S2000 vs Elise
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,130
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From: Canton, MA
Originally Posted by hecash,Aug 18 2004, 02:51 PM
Disagree with LegalBill;
In straight stock form for the Elise and adding a supercharger and adjustable coilovers on the S2000, it will eat the Elise's breakfast and lunch at a power track (Road America) and stay with it or near to it on a technical track (Gingerman, Grattan, Putnam Park, Mid-Ohio). It just winds out on the long straights at Road America while the supercharged S2000 is still accelerating. Ask most Elise/Exige owners if they like driving at Road America and they probably say no.
In straight stock form for the Elise and adding a supercharger and adjustable coilovers on the S2000, it will eat the Elise's breakfast and lunch at a power track (Road America) and stay with it or near to it on a technical track (Gingerman, Grattan, Putnam Park, Mid-Ohio). It just winds out on the long straights at Road America while the supercharged S2000 is still accelerating. Ask most Elise/Exige owners if they like driving at Road America and they probably say no.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,037
Likes: 26
From: SoCal
S2000 = $30k
Elise = $45k
Elise = 2 year wait if you aren't already on a list
S2000 Advantages:
Huge dealer network
Rock solid reliability reputation
Documented high resale value
Excellent safety ratings
Aftermarket support
Easier ingress/egress
Vastly superior power soft top
And all of the little things that are easy to forget...the best 6 speed shifter ever, award winning 240hp engine, near perfect weight balance, reservoir shocks, great brakes, HID headlights, limited slip differential, a trunk that can hold 2 sets of golf clubs.
Elise Advantages:
Slightly faster on a race track
More exclusive
Radical styling
Both cars are a blast to drive, you can't really go wrong with either on the fun/mile scale.
Elise = $45k
Elise = 2 year wait if you aren't already on a list
S2000 Advantages:
Huge dealer network
Rock solid reliability reputation
Documented high resale value
Excellent safety ratings
Aftermarket support
Easier ingress/egress
Vastly superior power soft top
And all of the little things that are easy to forget...the best 6 speed shifter ever, award winning 240hp engine, near perfect weight balance, reservoir shocks, great brakes, HID headlights, limited slip differential, a trunk that can hold 2 sets of golf clubs.
Elise Advantages:
Slightly faster on a race track
More exclusive
Radical styling
Both cars are a blast to drive, you can't really go wrong with either on the fun/mile scale.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 741
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From the net:
turns lock to lock / ratio / turning circle daimteter, feet
S2000: 2.6 / 14.9 / 35.4
Elise : 2.8 / 15.8 / 32.8
Not that far apart... On an parked Elise you can grab a front tire and "turn it", watching the steering wheel spin inside the car!
Stan
turns lock to lock / ratio / turning circle daimteter, feet
S2000: 2.6 / 14.9 / 35.4
Elise : 2.8 / 15.8 / 32.8
Not that far apart... On an parked Elise you can grab a front tire and "turn it", watching the steering wheel spin inside the car!
Stan
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,061
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From: Sunnyvale
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...0&#entry4359123
How timely, I just drove an elise today, got about a 45 minute test drive.
I came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth $20K more than my S2000. I'd need to get the touring package ($1500), the hardtop ($1500), and the sport package ($2500), plus tax and license... $50K. S2000s can be had for $33K out the door...
the elise understeered like mad, typical of a midengine car, with only 38% percent of it's weight over the front wheels. You can read the rest of the thread for my thoughts...
but, entry and exit isn't that bad if you know the trick. right leg in, left hand on sill, aim butt at seat, right hand on left side of seat, drop butt, put left leg in... works fine with or without the top. I'm not saying it's easy, by any stretch, but it's not quite as bad as people say, if you know how to do it.
The elise's steering feels REALLY slow. It seems like a MUCH greater difference than that, probably because the base suspension understeers so badly.
I agree with hecash. $10K into an S2000 would absolutely rock the Elise, $4K for a vortech supercharger, $500 for clutch, $400 for a big radiator, $2000 for stoptechs + spacers, $3000 for Ohlins or JRZ singles...
ok, maybe a few more grand for tuning and you're still well under the price of the elise.
that would make a car with a hugely superior power to weight ratio, a lot of brakes, etc.
How timely, I just drove an elise today, got about a 45 minute test drive.
I came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth $20K more than my S2000. I'd need to get the touring package ($1500), the hardtop ($1500), and the sport package ($2500), plus tax and license... $50K. S2000s can be had for $33K out the door...
the elise understeered like mad, typical of a midengine car, with only 38% percent of it's weight over the front wheels. You can read the rest of the thread for my thoughts...
but, entry and exit isn't that bad if you know the trick. right leg in, left hand on sill, aim butt at seat, right hand on left side of seat, drop butt, put left leg in... works fine with or without the top. I'm not saying it's easy, by any stretch, but it's not quite as bad as people say, if you know how to do it.
The elise's steering feels REALLY slow. It seems like a MUCH greater difference than that, probably because the base suspension understeers so badly.
I agree with hecash. $10K into an S2000 would absolutely rock the Elise, $4K for a vortech supercharger, $500 for clutch, $400 for a big radiator, $2000 for stoptechs + spacers, $3000 for Ohlins or JRZ singles...
ok, maybe a few more grand for tuning and you're still well under the price of the elise.
that would make a car with a hugely superior power to weight ratio, a lot of brakes, etc.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Kit - Sport Compact Car seemed to like the steering on the Elise. They just loved the lil thing! See below.
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Lotus Elise
The most undiluted car sold in America
by Josh Jacquot
There's a lot of aluminum in the Lotus Elise. And we don
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Lotus Elise
The most undiluted car sold in America
by Josh Jacquot
There's a lot of aluminum in the Lotus Elise. And we don
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,061
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale
they actually don't mention the steering specifically at all...
and you missed a very important detail
[QUOTE]"Our car was fitted with the optional Sport Pack, which adds forged wheels as well as a 15-percent increase in damper and spring rates and Yokohama
and you missed a very important detail
[QUOTE]"Our car was fitted with the optional Sport Pack, which adds forged wheels as well as a 15-percent increase in damper and spring rates and Yokohama
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 741
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>>>they actually don't mention the steering specifically at all...<<<
Reread the article Kit. It is clearly mentioned.
>>>and you missed a very important detail QUOTE "Our car was fitted with the optional Sport Pack, which adds forged wheels as well as a 15-percent increase in damper and spring rates and Yokohama
Reread the article Kit. It is clearly mentioned.
>>>and you missed a very important detail QUOTE "Our car was fitted with the optional Sport Pack, which adds forged wheels as well as a 15-percent increase in damper and spring rates and Yokohama
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,046
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From: Okoboji
Instead of the price of an elise, get a used boxster S or Z4.
$45000 for a weekend driver is a lot of money if a new Boxster S is too expensive....
Plus, she may like the way the elise looks sitting in the show-room... but will she like the behavior of others when she is driving?
I would bet money that there will be idiots daily cutting her off to try and "prove" their cars are faster. I for one immediately have the reaction of "what a waste" when I see a lambo driven 65mph on the hwy....
You can do a search, but even our unobtrusive S gets pickups irked and ricers' blood pumping when we drive... I can't imagine what freaks are going to do to the little bug Elise....
$45000 for a weekend driver is a lot of money if a new Boxster S is too expensive....
Plus, she may like the way the elise looks sitting in the show-room... but will she like the behavior of others when she is driving?
I would bet money that there will be idiots daily cutting her off to try and "prove" their cars are faster. I for one immediately have the reaction of "what a waste" when I see a lambo driven 65mph on the hwy....
You can do a search, but even our unobtrusive S gets pickups irked and ricers' blood pumping when we drive... I can't imagine what freaks are going to do to the little bug Elise....
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,061
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From: Sunnyvale
Originally Posted by E30M3,Aug 19 2004, 06:48 PM
It kinda sounds like you're trying to justify your decision to purchase a 2004 S2000. Both the Elise and the S2000 are neat cars and won't be understood by many.
I do really like the elise... i just don't like it almost $20K more than I like the S2000.