Short Version: Buy the car!

Long Version: I was the luckiest HPDE instructor at Sebring this weekend. My student showed up with a beautiful, new, red Elise.


Even next to my track car, a 1993 Mazda Miata, the Elise seemed small.


CG gave a pretty comprehensive review of the car in this thread. I'll corroberate many of his observations about it, including the challenge of passenger ingress and egress, the stripped nature of the interior, and the awkward, multi-step starting procedure. The only experience that was different for me was that the shifter was not notchy, nor vague. It's not as direct as the S2000 box, nor even the Miata shifter (with 127k miles on the transmission), but it was not a problem for me to use with accuracy and enjoyment. I guess thats part of the price that you pay for not having the transmission located right under the shift lever.

Its size is part of the brilliance of this car. You "wear" the car, much more than even the snug S2000. The most amusing feature of the car is the emergency release handle in the trunk. I doubt that even a child could contort themselves into there. That said, it is more "spacious" than the Toyota MR-S "cubby holes", but not nealy as large as the Miata or S2000 trunk.

Right "out of the box", the car is well suited for track duty. The tires are as good (or nearly as good) as the Toyo RA-1s that I run, the engine has exciting power at high RPMs much like the high strung S2000 F20C, but with more grunt down low. Turn-in is nearly telepathic. Even though it was his first time on the track, my student rapidly learned the line with a tendency to early apex several turns ... despite my admonitions. It wasn't until after I drove the car (yes, my student let me enjoy this wonderful machine on the track), that I realized I had finally driven a car that turned in as well and with as much authority as the S2000. The Miata is sluggish in comparison!

The car had the sport suspension on it, along with the touring package. The ride is stiffer than the S2000, and close to the Spec Miata setup in my Miata (700 lb front springs and 325 lb. rears in a 2300 lb car). Of course, it didn't have the squeaks, rattles and clunks of my 11-year old car . Of interest was the tendency of the rear suspension to clunk in one particular slightly bumpy, hard right-hander (turn 10 at Sebring). My student had that turn down well and could get the car to drift a bit out to the track-out point, but always with the clunking. It was as if the car bounced down to the bump-stops.

In summary, it was one of the most enjoyable cars that I have ever driven. As long as you can tolerate its race-car orientation, difficult entry and exit, limited storage space, and multi-step starting procedure, it's the car of your dreams.

 

Do you know who's Elise that was? I wonder if they are on Elisetalk? I still hope to get one one day, but Lotus really screwed me over.

 

Josh, great review and yes I'm jealous. Since you had no problems with the shifter I'm going to guess that the car I drove had a slight problem. I did experience the "clunk" from the rear and other than it being a little shocking at first it didn't seem to hurt the handling of the car. I can't wait for my chance to track one of these babies.

 

I have no problems with my shifter but others who have driven my car have complained. I only say this to illustrate that it is probably more of a personal preference thing. I would like it to be a bit shorter and less vague but it is definitely not a real problem.

-Steve

 

Steve you may very well be correct but both the salesman and I had problems getting the car to shift into second gear, especially when the car was cold. I really believe that this was related to this car. I look forward to driving another example to see if it was me or the car. Either way, I liked it well enough that I expect to own one.

 

Yes, I sent an email to the owner with a link to this thread. i hope he chimes in on his impressions of the day.

Thanks. I'm going to be more jealous once you get your car and start posting about your amazing experiences with it .

 

Are you wearing shoes with velcro???? Must be a florida thing?

 

Since that's not me it must be an Elise owner thing .

 

Funny that someone would spend $45k on a very impractical little car, but then only spend about $12 for some shitty shoes that they have to walk around in all day.

Maybe he spent his last $45k on the car and there was no $ left for decent shoes?

 

If he had to choose between a nice car and nice shoes, I think he made the right choice!