http://motortrend.com/features/news/...s040722_lotus/

 

So where does the Black Lab navigator go in that
Sorry, but I don't like the look either

 

I don't think it's the greatest looking sport-car for sure but MINI owners need to realize that it will eat their lunch on the road.
Charles

 

Droooooooool!

If it weren't for "slight" details like $300 oil changes, the Elise would be a fantastic deal. But it is truly an exotic and will be muy expensivo to maintain. Sigh.....
Clo/Wanda

 

I can't wait for Auto Europe to get their demo!

 

Ok, so what is MSRP, how much over MSRP will it cost ya, and how long of a wait?

 

That car is at the top of my "lottery list", next to the JCW S.

 

I think it's around $40,000. Waiting list is about 1 year, I've seen it as low as $500 over MSRP on E-Bay- provided you don't mind waiting (how long, no idea)...

Most places seem to be a few thousand over MSRP

 

I cringe to think about the insurance and maintenance costs of this beast, beautiful car no doubt about it, but don't forget that this "$40K" sportscar is still pretty much an exotic that commands exotic costs and an exotic bank account.

Price gouging wil be the order of the day at the very few Lotus dealerships around the country.

 

That car is so awesome looking, and so functional with the mid-engine and 50/50 weight distribution. Form follows function. :smile:

 

You own one awesome car! I plan on buying a used one after they drop to around $25,000 on the used car market and Lotus fixes any "bugs". Good luck!

 

Rub it will you? Man, I want one! This is the ONLY car I would trade my S for. Wanna trade? Seriously, though, congrats on the Lotus.

 

The first car I fell in love with was the Lotus Europa. The new lotus reminds me of that car. They both are pretty ugly in a beautiful way. They both are very much what lotus has always been about.

 

I'm another that loves the Elise. In a few years I will be looking for a used one. In a perfict world an 05 with LSS in BRG and tan interior. I do not think the cost will go down much. There will not be enough around.

In 06 a front bumper will have to be added and the weight of the car will go up. Lotus has hopes of being a player in this price range of sport car. I fear that to produce the quanity t that price range ($40k) the option list will grow and the car in 06. With added options, safty equipment and cupholders the 06 and beond Elise will leave its roots. I hope not, but that is my nightmare.
John

 

Lotus is getting a break on the bumpers AND the headlights in the US for now. There was no way to add US-spec bumpers to the existing car, and I believe the headlights are too low. The car will have to be changed significantly to be US-compliant. So if you're going to get one, do it now before they ruin the Elise for '06. This is making me just want to sell the MINI and take the plunge ASAP.

I don't know how bad maintenance would be. The car appears to be simpler than the MINI (what isn't), and you can't beat Toyota (Yamaha) engines for reliability. It's not like the car can rust or dent. However, the folks over on the Elise boards are already reporting quirks, such as the car not starting. Maybe it should be wired by Toyota as well.

There are people who pay more than $40K for station wagons, so the Elise isn't really what I'd consider extreme.

Check out the vid linked in the other thread (Pocket Rocket):
http://www.sleepy-fish.com/sleepy/Top_Gear_Exige_hi.wmv
and this one:
http://www.cpdserver.com/elisetalk/video/topgear_s2.mov

 

Very nice Elise!............I gotta have a back seat though.

 

It will have problems that will drive you nuts! So prepare to view it as a marriage of sorts. :smile:

 

Like a MINI.

 

Lotus lost me when they tried to bring back the Elan a while back - with an Isuzu engine.


Its a nice thing, but as a "car" it is probably not very functional. Like most exotics, its meant to be your sixth car, that you rarely drive, but polish a lot.

Now the Super 7, that was a car.

 

I am sorry but if you think this "$40K" exotic is going to have the reliability of a Honda Civic and will be cheap to maintain and insure as your garden variety Toyota Corolla, you are just fooling yourself.

Ask to find out how much is an oil change or schedule maintenance (Including hourly labor rates) at your nearest Lotus dealer. I cringe to think the cost of parts and such.

Make no mistake, the Elise has a Lotus badge and is a car reserved for the few who can afford to put up with the costs of an exotic nameplate.

The more I look at the Elise the more I think the MINI is the bargain of the century for 50% less than the admission price of the Elise.

I wish GM would bring over the Opel version of the Elise called the Speedster (www.opel.com). The Speedster is sold in England under the Vauxhall nameplate.

It is perhaps much cheaper than the Elise just because you are not paying for the Lotus badge.


GM: bring over the Speedster sell it as a Pontiac and price it around $25K, the REAL cost of this car.


To me the Speedster looks much better than the Elise.

 

We got to see an Elise in person yesterday at a PhillySCCA auotcross event. It was really cool. Really low. Sparten interior. And very fast. The car was obviously brand new - it still had temp tags on it, so the driver wasn't used to it yet, but it was really cool to see him flogging it and hitting cones so soon after delivery!

 

For this very reason (safety), I withdrew my deposit for the September delivery of the car. After modding the MINI extensively, I've decided on something with more ponies instead (450hp). Nevertheless, Elise is a well designed car with unmatched handling for the value! Good choice!

 

About the new bumper requirement (due out in 06 or so, i.e., to not injure pedestrians as much) -- I read in a magazine a short time back that if a car is already produced it won't have to meet the requirement until the car maker puts out a major updated car (redesign), i.e., for example when Honda redesigns its cars every 4-5 years. That was one reason a major American car manufacturer was trying to come out with a new car sooner rather than later -- perhaps the article was talking about GM with the new Nomad (can't remember).

 

Doesn't Elise weigh less than 2000 lbs? The power-to-weight ratio must be phenomenal!

I like it, but I like the GM bringing in Opel Speedster idea better

 

The speedster is exactly the way to go, last time I was in england they were everywhere, I was really suprised, definitley not rare enough to be "exotic" just my observations but it seemed like englands miata. I was hoping when they brought them here they would go that route and really open it up, oh well.