Discussion
My 111S comes out now and then to play. Tonight it came out but it was
one of those times when nothing much happens and the roads are too busy
etc.
But driving home a young man in a Saxo 'beat' me away from the lights.
I caught him going into the next tight bend, three wheels he was on.
Fair play to him he held it but I was not even trying. You forget just
how fantastic the Lotus can corner etc.
Wonder how a group of 17 year olds sat in a car park percieve the Elise?
Russ.
one of those times when nothing much happens and the roads are too busy
etc.
But driving home a young man in a Saxo 'beat' me away from the lights.
I caught him going into the next tight bend, three wheels he was on.
Fair play to him he held it but I was not even trying. You forget just
how fantastic the Lotus can corner etc.
Wonder how a group of 17 year olds sat in a car park percieve the Elise?
Russ.
A lot of youngsters reckon the Elise is 'crap'.
a) its a Lotus - so probably unreliable.
b) its not that fast by today's standards (new hot hatches are just as quick as early Elises)
c) its too expensive for them.
I try not to get involved with peeps that want to play on the road - I know what my car can do do don't need to prove it to anyone and I'd rather not be around when the inevitable happens. I even had a Hyundai Coupe burn me off this evening. Oh how I laughed as he bust a gut to get past, I couldn't care less
a) its a Lotus - so probably unreliable.
b) its not that fast by today's standards (new hot hatches are just as quick as early Elises)
c) its too expensive for them.
I try not to get involved with peeps that want to play on the road - I know what my car can do do don't need to prove it to anyone and I'd rather not be around when the inevitable happens. I even had a Hyundai Coupe burn me off this evening. Oh how I laughed as he bust a gut to get past, I couldn't care less
Personally I'd have backed off and not even rose to the challenge. An aggressive chav saxo driver is likely to try too hard and be a danger to himself, yourself, and anyone else around. If he even remotely keeps up then he's got enough ammo to show off to his mates.
Like others, I've got nothing to prove, but if he wanted a serious play then I'd happily arrange a meet up in the sticks, away from traffic, on a quiet weekend on a proper 'drivers' road.
Pulling away from the lights there's a fair number of hot hatches that can give an Elise a run for its money, but I'd not rise to any of them, and would back off every time.
Like others, I've got nothing to prove, but if he wanted a serious play then I'd happily arrange a meet up in the sticks, away from traffic, on a quiet weekend on a proper 'drivers' road.
Pulling away from the lights there's a fair number of hot hatches that can give an Elise a run for its money, but I'd not rise to any of them, and would back off every time.
SeanyD said:
Pulling away from the lights there's a fair number of hot hatches that can give an Elise a run for its money, but I'd not rise to any of them, and would back off every time.
really? I'm not advocating traffic light grand prixs, but are there really a 'number' of hot hatches (in standard trim) that can hit a sub 6secs 0-60? I had one of the hottest hatches around (147 Gta) and that was slower off the line than my humble Elise 'S' (though it would probably blast past above 70-80)...TTwiggy said:
SeanyD said:
Pulling away from the lights there's a fair number of hot hatches that can give an Elise a run for its money, but I'd not rise to any of them, and would back off every time.
really? I'm not advocating traffic light grand prixs, but are there really a 'number' of hot hatches (in standard trim) that can hit a sub 6secs 0-60? I had one of the hottest hatches around (147 Gta) and that was slower off the line than my humble Elise 'S' (though it would probably blast past above 70-80)...Edited by SeanyD on Tuesday 5th August 10:52
TTwiggy said:
SeanyD said:
Pulling away from the lights there's a fair number of hot hatches that can give an Elise a run for its money, but I'd not rise to any of them, and would back off every time.
really? I'm not advocating traffic light grand prixs, but are there really a 'number' of hot hatches (in standard trim) that can hit a sub 6secs 0-60? I had one of the hottest hatches around (147 Gta) and that was slower off the line than my humble Elise 'S' (though it would probably blast past above 70-80)...
, though that Audi might have you in the wet...The average saxo boy/girl, doesn't even notice an elise. If I go out for a spin in my impreza STi it attracts boyracers like nothing else. Every saxo/106/corsa that goes past has a really good gawk. When I'm in the elise those same shopping trolley drivers don't give it a second glance.
I've come to the conclusion that the impreza doesn't get attention due to it's performance or it's rallying pedigree but purely because of its somewhat lewd looks, the front splitter, the bonnet scoop, the big gold wheels and the huge wing all excite the saxo/corsa driving youth. The elise looks too much like a racing car and, almost without exception, the boy racers have no real interest in motorsport, or any of the motorsport history that a marque may have.
I've come to the conclusion that the impreza doesn't get attention due to it's performance or it's rallying pedigree but purely because of its somewhat lewd looks, the front splitter, the bonnet scoop, the big gold wheels and the huge wing all excite the saxo/corsa driving youth. The elise looks too much like a racing car and, almost without exception, the boy racers have no real interest in motorsport, or any of the motorsport history that a marque may have.
Sorry guys, but I've still got to disagree. I owned an audi TT chipped to 265bhp (so not far off the new S3 figure) and while that was great in the mid range, it was awful from a standing start (unless it was wet) as the AWD system would bog down, plus it was a heavy old humphrey...
The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
I don't get people in 'normal' cars that start racing you unprovoked.
For instance last weekend, I was just coming into Poole after a 2 hour drive back from a wedding in bristol. I went past some old bland normal car on the outside of a dual carriageway, got to a roundabout, took the inside line and carried on my way up the next stretch of dual carriageway.
My rearview mirror was dipped because some annoying audi with xenons were flickering in my eyes sometime before. I glanced in my mirror and I saw the moonlight reflecting off something right behind me - thinking for a moment that it was just the normal reflections of the rear screen I glanced in my wing mirror and this idiot was tailgating me - so close i couldn't see his headlights!
I pulled in and let the idiot past. Got to some traffic lights and had to pull alongside the fool, casually pulling away he's alongside me, approaching a hairpin left that sweeps up round onto a flyover, he's ragging the sh*t out of the pile of junk as he's banked right over, tyres screeching and looking like a right tit. I made sure I stayed back as I didn't want him understeering into me, and not wanting to have anything to do with him or his ego, I slowed, the lights turned amber and I stopped and off he went.
I can't stand people like that - i wasn't racing, but people just seem to take being passed by a sportscar as a license to give chase. It's quite annoying.
For instance last weekend, I was just coming into Poole after a 2 hour drive back from a wedding in bristol. I went past some old bland normal car on the outside of a dual carriageway, got to a roundabout, took the inside line and carried on my way up the next stretch of dual carriageway.
My rearview mirror was dipped because some annoying audi with xenons were flickering in my eyes sometime before. I glanced in my mirror and I saw the moonlight reflecting off something right behind me - thinking for a moment that it was just the normal reflections of the rear screen I glanced in my wing mirror and this idiot was tailgating me - so close i couldn't see his headlights!
I pulled in and let the idiot past. Got to some traffic lights and had to pull alongside the fool, casually pulling away he's alongside me, approaching a hairpin left that sweeps up round onto a flyover, he's ragging the sh*t out of the pile of junk as he's banked right over, tyres screeching and looking like a right tit. I made sure I stayed back as I didn't want him understeering into me, and not wanting to have anything to do with him or his ego, I slowed, the lights turned amber and I stopped and off he went.
I can't stand people like that - i wasn't racing, but people just seem to take being passed by a sportscar as a license to give chase. It's quite annoying.
TTwiggy said:
Sorry guys, but I've still got to disagree. I owned an audi TT chipped to 265bhp (so not far off the new S3 figure) and while that was great in the mid range, it was awful from a standing start (unless it was wet) as the AWD system would bog down, plus it was a heavy old humphrey...
The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
You're entitled to your informed opinion, so thats fair enough, I do stand by my opinion there's a number of hot hatches that, whilst official figures may show them to be weaker, in that sense you're correct. However on a typical road, with a typical driver, in typical conditions, pulling away from the lights, could keep up the pressure on my elise (standard 118 k series).The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
Once out in the sticks the handling is key, and that is where the Elise does its stuff best, (as per the opening post).
TTwiggy said:
Sorry guys, but I've still got to disagree. I owned an audi TT chipped to 265bhp (so not far off the new S3 figure) and while that was great in the mid range, it was awful from a standing start (unless it was wet) as the AWD system would bog down, plus it was a heavy old humphrey...
The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
But i have owned both & can honestly saw that the clio 182 isnt far of at all in acceleration & at top end would murder a standard s1 elise. (im comparing it to the s1 because this is what i owned)The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
Ok the elise is lighter, but the clio has 60 horses more & believe me, they are quick.
MiniDiva said:
I don't get people in 'normal' cars that start racing you unprovoked.
For instance last weekend, I was just coming into Poole after a 2 hour drive back from a wedding in bristol. I went past some old bland normal car on the outside of a dual carriageway, got to a roundabout, took the inside line and carried on my way up the next stretch of dual carriageway.
My rearview mirror was dipped because some annoying audi with xenons were flickering in my eyes sometime before. I glanced in my mirror and I saw the moonlight reflecting off something right behind me - thinking for a moment that it was just the normal reflections of the rear screen I glanced in my wing mirror and this idiot was tailgating me - so close i couldn't see his headlights!
I pulled in and let the idiot past. Got to some traffic lights and had to pull alongside the fool, casually pulling away he's alongside me, approaching a hairpin left that sweeps up round onto a flyover, he's ragging the sh*t out of the pile of junk as he's banked right over, tyres screeching and looking like a right tit. I made sure I stayed back as I didn't want him understeering into me, and not wanting to have anything to do with him or his ego, I slowed, the lights turned amber and I stopped and off he went.
I can't stand people like that - i wasn't racing, but people just seem to take being passed by a sportscar as a license to give chase. It's quite annoying.
I too have noticed that some cars suddenly speed up when you appear in the rear view mirror (usually followed by the tell-tell poof of diesel smoke from when they floor it) or they appear out of nowhere and hang about 6 inches of the rear!For instance last weekend, I was just coming into Poole after a 2 hour drive back from a wedding in bristol. I went past some old bland normal car on the outside of a dual carriageway, got to a roundabout, took the inside line and carried on my way up the next stretch of dual carriageway.
My rearview mirror was dipped because some annoying audi with xenons were flickering in my eyes sometime before. I glanced in my mirror and I saw the moonlight reflecting off something right behind me - thinking for a moment that it was just the normal reflections of the rear screen I glanced in my wing mirror and this idiot was tailgating me - so close i couldn't see his headlights!
I pulled in and let the idiot past. Got to some traffic lights and had to pull alongside the fool, casually pulling away he's alongside me, approaching a hairpin left that sweeps up round onto a flyover, he's ragging the sh*t out of the pile of junk as he's banked right over, tyres screeching and looking like a right tit. I made sure I stayed back as I didn't want him understeering into me, and not wanting to have anything to do with him or his ego, I slowed, the lights turned amber and I stopped and off he went.
I can't stand people like that - i wasn't racing, but people just seem to take being passed by a sportscar as a license to give chase. It's quite annoying.
boobles said:
TTwiggy said:
Sorry guys, but I've still got to disagree. I owned an audi TT chipped to 265bhp (so not far off the new S3 figure) and while that was great in the mid range, it was awful from a standing start (unless it was wet) as the AWD system would bog down, plus it was a heavy old humphrey...
The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
But i have owned both & can honestly saw that the clio 182 isnt far of at all in acceleration & at top end would murder a standard s1 elise. (im comparing it to the s1 because this is what i owned)The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
Ok the elise is lighter, but the clio has 60 horses more & believe me, they are quick.
boobles said:
TTwiggy said:
Sorry guys, but I've still got to disagree. I owned an audi TT chipped to 265bhp (so not far off the new S3 figure) and while that was great in the mid range, it was awful from a standing start (unless it was wet) as the AWD system would bog down, plus it was a heavy old humphrey...
The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
But i have owned both & can honestly saw that the clio 182 isnt far of at all in acceleration & at top end would murder a standard s1 elise. (im comparing it to the s1 because this is what i owned)The Alfa Gta has 250bhp and weighs less than most of its competitors (S3, VR6) but that suffered from the classic FWD problem of giving you a choice of leaving traction control on - and losing power - or turning it off and sitting still with the front wheels spinning.
By contrast to both these cars, the low weight, rear drive, mid engined set-up of the Elise makes it the perfect car for rapid moves away from standing.
I'm not saying that there would be much in it, and I've no doubt that more powerful cars may start to reign you in, but if you can't beat the likes of a saxo or clio away from the line then you really aren't trying! (and if you have a 190bhp 'R', they shouldn't see you for dust...)
Ok the elise is lighter, but the clio has 60 horses more & believe me, they are quick.
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