Lotus Elise...I ordered it!!
03-06-2003, 02:31 PM
#23
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No - the engine hasn't been announced yet. The rumor leader is the Celica GTS motor.
The Elise currently has a Rover 1.8 liter four cylinder.
The ITR motor was put into the car by a company in the states - FYI
The Elise currently has a Rover 1.8 liter four cylinder.
The ITR motor was put into the car by a company in the states - FYI
03-06-2003, 05:24 PM
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Why put a 1.8l 180hp motor when u can have the f20c 2l 240 hp motor? can someone light me on this one. Maybe because the engine is cheaper?
Anyway good choice, im sure you will have a lot of fun with this car.
Anyway good choice, im sure you will have a lot of fun with this car.
03-06-2003, 05:36 PM
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there was an article in C&D or R&T about a company that was importing them and retrofitting ITR AND S2000 engines into them. I think somewhere there is probably an elise with something amazing going on under the hood of that tiny little car
03-06-2003, 05:53 PM
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I have heard about them putting the S2000 motor in it, but it is not street legal and I have not found away around that. That is why I have been waiting for the street legal one to come.
Meat, what size wheels and tires do you run on the exige?
Meat, what size wheels and tires do you run on the exige?
03-06-2003, 08:16 PM
#27
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The recipe (and the packaging) are perfection--lightweight engine in super-stiff chassis with no concern for convenience or comfort. I saw (and touched to confirm it was real) a silver Elise in Los Gatos, CA a year ago. A very sinister car--looks much meaner in person than in pics. Only issue with it is, why so fookin' expensive? ~150hp Motor+tranny+body+2 seats = $40K? WTF? A 914 with an S2000 motor (UL could do the conversion, right? 
) = 20K and more performance/amenities.
) = 20K and more performance/amenities.
03-07-2003, 04:02 AM
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There is no Elise/Exige with an S2000 motor in it to my knowledge. This is a good concept but no one has actually done it - there is much trans work to be done to get this to work.
FYI - the Celica motor in Toyota trim is 190hp. Lotus will be developing its own ECU and cams from what I have heard - so the power could be more linear throughout the powerband and peak hp may be increased a bit. Also remember the car will weigh about 1800lbs - 1000lbs lighter than the S2000. You do the math on the power to weight. $40K is cheap for this performance. Not to mention the driving experience is like nothing you will get in any other $40K car.
The Exige runs on 195/50 16's in the front and 225/45 17's in the rear.
FYI - the Celica motor in Toyota trim is 190hp. Lotus will be developing its own ECU and cams from what I have heard - so the power could be more linear throughout the powerband and peak hp may be increased a bit. Also remember the car will weigh about 1800lbs - 1000lbs lighter than the S2000. You do the math on the power to weight. $40K is cheap for this performance. Not to mention the driving experience is like nothing you will get in any other $40K car.
The Exige runs on 195/50 16's in the front and 225/45 17's in the rear.
03-07-2003, 05:47 AM
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You think you could fit 205/45R16's on the front? I am looking into race tires. The back is not a problem, but it comes with 175/55R16 on the front, so I am looking into options. This may change once it gets here though.
03-07-2003, 05:49 AM
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If you are 300 miles from a dealer - you better be handy in the garage or know someone who is! These cars have "personality".
I know 2 people, one who owns an Esprit (95)and another who owns a Ferrari F355 (96-97?). Both are constantly taking their cars to the shop. Even though both are 3 rd or 4th cars for them and only get driven on the weekends, it is amazing how often they are in the shop. The repair bill for the Ferrari is unbelievable.
My colleague's sister at work just bought the high end Range Rover. In the 9 months she owned the car, it has been at the dealer for about 7 months with constant electronics problems.
Do you think the US spec Elise will be a "new" Lotus or the "same old" Lotus?