Lotus Elise (56k friendly)

[skid542]

So a few weeks ago I picked up my brother at the trail head and when I pulled into the parking lot I almost wet myself... There was even a spot open beside him so I had to take a few pictures. I know other people coming off the trail were looking at me a little funny, the women atleast, but I didn't care. This was my first Lotus I've seen in person, and all I can say is pictures just don't do this car justice. Enjoy.







The high res's can be found at -
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lskidmor/pe ... elise1.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lskidmor/pe ... elise2.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/lskidmor/pe ... elise3.jpg

I have a couple more pictures that I scan if anybody's interested.

[High PSI]

I had a down payment on one a couple years ago. I was going to go chrome orange with nothing but performance options. I pulled the deposit off it when my "daily driver" (318whp eclipse) spun a bearing the day before I started my new job, and I realized I needed a nice dependable daily driver that I wouldn't mod instead, so I picked up a Lexus SC300 the next day.


(Of course, I can never just leave well enough alone....I just finished piecing together a turbo kit for the Lexus, and I'm installing it over the winter. )

I never got to drive one (the dealership wouldn't let people until they filled out the option form 3 months or so before delivery, which then locked them in), but I did ride along in one on a fun run at an auto-x, and, let me just say - WOW. Talk about bittersweet.

[Imprezive]

Gotta love the elise. But the Exige is downright badass, its got a hard top, more downforce and a better suspension!

[georryan]

I saw an Exige at the autocross I went to about a month ago. Really sweet looking car! They run Toyota engines as well.

[entirelyturbo]

Lotus has never run its own engine in an Elise (except the GT1 of course). The old Elise had a Rover engine (dunno what trans), the new one has the entire Celica GT-S drivetrain, albeit tuned up a bit.

I think they're beautiful cars, and I'd relish the opportunity to drive one. But I'm noticing a lot of posers driving them lately

[Splinter]

Actually all the Elises have Lotus engines in them, except the ones they send to North America.


Their engines wont pass emissions here.

[entirelyturbo]

No they don't. They all use the 1ZZFE engine. Check their UK website.

And they used Rover K-series engines in the old Elise, which we never got in the US.