Lotus Exige anyone?

[stonenewt]

Until you've driven an Elise & Cayman on UK back roads I don't think you'll ever really understand what the Elise offers that the Cayman doesn't. It's lack of weight & diminutive dimensions give it most of the Cayman's practicality in a package that's the right size for UK roads. In that regard the S2 misses the mark being heaver & bigger. The Cayman is just a little too big, on several places on my drive to work the road gets so narrow that it feels tight in an Elise, but a Cayman is wider.

[bren5279]

My brother has a turbo'd Lotus Elise
(matt black, bunch of carbon fiber, manual, puts out about 350) he lets me drive it occasionally, its a blast but not even remotely practical DD
Heres the Comparison breakdown:

Lotus Elise (turbod 7psi):
Performance: 7 (turbod up to 10+) - Turbod its fast as hell. the power/weight makes it faster than a ferrari. Ive heard of people building 1200+hp versions as well. Stock its still quite fast with compression ratio and power/weight but still a 4
Shifting: 6 - fast but Quite notchy and loose / rattly
Handling performance: 9 - grips like a magnet, instant response steering,
Smoothness: 3 - shifting is rough + clanky, you can literally feel the paintstrips in the road its so rough of a ride, engines a little rough (obviously isn't a v10)
Comfort: 1 - super super small(expect to rip your pants getting in/out at least once) ,nonadjustable ROCK HARD seats, very cramped, almost nonexistent features such as AC radio etc. VERY loud interior. Surprising amount of leg room length though believe it or not
Features: 1 - what features? ac/heat barely work, radio's kinda pointless
Weatherability: 1 will almost definitely leak in the rain, if you hit deep puddles water can even get into the vents(happened to my brother), almost nonexistent AC means virtually no Defog, weak ac + heat.
Space: 1 - youll touch the passengers leg shifting its so small, the trunk will fit about 2 gym bags tops, the only way you could have less space is on an ariel atom
MPG/power: 9 (10 turbod) - brother got 35mpg average turbod driving somewhat aggressively while putting down 350ish

Overall: 5.5 - Its basically a road legal track car, If you can get by the splitting your pants getting in and out, the horrible uncomfortableness, the nonexistent space, and the lack of interior … anything, its a car with the potential to be ridiculously fast and handle like a magnet (aka track car)

BRZ/FRS:
Performance: 5 (turbod 7-8) - Turbod its got potential. Stock its responsive and quick, just not fast
Shifting: 7 - Smooth and precise for the most part, but may occasionally need double clutching, especially getting into first if going any kind of decent speed, still decent though
Handling performance: 8.5 - grips very well(not on stock prius tires that is), very responsive handling
Smoothness: 7 - Pretty smooth, especially ride quality, little rough due to boxer 4cyl though
Comfort: 6 - Pretty comfortable seats, adjustable, decent temp control ability, tiny virtually nonexistent rear though.
Features: 7 - decent features available, but no steering wheel controls?
Weatherability: 7 - decent in varying environments, rear drive so snow will be lacking but with decent snow tires compensatable, decent defog control, heated mirrors available.
Space: 4 (5 or 6 among sportscars): Lets face it, its pretty small, rear seating basically only for double amputees, trunks kind of small but seats at least fold, front feels a little tight
MPG/power: 7 (8.5 turbod) - great mpg (I avg 30) but not too much HP with it, with a tune and turboyou'd get close to the same mpg highway with much more power potential though

Overall: 7.5 - Great handling car, quick response but not fast unless turbod, not record breaking power/torque (turbo helps but still won't be anything too crazy), pretty small but still comfy, good amount of features on limited, easily maneuverable, fun to drive, oh and did I mention it handles great while still being practical dd?

So basically, unless you plan on using it as 95% track car, BRZ/FRS is your better bet, if you want more oomf turbo it and you'll get a very similar car to the elise, just with all the comforts.

Evora though, now that may be worth looking at if you have the extra money

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

The Elise was my dream car for a while. Not so much now. For a real kart on the road, I'd get a Lotus 7. For a real road car, the Elise isn't enough of a car. That's why Porsche could sell so many more Boxsters and Caymans. For a dedicated track car, there are just so many alternatives, from a formula car to a retired spec racer.

It doesn't really get any more go kart than the 7/BAC Mono/Ariel Atom.

[blackhawkdown]

I've been into lotus since my high school years. Lotus has always been in financial troubles since Colin Chapman died in 1982. The Esprit has gone down in prices, the S4 Esprit is a car I am keeping my eye on, a S4s would be perfect. I wouldn't mind the 84-86 Turbo Esprit. The V8 is to pricey but still in the Exige territory. I really like the rawness of the Exige. I need a second car soon as I will be handing my WRX over to my spouse. I will most likely use my new car to just go to work. I will be an aviation instructor soon so the time spent traveling in the lotus will be nominal, most likely to PT, formations, and the hangar for classes.
$45k is my price range and I am willing to fork over that much since there is no other car in comparison in that territory next to the atom and go karts. Unless you guys can name a car that weighs 2000lbs, high 12 sec quarter mile, 9 secs to 100 mph, rwd and forced induction?

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

I've been into lotus since my high school years. Lotus has always been in financial troubles since Colin Chapman died in 1982. The Esprit has gone down in prices, the S4 Esprit is a car I am keeping my eye on, a S4s would be perfect. I wouldn't mind the 84-86 Turbo Esprit. The V8 is to pricey but still in the Exige territory. I really like the rawness of the Exige. I need a second car soon as I will be handing my WRX over to my spouse. I will most likely use my new car to just go to work. I will be an aviation instructor soon so the time spent traveling in the lotus will be nominal, most likely to PT, formations, and the hangar for classes.
$45k is my price range and I am willing to fork over that much since there is no other car in comparison in that territory next to the atom and go karts. Unless you guys can name a car that weighs 2000lbs, high 12 sec quarter mile, 9 secs to 100 mph, rwd and forced induction?

LS3 Miata

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by BRZZZZZZZZZZ

LS3 Miata

LS3 Miata with some carbon and a supercharger*

[torqdork]

Originally Posted by stonenewt

Until you've driven an Elise & Cayman on UK back roads.

I learned to drive in the UK and owned in order a VW Beetle, Lotus 7, Mini Cooper S and Jag Mk.II 3.8S, all well used but road worthy for the most part except maybe the Jag that always had something broken or about to.

Incredible roads and drivers. Even someone's Mum was always up for a dice on back country roads. Fond memories, and the only time I was pulled over was in the VW for speeding +10 over due to a faulty speedo reading low due to grease migrating into the head (really!).

[blackhawkdown]

since lotus stop selling exige and elises in the states, the prices has steadily increasing. i need to jump on the bandwagon and purchase one soon or until the alfa 4c gets here.

[EAGLE5]

I'd hate to buy the car just because it's not dropping in price.

[torqdork]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

since lotus stop selling exige and elises in the states, the prices has steadily increasing. i need to jump on the bandwagon and purchase one soon or until the alfa 4c gets here.

Not sure about that. Like I posted earlier, eBay completed listings is a great tool. It shows that only about a third of recent Elise listings have sold and all of them for well below your budget:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cars-Trucks-...=Lotus%20Elise

The sales rate for Exige is even less:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cars-Trucks-...=Lotus%20Exige

I would think a car of this type would sell for even less in Jan/Feb when it's a model year older and the snow is flying.

BTW, thanks for your service, it's appreciated.

[fz6r]

Is it just me, or does the Evora look a lot like a FRS/BRZ?

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by fz6r

Is it just me, or does the Evora look a lot like a FRS/BRZ?

Its just you

Also you should rephrase that to "Is it just me, or does the FRS/BRZ look a lot like the Evora" since the Evora came first

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

Unless you guys can name a car that weighs 2000lbs, high 12 sec quarter mile, 9 secs to 100 mph, rwd and forced induction?

I mean...are we talking stock here? Or what...cause...

A nicely built miata* might have those kind of statistics, not sure about 9 seconds to 100mph though. A heavily weight reduced GC8 coupe...although thats being optimistic.

$45k will hand you alot of possibilities in terms of stock and used + modified. I do remember lotus being a very unreasonably reliable car too.



* by nicely built i mean forged motor and decently sized turbo with supporting engine and drivetrain mods.

[cdrazic93]

Wait...since this will be a DD next to a rex, are motorcycles out of the equation? Plenty fast, really good mpg, sporty as hell..about as good in the rain as a lotus lol..