Opinions on Lotus Elise?
05-11-2004, 01:47 AM
#32
Originally posted by moff It was only faster than the 911 GT3 and NSX-R because they were wet weather times.
Originally posted by neeks127 here's my conclusion: get the celica, reduce the weight to 1800lbs. do some mods here and there so that it'll outperform an elise. and did i mention that i'll have 12K left to spare?
I'm pretty sure anyone here would take a S2K over a Civic anyday, I mean seriously... 
It's probably this kind of thinking why it took so long for Lotus to even think the US was ready for a car like this. I still can't believe someone compared a SRT-4 to an Elise.
05-11-2004, 01:56 AM
#33
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who's comparing the srt4 to the elise? purchase a civic hatchback and drop a H22 in there? what are you talking about? REREAD the post pineapple!! you're missing my point.
05-11-2004, 02:37 AM
#34
Originally posted by neeks127
who's comparing the srt4 to the elise? purchase a civic hatchback and drop a H22 in there? what are you talking about? REREAD the post pineapple!! you're missing my point.
who's comparing the srt4 to the elise? purchase a civic hatchback and drop a H22 in there? what are you talking about? REREAD the post pineapple!! you're missing my point.
05-11-2004, 09:11 AM
#38
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I was thinking about what I said about the 360M. I didn't mean to say the Viper 8L V10 is a "better" engine than the 3.6L V8. I just wanted to say, because the 360 has a small engine does not make it somehow better.
I'm not saying the Gallardo is better than the 360 Modena, what I'm saying is the 360 would be better if it had maybe a 5L V10 (for example). We know Ferrari is moving to address this precieved or actual lack of power or TQ with the next gen Modena.
I mean in the past Ferrari used a 2.8L V8 turbo for it's F40. Today that engine is well behind the curve now set by the Enzo and the Carrera GT.
By the same token, the NSX is put down for it's lack of blinding performance. Although the 360M is a fast car, it is no faster than a Z06 (C5) and will be darn slow next to a C6 Z06 if projections are met by GM.
Back on the topic of the Elise, I think the 1.8L is "fine". It is used in a Matrix (or a similar engine). However for $40-44K I would want something more than "fine". The engine swap I've read about with a 2.0L Honda in the Elise are nothing short of astounding. I think with the 1.8L the Elise will meet expectations. If it had a stronger engine it would have shattered expectations. I can't help but believe the engine choice has more to do with dollars and cents than with making the US Elise the best car it can be.
I'm not saying the Gallardo is better than the 360 Modena, what I'm saying is the 360 would be better if it had maybe a 5L V10 (for example). We know Ferrari is moving to address this precieved or actual lack of power or TQ with the next gen Modena.
I mean in the past Ferrari used a 2.8L V8 turbo for it's F40. Today that engine is well behind the curve now set by the Enzo and the Carrera GT.
By the same token, the NSX is put down for it's lack of blinding performance. Although the 360M is a fast car, it is no faster than a Z06 (C5) and will be darn slow next to a C6 Z06 if projections are met by GM.
Back on the topic of the Elise, I think the 1.8L is "fine". It is used in a Matrix (or a similar engine). However for $40-44K I would want something more than "fine". The engine swap I've read about with a 2.0L Honda in the Elise are nothing short of astounding. I think with the 1.8L the Elise will meet expectations. If it had a stronger engine it would have shattered expectations. I can't help but believe the engine choice has more to do with dollars and cents than with making the US Elise the best car it can be.
05-11-2004, 02:42 PM
#39
At least VTEC Junkie seems to understand the whole point of an Elise. I'd also like to see anybody even try take a 2500lbs Celica and chop off almost 600lbs, and still keep it street legal.
You could do what some Spyder owners are doing and swap in a 2zz for a "budget" Elise. Since there isn't a high demand for 2zzs and they're plentiful thanks to Celicas, Matrixs, Vibes, etc, it's actually very cost efficient. The brakes on a MR2 Spyder don't really need work after that, just the suspension. You could do it for much less than an Elise if you do all the labor yourself, and even cheaper if you bought the car used.
Has anyone who's criticizing the Celica's engine read the SAE tech papers on its development? It's not some econobox engine. The Yamaha designed head has even been flowbenched by an independant company to easily compete with a B18C5 from a Type R. It outflowed the Type R's head till about 0.450" of lift on the cams.
You could do what some Spyder owners are doing and swap in a 2zz for a "budget" Elise. Since there isn't a high demand for 2zzs and they're plentiful thanks to Celicas, Matrixs, Vibes, etc, it's actually very cost efficient. The brakes on a MR2 Spyder don't really need work after that, just the suspension. You could do it for much less than an Elise if you do all the labor yourself, and even cheaper if you bought the car used.
Has anyone who's criticizing the Celica's engine read the SAE tech papers on its development? It's not some econobox engine. The Yamaha designed head has even been flowbenched by an independant company to easily compete with a B18C5 from a Type R. It outflowed the Type R's head till about 0.450" of lift on the cams.
05-11-2004, 06:19 PM
#40
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Well, I don't need to start up trouble, so I won't get into this debate. I already know that I love the Elise. Can't wait to get mine sometime this fall.