As a elise being a performer so what? ,I'd buy a discounted SRT6 1st or C6 haven't drivin one yet or excuse the expression PORSCHE used before an elise ,sorry my 2cts.FOR $45k??????????????????????????????????????????????

actually a XKR8 would be my choice now for 45k or less.

 

Dan...please, revisit your middle school grammar and diagramming of sentences...you're very hard to understand.

If I understand correctly, you simply want an outdated technological platform that looks swell, performance, pedigree, or real quality be damned. That's ok. You don't have to feel bad about that.

You don't like the Lotus. That's fine. It really isn't for you. It's a driver's car. That's ok. A true performance car is not something you can relate to (check any current R & T road test table, a current NSX, and you owned a dinosaur NSX, at twice the price cannot keep up with an Elise.

For some strange reason you think the plastic body and Toyota drivetrain are negatives. Actually, they're positives. That's ok, really. It's far more reliable than the antiquated Crossfire drivetrain, more efficient, and far faster. But that's ok. Half the Crossfire (the rear half) looks good. The interior, directly out of the last generation SLK, is nice considering how much of the hated plastic is there. That silver painted plastic console is a quality item in a $35 K poser car, for sure.

$45 K for a Lotus? Yeah, an absolute bargain. Just ride in one. Become informed. You'll make much less of an **** of yourself. Believe me, you won't be able to wipe the grin off your face. Your Crossfire will feel like a '68 Fury 9 passenger station wagon after riding in/driving the Elise. That's ok. Manyh people have experienced the transformation. It won't hurt you. I'm not blowing smoke. Go visit Elisetalk forum. Lots of guys who've owned S2000 Hondas, BMW Z3 and Z4's, 350 Z's, Boxsters, SLK's etc feel like, after driving an Elise, they're climbing into a mini van when getting into their old 'sports' cars.

$35 K for the last generation SLK with a cramped body and a shifter still popping out of 1st gear? Shameful.

$50K for an SRT with an antique steering system? Pathetic.

 

I agree with your assumption that the Elise drives like a go kart !or is the best handeling for your money,,have fun.

 

here ya go.... $22k, 2005 elise... I am assuming the add is a misprint of some sort, but hey, if you are in florida go check it out ...

http://cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp...6&aff=national


if that link doesn't work, its at cars.com search for all lotus elise.

 

Bullseye,

Yes, I've driven several Caterhams and Super 7's. As minimalistic as the Elise is, the 7's are downright brutal. Now THAT is a go cart, Dan. Great, Great fun, but they're terrifying to be in on the Beltway.

I agree about the apples and oranges harry, that's really the point that we were making about the Elise. Dan was trying to make fruit salad.

The Elise is purpose built and does what it's designed to do better than any other car in its segment. Actually, there IS no other car precisely in its segment. THe new vette and a loaded Elise cost roughly the same, and both are an absolute blast to drive, but for different reasons.

Is it an expensive toy? Yes. So is the Crossfire. Is the Crossfire more liveable on a daily commute basis? Sure, no contest. Is the Crossfire a better car? For some people, it meets their needs better. Is the Elise a better car, for some people, who put a higher value on engineering and raw performance.

I wasn't really getting Dan's little attempts at word smithing with different variations of Toyota and Lotus. Toyota is pretty well know as a quality automobile manufacturer, and they also have a great racing pedigree. Lotus sure doesn't have to apologize for the Toyota connection..a reliable, modern, efficient engine and transmission combination. It was a stroke of sheer genius, and frankly cinched the deal for me early on when I was vascillating on buying one.

 

So you bought it because of Toyota 4 banger in a lightweight body that isn't even Fed aproved because they aren't going to sell that many anyway.Hah good choice.As I said a lotus kitcar.i'd rather have a small block in it V-8.

 

Figures you would. You've demonstrated your desire for antiquated technology and sub par performance.

Don't look now, but the Toyota 4 banger in a plastic body is 2 seconds faster to 60 than your 6 banger single over head cam. A second and a half faster in the quarter. Better gas mileage. Better reliability. Far greater g's on the skid. Far better braking. 2 mph faster in the slalom.

Oh, wait, you're an NSX guy. According to R & T...Elise is faster to 60 than the $91K NSX to 60. Dead heat in the quarter at less than half the price. The Elise has far better braking. The Elise almost a full tenth g more than the over priced NSX. Almost 5.5 miles faster through the slalom. Better gas mileage.

You've got a really screwed up, uninformed view of what makes for a well engineered automobile.

Yeah, now that you mention it, that's EXACTLY what I want.

Again, virtually every magazine on both sides of the Atlantic praise the engineering and performance of the car. The Crossfire, well, now they really don't say much about it at all any more, do they? After they declared it mediocre and basically a way for Mercedes to peddle off their used parts bins...

Small block V8. Right. If that's the case, safe to say you're trading your Crossfire in on a new Mustang?

 

Yeah spend $45k+ on a kitcar toyota engine because it beats the real Federalized car manufactors because only a few lotoy buyers are out there anyway OK .
any reason is a good one for a toyota 4 banger better than ahh lotus one hah ?

 

Jeez...you're getting very difficult to understand again, Dan. Sometimes your sentences are simply incoherent. You need to work on that.

Your interesting, and uniformed bias notwithstanding (you've never even touched an Elise, let alone driven one) I will share my INFORMED view of the car after putting about 300 miles on my new one this weekend.

Yes, for those of you who enjoy plushness in your car, you will not like this car, it is not for you, stay away from it, and you will think it is a monumental waste of money. People especially uninformed, as our friend Dan there, will misguidedly deride its advanced chassis technology as a kit car, and its modern engine (as opposed to the Crossfire motore) as a mere '4 banger.'

Stay away from the Elise...you won't 'get' it.

But if you enjoy a car which, despite its compromises, is flat out the most enjoyable car on the road to drive, go check one out. I thought my previous Lotuses handled well. I thought that the Crossfire handled well.

I came home to Annapolis from Jersey down the back roads of Maryland's eastern shore, some really great enthusiasts' roads that I am quite familiar with and on which I've always exercised sports cars.

Even cars that I felt handled these roads very well, including the Crossfire, simply now would feel like over weight, softly sprung, slow, cars with slow, insensitive steering. I had driven the Elise demo when I ordered it, but that was a short ride.

This long trip over the interstate and back roads showed that this car is a marvel of performance.

No Dan, there's no convincing you, but I really don't care to. I've owned the Crossfire. I didn't want that car as an everyday cruiser, it was my weekend toy. If it were to be an everyday car for me, the Crossfire would make more sense than the Elise.

But since I wanted a weekend toy, then I decided to go for performance and superior engineering and technology, not to mention pedigree, rarity, and wow factor.

Yeah, I'll gladly take my little kit car Toyota four banger over the last decade's technology, overprice, under performing Crossfire any day...even one that is all blinged out such as yours.

 

IF anyone is interested...I posted some pics in my gallery of my Elise taken Saturday when I picked it up at the dealership.

 

Hey guys (and ladies)

Please understand, my 'aspersions' towards the Crossfire are simply to pull Dan's chain, and he indeed does respond as anticipated.

I do like the Crossfire for what it is. It is the best looking car on the market from the A pillar back, in my opinion. Well, other than the new Ford GT.

It is a great cruiser. It handles very well within its segment.

So when I slam it, please understand than I'm teasing Dan just a bit.

The Elise and the Crossfire are totally different cars. 2 seats, 4 wheels, beginning and end of comparison.

If you like the plushness of the Crossfire, you won't like the Elise. It's not plush, it's spartan beyond anything you've known.

But, settling down into it, you feel like you're in a real race car. You are. Not for everybody. But it is an absolute blast.

Enjoy your Crossfires. Once in awhile I miss some aspects of mine. I loved that rear end styling, and I really enjoyed its handling.

Todd

 

Gee I thought I was teasing you.

Have fun,let us known when you get that GT Ford.

 

I think I speak for everyone here when I say...."Huh?"

Meds, Dan. Stick with the meds. I checked out your gallery. You need help son.

I apologize, I think maybe your blinged out Xfire is a catharsis for you.

But help me out here...I know AMG makes performance Mercedes parts...but what exactly is an AMG mat and what's so special about them?

Do they absorb the dirt off your Bostonians better?

You're busting my chops over the Elise when you're paying extra for 'AMG Mats' which probably are made by the same company that makes the $5 KMart specials? Really?

 

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....&page_number=1

Read the first paragraph, Dan. Just the first one. Trace it with your finger, if you need to.

R &T was very complimentary, unlike all other magazines, of the Crossfire.

But not THIS complimentary.

 

Or try this one...

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

Find two articles from major mags touting the Crossfire.

 

and if you're REALLY interested...

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=6

 

ha ha i test drove the elise and the crossfire the elise was so sad yeah yeah its all nimble n great cornering blah blah i got out it noticing it vibrates your rings of your fingers and unties your shoelaces what a can!! its good for a day out. But the crossfire was the car i did not want to get out of.... no comparisson..so i got the xfire n grin at the poor guy shakin around in the elise

vern uk

 

Wow, Vernon, you're quite a literate fellow, aren't you?

Uhhhh, I don't think you're fooling anyone...my guess is that not only do you not even own a Crossfire, but that it's very likely you've driven neither car.

Yes, the Crossfire is a soft, plushy car for soft, plushy people. I'll grant you that.

 

I would be easy on the generalizations there kusheen. Not all of us come out of the same hat.

 

Well I thought as a DC,AMG It was appropriate haahahahaha like your Toy lustsus whatever,and they were the same price actually less that what chrysler mats were But because the Crossfire is not made with any fu**ing chrysler parts anyway I was just fuc*ing with everyone who reads my mods hahaha.I have fogotten more than you'll ever know .Hahahaaaa