$50k buys you a waitlist spot for a stock Elise
05-02-2005 | 08:54 AM
#21
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Second City
Modding always throws off the equation. I'm sure there is a similar thread in the Miata forum about "Why buy an S2k when you can get a Miata and have $8K worth of mods". And I'm sure that there is a "Why buy a Porsche when you can have an elise and $xxK worth of mods", and porsche to ferrari, and ferrari to lambo, etc. etc. until you reach the frickin' McLaren F1 (and then it moves on to jets 
).
Every car has it's advantages and disadvantages. But to answer the original question as to why buy a lotus: Exclusivity, good (subjective) looks, plenty of engine mods already available (toyota engine...supercharger also available for celica), lightweight (better for acceleration, braking, handling, etc.), mid-engine, track ready out-the-box (I'd say moreso than the S2000), and it seems to be the purest sports car out there (took the S2000's top spot), engine swaps available
). Every car has it's advantages and disadvantages. But to answer the original question as to why buy a lotus: Exclusivity, good (subjective) looks, plenty of engine mods already available (toyota engine...supercharger also available for celica), lightweight (better for acceleration, braking, handling, etc.), mid-engine, track ready out-the-box (I'd say moreso than the S2000), and it seems to be the purest sports car out there (took the S2000's top spot), engine swaps available
05-02-2005 | 01:09 PM
#23
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,171
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From: Boston
I drove my friend's Elise three years ago and that made me want a convertible really bad, and I don't regret getting the S2000 vs. Elise. The shakes that car gives you under over pot hole are kidney pounding. I'd like to see how well the Elise is running at 50K miles. My friend's had only 4K on it.
With prices in the 45K range for Elise, I'd pick up a used Maserati Spyder, which are in low 50's right now.
With prices in the 45K range for Elise, I'd pick up a used Maserati Spyder, which are in low 50's right now.
05-02-2005 | 01:49 PM
#25
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Originally Posted by patinum,May 2 2005, 11:54 AM
Modding always throws off the equation. I'm sure there is a similar thread in the Miata forum about "Why buy an S2k when you can get a Miata and have $8K worth of mods". And I'm sure that there is a "Why buy a Porsche when you can have an elise and $xxK worth of mods", and porsche to ferrari, and ferrari to lambo, etc. etc. until you reach the frickin' McLaren F1 (and then it moves on to jets ).
Every car has it's advantages and disadvantages. But to answer the original question as to why buy a lotus: Exclusivity, good (subjective) looks, plenty of engine mods already available (toyota engine...supercharger also available for celica), lightweight (better for acceleration, braking, handling, etc.), mid-engine, track ready out-the-box (I'd say moreso than the S2000), and it seems to be the purest sports car out there (took the S2000's top spot), engine swaps available
). Every car has it's advantages and disadvantages. But to answer the original question as to why buy a lotus: Exclusivity, good (subjective) looks, plenty of engine mods already available (toyota engine...supercharger also available for celica), lightweight (better for acceleration, braking, handling, etc.), mid-engine, track ready out-the-box (I'd say moreso than the S2000), and it seems to be the purest sports car out there (took the S2000's top spot), engine swaps available
I am just looking at it from the perspective of my situation where $45k is, from a financially conservative mindset, a lot of money to drop on any car, let alone a barebones whip like the Elise. In that case only a stock Elise is considerable, and so the reality is a stock Elise, or any other new car of equal or lesser value. In that comparison, when considering roadsters specifically, the s2000 comes out the winner in my book (the latest MS Miata finally looks less wimpy than all past Miatas have but I'd still rather have the s2k).
Oh and the McLaren F1 comment was
05-02-2005 | 02:48 PM
#26
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From: South Jersey
In the R&T "Best All-Around Sports Car" article a few months back, the Elise was only 1.23 seconds faster around Button Willow's West Loop than the S2000. Considering the car is 900lb lighter and comes off the truck with R-Compound tires (1.03g on the skidpad), I'm not very impressed given the fact the car is $20,000+ more and much more impractical as a daily driver than the S2000. Not to ingore the fact that the car has a face only its mother could love, IMO. 
05-02-2005 | 03:14 PM
#27
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From: Rensselaer NY-Albany area
Its really funny, because on Sunday the Elise forum was saying the same thing about a Carrera GT. A couple of the Elise guys went on a Porsche cruise, and a guy with a Carrera GT drove a little more spirited then the Elise can- and they had the same arguements- why get a carrera gt when you can buy an elise and mod it(or 10 Elises). The only fair way to compare cars- IMO- is in stock form. And anyone who has the means to afford a carrera gt I am sure weighed the options and I am sure an Elise was below his radar to begin with.
The Miata, S2000, Elise and Carrera GT are all great cars in there respected price ranges- but they do have different strengths and weaknesses and rightfully so. How boring would it be if there was a perfect car at an affordable price and everyone had it?
The Miata, S2000, Elise and Carrera GT are all great cars in there respected price ranges- but they do have different strengths and weaknesses and rightfully so. How boring would it be if there was a perfect car at an affordable price and everyone had it?
05-02-2005 | 04:43 PM
#28
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Lewes, DE
Originally Posted by audiophile,May 1 2005, 06:13 PM
I drove an Elise last Friday, and as much as I love that car it just doesn't make sense for me even as just a weekend/nice weather car. The S2k is so much more of a complete car- IMO. Sure the Elise handles better, is faster and looks better. But every where else the S2k wins; its easy to get in and out of, a great interior, reliability and low cost maintance and repairs. The Elise is going to have poor residual value in a few years, they don't "wear" well, at 10K miles it looks feels more like a car with 30k miles and for $50k for that tiny car is unacceptable. I was going to put a deposit on an Elise this spring, but now I am going to get an S2k and enjoy keeping the extra $15k+ in my pocket(the only mod I would think of doing would be wheels).
So yes the Elise is an amazing car, yes it does look like it costs $100k+ but it falls short in many areas. If you were looking for the ultimate autoX car or planned on tracking a stock street legal car, its hard if not impossible to beat the Elise for the price.
So yes the Elise is an amazing car, yes it does look like it costs $100k+ but it falls short in many areas. If you were looking for the ultimate autoX car or planned on tracking a stock street legal car, its hard if not impossible to beat the Elise for the price.
05-02-2005 | 05:34 PM
#29
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Originally Posted by audiophile,May 2 2005, 06:14 PM
Its really funny, because on Sunday the Elise forum was saying the same thing about a Carrera GT. A couple of the Elise guys went on a Porsche cruise, and a guy with a Carrera GT drove a little more spirited then the Elise can- and they had the same arguements- why get a carrera gt when you can buy an elise and mod it(or 10 Elises). The only fair way to compare cars- IMO- is in stock form. And anyone who has the means to afford a carrera gt I am sure weighed the options and I am sure an Elise was below his radar to begin with.
The Miata, S2000, Elise and Carrera GT are all great cars in there respected price ranges- but they do have different strengths and weaknesses and rightfully so. How boring would it be if there was a perfect car at an affordable price and everyone had it?
The Miata, S2000, Elise and Carrera GT are all great cars in there respected price ranges- but they do have different strengths and weaknesses and rightfully so. How boring would it be if there was a perfect car at an affordable price and everyone had it?
(gg is short for "good game" which is akin to "nice work")
05-02-2005 | 05:49 PM
#30
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From: Rensselaer NY-Albany area
Originally Posted by S2KRAY,May 2 2005, 04:43 PM
The Elise looks better. You must be joking. It looks like one of my old fishing lures. Stone UGLY, small, noisy, and overpriced.
Unless of course this is god posting, at which point I stand corrected.