[SOLD] Hate to Sell My Baby!!! But I must……

[tel2931]

Maybe stupid question, but does the Elise come with a soft top as well?
Great looking car!
Thanks

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by tel2931

Maybe stupid question, but does the Elise come with a soft top as well?
Great looking car!
Thanks

Not a stupid question at all. The car does come with the factory soft top and storage case. The top is in great condition I just have the hardtop on for a little better insulation in the summer heat out here. Soft-top will be back on the car shortly.

[Shorty111R]

Are there perhaps 350 members on the board who want to pull only $100 out of their annual salary to help this guy keep his car?

Surely $100 out of an entire year's salary can't be too bad?

Azskycop, you seem devoted enough an owner to be the son of Chapman himself.

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by Shorty111R

Are there perhaps 350 members on the board who want to pull only $100 out of their annual salary to help this guy keep his car?

Surely $100 out of an entire year's salary can't be too bad?

Azskycop, you seem devoted enough an owner to be the son of Chapman himself.

Wow Shorty I really appreciate that. However I know that life has it's ups and downs and this is just another chapter that I must close. I would love to keep it and my financial situation may change in the near future but that is another story for anther time. With the loss I took on my last home (ended up having the Government buy it after 8 months of dual house payments) I need to make up the difference and pay off some of the debt.

Funny thing is my wife asked if I would ever buy another Lotus if we ended up with enough money to afford one again. As much as I love the car I really do believe the 2005 was the best year the sold in the U.S. I like it for the reasons I stated in the first post. I would love to own one again someday but I know it would never be the same, sounds silly but I would miss the pedal arms the most!! A part of the car you can't even see is the most beautiful thing about it. Yes I may very well end up with anther one someday, if life goes that way, but for now I am very, very grateful to be one of the privileged few who has had the chance to own and fully enjoy this engineering masterpiece and beautiful piece of true automotive artwork.

I have in my garage a frame with a copy of the original title from Lotus along with the dealers license plate frame from Newport European. It serves as a daily reminder to me because as a kid I would drive by that dealership, on PCH, and know that I would never be able to afford a car from there. It has fulfilled more than a dream to be able to purchase the car, band new, from that place, and own it for the last 3 years.

Back in 1993 I was going through Chemotherapy after Desert Storm. I owned a Cherokee 140 airplane at the time but sold it the day my first daughter was born. I had to sell it mainly due to the fact I had lost my FAA medical and was only given 6 months to live. Now that daughter is in need of braces and starting drivers ed which means rising insurance rates and more money going out the door every month. So as you can see when I talk about another chapter in life I have been through it before.

Anyway I didn't mean to ramble on, just got all sentimental from your comment.

THANK YOU.....NOW GO ENJOY LIFE AND DRIVE THAT BEAUTIFUL CAR!!!!!

[Shorty111R]

Haha. Well, sadly, I do not own the car in my avatar, I just found it in the gallery and thought it looked neat. I'm still putting money away a little (very little) at a time for my Lotus. By some strange circumstance, a Chili Red '06 Elise has popped up at a local dealership (Loti are about as rare as snow down herein Louisiana), and, though it's far out of the reach of my budget, I've been by every day to admire that gorgeous little car. I've driven it twice, and was astounded by the lateral G's you can pile on before the car even begins to complain. This one had the sport pack, and those A048's, so that might've contributed a lot to the experience, but I was AMAZED to see just how quickly 190hp can get you moving in 2000 pounds of plastic and glue.

My craving for one has now quadrupled. I must admit that you're doing a very good job of convincing me to get an '05 though.

But, I too will stop rambling. Best of luck Azskycop, both with the sale, and with the pursuit of possibly another Lotus in your future.

BUMP for what's obviously a well cared-for car.

[azskycop]

Sorry to hear you took one for a drive. As I have warned a few others I think that Lotus should have a disclaimer about test-driving that says "Don't drive until ready to buy due to lack of ability to think about anything else after the experience!! One of the first magazine articles I read said "It will ruin you for every other sports car ever made" or something to that effect. As radical as that quote seems it really is true.

And I empathize with you driving by to look at the car. Since I was a kid I could just stare at the nice sports cars for hours and the Elise is truly a work of art. Pictures do not do these cars justice!

Good luck with your future purchase, keep reading this site and get help from the people here when you go to buy one. This really is a great resource. I have been able to learn so much and really enjoy the car more due to this board and the people here. I have never seen a question go unanswered or people here not willing to help out.

And if you are still not convinced that the 05 is the only year to buy just look at the pedal arms in any other year........just remember you may need to shield your eyes quickly and as Randy says......what has been seen cannot be unseen!!

[IXLR8]

Originally Posted by Shorty111R

Haha. Well, sadly, I do not own the car in my avatar, I just found it in the gallery and thought it looked neat. I'm still putting money away a little (very little) at a time for my Lotus. By some strange circumstance, a Chili Red '06 Elise has popped up at a local dealership (Loti are about as rare as snow down herein Louisiana), :

Tell me about it.
I'm in Louisiana to.
Here in Louisiana, It's easier to find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, than it is to find a Lotus. In fact I'd venture to surmise that I might be struck dead by a comet ( Possibly even a small Meteor) before I ever see another one drive down a highway here again.

I've been here a long time, and I've been driving since I was 15 and I've only seen ONE. That's right, ONE. Uno.
Now I don't want to make it sound like I'm some old geezer or anything, because I'm not. But I don't want to tell anyone my age either because sometimes I lie about that.....and I like you guys so I don't wanna do that.

Besides even if I was an old geezer, I wouldn't admit it. Who in their right mind would do that?

Ahh yes, I know I'll never live long enough to see the Sun move close enough to scorch the Earth, but I fear that's what it'll take to once again bear witness to another Lotus Elise sighting in the state of Louisiana.

That's why I have to buy one.
And soon.

[skibum]

That lift is sooo tempting. Where are you when you say "North of Tucson". I am in Oro Valley at First & Tangerine. Any more details/pics of the lift?

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by skibum

That lift is sooo tempting. Where are you when you say "North of Tucson". I am in Oro Valley at First & Tangerine. Any more details/pics of the lift?

You could not of hit the nail closer to the head if you tried. I am in Oro Valley only about 1 mile north of the intersection of First & Tangerine. Right now my Passat is on the lift as I'm changing out the CV axles.

Let me know if you what to stop by and look at it.

[skibum]

It turns out Mike & I live .3 miles apart and we have never crossed paths on the road. I stopped by his home yesterday to check out the lift and I must say that his Elise is clean as it gets. If any of you are considering a Lotus, it does not get any prettier than this specimen. Also, he won't sell the lift until the Elise is gone

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by skibum

It turns out Mike & I live .3 miles apart and we have never crossed paths on the road. I stopped by his home yesterday to check out the lift and I must say that his Elise is clean as it gets. If any of you are considering a Lotus, it does not get any prettier than this specimen. Also, he won't sell the lift until the Elise is gone

Nice to meet you yesterday and when I sell my car I may be stalking you for rides!! Thanks for the vote of confidence in my car. I have a few who really want to buy it but need to sell cars first. So for those of you considering....come get it quick before I change my mind and move into a cardboard box to keep this thing!

[IXLR8]

Just hang in there.
I'm going to buy it, hopefully.
Im working my ass off on it.

[joe13531]

Nice car but... 2005 and only 9k miles? Sorta lame for a pride and joy, don't ya think? Good luck on the sale. No offense, just hate garage queens, especially cheap cars being garage queens.

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by IXLR8

Just hang in there.
I'm going to buy it, hopefully.
Im working my ass off on it.

I will hang in there for you as long as someone else does not come along with the money. As I have told a few others who have shown interest, it is going to the first one with the cash. Hate to put it that way but it is hard enough to sell as is, so the quicker I can sell it the less pain I must endure. I would love you to buy it as you seem to be as passionate about cars as I am....Get that car sold and come on out here for a road trip!!

By the way I forgot to mention that it also has the IPOD adapter installed. Not a big deal but sometimes a little detail can make a difference for some people.

[patsfan4ever09]

awsome car hopefully it sells fast!

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by patsfan4ever09

awsome car hopefully it sells fast!

Thanks,

It seems like it will but I know these things can take some time. Pass the word around if you know anyone looking.

[azskycop]

Well I guess it's time to sweeten the deal since I have not sold the car yet. I mean it has been a whole week. So just in case you are on the fence I will throw in not one......but if you call now, two of these babies:
Disclaimer: Actually this is just a cheap shot at bumping this thread, However two cupholders are included.

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by joe13531

Nice car but... 2005 and only 9k miles? Sorta lame for a pride and joy, don't ya think? Good luck on the sale. No offense, just hate garage queens, especially cheap cars being garage queens.

Well as far as 9K miles goes I don't drive this car everyday. I don't consider it a "garage queen" nor do I consider a car that I paid over $51K for a "cheap" car. Guess if I had enough money to consider this a cheap car I would not be selling it. I have tried to keep the car as nice as possible and I have enjoyed it as much as possible.

[GTScott]

The more I pour over your listing the more I start to consider an AR car and a trip west. From all of your postings, it is obvious that this car was babied to the n-th degree.

[azskycop]

Originally Posted by GTScott

The more I pour over your listing the more I start to consider an AR car and a trip west. From all of your postings, it is obvious that this car was babied to the n-th degree.

Thanks,

I really did plan on keeping this car forever and I wanted to keep it nice. I really wanted to do some track sessions but just could not justify the wear and tear it would have done. I do have a few people who seem very interested right now and it seems like it will sell pretty quickly. PM me if you want more detail or pics or have any questions.