Consumer Reports HATES Elise!!!

[SKYVUE]

Devious/EliseScooter: Sorry about the paraphrased "quotes". I tried to remember what I read in the article, and I was a bit upset too. The real quote is still upsetting.

Most cars pushed to the point exceeding the limits are difficult to control (depending the driver's skill, of course).
I've heard the Miata is forgiving when it exceeds the limit, being balanced. But what does that mean?
I think CR is trying to say that MOST unskilled drivers (most drivers) can not see the difference in handling (agility) between an Elise and a Miata (or Boxter, for that matter). Do you agree?
I'm definitely NOT a skilled driver, but I can definitely sense the positive handling differences between an Elise and a Miata. I've been driving Miatas for 8 years.

--SKYVUE

[LARRY]

Originally Posted by MikeC

Consumer Reports is for the common man, not the enthusiast. And that goes for anything they test.

They lost me years ago when they critisized the Miata for having a "giggely sportscar-like ride".

Perfect. Yeah.....if I want to buy a hair dryer, I'll consult CR.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Rugbyduck

If I were not so opposed to the "ignore" function...you'd be the FIRST to get my vote! As far as I am concerned, you don't deserve a Lotus! WAAAAH!!! 40K and a manual softtop?? WTF? Do you not get it? Go buy something else and let those who own one critique it! Talk about my "mama"?? I can...but don't you! God I hate ignorant people!

There is that reading comprehension problem of yours again.
Sheesh, Westrock was only saying that the car is not for everyone.
Where is all that compassion and benefit of the doubt you showed in the Anna Nicole Smith thread?

[Ken Wright]

When looking for a review of an automobile's agility look at the results page on the SCCA website, not in consumer reports.

ken

[Rugbyduck]

Originally Posted by mopho

There is that reading comprehension problem of yours again.
Sheesh, Westrock was only saying that the car is not for everyone.
Where is all that compassion and benefit of the doubt you showed in the Anna Nicole Smith thread?

Sorry. I am very protective of my car. He said more than the "car is not for everyone"...that's what I got out of it. I feel the comments he used put him in the class of people who ask "Is that a kit car?" Not sure where you felt there was an analogy to Anna Nicole thread.

[Allan Gibbs]

Originally Posted by Chris D.

Actually, this part of the review did surprise me. I would expect the most nimble cars to excel in an avoidance maneuver test. Yet, I've never heard anyone describe a Viper as being more nimble than a Lotus.

That surprised me too, however, a car is only as good as the person driving it. Also, what is this avoidance manuver?

One other possibility it the Elise's short wheel base could have made fine inputs difficult for the test drivers. I confess, I sometimes have some difficulty being exact enough to be surgical with the Elise.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Rugbyduck

Sorry. I am very protective of my car. He said more than the "car is not for everyone"...that's what I got out of it. I feel the comments he used put him in the class of people who ask "Is that a kit car?" Not sure where you felt there was an analogy to Anna Nicole thread.

What did he say that is not true of the car?
Everything that I read was spot on, but then again I am not blinded by my purchase


You were the one that was going on in the ANS thread about not judging people, giving them the benefit of the doubt, blah, blah, blah...

[Rugbyduck]

Originally Posted by mopho

What did he say that is not true of the car?
Everything that I read was spot on, but then again I am not blinded by my purchase


You were the one that was going on in the ANS thread about not judging people, giving them the benefit of the doubt, blah, blah, blah...

Sounds like you hold a grudge... I don't. I leave grudges to the wife. Yes, I am blinded by the love for my car...so?? Oh, I forgot...you don't even own one! I get it now!

[glb]

Originally Posted by Rugbyduck

Sounds like you hold a grudge... I don't. I leave grudges to the wife. Yes, I am blinded by the love for my car...so?? Oh, I forgot...you don't even own one! I get it now!

You can/should be nicer than that. Some would say there is no grudge factor, but that he caught you in an inconsistency.

The wife thing was gratuitous. And, he's driven Elises.

[Rugbyduck]

Originally Posted by glb

You can/should be nicer than that. Some would say there is no grudge factor, but that he caught you in an inconsistency.

The wife thing was gratuitous. And, he's driven Elises.

What was inconsistant? Please do tell. Inconsistancy is claiming "not being blinded by my purchase" when you haven't even made one! And I guess what caught me off guard is the exageration that the Lotus has the "worst build quality of any car in America". Right....

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Rugbyduck

Sounds like you hold a grudge... I don't. I leave grudges to the wife. Yes, I am blinded by the love for my car...so?? Oh, I forgot...you don't even own one! I get it now!

Sorry, no grudge, just calling you out on your hypocrisy... again

And as a matter of fact, there is an Elise in the family ( and I have plenty of seat time in it, in addition to another Elise and an Exige S on both the road and track).


Actually, it is a bit funny watching people get all bent out of shape in this thread because some magazine dare say something negative (but true) about the Elise

[Rugbyduck]

Sorry, I just don't see the hypocracy. Still love your photos...and love that Elan!

[SKYVUE]

No flames on my thread please.

We've learned a lot on this thread and how many forum members are passionate about their Elises (including me!). Sometimes we are carried away with the moment. We also learned a little bit more about human nature. Have some great Lotus dreams tonight, tomorrow is a new day. I don't know about you, but I anticipate every Lotus adventure each day. We have one strong bond: to have fun, no matter how we drive it. What helps is a GREAT car!

--SKYVUE

[mopho]

Originally Posted by Rugbyduck

What was inconsistant? Please do tell. Inconsistancy is claiming "not being blinded by my purchase" when you haven't even made one! And I guess what caught me off guard is the exageration that the Lotus has the "worst build quality of any car in America". Right....

Uhh, no! You see, the fact that I don't own one allows me to be a bit more OBJECTIVE about it than you. You clearly cannot separate defending your purchase with reality.

While worst in America is arguably an exaggeration, the build quality is pretty bad. There are not many cars these days that squeak and rattle right off the showroom floor. Nor do many cars have parts fall off them, windows that fall down, leak water, etc, when new.

BUT, the point Westrock really made is that a certain and limited "breed" of driver is willing to overlook all that because the car is so much fun. Did you miss all that?

Sorry, I just don't see the hypocracy.

hypocrisy |hi'päkris'| noun ( pl. -sies) the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.


You chastised people for judging ANS in the other thread, yet here you are judging westrock and now me

Still love your photos...and love that Elan!

Thanks...


No flames, just a little bitch slap among friends

[Lancia]

Is it possible that any car that sticks at higher speeds will seem to be more abrupt in it's transitions than a car that is simply slower?

Do tires make a difference on the Elise?
Many stories I hear about mid-engine cars (and others) indicate that some tires are more forgiving in transition.
Mid-engine cars generally seem much more forgiving at cornering limits in transition than front wheel drive (even when fwd is set up properly).
How is it accurate to say a Lotus is unstable compared to a camry at the limit?
Most mid-engine cars are capable of very sudden left right jogs that would unsettle a front engine car to a serious degree and would destroy entry into a corner.


As for magazine info, performance magazines like Grassroots Motorsports discuss modification of all types of cars.
A great deal of reliability info is available between the lines.
If someone builds a 450 hp engine in a Volvo and keeps the stock brakes and rear end, you might conclude it is a fairly robust car with 100 hp stock.
If they tweak a honda and have to upgrade the suspension, you may find it too fragile for your driving, even with stock power.
When VWs dnf all the time due to oil problems, you have something to consider.

With repair people, I can spend an afternoon calling and every shop I speak to has dealt with many, many cars.
Most cars have a predictable set of problems.
It is nice when the most serious defect you find is the ac blower failing.
I bet I could cold call on any car that has been out a year and find out what problems have appeared in that limited time.
Most cars, I can find out how long things last and what will fail first when they wear out.
You have to know how to ask the right questions off the record.
And you have to understand the answers.
It is simple investigative journalism.

[Allan Gibbs]

Tires make a big difference on the Elise. I have a hard time warming up my A048 in real world driving- so I really get the full grip potential.

[Lancia]

Has anyone tried a softer tire on the rear?
That works well on a good fwd setup.

[antinym]

Originally Posted by Serebo1

Will you please explain your claim of sub-standard safety?

Granted, at times I feel safer because I can out-manuver obsticals and other drivers, but a lotus drivers head is at bumper level to most SUV's out there.
Fortunatly, there aren't enough crash statistics on the elise/exige in the real world. And I'm guessing that these cars are driven less, yet more carefully than others.

Imagine this - you are stopped at an intersection, and an oncoming Ford Expedition wanders out of it's lane and crashes head on into you at 40 mph. Rate the following cars that you feel are the most safe to be in.
a. Ford Expedition, b. Mercedes ML320, c. volvo s60, d. honda accord. e. lotus elise.

We are in a car that can easily go under 50% of the vehicles on the road. I would say, that doesn't make it near the top on my safety list.

[JoshS]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

That surprised me too, however, a car is only as good as the person driving it. Also, what is this avoidance manuver?

.

You guys are so thick!!! The avoidance manuver is when you pull into a 7/11 get out of your car, get a red bull, beef jerky and a lotto ticket and get back in your car while avoiding anyone coming up to you and saying "Lotus...who makes that?"

DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING!!!!!

[PhlypSide]

Sorry Westrock.... just poking fun LOL!!


IRONY ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -nies
Etymology: Latin ironia, from Greek eirOnia, from eirOn dissembler

1 : A Dodge Neon owner complaining about build quality issues with Lotus cars.