Start of a new era.....
Discussion
Well it's been 26 months since I first posted in this forum (yes, I asked all the typical newbie questions) and it's been a long and happy first two years of Elise ownership. My baby has now sold, and while she's still in my garage, she's patiently awaiting for the new owner to come up with the funds to buy her. I'm the third owner and her fourth owner is also the first owner.... yeap, after 2 years in my careful care, she's going home 
Farewell old girl, I'll miss you *sniff*
That's sad and I'll miss the old girl, but I've just bought the object that will be filling the Lotus-shaped hole in my garage... Behold:
I've lusted after an Exige S1 for some time, and I had planned to get one in about 18 months and keep the Elise as well... However, a forthcoming law-change will ban importation of any more S1s (Emissions regulations) after the year's end. There currently AREN'T any S1 Exiges in NZ so it's literally forced my hand into a "now or never" situation... I can always buy another Elise from the local pool of 35 or so in the country, but this will be my last ever chance to own an Exige in NZ.
I'm busy organising the payment and freight now and fingers crossed, in 6 weeks or so, I'll be cracking open a container in NZ like a giant early Christmas present. I can't bloody wait!
Farewell old girl, I'll miss you *sniff*
That's sad and I'll miss the old girl, but I've just bought the object that will be filling the Lotus-shaped hole in my garage... Behold:
I've lusted after an Exige S1 for some time, and I had planned to get one in about 18 months and keep the Elise as well... However, a forthcoming law-change will ban importation of any more S1s (Emissions regulations) after the year's end. There currently AREN'T any S1 Exiges in NZ so it's literally forced my hand into a "now or never" situation... I can always buy another Elise from the local pool of 35 or so in the country, but this will be my last ever chance to own an Exige in NZ.
I'm busy organising the payment and freight now and fingers crossed, in 6 weeks or so, I'll be cracking open a container in NZ like a giant early Christmas present. I can't bloody wait!
Edited by Esprit on Thursday 12th July 07:47
Dude, I've been following your threads about this with interest and am truly excited for you. I hope the car gets to you safely and that when it arrives, you'll have as much fun, if not more, than you've had with the Elise thus far.
You're doing a very cool thing IMO, good on you!
The Exige looks gorgeous, take some pics of it in it's new home when it arrives and post them up.
You're doing a very cool thing IMO, good on you!
The Exige looks gorgeous, take some pics of it in it's new home when it arrives and post them up.
Kevin - For the time being I'll be keeping the VHPD. There aren't any other VHPD cars in the country so it'll still be unique... I won't rule out the plan of going honda-powered in the future, but for now, the plan is to keep it as Lotus intended... as temperamental as a hand grenade with the pin pulled out
Tim - Thanks mate... I hope she gets here safe too... I'll be bursting with anticipation when she gets here I've agonised long and hard over this Exige lark... I really can't afford it, but given the law change it really is a case of now or never and I KNOW I'd never ever forgive myself if I missed the boat. Don't worry, I'll be spamming you guys with more pics than you can handle, trust me
cheekymonkey - My thoughts exactly
Cej - You have no idea mate... it's gosting me several thousand to ship it, when it arrives in NZ I have to pay another 13% in tax/duty, and then another few thousand to get it complied for road use... this makes NO financial sense, but it's something the heart must have, so no reasoning of the head can talk me out of it
Andy - For the last 2 years I've lusted after an Exige S1, for me they're just so raw and aggressive... not as pretty as an Elise, but certainly more sex appeal. Would you believe that I've never seen an S1 Exige in the flesh before? Well not properly anyway... only time was I saw one for about 0.5 seconds flash past the window of my taxi on the motorway so it doesn't count... getting my Exige is kinda like the feeling I'd get if I found out that Keira Knightley was moving into my spare room
I love that such a simple thing as a bunch of glued together Aluminium and fibreglass can make a grown man so excited... the next 6 weeks or so are going to seem like an eternity... like when you were 5 years old and that week before Christmas that felt like a lifetime
Tim - Thanks mate... I hope she gets here safe too... I'll be bursting with anticipation when she gets here
I've agonised long and hard over this Exige lark... I really can't afford it, but given the law change it really is a case of now or never and I KNOW I'd never ever forgive myself if I missed the boat. Don't worry, I'll be spamming you guys with more pics than you can handle, trust me cheekymonkey - My thoughts exactly
Cej - You have no idea mate... it's gosting me several thousand to ship it, when it arrives in NZ I have to pay another 13% in tax/duty, and then another few thousand to get it complied for road use... this makes NO financial sense, but it's something the heart must have, so no reasoning of the head can talk me out of it
Andy - For the last 2 years I've lusted after an Exige S1, for me they're just so raw and aggressive... not as pretty as an Elise, but certainly more sex appeal. Would you believe that I've never seen an S1 Exige in the flesh before? Well not properly anyway... only time was I saw one for about 0.5 seconds flash past the window of my taxi on the motorway so it doesn't count... getting my Exige is kinda like the feeling I'd get if I found out that Keira Knightley was moving into my spare room
I love that such a simple thing as a bunch of glued together Aluminium and fibreglass can make a grown man so excited... the next 6 weeks or so are going to seem like an eternity... like when you were 5 years old and that week before Christmas that felt like a lifetime
Great stuff all round George 
You're passion for your Elise alwasy shone through and that will surely only be magnified when the Exige turns up
Great looking car you've found there too - here's hoping for a drama-free shipment
Also, your Community involvement on PistonHeads is clear to see too, even though we don't get to meet you on any runs! Can't help feeling that you should have flown over to collect and then driven the many great roads to back home over the course of a couple months - now that's a road trip!!! Maybe next time though eh..?
Enjoy the wait (...it's gonna drive you loopy!)
Fair play fella
You're passion for your Elise alwasy shone through and that will surely only be magnified when the Exige turns up
Great looking car you've found there too - here's hoping for a drama-free shipmentAlso, your Community involvement on PistonHeads is clear to see too, even though we don't get to meet you on any runs! Can't help feeling that you should have flown over to collect and then driven the many great roads to back home over the course of a couple months - now that's a road trip!!! Maybe next time though eh..?
Enjoy the wait (...it's gonna drive you loopy!)
Fair play fella
Lawrence - I won't be going anywhere NEAR gravel... sadly, NZ's roads mean stonechips.... might have to armourfend her nose
Tony - Awesome is the right word I can think of a few others
Clive - I'm no more or less passionate about my Elise than anyone else on here, but I've wanted a Lotus since I was about 6 years old and to me, my Lotus, ANY Lotus is a fulfilment of a promise I've held close to my heart since I was a young'un.... the Exige is just a more ultimate expression to me of what Lotus is about... raw and uncompromising. I will someday have another Elise, that much is for sure
I"d have LOVED to have come over, but unfortunately the start of a new business venture means that my time is in demand at the moment... I spend enough of my boss's time drooling over Exiges as it is at the moment! Of course, any PHer is welcome to visit if they're in this neck of the woods.
As for the wait... yeah it's gonna be painful... but I don't drive my Lotuses in the rain and we've got about 8 weeks of near non-stop rain forecast, so it's not like I'd be able to use it anyway
Alex - Yeah it's a great shame to see my little S1 go, she's been perfect for me. Reality is that I want to do a little more track work and I don't want to take that Elise any further away from being a road car than it already is... I've hit that wall where anything further I do to her to make her more "sporty" will begin to lessen her appeal as a road car.... as she is at the moment she's a perfect example of a pure road car that holds her own on track, and I didn't want to spoil that.... hence the Exige... a car that's hopeless on the road, but is supposed to be... but really comes into its own on track.
Miles - Yeah. Original owner traded it in on a Porsche 993 a few years back.... 2 weeks after doing so he wished he hadn't but couldn't afford to buy it back... Ever since I bumped into him when I bought it, he's asked me to let him know if I ever sell it... he came and saw it last week and reckons it's in better condition than it left him and he won't rest until he has it back.... It's going to be going to a great home.... somewhere that wants MY Elise... not just AN Elise... and that makes me feel a bit better about letting her go
Tony - Awesome is the right word
I can think of a few others Clive - I'm no more or less passionate about my Elise than anyone else on here, but I've wanted a Lotus since I was about 6 years old and to me, my Lotus, ANY Lotus is a fulfilment of a promise I've held close to my heart since I was a young'un.... the Exige is just a more ultimate expression to me of what Lotus is about... raw and uncompromising. I will someday have another Elise, that much is for sure
I"d have LOVED to have come over, but unfortunately the start of a new business venture means that my time is in demand at the moment... I spend enough of my boss's time drooling over Exiges as it is at the moment!
Of course, any PHer is welcome to visit if they're in this neck of the woods.As for the wait... yeah it's gonna be painful... but I don't drive my Lotuses in the rain and we've got about 8 weeks of near non-stop rain forecast, so it's not like I'd be able to use it anyway
Alex - Yeah it's a great shame to see my little S1 go, she's been perfect for me. Reality is that I want to do a little more track work and I don't want to take that Elise any further away from being a road car than it already is... I've hit that wall where anything further I do to her to make her more "sporty" will begin to lessen her appeal as a road car.... as she is at the moment she's a perfect example of a pure road car that holds her own on track, and I didn't want to spoil that.... hence the Exige... a car that's hopeless on the road, but is supposed to be... but really comes into its own on track.
Miles - Yeah. Original owner traded it in on a Porsche 993 a few years back.... 2 weeks after doing so he wished he hadn't but couldn't afford to buy it back... Ever since I bumped into him when I bought it, he's asked me to let him know if I ever sell it... he came and saw it last week and reckons it's in better condition than it left him and he won't rest until he has it back.... It's going to be going to a great home.... somewhere that wants MY Elise... not just AN Elise... and that makes me feel a bit better about letting her go
Esprit said:
Cej - You have no idea mate... it's gosting me several thousand to ship it, when it arrives in NZ I have to pay another 13% in tax/duty, and then another few thousand to get it complied for road use... this makes NO financial sense, but it's something the heart must have, so no reasoning of the head can talk me out of it
Maybe I should consider moving to NZ 
We have 180% tax on cars here 
And I agree on the 'something the heart must have' part, I've paid 25k GBP in total for my S1 ,but I just had to have it.
George, I'm so happy for you.
It looks fab. The best colour also! I can't wait for it to turn up. Call me as soon as it arrives and i'll come up and have a look. Hopefully we'll be able to go for a good trash, weather permiting.
I guess its time to get some new upgrades for mine otherwise you'll be disappearing into the distance.
Andy
It looks fab. The best colour also! I can't wait for it to turn up. Call me as soon as it arrives and i'll come up and have a look. Hopefully we'll be able to go for a good trash, weather permiting.
I guess its time to get some new upgrades for mine otherwise you'll be disappearing into the distance.
Andy
mrtim - It's funny... there's never been any S1 Exiges here ever, and there'll be two arriving within a month of eachother... at elast I'll have someone to play with on trackdays 
jke11y - Yeah mate, that's the one... it ticked all the boxes for me and was exactly what I'm looking for so I had to have her
Boggy - Out of this world and into my garage I hope
Andy (fatboy111) - Yeah they've got that something different in styling that the Elise lacks, does it for me
Andy (drac) - Thanks mate. We're WELL overdue for a catch up and have no fear, I'll be out and about in this one as much as I was in the Elise (although maybe a few less miles until I get a second set of wheels sorted)... but I'll still be up for some nice drives in thr countryside. As for performance I'm sure you'll keep me honest on the track! I'd like to get a photoshoot done with your car sometime as well (due to the colour similarity), so get your thinking cap on about some nice venues we can explore in the summer!
jke11y - Yeah mate, that's the one... it ticked all the boxes for me and was exactly what I'm looking for so I had to have her
Boggy - Out of this world and into my garage I hope
Andy (fatboy111) - Yeah they've got that something different in styling that the Elise lacks, does it for me
Andy (drac) - Thanks mate. We're WELL overdue for a catch up and have no fear, I'll be out and about in this one as much as I was in the Elise (although maybe a few less miles until I get a second set of wheels sorted)... but I'll still be up for some nice drives in thr countryside. As for performance I'm sure you'll keep me honest on the track! I'd like to get a photoshoot done with your car sometime as well (due to the colour similarity), so get your thinking cap on about some nice venues we can explore in the summer!
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