Update : Lotus Elise or Similar Car

[desmoworks]

Obviously I'm going to vote for the Lotus as that is what I drive... (see image below).

It is a fantastic car, but is rather brutal to drive. I've done a coupe of 1000 mile days here recently while traveling and have been a bit sore afterwards. I'm 6'-6'1" and have no trouble at all getting in, out or driving. My friend is 6'3" and fits fine as well. Both of us are trim though - I'm not sure how someone with some beef on them would fit in.

Anyhow - the Elise is a no brainer! Pickup a used '05 (personal favorite year) for around $40,000 with very low mileage and drive the piss out of it. Mine is a daily driver and I only drive my truck when I have to haul a bike.

The Exige is nice too, a little more money - but goddamn are they quick! The supercharged version is crazy. I just don't like driving it as you can't see out of the back window so the blind spot on that car is almost everywhere besides in front of it, lol. People love to drive in the blind spot and take pictures and shit while you drive... I can't stand it.

I'm in search of a hard top now as I don't like the soft top, and I'm going to have the wheels painted and probably put an exhaust on it. I've only had the car a short time so I haven't gotten around to treating it like a Ducati Monster yet and modding it to death.

[somegirl]

If I didn't have the dogs to schlep around, I probably would have gotten an Elise instead of my 328i.

[junior varsity]

yuck yuck yuck yuck. do not get a boxter.

there are much better cars for the same amount of jingle, and you won't have to deal with people asking you about your wannabe-porsche.

there is a dealership here in M-town that has a handful of elises at any given time, and several out on the road. Beautiful cars, and they look like so much fun.

[derby]

yuck yuck yuck yuck. do not get a boxter.

there are much better cars for the same amount of jingle, and you won't have to deal with people asking you about your wannabe-porsche.

there is a dealership here in M-town that has a handful of elises at any given time, and several out on the road. Beautiful cars, and they look like so much fun.

sweet! we had a boxter-hater thread on TOB, why shouldn't we have one here? 

ever driven one?

[junior varsity]

Yes. Twice. The first time it was new and exciting, so I had fun.

The second time was ho-hum, then I looked into the price, and I thought it was unfortunate. Neat car, but priced too high for what you were getting IMO. Total mileage of both trips was just under 200.

They are every other car in the upper-crusty 'burbs of Nashville (Brentwood area), which also makes them less desirable to me. The Lotus is more unique, and more fun in my book.

Then again, I suggested the giggle box. A v8 powered miata.

[derby]

i'll concede that the lotus is more unique and more fun, but they really aren't in the same market as the boxter.

i boxter is a "real car" and a lotus is a gokart for the street. 

i'd easily take the lotus as a 2nd car.

[junior varsity]

i boxter is a "real car" and a lotus is a gokart for the street. 

I certainly agree here.  However, priced so close to the Corvette and just as common, I'd take the 'vette. I'd choose the Elise or Exige over both though.

[teddy037.2]

I would love to test-drive a lotus... 

good fun on the cheap? miata. esp. the FI kind. or the sickly 5.0 engine swaps (of which I have only seen in stories)

[derby]

I would love to test-drive a lotus... 

good fun on the cheap? miata. esp. the FI kind. or the sickly 5.0 engine swaps (of which I have only seen in stories)

miatas are a blast... easily one of the most fun cars i've ever driven. it's geared so short that you feel like you're wringing it's neck without getting into "ridiculous speed".

[sqweak]

there are much better cars for the same amount of jingle, and you won't have to deal with people asking you about your wannabe-porsche.

Enlighten me, cause we sure as hell didn't find one in a two year search for a car for Mags.

Vette? please.  If you're going to look down your nose at the Boxster for it's image, you're going to suggest the king of the gold chain set as a replacement? And winding road shares the same sentiment as I do: the Boxster is a better driver's car.

For us, it came down to the Elise and the Boxster.  As much as we loved the Elise, the car needed to be able to serve as Mags' daily driver (which includes hauling banker's boxes full of files to and from court/the office) and accommodate the two of us (and luggage) for several hundred mile road trips to SF, Vegas, and San Diego.  To that end, the Boxster was just a more livable car.  We also lucked into a hell of a deal on a CPO 05 (first year of the current generation) that we picked up for damn near half price with a better warranty then new.  I wanted an S, fully loaded with all the go fast parts (PASM, sportchrono, etc) but we ended up with a no-option base model.  As much fun (and trouble ) as we get into with it, I now think the extra power and technology would have been a waste for the street.

In the much more car crazy LA area, I can say that we've never had anyone disrespect the Boxster.  Quite the opposite, we've had people motion us to roll down the window and comment on how much they love the car.

FWIW, I'm 6'3 and 260.  I fit fine in the Elise, though ingress and egress are a bit of a struggle...but that's mostly with the top on.  I'm sure Derby will chime in with the comedy gold that was my first try entering and exiting one   Once I'm in, I'm comfortable and it fits like a glove.  I don't think it would be very comfortable with two people my size (shoulders touching), but it would be fine alone or with a petite passenger.

[Kaveh]

Tesla?  Better service intervals than than Elise, but you have to sell both kidneys or knock off a bank 

[derby]

I'm sure Derby will chime in with the comedy gold that was my first try entering and exiting one  

i was doing my best not to mention it. 

[ROBsS4R]

Thanks for the info guys and gals 

[sno_duc]

Along the same lines. The wife and I are looking at a BMW Z4 coupe as her next car.
Two seater, handles well, built one on their website came in at $49k.
She has take one for a test drive, she was impressed.

[Le Pirate]

I might catch some flack for this...


but I drove a Audi TT quattro for a while. It was a DAMN FUN car. I had the 2+2 hardtop. It was mildly practical with the rear seat (storage, not people) and the all wheel drive made it plenty of fun.




it was a little dirty in this pic.

I had to get rid of it though...it was over 100k miles, and the previous owner hadn't kept up with the service like they should of had a couple issues due to that.

plus...i was getting way to many tickets on my morning commute