2006 Elise Options

[srwhitman]

I just bought my 06 car. I looked into the options and found out most of the differences between 06 and 05. You can do some things to turn an 05 into an 06 and an 06 base into an 06 sport (w/o buying a new car). Thats the beauty of it. For instance, here's what I received from Lotus on the sport and track options:

The Sport Pack comes with stiffer springs and shocks as well as the forged aluminum wheels with sticky Yokohama A048 tires. The springs in the sport pack are about 10% stiffer than the standard springs, but the sidewalls in the tires are also stiffer, so the ride is harder with the Sport Pack than the standard suspension or Touring Pack.

The adjustable Bilstien shocks are fitted in the Track Pack option. The Track Pack requires the Sport Pack. The spring rates in the Track Pack are the same as the Sport Pack. The shocks are adjustable from 1 to 10 and the #2 setting is the same as the Sport Pack. The higher numbers are stiffer so the only possibility of a softer ride is the position #1 and I don’t think it will be much softer.

Bottom line – Touring Pack is a pretty good ride, Sport Pack is an OK ride with better handling and Track Pack can be the same as the Sport Pack or stiffer for the track.
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Other things I found:

Premium pack is only available with the touring pack. But, you can pretty much do it yourself (I intend to). Upgrade the radio yourself, buy the cup holder, buy the tray divider.

Other cool things - they now have a way to completely customize the interior yourself. Not like Porsche where you order the interior with the car. But, you can buy the car and then order the interior bits later. For instance, they center console, dash, side padding, sills and shift knob can all be obtained in leather. In fact, on all of them (except the knob) you can choose the leather color and stitching and even say which parts get which leather color. Very cool. Price is not too bad either.

[flyinglow]

I just bought my 06 and those specs look correct I actually waited for the 2006 for the tail lights and the traction control options. The new seats are great as well. The A/C delete kit is a good price my dealer wanted 950 for that option so you scored on that price. I think it takes about 22-25 lbs off the car, just remeber every 10lbs lighter feels like a horsepower added. Also the exhaust system can be replaced and save another 10-15 lbs and help relieve a little back pressure to get another horse or two. Ask about the upgraded Lotus exhaust and get the dealer to do so as not to void your warrenty. You won't be keeping up with the Z06 off the line but you will kill him in a turn. No matter what anyone tells you this car needs alot more then a couple of lbs off in order to keep up with a Z06 off the line. Until they come up with a good supercharger for this car it just won't happen(unless the Z06 driver dosen't know what he is doing).

[Randy Chase]

Depends on how far off the line. The Elise can outlaunch a well driven Z-06 in most cases.