I love my lotus because......
Discussion
Well as I write this I'm sat on my hotel balcony enjoying a cool pint whilst Mrs 49 catches some rays! The elise has just done a four hour drive in style and comfort, taking a weekends worth of packing and delivered us to our destination in the most wonderful way. I love that little car, as I look over the rail there's a small group of kids oooohing and aahhhing over her. It really is the most entertaining thing even when parked up! I have the most bizarre relationship with that car and can happily say it will only be replaced by some thing else from the Lotus fold.
So why do you love yours?
ETA - this was sent from my iPhone so I apologise for any glaring grammar errors!
So why do you love yours?
ETA - this was sent from my iPhone so I apologise for any glaring grammar errors!
Edited by Chris49 on Saturday 27th June 17:03
I love mine because it has three pedals... clutch, brake and griiinnnnnn. 
It is quick enough to embarrass much more exotic machinery yet still returns 30+ mpg, is cheap enough that I can afford to buy and look after it properly and on a sunny day, with the roof off and empty enough roads it has never failed to put a smile on my face no matter what mood I started in.
It is quick enough to embarrass much more exotic machinery yet still returns 30+ mpg, is cheap enough that I can afford to buy and look after it properly and on a sunny day, with the roof off and empty enough roads it has never failed to put a smile on my face no matter what mood I started in.
Having got back from a weekend involving driving from Kent to Somerset to Leicestershire and back to Kent, I was about to post a thread entitled 'I LOVE MY LOTUS' but someone has beaten me to it!!!
Quite simply, it makes me feel bloody good about myself, it makes me feel special when driving it.
And in a nod to snuffle - it's cheap enough so I can have drink and drugs as well as a fast car
We all know that the Lotus-Elise-Variants* (I'll use LEV as an acronym) are good at handling, they're fast round corners, the light weight confers benefits in virtually all areas (good performance from fairly tedious commodity engines, good brake performance without needing monstrous Porker-style brake kit, good longevity of consumables, no need for power steering thus good steering feel, superb fuel consumption for the performance, etc.) - and whilst all these technical benefits make them good sports cars, I think they're much more than the sum of their parts.
The LEV cars have soul, and all the different variants have their own character. Due to the nature of the things, you tend to 'become part of the car' when driving one, rather than feeling like you're operating a machine. There are loads of cars out there that are as quick or quicker, there are cars with better acceleration, there are cars with more grip, there are even cars that are quicker round a circuit. The LEVs all look bloody good, but there are other sports cars out there with superb styling too (mostly supercars that cost a hell of a lot more, mind you). The LEVs aren't the 'ultimate' in any Top-Trumps type comparison of cars, but put it all together into 'fun to drive' and 'fun to own' and 'feel-good factor' and I think they really can't be beaten.
Not that I care particularly much what other people think of my lifestyle choices, I do notice what other people think. Another great thing about the LEV is the almost universally positive response they get from the general public. Sadly, this country seems to be filled with envious scum who actively express hate at people with 'desirable' objects, hence the scowls, spitting, 'w
ker' fist-shaking, etc. that I've experienced driving other sports cars through rougher areas of towns. I've never owned any big-league cars (Ferrari, Lambo, Zonda etc.) but have seen plenty of town pedestrian reaction to them. It's really sad to see. However the LEVs just seem to generate positive reactions - even though some of the variants (esp. the Exiges) are just as 'flashy' as anything else out there. Young kids give the best reactions of all, and even pikey teenagers who'd spit at Porkers that cost the same as the Lotus sometimes cheer or shout to rev the engine up.
And even though I said I don't care about other peoples' opinions of me, there is a definite 'feel-good' factor involved when (as a recent example) a young mum spots my car crawling through town, grabs her two small boys and points saying 'look at that', and the boys both stop, staring, open-mouthed and wide-eyed - I gave them a big smile and they waved. It's little things like this that make the LEVs really special given how affordable and 'normal' they are. They are remarkably good anti-depressants!
Specifically, the reason I love *mine* is because I think Lotus have finally evolved the LEV into the perfect compromise for *my* tastes. I had a few hundred miles of boring motorway driving this weekend in hot weather, but whilst it's hardly a comfort cruiser, it's perfectly acceptable and the compromises in my car (sound deadening, air con) make it great even for long journeys at speed. Mine finally has a passenger seat that is as comfortable as the driver's seat (Becky hated the S1, and used to complain in the VXT because the VXT passenger seat was *much* less comfortable than the driver's seat, which was actually the most comfortable seat I've tried in a LEV) so both myself and Becks can happily travel for hours in it. The majority of the noise is tyre roar and wind noise from the aero 'features' - my 2bular zorst is silent when cruising but makes a fantastic sound when having fun - but Becks and I can comfortably have a conversation without shouting at all sensible / semi-legal motorway speeds. Mine now also is weatherproof - something lacking in the early LEVs and a particular pet hate of mine - but the new cars are watertight. Mine lives outdoors all year round and this is essential to me.
And even with the compromises for everyday road use, it's still incredibly good fun to drive on 'fun' roads, and still very capable on trackdays. In my car, I feel the inevitable compromises have been judged to absolute perfection, and Lotus have increased build quality and attention to detail so I can't complain about that. All my car needed was a better exhaust to give the engine the character it deserved.
Hand on heart, I can say that my Exige is the best car I've ever owned. It hits the spot in so many ways, and whilst it *is* compromised (and some of you who are more hardcore than I will bemoan that it's not focused enough), the compromises are IMO judged perfectly so that whilst it's become a car that is perfectly friendly and usable as a daily driver (reliable, watertight, doesn't need race-car-style constant maintenance or tinkering), it has still retained the vast majority of what made the first Elise great.
Having spent 8-odd hours in it this weekend in perhaps it's most inappropriate habitat (busy motorways), I still enjoyed every minute and it was still FUN to drive. And at the polar opposite, when I take it on the Brands GP trackday in August, I'm sure it will be phenomenal fun (last time out on the Indy circuit was excellent, though I'll be getting a CG-lock since I was falling out of the chair round Graham Hill).
I admit to being an enthusiast but I'm not in general one of those single-minded fanboys who refuse to acknowledge any negative aspect to their choice (you know the types - from cars, sports teams, computer operating systems, religions, etc.) - but with my Exige - for me, it's the perfect car. It's something I'm happy shouting about - I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY EXIGE
Enough to drone on and on and on about it!!! (apologies for such a long post!)
Quite simply, it makes me feel bloody good about myself, it makes me feel special when driving it.
And in a nod to snuffle - it's cheap enough so I can have drink and drugs as well as a fast car
We all know that the Lotus-Elise-Variants* (I'll use LEV as an acronym) are good at handling, they're fast round corners, the light weight confers benefits in virtually all areas (good performance from fairly tedious commodity engines, good brake performance without needing monstrous Porker-style brake kit, good longevity of consumables, no need for power steering thus good steering feel, superb fuel consumption for the performance, etc.) - and whilst all these technical benefits make them good sports cars, I think they're much more than the sum of their parts.
The LEV cars have soul, and all the different variants have their own character. Due to the nature of the things, you tend to 'become part of the car' when driving one, rather than feeling like you're operating a machine. There are loads of cars out there that are as quick or quicker, there are cars with better acceleration, there are cars with more grip, there are even cars that are quicker round a circuit. The LEVs all look bloody good, but there are other sports cars out there with superb styling too (mostly supercars that cost a hell of a lot more, mind you). The LEVs aren't the 'ultimate' in any Top-Trumps type comparison of cars, but put it all together into 'fun to drive' and 'fun to own' and 'feel-good factor' and I think they really can't be beaten.
Not that I care particularly much what other people think of my lifestyle choices, I do notice what other people think. Another great thing about the LEV is the almost universally positive response they get from the general public. Sadly, this country seems to be filled with envious scum who actively express hate at people with 'desirable' objects, hence the scowls, spitting, 'w
ker' fist-shaking, etc. that I've experienced driving other sports cars through rougher areas of towns. I've never owned any big-league cars (Ferrari, Lambo, Zonda etc.) but have seen plenty of town pedestrian reaction to them. It's really sad to see. However the LEVs just seem to generate positive reactions - even though some of the variants (esp. the Exiges) are just as 'flashy' as anything else out there. Young kids give the best reactions of all, and even pikey teenagers who'd spit at Porkers that cost the same as the Lotus sometimes cheer or shout to rev the engine up.And even though I said I don't care about other peoples' opinions of me, there is a definite 'feel-good' factor involved when (as a recent example) a young mum spots my car crawling through town, grabs her two small boys and points saying 'look at that', and the boys both stop, staring, open-mouthed and wide-eyed - I gave them a big smile and they waved. It's little things like this that make the LEVs really special given how affordable and 'normal' they are. They are remarkably good anti-depressants!
Specifically, the reason I love *mine* is because I think Lotus have finally evolved the LEV into the perfect compromise for *my* tastes. I had a few hundred miles of boring motorway driving this weekend in hot weather, but whilst it's hardly a comfort cruiser, it's perfectly acceptable and the compromises in my car (sound deadening, air con) make it great even for long journeys at speed. Mine finally has a passenger seat that is as comfortable as the driver's seat (Becky hated the S1, and used to complain in the VXT because the VXT passenger seat was *much* less comfortable than the driver's seat, which was actually the most comfortable seat I've tried in a LEV) so both myself and Becks can happily travel for hours in it. The majority of the noise is tyre roar and wind noise from the aero 'features' - my 2bular zorst is silent when cruising but makes a fantastic sound when having fun - but Becks and I can comfortably have a conversation without shouting at all sensible / semi-legal motorway speeds. Mine now also is weatherproof - something lacking in the early LEVs and a particular pet hate of mine - but the new cars are watertight. Mine lives outdoors all year round and this is essential to me.
And even with the compromises for everyday road use, it's still incredibly good fun to drive on 'fun' roads, and still very capable on trackdays. In my car, I feel the inevitable compromises have been judged to absolute perfection, and Lotus have increased build quality and attention to detail so I can't complain about that. All my car needed was a better exhaust to give the engine the character it deserved.
Hand on heart, I can say that my Exige is the best car I've ever owned. It hits the spot in so many ways, and whilst it *is* compromised (and some of you who are more hardcore than I will bemoan that it's not focused enough), the compromises are IMO judged perfectly so that whilst it's become a car that is perfectly friendly and usable as a daily driver (reliable, watertight, doesn't need race-car-style constant maintenance or tinkering), it has still retained the vast majority of what made the first Elise great.
Having spent 8-odd hours in it this weekend in perhaps it's most inappropriate habitat (busy motorways), I still enjoyed every minute and it was still FUN to drive. And at the polar opposite, when I take it on the Brands GP trackday in August, I'm sure it will be phenomenal fun (last time out on the Indy circuit was excellent, though I'll be getting a CG-lock since I was falling out of the chair round Graham Hill).
I admit to being an enthusiast but I'm not in general one of those single-minded fanboys who refuse to acknowledge any negative aspect to their choice (you know the types - from cars, sports teams, computer operating systems, religions, etc.) - but with my Exige - for me, it's the perfect car. It's something I'm happy shouting about - I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY EXIGE
Enough to drone on and on and on about it!!! (apologies for such a long post!)- I'm using 'Lotus Elise Variant' because I've had a few of them, they're all good, and Lotus badged a couple of them as Vauxhalls so it's difficult to just say 'I love my Lotus' because one of them was a VXT. So my LEV acronym accounts for Elises, Exiges, VX220s, 340Rs and 2-11s as they share fundamentally the same chassis. The Europa should be in there (being mostly a VXT) but the tub felt different to me when I tried one as the sills are much lower - is it still the same chassis but slightly wider and with lower sills? If not, then it's out of my LEV class
I don't even own one anymore but I still love them.
I don't have time for a weekend only tool so have to get thrills during the week and my commute does not work for an Elise hence the 911... but if my work life was to change again I would not hesitate to go back to one... trouble is I would want my original one... or perhaps an Exige
I don't have time for a weekend only tool so have to get thrills during the week and my commute does not work for an Elise hence the 911... but if my work life was to change again I would not hesitate to go back to one... trouble is I would want my original one... or perhaps an Exige
I love my Lotus because I spent an entire weekend with it and never once imagined how I could enjoy being with another car more. I was honing about the Moors with the roof off; no place to be except in my car. I covered a good number of miles at considerable pace. I used virtually no fuel and was able to drive quickly enough to exhilarate myself without ever taking risks. It is the most tactile, fluid, beautiful car I have ever driven. You could’ve offered me the keys to any car in the world yesterday and I’d have picked mine.
It can carry me 150 miles to a track, flatter my *very* novice driving skills by whooping a scooby and porkers ass (even lapping them within 8 laps), then carry me home again albeit with me very tired and weary. Next day it does the shopping and the next takes one of the kids to school. Great multi-purpose fun car with realistic running costs.
A day after spending the entire weekend driving mine....
....the only thing I regret is that I don't have the time to drive it more frequently. I could use it for the station run but the bloody equilateral triangle 'speed humps' all around the station car park have made the suspension feel trashed in my MG after only 8000 miles, and the Exige may have trouble getting over them (seen a fair few S1 Elises parked in there on Fridays but no S2 Exiges)...
....the only thing I regret is that I don't have the time to drive it more frequently. I could use it for the station run but the bloody equilateral triangle 'speed humps' all around the station car park have made the suspension feel trashed in my MG after only 8000 miles, and the Exige may have trouble getting over them (seen a fair few S1 Elises parked in there on Fridays but no S2 Exiges)...
21TonyK said:
It can carry me 150 miles to a track, flatter my *very* novice driving skills by whooping a scooby and porkers ass (even lapping them within 8 laps), then carry me home again albeit with me very tired and weary. Next day it does the shopping and the next takes one of the kids to school. Great multi-purpose fun car with realistic running costs.
Try TDs plus 350 mile runs home at the end of it - amazing for a ten year old car! The value for money of the Elise is simply remarkable and keeping it in good mechanical nick for road and track use costs remarkably little for the fun you have and inevitable hard work it does on track. A truly remarkable achievement and as cyberface says, its got soul - so few cars today have.
Tony, I've seen some nice piccies of the day at Llandow - don't think I've ever tried going through the Bustop in reverse
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