Any thoughts on the Lotus Elise?
 

I was wondering if anyone has seen the Elise in person yet? I had to sell my S2000 for practicality reasons so obviously a 2 seat Elise is just a pipe dream for me right now. However, it is hard to hate a roadster that does a 4.4 0-60 and 13 second flat 1/4 mile.

I was also curious on the pricing. It's base is 39k but on carpoint, I entered in leather seats and the sports package and I came up with 47k. I am wondering if this is going to be a car where you have to pay well above MSRP also.

Dean

Pricing was around 46k that I heard. One review that I read on it was that it was a weekend-only car...definitely not something you would want to drive around on a regular basis.

Here's a thread about the Lotus Elise.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=lotus+elise

They look too busy.


I'm sure they are a blast to drive.

I drove behind one today. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen on the road. He lives in my subdivision. Base price is 40k.

Pretty crazy that the frame weighs under 150 pounds. Isn't it some fairly new technology without using welding to bond it together? I still think it would be an even more impressive/lightweight/fast beast if it had a rotary rather than a Celica's engine in it.

from what I heard, the car's basically glued together, not welded, is this accurate?

Can you say death trap?!

I think the Vauxhaul VX 220 Turbo is a better buy. Slightly cheaper and you get way more for you money. All the expensive options in the Elise are the base of the VX. Plus safety features such as air bags and such. Also, it seems a no brainer to me b/c the two cars are made in the same factory by the same people. (psst - it's the same car rebadged)

Just my opinion ;)

yes but in the US elise is all we get.
on that note..

I love the elise. Awosome car and nothing on the market can come close to its FEEL (gokart), response and overal nimbleness (<word?).

Anyway my major gripe with the car is the engine.
I would much rather see a rotary in there.
But truth be told, i would rather have an F20C or modified k20/24 hybrid.

The Elise is what the MR-S should have been.

I saw an old Elise in Kentucky on the backroads about a year ago. It wasn't tagged or anything so I'm sure it was not street legal but it was still a nice looking ride and it went like crazy. I like them a lot for the price and like the looks because they are built that way for a purpose. The car was built for racing and the looks still are nice. On the other hand, I always want more power and would love to see a higher hp/tq engine in one in the near future. My wife however hates the Elise. Too small for her, go figure.

I want one but cannot afford one in addition to my 8. 47 grand is a lot to pay for a weekend toy car.

The Elise is probably the least daily driver friendly.

With all that said, it is a fantastic roadster with impressive numbers. I really like the looks of it too.

Back to reality where I don't own a Elise. I may get me a sports bike as my toy to keep me a way from this 50 grand temptations :)

Dean

Exactly. Only Mr-s costs as much as a celica.

I love that elise though. I keep looking at the R&T article over and over again. It's the ultimate toy. Price is a bit high but not unreasonable. In the end you get what you pay for.

Damn KC; haven't seen you post in awhile :p.

It looks like a VW based kit car if you ask me!

Kinda like the old dune buggies of yore!

It will join the 8 in the garage in 2 years.. Unless Mazda makes due on their promise of a 2200 lb miata..

I saw the car at the LA autoshow. It looked (and is very tiny). The interior looked really cheap. I'm sure as a weekend track car it would be unbelievable, but as an everyday car it would just plain suck. If you track every weekend, and you have $40K to burn it might be a fun car, but even as a weekend "fun" ride you can find better for the price (hell, your S2000 might fit that catagory).