" that i think is outstanding. everyone i have ever shared with loves it also. I think even you Ike- being the wine snob... er Afficiando.. that you are would like it. sadly i have only 1 bottle left. but my sister has promised to get more and share. I only hope the vintage is as good. If you come by sometime ike ill open it:)

yup. some of the Pa wines are good. im not a big fan of all their wines but the Mount Hope wineries have a couple that i like.

there is also a little vineyard named Nissley Vineyards. They havw a wine called "Naughty Marietta" that i think is outstanding. everyone i have ever shared with loves it also. I think even you Ike- being the wine snob... er Afficiando.. that you are would like it. sadly i have only 1 bottle left. but my sister has promised to get more and share. I only hope the vintage is as good. If you come by sometime ike ill open it:)

Just for kicks I checked out their website, looks like a nice property. I'll try any wine once and I'll certainly take you up on the offer if I'm ever in the area :)

One thing few people realize about many of these wineries outside of the big 3 wine growing states is that they often don't even make their own wine or use their own grapes. Many times it's just some random California wine that has been relabeled. It's too bad because it really takes advantage of the average consumer who doesn't know how to translate a wine label. It looks like Nissley at least uses the grapes they grow and tries to make a lot of estate grown wines.

I saw a yellow Lotus on my commute to work one morning in March. I gave the jackass thumbs up from my car and the bastard rolled his eyes at me and sped off. Small penis complex I guess - either that or he thought I wanted to race.

After that one encounter in March...I didn't see anymore the rest of the month, and not a single one in April.

But wouldn't you know it...this very afternoon when I was making my way home from work...I saw some tiny light blue alien/fish looking vehicle ferociously speeding on the other side of the highway. It was like 5 car lengths ahead of every other car on that side of the highway - so if you were driving in the left lane like I was you definitely saw it speeding by. Unfortunately I only caught about 5 seconds of eye contact with the car since the driver was going too damn fast for you to really appreciate it (especially from the opposite direction of me), and I knew it was an Elise, but I even slowed down and looked back at those "imitation" Ferrari tail lights to confirm.