2005 Lotus Elise | Retro Review
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2022
- The Elise was a game changer in entry level exotics, especially with that ultra reliable Toyota 4 cylinder. Still attainable on the used market....for now.
Show 2337 | Original Airdate 05-14-2004
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It's very sobering to admit the fact that 2005 is considered retro.
6
I’d like to think that retro is 20 years plus ago…. Sigh 😔 but it’s all good
@@NFLdom22 In German we call cars that are at least 20 years old young-timers and cars that are at least 30 years old old-timers.
The time between 2005 and now is the same time difference as 2005 and 1988
@@hellatightdude hey man, go easy. I gotta work tomorrow. Haha
The automotive equivalent of "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Always liked these.
15
The fact a car review from 2005 is considered a retro review, makes me feel really old. I came to the UK in 2005 at the at the age of 6....
Lol your still a young'n. I graduated highschool in 2004
4
If that makes you feel old consider this my cousin was born in 2005, he's gonna be starting his last year of high school this year. Where does time go...
@Fransico Buttersworth Your not old and neither am I (I am 39 - 22 in 2005). Time just flies is all
You were 6 what are you talking about 🤣 not old
Gotta love John's Easter egg, wearing the Lotus colors!
Coming here 6 days after the video was released, I expected somebody to have said this already. But I came to the comments to say this or find the others who noticed this too. :)
I love the '00s Elises & Exiges, especially with the 2ZZ motor! Sleek, agile & blast to drive! Have the miniature version of the '09 Exige 260! This lotus is my favorite British lightweight!
8
This for me is example of one of the cars that got away. In 2006 I came across a Red 2005 with sport pack for $33,000. Ended up buying the revised face lifted 2006 350 Z because it was more comfortable for my wife. Yeah, you can fill in the blank!
Aw man that makes me sad 😢 it’s never too late though.
Yeah I remember when used ones were in the 20-30k range.. now good luck finding a decent one for under 50k
The Nissan is still a great car for that Sunday drive. I test drove one before buying my 111R. No comparison but the Z is still beautiful.
That was a blanking bad choice
I remember there was a point in time where one could get an accident free, manual transmission Elise used for $25~30k. Younger me seriously considering risking it all and taking a massive loan to get one.
@Ralph Depino Yeah it's a bummer. One can hardly even buy a new sports car for that money now, a lower spec Miata or BRZ/GR86 are like your only options. $25-30k could have gotten you a LOT in ~2010 - 2013.
@Ralph Depino I highly doubt it too, I don't know if one could buy anything with a twin turbo V6 for under even $45k, but the Infinity Q60 costs somewhere around there, so there is a chance! That being said, $40k-50k is about what many Americans make per year with good jobs, so I don't really consider that affordable.
Yeah now they’re 50-60k, at least on BaT
Wasn't even that long ago. In 2018 I got my '07 with both option packs, clean title and good condition (v. little needed in the 4 years I've had it), 25k miles for $32k. Even 2yrs ago these were $35k all day long. They will only go up too as nothing remotely like this will be made ever again.
I paid £22k for my Elise about three years ago and found a receipt afterwards where the previous owner had paid £14k. That was painful 😆
Under 200hp with 4.8 0-60 is why its a feat of engineering.
14
14 what?
But becomes truly special when you start taking her through very twisty roads.
I watched this video many times when it was new and dreamed of one day owning an Elise. Many years later I bought an Exige S. Dream come true. Hard work pays off.
love my s2k, but the Elise has been a dream car of mine for as long as I can remember and I still hope to own one some day
I was lucky enough to test drive one of these last summer. Absolutely loved it! Such a pure driving experience. The engine is very angry, you hear it all the time.
This first aired May 14th 2004. I had placed my deposit down 14 weeks earlier. This review made the delivery waiting time a lot more bearable. :)
Still have yours? I do! 17 years and counting. I don't think I'll ever sell it.
@@tomindenver1331 Yes. Never, EVER will sell it. Will be 17 years on 8/26. :)
Hi David! 👋🏻😄
This car is a classic now ... Early models qualify for historic registration.... ....
that's if you can find one without the chassis falling apart due to glue disintegration over time.
@@lobsterwhisperer7932
My point is, for those who remember when this came out, we're old.
My brother couldn’t afford this gem but he bought the 2006 Toyota Corolla XRS.. he still has it. Over 340K miles on it.
Good to know.
With 2zzge right mate? 340k with stock engine?? Or rebuild?
@@DimoS... yessir. I couldn’t forget, always said “that 2ZZ” he would redline so often and no hiccups!
@@TheRealHungryJoe very impressive for a engine to live in 8.000 rpm👌🤘
Man those are still looking beautiful today!
Love the test driver, very fitting for a Lotus driving test on camera.
Dang I want one 🥺 this is why I’m swapping a 2zz in an mr2 to save money
Thinking about my 6'6" self with size 16 shoes fitting in this car. Oh well, I enjoyed the video regardless.
Motorweek. Wow. All this still holds so true. My 111R is just a raw, loud, gentle and personal experience. A true driver's car. Fresh soft, rubber is so important.
Ahhh. I love "inserting myself" into the seat.
2005, retro, I’m old 😢
Love my 05 Elise. I’ve been tempted to sell it with the market prices lately, but when you hit 6k rpm and the second cam kicks in I forget all that. They’ll never make a car like this again…
Great vid & clearly a glowing review. Shame so few stateside, bought one.
I use to own a '94 Lotus esprit S4. I miss that car so much.
2:48 John: A MIATA FEELS LIKE A 4X4 COMPARED TO THE ELISE! LOL
It's true. Owned both.
Colin Chapman’s original recipe: lighter = faster
Truly timeless... 😊Would love to own one of these!
I've always wanted a Elise.
A little more than a decade earlier, lotus did the same thing with the Elan. Lotus body with a japanese powertrain. That time is was Isuzu
Meanwhile today, Lotus makes an electric SUV....
Sad times indeed. Just more trash on the road.
Good old 2ZZ :) Still harpin on grabbing a Matrix XRS / Vibe GT...
An excellent review! Can't agree about the older Rover powered cars though, they're a better drive as it's much lighter than the Toyota unit. They also sounded more exotic and revved like a bike engine!
I drove a red pre-production Elise at the 2004 West Coast Lotus Meet at Tahoe. Probably the same car featured here.
190 is grear for that 4cyl car!
I bought an '07 in January. It's not great in the snow.... Not much of a car--more like a motorcycle you fall into. The drivers' eyes are below the door-handle level of other cars and asses are about 5" off the ground. MX-5 drivers look down at me. Mine has no cup-holder. There's just enough room for my size 12 wide shoes. It is, however, an absolute hoot to drive. Even at the speed limit it feels like you're going Mach 2. If you run over a dime, you can tell if it's heads or tails. Fantastic fuel mileage too. There's really nothing on the road quite like it.
This was Lotus' peak.
13
Love my 111R but looking at a 7 as well. Another peak from Lotus.
And with this retro video I have just turned old! :)
I own one of these. Nothing drives anything like it
True dat
It makes every 'normal' car - even performance cars - seem like driving a school bus in comparison.
Driving a lightweight car is difficult to explain - you have to experience it to really 'get it' - but _everything_ works better because of the light weight.
One of the few cars that make me lust for over my S2000.
John Davis is an absolute legend
Midnight Club 3 (regardless if DUB Edition or DUB Edition Remix), Gran Turismo 4 and NFS HP2 are what come to mind whenever I think of the Elise. These Elises are so much fun.
My first experience with it was in NFS Carbon. Was always one of my favorite cars, it would crush everything in the corners :D
TDU has it too
IMHO here sits little Lotus, which has always struggled financially. Great designs, and a grab bag of parts, WHY doesn't a behemoth like Toyota buy them and make a division? As Lexus challenges Mercedes, Imagine a $30k (MIata killer), $50k (Audi/BMW killer), $75k (Porsche/Corvette killer) Lotus
I was born in 2002 and I feel ancient watching this review.
Dang Lotus is very rare nowadays! However, we may start seeing them more often now that they are owned by Geely, the owner of Volvo.
Was Craig Singhaus still on the MW staff in 2005? I know he's been a friend of the show all these years after his departure, but I'm wondering when he officially left.
10
Good old Hot Pursuit 2 and Most Wanted memories right there! Hated the car in the former, and loved in the latter. 🤣
I wish we would have got the last gen of the Elise/Exige here in the states. Never could understand why the manual shifter was so poor on a torque less engine (no need for a beefed up clutch). Honda shifter action would have made the Elise perfection
Just the body scoops and vents alone, reminds me of a baby McLaren lol
I remember this car from the Gameplay called Midnight Club 3 Dub edition remix excellent memories
Well, if we want something like this today, we will need to wait until 2026, when the Lotus Type 135 (which will be the Elise sucessor) will be released.
BTW, never put your hand on the windshield as you get in. Been known to crack the glass.
You have more weight savings then jenny craig clients 😂
You could have bought one of these brand new in 05 for less than a 17 year old used one now.
I love John David
RUclips just started in 2005 😲
Bought a new one in 05, should have kept it.
Canal só de carros é muito da hora 👍😃😃
The 90" wheel base is still longer than even the Porsche 993
*Light is right*
This class of car needs to be saved at all cost. Really nothing like them
I have one of these… well front engine and not supercharged… I drive a corolla XRS… same engine though. 😂
Lol gotta pay MORE now for an 05 Elise than then new@ 39k....awesome machine!
Did he have a target for number of "transaxle"-s used in this review?
11
I'm feeling old that 2005 is considered retro.
9
Wouldn't mind getting an exige SC v6 cup or whatever. Too bad they're so rare and expensive in the USA.
They had oil pump issues 2zzge 1zzfe is good
1zz is the problem engine with until the end of 2003. the 2zzge is bulletproof and very relibale engine the oil pump break only if you misshift and pass 8.800 rpm mate if tunning the 2zzge and pass the 8.600rpm is good to put forged oil pump gear only👌
Lotus was owned by GM from 1986 to 1993... would any of you folks happen to know whether or not Lotus quality was considered especially terrible during the GM ownership?
Why didn’t Toyota employ this stellar engine in their own MR2 Spyder? 🤔
I've heard rumours that it was part of the engine deal between Lotus and Toyota, that Toyota won't build it's own Elise competitor with putting the 2ZZ into the MR2.
Lotus modified it. Added an oil cooler and I forget what else. Plus non-enthusiasts wouldn't tolerate an engine that was anemic below 3,000 rpms.
2:53 if you’re lucky enough to get a ride in an Elise, DO NOT get in like this man. You should never put any weight on the windshield. Especially if you’re someone thats heavy.
Extruded and bonded chassis tub, not tube.
John davis is so good lol
If only Lotus went to Honda instead.....imagine a Honda K20a coming in an Elise from the factory....sheesh
What a fun car, but it is certainly not what one would call sensible.
3
Whats with your numbers bro!
🤤🤤🤤
Lots
Of
Trouble,
Usually
Serious!
Lotus Light
5
That Jenny Craig joke would not go over well in today’s sensitive climate 😅
The front tires are so skinny!
Good luck my Elise is from 2006, so it is not retro yet 🤣
A 2006 Elise was my daily driver (not in winter) for 5 years. Only bad things were the notchy shifter, and having to buy rear tires every 2 years. Loved that car....
Anyone else get the Jenny Craig reference?
Nice d Ben!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2000 Celica next!!!!!🤬🤬🤬 been asking for 6 damn years!! 🙏🥺
7
2005 is retro? GDI
Looks more like a 1995 review than a 2005😂
$40K seems so cheap now...lol!
no helmets?!
Grand turismo 4
Well, the seats really are not all that comfortable. After a little more that an hour my lower back would be screaming in pain.
Always thought they should have threw in an Integra Type R engine
Jenny Craig jab
Little mosquito
1
The car that made Tesla
"low polar MOVEMENT" lol
Go toyota! It made a bad bad English car fairly dependable!
An exotic car with a toyota celica engine🙄.....
2
Too irritating to watch.
Never very good looking and never should have had a Japanese engine...its a British car.
Tell me you can't afford a Lotus without telling me you can't afford a Lotus.