Boxster vs Elise

[rob76turbo]

Has anyone made the plunge: Boxster to Elise or visa versa? I know that I just did A LOT of work to my car and the car is a lot better for it....but in looking at the Lotus Elise, the 2005 / 2006 models fits in my budget (23-27K). Hmmmmm.......

You know...this is what I usually do, get a car to where it is really about perfect and sell it.......I do this all the time!! Somebody talk me out of it before I test an Elise in the next couple of weeks

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by rob76turbo

Has anyone made the plunge: Boxster to Elise or visa versa? I know that I just did A LOT of work to my car and the car is a lot better for it....but in looking at the Lotus Elise, the 2005 / 2006 models fits in my budget (23-27K). Hmmmmm.......

You know...this is what I usually do, get a car to where it is really about perfect and sell it.......I do this all the time!! Somebody talk me out of it before I test an Elise in the next couple of weeks

You should test drive it. It's not a car that most people would be willing to live with on a day to day basis, but fits the needs for some.

[rob76turbo]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

You should test drive it. It's not a car that most people would be willing to live with on a day to day basis, but fits the needs for some.

I hear you! I really do not need a daily driver, as my commute is home to the airport and back and my wife usually takes me. I run around a bit, errands and the like, but try to do 6+ track events per year.

No doubt I am gonna try one. Who knows....maybe I will hate it!

[Anim]

I looked into the Elise / Exige before getting my Boxster. There are pro's and cons to each but here is what I found before choosing the Boxster.

Elise Pro's

• It feels much quicker than the Boxster, even 30 mph can feel fun
• Looks stunning
• Cheaper to maintain
• Its a no frills drivers car

Elise Cons

• Has little to offer past 70 mph
• Very woman unfriendly to get in/out of due to side chassis strut
• It's a rough ride
• Its more like a go kart in a posh jacket
• Not great on motorways, very noisy.

Personally I would still get an Elise as it just looks like a mad fun car but after a year or so I might start missing the more luxury drive offered by the Boxster.

Anim

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by Anim

I looked into the Elise / Exige before getting my Boxster. There are pro's and cons to each but here is what I found before choosing the Boxster.

Elise Pro's

• It feels much quicker than the Boxster, even 30 mph can feel fun
• Looks stunning
• Cheaper to maintain
• Its a no frills drivers car

Elise Cons

• Has little to offer past 70 mph
• Very woman unfriendly to get in/out of due to side chassis strut
• It's a rough ride
• Its more like a go kart in a posh jacket
• Not great on motorways, very noisy.

Personally I would still get an Elise as it just looks like a mad fun car but after a year or so I might start missing the more luxury drive offered by the Boxster.

Anim

It's the closest thing to driving my formula ford I've ever sat in.

[tnoice]

Amazing, I had the exact same debate before I bought the Boxster. It was the boxster vs the elise. Topgear did a great comparison of the elise vs a mustang. You can youtube it. They absolutely love the elise.

[Quickurt]

If I wanted a track car, I'd own the Lotus.
It is also possibly the most dangerous car made to drive on the street.
Look closely at how the car is built and tell me you would take your wife in it and drive on city streets with morons in SUVs.
One of my best friends from SCCA racing has one, but he lives in the backwoods of NC, very near the Tail of the Dragon and NEVER takes the car into a city, for the same reason.
Trailer it to the track and have a BLAST!!!!
If you want, I can give you his email addy. He has owned lots of cars and will give you his honest opinion of it, but I know he LOVES the car.
Chuck won several regional championships in Formula Continental.

[RandallNeighbour]

I just saw and Elise at the car show this week and told my buddy that if I could afford to go to the track regularly, I'd own an elise. Toyota motor reliability, perfect handling, and so forth.

The contortions required to get in it and out of it make it a deal killer as a car for use for any other purpose beyond the track (in my opinion and for my lifestyle and girth).

You may not find getting in it or crawling out of it a problem. Your passengers will though... that's for sure.