Sir, I thank you for this video. I understand your passion, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I owned a 2005 Elise gun metal, with red interior. I ordered it in 2003. I loved it for 11 years. It brought a lot of joy to me. I enjoyed the driving dynamics of the car. After 11 years, I felt it was a bit small and dangerous on the road since there are so many bigger SUV and trucks on the street. It was eventaully sold to a person in NY who had an Elise and he sold his, but he regret it so much that he bought mine instead. I was glad that my elise went to a good owner. In its place I got a Jaguar F type S, which is a ultra sexy British car with 380HP and amazing exhaust sound. I enjoy it very much also, and feel much safer in it. But boy, I still think about my Elise that I had and the group of friends that owned it. I am sure I hanged on to mine longer than many of them. If you have any doubt about the car, please keep it, as long as you have the parking space for it. It is a keeper!, don't ever doubt it! (I live in S Cal where land is expensive). Thanks again for the video. passionate, well spoken.
Wow, thank you for the detailed comment and story! The F type is a nice car too though so glad that you still have something fun to drive. Appreciate you watching the video and happy that my passion for this came across clearly.
My dad used to take me to the Monterey Car show when I was a kid in the 2000s and I always gravitated towards the Lotus Elise even though I was surrounded by Ferraris and Lambos. Now that Im a adult it crossed my mind to look into getting one in the near future.
Oh wow, thanks for sharing that...sounds pretty similar to my experience. You definitely should look at getting one, though prices have crept up a lot during covid (as like all sports cars it seems) but I'm sure things will normalize in the future.
Loved your video. I've had mine 4 years now and love it. Videos and shorts in my RUclips and more to come. 2005 Turbo Lotus Elise with tons of upgrades. I'm 54, so getting in and out will be the only reason I sell it in the hopefully long-off future. Wife owns an Evora now for 2 years.
Keep it forever....getting in and out will keep you limber over the years! There is a woman who was 82 in our local Lotus club and she was still autocrossing her Elise back in March!!!!
Wow, that's awesome! Yeah I'm not sure what I'll do when my son starts driving in a few years. How'd you build up the trust to let him drive it? I mean....I remember being 16 and getting my license for the first time and I did some stupid stuff for sure!
@@AtypicalDriver Honestly? I think he's a better driver than me in some ways (perhaps not that 'spider sense' you develop after driving for 41 years). More importantly, he gets the Lotus for what it is and drives accordingly.
@@AdamBuckley1964 That's so great!!! I feel like it's our duty to instill a love of cars and driving in the next generation and sounds like you're doing a good job of that.
Thank you so much and really appreciate your comment! I checked out your channel and love your S1 Elise, we didn't get those here in the US but they are starting to be eligible for import now that they are 25 years old.
You are so sincere and passionate talking about your experience and journey towards choosing the sports car of your dream, that I really had to stop the video midway to hit the thumbs up and subscribe buttons! I felt the same way right before placing a 5k deposit a month ago for the new Lotus Emira, and can’t wait until next spring to start that new chapter in my life. Thanks!👍🏻
Thanks for the feedback! Yes I absolutely love this car and glad that my passion came across in the video. Appreciate you subscribing, thank you! Hope you love your Emira just as much!
It's a great car to spend alone time with your childern when you have more than one kid. I typically take one of my three kids when I go out, just to get a burger and enjoy the experience of having the top down on a sunny day. My 111R sounds, drives, and feels great and the kids love it and the time alone with their Dad. The eldest daughter is the one that likes working on it with me in the garage. Our Elise is definitely part of the family.
That's awesome, thanks for sharing! My son does enjoy coming in the Elise but my daughter isn't quite big enough yet. Though like you, she is the one who enjoys wrenching. Good parenting on your part, keep it up.
Great story. I always love to hear about how people found their cars. Like you, I was looking all over the country about 4 years ago, but wanted to find one as close as possible to me in Michigan. I found one in Atlanta (where I lived previously) and had a friend look it over for me. I was just about to make an offer when mine became available just 45 minutes north of me. A silver 2005 with just 13,000 miles.
Wow, I guess that's just fate that you found the silver one! Congratulations. Thanks for watching and commenting too. Like you, I enjoy the story behind the car / owner which is kind of what inspired me to put together this video. Also thought it might be a nice legacy after I'm gone and my kids inherit the Lotus someday!
Hi, Thanks for this video. A great journey and I keep coming back to it. You also seem to have a supportive and cool wife. I first saw a lotus Elise 12 years ago and I knew it was the car for me. So I bought an Elise S3. It was a signature release prior to the Lotus Sheffield factory closing down. I had been looking for one for 10+ years. As a F1 Lotus fan I was already hooked in to Colin's ethos in that lighter is faster. My dad passed away last year and always told me to enjoy my life and spend what you earn when you're healthy enough to enjoy life. My Elise was terrifying for the first 6 months. It's still insane to drive. It took some time to getting use to it. But now I drive it every day. Once I get in her I don’t want to get out - wife included ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for leaving a comment sharing your experience! Wise words from your dad too. We never know how long we'll have so enjoy what you've got. Not sure if you saw my video about how the unexpected deaths of 3 friends prompted me to go buy my Porsche 911 -- for similar reasons that your dad said. (Don't worry, I still have the Lotus too!)
Interestingly I found lot of common points on your video: I am lotus owner since 2005, and went through some Elise (6 in total). When I met the lady who is now my wife, I didn’t have one but it was my unique « request » to build a happy healthy life: acquiring one again and nothing else! We bought one and never ever regret it, and she understand why this car is not as others cars, and why I love it :) Right now we are waiting a little daughter and fun fact, this is my wife who said first: « we keep the Elise by any means » So then we went to buy a second hand Mercedes E250 avant-garde for her use and family trip :) The Elise s3 1,6 I we have now is the perfect balance to all the Elise I had in the past, it is a part of the family and will stay with us!
That's amazing, thanks for sharing your story! Very cool that you have had 6 Elises...so I take it the S3 that you have now is your favorite? What happened to the others? Your wife also sounds like a keeper! Someone who understands the Lotus disease. :)
@@AtypicalDriver thx, about the Elise, each model has their own pros and cons: the S2 111R is a monster with high rpm but with a long gear box, the S2 135 was very similar than the one I have now, the S2 rover race tech was the real funny S2, the S2 élise SC was « too much », and truly prefer the NA The S3 is the well balanced Elise for my way of driving and the Japanese Kyoto’s roads where I live ;) I guess the lotus driving is more a remedy against stress than a real disease or maybe the best disease that you can catch :) Keep making videos, it is great to watch them
@@NRHK-Kyoto Thank you for the kind words and for watching! Yes, I always joke that my Elise is cheaper than a psychiatrist and probably gets better results too.
Same here. Found a 2006 Elise in AZ with only 30,000 on it. Owner just didn't drive it as much anymore, and his wife wanted him to clear some cars out of the driveway. Toyota guts on a Lotus suspension-says it all really...
Thanks for watching! Wow, so lucky to have an Exige V6 I've looked into many options for importing one to the US but it's very difficult. Enjoy it in good health!
@@AtypicalDriver I've had my 05 Elise for almost 10 years now! It's the longest i've owned any car. I saw a green lotus when I was a kid and it always motivated me to eventually purchase one. Very thankful to own one, they are very special cars and are unlike anything else on the road. Legal go-kart!
Awesome video mate!! I just got mine last year and like yours, I also had my Elise delivered to me because I can't get to the dealership cause of Lockdown.. been driving it like crazy and enjoying every moment, there will never be another car like this again! 👊😁
Oh wow that's awesome congratulations! Glad you were able to get ahold of one. What color / spec did you get? Good that you're getting out and using it, no fun keeping it locked in a garage!
Mine is a 2019 cup250 in Daytona Blue with black interior and yellow stitching/accents.. Been dreaming about it since 2015 when LOTUS opened its first dealership here in Philippines. I visited that place constantly, like it was love at first sight.. probably annoyed them a bit!! 😅.. I worked hard and saved like crazy till finally last year i get to bring her home with me 👊😁
@@arvindelfonso2572 Oh wow, thanks for sharing that small piece of your Lotus story! I love hearing things like that. I'm sure the Lotus is insanely rare in the Philippines!
Yeah!!... She's a real crowd stopper! Haha.. But because of that we get to meet new people and experience new things. When LOTUS announced they will be stopping production of the Elise I knew I had to get one before its too late.. you're right... there will never be another car like the Elise again.
@@arvindelfonso2572 Cars are all about the experiences they enable the the memories they create -- at least that's how I've always looked at them. Miles = Smiles, Dirty Car = Happy Driver...This is the way. Enjoy it!!!
Sean Curry 0 seconds ago I’ve got an ardent red ‘05 (original owner and only 11k miles on it now) and also live in the Bay Area! Hope to see you on the road!
I wish I could express myself the way you do. Everything you said about the Lotus is the way I feel. This car is unbelievebly perfect in its imperfections, in fact it is because of them that it is so perfect. My wife and I are the proud owners of a 2007 Lotus Elise that we bought new and it is still the only one like it on the market. Yours looks great by the way.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm glad that you enjoyed the video and that you feel similarly about your own Elise. They are truly amazing, nothing else like them and nothing ever will be in the future either. Appreciate you watching! What color combo do you have?
@@AtypicalDriver Our Elise is chrome orange with biscuit leather interior. Being Canadian with a car built for Canada, it is the only one in this color combination built in 2007. Only 313 regular Lotus Elise plus 49 supercharged ones were built for Canada in total for the years 2006 to 2011. 2005’s were not imported to our country.
Love your video explaining how this awesome car became part of your family.😍👍 You mentioned that the Elise was your "happy place". What about your wife? Did she have a special vehicle as well?
Well time with my wife is my other happy place! 🤫 But as for her, she isn't into sports cars, but she does love the car that she has, so much so that I asked her a few months ago if she wanted to replace (Audi Q5 3.0T) it and she thought I was crazy. Said she never wants anything else unless it breaks, I bought an extended 10 year warranty for it.
Thanks for the car story. There are faster cars and there are more comfortable cars, but I don't think any car gets under your skin like the Elise. I've had my series 1 for nearly ten years now, and I doubt I will ever sell it. I still have my 748 in the garage with the Elise. Did you know there was a connection with the Tamburini Ducatis and the Lotus?
Very well said! Yup, I did see the connection to the Ducati 916 in that Elise (S1) documentary from many years ago. That's super cool actually. Glad that you still have your 748, kind of wish I still had mine -- they're such beautiful bikes. Truly a work of art.
@@AtypicalDriver They are a work of art, the 916 was the first bike ever to be displayed at the Guggenheim. IIRC I read that Elise designer Julian Thomson had a 916, and his mate Richard Rackham - who was responsible for the aluminium chassis - rode a 748. Great bikes.
I'm wondering what options there are that feel raw, mechanical and refined convertible like a lotus but more liveable day to day? If Caterham and lotus are the the pinnacle of this what comes next? MX5 NC? ND? Alfa 4c? Boxster 987? Boxster 981? M2 competition? Perhaps a supercharged / turbo MX-5 NC or ND might be the closest you can get in terms of weight / size / mechanical feel? Porsche cars can often feel very refined to me - more luxury than sport. BMW probably even more so?
That's a good question. On the more raw side I would say something like an Ultima GTR kit. But on the more refined side I think the new Emira is going to fit that bill pretty nicely. I think you also have to factor age of the vehicle into it too, because you could buy a 1990s era Porsche 911 and I think it'll feel more analog and raw than a current 911 of course, but probably still more refined than a Lotus.
Is 31 your permanent number in the local autocross council? Mine is 7, and I'm keeping it until I die. Hope to drive my BRP Elise for a long time yet. Magnetic Blue / Biscuit was my goal when I started looking for a car, but found a great leal on a Bordeaux Red Pearl / black in Park City in 2010. I hate black interiors, but managed to parts-swap in Biscuit seats and door cards. Actually made twenty bucks includin all the shipping and everything.
Yeah I always use 31 with our local golden gate lotus club. If 13 is unlucky, 31 must be the opposite right? 🤔 That's great you were able to swap the interior. They're so simple there isn't much just the seats and door cards right?
Philip you may enjoy my autocross video too! I stopped autocrossing for about 20 years but recently got back into it had a blast! ruclips.net/video/wa1A265-Ul8/видео.html
Beautiful! I loved hearing your backstory! I was a bit the opposite, I remember seeing them in 2005 and thinking they were a bit "big" compared to the Elans and 7's I was used to autocrossing. That and I was the old school "pay cash" for my fun cars.. so out of my budget for a while. It took me another 14 years or so from seeing a friends, before warming to them and actually sitting in one, then finding the first of a few Eliges!! Bravo and keep it up! Now the tough question, is your Lotus or your Porsche your "forever keeper"?
Thanks for the nice comment! I think it'd be fun to have an old Elan someday, that's definitely on my wanted list for the future. As for which is the keeper? Both I hope! I have 2 kids so I probably need to leave each of them a "vintage" car...or at least I hope these will be vintage cars by then. I was at Monterey Car Week this past week and every time I saw an old 356 or early 911 with 100k, 200k or more miles on it and I talked to the owner, I was so impressed. And I thought to myself, you know what...at one time that was just a current model car. So, I'll just tell people I'm in the process of making my Lotus and Porsche into one of those and along with all the stories and memories of 100k or whatever miles someday.
I stepped out of a Lotus 65 Europa and a 1979 Caterham Seven into an Elise. I picked up a lot of weather and crash protection. The only real step backwards for autocross was the Elise steering is SO DAMNED SLOW compared to those Spitfire-rack cars. Some day I will spring for a fast rack for the Elise and see if I can make it dance through the cones like they did.
OMG I know...the current prices are really surprising because Elises were pretty consistently low $30k cars for a pretty long time. I bought mine in 2009 so it was only 4 years old at the time but feel very fortunate to buy when I did. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hey Jimmy, so personally I LOVE the RX7 FD, definitely a collectible type of car with a timeless design. That said, most of the people I know who have them are constantly working on them or fixing something. So in terms of reliability, I think the Elise is going to give you a lot more smiles because you'll be able to enjoy it more without worrying about much. But would I sell the RX7? I dunno...like i said I think it's poised to become a collector car if it's not already. Can you keep it AND get the Elise? Maybe opt for an older Elise for less $$ so you can have both?
@@AtypicalDriver I am based in New Zealand and also constantly working on my car, but I feel like the reliability is becoming a big concern for me. Because I don’t want to spend too much money repairing it and upgrade but if suddenly one day if any apex seal broken, it will be another rebuild, worst case turbo system all damaged. If you check my RUclips channel, you’ll also see how much I love my car, but right now the boost problem really let me down again.. it will cost me probably another thousand dollars to figure out. I believe lotus will give me much less trouble and more fun.
Oh wow that's crazy, my wife is from New Zealand! I think if you are looking for a more reliable and still fun car then yes, the Elise is probably better suited. I'll check out your channel...I did another video on my cost of ownership for my Elise over 11 years...ignore the clickbait title, it's really reasonable actually. Being in NZ, you also have the option of the Exige V6 right? That is the car I would probably opt for if it's in your price range. We never got them in the USA except for "track only" versions.
@@AtypicalDriver I still need to find an agency to import it from UK or Japan, Australia. My ideal choice is first generation Exige S3 around 2014 or newer if I can sell my FD a good price. If not, I’d consider newer Elise S3
For some reason I was never really that interested in the Audi TT. I felt like the original was too much like a VW bug but liked the styling of the later ones.
@@AtypicalDriver I had a ‘65 Karmann Ghia for about 20 years … the TT did remind me of that platform. The Lotus is a keeper. The TT would be a few years then move on.
It's definitely a big change in direction for the company but I hope they manage to retain some of the magical Lotus DNA. Thanks for watching my video!
You end your video with "till death do you part". When I die, I've instructed my wife to take some of my ashes and hide them in my Lotus, so that I can still travel around in it with the new owner even after I die. So we will not part at death. :-)
Excellent idea. My brother in law passed away last year just as my Elise was being shipped to me - I was at his funeral in another state as it was being delivered at my house. He was a car guy like me and used to come visit for the F1 race in Indy all the years they held it here. When helping his wife clean out his work area, I found a small collector model of the F1 Lotus 77 John Player Special in a sealed plastic display box. His wife gave it to me and it I put it in the boot/trunk of the car so he goes for a ride with me very time ;)
@@seivaDsugnA I recently took my family to this place in California called Safari West (it's like a zoo, but the "cages" for some of the animals are like 100 acres -- so kind of like jurassic park a little?!) anyway, a highlight was that the tour was in these converted 1950s Dodge Power Wagons...they were pretty unstoppable over some serious terrain! I was impressed and wanted to drive but the tour guide said no.
I love the lotus because it is LIGHT and NIMBLE like my own body at 5'9" and 125 lbs. it fits me like a glove as do i. this car ain't for fatties or large ppl! you can't get inside and will find it stuffy physically.
Wait, you promised your wife you wouldn’t spend the money you earned? Ah, yes. “Modern” marriage. Her money is her money, and his money is “our” money. 🤣
@@AtypicalDriver - Hey, NOTHING wrong with that ! My wife was also a professional (we met at work) and though I made a little more than she did, she occasionally received stock grants my department didn't offer as easily so she would beat me once very few years. I retired a year before her (me at 56, she at 54) and I didn't feel a bit bad about her making more than I did. As a partnership, all was in joint accounts so I always told her to make as much money as she could ! But as a "farm girl" she is very conservative with spending. I've had to teach her to finally start spending some money in retirement because we have way too much saved. I was very lucky to find a woman who made almost as much, probably is smarter, and even thriftier than I was. Not a common problem based on most married couples we know. I definitely hit the spouse lottery, sounds like you did as well.
Yes, I'm extremely lucky. We are equal partners in everything in life. They often say the most important decision you'll ever make is choosing who to marry and I believe that. My wife is also extremely frugal, which I appreciate!
@@AtypicalDriver Absolutely the most important decision. When I got engaged, a co-worker congratulated me and said, "ahh ... the big M" to which I responded "Yes, Merger of Assets." He looked a little shocked and perhaps thought me somewhat unromantic. I told him that it meant that I had considered all the ramifications and was going into it eyes open as a partnership. Lust and what some consider romance often go away quickly. There should be a deeper consideration and common goals for a lifetime commitment from both. My wife looks great as well and friends joke that I married "up." But for a relationship to last it has to be built on much more than looks or they often end in divorce in my experience. I probably dated a couple dozen ladies before I found the right one in my early 30s. Definitely worth the time and effort, as you well know. Congrats on also finding the right one;)
Sir, I thank you for this video. I understand your passion, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I owned a 2005 Elise gun metal, with red interior. I ordered it in 2003. I loved it for 11 years. It brought a lot of joy to me. I enjoyed the driving dynamics of the car. After 11 years, I felt it was a bit small and dangerous on the road since there are so many bigger SUV and trucks on the street. It was eventaully sold to a person in NY who had an Elise and he sold his, but he regret it so much that he bought mine instead. I was glad that my elise went to a good owner. In its place I got a Jaguar F type S, which is a ultra sexy British car with 380HP and amazing exhaust sound. I enjoy it very much also, and feel much safer in it. But boy, I still think about my Elise that I had and the group of friends that owned it. I am sure I hanged on to mine longer than many of them. If you have any doubt about the car, please keep it, as long as you have the parking space for it. It is a keeper!, don't ever doubt it! (I live in S Cal where land is expensive). Thanks again for the video. passionate, well spoken.
Wow, thank you for the detailed comment and story! The F type is a nice car too though so glad that you still have something fun to drive. Appreciate you watching the video and happy that my passion for this came across clearly.
My dad used to take me to the Monterey Car show when I was a kid in the 2000s and I always gravitated towards the Lotus Elise even though I was surrounded by Ferraris and Lambos. Now that Im a adult it crossed my mind to look into getting one in the near future.
Oh wow, thanks for sharing that...sounds pretty similar to my experience. You definitely should look at getting one, though prices have crept up a lot during covid (as like all sports cars it seems) but I'm sure things will normalize in the future.
I've got to agree, that metallic blue is awesome, sheer class.
Thank you! 🙏
Loved your video. I've had mine 4 years now and love it. Videos and shorts in my RUclips and more to come. 2005 Turbo Lotus Elise with tons of upgrades. I'm 54, so getting in and out will be the only reason I sell it in the hopefully long-off future. Wife owns an Evora now for 2 years.
Keep it forever....getting in and out will keep you limber over the years! There is a woman who was 82 in our local Lotus club and she was still autocrossing her Elise back in March!!!!
@@AtypicalDriver WOW!! OK...
Love your video. good story love Lotus.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Bought my Elise S1 when my 2nd kiddie was born, drove it home with my son in a child seat. Now he drives it!
Wow, that's awesome! Yeah I'm not sure what I'll do when my son starts driving in a few years. How'd you build up the trust to let him drive it? I mean....I remember being 16 and getting my license for the first time and I did some stupid stuff for sure!
@@AtypicalDriver Honestly? I think he's a better driver than me in some ways (perhaps not that 'spider sense' you develop after driving for 41 years). More importantly, he gets the Lotus for what it is and drives accordingly.
@@AdamBuckley1964 That's so great!!! I feel like it's our duty to instill a love of cars and driving in the next generation and sounds like you're doing a good job of that.
I enjoyed listening your journey to the love that you find to your Lotus ELise. ☺👍
Thank you so much and really appreciate your comment! I checked out your channel and love your S1 Elise, we didn't get those here in the US but they are starting to be eligible for import now that they are 25 years old.
You are so sincere and passionate talking about your experience and journey towards choosing the sports car of your dream, that I really had to stop the video midway to hit the thumbs up and subscribe buttons! I felt the same way right before placing a 5k deposit a month ago for the new Lotus Emira, and can’t wait until next spring to start that new chapter in my life. Thanks!👍🏻
Thanks for the feedback! Yes I absolutely love this car and glad that my passion came across in the video. Appreciate you subscribing, thank you! Hope you love your Emira just as much!
Thank you for adding my Lotus Elise in 6:35
Oh cool! The shot with the 3 of them with the engine lids up? Which color is yours?
@@AtypicalDriver it is the red one
@@jaapslot6602 Very nice!
It's a great car to spend alone time with your childern when you have more than one kid. I typically take one of my three kids when I go out, just to get a burger and enjoy the experience of having the top down on a sunny day. My 111R sounds, drives, and feels great and the kids love it and the time alone with their Dad. The eldest daughter is the one that likes working on it with me in the garage. Our Elise is definitely part of the family.
That's awesome, thanks for sharing! My son does enjoy coming in the Elise but my daughter isn't quite big enough yet. Though like you, she is the one who enjoys wrenching. Good parenting on your part, keep it up.
Great story. I always love to hear about how people found their cars. Like you, I was looking all over the country about 4 years ago, but wanted to find one as close as possible to me in Michigan. I found one in Atlanta (where I lived previously) and had a friend look it over for me. I was just about to make an offer when mine became available just 45 minutes north of me. A silver 2005 with just 13,000 miles.
Wow, I guess that's just fate that you found the silver one! Congratulations. Thanks for watching and commenting too. Like you, I enjoy the story behind the car / owner which is kind of what inspired me to put together this video. Also thought it might be a nice legacy after I'm gone and my kids inherit the Lotus someday!
Hi, Thanks for this video. A great journey and I keep coming back to it. You also seem to have a supportive and cool wife. I first saw a lotus Elise 12 years ago and I knew it was the car for me. So I bought an Elise S3. It was a signature release prior to the Lotus Sheffield factory closing down. I had been looking for one for 10+ years. As a F1 Lotus fan I was already hooked in to Colin's ethos in that lighter is faster. My dad passed away last year and always told me to enjoy my life and spend what you earn when you're healthy enough to enjoy life. My Elise was terrifying for the first 6 months. It's still insane to drive. It took some time to getting use to it. But now I drive it every day. Once I get in her I don’t want to get out - wife included ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for leaving a comment sharing your experience! Wise words from your dad too. We never know how long we'll have so enjoy what you've got. Not sure if you saw my video about how the unexpected deaths of 3 friends prompted me to go buy my Porsche 911 -- for similar reasons that your dad said. (Don't worry, I still have the Lotus too!)
Thank you, great information. Lovely voice!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the nice comment!
Interestingly I found lot of common points on your video: I am lotus owner since 2005, and went through some Elise (6 in total). When I met the lady who is now my wife, I didn’t have one but it was my unique « request » to build a happy healthy life: acquiring one again and nothing else!
We bought one and never ever regret it, and she understand why this car is not as others cars, and why I love it :)
Right now we are waiting a little daughter and fun fact, this is my wife who said first: « we keep the Elise by any means »
So then we went to buy a second hand Mercedes E250 avant-garde for her use and family trip :)
The Elise s3 1,6 I we have now is the perfect balance to all the Elise I had in the past, it is a part of the family and will stay with us!
That's amazing, thanks for sharing your story! Very cool that you have had 6 Elises...so I take it the S3 that you have now is your favorite? What happened to the others? Your wife also sounds like a keeper! Someone who understands the Lotus disease. :)
@@AtypicalDriver thx, about the Elise, each model has their own pros and cons: the S2 111R is a monster with high rpm but with a long gear box, the S2 135 was very similar than the one I have now, the S2 rover race tech was the real funny S2, the S2 élise SC was « too much », and truly prefer the NA
The S3 is the well balanced Elise for my way of driving and the Japanese Kyoto’s roads where I live ;)
I guess the lotus driving is more a remedy against stress than a real disease or maybe the best disease that you can catch :)
Keep making videos, it is great to watch them
@@NRHK-Kyoto Thank you for the kind words and for watching! Yes, I always joke that my Elise is cheaper than a psychiatrist and probably gets better results too.
Same here. Found a 2006 Elise in AZ with only 30,000 on it. Owner just didn't drive it as much anymore, and his wife wanted him to clear some cars out of the driveway. Toyota guts on a Lotus suspension-says it all really...
My wife has been saying the same recently, but I'm not going to give in. :) Glad you were able to pick it up.
Very beautiful car .. I bought Lotus Exige Sport 410 20th Anniversary
Thanks for watching! Wow, so lucky to have an Exige V6 I've looked into many options for importing one to the US but it's very difficult. Enjoy it in good health!
Great video, I love my Elise!
Thank you for watching!!! How long have you had your Elise?
@@AtypicalDriver I've had my 05 Elise for almost 10 years now! It's the longest i've owned any car. I saw a green lotus when I was a kid and it always motivated me to eventually purchase one. Very thankful to own one, they are very special cars and are unlike anything else on the road. Legal go-kart!
Great story I love my lotus.
Thanks for watching and for the feedback! I love mine too, as you can probably tell. How long have you had yours and what model?
Awesome video mate!! I just got mine last year and like yours, I also had my Elise delivered to me because I can't get to the dealership cause of Lockdown.. been driving it like crazy and enjoying every moment, there will never be another car like this again! 👊😁
Oh wow that's awesome congratulations! Glad you were able to get ahold of one. What color / spec did you get? Good that you're getting out and using it, no fun keeping it locked in a garage!
Mine is a 2019 cup250 in Daytona Blue with black interior and yellow stitching/accents.. Been dreaming about it since 2015 when LOTUS opened its first dealership here in Philippines. I visited that place constantly, like it was love at first sight.. probably annoyed them a bit!! 😅.. I worked hard and saved like crazy till finally last year i get to bring her home with me 👊😁
@@arvindelfonso2572 Oh wow, thanks for sharing that small piece of your Lotus story! I love hearing things like that. I'm sure the Lotus is insanely rare in the Philippines!
Yeah!!... She's a real crowd stopper! Haha.. But because of that we get to meet new people and experience new things. When LOTUS announced they will be stopping production of the Elise I knew I had to get one before its too late.. you're right... there will never be another car like the Elise again.
@@arvindelfonso2572 Cars are all about the experiences they enable the the memories they create -- at least that's how I've always looked at them. Miles = Smiles, Dirty Car = Happy Driver...This is the way. Enjoy it!!!
Sean Curry
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I’ve got an ardent red ‘05 (original owner and only 11k miles on it now) and also live in the Bay Area! Hope to see you on the road!
Oh awesome! I'll keep an eye out for you.
Amazing car and amazing video. Keep it up!!!
Thanks for watching and for the positive encouragement!
I wish I could express myself the way you do. Everything you said about the Lotus is the way I feel. This car is unbelievebly perfect in its imperfections, in fact it is because of them that it is so perfect. My wife and I are the proud owners of a 2007 Lotus Elise that we bought new and it is still the only one like it on the market. Yours looks great by the way.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm glad that you enjoyed the video and that you feel similarly about your own Elise. They are truly amazing, nothing else like them and nothing ever will be in the future either. Appreciate you watching! What color combo do you have?
@@AtypicalDriver Our Elise is chrome orange with biscuit leather interior. Being Canadian with a car built for Canada, it is the only one in this color combination built in 2007. Only 313 regular Lotus Elise plus 49 supercharged ones were built for Canada in total for the years 2006 to 2011. 2005’s were not imported to our country.
@@michelbergeron6852 Oh that is a very nice color combination...I love the chrome orange!! Were the S3 Exiges with the V6 imported to Canada at all?
@@AtypicalDriver Unfortunetly they were not.
@@michelbergeron6852 Bummer! I was hoping I could sneak one across the border!!!
For me, love at first sight.
Same with me! When I saw that one parked in the lot at baja cantina I knew it was the car for me.
Love your video explaining how this awesome car became part of your family.😍👍 You mentioned that the Elise was your "happy place". What about your wife? Did she have a special vehicle as well?
Well time with my wife is my other happy place! 🤫 But as for her, she isn't into sports cars, but she does love the car that she has, so much so that I asked her a few months ago if she wanted to replace (Audi Q5 3.0T) it and she thought I was crazy. Said she never wants anything else unless it breaks, I bought an extended 10 year warranty for it.
Thanks for the car story. There are faster cars and there are more comfortable cars, but I don't think any car gets under your skin like the Elise. I've had my series 1 for nearly ten years now, and I doubt I will ever sell it. I still have my 748 in the garage with the Elise. Did you know there was a connection with the Tamburini Ducatis and the Lotus?
Very well said! Yup, I did see the connection to the Ducati 916 in that Elise (S1) documentary from many years ago. That's super cool actually. Glad that you still have your 748, kind of wish I still had mine -- they're such beautiful bikes. Truly a work of art.
@@AtypicalDriver They are a work of art, the 916 was the first bike ever to be displayed at the Guggenheim. IIRC I read that Elise designer Julian Thomson had a 916, and his mate Richard Rackham - who was responsible for the aluminium chassis - rode a 748. Great bikes.
I'm wondering what options there are that feel raw, mechanical and refined convertible like a lotus but more liveable day to day? If Caterham and lotus are the the pinnacle of this what comes next? MX5 NC? ND? Alfa 4c? Boxster 987? Boxster 981? M2 competition? Perhaps a supercharged / turbo MX-5 NC or ND might be the closest you can get in terms of weight / size / mechanical feel? Porsche cars can often feel very refined to me - more luxury than sport. BMW probably even more so?
That's a good question. On the more raw side I would say something like an Ultima GTR kit. But on the more refined side I think the new Emira is going to fit that bill pretty nicely. I think you also have to factor age of the vehicle into it too, because you could buy a 1990s era Porsche 911 and I think it'll feel more analog and raw than a current 911 of course, but probably still more refined than a Lotus.
Is 31 your permanent number in the local autocross council? Mine is 7, and I'm keeping it until I die. Hope to drive my BRP Elise for a long time yet. Magnetic Blue / Biscuit was my goal when I started looking for a car, but found a great leal on a Bordeaux Red Pearl / black in Park City in 2010. I hate black interiors, but managed to parts-swap in Biscuit seats and door cards. Actually made twenty bucks includin all the shipping and everything.
Yeah I always use 31 with our local golden gate lotus club. If 13 is unlucky, 31 must be the opposite right? 🤔 That's great you were able to swap the interior. They're so simple there isn't much just the seats and door cards right?
Philip you may enjoy my autocross video too! I stopped autocrossing for about 20 years but recently got back into it had a blast! ruclips.net/video/wa1A265-Ul8/видео.html
Beautiful! I loved hearing your backstory! I was a bit the opposite, I remember seeing them in 2005 and thinking they were a bit "big" compared to the Elans and 7's I was used to autocrossing. That and I was the old school "pay cash" for my fun cars.. so out of my budget for a while. It took me another 14 years or so from seeing a friends, before warming to them and actually sitting in one, then finding the first of a few Eliges!!
Bravo and keep it up!
Now the tough question, is your Lotus or your Porsche your "forever keeper"?
Thanks for the nice comment! I think it'd be fun to have an old Elan someday, that's definitely on my wanted list for the future. As for which is the keeper? Both I hope! I have 2 kids so I probably need to leave each of them a "vintage" car...or at least I hope these will be vintage cars by then.
I was at Monterey Car Week this past week and every time I saw an old 356 or early 911 with 100k, 200k or more miles on it and I talked to the owner, I was so impressed. And I thought to myself, you know what...at one time that was just a current model car. So, I'll just tell people I'm in the process of making my Lotus and Porsche into one of those and along with all the stories and memories of 100k or whatever miles someday.
I stepped out of a Lotus 65 Europa and a 1979 Caterham Seven into an Elise. I picked up a lot of weather and crash protection. The only real step backwards for autocross was the Elise steering is SO DAMNED SLOW compared to those Spitfire-rack cars. Some day I will spring for a fast rack for the Elise and see if I can make it dance through the cones like they did.
Wow, that is a crazy good deal you got! A well kept Elise in rare color like your blue will easily go for 45-50k right now.
OMG I know...the current prices are really surprising because Elises were pretty consistently low $30k cars for a pretty long time. I bought mine in 2009 so it was only 4 years old at the time but feel very fortunate to buy when I did. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I just bought a 2018 Lotus Evora 400 that I've only seen photos of. It should arrive in a week. :--) Low miles, one owner.
Congrats! Hope you love it!!!
@@AtypicalDriver Thank you so much!
This is how I feel about my S2000 but the Elise is definitely the next car up
S2000 is a great car!!! Glad you've enjoyed owning it and having cool experiences with it too.
The Elise is much more agile than the S2000
This is my dream car, and if im not gonna have one of them i will never drive probably. I can't wait to get this incredible car.
You know, as far as dream cars go it's definitely one of the more attainable ones. Stay focused on your dream and I'm sure you'll make it a reality!
@@AtypicalDriver I don't even want to drive if it's not an Elise on my hands.
Amazing Cars . Hello new friend , Warm greeting from Belgium!
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed the video!
I am planning to sell my RX7 FD and get a newer Lotus Elise S3 with the upgraded shifter and etc, what do you think?
Hey Jimmy, so personally I LOVE the RX7 FD, definitely a collectible type of car with a timeless design. That said, most of the people I know who have them are constantly working on them or fixing something. So in terms of reliability, I think the Elise is going to give you a lot more smiles because you'll be able to enjoy it more without worrying about much. But would I sell the RX7? I dunno...like i said I think it's poised to become a collector car if it's not already. Can you keep it AND get the Elise? Maybe opt for an older Elise for less $$ so you can have both?
@@AtypicalDriver I am based in New Zealand and also constantly working on my car, but I feel like the reliability is becoming a big concern for me. Because I don’t want to spend too much money repairing it and upgrade but if suddenly one day if any apex seal broken, it will be another rebuild, worst case turbo system all damaged. If you check my RUclips channel, you’ll also see how much I love my car, but right now the boost problem really let me down again.. it will cost me probably another thousand dollars to figure out.
I believe lotus will give me much less trouble and more fun.
Oh wow that's crazy, my wife is from New Zealand! I think if you are looking for a more reliable and still fun car then yes, the Elise is probably better suited. I'll check out your channel...I did another video on my cost of ownership for my Elise over 11 years...ignore the clickbait title, it's really reasonable actually. Being in NZ, you also have the option of the Exige V6 right? That is the car I would probably opt for if it's in your price range. We never got them in the USA except for "track only" versions.
@@AtypicalDriver I still need to find an agency to import it from UK or Japan, Australia. My ideal choice is first generation Exige S3 around 2014 or newer if I can sell my FD a good price. If not, I’d consider newer Elise S3
Makes sense, I guess there probably are not many in NZ!
2:44 JIM CLARK - simply the greatest racing driver of all time!
Clark was such a legend!!!
I’m surprised the Audi TT wasn’t mentioned. But, would you still be in love with a TT all these years on?
Prob not
For some reason I was never really that interested in the Audi TT. I felt like the original was too much like a VW bug but liked the styling of the later ones.
@@AtypicalDriver I had a ‘65 Karmann Ghia for about 20 years … the TT did remind me of that platform. The Lotus is a keeper. The TT would be a few years then move on.
Its sad that Lotus is pulling away from its roots with their upcoming cars
It's definitely a big change in direction for the company but I hope they manage to retain some of the magical Lotus DNA. Thanks for watching my video!
A year ownership of my 2005 and I will never sell!
It only gets better as the years pass!
You end your video with "till death do you part". When I die, I've instructed my wife to take some of my ashes and hide them in my Lotus, so that I can still travel around in it with the new owner even after I die. So we will not part at death. :-)
Oh wow! Thanks for the idea!!! :) Appreciate that you watched all the way to the end.
Excellent idea.
My brother in law passed away last year just as my Elise was being shipped to me - I was at his funeral in another state as it was being delivered at my house. He was a car guy like me and used to come visit for the F1 race in Indy all the years they held it here. When helping his wife clean out his work area, I found a small collector model of the F1 Lotus 77 John Player Special in a sealed plastic display box.
His wife gave it to me and it I put it in the boot/trunk of the car so he goes for a ride with me very time ;)
I bought an ex MoD Land Rover 110 to slow down and run over things. And a Triumph 955 for going fast. I'm divorced, and our child is 26.
Those Land Rover 110s are so awesome! I'd love to have one of those sometime.
@@AtypicalDriver 64 horse puppies. it'll do 65 on the highway and crawl over things I'm not dressed for.
@@seivaDsugnA I recently took my family to this place in California called Safari West (it's like a zoo, but the "cages" for some of the animals are like 100 acres -- so kind of like jurassic park a little?!) anyway, a highlight was that the tour was in these converted 1950s Dodge Power Wagons...they were pretty unstoppable over some serious terrain! I was impressed and wanted to drive but the tour guide said no.
I just bought a 2007 Elise yesterday. 29,000 km on the clock. Now I'm poor. BTW, they've discovered what causes babies.
I love the lotus because it is LIGHT and NIMBLE like my own body at 5'9" and 125 lbs. it fits me like a glove as do i. this car ain't for fatties or large ppl! you can't get inside and will find it stuffy physically.
Ha that is a great way to think about it! I'm also 5'9" but about 165lbs still no problem in this car though.
Yo acabaré diciendo el título del vídeo
Yeah the title kind of sums it up!
Wait, you promised your wife you wouldn’t spend the money you earned? Ah, yes. “Modern” marriage. Her money is her money, and his money is “our” money. 🤣
Ironically, at the time she was making a lot more than me! I used to joke that she bought me the car.
@@AtypicalDriver - Hey, NOTHING wrong with that !
My wife was also a professional (we met at work) and though I made a little more than she did, she occasionally received stock grants my department didn't offer as easily so she would beat me once very few years. I retired a year before her (me at 56, she at 54) and I didn't feel a bit bad about her making more than I did. As a partnership, all was in joint accounts so I always told her to make as much money as she could !
But as a "farm girl" she is very conservative with spending. I've had to teach her to finally start spending some money in retirement because we have way too much saved. I was very lucky to find a woman who made almost as much, probably is smarter, and even thriftier than I was. Not a common problem based on most married couples we know. I definitely hit the spouse lottery, sounds like you did as well.
Yes, I'm extremely lucky. We are equal partners in everything in life. They often say the most important decision you'll ever make is choosing who to marry and I believe that. My wife is also extremely frugal, which I appreciate!
@@AtypicalDriver Absolutely the most important decision. When I got engaged, a co-worker congratulated me and said, "ahh ... the big M" to which I responded "Yes, Merger of Assets."
He looked a little shocked and perhaps thought me somewhat unromantic. I told him that it meant that I had considered all the ramifications and was going into it eyes open as a partnership. Lust and what some consider romance often go away quickly. There should be a deeper consideration and common goals for a lifetime commitment from both.
My wife looks great as well and friends joke that I married "up." But for a relationship to last it has to be built on much more than looks or they often end in divorce in my experience. I probably dated a couple dozen ladies before I found the right one in my early 30s. Definitely worth the time and effort, as you well know. Congrats on also finding the right one;)
It's strange and funny for me to hear how much Americans are afraid of their wives, they have to ask permission even to buy a car.
American women are mean! 😂😭😂
What a story. 🦾
Thank you! 🙏