Joined
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879 Posts
..So I'm no longer the FNG!
I've managed just over 4000 miles in my first month with the Elise. Yeah, I had better things to do, but it's pretty difficult to pull me away from this thing. It has been the antithesis of my 1966 Jaguar E-type. The E-type tends to attract old men, the Lotus attracts children (heck, if Lotus made vans, pedophiles would be beside themselves).
Chrome Orange was a bold step for me, I generally prefer to keep a low profile. The downside is that I've been pulled over three times (never cited, but the plates haven't arrived so there's an excuse for an investigation). As usual LAPD is rude, condescending and a bit miffed hat they had nothing on me when they ran my ID - I was probably detained for over 10 minutes. Pasadena PD was cheery, curious and very quick. When I told the CHP in Carmel that I paid 28.9K, the officer apparently thought I said 289K! Young kid, 25-ish. Nice though, we chatted afterwards waiting in line at a convenience store.
I've had quite a few genuinely original comments, the best by far while waiting for a light on Colorado Blvd. "Pop a Wheelie!" shouted the man on the corner. Passing by a group of college kids in San Luis Obispo, a guy yelled "Shoulda got a Viper!" as I went by. Glad I didn't, I thought to myself. To my surprise most people think it's a six figure car, and I rarely disappoint them with the truth. I've had people think its a Gallardo (and this is in Los Angeles!) and one kid ask me if it was a McLaren F1. I could almost understand it if I were driving an Exige with the roof scoop and all... I jut told him no, I was $950,000 short that week, so I bought the Lotus.
Chicks dig it! Then again, chicks dig me. but you never would have known it in the Jag. My dearest Susan LOVES the Lotus, even in 400 mile doses - even after I spun it anic: on cold tires (with her in it) the night we got it.
I've recently discovered that the exhaust system is the Quicksilver stainless, a rather raucous and occasionally fatiguing sounding thing that sends a chill everytime I go through a tunnel or under a long overpass on the second cam. Suddenly I'm Eddie Irvine in Monaco!
I've installed AD07s and cheap EBC Ultimax brake pads, and I haven't heard heard a squeak out of either of them.
On the downside, I took a rather large rock on Angeles Crest a few weeks ago, well beyond Newcomb's Ranch, chipping the left turn signal lens, which is now on order through lotusgarage.com. BTW, skiers in large numbers LOVE the Elise. :up::up::up::up::up::up: Then again, maybe those weren't thumbs.
I got in the Jaguar E-type last week and it was like diving a boat with that 9 feet of bonnet sticking out in front of me, and roughly same day service from the steering and brakes. I have fallen out of love for the first time ever.
I've managed just over 4000 miles in my first month with the Elise. Yeah, I had better things to do, but it's pretty difficult to pull me away from this thing. It has been the antithesis of my 1966 Jaguar E-type. The E-type tends to attract old men, the Lotus attracts children (heck, if Lotus made vans, pedophiles would be beside themselves).
Chrome Orange was a bold step for me, I generally prefer to keep a low profile. The downside is that I've been pulled over three times (never cited, but the plates haven't arrived so there's an excuse for an investigation). As usual LAPD is rude, condescending and a bit miffed hat they had nothing on me when they ran my ID - I was probably detained for over 10 minutes. Pasadena PD was cheery, curious and very quick. When I told the CHP in Carmel that I paid 28.9K, the officer apparently thought I said 289K! Young kid, 25-ish. Nice though, we chatted afterwards waiting in line at a convenience store.
I've had quite a few genuinely original comments, the best by far while waiting for a light on Colorado Blvd. "Pop a Wheelie!" shouted the man on the corner. Passing by a group of college kids in San Luis Obispo, a guy yelled "Shoulda got a Viper!" as I went by. Glad I didn't, I thought to myself. To my surprise most people think it's a six figure car, and I rarely disappoint them with the truth. I've had people think its a Gallardo (and this is in Los Angeles!) and one kid ask me if it was a McLaren F1. I could almost understand it if I were driving an Exige with the roof scoop and all... I jut told him no, I was $950,000 short that week, so I bought the Lotus.
Chicks dig it! Then again, chicks dig me.
but you never would have known it in the Jag. My dearest Susan LOVES the Lotus, even in 400 mile doses - even after I spun it anic: on cold tires (with her in it) the night we got it.I've recently discovered that the exhaust system is the Quicksilver stainless, a rather raucous and occasionally fatiguing sounding thing that sends a chill everytime I go through a tunnel or under a long overpass on the second cam. Suddenly I'm Eddie Irvine in Monaco!
I've installed AD07s and cheap EBC Ultimax brake pads, and I haven't heard heard a squeak out of either of them.
On the downside, I took a rather large rock on Angeles Crest a few weeks ago, well beyond Newcomb's Ranch, chipping the left turn signal lens, which is now on order through lotusgarage.com. BTW, skiers in large numbers LOVE the Elise. :up::up::up::up::up::up: Then again, maybe those weren't thumbs.
I got in the Jaguar E-type last week and it was like diving a boat with that 9 feet of bonnet sticking out in front of me, and roughly same day service from the steering and brakes. I have fallen out of love for the first time ever.
