Joined
·
262 Posts
I finally saw an Elise in person for the first time and it was an outstanding experience, overall. As I live six hours from any Lotus dealership, and have been mostly overseas since deliveries began, it took me a while.
When I first saw the Elise, a black dealer demo, I was amazed at how no photograph I've ever seen does it justice in many regards. For some reason, photographs don't capture the dimensional curvaciousness of the entire car. The other factor photos don't truly capture is how small this car is, especially in the interior. It is a breathtakingly exotic car, and different than anything I've experienced both visually and in driving. I never have noticed how much more wide the rear end of the car is than the front, until in person.
As I was just hoping to "see" the Elise, I was surprised when the salesperson said, "hop in", we'll go for a drive! He drove a few blocks and he let me take over the controls. All I can say is, that it was a short, low-speed test-drive around a few city blocks, but it left me wanting more, and needing more, as it had a much different feel than my 99 Corvette, or any other car I've driven. It's smooth, and going around corners, sticks like glue with no lean. I didn't rev it high, mainly out of respect for the 300-miles only on the car, but look forward to getting it out and really seeing what it can do.
All that being said, I have to say, the small interior is really going to be a factor of ownership. I'm a "big-boned", 5-11", 220-pounds and I fit like an OJ-Simpson glove in the driver seat (except I actually fit in). Thankfully I can lose some weight before delivery next Spring, to make the fit a little less snug, but I certainly can't gain ten pounds and be comfortable in this car for sure! Additionally, two normal-sized Americans will be rubbing shoulders. The car didn't have a top on it, and I can only imagine how challenging the ingress/egress will be!
Bottom line...it's an amazingly unique car and experience and there will likely be nothing else like it on the road in our lifetimes. I'm looking forward to ownership!
Dave
When I first saw the Elise, a black dealer demo, I was amazed at how no photograph I've ever seen does it justice in many regards. For some reason, photographs don't capture the dimensional curvaciousness of the entire car. The other factor photos don't truly capture is how small this car is, especially in the interior. It is a breathtakingly exotic car, and different than anything I've experienced both visually and in driving. I never have noticed how much more wide the rear end of the car is than the front, until in person.
As I was just hoping to "see" the Elise, I was surprised when the salesperson said, "hop in", we'll go for a drive! He drove a few blocks and he let me take over the controls. All I can say is, that it was a short, low-speed test-drive around a few city blocks, but it left me wanting more, and needing more, as it had a much different feel than my 99 Corvette, or any other car I've driven. It's smooth, and going around corners, sticks like glue with no lean. I didn't rev it high, mainly out of respect for the 300-miles only on the car, but look forward to getting it out and really seeing what it can do.
All that being said, I have to say, the small interior is really going to be a factor of ownership. I'm a "big-boned", 5-11", 220-pounds and I fit like an OJ-Simpson glove in the driver seat (except I actually fit in). Thankfully I can lose some weight before delivery next Spring, to make the fit a little less snug, but I certainly can't gain ten pounds and be comfortable in this car for sure! Additionally, two normal-sized Americans will be rubbing shoulders. The car didn't have a top on it, and I can only imagine how challenging the ingress/egress will be!
Bottom line...it's an amazingly unique car and experience and there will likely be nothing else like it on the road in our lifetimes. I'm looking forward to ownership!
Dave
