Update : Lotus Elise or Similar Car

[Bun-bun]

O.K. I know I'll get laughed at, but. . .
I did the toy search 2 years ago, looked at the Boxter S, Z4, Z3, S2000, Miata.

Ended up getting a Mini Cooper JCW.
2100 lbs, 210hp, takes corners better than the boxter S or either of the BMW's, and was equal to the Elise in everything EXCEPT 0-60 times. Fits me(i'm 6'2", 195-210 lbs), and every once in awhile I take it to one of our local autocrosses, and purely drive the piss out of it.
They go for under 40K new, and good used ones can be found for around 20-25K.
mine is an '05, the last year of the supercharged BMW engine. Since then they've gone to a turbocharged Peugot motor, and I don't have any specs on that engine, especially in JCW trim.

[sno_duc]

Sharon been driving Audi's for 20 years. They pissed us off over warranty coverage on a clutch. Yes I'll admit that she got it really hot in deep snow getting in to the garage, one time. I told her at the time that she knocked 10k to 20k miles off it's life. Six months later it died in rush hour stranding her waiting for a light. Audi wasn't going to cover anything till I loudly told Sharon that we were going to the BMW dealer while waiting in the Audi service department.

[ROBsS4R]

Ended up getting a Mini Cooper JCW.
2100 lbs, 210hp, takes corners better than the boxter S or either of the BMW's, and was equal to the Elise in everything EXCEPT 0-60 times

Really 

I new the Mini Cooper is a very nice vehicle but I had no idea it competes with the Lotus Elise. I always liked Mini Cooper's but they sure don't look as sporty as a Lotus Elise does.

[NeufUnSix]

If an Elise can do less than 11 second quarters, I'll eat my hat. It's a 13 second car.

[Sause]

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.

Thank god someone mentioned the Boot, M Coupes are my favorite car. Can't wait to get one. And I said M coupe NOT M3 Coupe. I'd go with an 2001 M coupe comes with the S54 motor. 315HP. probably around $25,000 for a real nice one.

[junior varsity]

They sure do look funny though.

[Bun-bun]

Really 

I new the Mini Cooper is a very nice vehicle but I had no idea it competes with the Lotus Elise. I always liked Mini Cooper's but they sure don't look as sporty as a Lotus Elise does.

No, they don't look as sporty, and they don't get pulled over for 57 in a 55 zone either.
I have had a number of sports cars over the years, 4 Fiat spiders, a Porsche 911SC, Maserati Biturbo, Mazda Rx-7, etc.
The Mini Cooper, especially with the JCW mods(which are factory mods, and come under warranty), is a quick little car that corners like a Ducati.

Check out the SCCA results for SOLO I and II for the past few years.

[ROBsS4R]

If an Elise can do less than 11 second quarters, I'll eat my hat. It's a 13 second car.

Your right. That information came off one of the major car sites. I will go edit it now.

[ROBsS4R]

My brother in law recently bought a MazaSpeed3

He is very happy with it.

- 0 to 60 5.9 seconds 1/4 mile 14.2 seconds
- Turbo compressor
- Curb Weight 3153
- 2,260 cc 2.3 liters in-line 4 front engine
- 14.5 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 12.1
- Power: 196 kW , 263 HP SAE @ 5,500 rpm; 280 ft lb , 380 Nm @ 3,000 rpm

[sqweak]

Ended up getting a Mini Cooper JCW.
2100 lbs, 210hp

uhh, you obviously drove a different Mini than I (or anyone else) did.

The mini is 2500 lbs.  Even the "uber mini", the JCW GP was only 80lbs lighter, and that was without a rear seat or A/C.  I applaud your pride in ownership, but you're pushing zealotry friend.  I really wanted to like the mini, but the pedal box was too cramped for my shoe size and I found the drive numb and uninspiring.  It's a nice sporty daily driver, but it's not a sports car anywhere *near* the level of the Elise.

It's done well in Solo...in g&h stock where they're practically the only thing running.  And what's at the top of the results sheet in super stock, A, etc?  Lotuses, Vettes, and Porsches.

Really 

I new the Mini Cooper is a very nice vehicle but I had no idea it competes with the Lotus Elise. I always liked Mini Cooper's but they sure don't look as sporty as a Lotus Elise does.

it doesn't, they're in entirely different classes.  The mini is a sporty car, the lotus is a sports car.

That's the aforementioned JCW Mini GP, ignore the "cooper s" plates, it's a limited edition (~2000 imported) track focused car.  Stick to the Lotus

[Popeye the Sailor]

Rob,

Around the time I picked up the Duc, I had a rather serious Dodge stealth. '92 Vintage, all wheel steering, all wheel drive, twin turbo, heavily modified. Pushing an estimated 400 hp or so. Thing moved.


Shortly after riding the duc.....the Stealth became BORING. Everything the stealth did so impressively well.....the duc did farrrr better.


Looking at a sports car *may* not be the way to go for you. You'll get in, floor it, and wonder why you're accelerating so slow.


You might just go cheaper and get something comfy. Just sayin'.

[ROBsS4R]

Looking at a sports car *may* not be the way to go for you. You'll get in, floor it, and wonder why you're accelerating so slow.

I was thinking about that before I even posted this thread.

Not any car I can afford is going to feel like my S4R when I grab a handful. The closest thing based on some reviews and video's I read would be the atom but I don't have 65k to drop and if I buy a car it should come with a roof 

But knowing me I think I would still want some sort of sporty car. That may be a Mini Cooper or a MazdaSpeed3 etc.

I only have a few requirements. It has to be fun to drive, Be a Manual, water Proof and I want to feel every little bump and curve in the road. I like to feel when I am driving. Non of this floaty full power steering crap that most cars have these day.

[somegirl]

I only have a few requirements. It has to be fun to drive, Be a Manual and I want to feel every little bump and curve in the road. I like to feel when I am driving. Non of this floaty full power steering crap that most cars have these day.

I agree with you, I enjoy having a sporty dog-mobile, and get a bit frustrated with most of the rental cars that I get (except for the fun one I had in Germany )

[ROBsS4R]

I was just thinking about my previous cars I owned 

Man I have some bad decisions in there 

91 Toyota Truck :Totaled. Not my fault  I even helped the guy who caused the accident and gave him the shirt off my back because he was bleeding all over the place and he sued all of the cars he hit. He did not win a dime 
66 Mustang : Project Car. Sold
90 GT Mustang : Stolen
89 Oldsmobile : Given to me by my Grandmother when My Mustang was stolen.
95 Toyota Tacoma : Traded for Hummer
95 Hummer H1 : Sold. Bought during the Dot Com days
00 Mustang : Traded for Jeep
03 620 Dark : Sold
91 GMC Truck : Given to me by my Grandfather. Fell apart and Junked. He took bad care of it before he gave it to me.
05 Jeep Rubicon : Sold
05 S4R : Current one and only vehicle

Hmmm... Maybe I should not buy anything with my poor judgment 

[Popeye the Sailor]

I'd give you a pass on the *old* mustang and the 620. Other than that, nothing too exciting.




Maybe you should just hand me and the idiot friend of mine 10k and ask us to come up with something "fast and with a roof" for you.



It'll be interesting, if nothing else.