Talk me out of getting a Lotus Elise
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From: San Diego, CA
Originally Posted by nearwater4me,Feb 12 2007, 02:00 PM
My friend is selling his NSX for an '07 Exige S and I gotta say, that car is RAW! The engine sound was nicer than I thought.
The exterior is beautiful(IMO) and the build quality is pretty good too.
I didn't get a chance to drive one, but I'm sure it'll be more fun than an S.
But don't even think about getting one as a DD. The interior is REALLY tight.
It took me about 20 sec just to get inside the car trying not to put dirt on the seat/steering wheel/interior.
The fun/attention-getter factor is superb w/ the elise/exige, but when it comes to practicality, S2000 wins hands down.
The Lotus is a car for pure weekend joy-driving, the S is a fun car that one could use on a daily basis.
my 2 cents.
Dan
The exterior is beautiful(IMO) and the build quality is pretty good too.
I didn't get a chance to drive one, but I'm sure it'll be more fun than an S.
But don't even think about getting one as a DD. The interior is REALLY tight.
It took me about 20 sec just to get inside the car trying not to put dirt on the seat/steering wheel/interior.
The fun/attention-getter factor is superb w/ the elise/exige, but when it comes to practicality, S2000 wins hands down.
The Lotus is a car for pure weekend joy-driving, the S is a fun car that one could use on a daily basis.
my 2 cents.
Dan
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Originally Posted by nichigo,Feb 12 2007, 03:03 PM
As i've stated...daily driving isn't a factor since this will be a leisure/weekend car. I already have a DD, so regardless if i get an S or an elise, i won't be daily driving it.
Well then, I say go for it!
Dan
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From: LittlecountrynamedBelgium
If it's your only car think about the rough ride and lack of comfort for everyday use. You're not on the track every day I presume. It's very fun when you first drive it, just think if you'll feel the same driving it day in day out through all weather and not only when you are in fun mode. If your answer is yes, well, perhaps the Lotus is the car for you... Follow your heart and you can't go wrong 
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From: Cerritos/Fullerton
Originally Posted by Lionheart,Feb 13 2007, 06:48 AM
If it's your only car think about the rough ride and lack of comfort for everyday use. You're not on the track every day I presume. It's very fun when you first drive it, just think if you'll feel the same driving it day in day out through all weather and not only when you are in fun mode. If your answer is yes, well, perhaps the Lotus is the car for you... Follow your heart and you can't go wrong
He will not be using the car as a daily driver. As stated many times
moving right along...
I love the elise and would love to have it but it's quite expensive considering what it offers. I personally don't think the money is worth it BUT if your ego is begging you for a boost, get the lotus.
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Originally Posted by toofast4yalll,Feb 10 2007, 10:35 PM
I've driven both the Elise and the Exige S. I would take my S2000 over either one of them for the price. The elise isn't nearly as quick as it should be, considering it costs as much as a C6 vette. For the price of an Exige S, you're talking a Z06 now. That's not a very hard choice at all. 220hp for $58,000?! I paid less than half that for my S2k with only 25,000 miles on it. That would leave money for a lovefab turbo kit, the best coilovers you can buy, endless 6-pot brakes, any wheel/tire combo, a Spoon dry carbon hard top, a Top Secret cf wing, and a year of insurance and gas. Your S2000 will now weigh 2,5xx pounds, have 500hp, and handle/brake better than the Lotus. If you just want a status symbol, get the lotus. If you want performance, mod an S2k or buy a vette.
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
I rented a Elise for a day yesterday, put 319 miles on it. It was the best $300 I spent in a long time.
I loved it, wife was "ok" with it.
Its a raw car, much faster than a S and better handling also. But after about an hour on the freeway I was looking for the cruise control to stretch my leg a little, oops no such thing. The Elise is the ultimate car if you plan on tracking it.
I think I could live with a Elise on a daily basis and my wife is more than happy to put up with a Elise on a daily basis (she did say she might have to wear skirts less often, if I get the Elise though) but I don't plan on tracking, I just want a daily driver that I feel comfortable can handle anything the road throws at it. The S will do that easily and it is much more comfortable.
The issue for me is I want to cruise up and down the coast and we did that yesterday but I kept thinking the S would be much nicer to do that in as I was driving the Elise. Guess I need both the S for daily driving and cruises and the Elise for "I had a bad day at work, lets go play in the curves for a while", guess the S will have to do both
The S sure is slow compared to a Elise but it will do very nicely.
I suggest you rent a Elise if you are undecided, in L.A. its only $150/day (yeah that is a lot but its cheap compared to buying the wrong car) in SB its $220/day.
I loved it, wife was "ok" with it.
Its a raw car, much faster than a S and better handling also. But after about an hour on the freeway I was looking for the cruise control to stretch my leg a little, oops no such thing. The Elise is the ultimate car if you plan on tracking it.
I think I could live with a Elise on a daily basis and my wife is more than happy to put up with a Elise on a daily basis (she did say she might have to wear skirts less often, if I get the Elise though) but I don't plan on tracking, I just want a daily driver that I feel comfortable can handle anything the road throws at it. The S will do that easily and it is much more comfortable.
The issue for me is I want to cruise up and down the coast and we did that yesterday but I kept thinking the S would be much nicer to do that in as I was driving the Elise. Guess I need both
the S for daily driving and cruises and the Elise for "I had a bad day at work, lets go play in the curves for a while", guess the S will have to do both The S sure is slow compared to a Elise but it will do very nicely.
I suggest you rent a Elise if you are undecided, in L.A. its only $150/day (yeah that is a lot but its cheap compared to buying the wrong car) in SB its $220/day.
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From: Woodland Hills
Just did the switch myself a couple of weeks ago. Loved my s2k, but wanted something different. I've got a pretty lengthy thread over in Cartalk that goes into some detail. I'm loving it.
I got mine used with 4000 miles and paid $36000. That's with adjustable shocks that go from plush to harsh, hardtop, softtop, suspension mods, etc etc. It's very liveable on the street so far and I got over 30 mpg on my last tank.
And for the record...did my oil change last weekend. You remove one panel held on by about 12 8mm bolts. With my impact wrench, they were out in about 1 minute. Entire job, first time through took an hour. Easy access to the filter and no issues at all.
I'm having a great time in it and it definitely has more "personality" than the Honda. Lots of things to tinker with, adjust, personalize etc that are harder to do in the Honda. Not knocking the Honda at all...1 of the best cars I've owned. But the Elise/Exige is a different experience.
If you buy new, expect to take a huge depreciation hit right now, but used you can do quite well in the low to mid 30's. imo, if you like the car it's a bargain for the performance you get. Driving the car is a blast...and that's what it's about for me.
Mark
I got mine used with 4000 miles and paid $36000. That's with adjustable shocks that go from plush to harsh, hardtop, softtop, suspension mods, etc etc. It's very liveable on the street so far and I got over 30 mpg on my last tank.
And for the record...did my oil change last weekend. You remove one panel held on by about 12 8mm bolts. With my impact wrench, they were out in about 1 minute. Entire job, first time through took an hour. Easy access to the filter and no issues at all.
I'm having a great time in it and it definitely has more "personality" than the Honda. Lots of things to tinker with, adjust, personalize etc that are harder to do in the Honda. Not knocking the Honda at all...1 of the best cars I've owned. But the Elise/Exige is a different experience.
If you buy new, expect to take a huge depreciation hit right now, but used you can do quite well in the low to mid 30's. imo, if you like the car it's a bargain for the performance you get. Driving the car is a blast...and that's what it's about for me.
Mark