Dodge Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Elise 135R http://www.adm02.com/Lotus/static/Specification.html So I went and looked and had a drive and did catch myself grinning every now and then mid corner... But by God you were right John, where is the engine??? As for fitting my lardy frame into it, it was no problem at all, much difference to the VX220, I was full of confidence tho' as the dealer was slightly wider than me, but get both of us in the cockpit and it was a bit friendly... So maybe the result of the Elise having to pull an extra 470lbs of dead weight around did upset its feelings a little... The drive was interesting at all speeds but having to chuck the thing Into corners hoping for a little over steer and sometimes taking a handful only to be rewarded with a dull exhaust note as the engine caught up, felt a lot like MK2 Escort Popular I once spent a summer in! Although the Elise would probably be great on the track, on the road the Fast in Fast round and nothing out rewards for driving a road legal Kart wasn't very inspiring, in fact Fast in and round and hope it doesn't lose traction cause it's gona shave at least 10 mph on the exit was very disappointing!!! Anyhow, would I even think of getting one, no! Nor will I understand Why anyone else would, at £28k I can not imagine? Lets face it, without the beautiful Coke Bottle styling and Supercar sitting position there really isn't much there that you couldn’t achieve with a Mini, well a 2nd hand Mini, an angle grinder and £10k worth of add-ons but it would be a dam site cheaper than a new Elise and would probably produce a longer drawn out satisfying grin... So Lotus is only making 100 of this model, which doesn’t mean a lot to me, I’m looking for a driving experience not a resale value!!! Lotus I have much respect and in fact the Elise also, it sure can go round corners too but apart from that, hhhummm Out of 10...... 3! Sorry Lotus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted May 22, 2003 Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 Charger, Elise Chalk, cheese bit of a shame as I was expecting this version to be nicer than the std one I test drove - felt quick off the line but not particularly quick afterwards (and just plain bloody noisy) so Dodge - did it feel quick - I mean 0-60 in 5.3secs sounds bloody quick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted May 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 I dunno, maybe because it's so stable you don't notice it's speed, it might pull fast to 60 but not past it I was really surprised at it's lack of power, maybe I was expecting more? Every opportunity I got my foot was always pressing the accelerator hard to the floor! It kind of felt embarrassing the fact that you could hurtle round corners faster than anything else around you but as quick as you got the advantage you lost it on the straight bits!!! Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of fun driving it and I bet it’s a scream on a fast track... Like Clarkson’s recent experience after slagging the Elise off, I'm sure with the right person behind the wheel they could make it move, I suppose it's like riding a 2 stoke Sports bike, so long as you keep it well up in the rev's (always) it will fly... In fact talking about Clarkson, I think his wife drives one now.. nuff said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted May 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2003 Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... As I first quoted it was pulling an extra 470lbs of weight around so I guess that must have been a big factor i the lack of speed... I bet it's 0 - 60 count is with a 5 stone midget driving it, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 great review mate!! experienced the same thing when i went for a spin in the new (then) Elise it felt quick around corners thanks to the very direct steering, but for me the problems where 1) to small, they would have to adopt the steering, seating and gearlever for me to fit into it 2) i was used of the big turbo from the chipped S3 and the power lack in the Elise was just to enormous Roll on the VX220 turbo, if they only also made it in a non-midget version i would be a very happy man!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted November 23, 2003 Report Share Posted November 23, 2003 Nice review thanks for that. I'd go for the VX220 turbo by vauxhal which car magazine has voted car of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobrot Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 I test drove a VX220 recently and was suitably impressed if I could afford a weekend car I probably would buy one. The problem is it simply (for me) isnt a car you can use everyday I certainly wouldn't be able to pick clients up in it. Call me a snob but it lacks the car park presence of the lotus and will lose money quicker than a teretes sufferer next to a swear box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Call me a snob but it lacks the car park presence of the lotus and will lose money quicker than a teretes sufferer next to a swear box. [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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