[QUOTE=Legal Bill,Aug 18 2004, 10:05 AM]Well, I think you came to the right place if you want opinions about why to get the S2000.

 

I actually had a reservation for an elise since January of this year and was a junkie on all the forums and went to see it whenever a car show came to town with it. I cancelled my reservation in May b/c I really had an itch for a new car and didn't think I could wait it out until February when my Elise would have arrived. I bought a 2004 S and couldn't have been any happier with it. The looks are amazing and alot of people stop you at red lights to admire the car. However, when it comes to looks, I have to honestly say that I love the Elise. It just has that super exotic look like it can go faster than yours eyes can follow.

I was uncomfortable getting in and out (being 5'10) with the top off and I can't even imagine getting in with the top on. Once you're in you're comfortable, but don't plan on letting go of any diet you're on b/c you fit in the seats really snug and there is no room for portly or overweight people. The seat slides back and forth and that's it except for a blood preassure looking pump for you lumbar, so if either one of you are uncomfortable with the seating position, that's not something easily fixed. Of course the ride is like no other. The other thing I didn't care to much for was the small size. Of course this is why it does what it does, but it could have stood to be a few inches wider and longer.

Although I LOVE my S and would put it up against alot of cars, I have to say if I was going to get a car to drive only on the weekends, it would be the Elise. But, since I need a daily driver and wanted performance as well, the S is the only car for me. So to me the question would be how much do you plan on driving it. If it's for the weekends, go for the Elise. If you want it for more time, then definitely the S.

As a tip, if you plan on tracking it and autox, the Elise might be fun one to take out, but man would I hate to front the bill if something goes wrong. Although the engine is Toyota, the mechanics are all Lotus and need experienced workers. The Honda is after all a Honda.'

 

I see a lot of replies about the elise being a horrible daily driver. We both agree. The S2000 seems to have more potential for daily driving than the Elise, so it's a possiblity with the Honda, but not with the Lotus.

We saw one at a dealer and she fell deeper in love for it. We couldn't sit down in it (they said it was a "promo" car and didn't have the keys for it... ya right..) Yeah, roll up windows, no carpet. she knows all about it but isn't fazed. I'm a lucky man.

 

I'm not excpetionally knowledgable about the Elise, but I have read quite a bit, and everything I've read makes me think it's a PURE sports car. If you pick up C&D from a few months back, they compare the S and Elise, and they said that the S was TOO soft for their drivers, but this was a hard core bunch.

But I agree with the post that the Elise is pretty much stripped down, manual windows, manual top, not as comfortable inside (I can't believe I'm calling something plush compared to an S.) If your GF isn't concerned about performance, I'd say the S over the Elise. But honestly, I'd say maybe the Z4, or Audi TT, or one of the other newbies (Chrysler Crossfire or Pontiac Solstice) over the S, cuz it does get harsh, and most girls don't like driving it (expect for ones looking for performance).

My $.02

 

Get the Elise if you have another car.

 

Your girlfriend is awesome!!!

Let her get the Elise, and YOU should milk it all you can!!!

 

Just a note. There are options($1,500) for the Elise for CD w/MP3 player, power windows, etc... that doesn't make it as comfy as an S, but it alleviates some pain for day to day driving.

Unless she's looking to get %100 out of the car, or feels like the S isn't quite hardcore enough for her, I don't see why she'd need and Elise. That being said, I think she should get one, break it in for a few thousand miles, and then sell it to me for $35,000!

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

My wife and I have also been looking into trading the S2000 on an Elise. - the only problem is the wait. I was told last weekend that I had a better chance of purchasing a used Elise than I do in acquiring a new one in the next two years. In fact, the dealer even said that for the price they were selling the Elise at, he would not purchase one. (I guess the people on the list were paying $10,000 over MSRP.)

I do think the car looks amazing and the interior is very small and hard to get into just like everyone said. If I had the opportunity at a good deal on an Elise, I would get one.

 

It will be far easier to find an S to buy at a reasonable price so that may solve your dilemna. One of my co-workers got the second Elise in Atlanta, kept it for a week and sold it to someone in California for an $11k profit. Having ridden in the Elise and driving my GF's S2000 (and being the practical kind of guy that I am) I find the S a far more appealing car for my needs. But my daily driver is a stock '92 Miata with a whopping 90 rwhp, so I am easy to please.

-jb