alex wrote: I don't know from Honda/Toyota, so suffice it to say that a proven Japanese powertrain (it's a 'Yota box, too, I assume?) is indeed a selling point.
Don't know about the box, can't remember. But it's the same motor that we got over here in the Celica GTS/Matrix XRS/Corolla XRS, just with a more agressive tune to give it an extra 10 ponies.
It's a little rev-monster, that's for sure. One of my favorite modern motors. 
I've casually shopped them for a while. I've found that there a lot of cars out there that have seemingly minor damage and salvage titles.
A good friend bought one three years ago, and although he regularly autocrosses and does track days, has had no trouble whatsoever. Last summer he decided to install a supercharger, did it himself fairly easily. However, at a rainy Mosport lapping day, he spun out, hit the wall and cracked the rear clamshell. $5,000 to repair.
He loves that car with every fiber of his being.
Does that help?
It's a corolla engine. Lotus reps will openly tell you so
Grtechguy wrote: It's a corolla engine. Lotus reps will openly tell you so
Yep. Came in a lot of Corolla trims overseas.
Apparently overseas you could get a Corolla with this motor supercharged. 
ManBearSTIG wrote: The only horror story I can think of concerning an Elise is..... I don't own one.
My thoughts exactly.
and if you don't like the motor, there are companies who will convert it to a legal Honda K20(?) or some variant of same. I keep thinking I want to build a car myself, then I see an Elise, and they pretty much nailed it.
There is a super charged model available on the lotus usa website. You can also but a hardtop fro about $1,500
An Elise is about the only car I'd consider trading for right now. The wife likes them, and it might possibly fit in our garage behind the TR6. The only thing that stops me is the concern over expensive bodywork. In the NoVa. area, I'm lucky any day some idiot doesn't nearly (or actually) hit me. Buying one of those used would also make me nervous, but new just isn't happening.
If I ever get to drive one at an autocross, something tells me it's a near certainty I'll buy one somehow.
a buddy is infatuated with them, and has found MANY sub 20k ones locally at dealers (trade ins, etc) in the middle of winter (chicago)
they dont ever last long, and disapear never to be heard from again.
http://www.lotustalk.com/
Tons of info.
When I was looking no major problems to report other then it having no possibility of being a daily driver. Sector 11 makes a better oil pickup tube. With inspection I would have no trouble buying a salvage car for the track even with clam damage, but with the understanding that I could never sell it. In fact I could see a salvage car as a street car if bought cheap enough.
Get one with the cup holder. I'm going to buy an Elise, (or an older 911) after I graduate.
And would it really be that much of a stretch to daily drive an Elise? Most of us already, (or have done previously) pilot old, stripped-out, stiffly-sprung, noisy sportscars everyday, anyway.
I would hesitate to track an elise because of the whole " if you dent it throw it away" thing. As a back road corner carver, road rally, awesome mobile though it looks total awesome.
In my mind the elise is like some sort of love child between a miata and mr2 that was fed pure steroids as a child and was honed since birth to become some sort of uber athlete.
wearymicrobe wrote: When I was looking no major problems to report other then it having no possibility of being a daily driver. Sector 11 makes a better oil pickup tube. With inspection I would have no trouble buying a salvage car for the track even with clam damage, but with the understanding that I could never sell it. In fact I could see a salvage car as a street car if bought cheap enough.
I guess it depends where you are and how blind the other drivers are but I regularly see S2s and a fair few S1s being used as daily drivers. Mind you, if you regularly transport fair maidens with a liking for miniskirts, they might not appreciate how they have to climb out of it. S2s again are better for that though, I haven't found an elegant way to leave my S1 yet.
Clam damage isn't really that much of a problem (aside from the cost). They're not that hard to change, either. The trouble, as mentioned before, is ensuring that it is only clam damage.
Clam damage. I'm giggling. Thinking of punk bands and lady's naughty bits.
wbjones wrote:Dr. Hess wrote: Not with a passenger in it also.well maybe, if the passenger liked the dog REALLY well
If I can ride for 5 hours with a standard poodle in my lap in a Miata, you can take a dog along in an Elise, passenger or no passenger. 
The only horror story for us Canucks is the price of used ones compared here compared to US prices. And the Elise is the only car specifically excluded from the harmonization of laws that occurred last year to make it easier to bring vehicles north.
Used Elises seem to be in the $40k to $50k range, still. I will own one someday (unless my wife beats me to a purchase
Luke wrote:
that cup holder doesnt hold anything! I tried to put a 20 oz. Mountain Dew in one, doesnt fit, nothing does...
Looks like it might hold a slim Red Bull can. Maybe the Lotus people didn't want drivers throwing off their perfect weight distribution with jumbo Cokes and Starbucks coffees .
Danger to Mini Skirts, Clam damage, and "torture toy" cup holders. Not what I expected when opening this thread.
ZOO wrote: The only horror story for us Canucks is the price of used ones compared here compared to US prices. And the Elise is the only car specifically excluded from the harmonization of laws that occurred last year to make it easier to bring vehicles north. Used Elises seem to be in the $40k to $50k range, still. I will own one someday (unless my wife beats me to a purchase
^ True that! One of the "absolute" dream cars for both my wife and I. As I was reading this thread with her last night...we went back to the RIV.CA website to find that it was STILL impossible to import one.
heres a burnt orange Elise for $32,500...
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1555004561.html
I would have no problems daily driving one of these things.... all year.
I see Coreys next band being called Clam Damage
I want one! The problem with the motor is indeed an oiling issue. A buddy raced a Corolla a couple of years ago with this motor in SSC, and basically went through a motor a race. The problem is severe and more common in the Corolla than the Celica or Lotus. The reason is the center of gravity. Also, the Lotus I believe has an Accusump standard where he couldn't use one at the time, since corrected by SCCA.
With a lower CG and Accusump, this problem is almost non-existent in the Lotus.
My favorite car by far!
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