Lotus Elise problems

[ducatiz]

My dumbass sister-in-law drove her husband's Elise to our place and parked in the driveway.  When I got home, I parked behind her -- about 5 feet. 

Our driveway is on slight incline, not much at all.  She asks to borrow MY car to go to the grocery store (we're all making dinner).

Both cars are stick, I figure why not, she can drive the Lotus, she can drive a VW Golf. 

I look outside just in time to see her smack the back end of the Lotus with my car.  An audible crack -- from inside the house.

In short, the lotus has no bumpers.  Just a CF shell.  She put a big crack in it, which of course cannot be repaired, it must be replaced.  $8000

[MrFryMoto]

My dumbass sister-in-law drove her husband's Elise to our place and parked in the driveway.  When I got home, I parked behind her -- about 5 feet. 

Our driveway is on slight incline, not much at all.  She asks to borrow MY car to go to the grocery store (we're all making dinner).

Both cars are stick, I figure why not, she can drive the Lotus, she can drive a VW Golf. 

I look outside just in time to see her smack the back end of the Lotus with my car.  An audible crack -- from inside the house.

In short, the lotus has no bumpers.  Just a CF shell.  She put a big crack in it, which of course cannot be repaired, it must be replaced.  $8000

[El Matador]

You can repair it yourself. Depending on the size of the crack. If you need any help with laying composites just ask, I'll let you know.

[DCXCV]

  So are you gonna sue her for the damage to your car? 

[erkishhorde]

I forget, where is reverse on the Jetta and on the Lotus? On all my cars that I've driven it's been on the far right either up or down, but on my dad's 135i it's on the left, up, right next to first.  When I first got in his car it took me 10 minutes to get it into reverse. No joke. It was damn frustrating.  My dad, on the other hand, sometimes drops it into reverse when he takes off from a light.  That was scary!

[the_Journeyman]

The only Jetta I've ever driven had reverse to the left of 1st.  I usually bump the friction point when I'm in a strange car just to be sure.  My Mom's Z3 has reverse beside 1st and I always have to double check ~

JM

[JEFF_H]

IZ,
I was standing next to the post office delivery truck the other day and noticed it had giant rubber bumpers all around it.
maybe they sell multiples in a 'Family Pack'.

[Langanobob]

You can repair it yourself. Depending on the size of the crack. If you need any help with laying composites just ask, I'll let you know.

+1.  I haven't kept up with the technology on the newer Lotuses (Loti?) but I once bought a totaled '67 Elan and put it back together again.   And then proceeded to wreck it again.   Still the best car I've ever owned.

[ZyMe]

My dumbass sister-in-law drove her husband's Elise to our place and parked in the driveway.  When I got home, I parked behind her -- about 5 feet. 

Our driveway is on slight incline, not much at all.  She asks to borrow MY car to go to the grocery store (we're all making dinner).

Both cars are stick, I figure why not, she can drive the Lotus, she can drive a VW Golf. 

I look outside just in time to see her smack the back end of the Lotus with my car.  An audible crack -- from inside the house.

In short, the lotus has no bumpers.  Just a CF shell.  She put a big crack in it, which of course cannot be repaired, it must be replaced.  $8000

DOH, silly non-VW owner, she didn't push in then left and up for reverse!

bummer about damages...

[sbrguy]

 

on the bright side, its not your car with the carbon fiber body to it that is cracked.

first rule of driving, KNOW WHERE THE CONTROLS ARE!!.. guess she didnt' know where reverse was.   

[El Matador]

I forget, where is reverse on the Jetta and on the Lotus? On all my cars that I've driven it's been on the far right either up or down, but on my dad's 135i it's on the left, up, right next to first.  When I first got in his car it took me 10 minutes to get it into reverse. No joke. It was damn frustrating.  My dad, on the other hand, sometimes drops it into reverse when he takes off from a light.  That was scary!

Same thing happened to me the first time driving a 911 turbo. Looked the a proper ass.

[Drunken Monkey]

Wait a sec...

Don't all cars have a diagram of "what gear goes where"? Maybe it's a carry-over from owning one beater car after another in school, but I always check.

So yes, you have a serious problem: Thanks to genetics, your future nieces and nephews will probably be idiots

(I keed, I keed)

[ducatiz]

Wait a sec...

Don't all cars have a diagram of "what gear goes where"? Maybe it's a carry-over from owning one beater car after another in school, but I always check.

So yes, you have a serious problem: Thanks to genetics, your future nieces and nephews will probably be idiots

(I keed, I keed)

they do (have a schematic) but after talking to her today, she said the Lotus' reverse is pull to enter and the VW turns out to be push to enter. 

i doubt they'll be idiots.  she can't drive worth a shit, but she's a partner in big firm in DC (which shall remain nameless) that handles about a quarter of DoD contracts.. she's pretty smart, she just can't make the beast with two backsIN DRIVE

[rgramjet]

neither a borrower nor a lender be. 

Shit like that always happens when I loan stuff .....last episode was when I loaned my f150 work truck to a buddy who drove it 10+ miles after the check engine light came on....grrrr

[ducatiz]

neither a borrower nor a lender be. 

Shit like that always happens when I loan stuff .....last episode was when I loaned my f150 work truck to a buddy who drove it 10+ miles after the check engine light came on....grrrr

i thought the "check engine" light was ALWAYS illuminated on teh F150s??