New here, 18. =]

[Renegade]

Hey guys, I'm only 18, and I currently drive an Infiniti G35. I'm looking to step up from the G35 and get atleast an Elise. I'm aiming for the Exige though. Preferrably an 06 to 07.

I'm almost there, and I believe within the next 2-3 months I'll be a more active member here with my own Lotus. Just getting situated here as I post around.

I was wondering if anyone has any Lotus Elise/Exige's with Navigation? I need Navigation cause I tend to get lost

Also, are they alot of maintenance? I am in California and I believe there's very few dealers around here that have the Lotus. The ones that do only have new ones pretty much. I'm looking for the blue or black . I cannot seem to find a dealer with a good deal. I don't mind traveling out of state to go pick one up either

Are there any SC's out there? I Can't seem to find them, just Lotus Elise's and a few few Exiges. I would settle for the SC Elise.

Lastly, are there any HARD TOP convertibles of Lotus? I don't like the soft top at all. Or any kind of sun roof on the hard tops? Thanks

Let me know!

[Noen]

Don't do it. Keep driving the infiniti, come back when you turn 25 and your insurance rates drop and you can pay cash for it

I can't even imagine what the insurance would be like on a single-car policy for an 18 year old.

[SKYVUE]

Joel,

You should have a tremendous amount of driving maturity and driving expertise to drive a Lotus and keep it intact. But it can be done during extreme rarities!

For Example: "Bavarian Motorist". He's one of the most mature drivers on the forum. He became a Lotus Driver at the ripe age of 13! Now He's 15!

But I'd follow Noen's advice. I agree with that.
I'm too old to follow my advice anyway......

--Hal

(JK, BM!)

[jk13]

Originally Posted by Renegade

Hey guys, I'm only 18, and I currently drive an Infiniti G35. I'm looking to step up from the G35 and get atleast an Elise. I'm aiming for the Exige though. Preferrably an 06 to 07.

I'm almost there, and I believe within the next 2-3 months I'll be a more active member here with my own Lotus. Just getting situated here as I post around.

I was wondering if anyone has any Lotus Elise/Exige's with Navigation? I need Navigation cause I tend to get lost

Also, are they alot of maintenance? I am in California and I believe there's very few dealers around here that have the Lotus. The ones that do only have new ones pretty much. I'm looking for the blue or black . I cannot seem to find a dealer with a good deal. I don't mind traveling out of state to go pick one up either

Are there any SC's out there? I Can't seem to find them, just Lotus Elise's and a few few Exiges. I would settle for the SC Elise.

Lastly, are there any HARD TOP convertibles of Lotus? I don't like the soft top at all. Or any kind of sun roof on the hard tops? Thanks

Let me know!

Ok...I think it's about time I actually reply to one of these threads. So let's put this into parts.

1. Navigation: It's not going to come as an 'option' of any sort unless you get a used Lotus that someone added nav to. This isn't really that common though since pretty much all nav screens will hit up against the windshield wiper stalk. My solution? I used a portable Tom Tom. The safe solution? Just pull over every now and then and review the directions from your GPS device so you don't have your front view limited.

2. Define a 'good deal'

3. Exiges are supercharged except for the 06's if I'm not mistakened. If you want to buy used, you might be able to find an Elise that had a S/C added to it. Keep warranty in mind when buying one of those though.

4. Hard top convertibles? Uh...yeah there is the hard top option for the Elise, but I'm not sure where you would store the top when it's not on the car. So it might not be exactly what you're looking for. And sunroof? I'm willing to bet you can pull a Bam Margera (sp?) and just cut a sunroof into a hard top, but I'm pretty sure no one here (myself included) would recommend it.

Just wondering, have you ever driven a Lotus? Or even just sat in one?

[Renegade]

I have not driven one, no.

1. Navigation: That is fine. Probably a tom-tom will be best.
2. Lotus Elise: 30-34 thousand (05-06), Lotus Elise SC (if they're only 2007 and up, then im guessing around 44 and up).
3: No I mean, I wanted the Lotus elise SC version that is official from lotus. That one is like the "middle" from the Lotus Elise and the Exige. It's a bit more practical for me.
4: The hardtop option is what I meant.

So, basically, I want a Lotus SC with the hardtop option.

Noen: I'm actually still on the parents insurance!

However, I make a nice amount of money for someone my age. I don't want to talk numbers, as that's very unprofessional, but definitely more than enough to afford a used 05 lotus elise (around 35-37k) but was worried about the warranty going out on 05's. I was looking for something more newer, 06-07 atleast.

Haven't driven the lotus like I said, but I will be in the coming month or 2.

SkyVue: What you mean it takes maturity to drive one? Explain


Sorry for the questions, I haven't been to actual Lotus Dealer, so yeah... I'd rather ask people with the actual car than second-guess the Lotus website.

-Renegade/Joel.

[Noen]

NAV: I have a Pioneer AVIC N3 installed in my car. In-dash 7" flip up screen with GPS nav, XM, rear camera, iPod, all the goodies.

It's an okay GPS, gets me places when I'm in a pinch and don't want to bother figuring out a route to somewhere new. I was told it ran about 3500 bucks new with installation, but I imagine that was a pretty elevated claim.

Definitely worth getting an in-dash unit, I wouldn't trust anything in my car that isn't bolted down.

It's a bit more practical for me.

If practicality is even a tiny concern, look elsewhere. As much as I love my Lotus, I wouldn't be able to survive with it as my only car.

HARDTOP: I have a hardtop and soft top on my exige. The soft top stays on it 99.5% of the time. One of the greatest things about this car is pulling that top off when it's warm and sunny. You will quickly notice that hard top gathering dust in the garage, especially in California.

SkyVue: What you mean it takes maturity to drive one? Explain

This is exactly why I recommended against it as well. The money isn't the issue. I'm only 27, and I've owned the car for just over a year. I can tell you with 100% certainty, If I had bought this car before I was in my mid twenties, I would have wrapped it around a pole in the first 6 months.

Even after time on the track, skid pad, driving instruction, and years of experience under my belt, this car is extremely unforgiving on the road. I still don't like driving it when I'm exhausted, or tired. It requires more attention to the road and the vehicles around you than I've ever experienced in another car, truck or motorcycle.

Just a word of advice from another young Lotus lover

[Renegade]

Can I see that picture of that in-dash? I prefer in-dash as well.

Well you own an Exige, are the driving differences between an Elise and an Exige that different? Would an Elise/Elise SC be more suitable?

Maybe if an Exige is a bit too much, I'll settle for an Elise. I know the Exige is more of a track car, and I don't plan on taking my car on the track, just a daily driver.

Thanks Noen!

- Joel

[Noen]

They are essentially the exact same car. You can soften it up with the suspension, but that's about it.

Also, I have a 2006 NA Exige. I'm not even close to thinking about how ridiculous this car would be with an SC on it. More trouble I know for sure.



There's a picture of my nav/head unit (hopefully it'll show up from facebook)

[Renegade]

Well the SC is slower than the Exige version from what I can see.

And yeah that looks nice. Is that blocking the air right there though?

[Noen]

Yeah it blocks bother center air vents. But that's what the open top is for in the summer, and the windshield vents are for in the winter

[Renegade]

Ah well thanks for the information guys!

I mean this is more practical to the other cars I was looking into, which I knew would be worse on insurance. I'm trying to not go over 50ish hopefully.

You guys will see, I'll pop on this forums with a Lotus.

Can anyone tell me if there's any common maintenance problems with the Lotus? Are they expensive generally?

[Mr. Know]

The only SC Elise (factory version) is 2008. You may be able to find a used one. Exiges started with a supercharger in 07 (one version 220 hp) and now there are two versions for 2008 (220 hp and 240 hp).

There are lots of Elises with the hard top. Its an option from the factory (or can be ordered through the dealer after the fact, I believe). If you have a hard top, you also get a soft top. The Exige comes only in hard top version (but some have converted to soft top).

[Aedo]

Go and try one - but you don't need the SC version unless you want to win bragging rights. And unless you have spent time on the track and in karts the base Elise will have more than enough performance for daily use (I have an older Elise with "only" 156hp and I love it!).

[Renegade]

There we go, so now I know, they only come in 2008. (Factory). That's what I'm looking for then, and that breaks the budget over 50,000 I do believe, unless I can find one over on here. I seem some used Exige's though.

Okay thanks guys! The base model may be the best choice for now.

Does anyone know still about the maintenance and if Lotus offers warranty's on the used ones (say from 06). Usually they let you renew it.

[Mr. Know]

They all come with 3 yr / 30k warranties. Lots of 05's are now falling out of warranty.

[Renegade]

Only a 30k/3 yr warranty? No extension or anything offered?

[Mr. Know]

If you buy from a dealer I'm sure you can get extended warranties, but you will also pay for them.

[Renegade]

Yeah thanks, Mr. Know!

[lc_09]

Joel..joel joel

i don't want to tell you how to live your life or spend your money, but at 18 you're probably going to want to go with a more practical car as a daily driver.

the elise has no bumpers, so parking will be an issue.
minor body damage will be very expensive to repair.
the car is very much a driver's car, and requires (a bit of experience) and a lot of concentration to drive properly and safely.


use the search feature on the forum, find the FAQ sticky thread. i think you'll see that a lot of your questions will be answered there.

if you are in the LA area show up at the Motor 4 Toys event, and I'll be happy to give you a ride so you can get a first hand feel of what the elise is all about.

Motor4Toys

(Also, note that the minimal rear visibility of in an exige is not a huge deal on a track, but its not going to be a good thing if you want to daily drive it.)

honestly, i'd recommend that you consider an MR2, MX5, GTI, or a used Boxter or a used 350z as a first sport car. Those are all fun cars and much more practical as daily drivers. (If you can afford it, maybe lease a Cayman.)

[agirls]

An 18 year old getting a Lotus is like an 18 year old getting a gsxr1000.

Well, you seem to be proud of yourself for thinking you can afford the car, but you don't have your own insurance? BTW, just the oil change in a Lotus is $350. Yeah, you can learn how to change it yourself (which I did) but just think how expensive the other repairs will be that you don't want or know how to do.

I drove the new 370Z for 2 days and have to admit the space and lack of road noise was sweet. I felt like I was in a plush bus! And the rev matcher thing was freaking cool! I couldn't get used to that light clutch though. Too used to my beast.