Anybody own a lotus exige or elise? comment on your purchase.?

looks like a phenomenal machine. i'm thinking of purchasing one in the near future.

Anybody own a lotus exige or elise? comment on your purchase.?
/ I don't own one, but I test drove one...



Lotus makes the body. It has a Toyota MR2 engine, and is very quick. It moves easily, and drives with little effort, but feels a little on the Go-Kart side because of the lightweight when going over a bump.



I'm an older guy, so the disappointment for me is getting in and out of the car. It is so low, and difficult to clear the side hump (rocker panel) without some effort. A younger guy might have some trouble there, but probably much easier.
Reply:It is a great car. It does not have a Toyota MR2 engine like the first guy said. It has a Toyota Celica 190HP engine.

It is the best handling car in the world. The closest mass produced car to the Lotus' handling is the Porsche Cayman S.

It has about the same top speed of a Ford Mustang, which is in the 140's. I think 146mph. 0-60 in 5.3 seconds.

The Exige is even faster and better. Top speed is 155mph and 0-60 in under 5 seconds.

Insurance and maintemance will be expensive. It will be hard to find someone who can fix or maintain one. The gas mileage is not that good too.
Reply:I think I can some up the Elise in one phrase....corners like you're in a cartoon. It's ridiculously fast in the corners. I couldn't believe it. I had the chance to take one for a couple laps at an autocross event. Great fun, and they're fairly quick in a straight line too. The last guy was a little off. The only model you'd want actually has a Celica GTS engine....the 2ZZ...makes 180hp...which is more than enough to get things moving quickly. The nice thing is if you ever want more power the Japanese engine is cheap to modify, and can push over 220whp with a full build (thats over 240 flywheel hp) so if you're thinking about it..stop thinking and DO IT. You won't be sorry....unless you like a comfortable car...then avoid this like the plague. LOL.

Dog Teeth