Lotus Elise Convert

gdurso · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2006, 08:00 PM

I just purchased my Lotus Elise in Ardent Red in July this year. Absolutely love the car. Have about 10K in 4 months of driving. I have been driving Alfa Romeo Spiders for many years and feel the Lotus Elise takes driving to a whole new level. Feel like I am driving to work in a Formula 1 race car. I guess I should have purchased a lotus years ago.

Flap_Dragon · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-2006, 08:56 PM

Hey that looks like my car! I just got my red 05 this year. I love this car too! Just starting the thing feels like a F1 race car with the push button and all. There is no glove box, and is challenging to get into, with race car steel reinforced minimal cockpit suroundings. This is a real race car TOY! This thing makes my 944 turbo feel like an apple cart. But I do love me front engined red Porsche too!

Yes I would agree with you, "Convert," this 'pure sports car' takes driving to a new level. This is the equivilent of my Ducati 800SS but with two seats and a radio, all packaged retro 70s lines retro in a Dino kinda style. Please, show me a better value in an exotic car! And this one you can drive everyday! Thank you Lotus for my modern day 246!

gdurso · #3 (**permalink**) 12-02-2006, 10:34 PM

I can really relate. I still love my Alfa Romeo Spiders but the Lotus is in a class of its own. My dream was to own a 246 Dino but at this point I think the Lotus Elise is fitting the bill for me.

Flap_Dragon · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2006, 11:25 PM

I've never had a Alfa Spider; but I always admired the red with black spoilers and 5 spoke Ferrari wheels.

My brother drives a 2.0 Porsche 914. Really the old school to our cars. Just that Lotus is clever enough to put this -- competition car -- inside a classic (round tail light) mid-engined exotic car style. I love a Dino and this red Elise is even better in my mind. From behind the car is unmistakable. From the front we see the modern vented front end with classic can am lines. The whole package screams retro modern classic.

BruceO · #5 (**permalink**) 12-04-2006, 08:44 PM

Yeah, my 2000 Firebird T/A WS6 feels like being in a giant, overpowered rubber sphere. The Lotus is completely different and entirely better. It's a car that Ferrari owners must respect and most Porsche owners despise. Once while at a club track day in my brother's 190 Motorsport, a guy with a race-prepared 911 turbo asked, "What's IS that thing?!" He'd spent so much money and time and couldn't shake that little yellow car off his tail. My Elise gets attention everywhere I go and in the short time I've had it, even a woman in an Acura TL seemed to want to race me. BMW drivers seem to be the worse so far.

Flap_Dragon · #6 (**permalink**) 12-04-2006, 08:56 PM

I had a newer 911 Carrera blow past me today. I compromised 8000rpm to stay there. It's funny the 'important' cars I run into when I'm driving my Elise!

BruceO · #7 (**permalink**) 12-04-2006, 08:59 PM

Were you in sixth gear? Explain more.

Flap_Dragon · #8 (**permalink**) 12-04-2006, 09:14 PM

No forth to fith. I'm still learning to use a 6th.