I just got the call from the nearest Lotus Dealer. My number on the waiting list has come up and it's now time to place my order.

It's all very tempting, but I think I'm going to pass and get my deposit back. I have an '04 S2000 that is more entertaining than I expected it to be ... and it's also trouble free.

I think the Elise is just too impractical to be anything more than a weekend toy. Even then, it's very limiting with regards to where you can go in it.

With the recent price increase (the 2nd since I placed my deposit) the Elise is now close to $50k optioned the way I'd like it. My S2000 might be worth $26k. I don't see the Elise being twice the car. It may not even be "once the car".

So, what do you think? Will I regret passing on the Elise? I can't say how long I'll keep my S2000, but I am looking ahead to other options.

1-- Wait for the Porsche Boxster Coupe and then move on from the S2000.

or

2-- Keep the S2000 and add a new VW GTI (excellent reviews) with the extra $24k. Fun & practical. Insuring 2 cars (GTI & S2K) shouldn't be much worse than insuring one Elise.

Your thoughts?

It's going to be hard to tell the Lotus dealer "Nevermind". The Elise is still a cool car. I just don't think it's worth the $ or the headaches that'll come with it.

 

I think if you get the GTI you will hate driving it so much you'll end up regretting spending all that cash on a new car you sorta like. At least I would after having daily driven my S for over a year.

It definately makes economical sense to just keep your S and somehow put that extra 24k to good use.

 

Keep the S, and use the extra 24k to purchase a small SUV to carry more than two passengers and also to haul stuff.

The S is great, but I can't take it up to Tahoe to go snowboarding. That's were my Explorer comes in.

 

I think you're making the right choice. I wouldn't trade a nice S2k and $24k to get an Elise.

 

Definitely pass. I passed on my reservation for the Elise this summer and I haven't regreted one second of it. The community here is just so much bigger and there's more stuff to do. On one of the monthly drives through the mountains that the Atlanta club went on, I spotted a red Elise go past us in the other direction. He was by himself, but I was with 9 other S2000's. Definitely makes the drives more entertaining.

It may looks super exotic, but it's ONLY a drivers car. The S is sporty, but massaged enough so you can take a date out in it. No girl would enjoy getting into the Elise without pants...er, I mean with a skirt on.

 

Well, substitute whatever else you can think of in place of the GTI. Maybe a MINI Cooper S (once revised) or an Audi A3 Sportback....or any of a million used vehicles.

Point is, I tend to think that a pretty new S2000 + $24k to be spent on whatever is still better than a Lotus Elise and no $ leftover.

If I were to spend $50k, I think I'd want a sportscar with some reliability, a substantial dealer network, and a car that I can also take on a weekend roadtrip.

The Elise is like a really really expensive sportbike. Once you carve up all of the fun roads within an hour or so of your home, and once you do some track days, what else is there? I can't see myself even taking it to dinner and a movie.

As you can tell, I've pretty much made up my mind --- but I am just wondering is anyone here would dump their newish S2k and blow $24k more to get themselves and Elise.

 

yep......put the $24K in your 401K

or I like the Boxster coupe idea ...... or perhaps Boxster S
and who knows how the next gen M3 will turn out

 

keep ur S, it will give u lots more fun!!

 

Keep the S and buy a reliable 4 door. I think that would be the most practical solution for you. Someone stated that you will hate the 2nd car after driving the S, but you aren't going to be using the 2nd car in the way that you use the S, so I wouldn't be worried about that.

 

they are common in the UK, cost there (in us dollars) is ~$20k