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What inexpensive car comes closest to the Lotus Elise?
Short of buying an Elise, which would you recommend that you think comes closest to the Lotus Elise, in terms of steering response, handling, and overall fun?
This was a question that came up in a conversation I recently had with my nephew. I don't have enough experience to know what the answer is so I thought I could pick the forum's brains on this... My best answer for him was a Miata, however I have test driven the Mx-5 recently and was rather disappointed, considering how every reviewer and owner seems to rave about it.. Given this fact, I do not even want to assume the FR-S is anything close to the Elise, but I'll let you guys ring in on it, and other cars.
I know there's a lot of Porsche heaters on this board but, you can get a used Porsche Boxster 1999-2002 anywhere from $8,000-$14,000 with well under hundred thousand miles on it.
My Point is these cars handle great, it's as close to an Elise as you can get And it's the mid-engine sports car, yes it's a convertible ,for those who don't like a convertible a used used hard Top can be easily purchased for $1200 or less. as much as I like Miatas the Boxster can float circles around them.
For the money I can't think of a better sports car.
The driving experience of a Boxster is VERY different from the Elise, unfortunately. The 9x6 and later cars are luxury sports cars, GTs, which is in stark contrast to the Elise.
The 914 is a much better Porsche correlation. Although I still think the SC 911s were also very similar in the level of information that comes from the car.
I think many if us like Porsche's. Id like to have a Cayman s about as much as my exige but im afraid of maintenance costs and engine longevity. I think the boxster twins are some of the greatest modern sports cars
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I had a 2002 MR2 Spyder, and it was actually a very good car. Imagine owning a mid-engine convertible for just north of $20,000. If the car had a 2zz, it would have been a keeper. However, engine swaps in California are a nightmare, having gone through the process with my Monster Miata, I would not recommend it to everyone.
It doesn't feel slow. It is very fun to wind out and the engine is very responsive. It just doesn't feel powerful fast. I never find myself thinking that it feels slow, nor that it feels fast. It's just so right that you simply enjoy it.
You're on the road all of the time - look me up if you're coming through the area and stop by to drive it some time.
I'll take you up on that Josh. I'm in sales and when I actively working a deal, I tend to be in that area a lot. For example, Kohl's has been a client forever and there were times when I was in the Falls of Menomonee for like 10 days straight!
Was up your way on Monday - 68 degrees! I actually saw, on 43S, a 'caravan' of cars including a KG Exige, a 430 and a Maybach 63!!!
I'm sure the tuner shops like AMS will start creating stuff that will make the FRS/BRZ go bonkers!!!
Those are some interesting descriptions for the FRS. I had been wondering the same thing as Jeff. Before he realized i was in love with my lotus to be, a friend suggested looking at the FRS. it looked pretty cool (not KG Exige cool, but pretty cool) but on paper it just seemed so ordinary. I'm not surprised to hear that it has a little of the intangibles to it
Maybe ill take advantage of the Lotus's inflated perceived value and take a test drive at a dealership anyone with a lotus can just go and buy an FRS on a whim, right?
Well they are what, like $25K? Pretty much on the 'lower' scale of new car prices these days, so any dealership shouldn't have a problem with someone wanting to test drive them. Now test driving a GTR? That's a different story.
But we've all had our issues. I remember the guy at the Porsche dealership (the one next to FVMC) NOT letting me test drive a Cayenne about 4 years ago. I specifically told him - 'my lease on my other car is up next month'. Today is Tuesday. It's lunch time and I'm away from a meeting. I've done the research, I know the inventory. I'm looking at the Cayenne, the X5 and the RR Sport (all dealerships right by each other). I'm driving them now and coming back after meetings around 3pm to buy one of them' And the guy STILL wouldn't let me drive it. Keep in mind, at this point, I'm like 38 years old and wearing a dress shirt and pressed slacks.
I went to the BMW dealership across the street. Sales manager GAVE me the car and said 'drive it back to your meetings and around town for the afternoon'. Bring it back late afternoon and we'll see if you like it.
First I would like to say the abarth is junk. My friend had one it was just terrible, was like driving a small car that felt like an SUV.
So I have read thought this thread and not scene were anyone noted about the mini. The mini is fast and handles well out of the box. There is a great deal of after market support. Take a stock mini and a few mods and you have something. My last car was an 09 JCW factory, with coil overs, camber plates and a sway bar the car can hang with a lotus. Put a revalution mini works tune on the stock JCW then you get startling speed bumping the hp to 255 and 275 troq. Oh and lastly depending on year an s is going for 10 to 24 k. And it is not a Miata.
Another awesome car was the first-gen Mazda 3 GT with the upgraded 160 hp engine. Handled like a dream. Was relatively light, quick, spacious, and was infintely more tossable around corners than anything this side of an M3. I loved it to death and, other than the Elise, have yet to drive anything close to that price point that compares.
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