is it just me or
Discussion
I love Lotii, none more so than the Esprit, but the Elise leaves me stone cold. I couldn't care less if it was made by Hyundai or no-one at all.
There was a really insightful 2 part documentary on the car's gestation, I saw it on the History channel years ago. It was pretty traumatic though, as it showed stylist Julian Thompson battling against the eggheads and beancounters to get it into production in its original, and surprisingly beautiful, form. Julian presented the really very pretty model. Then the beancounters said it couldn't have beetle wing doors. Then some pointy headed aerodynamicist stuck bulges and bibs on and started carving away at the model. Then the roadtesters put odd sized wheels with tall profile tyres on. Presto! The Elise!
I visited old-time Lotus dealer Bell & Colville recently and was presented with a sea of the things. Only when I looked at the historic pictures on the wall of the old Esprit days (Roger Moore promoting the S1 etc) did I feel stirred. Yes, I'm 35 and we truly are past it!
There was a really insightful 2 part documentary on the car's gestation, I saw it on the History channel years ago. It was pretty traumatic though, as it showed stylist Julian Thompson battling against the eggheads and beancounters to get it into production in its original, and surprisingly beautiful, form. Julian presented the really very pretty model. Then the beancounters said it couldn't have beetle wing doors. Then some pointy headed aerodynamicist stuck bulges and bibs on and started carving away at the model. Then the roadtesters put odd sized wheels with tall profile tyres on. Presto! The Elise!
I visited old-time Lotus dealer Bell & Colville recently and was presented with a sea of the things. Only when I looked at the historic pictures on the wall of the old Esprit days (Roger Moore promoting the S1 etc) did I feel stirred. Yes, I'm 35 and we truly are past it!
andybetts said:
I don't think anyone will guess wrong which is the real supercar in the bunch!
Of course as the Elise is not and was never meant to be a 'supercar' like the Esprit is.
It's the modern incarnation of the 60's Elan. Relatively cheap, light, not very powerful, but heaps of fun to drive.
They cater to very different markets/people and each does so very well.
Bye, Arno.
the elise is as common as #### im afraid, yeah its a lotus and its a marvel of engineering that people keep copying, but you see one every other car, hasnt got the same stigma as the esprit
"also look like a beachbuggy" and 90% of owners dont even wave (very into the respect thing between lotus owners it sets us apart) its just a car to them not a LOTUS
"also look like a beachbuggy" and 90% of owners dont even wave (very into the respect thing between lotus owners it sets us apart) its just a car to them not a LOTUS
I think we are in between the "Boy Racer Brigade" and the "Pipe and Slipper Club". I prefer to think of us as the "responsible enthusiast age". Not meaning that we don't like to push our cars hard, we just do so in a more responsible manner. We find ourselves, also, more connected to the history of the machines IMHO.
...yes all this was fields and we had to walk 10 miles, uphill in the snow... etc etc...
ErnestM
...yes all this was fields and we had to walk 10 miles, uphill in the snow... etc etc...
ErnestM
For those of you who are bad-mouthing the Elise: have you actually ever driven one? If not, I would reserve my judgement until I did if I were you. This is especially true of the new USA spec Elise with the new Toyota-based engine and 6-speed gearbox. It is truly one of the best handling vehicles in the world. Steering is almost telepathic. Some magazine reviewer actually said that it handled better than a McLaren F1.
Do yourself a favor and drive the new Elise when it comes out next year. If you still feel it's a piece of crap afterwards, feel free to critique it all you want and tell me that I'm full of sh*t.
As far as the replacement Esprit is concerned, current plans are to introduce it for 2007. I can't say anything else beyond that due to NDA.
Cheers,
KFM :-)
Do yourself a favor and drive the new Elise when it comes out next year. If you still feel it's a piece of crap afterwards, feel free to critique it all you want and tell me that I'm full of sh*t.
As far as the replacement Esprit is concerned, current plans are to introduce it for 2007. I can't say anything else beyond that due to NDA.
Cheers,
KFM :-)
your in the states karl i assume, i the old elise and the new elise, yeah there a laugh to drive and handle amazing, all i am saying is in the uk there are s##t loads of them and im a person who likes to stand out more so went from the elan (rare site in white) to a esprit GT3, i live near peter smiths so do see a few flying around but you still get more attention than the elise because ppl are used to them now
and as for boy racers, i prefer cruiser nowadays and yeah im afraid i am one, i was the ONLY esprit at this years max power live show at the NEC, my car is standard (apart from dvd) and ppl flocked round it, i just openened the boot and ppl love them
and as for boy racers, i prefer cruiser nowadays and yeah im afraid i am one, i was the ONLY esprit at this years max power live show at the NEC, my car is standard (apart from dvd) and ppl flocked round it, i just openened the boot and ppl love them
Have to agree with Karluk - I''ve owned '90 Elan, '00 Elise and now my '90 Esprit. I've loved them all for different reasons - The Elan 'cos it was my first Lotus and bloody fast, the Elise for it's go-kart like handling, but the Esprit definitely tops them all for ride & comfort. Sure it's not as quick-fire as the Elise but it's easier to drive every day and you don't need a yoga session to be able get in & out of the car. I can't think of any car I'd replace my Esprit with.
Richard
Richard
ErnestM said:
".. enthusiast .."
ErnestM
Wish I'd come up with that one. Just turned 31, felt depressing as I was no longer just over twenty but that’s another matter. Anyway while talking over a pint or two my current and future 'changes' were mentioned. This followed with a comment from my younger sister 'becoming a middle aged racer..'. At least she added 'with better cars'.
As for the new Esprit. I only hope it does not look like a big Elise (or would that be an M12) not that I have anything against it, Its a good capable car. To me the Esprit is not just about performance and handling. It also has to be desirable. If not it may be a very good sports car but not a super car with its boy hood dreams and bedroom posters.
Steve
karluk29 said:
your in the states karl i assume, i the old elise and the new elise, yeah there a laugh to drive and handle amazing, all i am saying is in the uk there are s##t loads of them and im a person who likes to stand out more
Agreed. A lot of them around here as well. See them all the time. Every time a new version comes out, I take it for a few hours for a test drive, and every time after the initial 10 minutes of 'fun factor' wear off, without failure, I can't wait to get back in my Esprit.
For a track car, the Elise is phenomenal. For anything else - plenty of other cars I'd choose over it.
Take it easy on the Elise, it saved Lotus (again) and is without question the best sportscar in its class,````` which is a different class to the Esprit which is an out and out supercar. I got a wave from a chap in an yellow S1 today too! I would have a Sport 135 and a new Exige S2 in a blink of an eye if I had the funds. A great track day tool and the sort of car that can embarass Ferraris, Lambos, rice rockets and almost any other car you can mention if driven with skill. Drive one on the track and you will see. I never have unfortunately but have seen enough of Gavan Kershaw doing it to convince me...
(I'd never give up the Esprit though!!!)
Dom
(I'd never give up the Esprit though!!!)
Dom
There is nothing wrong with an Elise. I would probably buy one. It is a bit Spartan of the ones that are currently sold but they handle well in a tighter course. Even a friends Elan +2 is much more suited to a tighter course like ones found in an autocross or on certain road courses. Most of the road courses I know of are GT courses. The Elise has very good 0-60, the Esprit's 60-140+ is very quick after that it is slower to ramp up into the 160's. Just a different type of car.
Calvin
Calvin
karlfranz said:
As far as the replacement Esprit is concerned, current plans are to introduce it for 2007. I can't say anything else beyond that due to NDA.
Cheers,
KFM :-)
Could you please tell me if that means it comes out in late 2006 as a 2007 model, or if it comes out in year 2007?
cnh1990 said:
Yes I walked to school many times barefoot in the winter.
Calvin
Hey Calvin,
When are you gonna tell the people that you grew up in Hawaii..?? It would though take away some of the hardship factor I suppose.
Hope to see you at Glenn's on Saturday. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TElotusguy said:
Yes I walked to school many times barefoot in the winter.
Calvin
Hey Calvin,
When are you gonna tell the people that you grew up in Hawaii..?? It would though take away some of the hardship factor I suppose.
Did I forget to tell people I grew up in Hawaii. Well the pavement got hot on my barefeet. Although it was by choice. I think all of us in grade school took off our shoes to walk home. It was a mile or so home through the woods on a trail for the most part. Used to take a while as the bunch of us used to play along the way home, pick wild fruit and such.
I'll see you at Glen's pig roast this weekend. I talked to Aaron for a while on the phone, hope his spirits are little more upbeat after the loss of his car during the hill climb event. It's hard when a car is totaled. If all goes well I think the Esprit he is buying from Colorado might be shipped in time for Aaron to still join us for the club fall drive. It wouldn't be the same without him.
Calvin
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