by "CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
Published 05/27/2017 at 00:40
by "CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
Published 05/27/2017 at 00:40
No Tags
STARS: 23
It’s noisy. It’s hard to get in and out of. It’s British so it’s always broken. Everything squeaks and rattles. These are common misnomers. Wait, did I say misnomers? I meant common actualities.
I have officially owned this car for four weeks now, and I have absolutely loved every. single. second. I would like to start by discussing some common concerns I have heard about the Elise / Exige.
Lets start with my favorite; Everything rattles:
Yes. This is true. The car is made of bonded aluminum with plastic bits fastened to it, a stiff suspension, and anything that could dampen or muffle rubs or squeaks was never installed in the name of weight savings. If you have an aversion to squeaks or rattles this is not the car for you. Just know if you will likely spend hours chasing down a noise that is normal and not a concern because if you don’t, it will be the one time that noise is an expensive repair.
It’s noisy:
I have heard this a lot from people who either own, have owned, or have ridden in Elises or Exiges. I have even heard of people stock piling ear plugs in their cars. This is one I will tentatively bunk. Do you get a lot of wind noise with the top off and / or the windows down? Duh. Is there wind noise with the top on and the windows up? Yes, much like a Wrangler with a soft top, but not so unbearable that I would want ear plugs. Well maybe they meant exhaust note. For a stock exhaust it audible in the cabin, but at normal driving I can easily hear and talk to others, even at WOT its not bad. Now here is where I may have to concede my point. Once the exhaust is modified, depending on the noise levels of that exhaust, it may become very noisy.
It’s hard to get in and out of:
As a profesional contortionist I have to call this one as false. Just kidding. even for a professional contortionist its hard to get in and out of. In all honesty, its not that bad. It takes a few tries when your still new to the car, but once you find out what works best for you, its easy.
Okay. So enough of the misnomers. What do I really think about the Lotus?
It’s the best car I have ever owned or driven.
Over the course of 14 years of driving, this is the 21st vehicle I’ve owned, which have ranged from base line Accords, to Jeeps, and even a Ferrari. Combined various driving experiences, high end rentals, and one of the perks of my job having the ability to take all sorts of vehicles out for varying periods of time, I’ve likely driven just over 100 different vehicles over the years. So for me to put a 15 year old, 190hp, Toyota powered rattle trap at the top of my list says something.
Now thats a bold claim to make without reason.
I’ve been into building and tuning cars most if my life, as I’ve grown, so has my taste in cars. Each time I’ve built something I’ve gotten to the point where my goal is either not possible or cost prohibitive. I eventually progressed to the point of buying cars that were capable of the performance levels I desired. The problem with these types of cars is that they are expensive to buy, expensive to maintain, and even more expensive to modify.
When Lotus designed this car, it was designed for one purpose. Driving.
Everything was designed and placed to make this car go faster. Much like what you get when you pay for a Porsche, Lamborghini, or Ferrari. Unlike the Porsche, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, the Lotus comes with an engine sourced from Toyota.
When I owned my Ferrari, I had to pay someone to do my oil changes. Why? Not because I am incapable. Not because I didn’t have the tools. But because if I didn’t, it would lower the value of the vehicle. I also had to have the oil changed at the recommended intervals being every 2 years, or 2,000 miles. Because I had pay a Ferrari certified technician to change my oil, and because they are parts made from Diamond dust (not really), an oil change cost $1,100 (give or take). This past weekend I did an oil change on the Lotus in my garage for $35 worth of oil and a $9.99 oil filter.
When you buy an exotic you buy into exotic costs. For your average exotic car a cat-back exhaust system runs anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000, and thats on average. Finding a good tuner or any form of aftermarket parts is often nearly impossible. Then you have to pay someone to install those parts, because if you install them yourself and you mess up, that a $40,000 engine replacement job.
The Lotus, is again, powered by Toyota, which means theres a ton of relatively inexpensive support out for the motor. And if you break something a replacement motor is all of... say $2,000.
If you’re still with me to this point, the only complaint I have is that this car is small. I mean its small enough that people forgot to see it. They change lanes in front of you. They pull into traffic directly in front of you, while looking at you. They go head on at you while slack jawed staring at you. And they almost rear end you when you’re stopped at red lights because brake lights and stopping distances are hard.
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
05/27/2017 at 01:07, STARS: 0
I agree, exotic costs for no reason are silly, that’s why I have a 240Z!
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
05/27/2017 at 01:08, STARS: 2
This is the best. The best colors, the best perspective, the best reasonably affordable sports car. If I fit in these I’d aspire to own one someday.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
05/27/2017 at 01:59, STARS: 3
A friend of mine has two. One with two seats and all of the factory “creature comforts” (if you can even say it has those). The other is a purpose built track car with a single, center mounted seat and nothing there that isn’t needed on track. He obviously loves them as well.
"Tareim - V8 powered" (tareimgaml)
05/27/2017 at 04:31, STARS: 0
great write up, it reminds me I need to do one for mine
"Speed" (raggedrides)
05/27/2017 at 10:07, STARS: 2
“They go head on at you while slack jawed staring at you.”
Thank you for the visual and the following laugh.
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
05/27/2017 at 11:35, STARS: 3
I want one next, if I can reach the pedals.
On the oil change note - I had an indie shop insist on using Ferrari branded oil in my Abarth because it was under warranty at the time. We just go to the Fiat dealer now.
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
05/27/2017 at 14:04, STARS: 2
Jealousy: Maintained
"Domi-N8" (domi-n8)
05/27/2017 at 20:27, STARS: 0
I think we may have purchased these about the same time. Thank you for the write up. Now I can forward them this article for reference.
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
05/27/2017 at 21:32, STARS: 1
Lol. Thats like saying a chrysler 300 needs engine out service every 15k mi because its the same parent company as Ferrari.
"Leon711" (leon711)
05/28/2017 at 02:55, STARS: 2
You say everything rattles, but surely it must be screwed together better than this TVR I saw yesterday.
Blackpool vs Norfolk, neither known for their specific engineering prowess.
I am jelly though.
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
05/28/2017 at 08:27, STARS: 0
Lol. Funny enough most things aren’t even screwed together. I’ve come to find most are glued in place, or held in place with quick fasteners for ease of access, only big items are actually screwed or bolted together.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
05/28/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 1
Came across this in MD last weekend while sitting thru dialysis w/ mom - you forget how low to the ground the design is ...
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
05/28/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
Tesla roadster. very rare.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
05/28/2017 at 20:56, STARS: 0
Seen an orange one on W. 48th, and that one. (excluding anything parked at a dealership).
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 19:30, STARS: 0
Thanks, now I really want one of these! I have always had that tickle or itch to own one, but now I NEED this! Damn it
hhhhnnnnggggg and only $29k
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
06/05/2017 at 19:33, STARS: 1
My opinion is still that this IS the best car you can buy for the $$. low entry point, great aerodynamics, reliable toyota engine, accessible aftermarket, ad sexy af
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 19:35, STARS: 0
Yeah, this would make a great stable mate to my GTO.
"MrDakka" (mrdakka)
06/05/2017 at 19:36, STARS: 1
You’re not the only one. And it still looks so good
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 19:37, STARS: 0
Ugg, the want is deepening, but the pockets aren’t.
"MrDakka" (mrdakka)
06/05/2017 at 19:38, STARS: 1
Yeah, the pockets never are.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 1
"MrDakka" (mrdakka)
06/05/2017 at 19:46, STARS: 1
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 19:50, STARS: 0
No! If I have to deal with this, then you do too!
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
06/05/2017 at 19:52, STARS: 1
I would go for the silver one, 29k for an 05 with 25k mi, sport package and probably the touring pack (it has the soft top, but can’t see if it has the leather seats and rear cargo net.
Plus the hard top is like a $4,000 add on.
The blue one is nice, but it looks like its been ridden hard, and the BOE 300 series supercharges have been outdated and replaced.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 20:02, STARS: 0
Yeah I like the price of the silver, but it is a bit boring... I guess I could wrap it. Ugg, stop making me make decisions on buying cars I can’t afford lol
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 20:04, STARS: 0
How do you find the trunk space situation?
"MrDakka" (mrdakka)
06/05/2017 at 20:08, STARS: 1
Serious question, what color Lotus Elise would you buy or repaint/wrap/plastidip if money was no concern?
Garish green?
Or some custom paintjob?
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 20:16, STARS: 1
Well stock color I prefer Nightfall Blue and Aubergine Purple
And since I would want my GTO still too and it is blue then I guess the purple.
Though if money was no object I would also be hard pressed to get a custom BRG with the yellow mouth and maybe the single stripe, but maybe a bit more classy like Aston does
like that or maybe like the Evora cup cars or a mix of the two
Though then I think I would like the more subtle purple color
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
06/05/2017 at 20:26, STARS: 1
Theres more space than appears to be. I can fit more than a weeks worth of groceries back there. The biggest problem is the opening size to fit things in, if it wasn’t so small you could likely fit a golf bag in there no problem.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/05/2017 at 20:30, STARS: 1
Eh, Golf bags can suck it. I wouldn’t be driving that to the club anyway.
But that is a decent size then. That is good to know
"DrScientist" (DrScientist)
06/05/2017 at 22:42, STARS: 0
ive recently joined lotus talk, but im not in the market for an elise. i just cant bring myself to buy an “A-to-A” car.
what are the other lotus forums out there?
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
06/05/2017 at 23:04, STARS: 0
Its honestly not an a to a car. I mean I strongly recommend you have another car in the event you need normal amounts of space or desire creature comforts. But in essence its like driving a 911. yeah people will look and wave and take pictures, and yes you will want to make sure you leave it in a safe place, but Ive taken mine to the grocery store, target, home depot, restaurants, and work several times and no concerns.
Other forums I know of is just one, TheLotusForums.com they’re mostly uk based though.
"LighterFaster" (lighterfaster)
02/20/2019 at 14:41, STARS: 0
Join the various Lotus Facebook pages. Lotus owners and enthusiasts is a big one.
"LighterFaster" (lighterfaster)
02/20/2019 at 14:47, STARS: 0
Good write up on a car that’s still a unique and relevant more than a decade in for the US market. You can replace the drivetrain on this car for what it costs to do one brake job on a higher end Porsche. In stock form it has more capability than most drivers. In upgraded form it can keep up on track with cars more than twice the price. And, you can drive this without any depreciation. Hard formula to beat.