Lotus Elise

[Chino]

I was thinking bout trading my car to get the new Lotus Elise coming out. It is a little bit more in $ than the top of the line g35, but its faster and looks more exotic. Plus there probably won't be 10,000 of them on the road within 1 year of being released. Not sure what to do, cuz I love the g35. I'll wait a year or so and see how things are. Just wanted to get people's opinion of the elise.

Thanks,
Chino

[hueman]

get one. then get me one. thanks a bunch!

i thought they were sold out already?

[Chino]

I actually have a deposit for a spot, but the car probably won't get here until.. maybe late next year. I actually wouldn't mind if it was even a little bit later. I can spend more time driving the g before trading it in. I just find it hard to justify paying $50k for a car with a toyota 4 cyc celica engine.

Chino

[hueman]

that's true... but at least you get toyota reliability?

anyway, even with that engine, the car is a monster! in the end it's about balance, i suppose. who needs all the hp when the car is that light??? i'm already scared of it with just what, 190 hp?

[misterpib]

you shouldn't be forced to pay above list. lotus frowns on that big time.

the elise is a totally difrferent animal than a g. a g is a proper touring car. it is comfortable and can be fun to drive. the elise is a frill-less go cart.

you gotta understand what you are trying to get out of a car before you make the trade.

[Braunson]

I hear there is a Two year waiting list.
Thank God you already have your name on the list.

[misterpib]

they have 2500 carscoming
here are "5000" deposits. of those lotus will be thrilledto get 3500.

cars will be out there for sale.

[Chino]

I wonder just how limited in production the lotus elise is going to be. When the g35 initially came out I thought they were going to keep production at a low level, but it seems like there are more g35s on the road than camrys. I am interested to see how things will actually turn out. If there is gonna be a lotus at every starbucks in town, count me out. I'll just save up for a maserati.

Chino

[Chino]

Maybe even better yet... buy the lotus and sell it at a premium, and use that extra cash to help towards the downpayment of a maserati.

Just imagine the possibilities maybe after selling 10 elises i can get a modena at a decent monthly payment

Chino

[misterpib]

flipping is a risky game to play.
lotus are going to make as many elises as they possibly can.
and an elise will beat a 360 on a really tight track.

[JDMan]

You're a brave man to put down a deposit (non-refundable, right?). I agonized over making the leap, but what turned me away was the report that it's an even tighter fit than a Miata. I had to modify my seat and install a smaller steering wheel just to clear enough space to be able to heel-toe in my Miata. Unless I wanted to take an impromptu vacation in the UK and convince a dealer to let me drive a car there was no chance I was buying, I knew I needed to wait to sit in a demo.

I wouldn't worry too much about Lotus overproducing them. They'd have to acquire another facility to do it (or buy time from someone else), and they aren't exactly overloaded with cash at the moment. So I wouldn't worry about seeing too many of the other 2,499 cars on the road. Think of it this way, Maserati sells about 3,500 cars per year. How many 2001-2004 model year Maseratis do you typically see driving around? Granted, there's a good chance that at any given moment they're all in for service...

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe (for sale)

[Chino]

JD Man,

Actually the only reason I was so willing to give them a $1k deposit is becuase it is actually full refundable up until they start production on your car. In addition, putting the deposit of $1k down will without a doubt allow you to get the VIP treatment and test drive the demos that are coming in approx 2 weeks from now. Those 2 demos actually go on sale about a month later, but at a huge premium I would imagine. I figure might as well put down $1k so that I can have to opportunity to purchase one in the future.

I agree with you that its crazy that the car would be smaller than a miata. Is this even possible?!

Hopefully your right about the production quantity, but then again you have to take into account that I live in LA. So out of those 2500 produced, 2000 will be driven in LA. Too much people with too much money in LA. I should probably consider a Delorean in that case (or move back to Phoenix).

Chino

[misterpib]

lotus has a massive production area left over from the esprit. look for as many as they can possibly build.

[StudlyMobile]

jd,
i too heard that the deposit is refundable. that it gets you a test drive. without it, no test.

04 6mtC, DG - possibly most babied G on the board.

[dyenboy]

2 year waiting list..so good luck if u can get one..



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