[heatmiser]

Based on the STICKY color poll, I am surprised at how few people are ordering Starlight Black. I know that the silver cars would be the most popular but figured black would be up right up there as well. Instead, black seems to be close to the last color chosen on the lists (next to Aztec Bronze). Why is this?

 

[Donovan]

I am leaning towards it but a couple of reasons keep me on the fence.

-their metallic seems to have alot of brownish flake compared to silverish flake so it gives a slightly dirty look to it. Wish they had a jet black.

-black is super hard to take care of.

-alot of people want some contrast to all the black plastic vents on the Elise.

 

[heatmiser]

Black is definitely much more difficult to keep looking clean than other colors like red & silver. However, the Elise is so small I bet you could wash the car in less than 1/2 the time it takes to clean standard cars (1/4 time for SUVs).

I was concerned about Starlight Black looking dirty with the gold flakes but saw it in person at Symbolic and it looked spectacular! You couldn't really see the metallic flakes until you got real close. It reminds me of the BMW's Black Sapphire Metallic paint.

Black sports cars look mean and menacing. IMO the Elise looks somewhat toy-like but in black it looks more sporty...

 

[John Stimson]

Black doesn't just show dirt, it shows scratches and stone chips too. It looks great when it's new, but doesn't seem to age well. I was also told by the salesman that the cockpit of the Elise gets really hot even with the roof off...and this was when they had the silver demo car!

My previous two cars were dark colored, and I've had enough of that for a while.

 

[espritv8]

we ordered the starlight black, with std black interior, and the hardtop.

IMO, black is one of the classic sports car colors. it doesn't scream "look at me" like the reds and yellows (which the elise looks great in). plus it does add a serious look to this car, and i like that the black venting areas blend into the body color better.

hard to keep clean? you bet. but very worth it IMO. our will not be a daily driver, so she'll always be babied.

also, sports & specialist cars, in princeton, has an esprit in the starlight black. lotus does an excellent job with the black metallic, and all their metallics for that matter. if you saw it, you'd love it too!

i too agree with heatmiser, as to why so few have ordered the black. maybe the heat factor? maybe some people think the elise needs to stand out? dunno, one thing is for certain, everyone will be happy with their elise, in any color!

 

[zvezdah1]

I personally didn't really like the starlight black when I saw one of the test cars last Sept. It kind of looked "dusty" in that it really didn't appear to have any depth like regular solid colors. Just a personal preference, as I did see one at LOA couple weeks ago, basically I'd take any color elise, with the possible exception of aztec bronze.
Chris

 

[huggy bear]

I saw and blk/blk Fed Elise delivered last week. The Elise doesn't look so good in black. It looked flat and with the black interior made it look even flatter. There wasn't much contrast. If the interior was red and the soft top was red that would bring some contrast out and would look great. Asstec bronze has to be the fugliest colot Lotus offers and IMO white is not too far behind.

 

[maxxfish]

I'm on the list for a black Elise. I've always owned black cars, and everytime I'm washing them, I tell myself that I will never buy another one! But they look so damn good.

I for one DO NOT want to bring attention to myself.
Flashy sports car = mid-life crisis

If you're concerned with the brownish tint of the metallic, check out the WRX STi in black. It looks great. I believe they call it Mocha. Good descriptive.

Lastly, I think that the contrasting black trim on the bright cars looks a bit "ricey." No offense to anyone, just my opinion. Max

 

[zvezdah1]

I for one DO NOT want to bring attention to myself.
Flashy sports car = mid-life crisis

Maxx,
You haven't learned by now the ELISE IN ANY COLOR IS A MID LIFE CRISIS.

It absolutely doesn't matter what color you get, the car screams attention.
Chris
his elise is red and screams midlife crisis even louder.

 

[maxxfish]

...

 

[maxxfish]

Hey Chris,

You're absolutely right! Am I already having a mid-life crisis?!!! But I'm only 31...

 

[Sownman]

I wouldn't drive any car this small in any color that fails to scream LOOK AT ME. I'll take my chances with the cop who notices me rather than the Escalade who doesn't.

Your milage may vary

Steve

 

[LotusLust]

the only crisis is that midlife will be past by the time i get a car!
DOOMED

 

[TripleBlack_NJ]

I if the black they offered was a non-metallic black and was a no-cost color like the red & yellow it would be more popular.

I love black cars and metallic black is a turn-off for me, but I'm getting it anyway.

 

[scot]

I have had black, and would own it again if I havent had two black cars, and my girlfriend having a black car. Black gives large body panels a look that you cant get with any other color. Its almost as if you could dive in. It hides weird cuts or bulges, yet shines like the dickens when polished.

Of course the elise has immaculate design on a small car with no large body panels. Personally I like the contrast of colors, and its going to be REALLY hard to pick a color. Blue, yellow, orange or BRG are my favorites. I know, the easy answer is buy one of each color! (I keep waking up from the dream where I have the $$$ to do that darn it...)

Scot

 

[Jag89]

Dimmitt in Clearwater, FL received a Black Elise last night. I went to look at it today and was impressed! It looks great!! Of course I haven't seen it in a color that I don't like. It's just which color do you want to look at every day?! I couldn't get any good pics as it was in the shop getting prepped.

 

[Need4Speed]

All the hours in my life back not having to clean it...

 

[OriginalBlackCi]

I also saw black today at Fox Valley. It was a customer car and looked absolutely amazing. I thought, like many others, that black would hide some of the nuances of the car but it does not whatsoever. Obviously the vents don't stand out as much as if they were on a Ardent Red or Saffron Yellow car but the dark color doesn't detract from it at all. It somehow looks like a different kind of car, rather than being a flashy exotic (like I ordered) it looks mean and sleek. The pictures on the net don't do that color justice (just like any other color). I think everyone should take a look at it in the sunlight before making any decisions on whether its a good color or not. Like it's been said, this car looks AWESOME in any color........except Aztec Bronze.

 

[jtanner]

I agree with what Donovan said--the black has a lot of brown in it. In bright sunlight, it looks more like metallic brown than black.

Jim

 

[CAErven]

Even the smallest amount of pollen, dust, ANYTHING makes black look like CRAP and the better the wax job and more detailed it is, the FASTER it looks like ****. No argument it is spectacular when dust-free, but when is that? My last car was black but never again.

Black is for the limo with the chauffer who dusts it while your at your appointment - why do you think they picked that color? To give the fricken chauffer something to do - otherwise he'd be bored. LOL