[Artz 330]

i drove the elise a few times, and i actually was not impressed. I ended up hating the car in the end.
If you want to wait what feels like "10 minutes" for valve timing before you build power. Buy an S2K for half the price.

[akhbhaat]

The S2000 is not a bad alternative. I think I'd actually prefer one to the Z4 - the Honda is more of a purist's car. Z4 coupe would be more of a toss up. The Z4 coupe with 19" CSL replicas would be a gorgeous car...

The new MX-5 is another excellent roadster for a good price, although it has considerably less power than the Z4 or S2000 and a more feminine image on top of that.

[AznBeemer23]

IMO...the Lotus is one of the best or the best handling cars out there on the market. My brother got one when they first came out and its a blast to drive.

[porschegt3]

Lotus best handling out there? I would tend to agree, its definitely one of the top. But by no means does best handling = fun to drive.

Yes it handles amazing at the track, but frankly at every straight you will start yelling profanities when all the stronger cars pull away, yes you catch them at the next corner....but its not the same....So granted, at the track, its not a bad idea. Especially if you're a serious racer.

But around town....argghhh, its really not fun. The thrill wears off very quickly and turns to frustration. The Elise I drove had the "Stage 2" exhaust kit and frankly it was really annoying....and believe you me....I LOVE loud noisy, bumpy, raw cars...I run my car with straight pipes and it strikes fear into everyone as it rips past 4000 RPM. But the Elise just falls short....great 2nd or 3rd car for track days, or as a "safe" motorcycle.

But just a bad idea to trade from a 330 to an Elise, nothing but regret IMHO.

[porschegt3]

Originally Posted by backtofront001

The new GT3 is soooooooooo niceeeeee. Oh my God!!!! Porsche is amazing. Enough said. Why not the 997 turbo though?

Ohh, this is probably not the right forum to get into this subject, I think that http://www.6speedonline.com is a better place for that....but here's a quick and dirty answer.

Yes, the turbo is crazy fast, lots of torque. But its also a fat pig, with 4 wheel drive, and lots of electronics to save you. The GT3 is a lot more like the elise....lightweight, barebones, raw, and no electronics (although that's changing a little with the new 997GT3, hence the RS is the only real option).

Driving a turbo is a completely different experience than a GT3, just completely different. GT3 is raw and keeps you in touch with the car, it has real soul. Versus the Turbo is really a nice drive, although very very fast. But if you compare stats, especially track times, you will see that there is very little difference, and the GT3 blows by the turbo at the track....and there's nothing like revving a normally aspirated engine to 8,200 RPM! Arrgghhh

Now, I hear some of you saying but wait...that's exactly what we're saying about the Elise. And I agree, in spirit the cars have very similar philosophies, but in practice their very different beasts. The "toy" factor and the engine are the two big draw backs to the Elise.

I have said it before and I will say it again. The Z4 M-Coupe and Z3 M-Coupe, and M3 are MUCH more fun to drive. I think only a madman would trade a 330i for an used Elise (or a new one for that matter).

Instead, save up your money, and then buy the Elise IN ADDITION to your wonderful BMW. Now that makes sense!

[BmwOwnsMe]

Originally Posted by calvino

if you want a toy like the elise get an arie atom, now that's what I call a toy, faster than a enzo

that's one crazy car...k20
supercharged! I have to start saving up for that.

[zamboni]

A friend of mine test drive the Elise and ending up with a 2006 E46 M3 6MT, he said it very difficult get in and out of the car.

[ward]

Originally Posted by zamboni

A friend of mine test drive the Elise and ending up with a 2006 E46 M3 6MT, he said it very difficult get in and out of the car.

hard to get in/out of but it'd OWN an M3 on the track

performance vs comfort

[JJin909]

Originally Posted by porschegt3

No arguing that the Elise is very sexy, and chicks definitely dig the car. But....and this is a big one...

I guarantee you the girls will break out laughing when they see you try to get in and out of the car

And when she finds out that her side is only 2/3 the size of the drivers side, and that the roof leaks when it rains, and man does it rattle. She will realize its more like a toy.

Trust me gentlemen, I speak from experience here.

[AznBeemer23]

i would get rid of my 330 if I would lose so much on it.
I actually REGRET getting the BMW i have so many problems with it.
Its the worst car that I ever bought!

[JJin909]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...&q=lotus+elise

thanks for the video btw; it's really hard to get in/out of elise

none of the lotus dealer i left mesg call bak.

I will watch this video again and again when I feel lotus calling me.

video should keep me away for awhile...

[NFS]

Originally Posted by ward

hard to get in/out of but it'd OWN an M3 on the track

performance vs comfort

The elise isn't THAT fast - remember - although it weigh's less than a small child it still only has the 1.8VVTLi engine from the Toyota Celica:

M3 killed it on the top gear test track:

http://www.topgear.com/content/tgonb...times/thestig/

The EXIGE though is faster than the M3 CSL.

Look here (http://www.letstorquebhp.com/rwd.asp...agQtrMile_Secs) as well - the elise 111r is shown 1/100th of a sec behind the 650i and even further behind the M3 CS on the 1/4 mile.

NB: these are theoretical times based on power to weight ratio and drivetrain - but 1/4 mile times are generally VERY accurate

[mkoesel]

I have been toying with the idea of going with used Elise + MazdaSpeed3 for my next car. Or _cars_ as the case would be. Cheaper than an E90 M3. Problem is I am 6'4" and don't know if I would even fit in the Elise to be able to drive it. Although the guy in the video looked like a 6 footer, so dunno.

I'm thinking I'd rather start with a used BMW (E36, E46 or E90, or maybe Z3 or Z4), tear it down to the shell, and build a complete monster out of it. Used Z3 are at < 10k right now. Used E46 even cheaper. Maybe complement that with an off-lease E90 325i as daily driver.

[croaker]

0-60 in 4.7 seconds for the Exige and the Elise (w/ sport pack)
0-60 in 4.8 seconds for the M3.

Not much difference for straight line performance, but still pretty damn fast. It feels even faster in a car smaller than a MX-5.

However, the .9g rating on the Lotus eats the BMW alive as you say.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by croaker

0-60 in 4.7 seconds for the Exige and the Elise (w/ sport pack)
0-60 in 4.8 seconds for the M3.

Not much difference for straight line performance, but still pretty damn fast. It feels even faster in a car smaller than a MX-5.

However, the .9g rating on the Lotus eats the BMW alive as you say.

According to Lotus the 'r' and 'sports racer' elises will do:

0-60mph in 4.9 secs.
0-100mph in 13.2 secs

http://www.grouplotus.com/car/car_te...s.php?id=1#top

Both have 220bhp/tonne

The M3 CS Coupe has 218bhp/tonne

I don't think the lotus will 'eat the m3 alive' but it will give it a race.

[porschegt3]

The Elise will NOT own the M3 at the track, I've been there, seen it with my own eyes. It really depends on driver experience at that point.

The cars both have their own strengths. Equal drivers on a short track, the Elise would win. Throw in a couple of longer straights and the M3 would win.

BTW mkoesel, I'm 6'2" and have a size 12 shoe. When I drove the Elise, I had to take my shoes off because they were getting stuck in the foot well. Works fine with driving booties, but those don't look too cool at the mall

Seating position was fine and my head fit under the roof, but I could imagine you would have a tough time squeezing in, would be a very tight fit.

[Kuma]

It's a Toyota Celica drivetrain in a Lotus frame.. Since when did Lotus stop putting Rover engines in to their cars?

"He picked up an old relationship with Toyota (which for three years in the 1980s owned 21 percent of Lotus) and secured a deal to use the 1.8-liter VVTL-i (variable valve timing and lift) engine from the Celica GT-S and its accompanying C64 six-speed gearbox."

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

Ed

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Kuma

It's a Toyota Celica drivetrain in a Lotus frame.. Since when did Lotus stop putting Rover engines in to their cars?

"He picked up an old relationship with Toyota (which for three years in the 1980s owned 21 percent of Lotus) and secured a deal to use the 1.8-liter VVTL-i (variable valve timing and lift) engine from the Celica GT-S and its accompanying C64 six-speed gearbox."

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

Ed

Rover is DEAD and GONE - they don't make anything anymore.

[croaker]

Yeah man that's what I was going to say. I hope the rumors are true and the factory will be partially opened again under new ownership. Not that I was ever a big fan of Rover, but the local people can relly use the jobs I'm sure.

[chris90]

my brother owns an elise and uses it as his everyday car, and we live in new york but he doesnt drive it in the snow obviously i havent heard any complaints from him and no problems with the car

[Bmrboy]

Hey there,

I've owned an Elise as a daily driver since Nov. 2005 and can answer any questions you may have on the car.

I was coming out of a 2002 330CI, have driven Porsches, other BMWS, etc.. so I understand the differences.

The Elise is the most fun I've ever had driving a car. It has great looks, the engine is rock solid, and the styling and handling are both great. That being said, you also are going to put up with some squeaks/rattles and some annoying problems. Is it worth it? Totally.. Life would be really easy if you had another car as a daily. I'm 28 years old (6'2" just under 180 pounds) and it's real easy for me to get in and out because I'm used to it. (much easier with the top off)

RE: Maintenance costs. Don't let people around here fool you. You can do the oil changes yourself or take them somewhere else for cheaper. The dealer rips you off. It is just a Toyota engine with the Lotus housing. I changed the oil myself after the first 1k miles. Mine has 5k miles on it right now (Silver w/ red leather interior) and I am probably going to put it on the market pretty soon if I decide to get the 335i. I would keep it if I had another car.

I was either going to get an Elise or an M3, and decided on the Elise because of the edgy looks, handling, and personality. You should go over to www.elisetalk.com if you want a better source for information on the car.

[croaker]

If they weigh more than 200 pounds they will probably not fit in it anyway. The passenger seat is smaller and does not adjust. So my guess is not much.