[ROCKCENTER]

without trying to incite violence among fellow enthusiasts... The only drivers on the road that I have experienced consistently trying to get a rise out of me by tailgating, revving, giving dirty looks etc... are M3 owners... without jumping to conclusions, it seems like M3 pilots feel that they have something to prove now that the Elise is around. thoughts?

And without trying to defend myself, prior to getting my S4, my daily driver was a E36 DINAN M3

 

[atyclb]

those M3 owners are real a$$holes

 

[II-soon]

That's jealousy rearing its ugly head.

 

[Surferjer]

I get more revving from Evos and 350Zs than any other car. Porsche owners are pretty complementary in my experiences.

 

[perryeyges]

Proof is in the pudding. The M3 guys don't have a chance at most any track event if the Elise is driven effectivley. And at an autocross I think it would be far worse for them. Randy?

 

[Vantage]

I imagine at a track with long straights and high speed sections, the M3 could edge us out. Despite the low weight, for track events, the Elise needs a little more power to compete with some of the bigger boys (Z06, 911, etc...). Not buying the car for lap times, however.

 

[Randy Chase]

I have not noticed any negative reactions from any BMW owners.

So far, I have noticed Escalades.

 

[JonOrangeElise]

Something happened to the E36 M3 right around 2001-2002: Huge numbers came off lease; the car depreciated dramatically, and the poor economy flattened the market for a car that was produced in HUGE numbers. E36 M3s are a dime a dozen, what with four years of heavy, heavy production.

The upshot: Thousands upon thousands of punk kids suddenly had enough money to buy an awesome, highly praised, and extremely capable car that used to be limited to only salaried adults. Seriously, the value of my car (which I bought as a CPO) dropped from $31,000 to about $15,000 in two years and 25,000 miles.

The upshot is that the E36 M3 "community" is, generally speaking, an outright embarrasment. Kids driving one-handed, talking on cell phones, stoplight racing, stupid-ass aesthetic mods. And so on.

My only caution to you is that these M3 owners may simply be trying to get a better look at the car, and not actually trying to race you.

 

[doma]

Sorry, no M3 stories. But I've gotten the biggest jacka$$ reactions out of a giant beat-up truck and a jeep.

The truck was next to me in four lane traffic - it was hopped up on some kind of giant swamper tires (you know, rubber studs the size of soup cans). Stopped - then spinning tire to vault 20 feet forward - then slammed on the breaks - then does it all in reverse. Back and forth again and again - me and the other drivers stuck in traffic were soon engulfed in white tire smoke. I swear pieces of rust were comming off and landing on me. :huh:


Once again in dead stopped traffic, this time on a two lane road, a jeep pulls up beside me - (on the other side of the double yellow! - blocking the on comming traffic!) - and the driver starts screaming to his drunk friends about how 'that car costs more than my house!' 'that car costs 200 thousand bucks!' They were all loaded and I'm lucky I didn't get beer bottles rained down on me. The guy blocked traffic and continued freaking out for several minutes.

On the other hand the best reactions seem to come from motorcycle drivers ;-). Several have paused, given a thumbs up, then continued on. Also had a driver in a miata follow me all the way to work then ask a bunch of questions. He then drove off the way he came. *shrug*

-doma
SY - StarSheild - Touring

 

[MickOpalak]

I imagine at a track with long straights and high speed sections, the M3 could edge us out. Despite the low weight, for track events, the Elise needs a little more power to compete with some of the bigger boys (Z06, 911, etc...). Not buying the car for lap times, however.

Top Gear Times
==========================
Porsche Carrera GT 119.8
Mercedes McLaren SLR - 1.20.9
Ford GT - 1.21.9
Ferrari 360 CS - 1.22.3
Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3
Murcielago - 1.23.7
Zonda - 1.23.8
Koenigsegg - 1.23.9
Noble - 1.25.0
Gallardo - 1.25.8
Mitsu Evo VIII MR FQ320 1:26.0
Corvette C6 1.26.8
Lotus Exige - 1.26.9
Porsche 911 GT3 - 1.27.2
TVR 350c - 1.27.5
BMW M3 CSL - 1.28.0
MG SV - 1.28.6
Mitsubishi Evo VIII - 1.28.9
BMW Alpine Z8 - 1.29.0
Mercedes CL65 - 1.29
Alfa 3.7 GTA - 1.30.0
Subaru Impreza STI - 1.30.1
Aston Martin DB7 GT - 1.30.4
Audi S4 - 1.30.9
Porsche 911 turbo - 1.31.0
Vauxhall VX 220 turbo - 1.31.3

 

[babak]

Also had a driver in a miata follow me all the way to work then ask a bunch of questions. He then drove off the way he came. *shrug*

Elisetalkers are guilty of that too.

 

[Allan Gibbs]

You know, I should carry a sign that I could hold out the window that say, "Stop acting like you're jealous and drive responsibly!"

 

[Vantage]

Hi Mick,
Yes, the Exige performs very well at Hethel (it is the Lotus test track after all), but Hethel is still not something like Willow Springs, where much time is spent in higher gears.

I just make this comment about Elise lap times for people who think the Elise is in the same speed class as cars costing more than double like the 911 GT3 or high hp cars like the Z06. Those cars may be heavy and lacking some of the tactile sensitivity to make driving enjoyable, but they are still faster at larger tracks than the Elise. The GT3 is probably faster on certain autox courses too. Did you notice that Evo VIII MR FQ320 lap time? $30k! BTW, take a look at the Autocar article:

<img src = "http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=82956"/>

The Elise is very quick in the corners and seems to have adequate power, but it won't be a real monster until the 250hp kit comes out. I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with the base car (no LSS) for quite some time just in case you were wondering about what I need in a car.

So basically what I'm saying is that there's more than just lap times. You can spend big money to buy a fast road going car, or you can spend bigger money to get a fast track car like a 911 Cup. Or you can spend little money and get a Sentra.

As far as M3 owners getting mad that the Elise is faster at a given track, why should they be? They bought a GT car knowing the compromises (or being blind to them) they were making in order to have a comfortable daily driver type vehicle. The base model 911s also make this compromise! Though maybe they are a little upset that the Elise is so much faster at Barber.

 

[mikester]

Elisetalkers are guilty of that too.

Never !

 

[Derek]

Hi Mick,
Yes, the Exige performs very well at Hethel (it is the Lotus test track after all), but Hethel is still not something like Willow Springs, where much time is spent in higher gears.

I just make this comment about Elise lap times for people who think the Elise is in the same speed class as cars costing more than double like the 911 GT3 or high hp cars like the Z06. Those cars may be heavy and lacking some of the tactile sensitivity to make driving enjoyable, but they are still faster at larger tracks than the Elise. The GT3 is probably faster on certain autox courses too. Did you notice that Evo VIII MR FQ320 lap time? $30k! BTW, take a look at the Autocar article:

<img src = "http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=82956"/>

The Elise is very quick in the corners and seems to have adequate power, but it won't be a real monster until the 250hp kit comes out. I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with the base car (no LSS) for quite some time just in case you were wondering about what I need in a car.

So basically what I'm saying is that there's more than just lap times. You can spend big money to buy a fast road going car, or you can spend bigger money to get a fast track car like a 911 Cup. Or you can spend little money and get a Sentra.

As far as M3 owners getting mad that the Elise is faster at a given track, why should they be? They bought a GT car knowing the compromises (or being blind to them) they were making in order to have a comfortable daily driver type vehicle. The base model 911s also make this compromise! Though maybe they are a little upset that the Elise is so much faster at Barber.

The M3 CSL is a Euro only car is it not?

 

[KLM]

In Arkansas, it is Dodge pickups (HEMI's of course).

They do not know what this car is down here!

 

[Palting]

Hi Mick,
Yes, the Exige performs very well at Hethel (it is the Lotus test track after all), but Hethel is still not something like Willow Springs, where much time is spent in higher gears.

I just make this comment about Elise lap times for people who think the Elise is in the same speed class as cars costing more than double like the 911 GT3 or high hp cars like the Z06. Those cars may be heavy and lacking some of the tactile sensitivity to make driving enjoyable, but they are still faster at larger tracks than the Elise. The GT3 is probably faster on certain autox courses too. Did you notice that Evo VIII MR FQ320 lap time? $30k! BTW, take a look at the Autocar article:

<img src = "http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=82956"/>

The Elise is very quick in the corners and seems to have adequate power, but it won't be a real monster until the 250hp kit comes out. I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with the base car (no LSS) for quite some time just in case you were wondering about what I need in a car.

So basically what I'm saying is that there's more than just lap times. You can spend big money to buy a fast road going car, or you can spend bigger money to get a fast track car like a 911 Cup. Or you can spend little money and get a Sentra.

As far as M3 owners getting mad that the Elise is faster at a given track, why should they be? They bought a GT car knowing the compromises (or being blind to them) they were making in order to have a comfortable daily driver type vehicle. The base model 911s also make this compromise! Though maybe they are a little upset that the Elise is so much faster at Barber.

Thanks for this post. Excellent to know the numbers. One point for the Caterham in my pro-con list as I wait for my turn on the waiting list.

What 250 HP kit? From Lotus or aftermarket?

 

[Vantage]

Derek,
Yes, you are correct. I don't imagine it would be too difficult to make take a U.S. M3 and make it as sorted as the CSL suspension wise. If you take a look at roadfly's M3 board, you'll see what I mean.

Palting,
I was referring to the 250hp Lotus kit rumor in this thread: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/sho...=6520&perpage=20&highlight=250hp&pagenumber=1

 

[MikeAR303]

In Arkansas, it is Dodge pickups (HEMI's of course).

They do not know what this car is down here!

DAMN, THAT THAR SURE IS ONE FANCY SHEEP!

I GOTTA GIT ME ONE A THEM.

 

[shay2nak]

... are M3 owners... without jumping to conclusions, it seems like M3 pilots feel that they have something to prove now that the Elise is around. thoughts?

that's true for me. I was going to buy an e46 m3 before i found out about the elise. the elise made me realize how overpriced the M3 is.