Crazypaul, actually no, when a Elise is ordered...they have a list of options, seriously...you can go Rover 1.8L cyl, or Toyota, etc, and apparently a Toyota is popular, its better!!
i have no idea about that Pontiac...
The Elise might just be the car that offers more fun per pound than any other ever built. ‘Just add lightness,’ was Colin Chapman’s famous maxim, and that’s exactly what Lotus did with the Elise. Quite possibly the best-handling car ever made, the Elise redefines the term agility and also offers surprising economy. During four years of production, there was a bewildering array of Series 1 Elises – all of which are great to drive and are just as capable on a track around town.
Unless you’ve piloted a highly-focused driver’s car before, you’re guaranteed
to have your socks blown off by the experience that the Elise offers. Thanks
to its mid-mounted engine, the car is beautifully balanced, with its light steering verging on the telepathic. While most modern sportscars tend to have controls that are overdamped, the Elise
is a tactile delight that connects the driver directly to the road.
There are several keys to the Elise’s astonishing abilities, but the most important one is the low weight. The
core of the car is a chassis that consists of several aluminium extrusions, bonded and riveted together. The result of all this technology is a frame that weighs all of 70kg – and the whole vehicle is little more than 700kg as a result. That’s around
35 per cent less than an MGF, a car with which the Elise shares the 1.8-litre
K-series engine.
The whole point of this Lotus is the driving experience that it offers – try carrying people or luggage in the car and it will fall at the first hurdle. But there
is only so much you can say about the driving experience, and no words will ever be a substitute for getting behind the wheel. That’s why you need to try one out before attempting to establish whether the car is for you or not.
There’s a downside to the raw excitement that the Elise offers though, and that’s a lack of comfort on long journeys. Compared with a Seven it’s a revelation, but unless your previous toy was a pre-war car you’re going to find this model noisy and pretty uncompromising.
if i had 15 grand spare (in NZ) id buy one RIGHT NOW...and just make sure Id have a small wagon for daily use and my dogs...
the Elise can do faster laps than a Ferrari V12 on track! why? its SOOO good handling, you can brake REALLY late (or none at all) and/or slam the pedal back on SOON in the corners while half-sliding...but its not out of control...i mean you're talking a small 1.6 /1.8/2.0 Litre 4 cly(turbo) against an almost 6LV12...
Ferraris and etc are so damn expensive it's probably also explains why, nervousness of driving an ultra-expensive sports car on the track...F1 drivers in their race machines are a different thing altogether, they are paid to drive to WIN races...expenses paid...
