Nah. '02-'04 models got a revised intake and a slightly different cam ... 405HP, 400 ft-lbs TQ. I got a chance to co-drive an '04 Z06 this weekend .... the Elise ain't got nuthin' on the current badboy in SS. The Z06 has 300+ ft-lbs TQ available at 1800rpm. You have power EVERYWHERE on course. The suspension tuning on the Z06 is very well done ... IOW, you can do stupid, stupid stuff and the car will still make the entry point at fast speeds. Being THAT far down on the power-to-weight, the Elise is going to have to make up a lot of time in other places on course. On big, national level courses, it should do pretty well and possibly give some SS competitors a little healthy competition. But, not a class killer.

Also, two things to note that haven't been mentioned here. (1)The US-spec Elise will NOT be coming with an LSD. VERY bad for auto-xers. A Torsen would be the perfect finish to the current Elise specs. (2)There is question on whether a 205 will tuck underneath the front fenders. Why is that important, you ask? Because nobody makes a 195 R-compound tire. Imagine having to run with Falkens on the fronts and Hoosiers on the rear ... can you spell understeer? Here, I'll make it easier for you ..... P..L..O..W.


That's exactly what I've been saying (on other forums ). The new AS ... home of the new and old. The Elise, C4 vette AND non-Z06 C5 vettes, Boxster S, RX-7 TT, and the new '04 S2000 (i.e. the engine that should have gone into the Elise). I'd honestly give consideration to returning my car to fully bone stock, if that were to happen. (And if nobody buys it. ) There's a healthy mix of equally competitive cars.

 

Thats my favorite part too.

Also, I have known several guys who have owned a Lotus and they are all deathly afraid of the horrid repair bills that come along with running them hard. They have also stated on several occasions that they hesitate to mod them because it directly effects there desirability in the resale market.

Just some more food for thought with all of you prospective buyers out there.

 

Sorry, but it's not as lopsided as you think. You're forgetting about something else that every car has to negotiate on a road course with regards to weight: braking.

It's going to take a lot more space for the heavier FD or Z06 to slow down, especially since they'll be building more speed down the straight than the little 160hp Elise. That, plus the higher corner speed (in all areas- entrance, midcorner, and exit) of the Elise- -not to mention a shorter wheelbase-- equates to a major advantage.

Yep, you'll be laughing at the Elise as you blow by it down the straight, but then your jaw will drop when it comes blowing by you like you were tied to a post as you brake for a corner. And then each corner will gradually see you lose more ground each time.

Of course, this whole thread/argument takes into account the skill of the driver. As Baron Manfred Von Richtofen said: "The quality of the crate matters little; the person behind the controls is what makes the difference."

That said, I'd still prefer my FD on a road course and the street (not an autox), especially for the reasons stated by FormerPorscheGuy. Oh, and the lack of LSD.

 

My story is in the kill section. I am proud to say that I was the one doing the "killing". I wasn't the victim. The Elise was fast, and made a good showing from 0-80. Of course, this was a drag race from a stop. If he were a very good driver, he may have been able to beat me in the "twisties".

 

sorry, double post.

 

lol its an elise !!! wow, they're so common over here in the uk, i must see about 5 a day!!

they're good for 0-60 thats it, i've beat loads on the road, they've got a crap top speed so around 100ish im flying past them. nothing to worry about at all!!!

i've been in loads, the build quality is crap, so many sqeaks and rattles, driving position is horrible, you are literally sitting on the floor and its very uncomfortable!!

no creature comforts like power windows etc, not sure if it had a radio and air con. but everything just feels flimpsy!! cant see why anyone would love this car

 

That brings up a good point....
These things are not daily drivers. Meaning the chances of putting up against one on the road is even less.

And what about the chances of an actual CAR guy buying one and modding it? Think about it, being a non daily driver, you have much less to worry about as far as maintanance goes and give you more to play with in the go fast department.

It's all speculation. We don't even know what can be done to these cars. All this smack we talk about being hard to mod it, and the day the car is released becomes the same day Greddy pulls out a 400hp Turbo kit for it. after all, it IS a Toyota engine....

 

I don't know that this is necessarily true... part of braking is also tires, and you can't get 275-section front tires on an elise.

You don't make time under braking, you make it at WOT at the end of the straights.

 

How the hell are you gonna get 50% more power out of a N/A motor? Forced induction? I smell packaging and cooling issues, now you need bigger/heavier heat exchangers (not to mention the weight of the induction plumbing, turbo, etc.... oh yeah, now those puny 2-piston calipers won't do anymore, and you can't lay it down with those 225-section rear tires, whoops now you have a 2400 lb turbo-miata. :-0

 

That is true. It is a debatable topic. But I have seen many bigger cars (including Z06s) get their asses handed to them by well-setup/driven Miatas on a twisty road course.


Yes, but remember, I was also talking about cornering speeds, and regardless of tire contact patches, an 1000 lb+ weight disadvantage makes a huge difference when you're tossing the car through a set of corners. And all that weight and horsepower heats up the tires something fierce after several laps. You have to start dialing things back a bit when the tires start getting a little greasy, but again, little cars like Miatas can just keep on thrashing along. I've been on VIR, and there's not too many places where you'll be able to sit on WOT for very long.

 

well, the elise is a nice car. but i don't think it's as great as people make it out to be. there must be a few high powered ones around europe, i think i've seen a video of a bi-turbo audi powered one.

imo, no power windows is complete bs since modern power window components don't have to weigh **** over a manual setup. i know, it's a small thing but it annoys me when people equate no drivers amenities to performance. i most likely wont be able to fit in one, along with most people over 6 ft or 200lb. with no radio i would get bored as hell driving it to and fro on track days.

it's a very nimle car, but it's not an open track god by any means.

 

The new Elise is a sweet car. Im glad its coming to the Us, even though I doubt Ill ever see one on the road.

 

i've driven the road going elise, albeit a preproduction version with the 140 hp rover engine. let me tell you, it's a great chassis, stock. with the 190 hp from a presumably reliable toyota engine, it should be a lot of fun.

as far as racing these....i've had my *** handed to me by a motorsports elise at the track (road coarses). it's basically a "trick" elise....about 210 hp and under 2000 lbs.

no one has ever accused me or my X-FD of being a slouch on the track......so.....ya all better watch out if these start showing up at the events. don't let those small HP numbers fool you.

fabian

 

I think that rybrx7 said it best seeing that he is exposed to them all the time. Thank you.

 

Yeah it runs 12's. But that time was most likely done by some professional driver and not by some average Joe.

That time is nothing, unless you know how to drive.

 

i cant believe you guys in the US are only just getting them, they've been out for about 4 years here

do you know what the roof is made of? its canvas with LITERALLY 2 tent poles at each end.

If you want something fast for the strip/track, buy a go-kart, you'll get the same features and driveability from one, believe me you wouldnt want to drive an elise far every day!

 

What can I say, we havn't had a cultural invasion by you guys since the Beatles and the MGB. What I would really like to see is a TRV (I think thats what they are called). What are they powered by and are they fast?

 

you mean a TVR

now they are GORGEOUS, flip paint jobbies, and very fast no matter which you get! (all 0-60 below 4.5seconds!)

the Tuscan S:

(the T440R which is out soon is a 440bhp 4 litre version, has a 0-60 of below 4 seconds and a top speed of 215mph!)

Take a peek for yourself





http://www.tvr.co.uk/

 

TVR Cerbera = teh bomb! Seriously, they are sweet cars, too bad they aren't over here.

 

You guys are horrible. I bet it will do at least 13's. Yet my friend got his at 35k with only 3k on some prime cost thing. If its going to be that cheap then we may see more than we expect.

 

I think if that louts is with a honda engine i will be more happy. A B18C maybe. that will be a more powerful car than. Althought it will still be slower than our 7s here.
hehe

 

Those TVR's are sweet!

 

NO

And that thing is FUGLY

 

I would definately consider buying one as a track car but I don't feel comfortable driving something that small on the street.

 

aahhhh, the MBG! my dad and i are working on his 67... its all rust and no car... but id like to see MG start sending something to the US again! what was the car they came out with a few years ago...it was pretty freakin fast if i remember correctly.

in regards to the lotus... sure it can do things our seven cant do... but keep in mind we are driving 10yr old cars which were not built as go carts (although mazda really did come close). keep in mind theres always gonna be something faster, more attractive, or with better handling... one car cant possiby do everything.......................... or can it?........ zoom zoom!