How did YOU find out about the Elise?

4 years ago, I was thinking of selling my sportscar, the MR2. Wanted to try something new. I wanted light, midengined, faster than the naturally aspirated car I had. Something with a reliable drivetrain.

I did some research, looked at some kit cars... read some more. Decided I really like the S1 Exige or Motorsports Elise and with a Honda motor, it would be perfect. I also called Sun International and starting researching what it would take to get one street legal, my main concern. Cost would be $45-55k.

Within a month of that, I heard rumors SOMEWHERE that Lotus was thinking of bringing the newer Elise to USA. Hmm.... more research. A street legal car would be much better. It could be stock classed in SCCA. Less worry about registration problems. Heck... a warranty. I decided I would do this instead.

Went up to the LA AutoShow to make sure I would be happy fitting in the car... I think this was January 2001 or 2002. Told Symbolic to put me on the list the next day. The car was formally announced a year later and deposits were taken. I then started EliseTalk.

As I indicated in another post, I have been waiting for this car since August 1961, when I fell in love with the Lotus Elite on the cover of Sports Car Graphic. I had to have a SMALL, light, racing performance Lotus road car from that moment on. I'll spare you the in between history of my cars, but was unable to find either a used Elite or an Elan 26R in the intervening years that I could afford. In December 1993 I caught a brief write up in Autocar about the concept under development (during Bugatti days), with a sketch and target specs of mid-engined, ultra-light weight producing 300 bhp/ton, 0-60 of 5 sec. and top speed of 140+ mph. I started a binder at that point. Then saw a photo of the test mule in February 1995 and have been drooling, increasingly impatiently, ever since. After many promises that never materialized I became cynical and did not put a deposit down until November 2003, when I finally believed it would come. My binder of articles is now two volumes. Still waiting.

I heard the Elise was coming to the US back in 2002. I knew about it before then just because of the internet. Finally saw one, then put down a deposit in fall 2003. This was my first sight of an Elise in person. How could I resist? :bow:




I after that time I saw two other Elises'. Man, I just need one.

I was instructing a student at Thunderhill SCCA's beautiful track in northern Cal. He had an Integra R but was having an Elise built at the time by SUN int.(honda engined track only car) it sounded great but I wanted to be able to enjoy the car legally on the road as well..
The next year I was at the track with my RS4 clone(pretty fast but heavy) and was passing everything out there including some pretty heavy hitters(F355, Turbo cpe, etc.)but my old student in his new Elise track car was out braking me and literally destroying me in the twisties, I could pull him in the straights but he could go into the corners deeper and pass me. I would literally watch him pull me by a car length in a short turn (very frustrating!). I was a fan of light cars having a dedicated 83 urQuattro track car(roll cage, Goodyear Eagles,etc.) So I was quite intrigued when I heard that the car was coming to the states.
I must say that if Lotus had brought the car here with the Rover engine I wouldn't have even thought about it. A Yamaha Engineered Toyota engine, Oh Yeah!!
I went to the local Lotus dealer a bit late in the game approx 4mos ago but was able to come up with a relatively early car..
Laser Blue LSS only #8

I went to the LA auto show in January of '03 and stumbled upon the Lotus display. I didn't know anything about the Elise prior to that even though I read auto magazines all the time. It was love at first sight!
I owned a Porsche 914-6 for 8 years, loved that car and really miss it. I sold it to buy an '89 944 Turbo which I had been driving for 14 years. That was a great car, but I really was looking for something new and different. The Elise reminded me of my 914 (especially in chrome orange!). I put down a deposit the next week!
Then I had a bug up my "you know" that the Porsche had to go and I just couldn't wait. So I bought a 2002 Z06 with 2000 miles on it for a great price (at the time). It is a great car, but I just can't get the Elise out of my mind.
I had a trip planned to England this past April so I worked out a factory tour and a track day! Well now after reading everything I can about the Elise for a year and a half, lurking on the Forums, touring the factory, driving this incredible car on the track, I just must have it!
I will miss the Z06 though! Or maybe I'll keep both!?!?

Although I have seen pics and have read about the S1 Elise in the past, since it wasnt sold here I didnt pay much attention to it although I was intrigued. But when I saw Sam Mitani's article on the Lotus Elise in the fall of 03' in R and T(ok, so Im late to the game) and read his description of the Elise, the wheels started to turn as I was starting to do research on how much my M3 would fetch. I was down to the Elise and the rumored NSX(HSC) but the new NSX got scrapped. All last yr, I was slapping on coilovers, putting on strut tower braces and buying SSR wheels with PSC's but when it came down to it, I didnt care about practical/civilised and ultimately wanted a pure light agile car that would do well at the track or for weekend fun. I realized that the M3 was a pig when I drove my friends Boxster S. I wanted to be faster on the track but it took me awhile to realize that skill prevails over equipment. It was an 01 but when I sold it last month it had only 6900 miles on it. Needless to say, it was easy to sell.

I was so mad at myself cause I got sidetracked by the whole Tonkin ordeal in Portland and didnt get myself on the list fast enough somewhere else. Hence I got on the list in Palm Springs area not too long ago at #48.... I will genuinely try to improve as a driver over the next few yrs as i will buy a go kart to hone my skills this summer to prepare for the Elise that will come next yr.

There was a dealer a few miles away from me and they had some Elans back in 1991. I couldnt afford one at the time (40K), but about 3 years later they had some used ones for sale for about 20K, but a Mercury Capri looked too much like it and was half the price. Also, I had heard in some car magazines that Lotus was going to be coming out with a newer model that would be about 25K, so I figured its worth it to wait and get a new car for 5K more instead of used 3 year old out of date model. I asked about the Elise back around 1994 but the dealer didnt have any info. I then heard that they were available in Europe but not over here.

I moved to Florida and saw that there was a Lotus dealership a few miles away from me. I thought they were all over the country at the time. I checked their website around April 03 since I saw that they had some nice sports cars in their lot and I wanted to get something that I could enjoy since the weather here is nice. I then looked at their link to the Lotus site and saw that the Elise was going to be offerred. I went to the dealership they took my name down, and called me a few weeks later and told me they were taking deposits. I procrastinated for about a month since no engine, transmission or other information was availalble and then left them a deposit in August after I heard it would have a 5 or 6 speed, (I hate automatics) possible Toyota or Honda engine (ok they arent putting a Isuzu engine in them again) and about 190-200 horsepower (Tim "toolman" Taylor more power grunt).