Spotted in the Northern California Region - LotusTalk

def · 01-29-2007, 07:34 PM

SY elise, 237 south around 4:30pm daily

I see you go by me all the time on the way home from work, I'm headed on 237N (most of the time in my 4runner). I decided to make a new thread since I couldn't figure out who it was

bgsterling · 02-02-2007, 08:42 PM

It was about 2p today travelling northbound by the Foster Rd. Exit. I was the guy in the Graphite Gray Exige S. Blew my mind that on my first ride after bringing the car home last week, I'm being passed by and then following another Exige. Apparently this car has the same exclusivity of an Accord or Camry.

MattG · 02-03-2007, 07:02 PM

Coming back from the coast today, I saw a yellow Elise on highway 92 leaving Half Moon Bay. As I caught up to it, I recognized it wasn't Saffron Yellow, but had the '05 taillights. Not sure, maybe solar yellow? Anyway, I wasn't able to get too close until we got to 280, when I realized it was a European-spec Elise - antenna on engine cover, and the rear end was for a Rover engine. It was wearing California manufacturer plates. That's when I realized that...it had no exhaust tips! The areas in the rear panel where the dual european-style exhausts would exit were empty. That, combined with the mfg plates, made me realize I was looking at a test mule for local car company Tesla Motors. The car exited at Sand Hill. My guess is it was a standard Elise fitted with a Tesla drivetrain, being taken out for a fun weekend drive by one of the Tesla employees.

nockpoint · 02-04-2007, 09:43 AM

Spotted in a parking lot... with gobs of onlookers.

rnr · 02-04-2007, 10:09 AM

SFF1 (http://www.sff1.com/) is organizing a visit to the Tesla factory on March 3rd. Though that event is already full you can sign up for a second date by leaving a comment at http://sff1.com/?q=node/124

Flash G · 02-04-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattG

Coming back from the coast today, I saw a yellow Elise on highway 92 leaving Half Moon Bay. As I caught up to it, I recognized it wasn't Saffron Yellow, but had the '05 taillights. Not sure, maybe solar yellow? Anyway, I wasn't able to get too close until we got to 280, when I realized it was a European-spec Elise - antenna on engine cover, and the rear end was for a Rover engine. It was wearing California manufacturer plates. That's when I realized that...it had no exhaust tips! The areas in the rear panel where the dual european-style exhausts would exit were empty. That, combined with the mfg plates, made me realize I was looking at a test mule for local car company Tesla Motors. The car exited at Sand Hill. My guess is it was a standard Elise fitted with a Tesla drivetrain, being taken out for a fun weekend drive by one of the Tesla employees.

At this point, I'm not sure why they'd need a test mule. The car is in production. Maybe you just saw a European Elise with a U.S. Stage II exhaust. (Tips don't protrude from the diffuser like the stock exhaust.)

cudacharlie · 02-04-2007, 11:12 AM

Oh man, I am SO buying one of those! And about 75kw of photovoltaic cells for the hillside behind my house... suck on that, OPEC!

MattG · 02-04-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash G

At this point, I'm not sure why they'd need a test mule. The car is in production. Maybe you just saw a European Elise with a U.S. Stage II exhaust. (Tips don't protrude from the diffuser like the stock exhaust.)

I did try looking for a stage 2 exhaust, but couldn't see one - though the diffuser was black so it'd have been a little tough to spot.

The MFG plates I think really give it away though, I mean, there are not many manufacturers in CA! I'm guessing it was their original test mule, used for R&D before the actual design was produced. It's probably now being used by higher-ups in the company as a daily driver for durability testing.

I suppose it could also be Zap's car, as they're working with Lotus these days though I thought their attention was focused more on the APX platform.

Aedo · 02-04-2007, 03:09 PM

Great spotting!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash G

At this point, I'm not sure why they'd need a test mule. The car is in production. Maybe you just saw a European Elise with a U.S. Stage II exhaust. (Tips don't protrude from the diffuser like the stock exhaust.)

Production - yes. But I bet they are still fine tuning it, and especially the electronics and power management systems that are more software than hardware.

def · 04-23-2007, 05:12 PM

Keep spotting this one... no one?

I guess its 237 west (not south)

Tintin · 04-23-2007, 06:31 PM

Sorry, didn't see the thread the first time around.

Unless there are two SY on 237 west around that time, it must be me you're seeing

I tend to leave work around 4:30 so I can get home to Mt. View before the traffic starts building up on 237.

I work just north of the 237/880 intersection. Going on the flyover from 237 east onto 880 north in the mornings can be fun if there aren't any other cars around

def · 04-24-2007, 11:43 AM

Awesome

, looks like we'll both be exiting on Lafayette today to go to Rob's new shop... cya there

AVH · 04-25-2007, 08:45 AM

Southbound, tuesday 4/24 around 7:45pm

Looks like you have HID's

I think there's at least 3 or 4 Elises in Almaden. Just wanted to say Hi!

def · 04-25-2007, 08:52 AM

Probably kohete... he lives down there, starlight black with HIDs
I was on Almaden last night at that time, but only briefly on the stretch between 85 and blossom hill

Rickster · 04-29-2007, 10:41 AM

Who was heading east on I-80 just west of Truckee on Thursday, April 26 around 2 pm in a chrome orange and saffron yellow Elises traveling in convoy. I passed you in a bordeaux red elise heading west.

e over

wirelessjava · 05-01-2007, 11:40 PM

I have seen some cool cars at Google. How many E-talkers/Googlers are there? Lets take over a bunch of parking spaces with All Elises and Exiges

jasond · 05-02-2007, 12:48 AM

Dunno how many Elises / Exiges there are at Google, but we have quite a few here at Microsoft as well

I think I'm the only person in MS search with one tho

I think tech companies in general are good places to see cool looking cars!!!

elptex · 05-02-2007, 03:00 AM

I work for a relatively large (mostly up-and-coming) tech company and the coolest car in our parking lot is the BWM 645 the company owns and gives to exceptional ("Fanatical") employees for a week to recognize them. It used to be an M3 but I think the lease ran out.

I'm hoping to be the first to bring an Elise around

rnr · 05-02-2007, 06:06 AM

I know at least 2 other Googlers with an Elise/Exige, both of them are on Etalk.

At Yahoo I have met at least 3 owners (apart from me) one of whom is on Etalk

AgentTripleX · 05-02-2007, 06:11 AM

I know one Exige owner on ET at Google.

01-29-2007, 07:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,873	Spotted in the Northern California Region SY elise, 237 south around 4:30pm daily I see you go by me all the time on the way home from work, I'm headed on 237N (most of the time in my 4runner). I decided to make a new thread since I couldn't figure out who it was __________________ V10 R8 · Noble M400 · GG Elise (sold after 1192 days and 22961 miles)

02-02-2007, 08:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
bgsterling Excess ain't rebellion Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mulino, OR Posts: 643	[NoCal] '06 Phantom Black Exige on I-205 It was about 2p today travelling northbound by the Foster Rd. Exit. I was the guy in the Graphite Gray Exige S. Blew my mind that on my first ride after bringing the car home last week, I'm being passed by and then following another Exige. Apparently this car has the same exclusivity of an Accord or Camry. __________________ '07 Exige S Graphite Gray, LSD w/ TC, Track Pack, Star Shield

02-03-2007, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
MattG insert clever title here Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado Posts: 7,686 Images: 11	[NoCal] Spotted - Tesla test mule Coming back from the coast today, I saw a yellow Elise on highway 92 leaving Half Moon Bay. As I caught up to it, I recognized it wasn't Saffron Yellow, but had the '05 taillights. Not sure, maybe solar yellow? Anyway, I wasn't able to get too close until we got to 280, when I realized it was a European-spec Elise - antenna on engine cover, and the rear end was for a Rover engine. It was wearing California manufacturer plates. That's when I realized that...it had no exhaust tips! The areas in the rear panel where the dual european-style exhausts would exit were empty. That, combined with the mfg plates, made me realize I was looking at a test mule for local car company Tesla Motors. The car exited at Sand Hill. My guess is it was a standard Elise fitted with a Tesla drivetrain, being taken out for a fun weekend drive by one of the Tesla employees. Attached Images __________________ '05 Elise, Magnetic Blue / Biscuit / Hardtop Radar detector mounting brackets for sale here

02-04-2007, 09:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
nockpoint Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 844	Spotted in a parking lot... with gobs of onlookers. Attached Images

02-04-2007, 10:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
rnr daily driver Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Daly City Posts: 1,991	SFF1 (http://www.sff1.com/) is organizing a visit to the Tesla factory on March 3rd. Though that event is already full you can sign up for a second date by leaving a comment at http://sff1.com/?q=node/124 __________________ http://www.rahulnair.net/blog

02-04-2007, 11:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
cudacharlie wow this thing is small.. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mulholland Speedway Posts: 498	Oh man, I am SO buying one of those! And about 75kw of photovoltaic cells for the hillside behind my house... suck on that, OPEC! __________________ 06 Elise - chrome orange scootypuff 06 Magnum SRT8 - loaded black rocketbrick 05 SSR - yellow funbuggy 70 Charger R/T 440 - plum crazy snarlybeast 70 Cuda 440 convert - sublime burlycruiser

04-23-2007, 05:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,873	Keep spotting this one... no one? I guess its 237 west (not south) __________________ V10 R8 · Noble M400 · GG Elise (sold after 1192 days and 22961 miles)

04-23-2007, 06:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tintin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,064	Sorry, didn't see the thread the first time around. Unless there are two SY on 237 west around that time, it must be me you're seeing I tend to leave work around 4:30 so I can get home to Mt. View before the traffic starts building up on 237. I work just north of the 237/880 intersection. Going on the flyover from 237 east onto 880 north in the mornings can be fun if there aren't any other cars around

04-24-2007, 11:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,873	Awesome , looks like we'll both be exiting on Lafayette today to go to Rob's new shop... cya there __________________ V10 R8 · Noble M400 · GG Elise (sold after 1192 days and 22961 miles)

04-25-2007, 08:45 AM	#13 (permalink)
AVH Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 35	[NoCal] Almaden Expressway Black 05/06 Elise Southbound, tuesday 4/24 around 7:45pm Looks like you have HID's I think there's at least 3 or 4 Elises in Almaden. Just wanted to say Hi!

04-25-2007, 08:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,873	Probably kohete... he lives down there, starlight black with HIDs I was on Almaden last night at that time, but only briefly on the stretch between 85 and blossom hill __________________ V10 R8 · Noble M400 · GG Elise (sold after 1192 days and 22961 miles)

04-29-2007, 10:41 AM	#15 (permalink)
Rickster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orinda, CA Posts: 111	[NoCal] April 26 2007 heading East on I-80 Chrome Orange/Safron Yellow by Truckee Who was heading east on I-80 just west of Truckee on Thursday, April 26 around 2 pm in a chrome orange and saffron yellow Elises traveling in convoy. I passed you in a bordeaux red elise heading west. e over __________________ '05 Bordeaux Red/Biscuit Elise FF 275 turbo kit (actually 325 hp!) rear panel delete & custom mesh panel replacement painted center console & AC surround duct & panel mods to enable AC to function touring+starshield+hardtop

05-01-2007, 11:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
wirelessjava SaffronYellow,LSS,Touring Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 92	[NoCal] Elise in the Google Parking Lot I have seen some cool cars at Google. How many E-talkers/Googlers are there? Lets take over a bunch of parking spaces with All Elises and Exiges __________________ ---wirelessjava SY, 05, Touring, Sport Pack

05-02-2007, 12:48 AM	#17 (permalink)
jasond Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 489	Dunno how many Elises / Exiges there are at Google, but we have quite a few here at Microsoft as well I think I'm the only person in MS search with one tho I think tech companies in general are good places to see cool looking cars!!!

05-02-2007, 03:00 AM	#18 (permalink)
elptex youngin' in lust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 236	I work for a relatively large (mostly up-and-coming) tech company and the coolest car in our parking lot is the BWM 645 the company owns and gives to exceptional ("Fanatical") employees for a week to recognize them. It used to be an M3 but I think the lease ran out. I'm hoping to be the first to bring an Elise around

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05-02-2007, 06:06 AM	#19 (permalink)
rnr daily driver Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Daly City Posts: 1,991	I know at least 2 other Googlers with an Elise/Exige, both of them are on Etalk. At Yahoo I have met at least 3 owners (apart from me) one of whom is on Etalk __________________ http://www.rahulnair.net/blog

05-02-2007, 06:11 AM	#20 (permalink)
AgentTripleX Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,778	I know one Exige owner on ET at Google.

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