I've been looking at the Lotus Elise or Exige and have been tempted to make the 100 mile trip to go drive one. Anyone driven one lately? Car and Driver basically called it an expensive Go-Kart but I like the looks of it and the performance can't be beat. (0-60 : 4.9 seconds) I'd use at a leisure/daily driver. When I look at the Lotus forums everyone loves it just like everyone loves their RX-8s on this board. Looking for other opinions in you've actually been in one. Not interested if your just going to critique the car without ever being in one. Thanks

Never been in a Lotus, but dang they're hot! Good luck :)

i never drove one but sat in one, you sit so low its rather uncomfortable. the trunck is in the back despite it being a MR car, and its about the size of a glove compartment. i think its a terrible daily driver. ohh and the owner said noise deadening is non-existent on that car.

Friend of mine went for a test drive in one. Told me its not the best car for a daily driver. Dont know if hes keeping his 8 or not.

there's a Lotus dealer a mile from my house maybe I'll try one sometime.

You have to qualify first ;)

Yes I've test driven one a while back. The car is just a hoot to drive and I was very tempted to get one. But after the initial euphoria wore off, I realized that it's really just a big boy's toy and that I'd still need another car as my daily driver.

Actually the Elise and the Exige are two almost completely different cars. Same chassis yes, but everything else is different (and the price too!!).

If you want this to be something of a daily driver, get the Elise. It's not the most comfortable or roomiest cars, but you can go for a 2-day trip with your mate or girlfriend. It's got *some* insulation (heat and noise), *some* comforts, *some* practicality.

If you want something that will spank Porsches and Ferraris (and I'm not kidding here), get the Exige. Almost nothing can beat it on a track (and I mean it when I say "nothing", except F3000 or F1 cars), and it's a blast to drive on the road too. Just don't ask for anything else ;)

Actually the Elise and the Exige are two almost completely different cars. Same chassis yes, but everything else is different (and the price too!!).

If you want this to be something of a daily driver, get the Elise. It's not the most comfortable or roomiest cars, but you can go for a 2-day trip with your mate or girlfriend. It's got *some* insulation (heat and noise), *some* comforts, *some* practicality.

If you want something that will spank Porsches and Ferraris (and I'm not kidding here), get the Exige. Almost nothing can beat it on a track (and I mean it when I say "nothing", except F3000 or F1 cars), and it's a blast to drive on the road too. Just don't ask for anything else ;)
LOL I seen this Black Evo with all kinds of stickers on this doors get killed by a 911 it was great :rofl: :bowdown:

i sat in the elise on the track, its really fast. but quite unconfortable to sit in. i wouldnt recommend it as a daily driver, it'd be an excellent weekend car though.

Yes, I test drove an Elise last year at the local Lotus Dealership and it was an absolute blast. The thing about the Elise/Exige, is that there's nothing else that feels anything like it. While most sports cars are becoming closer to luxury sedans with regards to size and weight (911), the < 2000 lb weight of the Elise is a refreshing change. The car is very quick in a straight line and of course has amazing handling. Having the top off and the engine behind you creates a great atmosphere. Yes, it is difficult to get in and out of, but once my wife and i were in there, I didn't feel cramped and had plenty of room to operate everything.

I went w/ the RX-8 because I needed a daily driver. But if I was in the market for a 2nd car, the Elise would definetly be at the top of the list.

Hope this helps.

Don't get a Lotus ... Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious (LOTUS). :)

http://elisetalk.com/

There seem to be a number of people that daily drive them. Some have reported getting as much as $8k off MSRP on leftover Elises.... which is a good deal but with the options I want it would still be ~$20k more than I paid for my 8. :( There's a local company that rents Elises for about $500 for a weekend. I'm really tempted to try it out but that's still quite a bit of cash for just an extended test drive.

A friend of mine owns a bright yellow and black exige. It's an awesome car, but I wouldn't want it for daily driving.

It's very fast and handles like nobodys business. It also looks like hot shit. This is about the extent of what it does well.

The interior is pretty much just like a kit car. Loose shit all over the place, rattles up the ass, and one of the speaker meshes can be easily lifted away from the speaker.

The cabin is so loud your ears ring when you're finished with the drive. You also can't see ANYTHING out of the back in the exige. This is *not* an exaggeration. You might as well not even have a back window. As my friend likes to say "You gotta use the force when changing lanes"

To get out of the thing you have to be a contortionist. If you're a gymnast or something, you'll have no issues. If you're a average adult male, you may pull something.

The suspension is rock hard. You get beat up on even smooth roads. Dips and bumps in the road practically launch you through the roof. The tires only last about 5k miles.

All of these things though are to be expected from a race car that just so happens to be street legal. If you've got some extra cash to throw around for a race car, then I *highly* recommend it. It's a pain in the ass for everyday use, but it's the funnest car I've ever had the pleasure of cruising in.

Oh, and you'll get stopped everywhere with people asking questions about your car. Seriously. Think you'll make a quick stop at McD's for a burger? Ha, think again after everyone is done chatting it up with you. Getting gas is a production. You feel like a movie star.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=85421

Would not recommend it for a daily driver, but if you did go and see the car, you would have to buy it. It is absolutely incredible. Everything about the car screams performance machine and I love it!

if only i have the money for said big boy toy, sigh :(

Thanks for the input. I've heard they are quite sparse on the interior and the ride can be a bit rough. Searching through the Lotus forum they do complain about alot of minor, superficial problems (i.e. lense covers popping off, AC malfunction, rattles, etc...) For 40-50k maybe I should continue looking. I like the style and performance but not sure if I just want a weekend toy. My wife drives our RX-8 and we have a suburban but I also wanted a fun car with some personality that I could also commute in. Besides our RX-8, everything else just looks so boring. I like to Solstice but it is a pontiac and I've never had luck with pontiac.

Pretty much in agreement on what everybody here has said about the Elise. If a baby doesn't come first, it'll probably be my next car after the RX8.
If the OP is shopping for another sports car to complement the RX8, and the Elise seems too one-dimensional, then perhaps look at some lightly used Porsche Boxster S that are available at or below the prices of new Elises. still get that wonderful mid-engine handling and top-down fun to boot.

Thanks for the input. I've heard they are quite sparse on the interior and the ride can be a bit rough. Searching through the Lotus forum they do complain about alot of minor, superficial problems (i.e. lense covers popping off, AC malfunction, rattles, etc...) For 40-50k maybe I should continue looking. I like the style and performance but not sure if I just want a weekend toy. My wife drives our RX-8 and we have a suburban but I also wanted a fun car with some personality that I could also commute in. Besides our RX-8, everything else just looks so boring. I like to Solstice but it is a pontiac and I've never had luck with pontiac.

If this is your main goal, then you have a lot of options. I don't know how many of these models reach the US shores, but the Fiest ST, Colt CZT, Golf GT, Polo GTi and a number of others are small, fun, fast little cars, that can do almost everything: commute, race, weekend trip etc etc....

I just traded my 05 RX8 GT in for a Lotus Elise. It is just as much of a daily driver as my RX8 was, in the winter I use a WRX. The Elise does not have near the amount of interior features the RX8 had, but when you are driving the car you don't really notice. It is slightly harder to get in and out of, but you get used to that quickly and now i don't even think about it. Honestly the power feels similar as the RX8 until about 6000 RPMs then it is another story. The car handles very well, better than the RX8, but I have not really tested its limits yet. I do not have any additional packages or features on my car, I was not interested. The ride is firmer, and the noise is louder. Everytime I press the start button a smile appears. I loved the RX8, but I also love the Elise.

uncle has one... its sick nasty quick and a blast to thrash corners in... Not comfortable inside but when ur throwing that shifter around it never occurs to you... BTW 4.9 0-60 is a conservative figure (my uncle races late models on dirt track and is a sick driver) its more like 4.5 if u rip it up like you have to in the 8 to get sub 6 sec 0-60's. Overall i love the car but i could never afford to fix it if anything went wrong with it.

Its an ok car but I don't see what all the buzz is about. The car from a stop is a beast and yes the damn thing handles like its riding on rails, but the car itself just wasn't that impressive. Before I actually drove one I had no idea they were so small ><, no wonder they weigh so little. I got to run it to 120 mph and I have to say just like the 8 it has no top end.....1st and 2nd were awesome but after about 80 mph or so the car just slowed somehow..

anyways looks hot...unique....handles almost as well as the 8 in the twisties....im jk nothing hangs with the 8 in the twisties....ok just so I won't get flamed its called sarcasm........

It is a super car for under$75000. That is all. They are the best at everything. They really do EVERYTHING they say they do. And they are as uncomfortable as everyone says they are. But are you really buying a lotus for the comfort? Anywayz, Dont forget who makes the engine.

Beagle

Rented an Elise in Las Vegas for a day, a red one. Not the most comfortable thing to sit in. I think I would have preferred a metal folding chair. LOL The seats were pretty uncomfortable, you sat so low in the car it felt seemed like you were about to scrape your butt on the pavement at any minute. I don't think it would make a good daily driver. I was actually a little disappointed with it for as much as it cost to rent it. It basically felt like an overgrown go-kart.

RX8_ML has one. You may want to ask her what she thinks of it. :)

^ what did you pay to rent it?

and thats what it is, a large go kart...

True. :)

It was $300 for the day plus a refundable deposit.

It was pretty fun to drive, though. Just does not rate for comfort at all!!! That was my issue with it. Basically the comfort level.

I actually find the Elise very comfortable, I have an 06 and I believe that they changed the seats. That was my only concern, but after taking a few test drives, the seats are actually very comfortable. If it did not snow here, I would use it as my daily driver year round, but I was in the same situation with the RX8.

If you want something that will spank Porsches and Ferraris (and I'm not kidding here), get the Exige. Almost nothing can beat it on a track (and I mean it when I say "nothing", except F3000 or F1 cars)Not true. The Ariel Atom is manufactured in Washington and will beat an Exige in acceleration and handling. Roughly the same price too, at $80k.
________
ALASKA DISPENSARIES (http://alaska.dispensaries.org/)

If you want a fun daily driver and don't like the Pontiac get the MX-5 Miata! Still big grins for 1/2 the price.

my $0.02

If you want a fun daily driver and don't like the Pontiac get the MX-5 Miata! Still big grins for 1/2 the price.

my $0.02 +1. Plus the current miatas are the best looking ever.

I know I'd love to drive one, but most likely not own one. Not as a daily driver.

I got a laugh from the glow in the dark emergency lever in the trunk. A baby small enough to fit in the trunk would lack the mental capacity to pull a lever whether it glowed in the dark or not.

Don't get a Lotus ... Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious (LOTUS). :)

This just demonstrates the absolute ignorance and stupidity of some people..the poster even asked for people to not post Junk like this!!!

I live in the UK and have had Lotus cars all my life...I have several friends who have RX8's

The old Lotus cars had reliability issues but do you still have to go on about the past in that way....get a life people.

The exige is a modern Hi-tech precise piece of engineering......the ONLY issues to consider is that is is NOTHIN like an RX8 the Mazda is a more of a Luxurry motor with a hint of performance thrown in as an after thought...sure it has loads of space quiet comfortable....etc etc...but have any of you noticed that it can't go round corners quickly!!

Well when I say not quickly..you guys will think it is quick...but until you have felt your body thrown against the door of an exige as it tries to rip it's own tyres off their very rims!!!! round a track corner ....and then when you get out of the car your head is still spinning and your heart racing as you thank the racing driver by the side of you for the powerlap (donnington racetrack UK 1997 lotus owners club show) then and only then will you know quick!!

A lotus exige is like nothing you have ever driven and can only be experienced at the hands of a pro racing driver.

If you want a comfy car forget it..if you want a quiet car forget it....if you want to have a smile on your face everytime you get out of it..then buy one

Not true. The Ariel Atom is manufactured in Washington and will beat an Exige in acceleration and handling. Roughly the same price too, at $80k.

LOL, an atom...they are just great......but an Exige is a Luxury comfort car compared wth an Atom...it is not possible to have it as a daily car...fast or not it is a track car

A friend of mine owns a bright yellow and black exige. It's an awesome car, but I wouldn't want it for daily driving.

It's very fast and handles like nobodys business. It also looks like hot shit. This is about the extent of what it does well.

The interior is pretty much just like a kit car. Loose shit all over the place, rattles up the ass, and one of the speaker meshes can be easily lifted away from the speaker.

The cabin is so loud your ears ring when you're finished with the drive. You also can't see ANYTHING out of the back in the exige. This is *not* an exaggeration. You might as well not even have a back window. As my friend likes to say "You gotta use the force when changing lanes"

To get out of the thing you have to be a contortionist. If you're a gymnast or something, you'll have no issues. If you're a average adult male, you may pull something.

The suspension is rock hard. You get beat up on even smooth roads. Dips and bumps in the road practically launch you through the roof. The tires only last about 5k miles.

All of these things though are to be expected from a race car that just so happens to be street legal. If you've got some extra cash to throw around for a race car, then I *highly* recommend it. It's a pain in the ass for everyday use, but it's the funnest car I've ever had the pleasure of cruising in.

Oh, and you'll get stopped everywhere with people asking questions about your car. Seriously. Think you'll make a quick stop at McD's for a burger? Ha, think again after everyone is done chatting it up with you. Getting gas is a production. You feel like a movie star.

'you have to be a contortionist'-That funny because there's this guy at work I give him a lift every now and then and he feels the same about my 8. :)
My 2nd car...Elise... :) http://www.lotuscars.com/ExigeS.aspx

This just demonstrates the absolute ignorance and stupidity of some people..the poster even asked for people to not post Junk like this!!!

I live in the UK and have had Lotus cars all my life...I have several friends who have RX8's

The old Lotus cars had reliability issues but do you still have to go on about the past in that way....get a life people.

The exige is a modern Hi-tech precise piece of engineering......the ONLY issues to consider is that is is NOTHIN like an RX8 the Mazda is a more of a Luxurry motor with a hint of performance thrown in as an after thought...sure it has loads of space quiet comfortable....etc etc...but have any of you noticed that it can't go round corners quickly!!

Well when I say not quickly..you guys will think it is quick...but until you have felt your body thrown against the door of an exige as it tries to rip it's own tyres off their very rims!!!! round a track corner ....and then when you get out of the car your head is still spinning and your heart racing as you thank the racing driver by the side of you for the powerlap (donnington racetrack UK 1997 lotus owners club show) then and only then will you know quick!!

A lotus exige is like nothing you have ever driven and can only be experienced at the hands of a pro racing driver.

If you want a comfy car forget it..if you want a quiet car forget it....if you want to have a smile on your face everytime you get out of it..then buy one

Did you notice the date on this ???

That's too funny^^^Oh well better late than never!!:rollingla:

I've driven both.

The Exige has no visibility out the rear window. Something which takes a little getting used to.

Very buzzy in powertrain noise and the suspension is track oriented (not much tolerance for bumps on public roads), yet, there's plenty of adjustability for those who like to tinker.

Great cars IMO. I'd get an Elise if I didn't need a back seat for the kid.

I'd get one in a microsecond, purest enthusiast car out there. It's an Atom that you can drive daily...although mostly alone and in some discomfort.

In Canada they're way overpriced though, starting at $60!

I've driven in an Europa and I've driven an early 2.2L Esprit, and IMO there is no brand that produces a more intuitive driving experience than Lotus.

Not true. The Ariel Atom is manufactured in Washington and will beat an Exige in acceleration and handling. Roughly the same price too, at $80k.

they are made in portland, oregon.

and those are better handling and faster than lotus. but you dont get a cover.

I have driven both a Elise 111S and an Exige S on the track. The Exige is probably one of the finest track cars you can buy. Amazingly quick, endless grip, laser sharp turn in, perfect balance and feedback, and Porsche-like chasis tuning. The Elise is a somewhat "toned down" version of the hardcore Exige.

I would strongly consider an Exige 240 Cup as a track car. If you want road legal than stick with the Exige S. Still a devastating track tool but you can actually drive it daily - but I wouldn't recommend it if you have a bad back. Plus you can get the Exige S for around $50-55K if you shop around.

i've been a lotus fan since i was a kid. but now i realized it's definitely NOT a supercar.. but a $45k go-kart.
yes it's fast just because it IS light.. an aluminun chassis w/ fiberglass body driven by a 1.8L.
i honestly think it's a rip-off. don't flame me. :mdrmed:

edit: the tesla-powered roadster which lotus makes is also a rip-off at $95k

They ar eas hard as a rock and fast as Hell.

All you have to do is drive it and your hooked.

I had a go kart when I was 10; same thing... :D:

No way did it handle as well and no way was it even close to the speed of the Elise.

No way did it handle as well and no way was it even close to the speed of the Elise.

wrong and wrong.
Besides, if I really wanted to drive an Elise I'd have to cut my legs off at the knees or just be short like you. :)

Hey!

Yoda is short!

but Vader is not... :FIREdevil

I have a friend who has an Elise. You can't drive it at night though because the headlights suck. It's probably because of how low the car sits. Would definately not recommend it as a daily driver though.

The on comming SUV's blind you.