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Is it possible to justify a £34k Elise?... Watch Video

Interesting comments re the Elise SC's CO2 outputs, but I bet that, like most Elises, the SC still screams along motorways at approx 4000rpm in 6th, at just 80mph. Surely the CO2 output, and fuel consumption, would be less if 6th was an overdrive, geared for approx 3500rpm @ 90mph? (You might also be able to hear the stereo & have a conversation with your passenger.) I know the Elise is meant to be a 'purist' sportscar, but does it really need to be 'on cam' in 6th at low(ish) speeds - what's wrong with dropping a cog for uphill sections etc? A 6th to 5th down-change is hardly a chore. Indeed, why don't all cars have their top gear as an overdrive? C'mon on Autocar, start trying to persuade the manufacturers to adopt 'overdrive tops'!

nice vid.  all the things i like about chris' vids:

- relaxed manner.  he uses a crib sheet.  its like he talking to you as a mate, not doing a fancy polished presentation that he's rehersed.

- the car appears normal, i.e. it isn't totally clean and shiny and prepped.  there are things in it, it's been used.

- chris is normal.  beard sort of gone, but trying to grow back with a vengence.  wearing normal gear, nothing flashy.

- cheesy thumbs up (and down) - midly naff, but still fun.

 

anyway, in terms of the car, certainly sounds like a great toy that is actually borderline usable on a more regular basis.  getting from 200g/km to 120 will take some doing, but i guess its easier for lotus than say for porsche.  love the shift lights, though i wonder how long they they start to annoy.  but £34k?  that is a lot.  if looking for a toy, then an ariel is prob a better bet.  but as a toy that can be used as a daily driver for a single bloke, then this is challenging the boxster very hard :)

 

Nah..it may be a great car but £34k is too much. If you are spending that sort of money and, if it is hard earned, you will probably go for something safer in ownership and financial terms like a Boxster, maybe a S2000. But still good on Lotus for being there with a lightweight marvel.

Great vid Chris..let me know when you are next going to Montserrant and I come along as car washer, oil topper upper or whatever!

 

I just purschased a brand new 2008 240 Exige S and find it to be well worth the price of admission; and, yes, I work for my money.  However, I can't help but think that I made a bit of a mistake.  This Elise SC has been getting a lot of press lately and is just as much car as the Exige S 240, well 98% of it, but is more comfortable with the open top and a little more compliant suspension and costs less.

 Sure I can remove the top on my Exige S and even buy a soft top and have the two holes drilled into the fiberglass rollbar cover so that the two soft top prongs can be installed.  Then I can get a set of Ohlin's with remote reservoirs and dial them down for street use, but all of this just costs more money.

 Luckily I only paid $60K USD for my 240 with a window sticker price of $69,610 USD.  I realize that is a ridiculous discount and certainly not the norm.  I also know that the pricing in the UK is higher than for the US cars.  So in my case the question is:  is a brand new 2008 Lotus Exige S 240 worth £30K?  I would say definetely, but I could have possibly gotten a new Elise SC (with a discount included) for £25K.

The enthusiasts in the US have been satisfied and these cars do not sell very well, so that means huge discounts for those of us in the market for this type of car.  Unfortunately Americans still like their SUV's, even with rising gas prices, but eventually they will be forced to downsize, and I am glad that I am already ahead of the game in that respect and actually prefer my cars to be as lightweight as possible.

 My other car is a 2008 997 GT3, but I will be selling it because even though it is arguably one of the best sports car in the world (definetely in the top 5), it still annoys me that it weighs more than 50% more than my Exige S 240.  Lotus just has it right with their performance through lightweight philosophy.  And with the "green" movement, they are ahead of the game and should reap the rewards if they continue with this philosophy in their new Eagle and eventually the new Esprit replacement.