Euro cousins feedback on Lotus Elise

[The Heretic]

There is a nice little car I just learned about today, made by one of my fave car companies Lotus. It is the Lotus Elise:

I believe Lotus may be importing this to the US sometime this year and I am interested in it, but since it isn't here in the US except in racing form, I was wondering if any of Lit's European members had ridden in or driven this car. What I am specifically interested in is the leg and head room on the driver's side - being 6'6" I have found that cars like this (like the Toyota MR2) are often too small for me to fit in, much less fit in comfortably.

Anybody?

TIA

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Snazzy looking car. Lotus gets a lot out of there engines too, so they're usually screamers. Usually some big bucks for them too.

Astin Martin's coming out with a couple new cars too. They will be interesting.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

STG, most of the Europeans are asleep right now. You'll have to bump this in the morning.

 

[The Heretic]

Snazzy looking car. Lotus gets a lot out of there engines too, so they're usually screamers. Usually some big bucks for them too.

I think when this comes to the US it will have a 150-200 HP Toyota engine, which is fine - my only problem with Toyota sports cars is that I can't fit into them. The main claim to fame Lotus has is their handling and light weight - after all Chapman pretty much wrote the textbook on modern car suspension design. You don't really need a lot of HP to push around a 1700 pound car that is made from carbon fiber, fiberglass and aluminum. The cool thing is that it is so light I could carry it in a fifth wheel.

BTW, I was wrong about this coming to the US in 2003, looks like 2004 at the earliest. No biggie - it isn't like I could afford a new car this year anyway.

Astin Martin's coming out with a couple new cars too. They will be interesting.

I don't think I will ever be able to afford an Aston Martin.

 

[The Heretic]

For those interested in this car, here is the best website I have found on it:

http://www.elises.co.uk/index.html

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Lotus is pretty pricey too.

Though it is an interesting car. I sat in an Esprit once at an auto show and really liked it.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Do you think it will have the headroom that you need?

I'll bet there aren't many cars that are comfortable for you. SUV's usually have a lot of headroom, I'm surprised your not looking at them. I prefer automobiles, I don't have an SUV. I like a nimble ride and a five or six speed std transmission.

 

[The Heretic]

Lotus is pretty pricey too.

A DB7 is about $70,000, whereas an Elise is about half that. There is pricey, and then there is pricey.

 

[The Heretic]

Do you think it will have the headroom that you need?

I am hoping that since it is a European car it will have enough headroom. The Triumphs I used to own had plenty of leg room, and the sedan had plenty of headroom too. The TR3 had barely enough headroom, but was better than the Toyota MR2 which has neither enough headroom nor leg room, I doubt I could even safely drive it. I have been told by my brother that the Porsche Boxster he drove was comfortable for him (he is only two inches shorter than me).

I'll bet there aren't many cars that are comfortable for you. SUV's usually have a lot of headroom, I'm surprised your not looking at them. I prefer automobiles, I don't have an SUV. I like a nimble ride and a five or six speed std transmission.

I had a Bronco II that was okay until the trans broke for the second time. Right now I have a beater Toyota Tercel with enough headroom, but just barely.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

When you mentioned the Toyota MR2, I was reminded of those Shaquille O'Neil television advertisements where he drove a car around with his head showing through the top of a convertable roof.

 

[BiPleasuresOH]

deleted

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

I'm just average height. I fit into anything. But I like talking about cars...

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Daytons' a cool place. They have a Valkyrie there. Valiyries are even faster than Lotus'. LOL.

 

[TallOne]

I went from a Jeep Grand Cherokee to my Acura RSX.

The RSX actually has more head and leg room than the Jeep did. Go figure.

But as far as sporty coupes go, the RSX was certainly the exception. Couldn't fit very well into many others being 6'7 myself.

 

[The Heretic]

Looking at the brochure, I would bet that this car has the typical English ample legroom, but headroom might be another issue. Euro cars usually have more of both than Asian cars do - for obvious reasons.

I guess I will just have to wait until one is imported - I don't suppose the local Lotus dealer would have the race version on their showroom floor.

 

[TallOne]

It's alright. It's a good mix of a decent sized city with some country settings too.

But I'm definitely anxious to move back to the south.

Wonder why I couldn't delete that post, oh well.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Looking at the brochure, I would bet that this car has the typical English ample legroom, but headroom might be another issue. Euro cars usually have more of both than Asian cars do - for obvious reasons.

I guess I will just have to wait until one is imported - I don't suppose the local Lotus dealer would have the race version on their showroom floor.

LOL...

Is the economy in Seattle picking up at all?

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

It's alright. It's a good mix of a decent sized city with some country settings too.

But I'm definitely anxious to move back to the south.

Wonder why I couldn't delete that post, oh well.

Have you seen the Valkyrie in Dayton? It's a rarity.

 

[TallOne]

Nope

Most exotic car I've seen around is an NSX.

 

[Azwed]

I remember the first time I saw the Elise a few years ago. At the time the Elise was using a motor from Rover. The main thing keeping the Elise from the US market was that the Rover motor could not meet US emissions standards.

I know the Elise has been recently redesigned and there is talk again of bringing it to US market. I would love to see it here. The US market has always been so tuff on small sporty cars but I think now is about the right time for the Elise.

The Elise was named after either Lotus's CEO's daughter or his wife I forget.

 

[The Heretic]

LOL...

Is the economy in Seattle picking up at all?

Not that I can tell, but I hope to have a job someday, maybe sooner than later. If I could just get a job for the next year or two then I think I would survive this downturn. I am hoping that I will get a job soon because if I don't I will deplete my savings and have to move by summer's end.

 

[Kymberley]

I remember the first time I saw the Elise a few years ago. At the time the Elise was using a motor from Rover. The main thing keeping the Elise from the US market was that the Rover motor could not meet US emissions standards.

I know the Elise has been recently redesigned and there is talk again of bringing it to US market. I would love to see it here. The US market has always been so tuff on small sporty cars but I think now is about the right time for the Elise.

The Elise was named after either Lotus's CEO's daughter or his wife I forget.

Wow, so many times on the same page. Too exciting.

 

[Kymberley]

Finally. I saw it....too kewl

 

[The Heretic]

Wow, so many times on the same page. Too exciting.

LOL!

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Nope

Most exotic car I've seen around is an NSX.

I got carried away on another thread...

The Valkyrie is an aluminum honeycomb skinned flying beast with a six pack of engines all tied together nicely in a row at the back. It has a faint resemblance to the Concorde, but with attitude. It flew at Mach 3 (faster than the fastest Lotus) and was built around 1960. There's only one remaining and it sits in a museum in Dayton now, not far from the Stealth fighter prototype. North American Aviation, El Segundo, Calf.