Elise is NOT an amphibious vehicle - LotusTalk

Bane · 10-09-2006, 08:09 AM

Last night I was taking my friend home at about 7:30 pm. The skies were clear, the weather was beautiful, and we had the top off.

I see some ominous looking clouds in the distance but we weren't going in that direction so it seemed ok. We were tooling along (with no radio since I can't find my keycard and the battery was unhooked

) and I feel a drop on my forehead. I start looking for a gas station or anything with a cover where we can get out and put the top on. Too late. The skies open up in typical Arizona fashion and soon it's raining so hard you can only see about 10 feet in front of you. We struggle with the top getting drenched in the process and finally get it snapped into place. Luckily she wasn't that angry... found it more amusing trying to get in and out of the car quickly.

The rain gets WORSE and soon the streets start to flood (typical Arizona again). I go slower as I have the wipers on full speed and I still can't see crap. All I can see is a road that looks like a lake, and the headlights of a truck that is maybe 6" off my bumper tailgating me because I'm going 25 mph in the torrential downpour.

I see a dip in the road ahead and slow down almost getting my 2-day old rear clam smashed by the truck right on my tail. Truck gets pissed, lays on the horn, floors it and goes around right through the puddle laying a huge wave of water onto my poor Elise

Watching him go through it I realized it was maybe 3-4" deep so I take the Elise through super slow (puddles were forming everywhere... couldn't stop lest we get stuck in the road during a flash flood...) The water is channeling out from the car and I'm praying that some jackass doesn't come flying over the hill and slam right into me. Luckily the roads are starting to clear of traffic.

Finally after 3-4 more large pools of water I had to swim Elise through we find a high spot on dry ground at a gas station. It's still raining unbelievably hard and we wait out the storm a little and let the rivers drain from the road. I get out and find my inner fender liners bent (broke the plastic screws) from wading into the water) and my poor car is COVERED in mud and looks like a 4x4 vehicle. Parts of the road had washed out so I was driving through dirt/mud underneath the river of water.

The whole time I'm kicking myself for not taking my F250 with like 50 feet of ground clearance (ok slight exaggeration) but it was clear when we left... *sigh*

The amazing thing though is that the roof didn't leak. No water came into the cabin besides when we first got stuck in the initial downpour. It seems like I have one of the rare relatively "water tight" Elises... so I guess that's a good part of the whole scenario

pianomaniac · 10-09-2006, 08:49 AM

I think I was in that same Arizona cloud yesterday, but luckily, was driving a Nissan Altima rental car.

Glad you didn't get smashed by the truck.

Mr_Baker · 10-09-2006, 10:18 AM

I lived in AZ for awhile and the storms are really something. Just as you describe, the washes really take over the roads when the rain comes down. The desert is still in charge. Glad you made it thru as well as you did.

Similar thing happened to me in MN earlier this year. Big downpour, driving home late at night, see a police car, lights on, with the officer standing in the road waving a flashlight. The road ahead was under 2 feet of water. Sure glad I didn't hit that at 50 mph. I might've floated away.

Andrikos · 10-09-2006, 10:40 AM

Good god man!

Things go bad when you take your car out...
Glad you made it out ok, things can go really bad in a hurry...

Donbecker · 10-09-2006, 10:42 AM

Yeah, AZ rain is crazy.

We came out of Sur la Table and notice it had rained.

ChrisB · 10-09-2006, 01:32 PM

When I lived in Phoenix, it never ceased to amaze me how many people would try to drive through a "puddle" only to discover that it was a 4' deep wash. With every big rain there would be a dozen or more people end up having to be rescued. Glad you made it out OK.

fishguy · 10-09-2006, 01:37 PM

huge storm last night, sorry you got caught in it.

LARRY · 10-09-2006, 01:48 PM

Yeah, when it's pouring out and you're in an Elise it's like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride...

smoseley · 10-09-2006, 03:12 PM

When it rains it pours!

Donbecker · 10-09-2006, 03:36 PM

Yeah, supposedly when it is _SO_ dry like it is out here that actually keeps the water from soaking in.

Dunno...doesn't make sense but it definately floods...

goelise · 10-09-2006, 07:07 PM

Your car needs a dose of good luck, mojo or something...

Bane · 10-10-2006, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goelise

Your car needs a dose of good luck, mojo or something...

I put her in time-out in the garage alone so she can think happy thoughts. I definately wouldn't complain about any bad luck I've had with the car, just unfortunate timing with several events

The ending outcome has always been good so there should be nothing to complain about.

P.S. The Elise looks kind of funny in the garage all by itself. My new truck (F250 superduty) doesn't fit length-wise in my garage so it gets to sit outside while Elise gets it all to herself.

pilot · 10-10-2006, 07:54 AM

I drove through a torential downpour in southern Utah last week. No drips coming in from the top of the windows but it did take some water in at the top of the door frame on the drivers side. And, the carpets got soaked. I pulled the carpets, they needed a good washing anyways. I'm letting the interior dry up and I'll run a bead of silicone around the base of the aluminum tub.

doma · 10-10-2006, 05:57 PM

I was driving back from Suaguaro Lake in AZ on Sunday when the skys suddenly opened up. When I saw how fast the the road was puddling up I remember thinking 'thank god I'm in a durango and not the Elise'. The rain just kept getting harder and I passed a group of bikers parked on the side of the road (no overpasses to hide under on 87) laughing at eachother over the soaking. Those AZ stoms can come out of nowhere and get ya!

BrianK · 10-10-2006, 06:35 PM

Just be glad your window wasn't cracked open. i've lived through that experience more than once. Imagine all that dirt on the outside being on the inside and all over you.

10-09-2006, 08:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bane . Join Date: May 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,007 Images: 4	Elise is NOT an amphibious vehicle Last night I was taking my friend home at about 7:30 pm. The skies were clear, the weather was beautiful, and we had the top off. I see some ominous looking clouds in the distance but we weren't going in that direction so it seemed ok. We were tooling along (with no radio since I can't find my keycard and the battery was unhooked ) and I feel a drop on my forehead. I start looking for a gas station or anything with a cover where we can get out and put the top on. Too late. The skies open up in typical Arizona fashion and soon it's raining so hard you can only see about 10 feet in front of you. We struggle with the top getting drenched in the process and finally get it snapped into place. Luckily she wasn't that angry... found it more amusing trying to get in and out of the car quickly. The rain gets WORSE and soon the streets start to flood (typical Arizona again). I go slower as I have the wipers on full speed and I still can't see crap. All I can see is a road that looks like a lake, and the headlights of a truck that is maybe 6" off my bumper tailgating me because I'm going 25 mph in the torrential downpour. I see a dip in the road ahead and slow down almost getting my 2-day old rear clam smashed by the truck right on my tail. Truck gets pissed, lays on the horn, floors it and goes around right through the puddle laying a huge wave of water onto my poor Elise Watching him go through it I realized it was maybe 3-4" deep so I take the Elise through super slow (puddles were forming everywhere... couldn't stop lest we get stuck in the road during a flash flood...) The water is channeling out from the car and I'm praying that some jackass doesn't come flying over the hill and slam right into me. Luckily the roads are starting to clear of traffic. Finally after 3-4 more large pools of water I had to swim Elise through we find a high spot on dry ground at a gas station. It's still raining unbelievably hard and we wait out the storm a little and let the rivers drain from the road. I get out and find my inner fender liners bent (broke the plastic screws) from wading into the water) and my poor car is COVERED in mud and looks like a 4x4 vehicle. Parts of the road had washed out so I was driving through dirt/mud underneath the river of water. The whole time I'm kicking myself for not taking my F250 with like 50 feet of ground clearance (ok slight exaggeration) but it was clear when we left... sigh The amazing thing though is that the roof didn't leak. No water came into the cabin besides when we first got stuck in the initial downpour. It seems like I have one of the rare relatively "water tight" Elises... so I guess that's a good part of the whole scenario

10-09-2006, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
pianomaniac Elise #76 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,531	I think I was in that same Arizona cloud yesterday, but luckily, was driving a Nissan Altima rental car. Glad you didn't get smashed by the truck. __________________ Owner of '05 Elise S/T- touring- LSS-Stage 2 '07 Audi RS4 4.2L V-8 420 HP - 6 Sp..(sold) '07 Toyota Prius

10-09-2006, 10:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mr_Baker no more gnawing Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: both Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN Posts: 552 Images: 1	I lived in AZ for awhile and the storms are really something. Just as you describe, the washes really take over the roads when the rain comes down. The desert is still in charge. Glad you made it thru as well as you did. Similar thing happened to me in MN earlier this year. Big downpour, driving home late at night, see a police car, lights on, with the officer standing in the road waving a flashlight. The road ahead was under 2 feet of water. Sure glad I didn't hit that at 50 mph. I might've floated away. __________________ '05 Yellow, LSS, Touring

10-09-2006, 10:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
Andrikos Lulu ROX! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: RanchoSahuarita.com , AZ Posts: 3,748	Good god man! Things go bad when you take your car out... Glad you made it out ok, things can go really bad in a hurry... __________________ My daily driver is an orange plastic toaster

10-09-2006, 01:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
fishguy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,965 Images: 1	huge storm last night, sorry you got caught in it. __________________ 1977 Crossle 32F 1999 Spec Miata 1987 Porsche Spec 944-2008-2009 season SCCA AZ regional Champion 2008-2009 SCCA AZ Regional "Driver of the Year"

10-09-2006, 10:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Donbecker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 1,064	Yeah, AZ rain is crazy. We came out of Sur la Table and notice it had rained.

10-09-2006, 01:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
ChrisB I'm Lovin' It! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 3,970 Images: 1	When I lived in Phoenix, it never ceased to amaze me how many people would try to drive through a "puddle" only to discover that it was a 4' deep wash. With every big rain there would be a dozen or more people end up having to be rescued. Glad you made it out OK.

10-09-2006, 01:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 18,392	Yeah, when it's pouring out and you're in an Elise it's like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride... __________________ In Los Angeles, the best Lotus body work and service is at LotusTalk sponsor Specialty Car Craft. Website: http://www.specialtycarcraft.com/ *Facebook:* http://www.facebook.com/pages/Specia...1663849?ref=ts *More of Larry's Photoblog:* http://www.larrysphotoblog.net/

10-09-2006, 03:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
smoseley Bubble Boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 12,141 Images: 8	When it rains it pours! __________________ - Steve Transio - Software Development & Web Design, Miami, FL

10-09-2006, 03:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Donbecker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 1,064	Yeah, supposedly when it is _SO_ dry like it is out here that actually keeps the water from soaking in. Dunno...doesn't make sense but it definately floods...

10-09-2006, 07:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
goelise AR #1275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Midwest, USA Posts: 2,631 Images: 1	Your car needs a dose of good luck, mojo or something... __________________ '06 Ardent Red Elise - black interior with LSS, Touring, HT, Starshield, Lotus Sport Clutch, Moroso Oil Pan, 2ZZ(#2), Ekological HIDs, Lotus Driving Lights, Stebel Horn, Bootie, Razo '06 Pedal mod,Snorkel Delete,Odyssey 680 with s111 bracket. Thank you FVMC! WOO-HOO!

10-10-2006, 07:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
pilot Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver, CO, USA Posts: 307	I drove through a torential downpour in southern Utah last week. No drips coming in from the top of the windows but it did take some water in at the top of the door frame on the drivers side. And, the carpets got soaked. I pulled the carpets, they needed a good washing anyways. I'm letting the interior dry up and I'll run a bead of silicone around the base of the aluminum tub.

10-10-2006, 05:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
doma '05 SY #0038 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Belmont, CA Posts: 2,274 Images: 6	rain in AZ I was driving back from Suaguaro Lake in AZ on Sunday when the skys suddenly opened up. When I saw how fast the the road was puddling up I remember thinking 'thank god I'm in a durango and not the Elise'. The rain just kept getting harder and I passed a group of bikers parked on the side of the road (no overpasses to hide under on 87) laughing at eachother over the soaking. Those AZ stoms can come out of nowhere and get ya! __________________ Braille Battery - Micromirror - Alpine Head Unit & Speakers - HID Headlights - H&T Pad - Snorkel Delete - Non Dust Brake Pads - JL Stealthbox - JL Amps - Sirius Sat - Rudolph Antlers and Nose Kit Astronomy Picture of the Day

10-10-2006, 06:35 PM	#15 (permalink)
BrianK very dude Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles (Highland Park) Posts: 2,487	Just be glad your window wasn't cracked open. i've lived through that experience more than once. Imagine all that dirt on the outside being on the inside and all over you. __________________ Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode