And if he's lucky, he'll get the Lotus for his 18th or 21st birthday... It would be GREAT to have in college! Noise? When I lived in SoCal, on some long drives in the San Gabriels, even my Miata got tiring... I DID the million dollar highway in my '94 Miata! It was a LOOONG drive, But I loved it, enough to get another!
I feel the same way in my 86. Nice sticky summer tires and a good curvy road and there is nothing better. I have always loved the Elise and definitely see one in my future.
Bro, that quote hit me too. I feel the same in my s2k. I tried to drive a lotus, just a tad too small for me.. but i understand. Lotus elise is an awesome car
Todd, you’re my hero ! I’m done with all these other “car guys” on RUclips. Much respect and your son is lucky to have a father like you. Never sell the Elise, please. They truly don’t make ‘em like that no more.
Any corner is a gift; One of the best automotive quotes I can remember. People always see sports cars and say “that thing must go really fast” or “you ever open it up on the highway?” You can drive a pickup truck really fast. Anything is fast on a highway. Car enthusiasts know that corners and are where the real magic is. Great car. Great trip. Awesome video.
What a wonderful video. Not specifically because of Todd's Elise, though it's truly an awesome car, but because you've done an incredible job of showing what owning a sports car was all about. To me, sports cars involve compromises made in order to enjoy the pureness of the experience only they could offer - an experience that the driver is at the center of as an essential participant in almost every way. While not as pure as Todd's Elise, a S2000 serves my sports car needs these days. When I was in high school, it was a Triumph Spitfire. Despite their vastly different levels of performance, their purpose was the same. There are very few pure sports cars still being offered today. Most every performance vehicle made these days would have been considered a GT when I was young That's still how I tend to look at them today. In addition, the purity of a car like Todd's Elise is now a thing of the past as the electronics permeating today's cars have truly become invasive. Not to mention that most people couldn't stand to sacrifice their own level of comfort to the same degree as Todd. Beyond that, in addition to the many needless things automakers have included with today's performance cars, government regulations have wiped out other aspects of sports cars that made them such unique vehicles in the past. Today's drivers have no choice but to accept some of these things when it comes to modern cars, but they have also been willing to give up the utterly direct relationship that the driver has with a car like the Elise for the sake of ever more impressive performance statistics (much of which will never be put to use on the road). Thus we've ended up with cars now full of things like electronic throttle controls, traction control, infotainment systems, fake engine noises, so on and so forth. I feel very fortunate to able to own the S2000 as a 2nd car. Like Todd, I only tend to use the car during the warmer months and I only put the top up when caught off guard by rain or when starting off in the cold air of early morning. In more than four years now, I have yet to use the stereo as I've never felt the need for it. Yet I find the S2000 to be practically luxurious compared to my other ride, which is a motorcycle. Those wanting a truly visceral experience with supercar levels of performance at a fraction of the cost should try a motorcycle. That said, my riding days are just about over while I plan to hold on to the S2000 until I can no longer get in and out of it. And while my wife won't come near the motorcycle, she actually enjoys the S2000 and would be willing to go just about anywhere with me in it. While it wasn't nearly the car that the S2000 is, I do look back fondly at the old Spitfire I owned when compared to the cars of today. No, it did not offer nearly the same levels of performance or reliability that today's cars do, nowhere close. But when I see cars like the Spitfire and the S2000 fading into distant memories, I am incredibly glad that I've been able to experience them for myself. I'm sure that many others feel the same way about the Elise and countless other older sports cars. Thanks for this video.
Lovely write-up on the reality of more recent and future sports cars. I too own an S2000 and for the past 6 years, have added 110,000 kms which for a few years, was my only car. Where most people would rather drive their comfortable GT-type cars for roadtrips, I chose to drive the S2000 because it’s the experience and memories of driving that I enjoy in addition to the end destination. As they say, they don’t make it like they used to (and never will) so we should hold on to the gems that we have.
@@judge831 that would be a worthwhile exercise. I’ve definitely noticed a huge increase of excited faces and smiles just from seeing cool 90s/early 2000s cars being driven on the road. I think the last 2-3 years have really made people appreciate these cars a lot more for some reason. Probably because of the imminent electric cars
What a beautiful 3/4 view of the rear of this car. I love cars that are not the norm, that are unusual. Anyone can have a Vette or a Porsche. It takes a true enthusiast to own this. Keep this forever.
Each of my sons spent many days with me in our 2006 Elise. Mostly New England and Upper State New York driving on tight turning roads, nothing so open as the extraordinary vistas you shared. We did a bunch of modifications to things like seat position, sound system, exhaust, jammers, etc.. Many trips we did day excursions without the hard top and hid under bridges in rain and wore full ski gear in the winter. Four studded tires are great for the winter. What I most love about this video is the hours I and my boys will never forget. Congratulations to you both.
great vid... made me miss my 2010 Solar Yellow Elise.. had it for 7 years and just switched last summer to the Evora S. I enjoyed solo road tripping with the Elise... though I really didn't do enough top-off driving. Was going to offer one tip: Do NOT sell that car! Drive it, and then drive it more.. But it sounds like you've got that under control!
Beautiful video! Glad to see more on the Elise, especially the road trip with your son! The Elise is my ultimate dream car, it's the reason I try hard in life and seeing you enjoy it despite it's downfalls is a truly a wonderful sight to see. You cannot love something if it does not have any imperfections. The important thing about road trips are the experiences made along the way, not the end result and I love how you and your son have enjoyed ever moment you guys spent together in the Elise. Thanks for the video, more on the Elise in the future please!
The Elise is the best drivers car I've ever been in. It's definitely a bit tight, hard to get in and out of, loud, and useless for anything other than driving... but man does it do that perfectly. The closest car to the Elise I have been in is the Toyota MR2 Spyder with a 2ZZ swap and fully built suspension. If you need something to hold you over until the Elise is attainable, it's really a great option.
That's awesome! All about the experience and enjoying it with family. My longest road trip ever was with my Sti, almost 6000 miles through Ireland, France, Andorra, Spain and Portugal. It was epic! Can't wait to do it again, so my kids can truly experience it this time.
I was working for a defense contractor and we were all pulling in serious OT (early 2000's). Lots of disposable income, the parking lot looked like a Corvette and BMW dealership. One guy wanted something different so he bought a new Lotus Elise. It was his only car and he drove it to work daily. That thing was awesome. He did end up eventually getting a used Civic along with the Lotus for getting groceries and commuting in the rain.
Seriously one of the best car related videos I've seen and I watch a ton of them. You really summed up why we all love driving good cars so much. It was also extra cool you got to enjoy the trip with your son! I'm looking forward to more Elise content in the future.
Love it!! "Any corner I get in this car is a gift." Couldn't agree more. I feel the same about my 987. Being able to share it with your son must have been magical.
The first time we drove the Hogsback we were totally unaware that it existed, and we came in from the north. It was such an amazing surprise to go from a flat(ish) desert area to seeing a glimpse of a deep canyon on one side, then a glimpse of one on the other side, and then on BOTH sides. And then the sides get closer until it's really just pavement and canyon on both sides. Even in an area of Utah that is already jam packed with amazing scenery, it REALLY stands out.
My dad was never able to do this with me, because he wasn’t really into this sort of thing. But I loved it when we went camping, because it was the only time we could get close to something like this. And that was seldom. It makes me happy to know you are doing this with your son. To see the great wide open, natures beauty, great roads America has built, and discovering roads less traveled, because they are less convenient.
When it came time for me to replace my fourth Miata as my daily driver, my wife was encouraging me to buy “something a little more practical.” I was also considering an Elise. My wife loved it, but when it came time to choose, she was insisting that a new Miata “makes a lot more sense” and is now very pleased that her husband took her practical advice! 😆 In a world of relativity, the Elise stands out as something timelessly unique. After driving a few, and watching your videos, I’ve decided that I will get one as a true weekend car! My wife’s nickname is Elise, her favorite color for a sports car is yellow…hmmm…it gave me an idea… She watched your video, and she loved it! Now she’s looking at houses in Colorado! No joke! Not what I had in mind, but getting closer…
They aren't that bad. The boot/trunk is actually bigger than the MX5 I think, but the entrance is smaller. But being mid engine anything you put in there will get cooked and there is a max weight of 50kg.
Another awesome video, Todd! Loved the videography. I’m blessed to own an 2005 Elise and an S2K. S2K is an amazing car but the Elise has so much more raw handling and driving. It’s addicting! It drives as good as the driver. Keep posting and great irreplaceable memories with you son - priceless.
@raykunik4702 That is funny to read. I have a S2K for 13 years now and i still keep it but last week i bought a Elise 2006 too. Next week i will collect the car at the dealer. I hope i will like and keep the Elise as long as my S2K. Wish you loads of fun for many years with your cars! Greetings from the Netherlands.
Easily one of my favorite videos, not just on this channel but on RUclips period. If for no other reason than to see a father share his passion with his son in a pure, undistracted experience. You lived a dream that many dads long to have. Great work, and thank you!!
This honestly is pretty relatable to road tripping on a motorcycle. When you get to those beautiful backroads it is amazing, but you really need some earplugs, be able to put up with discomfort, and the mindless straight drives on the freeway. I bought a new motorcycle this spring and rode 1000 miles home from the bottom of Arizona to the top of Utah over the course of 2 days. You get sore, tired, can be grouchy, etc, but it is so worth it when you find that amazing road
I feel exacty the same about my Elise, although I've never done more than 4 hours of highway at one time. Love the bonding you're having with your son on road trips in a great car. So glad we were able to meet you both at LOG40. Keep the Elise videos coming and Happy Holidays!!!
I owned an 05 Elise after going to England to drive one. My wife and I took it from Indio, california to Pembroke, Virginia and back when in our early fifties. Everything about this video is spot on and I loved the driving video. It brought back such wonderful memories. We also took it to Sand Point, Idaho and back. We put 68,000 miles on it until my mother had a stroke, moved in and my wife quit working. We sold it and paid of debt. Now we own a 2020 Mazda Miata. It sure was fun to go back in time with you and see our Yellow Elise.
My dad and I shared a love for motorcycles and cars. We once drove all day to attend one of the biggest motorcycle sales in the country, leaving before sunrise and returning after dark. It wasn't as romantic as traveling by sports car, and sadly the bed of the El Camino remained empty, but my dad and I had spent the entire time out on the road just talking. It will always be one of my fondest memories. Though my son isn't really into motorcycles or cars (he still prefers driving stick), we've been on many a road trip. I'm now grateful for any and all of the time I have spent with him - cars involved or not.
Great story, and great that you were able to do this with your son. I look forward to taking my daughter on a trip like this some time. And these roads! The Utah 12 scenic byway is one of my favorites! I’ve driven that one twice, both times in winter and in a much more comfortable Audi A3. What a stunning road that is!
Having road-tripped in Caterham (3000+ miles around Europe over a couple of weeks) several times, I can relate to everything Todd says. The car you want in the hills is the fun car, so if that takes a bit of sacrifice to get it there, so be it. Brilliant video, and great to find someone else who wants to use their car for what it was designed for.
In 2021 I took my Shelby GT350 on a cross country road trip from Monterey, CA to Orlando, FL and back. I zig zagged across as many states and POI that I could. I ended up racking up 7000 miles in 3 weeks. It was extremely expensive on fuel, massively impractical and I absolutely loved every second of it. When you hit a good open curvy mountain road, it all becomes SO worth it! Every time I got the chance to drop a gear and listen to the motor sing on a winding canyon, it made me fall in love with the car all over again.
This video has been in my recommended for a few weeks but I've seen many videos on the great Lotus Elise and felt no urgency to watch. I'm so glad I just did. This video is totally unique on RUclips. This is so much more than just another video about a car. It's a video about life. About family. About having memorable experiences. About how being uncomfortable can unlock joy. About appreciating the perfection of imperfection. About the essence of the driving experience. I'm blown away by this 👏👏👏👏👏
Todd, not only do I enjoy Everyday Driver, but I admire you for including your son. My two boys (21 & 23) also have a passion for cars. When we drive, there are no cellphones, tablets, etc. It’s just us…..driving. Thanks for being a great example to dads everywhere.
Nothing better than Father and Son time. A trip your son will remember for the rest of his life. Beautiful car and beautiful scenery. Thanks for this segment and well done.
Great video. I was wondering if you were going to make another one, and I'm glad you did. Last Sept. I took my 05 Elise to Log 40 in Salt Lake City (I live in Vegas) and enjoyed every 1200 miles behind the wheel. So much fun. I wish everyone could get a chance to experience it. Mine's a keeper.
It probably is, that was my thought when i first saw the S1. I took a while but i finally got an used yellow S2 111R 2005, had it for 13 years now. Some oil, tires and the usual car stuff. No biggie even for a regular blue collar guy =)
I was looking at Boxter/Cayman/R4 because these just weren't coming up where I live. Then one came up at Lotus Vancouver. $$$. L-Van now appear to have a few of 'em. Hmm.... New battery, super-glued the slipping reverse selector dealy-gigit on the shifter and no regrets. This is not really a car. It's more like a motorbike you fall into and squeeze out of. Great for motorbike touring if you hate blanketing yourself in leather in summer and freezing in the rain/winter, plus it corners and drives like a sports bike. Driving to work is a blast. Boxter/Cayman/even R4 is more practical as a car, but this is a Lotus. It's not a car, but can be used as one. It gets better fuel economy than my T595.
Please keep making videos like these. The scenery and visceral emotions that a road trip creates are such wonderful feelings. I love being able to see this experience that you and your son were able to enjoy.
Fabulous review of a great sports car thats very specialized ...Todd i have to say my favorite part of this video which had many reasons why I loved this video. My favorite part was you and your son road tripping together, a truly wonderful father son experience. Normally everyday drivers aspect I enjoy so much is that two good friends both Todd and Paul reviewing cars is awesome...Todd and his son doing this show is also something many of us as dads can admire.
To drive that car + at highway speeds + with the top on + without ear plugs = very impressive. As a 2006 Lotus Elise owner (for the past 11yrs), you are a warrior. I can confirm everything that you said about the Elise. Mine has cost me very little money, except for insurance, gas, tires, oil. I have not encountered any major repairs.. The hip space doubles as a cup holder. Your calf falls asleep. Cruise control would be a godsend. What a great and accurate video of Elise ownership. Well done.
I literally got goosebumps when you said "any corner on this car is a gift". I love your video. Thanks for sharing this amazing video. I remember everytime why I fall in love with my car over and over again. Just the fact of taking the long way home, driving through a twisty backtroad for no reason other than driving, it's what freedom feels like, to be able to simply drive the car you love. The small things in life.
I remember my Dad driving me on adventures in Australia when I was young. He always talked about owning a Corvette one day. I’m a car guy now because of my Dad, and since he is older, I drive him places in my Z06 now; he loves every mile.
Fantastic car, fantastic trip, fantastic video! Motorcyclists learn / are willing to put up with a lot of personal discomfort (heat, cold, wet, cramps and aches, ear plugs) in order to ride their machines to reach "the good roads." It certainly looks like the Elise is basically a four-wheeled motorcycle that also extracts some discomfort in order to deliver the reward: a sublime driving experience on a great curvy road.
Great video showing what living with an Elise/Exige is. Bought my Exige in SLC and drove it home to SF. Still own it 15 years later. Will never sell it.
@3:30 Its always hilarious, no matter how good a car is (outside of some new stuff like an m5 or super cars) you can usually improve it a bit with some good quality coilovers. I seen a dude on a video who said he preferred the ride in his Aventador with BC racing coilovers vs the stock suspension.
You are so right about taking the effort to plan when going on a road trip in one of these cars. First time road tripping from Austin TX to Breckenridge CO seemed daunting to do in one day driving my Elise while my hubby takes his "comfy" Evora for 13+ hours in one day. But it just takes that one day of discipline & meticulous planning, and it's days of bliss all around amazing CO mountain roads. Another great point being just finding your comfy spot and just settling in once you are on the road. Once you have your system down, it's really not that bad! Lastly it is so much better if there's another car traveling with you. It was a ton of fun driving from TX to CO then to Utah (and a flock of sheep along the way 😂) for LOG. The drive to and from LOG was the best part of LOG for me 🙂 maybe your son will get his own sports car when he's older and you two can go on a road trip in separate cars!
Thanks for the memories. I loved my 2005 Elise. Bought March 2005 and sold March 2020 with just over 100,000 miles. A few track days, several road trips over 2,000 miles and my daily driver for 9 years. I'd agree with everything you said about the car. I always searched out great roads with little traffic - my favorites being Hwy 1 from Stinson Beach through Fort Bragg, California and Hwy 50 across Nevada (The Loneliest Road in America). The one thing you didn't mention was just how much attention this car got. Even after 100,000 miles. people still gathered around the car as if I was driving a Ferrari. And I loved talking to people about my car and letting kids sit in the drivers seat. I was so lucky and privileged to own this car - and I loved sharing my good fortune with anyone else who admired these fabulous little cars.
There is nothing like a mid engine with top down. I bought a Fiat x1/9 in 1977 in Italy. We traveled the Alps and in the winter we would take the top off roll the windows up and turn on the heat. So much fun. Three cheers for back roads.
Great video! As someone in between toys and prioritizing handling your videos always make me want to go out and buy something! I thought this was especially cool seeing you enjoy this with your son, I do the same with my 10yr old daughter whenever possible (our last one was a C4 corvette we’d randomly road trip for fun). Can’t wait for more!
Sacrifice is the right word. You have to give things up, you have to bring less stuff, you have to have an accommodating (or no) passenger but you can road trip in the Elige platform and it IS worth it. Cruise control is doable and it's not that hard. A/C is worth regassing if it's working, use it or lose it. Tires make a huge difference for wet weather driving in the Elise, it is so light that it will not tolerate average wet tires they have to be good.
Thanks for the reminder of how much I loved my Elise. It was my daily driver for 5 years, and it even made highway driving in traffic fun. It was the most comfortable car I've ever driven, and while I never had the opportunity to take it on a road trip, I would have done so without reservation.
Todd, this is one of the best vids in some time, really amazing feel for the driving experience. I almost bought an Elise TWICE and regret it - twice over - maybe some day I’ll grab one. This damn used market pricing doesn’t help, however. Glad to see you guys continuing to do better and better. John from IL here, I helped with setting up the track day at Autobahn Country Club back in 2016 - man how time flies! Keep up the great work 👏
What an awesome feature, I can really relate to your thought process and feelings towards all aspects. Although not an Elise, but a NA MX5 (Miata). It's setup for track driving, and I drive it everyday, drive it for work. But on those rare times were I get to go out far on my journeys and there is a nice driving road, I am over the moon! I really really enjoyed it, here's to many many more years of Elise adventures! Cheers!
"Rain adds to the adventure" 🙂On my 2nd Elise, and still have it for 22 years. Heartwarming Todd to watch your trip with your son, as he will with his children in many years to come. So don't sell it. Earphones are mandatory on long journey alight. Longest drive was from North London to Helsinki via Germany and Sweden, and never had back issue, like is normal cars, hence their is allot of benefits to the Elise seating position.
Extraordinary video, thank you for sharing. So much of what you said rings true for me and I'm sure a lot of us viewers. I had to let go of my MX-5 last year and there's such a void now in my life. Put more miles on that thing than any car I've ever owned in over 30 years of driving. All of the sacrifices were worth it every time the road turned. Thank god it had cruise control though LOL This also reminded me of road trips I used to take with my dad in his Opel GT in the early 80s. He adored that little coupe. That's what got me interested in cars. Cheers.
Very lovely footage, and extremely enjoyable to watch! While not my type of vehicle, I love seeing people enjoy a car for what it is, especially in such stunning scenery!
Todd, thank you for this inspiring video! I dream about the day when my daughter is old enough so we go on road trips together across Belgium and Germany. That's if she likes sports cars (fingers crossed). Well done, sir
I still have a 1987 RX-7 that I bought new. I have done so many road trips with it, frequently driving 6 hours per leg, without a stop. No problems with air conditioning or noise and the handling is great. Plus, it has a great cruise control.
You sum up very eloquently a lot of the reasons why I love my 2008 Elise SC. The simplicity, the pure driving enjoyment, the reliability and the uniqueness of the experience can't be reproduced by any other car in the modern era.
Great video. Reminds me of the many miles my son and I spent together in my 2009 Bullitt when he was growing up. He came home from the hospital when he was born in the backseat of a V6 mustang.
I had to watch this. Its a good video and my boys love going on trips through the mountains in my lotus.. I bought my turboed Honda K20 swapped Lotus in Raleigh NC on a Saturday, visited my grand parents in Wichita KS, and made it home in Western CO at midnight Sunday. This was almost 4 years ago to the month. I have packed it full of my lineman tools and cloths and drove 13 hours for work in California. Even had my 100lb black lab ride with me back from California in it. I honestly love driving this thing. One thing is it has a alitec shifter in it and will leave a good bruise in my leg from resting on it and the 10 gallon tank makes for a lot of stops. The A/C has never worked, being stuck in traffic in California was the only time I really wished I had it. I'm now building it for drag racing and hopefully will hit race week one year.
As a father I really enjoyed this video. I hope it gets a sequel where your son is driving and telling us what it's like having a car Dad! Maybe he walks down memory lane a bit...
Drove with my wife across the country in my 30 year old Miata. 3000 miles. Did one 24 hour day. No cruise control. Loved it. Great video. Hope I can get an Elise someday. No other car I want.
These are by far, the absolute best modern sports car money can buy. Absolutely gorgeous. And an absolute blast to drive! This is definitely on my bucket list.
Wonderful to see you and your son on this road trip in your bright Elise. Thanks for the beautiful filming. It was great to go over Hogsback again. Just made me appreciate the work your team did in organizing the fall Utah Pilgrimage. Thanks again; it was the highlight of my year! Have a great 2022!
I bought a C5 RS6 that is manual swapped and tuned. We drove it from Portland, OR to Houston, TX and it was an amazing trip to do. There were some amazing roads that I had never driven especially as we were leaving Oregon.
Great video. I live in Colorado. If I am on a mountain road in a not so fun vehicle and a "fun" car comes up behind I immediately pull over for them to go by and give them a thumbs up. I truly wish everyone did the same courtesy.
With this being a very well executed video, you might think that the reality doesn't quite meet the hype. Wrong. Being an Exige owner, (which is pretty much a variant of an Elise), I can say he is spot-on. These cars are unique. There is nothing else I've ever driven or ridden in that comes close to the same experience as driving one of these cars. In fact, the sensory connection with the car is so intense that you don't drive it as much as you wear it. I've had mine for almost 6 years and it is hands down my most prized possession. It is addictive to the point that not driving it regularly is a bit like going through withdrawal. As he said, they are a tight squeeze, especially for a good sized guy like him. But for me, at 5'10", once in, the car is a good fit and reasonably comfortable, with a great driving position. And that's despite being about to turn 62, with a bad back and knees. The fact is that I can't imagine not having it now. The car is just that damned good. And it's been surprisingly reliable, despite the BOE supercharger and suspension and other mods, and high mileage. (It will turn 100,000 miles by the end of this month). They are much cheaper to maintain than a Porsche, and if you can do the maintenance and repairs yourself, they are ridiculously inexpensive compared to any other exotic. That's mainly because they have a reliable Toyota engine and transmission, as well as the fact that they are one British car that actually has good wiring. The other main reason is that they are just so damned simple. No nav system, no power steering, no cruise control. It's just has what you need, and nothing more. He states that it is uncomfortable on long trips, but I've had no problem driving mine for less than 3 hours, and mine could easily be my daily driver. In fact, mine was the previous owner's daily driver. And as simple as these cars are, you can actually afford to rack up the miles and just replace parts as they wear out. A rebuilt engine can be bought from Monkeywrench Racing for around $2000.00. The upshot is that I can't imagine a car that offers more driving enjoyment for the price.
There will be nothing like it on the road for the foreseeable future. How's your fuel economy with the SC? I get about 36 mpUSg on the highway with the non SC. Around town mileage depends on how I drive, but I get about 375km per tank driving "spiritedly".
I wanted 1 of these so badly but couldn't find any 2nd hand in the price range I was in so I bought my ND2 MX-5 instead. No regrets whatsoever but I smile every time I see an Elise! Thanks for the video!
Loved your vid for two very good reasons, first I’m an Elise owner and your report is full of honesty and enthusiasm 👍🏻 secondly your trip brings back so many happy memories of my time testing British cars in the USA especially Colorado and Arizona for Hot sign off. Thank you Sir 👍🏻
Every time I see this guy talking about a car he's been driving, I find myself wanting that car BADLY. And it didn't get any better with two of the cars I already loved and wanted as a teenager: the Nissan 300 ZX and the Lotus Elise. Thanks for another excellent video, Todd!
Glad you enjoyed, thank you! We're thrilled to hear that Todd's commentary resonates with you. We have more Lotus Elise films coming next year. But there are a two more huge 300zx road trip films releasing over the next few months!
The best parts of a road trip are the unplanned joys and the unexpected challenges. The rest is just driving... I've done at least a dozen, but none is a thimble like the Elise - my hat is off to you.
My middle name is Elise so I want one of these so badly just for that alone, not to mention the car is just so cool! Gosh if only I had money haha. Keep up the great videos!
I understand what you mean when you said this car decompressed me. I feel the same way with my 4c spider. Every Mille is driving with passion. You feel alive.
Awesome and truthful video! I have a 2005 Elise (supercharged) an while I’ve owned a ton of very cool cars over the years I can honestly say this is the most fun of all. I almost never have the convertible top installed so it rides in the trunk. I traded a Porsche in (which I loved) to get this car and I’ve never looked back. I’ve never owned a vehicle that I actually get excited when I’m about to drive the thing because it’s just so raw and incredibly fun. It’s not the most friendly car in many respects due to the lack of creature comforts, but if I need that world I just drive the BMW. Totally different experience. Anyway, I applaud you for taking and recording this trip with your son for us to go along for the ride. Great Father-Son time. P.S. I had a bit of a road trip of my own. I bought it in Columbus Ohio and drove it to Arizona. It was a great road trip and a lot of fun.
Love this video Todd. Had my Elise since May after a bunch of the more mainstream small sports cars. My son loves it too, he's a bit young for long trips in it yet but he implores me to bring the 'noisy car' when I pick him up from Nursery, not the family estate! And regards your car, if you think yours is raw, imagine a UK spec S2 - no airbags, no power brakes, 5 speed, no A/C, o power windows, a lot lighter (yes!), and never mind a Series 1!
Thanks for the great video Todd. You are able to put in words exactly what goes through me when taking my car and friends on a road trip. I started my small two-seater life with a Smart Roadster, I currently own Lotus Elise's twin sister car, the Opel Speedster (which might actually be even more rare in Utah than the Elise). And now, thanks to your videos, I am on the verge of choosing a Lightning Yellow Elise S2 instead of a 911 996 4S, mostly thanks to your videos.
The Opel Speedster never came to the US, so the only one I've seen was in Germany! Congrats on a great list of cars and I hope your Yellow S2 treats you well. (Definitely more fun than the 996!) Thanks for watching!
Lotus makes great cars! Always loved them! I drive a yellow 986 but am a lotus fan. I own classic rovers and have been a collector of unique cars for 30 years. Todd you are a real enthusiast! If you are ever in Mass. I can show you some great driving roads! Stay well and all the best!
I just love that you're raising a future car guy. I don't have a son, but I raised two car gals! They even learned to drive a stick. Not their preference for sure, but they definitely appreciated it. My 4 legged boy loves taking drives with me... Enjoy every moment in your fun car!
Amazing. These are the memory's your son will never forget, and in a few years he'll realise how lucky he is to have a dad like you.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of family road trips
And if he's lucky, he'll get the Lotus for his 18th or 21st birthday... It would be GREAT to have in college! Noise? When I lived in SoCal, on some long drives in the San Gabriels, even my Miata got tiring... I DID the million dollar highway in my '94 Miata! It was a LOOONG drive, But I loved it, enough to get another!
@@yankee2yankee216 my dad has a series 3 Elise but I doubt insurance will even let my drive it let alone even asking my dad
you wrote the comment I was going to write. Great video, great times.
@Miles Doyle god wipes my ass everyday
“Any corner that I get in this car… is a gift.” It’s a great way to feel. Speaking of “great”; great video!
Glad you liked it. Thank you!
I feel the same way in my 86. Nice sticky summer tires and a good curvy road and there is nothing better. I have always loved the Elise and definitely see one in my future.
That single quote alone will be what I remember when I take my Elise on the road. It’s the “One small step for man” quote for the Elise.
Bro, that quote hit me too. I feel the same in my s2k. I tried to drive a lotus, just a tad too small for me.. but i understand. Lotus elise is an awesome car
That's a super and memorable quote, even among other Elise quotes.
Todd, you’re my hero ! I’m done with all these other “car guys” on RUclips. Much respect and your son is lucky to have a father like you. Never sell the Elise, please. They truly don’t make ‘em like that no more.
Glad to have you watching, thank you!
hero? for what? Think u need to look up the meaning.... and or get out more. Change ur name. U sure as hell are not a man.
@@FastDuDeJiunn i think ur the one who needs to get out more lol
Any corner is a gift; One of the best automotive quotes I can remember. People always see sports cars and say “that thing must go really fast” or “you ever open it up on the highway?” You can drive a pickup truck really fast. Anything is fast on a highway. Car enthusiasts know that corners and are where the real magic is. Great car. Great trip. Awesome video.
Glad to hear this resonated with you. Thanks for watching!
"these should NOT be taken on road trips"
Immediately proceeds to take a road trip.
When immediately means 4 years.
What a wonderful video. Not specifically because of Todd's Elise, though it's truly an awesome car, but because you've done an incredible job of showing what owning a sports car was all about. To me, sports cars involve compromises made in order to enjoy the pureness of the experience only they could offer - an experience that the driver is at the center of as an essential participant in almost every way. While not as pure as Todd's Elise, a S2000 serves my sports car needs these days. When I was in high school, it was a Triumph Spitfire. Despite their vastly different levels of performance, their purpose was the same.
There are very few pure sports cars still being offered today. Most every performance vehicle made these days would have been considered a GT when I was young That's still how I tend to look at them today. In addition, the purity of a car like Todd's Elise is now a thing of the past as the electronics permeating today's cars have truly become invasive. Not to mention that most people couldn't stand to sacrifice their own level of comfort to the same degree as Todd. Beyond that, in addition to the many needless things automakers have included with today's performance cars, government regulations have wiped out other aspects of sports cars that made them such unique vehicles in the past. Today's drivers have no choice but to accept some of these things when it comes to modern cars, but they have also been willing to give up the utterly direct relationship that the driver has with a car like the Elise for the sake of ever more impressive performance statistics (much of which will never be put to use on the road). Thus we've ended up with cars now full of things like electronic throttle controls, traction control, infotainment systems, fake engine noises, so on and so forth.
I feel very fortunate to able to own the S2000 as a 2nd car. Like Todd, I only tend to use the car during the warmer months and I only put the top up when caught off guard by rain or when starting off in the cold air of early morning. In more than four years now, I have yet to use the stereo as I've never felt the need for it. Yet I find the S2000 to be practically luxurious compared to my other ride, which is a motorcycle. Those wanting a truly visceral experience with supercar levels of performance at a fraction of the cost should try a motorcycle. That said, my riding days are just about over while I plan to hold on to the S2000 until I can no longer get in and out of it. And while my wife won't come near the motorcycle, she actually enjoys the S2000 and would be willing to go just about anywhere with me in it. While it wasn't nearly the car that the S2000 is, I do look back fondly at the old Spitfire I owned when compared to the cars of today. No, it did not offer nearly the same levels of performance or reliability that today's cars do, nowhere close. But when I see cars like the Spitfire and the S2000 fading into distant memories, I am incredibly glad that I've been able to experience them for myself. I'm sure that many others feel the same way about the Elise and countless other older sports cars. Thanks for this video.
Lovely write-up on the reality of more recent and future sports cars. I too own an S2000 and for the past 6 years, have added 110,000 kms which for a few years, was my only car. Where most people would rather drive their comfortable GT-type cars for roadtrips, I chose to drive the S2000 because it’s the experience and memories of driving that I enjoy in addition to the end destination. As they say, they don’t make it like they used to (and never will) so we should hold on to the gems that we have.
@@Hafizkamsadi Well said. Enjoy!
91 MR2 turbo with manual steering owner here. This comment really motivates me to fix me T-tops and brakes and get my baby back on the road.
@@judge831 that would be a worthwhile exercise. I’ve definitely noticed a huge increase of excited faces and smiles just from seeing cool 90s/early 2000s cars being driven on the road. I think the last 2-3 years have really made people appreciate these cars a lot more for some reason. Probably because of the imminent electric cars
Caterham owner here...I thought an Elise was a GT??!! 😄 Well said Mate. Merry Christmas to You and Your's. 👍
Beautiful piece, y’all. Father and son in a great car on great roads.
What a beautiful 3/4 view of the rear of this car. I love cars that are not the norm, that are unusual. Anyone can have a Vette or a Porsche. It takes a true enthusiast to own this. Keep this forever.
Doubt my son will let me get rid of it! - Todd
I own a Vette and absolutely love it. But I still want an Elise. It's a shame we won't be seeing cars like it made anymore.
@@EverydayDriver So you're saying he's being raised right 😉
@@dmk0210 The new Alpine is cool ! Probably will be a classic as well in a few years
@@stefanck Agreed. I wish we could get that car in the USA. I'd pick that over a Cayman for sure.
Each of my sons spent many days with me in our 2006 Elise. Mostly New England and Upper State New York driving on tight turning roads, nothing so open as the extraordinary vistas you shared. We did a bunch of modifications to things like seat position, sound system, exhaust, jammers, etc.. Many trips we did day excursions without the hard top and hid under bridges in rain and wore full ski gear in the winter. Four studded tires are great for the winter. What I most love about this video is the hours I and my boys will never forget. Congratulations to you both.
You're an awesome dad. I wanna be this way when I get sons of my own.
I'm in the Boston area. How does the Elise handle potholes, construction zones, speed bumps etc?
Only drove the Elise once, and it was awesome! I bought an Evora right after, but regret didn’t buy both when the Elise was still affordable.
Why are they so expensive now? Used to be around 25-30k
@@Grant849 people realize how great they are
@@nintense1 yeah that must be, i was going to get one when it was 25-30k but now might as well get an Evora
@@Grant849 the Evora price is also on the rise… you better be hurry
You're a great dad, going time, not just money with your son. You're creating priceless memories.
That final scene on day 4….the perfect S-turn….the Elise’ happy place. 😊
great vid... made me miss my 2010 Solar Yellow Elise.. had it for 7 years and just switched last summer to the Evora S. I enjoyed solo road tripping with the Elise... though I really didn't do enough top-off driving. Was going to offer one tip: Do NOT sell that car! Drive it, and then drive it more.. But it sounds like you've got that under control!
Beautiful video! Glad to see more on the Elise, especially the road trip with your son! The Elise is my ultimate dream car, it's the reason I try hard in life and seeing you enjoy it despite it's downfalls is a truly a wonderful sight to see. You cannot love something if it does not have any imperfections. The important thing about road trips are the experiences made along the way, not the end result and I love how you and your son have enjoyed ever moment you guys spent together in the Elise. Thanks for the video, more on the Elise in the future please!
The Elise is the best drivers car I've ever been in. It's definitely a bit tight, hard to get in and out of, loud, and useless for anything other than driving... but man does it do that perfectly. The closest car to the Elise I have been in is the Toyota MR2 Spyder with a 2ZZ swap and fully built suspension. If you need something to hold you over until the Elise is attainable, it's really a great option.
That's awesome! All about the experience and enjoying it with family. My longest road trip ever was with my Sti, almost 6000 miles through Ireland, France, Andorra, Spain and Portugal. It was epic! Can't wait to do it again, so my kids can truly experience it this time.
I was working for a defense contractor and we were all pulling in serious OT (early 2000's). Lots of disposable income, the parking lot looked like a Corvette and BMW dealership. One guy wanted something different so he bought a new Lotus Elise. It was his only car and he drove it to work daily. That thing was awesome. He did end up eventually getting a used Civic along with the Lotus for getting groceries and commuting in the rain.
Seriously one of the best car related videos I've seen and I watch a ton of them. You really summed up why we all love driving good cars so much. It was also extra cool you got to enjoy the trip with your son! I'm looking forward to more Elise content in the future.
Love it!! "Any corner I get in this car is a gift." Couldn't agree more. I feel the same about my 987. Being able to share it with your son must have been magical.
The first time we drove the Hogsback we were totally unaware that it existed, and we came in from the north. It was such an amazing surprise to go from a flat(ish) desert area to seeing a glimpse of a deep canyon on one side, then a glimpse of one on the other side, and then on BOTH sides. And then the sides get closer until it's really just pavement and canyon on both sides. Even in an area of Utah that is already jam packed with amazing scenery, it REALLY stands out.
So great! I just returned from a cross country road trip with my son in our new fun car. Made memories we won't soon forget.
My dad was never able to do this with me, because he wasn’t really into this sort of thing. But I loved it when we went camping, because it was the only time we could get close to something like this. And that was seldom. It makes me happy to know you are doing this with your son. To see the great wide open, natures beauty, great roads America has built, and discovering roads less traveled, because they are less convenient.
Absolutely wonderful piece. Your passion for the car was great but sharing it with your son makes it amazing. Great work!
Thats how a car guy is made I remeber the trips to train and car musueams in my dads 88 foxbody
The Lotus Elise: for people who think an MR2 Spyder is too practical.
(Thanks for another great video!)
When it came time for me to replace my fourth Miata as my daily driver, my wife was encouraging me to buy “something a little more practical.”
I was also considering an Elise. My wife loved it, but when it came time to choose, she was insisting that a new Miata “makes a lot more sense” and is now very pleased that her husband took her practical advice! 😆
In a world of relativity, the Elise stands out as something timelessly unique. After driving a few, and watching your videos, I’ve decided that I will get one as a true weekend car!
My wife’s nickname is Elise, her favorite color for a sports car is yellow…hmmm…it gave me an idea…
She watched your video, and she loved it! Now she’s looking at houses in Colorado! No joke! Not what I had in mind, but getting closer…
They aren't that bad. The boot/trunk is actually bigger than the MX5 I think, but the entrance is smaller. But being mid engine anything you put in there will get cooked and there is a max weight of 50kg.
Another awesome video, Todd! Loved the videography. I’m blessed to own an 2005 Elise and an S2K. S2K is an amazing car but the Elise has so much more raw handling and driving. It’s addicting! It drives as good as the driver. Keep posting and great irreplaceable memories with you son - priceless.
@raykunik4702
That is funny to read. I have a S2K for 13 years now and i still keep it but last week i bought a Elise 2006 too.
Next week i will collect the car at the dealer.
I hope i will like and keep the Elise as long as my S2K.
Wish you loads of fun for many years with your cars!
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Easily one of my favorite videos, not just on this channel but on RUclips period. If for no other reason than to see a father share his passion with his son in a pure, undistracted experience. You lived a dream that many dads long to have. Great work, and thank you!!
Great driving roads, and one on one time with your kid, who also enjoys the experience. Those are memories that last a lifetime.
This honestly is pretty relatable to road tripping on a motorcycle. When you get to those beautiful backroads it is amazing, but you really need some earplugs, be able to put up with discomfort, and the mindless straight drives on the freeway. I bought a new motorcycle this spring and rode 1000 miles home from the bottom of Arizona to the top of Utah over the course of 2 days. You get sore, tired, can be grouchy, etc, but it is so worth it when you find that amazing road
I feel exacty the same about my Elise, although I've never done more than 4 hours of highway at one time. Love the bonding you're having with your son on road trips in a great car. So glad we were able to meet you both at LOG40. Keep the Elise videos coming and Happy Holidays!!!
I owned an 05 Elise after going to England to drive one. My wife and I took it from Indio, california to Pembroke, Virginia and back when in our early fifties. Everything about this video is spot on and I loved the driving video. It brought back such wonderful memories. We also took it to Sand Point, Idaho and back. We put 68,000 miles on it until my mother had a stroke, moved in and my wife quit working. We sold it and paid of debt. Now we own a 2020 Mazda Miata. It sure was fun to go back in time with you and see our Yellow Elise.
My dad and I shared a love for motorcycles and cars. We once drove all day to attend one of the biggest motorcycle sales in the country, leaving before sunrise and returning after dark. It wasn't as romantic as traveling by sports car, and sadly the bed of the El Camino remained empty, but my dad and I had spent the entire time out on the road just talking. It will always be one of my fondest memories. Though my son isn't really into motorcycles or cars (he still prefers driving stick), we've been on many a road trip. I'm now grateful for any and all of the time I have spent with him - cars involved or not.
Great story, and great that you were able to do this with your son. I look forward to taking my daughter on a trip like this some time. And these roads! The Utah 12 scenic byway is one of my favorites! I’ve driven that one twice, both times in winter and in a much more comfortable Audi A3. What a stunning road that is!
Having road-tripped in Caterham (3000+ miles around Europe over a couple of weeks) several times, I can relate to everything Todd says. The car you want in the hills is the fun car, so if that takes a bit of sacrifice to get it there, so be it. Brilliant video, and great to find someone else who wants to use their car for what it was designed for.
An Elise is a Bentley inside compared to a Caterham/Lotus 7. Serious Kudos for making that trip !
There are some people in the UK who daily Caterhams :P
In 2021 I took my Shelby GT350 on a cross country road trip from Monterey, CA to Orlando, FL and back. I zig zagged across as many states and POI that I could. I ended up racking up 7000 miles in 3 weeks. It was extremely expensive on fuel, massively impractical and I absolutely loved every second of it. When you hit a good open curvy mountain road, it all becomes SO worth it! Every time I got the chance to drop a gear and listen to the motor sing on a winding canyon, it made me fall in love with the car all over again.
Great story about getting out and enjoying your car. I need to do a road trip and see more of this country. Nice Father and Son time.
I gotta say, I enjoy the content with your own cars far more than the new car reviews. Looking forward to seeing more of the 300ZX and 928
''My head almost never touches [the roof]''. I love the coping
This video has been in my recommended for a few weeks but I've seen many videos on the great Lotus Elise and felt no urgency to watch. I'm so glad I just did. This video is totally unique on RUclips. This is so much more than just another video about a car. It's a video about life. About family. About having memorable experiences. About how being uncomfortable can unlock joy. About appreciating the perfection of imperfection. About the essence of the driving experience. I'm blown away by this 👏👏👏👏👏
Very flattered by your comments. You completely got what was intended. Thank you for watching, and thrilled you enjoyed! - Todd
@@EverydayDriver My pleasure, Todd. Thanks for the reply and keep up the great work. Merry Christmas 🎄 and Happy Holidays!
Todd, not only do I enjoy Everyday Driver, but I admire you for including your son. My two boys (21 & 23) also have a passion for cars. When we drive, there are no cellphones, tablets, etc. It’s just us…..driving. Thanks for being a great example to dads everywhere.
Nothing better than Father and Son time. A trip your son will remember for the rest of his life. Beautiful car and beautiful scenery. Thanks for this segment and well done.
Great video. I was wondering if you were going to make another one, and I'm glad you did.
Last Sept. I took my 05 Elise to Log 40 in Salt Lake City (I live in Vegas) and enjoyed every 1200 miles behind the wheel. So much fun. I wish everyone could get a chance to experience it. Mine's a keeper.
Todd was at LOG40 for picture day. Glad you made it up here and enjoyed it!
The Elise is what I call my "realistic dream car". Looked like an incredible experience.
It probably is, that was my thought when i first saw the S1. I took a while but i finally got an used yellow S2 111R 2005, had it for 13 years now. Some oil, tires and the usual car stuff. No biggie even for a regular blue collar guy =)
I can vouch personally that the Elise is 100% worth it
I was looking at Boxter/Cayman/R4 because these just weren't coming up where I live. Then one came up at Lotus Vancouver. $$$. L-Van now appear to have a few of 'em. Hmm.... New battery, super-glued the slipping reverse selector dealy-gigit on the shifter and no regrets. This is not really a car. It's more like a motorbike you fall into and squeeze out of. Great for motorbike touring if you hate blanketing yourself in leather in summer and freezing in the rain/winter, plus it corners and drives like a sports bike. Driving to work is a blast. Boxter/Cayman/even R4 is more practical as a car, but this is a Lotus. It's not a car, but can be used as one. It gets better fuel economy than my T595.
Please keep making videos like these. The scenery and visceral emotions that a road trip creates are such wonderful feelings. I love being able to see this experience that you and your son were able to enjoy.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching and letting us know!
Fabulous review of a great sports car thats very specialized ...Todd i have to say my favorite part of this video which had many reasons why I loved this video. My favorite part was you and your son road tripping together, a truly wonderful father son experience.
Normally everyday drivers aspect I enjoy so much is that two good friends both Todd and Paul reviewing cars is awesome...Todd and his son doing this show is also something many of us as dads can admire.
Thank you for being a long time viewer!
To drive that car + at highway speeds + with the top on + without ear plugs = very impressive. As a 2006 Lotus Elise owner (for the past 11yrs), you are a warrior. I can confirm everything that you said about the Elise. Mine has cost me very little money, except for insurance, gas, tires, oil. I have not encountered any major repairs.. The hip space doubles as a cup holder. Your calf falls asleep. Cruise control would be a godsend. What a great and accurate video of Elise ownership. Well done.
Videos like this are why I am and will continue to be subscribed to Everyday Driver. This is fantastic.
Glad you enjoyed this. Thank you!
You seem like a really cool dad. I bet your son loves going on drives with you. He will have lots of happy memories!
I literally got goosebumps when you said "any corner on this car is a gift". I love your video. Thanks for sharing this amazing video. I remember everytime why I fall in love with my car over and over again. Just the fact of taking the long way home, driving through a twisty backtroad for no reason other than driving, it's what freedom feels like, to be able to simply drive the car you love. The small things in life.
I remember my Dad driving me on adventures in Australia when I was young. He always talked about owning a Corvette one day. I’m a car guy now because of my Dad, and since he is older, I drive him places in my Z06 now; he loves every mile.
Jesus.. if only all car videos could be like this. Then a classic Elise?? Epic.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic car, fantastic trip, fantastic video! Motorcyclists learn / are willing to put up with a lot of personal discomfort (heat, cold, wet, cramps and aches, ear plugs) in order to ride their machines to reach "the good roads." It certainly looks like the Elise is basically a four-wheeled motorcycle that also extracts some discomfort in order to deliver the reward: a sublime driving experience on a great curvy road.
Great video showing what living with an Elise/Exige is. Bought my Exige in SLC and drove it home to SF. Still own it 15 years later. Will never sell it.
@3:30 Its always hilarious, no matter how good a car is (outside of some new stuff like an m5 or super cars) you can usually improve it a bit with some good quality coilovers. I seen a dude on a video who said he preferred the ride in his Aventador with BC racing coilovers vs the stock suspension.
You are so right about taking the effort to plan when going on a road trip in one of these cars. First time road tripping from Austin TX to Breckenridge CO seemed daunting to do in one day driving my Elise while my hubby takes his "comfy" Evora for 13+ hours in one day. But it just takes that one day of discipline & meticulous planning, and it's days of bliss all around amazing CO mountain roads. Another great point being just finding your comfy spot and just settling in once you are on the road. Once you have your system down, it's really not that bad! Lastly it is so much better if there's another car traveling with you. It was a ton of fun driving from TX to CO then to Utah (and a flock of sheep along the way 😂) for LOG. The drive to and from LOG was the best part of LOG for me 🙂 maybe your son will get his own sports car when he's older and you two can go on a road trip in separate cars!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Was good to see you and Chris at LOG.
Thanks for the memories. I loved my 2005 Elise. Bought March 2005 and sold March 2020 with just over 100,000 miles. A few track days, several road trips over 2,000 miles and my daily driver for 9 years. I'd agree with everything you said about the car. I always searched out great roads with little traffic - my favorites being Hwy 1 from Stinson Beach through Fort Bragg, California and Hwy 50 across Nevada (The Loneliest Road in America). The one thing you didn't mention was just how much attention this car got. Even after 100,000 miles. people still gathered around the car as if I was driving a Ferrari. And I loved talking to people about my car and letting kids sit in the drivers seat. I was so lucky and privileged to own this car - and I loved sharing my good fortune with anyone else who admired these fabulous little cars.
There is nothing like a mid engine with top down. I bought a Fiat x1/9 in 1977 in Italy. We traveled the Alps and in the winter we would take the top off roll the windows up and turn on the heat. So much fun. Three cheers for back roads.
Such a beautiful moment! You can tell your son sees and is into your passion.
Great video!
As someone in between toys and prioritizing handling your videos always make me want to go out and buy something! I thought this was especially cool seeing you enjoy this with your son, I do the same with my 10yr old daughter whenever possible (our last one was a C4 corvette we’d randomly road trip for fun).
Can’t wait for more!
Get an Evora; they're even better for road trips
@@EvoraGT430 that would be sick, but that would also cost more than my house…
Sacrifice is the right word. You have to give things up, you have to bring less stuff, you have to have an accommodating (or no) passenger but you can road trip in the Elige platform and it IS worth it.
Cruise control is doable and it's not that hard.
A/C is worth regassing if it's working, use it or lose it.
Tires make a huge difference for wet weather driving in the Elise, it is so light that it will not tolerate average wet tires they have to be good.
Thanks for the reminder of how much I loved my Elise. It was my daily driver for 5 years, and it even made highway driving in traffic fun. It was the most comfortable car I've ever driven, and while I never had the opportunity to take it on a road trip, I would have done so without reservation.
Todd, this is one of the best vids in some time, really amazing feel for the driving experience. I almost bought an Elise TWICE and regret it - twice over - maybe some day I’ll grab one. This damn used market pricing doesn’t help, however. Glad to see you guys continuing to do better and better. John from IL here, I helped with setting up the track day at Autobahn Country Club back in 2016 - man how time flies! Keep up the great work 👏
Cool to hear from you and glad you enjoyed this!
What an awesome feature, I can really relate to your thought process and feelings towards all aspects. Although not an Elise, but a NA MX5 (Miata). It's setup for track driving, and I drive it everyday, drive it for work. But on those rare times were I get to go out far on my journeys and there is a nice driving road, I am over the moon!
I really really enjoyed it, here's to many many more years of Elise adventures! Cheers!
Glad this resonated with you. Thanks for watching!
"Rain adds to the adventure" 🙂On my 2nd Elise, and still have it for 22 years. Heartwarming Todd to watch your trip with your son, as he will with his children in many years to come. So don't sell it. Earphones are mandatory on long journey alight. Longest drive was from North London to Helsinki via Germany and Sweden, and never had back issue, like is normal cars, hence their is allot of benefits to the Elise seating position.
The highlight of this video is a father spending time with his son! Nice Lotus
Extraordinary video, thank you for sharing. So much of what you said rings true for me and I'm sure a lot of us viewers. I had to let go of my MX-5 last year and there's such a void now in my life. Put more miles on that thing than any car I've ever owned in over 30 years of driving. All of the sacrifices were worth it every time the road turned. Thank god it had cruise control though LOL
This also reminded me of road trips I used to take with my dad in his Opel GT in the early 80s. He adored that little coupe. That's what got me interested in cars. Cheers.
Very lovely footage, and extremely enjoyable to watch! While not my type of vehicle, I love seeing people enjoy a car for what it is, especially in such stunning scenery!
Todd, thank you for this inspiring video! I dream about the day when my daughter is old enough so we go on road trips together across Belgium and Germany. That's if she likes sports cars (fingers crossed). Well done, sir
Thank you. We're wishing you many great road trips!
I still have a 1987 RX-7 that I bought new. I have done so many road trips with it, frequently driving 6 hours per leg, without a stop. No problems with air conditioning or noise and the handling is great. Plus, it has a great cruise control.
You sum up very eloquently a lot of the reasons why I love my 2008 Elise SC. The simplicity, the pure driving enjoyment, the reliability and the uniqueness of the experience can't be reproduced by any other car in the modern era.
Glad it rang true with you. Thanks or watching!
Great video. Reminds me of the many miles my son and I spent together in my 2009 Bullitt when he was growing up. He came home from the hospital when he was born in the backseat of a V6 mustang.
I had to watch this. Its a good video and my boys love going on trips through the mountains in my lotus..
I bought my turboed Honda K20 swapped Lotus in Raleigh NC on a Saturday, visited my grand parents in Wichita KS, and made it home in Western CO at midnight Sunday. This was almost 4 years ago to the month. I have packed it full of my lineman tools and cloths and drove 13 hours for work in California. Even had my 100lb black lab ride with me back from California in it.
I honestly love driving this thing. One thing is it has a alitec shifter in it and will leave a good bruise in my leg from resting on it and the 10 gallon tank makes for a lot of stops. The A/C has never worked, being stuck in traffic in California was the only time I really wished I had it. I'm now building it for drag racing and hopefully will hit race week one year.
As a father I really enjoyed this video. I hope it gets a sequel where your son is driving and telling us what it's like having a car Dad! Maybe he walks down memory lane a bit...
We do hope to add to this series. And Todd’s son is desperate to drive the Elise, even though that’s still a few years away.
Drove with my wife across the country in my 30 year old Miata. 3000 miles. Did one 24 hour day. No cruise control. Loved it. Great video. Hope I can get an Elise someday. No other car I want.
These are by far, the absolute best modern sports car money can buy.
Absolutely gorgeous.
And an absolute blast to drive!
This is definitely on my bucket list.
Wonderful to see you and your son on this road trip in your bright Elise. Thanks for the beautiful filming. It was great to go over Hogsback again. Just made me appreciate the work your team did in organizing the fall Utah Pilgrimage. Thanks again; it was the highlight of my year! Have a great 2022!
I'll never forget the many hours I've spent with my miata in Japan's mountains. I quite nearly teared up at this video.
Glad this resonated with you. Thanks for watching!
Have had mine since 2006 and it puts a smile on my face to this day, an incredibly analog car that can not be replicated in this era
I bought a C5 RS6 that is manual swapped and tuned. We drove it from Portland, OR to Houston, TX and it was an amazing trip to do. There were some amazing roads that I had never driven especially as we were leaving Oregon.
Great video. I live in Colorado. If I am on a mountain road in a not so fun vehicle and a "fun" car comes up behind I immediately pull over for them to go by and give them a thumbs up. I truly wish everyone did the same courtesy.
What a great thing for you two to be able to do together. Utterly adorable.
With this being a very well executed video, you might think that the reality doesn't quite meet the hype.
Wrong.
Being an Exige owner, (which is pretty much a variant of an Elise), I can say he is spot-on. These cars are unique. There is nothing else I've ever driven or ridden in that comes close to the same experience as driving one of these cars. In fact, the sensory connection with the car is so intense that you don't drive it as much as you wear it.
I've had mine for almost 6 years and it is hands down my most prized possession. It is addictive to the point that not driving it regularly is a bit like going through withdrawal. As he said, they are a tight squeeze, especially for a good sized guy like him. But for me, at 5'10", once in, the car is a good fit and reasonably comfortable, with a great driving position. And that's despite being about to turn 62, with a bad back and knees.
The fact is that I can't imagine not having it now. The car is just that damned good. And it's been surprisingly reliable, despite the BOE supercharger and suspension and other mods, and high mileage. (It will turn 100,000 miles by the end of this month). They are much cheaper to maintain than a Porsche, and if you can do the maintenance and repairs yourself, they are ridiculously inexpensive compared to any other exotic. That's mainly because they have a reliable Toyota engine and transmission, as well as the fact that they are one British car that actually has good wiring. The other main reason is that they are just so damned simple. No nav system, no power steering, no cruise control. It's just has what you need, and nothing more.
He states that it is uncomfortable on long trips, but I've had no problem driving mine for less than 3 hours, and mine could easily be my daily driver. In fact, mine was the previous owner's daily driver. And as simple as these cars are, you can actually afford to rack up the miles and just replace parts as they wear out. A rebuilt engine can be bought from Monkeywrench Racing for around $2000.00.
The upshot is that I can't imagine a car that offers more driving enjoyment for the price.
There will be nothing like it on the road for the foreseeable future. How's your fuel economy with the SC? I get about 36 mpUSg on the highway with the non SC. Around town mileage depends on how I drive, but I get about 375km per tank driving "spiritedly".
The soundless montage in the middle with the piano just locked it in for me. How beautiful.
What a lucky lad to have you as his dad. Fab 🙏🏼💚👍
I wish I had such a car when my kids were young. Enjoy the memories.
I wanted 1 of these so badly but couldn't find any 2nd hand in the price range I was in so I bought my ND2 MX-5 instead. No regrets whatsoever but I smile every time I see an Elise! Thanks for the video!
ND2s are awesome. Thanks for watching!
Loved your vid for two very good reasons, first I’m an Elise owner and your report is full of honesty and enthusiasm 👍🏻 secondly your trip brings back so many happy memories of my time testing British cars in the USA especially Colorado and Arizona for Hot sign off. Thank you Sir 👍🏻
Every time I see this guy talking about a car he's been driving, I find myself wanting that car BADLY. And it didn't get any better with two of the cars I already loved and wanted as a teenager: the Nissan 300 ZX and the Lotus Elise. Thanks for another excellent video, Todd!
Glad you enjoyed, thank you! We're thrilled to hear that Todd's commentary resonates with you. We have more Lotus Elise films coming next year. But there are a two more huge 300zx road trip films releasing over the next few months!
I miss my 92 NA Miata!!! I did this with my son one weekend. Amazing time and memories. We need more cars like this!
The best parts of a road trip are the unplanned joys and the unexpected challenges. The rest is just driving... I've done at least a dozen, but none is a thimble like the Elise - my hat is off to you.
Reminds me of the cross country trips I did I
in a tuned up ‘65 Karmann Ghia. Similar road feel and loud cabin noise.
So fun
My middle name is Elise so I want one of these so badly just for that alone, not to mention the car is just so cool! Gosh if only I had money haha. Keep up the great videos!
I understand what you mean when you said this car decompressed me. I feel the same way with my 4c spider. Every Mille is driving with passion. You feel alive.
A wonderful video as usual but even more so because you were happily suffering through it all in your Lotus. Cheers
Thank you, man. I know you appreciate it!
Awesome and truthful video! I have a 2005 Elise (supercharged) an while I’ve owned a ton of very cool cars over the years I can honestly say this is the most fun of all. I almost never have the convertible top installed so it rides in the trunk. I traded a Porsche in (which I loved) to get this car and I’ve never looked back. I’ve never owned a vehicle that I actually get excited when I’m about to drive the thing because it’s just so raw and incredibly fun. It’s not the most friendly car in many respects due to the lack of creature comforts, but if I need that world I just drive the BMW. Totally different experience.
Anyway, I applaud you for taking and recording this trip with your son for us to go along for the ride. Great Father-Son time.
P.S. I had a bit of a road trip of my own. I bought it in Columbus Ohio and drove it to Arizona. It was a great road trip and a lot of fun.
Such a cool little car. This is why I have a c5 corvette. That removable top is priceless
Love this video Todd. Had my Elise since May after a bunch of the more mainstream small sports cars. My son loves it too, he's a bit young for long trips in it yet but he implores me to bring the 'noisy car' when I pick him up from Nursery, not the family estate!
And regards your car, if you think yours is raw, imagine a UK spec S2 - no airbags, no power brakes, 5 speed, no A/C, o power windows, a lot lighter (yes!), and never mind a Series 1!
What a wonderful way to bond with your son! These are lifelong memories. Well done!
Thanks for the great video Todd. You are able to put in words exactly what goes through me when taking my car and friends on a road trip. I started my small two-seater life with a Smart Roadster, I currently own Lotus Elise's twin sister car, the Opel Speedster (which might actually be even more rare in Utah than the Elise). And now, thanks to your videos, I am on the verge of choosing a Lightning Yellow Elise S2 instead of a 911 996 4S, mostly thanks to your videos.
The Opel Speedster never came to the US, so the only one I've seen was in Germany! Congrats on a great list of cars and I hope your Yellow S2 treats you well. (Definitely more fun than the 996!) Thanks for watching!
Finally some more Elise content! Been waiting for this. Such a beautiful car and great to see you enjoying it, Todd! I must own one
Lotus makes great cars! Always loved them! I drive a yellow 986 but am a lotus fan. I own classic rovers and have been a collector of unique cars for 30 years. Todd you are a real enthusiast! If you are ever in Mass. I can show you some great driving roads! Stay well and all the best!
I just love that you're raising a future car guy. I don't have a son, but I raised two car gals! They even learned to drive a stick. Not their preference for sure, but they definitely appreciated it. My 4 legged boy loves taking drives with me... Enjoy every moment in your fun car!