I'm in Love

[jlaird]

Today at the grocery parking lot I saw my first Lotus Elise.

Oh my word. That is what a modern sports car should be.

 

[tony barnhill]

UH-OH....look out, Miss Agatha...you may have a new garage-mate soon!

 

[jlaird]

Ha, not for a bit over 50K.

 

[MG_Midget_74]

I can do with out the Toyota engine. I have owned a couple of Toyotas and have been disappointed. A lot of problems with a Tacoma and believe it or not Corolla. And no I do not beat my cars and my MG Midget has been great.

 

[John Moore]

Yep, I wish I had one in my garage! Beautiful cars!

 

[glemon]

Last year for our LBC club's autocross one of the member's wives rented him an Elise--he let anyone who wanted to take it for one spin, what a hoot, pretty much a race car for the road.

It was from one of the major rental chains, apparently they had two available, the other was in the shop, makes you wonder what sort of maintenance charges they have on these, tires, brakes, I mean, I don't think people rent these to go get groceries, or because their Taurus is in the shop.

 

[Mio]

Yes, they're very fun little cars. This one shares the garage with my Bugeye.

Mike

 

[bugimike]

Mike, you are truly fortunate, IMHO you have the two most fun cars on the planet in your garage!!

 

[healeyboz]

Very cool!! I went to a car show/autocross yesterday and there were two elises there. A buddy of mine was racing autocross in the lotus class and the poor lotus was getting toasted. I would still like to have one!! They also had a super 7 running--always wanted to get my hands on one of those. The amazing thing is that the 7 is still competitive even today..... with all wheel drive and traction control and such.... By the way, my buddy is running a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8. Unbelievable what that car can do off the show room floor, let alone what it can do after we have tinkered for a year on it.

 

[Mio]

Hi Barry,
Yes, the Evos are solid performers. My other car is a Saab 9-3 Viggen that has been extensively 'tinkered' with. While it's a 4-cylinder it produces 340hp. The Lotus definitely wins any handling and cornering battle but the Saab has gobs more torque (and is much more comfortable to ride in).

Mike

 

[Mio]

IMHO you have the two most fun cars on the planet in your garage!!

Thanks, Mike. Part of the appeal, as you know, is that neither car takes up much room!

Mike

 

[DrEntropy]

The Lotus definitely wins any handling and cornering battle

This is why I wonder what Barry's comment about the Lotus bein' "toasted" is about. It should have respectable times in an autocross, even against the EVO crowd. Inexperienced driver? I'm surprised.

 

[healeyboz]

Dunno, lots of first timers yesterday. Driver probably had all to do with it. I didn't get a chance to talk with him. He could of been takin' it a bit easier, but didn't seem to be. Still great cars in my opinion.

Mike,
Looks like you have plenty of toys to keep you busy! Nice collection.

 

[68Sprite]

They have come down in price, a customer of mine got an orange one with 4000 miles on it for $35K.

 

[George Zeck]

I'm in love with the Lotus as well. Regretfully - it makes the Sprite look easy to get in / out of (& I'm 6" 1").

George

 

[Tullamore]

My spridgets share their space with a new Lotus as well. Here is mine:

 

[GB1]

my keyboard is soaked from this thread.

 

[Sarastro]

Yeah, they're really sexy but...somehow, it doesn't seem right for an old fogey like me. Kinda like a young, pretty trophy wife on my arm--a pathetic combination. I could get a really nice Healey 3000 for the same money, and probably have a bit left over. That just seems to fit better.

Not that I'm going to do any of those things--especially not the trophy wife. Sigh.

 

[bugimike]

Steve, if you are worried about that image as a detriment to owning one of these, then why are you driving a sexy little red sports car in the first place? You know what they say about old fogeys and red sports cars don't you?

(PS I'm old and also drive a red BE!!)

 

[DrEntropy]

Egad... I ~refuse~ to change the colour of my cars just 'cause I'm now "officially" an old fogey!

...and I'd have about any colour Elise to affordably come my way...

I can always PAINT it a proper shade of RED later.