[Ghia914]

One of the first few mods I wanted to do was buy and install the AIM MX2E dash in the car

In that case, stay away from the California. It's the only car in the US to have the beige textured dash and the AIM requires a new binnacle that only comes in black.

 

[csx]

I understand that your inquiry was partly about the expected long-term value of limited editions of an Elise, but my question to you is: "What do you want to DO with the car?" If you're mostly going to drive it on the street, I'm not sure that the ~30 additional horsepower from the REV 300 kit is going to make you that much happier than the surprisingly (to me) reliable stock superchaged car. I am by no means an expert on these cars, but my understanding is that over all, the 2008 and later cars just had a lot more of the kinks worked out, especially with regards to the engine control unit, the alarm system, and the instrument panel.

My 2008 car didn't come with the supercharger; Lotus offered it later in the model year, and the previous owner had it installed by Lotus. It was really the best of both worlds for me when I bought it; his asking price was right about at the midpoint between the cost of a standard Elise and the Elise SC for a car with 17k miles. The one caveat is that I cannot take the car to the self-serve Maryland emissions inspection station -- it reliably causes the self-serve testing to crash, which I have to admit I took a perverse delight in. I think that the tune that Lotus did to the ECU after installing the supercharger doesn't map correctly to the car's VIN. Or at least, that's what the manager at the inspection station suggested.

My unsolicited advice would be to get the anniversary 2008 SC and drive it for a year, if you like the colour. After that point, you can decide if you want to modify it with the BOE supercharger. With the REV 300 kit, my understanding is that you could always keep the stock supercharger and components, and when (if) you're ready to sell your car, you could sell those components with the car to anyone interested in restoring the car to its original configuration. Someone with more expertise on the BOE kit should correct me if I'm in error. I know that the REV 400 kit is a less-reversible change since you need a more robust clutch.

Looking at some numbers, it looks like I could probably sell my Elise today for about what I paid for it in 2016. I don't have the sense that most Elises are really much of a financial investment. They are an investment in having a great deal of fun, especially during the two roughly 8-week periods in Maryland when the weather is ideal to drive a convertible.

One final note with regards to the hard and soft tops. My car came with both. The first thing I did when I got it home was spend 20 minutes removing the hard top. I wouldn't do that again by myself; for safety (mostly to avoid the risk of damaging the hard top), you really want to have a helper around just to hold it. My hard top stays in its case, in the basement. I can't imagine ever putting it back on the car unless I'm willing to sell the car. A more likely scenario is that my wife has the hard top put back on the car when she decides to use it as a coffin in which to bury me.

 

[Ghia914]

enjoy the heck out of her - don't save it for the next guy.

My thoughts exactly. That quote should be made into a t-shirt. I drives me crazy seeing cars like Roger Beckers, etc. collecting dust because owners are trying to preserve value and not put any miles on them. The only people interested in buying them at that "increased value" are those that are going to do the exact same thing and never drive them. The cars become artifacts passed on from one collector to the next and never get driven. This is why so many Ferraris and the like that are decades old only have 10K miles on them. Drives me nuts that no one was able to enjoy those cars for what they were intended for.

 

[Holy BRG!]

OMG holy sh!t batman that looks gorgeous! I thought the chili red looked good but my gosh this looks amazing! The interior is beautiful. This makes the Storm Titanium and black seats look plane jane.

Thanks very much! You peaked my attention when you started this thread because it's a question I asked myself at one point too.

There really is nothing like the Elise and Exige. When it comes to handling and chassis dynamics, nothing touches them - they truly are an extension of you and there just isn't anything there to blunt your sensations. The fact that you've arrived at wanting one of these is half the battle, now you just have to pick the right one. You honestly can't go wrong with any choice either; as @Tengai650 said they are all special.

If you can, start by test driving one. Because these were all hand-made (which is something else really cool), every single car will differ in some way (maybe one will have a slightly stiffer transmission, the seats will be more comfortable in another, etc.). Good luck in your search and post copious photos when you've brought her home.

 

[TNEngineer]

Every Elise is special, in its own way
On a starry summer night
Or a leaf-covered autumn day

My head went to "Every sperm is sacred...."

 

[Topshift]

My head went to "Every sperm is sacred...."

hey I've heard it just takes one then you are hooked for life!

 

[Topshift]

Thanks very much! You peaked my attention when you started this thread because it's a question I asked myself at one point too.

There really is nothing like the Elise and Exige. When it comes to handling and chassis dynamics, nothing touches them - they truly are an extension of you and there just isn't anything there to blunt your sensations. The fact that you've arrived at wanting one of these is half the battle, now you just have to pick the right one. You honestly can't go wrong with any choice either; as @Tengai650 said they are all special.

If you can, start by test driving one. Because these were all hand-made (which is something else really cool), every single car will differ in some way (maybe one will have a slightly stiffer transmission, the seats will be more comfortable in another, etc.). Good luck in your search and post copious photos when you've brought her home.

Hopefully I can meet someone nice enough to let me drive one on Sunday during the NoVa Lotus Car Club meet and see if I even fit in one and how long it takes me to either like it or love it.

Also is yours stock with factory SC or did you do additional changes to it other than the wheels?

 

[Darren Donovan]

This makes the Storm Titanium and black seats look plane jane.

You're speaking for me too! Lol.
I LOVE BRG cars.

 

[Holy BRG!]

Hopefully I can meet someone nice enough to let me drive one on Sunday during the NoVa Lotus Car Club meet and see if I even fit in one and how long it takes me to either like it or love it.

Also is yours stock with factory SC or did you do additional changes to it other than the wheels?

I'm sure someone in the car club will be gracious enough to let you in one of theirs - Lotus owners are cool like that. Getting in and out isn't easy, but it just adds to the experience in my opinion and is just a reminder that these aren't normal cars (which is a good thing). Think low-calorie Group C racer with license plates.

My car is a factory SC; it's the only supercharger setup now that will pass emissions testing in California. Besides switching up to the Euro Cup 240R wheels, the only other change I made to this car was uncorking it with the Stage III muffler. These cars benefit greatly from a modified exhaust: looks good, sounds amazing, and is usually a ~15 lb. weight savings over the factory unit.

 

[Salokin9]

Hey Topshift, I think I spoke to you at the GYLO yesterday in Fairfax. I was the one with the red/black car. Anyhow, I found this one for sale - not sure if you'd had a look at it yet.

Red Lotus on Autotrader

 

[Topshift]

Hey Topshift, I think I spoke to you at the GYLO yesterday in Fairfax. I was the one with the red/black car. Anyhow, I found this one for sale - not sure if you'd had a look at it yet.

Red Lotus on Autotrader

Hi Nick, it was please meeting you. Your car was just amazing and that Red just popped in the sun and completely overshadowed the storm titanium. Now the hardest part is how much "fun" is Rev300 and would that fun outweigh a color lol. ST looks muted after seeing these bright colors. I just contacted the dealer and left them my info. Hopefully we can make a deal, if not then he search continues. Too bad this one has no hardtop and the dealer is asking higher than market since it's Red. Fingers crossed. Worst he can say is no. Here are some of my favorite pictures. That CO looks pretty and if your Red and CO were side by side, it would be a hard to choose between the two.

 

[Wongkiyen85]

I would go stock and do your own mods. I recently purchased a rather highly modified 05 elise and have no regrets. Other than not knowing 100%, yet, what has been done to it. But it's actually been a fun experience so far learning more and more about my car!

 

[cch1]

The 60th Anniversary Edition had a lot of "bonus" features relative to the regular '08 SCs. See this thread for some highlights: https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/1...-39-2008-lotus-elise-sc-60th-anniversary-special-edition-black-w-silver.485826/