Update : Lotus Elise or Similar Car

[somegirl]

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.

Rob, if you are even remotely considering this, your first stop should be to the hardware store to pick up a fire extinguisher.

[ROBsS4R]

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

Hey Hey Hey now. The Rubicon and the H1 Hummer were pretty nice offroad vehicles. Mind you we are talking about sports cars but those are the sports cars of offroad 

[ROBsS4R]

Rob, if you are even remotely considering this, your first stop should be to the hardware store to pick up a fire extinguisher. Tongue

Maybe they can buy me a Firetruck. Kill 2 birds with one stone 

[Popeye the Sailor]

Maybe they can buy me a Firetruck. Kill 2 birds with one stone 

I own a firetruck. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

Hey Hey Hey now. The Rubicon and the H1 Hummer were pretty nice offroad vehicles.

Dare I ask if they ever saw said offroad?




We could build you the hottest ride, cheap. No one would ever catch you (alive).


Something like a Sunbeam Tiger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbeam_Tiger

[ROBsS4R]

I own a firetruck.  Smiley

That makes sense.

Most people own a fire extinguisher... You own a firetruck 

[ROBsS4R]

Dare I ask if they ever saw said offroad?

How Dare you 

They sure did. I like to go camping where you don't pull into a camping spot.

The only other people that are camping with you are people who 4 Wheeled in with you 

[somegirl]

They sure did. I like to go camping where you don't pull into a camping spot.

Me too, but last time I went camping I canoed into the spot.

[ROBsS4R]

Me too, but last time I went camping I canoed into the spot. Wink

So when are we going camping then 

All though I don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle any longer but I do have a boat.

Tahoe has some Boat in only camping.

Edit : I have a Jeep Liberty to tow the boat but thats for minor 4 wheel driving 

[somegirl]

So when are we going camping then 

All though I don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle any longer but I do have a boat.

Tahoe has some Boat in only camping.

Edit : I have a Jeep Liberty to tow the boat but thats for minor 4 wheel driving 

Sounds fun, I just got a new sleeping bag from REI.

(guess it's ok that you threadjacked your own thread. )

[ROBsS4R]

Sounds fun, I just got a new sleeping bag from REI. waytogo

(guess it's ok that you threadjacked your own thread. cheeky)

Yeah... Thats not against the rules. 

We will take the rest offline... Now back to which sports car I should buy 

[BWClark]

Don't underestimate the power of a Miata (Mazda MX5)!

I love the lightweight sportscar concept too. I'd love an Elise, or a Lotus 7 replica (Caterham perhaps?), but for a little less $$$ and a little more practicality I'd buy a used Miata and bolt an intercooled turbo to it. Huge enthusiast network. Lots of kits and parts and support. Fun as hell!   

I had one a few years ago. That sucker would do near a 5 second 0-60mph run, was super-sticky in the curves, with appropriate tail-out antics. Awesome fun, and got the adrenalin flowing something serious. It was only a 1.6, but running 13lbs boost and probably putting out around 190hp.

Think seriously about the Miata. Even unmodified they're a lot of fun. A turbo adds tho.

[Jnaids07]

I didn't see much mention of the new Audi TT.  Fairly quick and great interiors.  Doesn't necessarily have the bling factor of the elise but it does have good performance, nice interior, all wheel drive, etc.  The new 2009 RS version looks pretty nice. 

[bulldogs2k]

I used to have a MY 00 s2000!  I loved it, until I got back to motorcycling.  They can be had for cheap, and they have loads of aftermarket support.  IE super chargers or turbo's!  It's more refined than a elise but it can rip up road courses, auto x tracks all day long. 
A

[Bun-bun]

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.

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

WOW! Looks like I hit a nerve there Sqweak.

I'm no zealot, I simply posted what I looked at, and what I ended up putting my $$ on. I can't speak to the size of your feet(I'm a size 12), but I found the steering to be as sharp as the S2000(Which I could not fit into.), and sharper than the Boxter S.
Also, the Mini's come from the factory with heavy wheels, and runflat tires. changing the wheels netted me an unsprung weight reduction of almost 90lbs(for 4 wheels), and going to a summer sport tire improved the handling even further.
As for the SCCA, maybe there's a reason they dominate their classes? Don't just go by raw times, either, check PAX times.


All of that said, is it the perfect car? Hell no. Not even close. It's more of a quick car than a fast car. The Lotus is a beautiful, fast, attention grabbing car, and will take the Mini after about 40-50 mph, and leave it in the dust on a straightaway. But you can't fit enough luggage in the Lotus for more than a short weekend. I can fit enough luggage in the Mini to go cross country. Top speed of the Mini is @ 130-135. 
It's all in the eye of the beholder.