Took a test drive yesterday...

[Donbecker]

in this...

That is the most awesome car I have ever driven.

It redlines at like 8,500 so I didn't have any of the shift points figured out.

Very, very responsive (both engine and suspension).

It is also a very, very small car.

I really don't like the color though.

That part sucks because everthing else about the car is what I want.

So today I am writing up my for sale ad for my 'vette.

Hopefully I can find a good buyer and be in the lotus in a couple weeks.

-Don

[Guest intmd8r]

Pretty sweet car!

I don't know much about Lotus, but do they come in other colors or no? If so, I guess there's probably not enough Lotus dealers around to do a dealer trade for the color you want, huh?

[AZ Z51]

I really don't like the color though.

Here's a color for ya

I seen one this color going down the I-10,it was uuuggly.

[Guest XLR8TNC5]

Don, everytime you talk about your getting a Lotus I turn so green with ENVY!!! lol. My favorite color for this car is definitely that orange metallic with the black stripes. BUt I saw a Silver and Black one not too long ago, (Smitty) saw it too and it was hot hot hot!

Man,I wish you all the best on getting one. That would be so cool. And they are small. I am only 5'4" and about 133pounds and I fit just perfect, but Mark's 6'2" 200 is a NO GO! lol. I have thought about selling my Vette to get one, but then I get in my Vette and all the sudden, I can't remember how to even spell Lotus. lol.

Hey, the Elise/Exige has the Toyota MR2 motor in it now right? Makes maintenance a lot easier I would think.

You have GREAT TASTE in cars! What does Liz think about all this?

[Donbecker]

Thanks guys/gals.

That is actually the color I'm going to get, Krypton Green.

Liz is really supportive. All the work we did to the vette really soured her abit to cruising in it with me, but she loved the test drive in the lotus.

It is very, very fast. Crazy fast really. It is the only car I've sat in that recreates playing Grand Turismo, with the really high pitched zing of the engine and all that.

The rpm gauge is on the left which will take some getting used to. And the rpm and speedo are TINY.

I don't think it uses the MR2.

It uses the Celica GT 2zz motor and 6 speed from what I've heard.

We've found one over in Cali, @ Hermosa beach (its between LA and Long Beach I think).

I am gonna call the guy on Monday to see what a deposit would be to hold the car. The color I want is sorta rare and I don't want to lose it.

[Guest LT4ME]

Sweet car. I like the blue, but I bet the silver & black one Tanya saw was much better looking. Best of luck landing it, Don!

[Guest XLR8TNC5]

Ahh yes, the Celica GT 2zz... nice. Still its a Toyota Motor and you can't ever go wrong with those. And it is a lot easier to find parts for maintenance and you wont have to adjust the valves every 5000-10,000 miles. lol. And... lol. Im just kidding, I don't want Liz to start freaking out about the maintenance lol.

I actually like the green color too, but there was something about the silver and black one that just stood out. Maybe because it had a little different bodykit or something on it? It had a wing a ding on it. lol.

There is a black one and a blue one over here near us that I see on occasion and just WOW everytime I see it. I truly hope you get it so thatI can live vicariously through you for a while. lol.

Tanya

[Donbecker]

Here is the one I'm getting:

http://www.lotusofsouthbay.com/new_vehicle...1eb494e7cf74e74

He'll be putting on different style rims (and they'll be black).

Also, look at the picture of the wheel (the second from last).

Notice how the camera flash has made the paint look almost yellow?

The pictures really do not show how BRIGHT that green is.

Very, very bright.

I have to get the vette ad up. Putting it up on ebay, wish me luck.

[BSeery]

Thanks guys/gals.

I don't think it uses the MR2.

It uses the Celica GT 2zz motor and 6 speed from what I've heard.

If it uses the Celica GT motor then we have something in common.

Tracy's Matrix XRs has that same motor. Hers redlines at 8300, thats when the rev limiter stops the fun. At 6000 RPM the variable valve timing kicks in and gives you another 50 HP. I wish it would do that around 4500 instead.

It's a fantastic motor. Ours has almost 60K miles on it and the only problem has been the belt tensioner. The 6 speed transmission however is the clunky-ist shifting thing I have ever driven. It's very notchy and stiff and just does not flow from gear-to-gear very well.

Have fun with the go-kart. Those things kick ass in the twistys and the autocross and roadcourse races (if you know how to drive them).

[MadMax]

A blues one was trying like H_ll to catch up to me on the 101 last Saturday.

Finally caught up to me, woman driving it.

Cute car.

[Donbecker]

Thanks guys/gals.

I don't think it uses the MR2.

It uses the Celica GT 2zz motor and 6 speed from what I've heard.

If it uses the Celica GT motor then we have something in common.

Tracy's Matrix XRs has that same motor. Hers redlines at 8300, thats when the rev limiter stops the fun. At 6000 RPM the variable valve timing kicks in and gives you another 50 HP. I wish it would do that around 4500 instead.

It's a fantastic motor. Ours has almost 60K miles on it and the only problem has been the belt tensioner. The 6 speed transmission however is the clunky-ist shifting thing I have ever driven. It's very notchy and stiff and just does not flow from gear-to-gear very well.

Have fun with the go-kart. Those things kick ass in the twistys and the autocross and roadcourse races (if you know how to drive them).

Yeah Brian, that's the one.

Then call the kick in the "second cam".

There's a rev limiter on the lotus, but you can spike it past 9k if you're not careful.

Red line on the Elise is 8.5k.

Sounds like the same tranny.

The stick shift seems about 1 1/2" to 2" too tall. Doesn't shift as smooth as I would like. I've heard they loosen up abit with time.