Wouldn't worry about the lack of power steering. Currently own a mid-engine car that has a good 800lbs on the Elise w/o ps. It's fine. The Euro was fine as well, even did a 180 at parking lot speeds, the light weight make it easy & lower profile tire help. My test drive was with the top off. More so if you get the touring package- more sound insulation, doubt noise would be much of a issue. Even with the top off it was much quite then my MR2 with the t-tops off.
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The Elise is the polar opposite of your H2. This car is completely uncompromising. Don't expect Porsche comfort. Loud? Yep. Small? Very. Tasty? Indeed!!!!
The steering is no problem. The brakes are probably going to be the biggest input device that'll shock you. The pedal effort will be higher than most people are used to. I'm guessing the servo assist will help.
The demos cars will become available in April. You'll get a good chance to decide if the car is suitable to your needs.
Until, then stay on the list. It is going to be a very special car. In whatever color you choose!
The steering is no problem. The brakes are probably going to be the biggest input device that'll shock you. The pedal effort will be higher than most people are used to. I'm guessing the servo assist will help.
The demos cars will become available in April. You'll get a good chance to decide if the car is suitable to your needs.
Until, then stay on the list. It is going to be a very special car. In whatever color you choose!
What they said.
Steering is a non-issue. It will be fine. I ran my car with 225s racing tires on the front, and that was something you could feel in a tight parking lot. But 175 or 195 tires on the Elise felt fine on my test drive.
Most noise that bothers people, specially on off road type cars, is from the tires. Off road knobbies of certain designs are very bad. The Elise will barely be noticeable.
Second source of noise is the wind buffeting the car. Not an issue on the Elise.
What you will hear is two things. Engine exhaust, and it's right behind your head. The second may be intake, because you are so close to it. These are two sounds I do not mind. They are not irritating to me, like tire or wind noise.
Steering is a non-issue. It will be fine. I ran my car with 225s racing tires on the front, and that was something you could feel in a tight parking lot.
But 175 or 195 tires on the Elise felt fine on my test drive.Most noise that bothers people, specially on off road type cars, is from the tires. Off road knobbies of certain designs are very bad. The Elise will barely be noticeable.
Second source of noise is the wind buffeting the car. Not an issue on the Elise.
What you will hear is two things. Engine exhaust, and it's right behind your head. The second may be intake, because you are so close to it. These are two sounds I do not mind. They are not irritating to me, like tire or wind noise.
One big plus of a mid-engine car is having the motor right behind you, just firing it up can bring a smile to my face. Driving takes
it a whole other level... sorry mild case of cabin fever (only one fun run the last two months).
it a whole other level... sorry mild case of cabin fever
(only one fun run the last two months).You should have someone follow you in the Elise with the H2 while they talk on a cell phone to get an idea of how safe being on the road near one makes other people feelLOTUdaGround said:
I'm just curious about the first time I pass a tractor-trailer on the highway. Gonna be 'interesting' to look up at that. Could probably drive under it, 'fast and furious' style. And get squashed ala 'fast and furious 2' style.
I surprise enough truck drivers already with my miata. Speaking of which, have any of you experienced truck drivers attempting intimidation tactics? They like to see how close they can drive to my bumper occasionally in heavy traffic. I usually just make a point of driving slow if they start playing that game.
(Ok, I admit, I watched it! But it was at a friends house, and I didn't like it! I'm sorry... whimper... forgive me... for I have sinned. I watched the bling bling.)
Cade
I blame my parents. Say no to bling.
I surprise enough truck drivers already with my miata. Speaking of which, have any of you experienced truck drivers attempting intimidation tactics? They like to see how close they can drive to my bumper occasionally in heavy traffic. I usually just make a point of driving slow if they start playing that game.
(Ok, I admit, I watched it! But it was at a friends house, and I didn't like it! I'm sorry... whimper... forgive me... for I have sinned. I watched the bling bling.)
Cade
I blame my parents. Say no to bling.
Just curious.. Why are you worried about noise? That hummer H2 is going to be louder than the Elise just from the stock tires on that gas guzzling hog
I've never experienced a professional truck driver acting like that...almost all of the ones I see are driving very responsibly, actually. However, I see that behaviour in pickups and SUVs quite often. They're usually rewarded with a moment of panic as I briefly tap the brakes to avoid the purple rabbits that suddenly jump in front of the car in those situations, and they are forced to brake hard to avoid hitting me.MotorCade said:
Funny stuff at the anti-Hummer site. I am no fan of SUVs of any sort. But the people who put up the anti-H2 site present only simplistic arguments, and are missing the real point: That drivers who lack confidence gravitate toward SUVs for a sense of security, and that once cocooned in the SUV, they become even WORSE drivers (so lulled by a false sense of security), and then mishandle vehicles that should actually be handled with extreme care.Derek said:
Mini-vans haul people more efficiently and certainly more safely. They were designed expressly to be people-movers.
Trucks haul objects better.
Whatever happened to station wagons? I hope they become cool again.
"Feeling safe has become more important than actually being safe..." -- that's the conundrum of SUV design, as expressed by an article I recently read.
Here's another great point from the same article, apropos to the Elise: "For years we made fun of the family man who trades in his sedate sedan for a shiny red sports car. That's called a midlife crisis. But at least it involves some degree of engagement with the act of driving. The man who gives up his sedate family sedan for an SUV is saying something far more troubling: That he finds the demands of the road to be overwhelming."
Luckily, cars like the Elise -- because they give you SOO much road feedback, and because they force you to pay SOO much attention to the driving at hand, and because they give you the power, brakes and handling to react to danger -- are actually suprisingly safe.
Unless, you get hit by an SUV, of course.
They are cool again. That is exactly why they are not popular.JonM3Coupe said:
Once things become popular, they no longer are cool....
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