More On The Elise Look

[bainbridgelotus]

This is to add to Randy's post on bumpers but I thought 3 pages of replies was getting a bit long. The Lotus Elise, whether a 2005 or a 2006, is a awesome car with a very unique appearance. No other vehicle on the road today aesthetically competes with the Elise. That is why I got myself an Elise. When the Esprit, the wedge or door stop, came out, it too had distinct looks. Even newer Esprit have cool looks BUT the Elise simply stands out, especially if you have a bright colored one. In my search for sport cars earlier this year, I looked at everything from Miata's to M3's / M5's, to Z4's, Mini's, Porche's (they all look a like now!), but the Elise setting aside it's prestine performance simply had the best looks. It does not blend in with other cars. It is not mainstream. It is creative and innovative. Now, I too have heard that Lotus is being forced by the US to change the bumper arrangement of the car. Not sure that will help against everyone eles SUV's. If the design of the car does change, it will make the car blend in with the masses. Something I hope Lotus does not sucumb to. For those of us who have Elises, for those that don't get one now!, but if the car's design does change and ugly US mandated features are implemented, then all of us will have a collectors item. I love my Elise. It's an awesome performing car and an awesome eye turner. I hope Lotus engineers a way around this problem just as they've done in the past.

[shay2nak]

I agree with you. I hope so...I guess I can consider myself lucky that I'm getting one of the last cars built without the bumpers.

[babak]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

I agree with you. I hope so...I guess I can consider myself lucky that I'm getting one of the last cars built without the bumpers.

Did you actually order one? Or are you still on your own personal waiting list?

[Allan Gibbs]

Thanks for reminding me why I waited 18 months for the car. Thanks for reminding me that at the 2003 L.A. autoshow, I had tears in my eyes when I was finally able to see an U.S. Elise in the fiberglass. Or, the day I took deliver after a year and a half of waiting was happier than my wedding day (ahem - for the record, my wedding day was really stressful since I did 95% -no 98% of the planning).

I won't worry about the bumper issues since Mark Starr has chimed in and said the rumors were false. I don't think the rear bumpers will look bad. It will probably be in the rear panel about the diffuser and will be black.

[Colvindesign]

I wouldn't worry if I were you guys.

Things are looking pretty good with my CF project, and if it takes off, I will be doing a kit for the updated Elise. If it needs help, I will have the ability to clean it up some. Plus I will be able to offer the bumper covers in Polyurethane or CF or Fiberglass.

- Brian

[flyguyskt]

has anyone actually "Seen" the bumpers or have pictures?

[Moto44]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

The day I took deliver [of my Elise] after a year and a half of waiting was happier than my wedding day.

Weddings are for women. Wouldn't this be true for virtually every man here?

Back to the topic at hand (sort of), the Elise is so good looking, I doubt that many of us here married a woman more attractive than our cars.

Perhaps this is why there are so many threads here talking about girlfriends who are jealous of our cars.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

I was thinking the same on Saturday when I was washing my car (in 30 degree temperatures). How there was a thread here about girlfriends not approving of the car, or being jealous, and how maybe they have a right to be, as I'm sure there are many of us who if it came down to it, would settle for the car instead of the girl.

[Rei]

Originally Posted by Colvindesign

I wouldn't worry if I were you guys.

Things are looking pretty good with my CF project, and if it takes off, I will be doing a kit for the updated Elise. If it needs help, I will have the ability to clean it up some. Plus I will be able to offer the bumper covers in Polyurethane or CF or Fiberglass.

- Brian

All Hail Brian for his Great Skills. Sad to say it might be cheaper for someone to "upgrade" to the CF clams if they get into a fender bender.

[mini63]

Originally Posted by bainbridgelotus

In my search for sport cars earlier this year, I looked at everything from Miata's to M3's / M5's, to Z4's, Mini's, Porche's (they all look a like now!), but the Elise setting aside it's prestine performance simply had the best looks.

I just wanted to point out that the Mini may be sporty but it's not a sports car.

[ewalberg]

the elise body has artistic continuity, that i think only about 4 vehicles on the road today have... and it's a VERY intersting design on top of that which is going to make it a timeless body style. AND it also has a simple and clean interior as well. did somebody mention it's a blast to drive? I'm surprised that despite how friggin low you sit on the road, the forward view is still very nice. I guess we can partially thank a mid engine for that.

[bfm01]

I think we are very fortunate to have the pre bumper cars. While fragile, they will be the true and pure Elise's while the next gen will be heavier etc...

[dfa2100]

Originally Posted by ewalberg

the elise body has artistic continuity, that i think only about 4 vehicles on the road today have...

What four vehicles do you like?

[femagaca]

Its the first real sports car that i have, and every day i love it more

[Colvindesign]

Originally Posted by Rei

All Hail Brian for his Great Skills. Sad to say it might be cheaper for someone to "upgrade" to the CF clams if they get into a fender bender.

oh no, please don't start doing that kinda stuff, haven't even delivered a single part yet, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Though I know Lotus parts are quite expensive, so I am sure I will be able to offer CF parts for less than OEM replacements.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Colvin, I think some of us will also be interested in being able to get parts more quickly than OEM replacements, not just more cheaply

[Colvindesign]

Originally Posted by MyFutureSelfnMe

Colvin, I think some of us will also be interested in being able to get parts more quickly than OEM replacements, not just more cheaply

Haha, never thought about that but suppose you are right.

Well once we get things rolling I plan to try to keep parts in stock so I can send them out of here within 1-2 days of being ordered.

[ewalberg]

The 4 body styles that i think have the most artistic continuity? The g-wagen, bentley coupe, and a ferrari i think it's the f430, yeah, i just checked. These are current cars... historically there have been some real beauties. It has a balance between the a,b,c, and d pillars that other cars just don't have. It's an efficient boxy car body done right... and a long time ago at that. It weighs almost 3 tons, but there's a very distinct efficiency to it the design... it makes pretty much all other cars just feel so swollen in the wrong places.

The Bently Coupe isn't so unique or so stylish, but the body is so simple and so elegant with not a single extra curve in the wrong place. The ferrari, well it does have some departures which i admit the g-wagen does too, but i still think it has something special going on all the same.

The new Toyota FJ representing all that's wrong with marketing today and why marketing should often not be allowed to make cosmetic decisions. It's like a frankenstein of disjointed lines. It makes the Honda Element look gracefully designed.

I already said the elise is in the group right? more continuity than the f430 for sure... probably the most continuos. Maybe a tie with the bentley but with way more style....

[XPcarguy]

I did. I ordered an 07. It will have bumpers but the backones are really bumperettes by the license plate and the frontones are hidden. All told, the car will suffer a weight penalty of about 12lbs and the appearance of the car will remain unchanged.

I considered grabbing an 06 but the idea of buying a car that has already depreciated on the lot for an entire year (though most of that savings will NOT be passed to the buyer even if there are *deep* discounts) and having to accept a car that was not built to my specs made it a clear choice. I'd rather have the car I want at the first of the year and take my 12lbs of invisible mass and be content.

[XPcarguy]

If I could have all 4, these are the 4 I'd choose (my choices take into account the *livability* of each car)

Exige S for the track
Cayenne Turbo to toe the Exige so I can keep Hoosiers on it.
997 TT for rain and snow days
987 S for the street. (not as fun as the Elise but more comfortable, more luxurious, and more practical. And since I would already have an Exige S for the track, I would then prefer the Box to the Elise)

As reality is what it is, my choices are an A3 Quattro and an Elise.