Lotus???

[LorenaBeana]

So, I made the mistake of testdriving an elise on Friday. Then I realized they aren't totally outside of my financial reach. So, what d'ya'll think? Should I keep the lexus and maybe get an old stingray on the side, or should I buy an elise plus something "useful" like a truck? I'm calling the insurance company tomorrow to see what it would cost me either way.

[HAULN-SS]

i voted stingray as long as 72 and previous

[.RJ]

[Ginger]

Oh good god.

Lotus.

[BLINGMW]

Then I realized they aren't totally outside of my financial reach.

I voted lotus and truck only because that combo seems more useful than two cars. But I can't recommend using near the limit of your "financial reach" on a car just because it's possible.

Of course, if you were just trying to be modest and it's really no big deal $$-wise, then go for it! :beer:

[JackoliciousLegs]

I voted lotus and truck only because that combo seems more useful than two cars. But I can't recommend using near the limit of your "financial reach" on a car just because it's possible.

Of course, if you were just trying to be modest and it's really no big deal $$-wise, then go for it! :beer:

[Ryan T]

I agree with Chan, if it's really pushing your financial situation to get a lotus then I wouldn't do it; but if it's easily within your reach than DO IT!

[ScottyB]

I agree with Chan

[Dave]

Having a truck around comes in very handy every now and then, and if you get one with enough sack, it could serve as a tow vehicle too in the future...
If you're not stretching yourself too thin, the elise would be a fantastic car. Just make sure that you want to drive it every day. Also keep in mind any other financial goals like getting a house, paying off debt, etc. so that you won't be strapped with a big car payment 2 years from now, preventing you from getting what you want.

[.RJ]

financial goals like getting a house

Thats crazy talk.

[WRXtranceformed]

I posted up my thoughts on your Facebook note, so I won't do it again here. I did cast my vote though =)

[Evan]

stingray? *barf*

I love the elise like nothing else, and I know you have some cash to pull out of the IS, so I say go for it!

[LorenaBeana]

So after discussing this with my car buddies Ryan and Charlie, who some of the OGs know, they talked me into an older GS300 (with the 2jz, can't go wrong with that!) and the lotus. This concoction will only cost me $380/yr more than I'm already paying for just the lexus. That's not enough to talk me out of it! As for financial responsibility, I paid the lexus off in under a year (not a fan of debt), and I'm about to be making a lot more money than I have been, whenever I get a job that is. Sooo....we'll see!

[John]

LOL at this thread!

I'm not biased or anything...

[G.Irish]

John how's the maintenance on the Elise? I can't imagine there's anything too fancy about it since its just a Celica engine but I don't know if the packaging might make some jobs particularly difficult.

[John]

John how's the maintenance on the Elise? I can't imagine there's anything too fancy about it since its just a Celica engine but I don't know if the packaging might make some jobs particularly difficult.

It's British, so it has it's quarks. Many Lotus owners do their own maintenance as the dealership that sell them usually sell other exotics and therefore want to charge you exotic prices for service (ie $250+ oil change). Motor is pretty much bullet proof.

One thing you need to watch out for is the rear toe bolt failure. Some other maintenance items (ie brake rotors) are pricey, but other parts are on par with other manufacturers. Otherwise, being as light as it is, it takes some serious abuse from rough roads and it doesn't take much to knock the car out of alignment. The thing is fragile for sure. Word of warning - it doesn't take a much to induce significant body damage since the body panels are comprised largely of a front and rear clamshell. Crack the front by hitting a fox will set your insurance company back about $10K. When I got t-boned, they are replacing the rear clamshell, subframe, UCA, Ohlin damper, and redoing the side molding, and the pricetag is about $20K+.

But what do I know - I've technically owned the car only 16 weeks, and only had possession of the damn thing for 4. I should start a poll "Will John ever get his car back?"

[LorenaBeana]

Well, I think it might all be for naught. I send my Dad an email with my idea, and he talked me out of it. So maybe I'll just buy lots of houses instead. <Sigh> Maybe after buying enough houses I'll have enough leftover money to buy a lotus in every color. (Orange doesn't match my complexion) :wink: Seriously, the depreciation on those things isn't pretty. Any every time I hit the throttle of the IS, I fall back in love with it. Oh the angst!

[JackoliciousLegs]

buck buck buckAAHCK

[Evan]

Well, I think it might all be for naught. I send my Dad an email with my idea, and he talked me out of it. So maybe I'll just buy lots of houses instead. <Sigh> Maybe after buying enough houses I'll have enough leftover money to buy a lotus in every color. (Orange doesn't match my complexion) :wink: Seriously, the depreciation on those things isn't pretty. Any every time I hit the throttle of the IS, I fall back in love with it. Oh the angst!

ban her

[G.Irish]

Well, I think it might all be for naught. I send my Dad an email with my idea, and he talked me out of it. So maybe I'll just buy lots of houses instead. <Sigh> Maybe after buying enough houses I'll have enough leftover money to buy a lotus in every color. (Orange doesn't match my complexion) :wink: Seriously, the depreciation on those things isn't pretty. Any every time I hit the throttle of the IS, I fall back in love with it. Oh the angst!

I would let the market continue its slide for a good while before I bought a house. The mass foreclosures are certainly far from over. But I guess you have to have a pile o' cash to be able to take advantage of that in a year or whatever.