Oppo Halp Me 

"Milky" (jordanmielke) 08/26/2015 at 15:58 • Filed to: Elise, Lotus, Crossfire

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I have come up with a ridiculous idea, get an Elise and keep the Crossfire for a winter beater.

Some of you know I’ve been lusting for an ND Miata or used Z4 for a while now. As I want my next car to be a convertible and have a manual transmission. But wandering minds do what they do and I’ve gone so far down the Elise-internet-rabbit-hole that I’ve looked at what to look for when buying used and the best upgrades.

It kind of makes sense to me because I won’t eat a ton of depreciation, I already put up with a crap ride and small interior, and its not like the Crossfire is worth much. So why not keep it and have 2 cars? Instead of trading it in on a Miata for example.

*KBB does seem quite low though.

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I won’t be young, nimble and kid free forever right?

Now yell at me or look at pretty Elise pictures. Whatever floats your goat.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:00

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DO IT!!!!

(There, I yelled at you. And what I do with my goat is none of your damn business.)

JR1 > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:01

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If it fits your lifestyle and you have the budget I don’t see why this isn’t a great choice for the money. I think they are reliable as well.

EL_ULY > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:03

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no. get this

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:03

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Fun car to drive, but the pedals and shifter feel like crap.

I’ve only taken 1 autocross run in one

fairlady78 > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:04

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Just throw some hakkapeliittas on that xfire and it will be a great winter beater. Elise all day long!

CB > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:04

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Did you want reasonable advice? You came to the wrong place.

Sure, do it, why not. Jarod has it down pat.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:05

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My neighbor apparently picked up your car’s twin.

Milky > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 08/26/2015 at 16:05

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Im sorry, shouldn't have intruded on you and your goats business.

Azrek > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:06

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I love those little Lotuses so much...but I am too tall. It is a tough fit!

MLGCarGuy > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:06

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At first, I thought that that would be a pretty bad idea…but now I think you should pull the trigger. Just find one in good condition and enjoy your virtually depreciation-free drive.

djmt1 > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:07

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Never been a fan of the Elise. Maybe I’m only allowed to like one old British brand’s modern RWD manual roadster that has a Japanese sourced mid mounted 1.8l engine.

Laurence > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:07

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If you’re willing to sacrifice some practicality, I can’t why not; I think oppo has some Elise owners who could give you some advice here.

(Also, am I the only one that views the Elise as what a 4th gen MR2 could have been?; its a mid engined, two seat sports car with a lowish price tag and a Toyota engine)

Tareim - V8 powered > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:07

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DO IT!!! & make sure you get one with the Toyota engine

Noah - Now with more boost. > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:08

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I hear Elise resale values are pretty excellent!

Milky > JR1 08/26/2015 at 16:08

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Thinking I’d save for longer VS getting a Miata. Like buy next summer longer, so it’d be a study of my own patience.

And from what I can tell reliability is rather good, definite positive.

Milky > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/26/2015 at 16:09

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You seem to have forgotten I’ll be coming from an auto Crossfire, not a M3.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:09

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As someone who drives an E85 Z4, that’s the way to go. But if you fit in an Elise (I don’t. At least not for more than a few laps), that’s a good choice too.

Milky > EL_ULY 08/26/2015 at 16:10

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but the ‘09s are soooo pretty and the interior are amazing. If I was going Z4, it’d be a used new model.

Milky > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 08/26/2015 at 16:10

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Meaning high mileage red Crossfire?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:12

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I say you keep it Detroit and get a Saturn Sky or Pontiac Solstice.

TractorPillow > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:12

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I drove a 2006 Elise for 2 years (7 months as DD) and put over 12k miles on it. I paid $24,500 and sold it for $27,000 with 79k miles on it. Never a single issue. Super reliable. Oh and did I mention amazingly fun, fast, and drop dead gorgeous???

Main problem: will ruin just about every other car for you in regards to handling. Seriously. Also, lotustalk has a wealth of knowledge and some of the best car dudes on the Internet. I'm actually getting a little jealous thinking about you buying one. If you have any questions about it I can give you my email and talk your ear off about them.

MarquetteLa > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:13

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This sounds highly reasoned. DO IT

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:20

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No clue on miles, but it’s red and really clean.

TractorPillow > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:25

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Also fun for halloween

Tripper > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:29

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DO IT. Get BRG though, I love that color.

Laurence > djmt1 08/26/2015 at 16:29

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TFs had a Japanese engine? How did I not know this (also, £13,995 is a mega CP)

BeaterGT > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:31

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I say get an Elise. But that’s only because I also want an Elise. I like EL_ULY ’ s choice with the hardtop Z4 as well.

djmt1 > Laurence 08/26/2015 at 16:38

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Virtually everything from the late MG Rover was Honda sourced right down to chassis. Also I assume that picture is from new as TFs are going for around £500 at the moment.

Steve in Manhattan > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:38

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Spring 2006 - walking in SoHo. Saw a bright green Elise, guy holding forth to other guys about its virtues. His gorgeous GF in the front seat, so of course I stopped to admire the car (and the GF). She stared straight at me and mouthed the words: “It’s mine.”

And my only concern for you would be the insurance cost. Check first, before buying.

Tohru > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 08/26/2015 at 16:40

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Found the Scotsman

Tohru > Milky 08/26/2015 at 16:42

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I’m okay with viewing the Ceasefire as a beater. Also, I think KBB is a bit high.

Skamanda > Milky 08/26/2015 at 17:01

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I’m not gonna say don’t do it, because damn it, it’s an Elise, but.... Go sit in one first. The Elise has been my dream car my whole adult life , and it only took one time sitting in one (or more to the point getting in and out of one, and then seeing how little room there was for my feet to do things like shift and hit pedals) for me to sigh forlornly and move on to trying to find a new dream car.

The Crossfire would look amazing all mad maxed out on a rallycross course....I’m just sayin’!

Milky > djmt1 08/26/2015 at 17:09

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But I'm an merican. Sorry.

Milky > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 08/26/2015 at 17:09

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Nice! But uhh mine was clean about 50k miles ago lol.

Milky > TractorPillow 08/26/2015 at 17:14

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Thanks for the pro tip about lotustalk and for that good info. I might come back to this post if I have questions later!

Laurence > djmt1 08/26/2015 at 17:15

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That's actually pretty cool; I knew a lot of the less interesting cars were Honda based, but always thought the TF was all MG Rover

Milky > Steve in Manhattan 08/26/2015 at 17:15

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That's a very good point, haven't even thought about insurance.

Milky > BeaterGT 08/26/2015 at 17:16

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But I want to try out those convertible feels tho.

Milky > CB 08/26/2015 at 17:17

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I’m not a fan of “reasonable” advice anyways.

Milky > Tohru 08/26/2015 at 17:19

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Ha, I've never heard ceasefire before.

Milky > Tareim - V8 powered 08/26/2015 at 17:24

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Aren't the Toyota engines the only ones the U.S. Got? Might be wrong but I thought all 05+ were the 1.8 yota engine.

BeaterGT > Milky 08/26/2015 at 17:24

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I thought you could get a hardtop convertible just like the Elise?

Steve in Manhattan > Milky 08/26/2015 at 17:24

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You can make it a weekend car - promise to drive it less than 5K a year - and that might get you a discount. I shudder to think what it would cost to DD it. But hey - it’s a Toyota engine - what could go wrong? Call your insurance company - I’d be interested to hear what they quote you.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Milky 08/26/2015 at 17:25

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I always loved the Elise... sexy little car. Though I bet you’ll pick up more men than women with it.

In my 1st hand observation, women on average tend to like cars that are more luxurious. Of course there are exceptions... like $kayog

Though I have to say... The Crossfire wouldn’t be my first choice for a winter vehicle.

But since you already have it and if it isn’t giving you any problems, you might as well hang onto it.

Milky > Tripper 08/26/2015 at 17:26

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Everyone loves BRG, preferably with tan interior.

Sam > Milky 08/26/2015 at 17:31

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You won’t really get that in the Elise. Yeah, the roof comes out, but it kinda feels like a big sunroof.

Milky > Skamanda 08/26/2015 at 17:33

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Disappointed in myself for still not having rally-crossfire’d. But I’m a slender 6’ so I'm hoping I fit!

Milky > Laurence 08/26/2015 at 17:35

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I’ve DD’d a 2 seater for 2 and half years and was(am) considering a Miata ... I'm not a fan of practicality.

Milky > Azrek 08/26/2015 at 17:36

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I’m hoping 6’ isn't too tall!

Milky > BeaterGT 08/26/2015 at 17:39

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I've only ever seen one hardtop convertible of the gen that eluly posted. Maybe I should look harder.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Milky 08/26/2015 at 17:44

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That name was normally assigned to the GM Crossfire fuel injection system...

smobgirl > Milky 08/26/2015 at 19:54

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Do itttttttt!

And then let me take it for a spin :)

Tohru > Laurence 08/26/2015 at 21:19

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DeMurano had one.

Tareim - V8 powered > Milky 08/27/2015 at 07:05

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yeah they probably did just get the Toyota engine though not 100% sure on it

Milky > Sam 08/27/2015 at 09:39

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Mhmm …. well thats what test drives are for. A big sunroof is still more open air than what I have now.

Milky > Steve in Manhattan 08/27/2015 at 09:44

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Im still a ways off from calling about insurance, but a quick search on lotus talk reveals $1000-$3000 a year. Depending on age and record, luckily Im over 25.

But keeping it under 5k a year would be hard. Im averaging 20k a year now, so I couldn't commit to only 5ooo miles.

Milky > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 08/27/2015 at 09:47

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Crossfire does surprising well in the snow with Blizzaks. But yea you’re probably right, an Elise would attract a lot of car dudes.

Milky > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/27/2015 at 09:50

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In my head though those cars are too close to the Crossfire … and somehow make a Miata seem practical, lol. When it comes time to actually get something Im going to test drive a scat pack. Its not a convertible or sports car really, but fuck, gotta at least give it a test drive. Thats what Ill get if I “keep it Detroit”.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky 08/27/2015 at 10:19

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What about a Mustang GT?

Ooo fox body? Hahaha.

Hey what are you up to saturday? Lingenfelter C&C in Wixom, I plan on taking the Montego

Milky > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/27/2015 at 10:38

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Ha, well honestly Im too hipster for a Challenger, so waaayyy too hipster for a Mustang.

And everytime I say Im going to goto a C&C I end up getting drunk the night before and then hungover. Lingenfelter would be the one to goto though ….. so I’ll try!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky 08/27/2015 at 10:47

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BETTER BE THERE.

In exchange, if you’re cool saturday morning, just come over saturday night and I’ll make up for the lack of consumption Friday night. Hahahaha

How about this if you’re hipster but want a fun car.

I just saw a deal on a Mercury Capri 5.0L Bubble Back fox platform car!

Steve in Manhattan > Milky 08/27/2015 at 14:21

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Also - only the engine is Toyota - do these have a decent reliability record?

Milky > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/28/2015 at 09:52

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Lol true story, I now have plans to go out in Ann Arbor tonight as a last-night-here party(before moving back to the D). So uh yea not gonna make it the morning.

Also if I was going older, it’d be this:

Still on my bucket list to own someday.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky 08/28/2015 at 09:58

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Is that a current listing? If it’s as clean as it looks man....that’s a hell of a price. BUY IT

Milky > Steve in Manhattan 08/28/2015 at 10:01

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I am no expert, but from what I’ve looked up the cam is the only thing you really have to check mechanical wise.

So yea, thats pretty nice.

Theres not much else to break!

Milky > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/28/2015 at 11:06

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I don’t look often but whenever I do there is always a nice V8 in the $10-15k range. BUT I WANT A NICE, NEW DD.

Well maybe not “new” but you get my point. A Cougar would be like my 3rd car.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky 08/28/2015 at 11:12

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DD the Cougar!

We could have Mercury Muscle meet ups!

Steve in Manhattan > Milky 08/28/2015 at 15:44

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There might be a power window. Just the one. You’re right - very little to break, because they don’t give you anything. Brakes, yeah, but not much else.