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  • 1.8 L with 190 HP? Hmmm that's almost as good as my RX8. It's a 1.3 L with 250 HP.

  • @Fubikon 231ps, not 250hp. im trading in my 231 rx8 for an elise

  • @vivalalvam Ummm no it's 250, I have a cold air intake & better exhaust. And if you strip it down like this Elise is striped down the RX8 is ahead.

  • @Fubikon

    Apples vs. Oranges Buddy...

  • Does the motors in the window really make that big of a difference? I mean come on. They small lil motors

  • dream car? i think so!

  • OMG! I love this car (surfeit of exclamation marks.)

    Just as well I own one. Not with the Toyota engine, but still: everything else feels like a sponge pudding.

    And to those who say you can't live with one every day: you can. Because I have. For the past two and a half years. And I'm a porky 40 year old Brit. Just get a bit athletic and turn the stereo up. You'll be fine.

    Get your head around this: it's a car that will spoil you for everything else. Except a Caterham.

  • the amount of weight you save from getting roll up windows isn't even 10 pounds. Its not worth it.

  • @mattj4554 IT turns out the electric window servos weigh less than the manual setup, so it's now standard with electric windows only LOL

  • I was actually learning about the engine and I think this car actually has the same engine as a toyota corolla (plus many other cars). Wikipedia showed that the engine type is a 1zz-fe which is the same. I was kind of surprised by this.

  • @rchassereau its obviously got some performance upgrades though because an ordinary 1.8 can't produce 190bhp :)

  • @LtPliskin01 Thanks, i guess ill get a hummer instead.

  • Would this be a good first car?

  • @IITHUND3RCLAPII Not sure if serious... No, no, no haha. This car is built for the track or a little weekend fun on your favorite road. You will never be able to stick a suitcase or many groceries into this thing. You'll also be sorry when you have to drive farther than 50 miles. It's horrendously loud and has stiff suspension that will magnify any tiny bumps 10x (great for the track, bad for your back). You'll also have to think of the astronomical insurance rates you'll get with this thing.

  • thats a cheezy looking interior for a car of that price range

  • Its for $14,000 right now on ebay!

  • No... Lotus is made for Its AMAZING handling, not a drag race.

  • Whats the point of having something if you cant use it?

  • Great! Thanks.

  • I think u should let me drive that! Its my favorite car.

  • Put a supercharger on and it's at almost 300hp. Do you have any idea how fast that is in a 2000lb. car?!

  • it's a Yammer hammer and Toyota, WOw! the perf british car. A very stylish body, LOTUS, with the most dependable solid motor you could ask for. I owned a yamaha xs11 special back in 80. I had it for 10yrs. and it failed to start only one time, 7yrs later battery died. Then I had 85 nissan hardbody 4by4 and had it 6 yrs. only failed one time, the only american made part, sears diehard battery gave out finally. Yamaha, Toyota. The Japanese make outstanding small motors. 300thousand miles ez.

  • great review Jon!!! I'm currently looking at a pre-owned 2008 Elise in carbon black. I cannot wait to test drive! thanks for posting this video!

  • I'm just curious, what is your mileage regular driving / track?

  • The day I see an elise/exige with an automatic tranny is the day I give up on humanity period.

  • Is it hard at all to get left hand drive?

  • damn yanks buying british cars. (small company british cars) not like selling a ford in england.

  • What is the song in the begiinning?

  • good on him for ordering it with manual windows. the less electronics the better.

  • Haha. This is sooo uncomfortable to get out of

  • i wonder how repair costs run for these...i mean (ive heard) it has a toyota engine, so would i be paying toyota costs if i need a piston replaced?

  • no 190 sc puts out 210

  • Thank you for the review.

  • Thx for the review.

  • at least Lotus dont piss ball about with that flappy paddle bollocks

  • I want an Exige

  • no offence, but i think you're a little carried away in the moment

    first you talk about the mid-engine, fine, but then you say the front air intake is designed to cool the engine..

    understandable if it's your new toy, but still, not such a good "review"

  • @scapache The radiator and dual oil coolers are in the front, so he is 100% correct.

  • @scapache many rear/mid engine sport cars have front mounted radiators and intercoolers.

  • i thought i was 2006 not 2007

  • looking for a lotus elise 2000 to 2009 and the price 0-20,000

    Any page i can fiend it pm it to me

  • dang bro im saving my money now im almost 15 and when i get a gud credit ima buy my self one of those man lotus' are awsome cars they are so little tho

  • intro song name? :D

  • Jon, you made a few mistakes.

    "It's legal."

    "Lotus was thinking about race and performance..."

    "Back side of the car here... Lotus designed..."

    "Brembo brakes." (I could be wrong, but aren't they AP Racing? And yes, I know Brembo owns AP.)

    As a reviewer, you've definitely got my attention (unlike some who sound rather dull and boring). There's no need to point out the obvious though, lol.

  • @LostChildOfTime

    It's really legal, and lotus are always thinking of performance...

    So a nyway right...

  • @MerlinofChaos I'm not saying that it's not. I'm saying people know it's street legal - if it's not, why is it in the street? People already know what Lotus is thinking when they make cars - a 5 year old can tell you that just by looking at it. Why waste time saying stuff that doesn't need to be said?

  • @MerlinofChaos And Lotus designed the rear of the car. Really?! Ferrari didn't?! Come on, now. Lotus isn't incompetent.

  • wonderful cars but they are designed for short people.

    An excellent car if you dont have lotus money is a 91-96 MR2 turbo. Its a little heavier and bigger and not as fast stock. But its alot cheaper, and alot roomier inside. Plus spend 300.00 on a greddy profec B and 500.00 on a mitsubishi TD0516G turbo, and 1000 for aem ems and you will KILL any lotus.

    considering a MR2 turbo only costs 6,000.00 even modded its better value for money

  • I used to own a 91 MR2 Gltd. AWESOME car. im looking into getting a MR2 turbo for my next car if i can find one.

    Lotus had originally designed the MR2. Lotus also designed the MRS. lotus is currently owned by toyota, hence the reason why the elise has a toyota engine.

    If you want a newer car with the same thrills for less moneyy get the MRS spyder. The aero isnt as good as the elise, but its like 1/3 the price of an elise

  • TOYOTA DOES NOT OWN LOTUS

    Lotus Purchased by Proton

    KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Reuter)

    Malaysian national carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) and its key shareholder Yahaya Ahmad has bought an 80 percent stake in British sports car maker Group Lotus Ltd.

    etc etc

    LOOK IT UP

  • i been looking to buy a lotus as my next car, and i see that i can get a 2006 or 2007 for about 25,000 is that correct?

  • @NarKoticK Brand new or used?

    you can get used alot lot cheaper

  • @NarKoticK maybe a little more then that

  • @3star2nr An MRS weighs 200lbs more than the Elise (which has an all aluminum chassis), has worse cargo space, brakes, tires, seating position, gearing, and appearance.

    Logically, a lighter car doesn't automatically mean it doesn't need to brake. You need to brake to manipulate the car's weight to the front of the car so the front of the car can take certain turns better. If you throw an Else through a very tight corkscrew without braking, it will understeer and you will die.

  • Yes, it will be well used and that is not a good thing.. Get an ECU dump from Lotus.

    Remember, there is no such thing as a cheap Lotus, you either pay up front or in the end...

  • so, do you think a lotus elise can beat my rx8? I love the lotus but I was just curious.

  • YUP straightline they run very low 13s. In the corners, its a much lighter car so it will be able to enter corners without braking, where as your car which is heavier will have to brake.

    And to top it off the body of the lotus generates alot of downforce. If you want to beat a lotus, you would need to gut your RX8, swap in a 20b and do some suspension and chassis work.

    Or turbo your stock engine

  • I have a vx220 turbo, love these cars, they're amazing, nothing I have ever driven compares! :D

  • you do relize that the Elise and Exige are Track Cars First, and not road cars...

    Look at it this way, Lotus is a race car company that happens to built a few street car. The focus for them is different.

  • @VampyreLegion Btw lotus racing and lotus the car company are different companies and the new lotus (car) racing is part of their lotus engineering company which is also a separate company. so the lotus who make the cars just make the cars, the designs of the cars are for use on and off road not souly track cars

  • The roll up windows are actually heavier than the electric mechanism.

  • the lotus elise and the vauhxhall vx220 r 2 of my favourite cars that i cud ever afford! although my favourite car excluding costs is ferrari 599.

  • Great Car... People this is the one to get!

  • Excellent video. Finally an amerikan thats intelligent, and recognizes a real sports car! Pure mechanical perfection!

  • Super fast and Zero to 60 in 4.5... very easy to make a drag car if needed.. NOS it up! and you are well under 4 seconds!

    Smokes everything in looks and style and turns heads.. something jap cars will never do...

  • NISSAN GTR

  • Can't really compare the two except that they both cost a lot less than the other cars with the same performance.

    I like what they did with the GTR but the Elise is just a completely different concept.

  • it has a toyota engine

  • It is a Yamaha Designed engine, it is built by Toyota and tuned by Lotus.

  • same for evora?

  • What?!?!

    Toyota does NOT own Lotus, get your facts straight....

  • proton owns lotus. but proton only fund them. lotus design the cars. their profits go to proton and lotus. toyota agreed for lotus to use their engine. you really need some good research.

  • Great video, I plan to purchase that Elise in a few years. By the way, what song was being played in the intro?

  • in what world does handling exist in a straight line? because when your at a red light, anything can fly by the Lotus, throw some curves around and the car really shines...but for the majority of owners that think they are going to win races in the street, wont happen.

  • ppl wont race in straits with a lotus...that would be stupide to do so.... why would you ever race in a strait with a car that don't pass like 300klm/h...

  • yes, which brings me to my point...your going to get challenged by everybody and their mother at redlights BECAUSE your car "looks" fast...Lotus belongs on a track and off the street, because its such a wonderful handling car that somebody who doesnt experience the solid chassis shouldnt be behind the wheel of one. Its exotic, yes, and people who know nothing about the car will want to race you in the street

  • People with the mentality of a 16 year will race from the stoplight whenever they can. Hopefully Elise owners are mature enough to realize that they don't have to prove their car's speed to a complete stranger every time some twat decides to rev his engine next to them.

  • not really...everybody who is willing to buy a Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini...dont have the mentality of a 16 year old lol after all, with well over 400hp+ under the hood, your really not going to want to race it? if thats the case buy a van and drive the speed limit.

  • I'd race all those cars you mentioned on the track, that is where they truly shine. If you buy those cars just to launch on every stop light, then all you're really doing is trying to compensate for a very small shortcoming.

  • People who buy those cars dont live on a track. They buy them to flaunt around in and occassional race or 2 (or just race all the time) like i mentioned earlier, who would you buy a literal sports car if you drive it the speed limit? buy a mini van and haul your friends around in.

  • lol 'country road' more like a straight road with a slight bend in it should come to england n then ul c a country road :) great car though and it handles like a dream after testing one at the weekend iv got a red one with white stripes.

  • may u plz tell me the name of the track in the start?thnx

  • Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. Great track about 1.9 miles long with 11 turns.

  • @testdrivevideos hey i live in oregon!!! well eastern oregon but i visit newport every now and then but that is an awesome vid u should post some new ones

  • Nice little car, if I had to choose between it and another $30-$40K car, it'd be this one due to the superior handling that Lotus is famous for.

  • will a piece of shit dodge or GM (which is going bankrupt by the way) pull a 13 sec pass and get 27 mpg?

    also this thing would destroy those 2 cars on any real track (not a freaking straight line)

    plus, go on autotrader, these things are selling for as low as 25k

  • @back2schoolfool

    go educate yourself... really ?

  • LOL. Actually the 2010 Camaro is rated at 27 mpg highway. With a manual you could probably squeeze more out.

    However, time to teach you. Not only does the Camaro have a sexier body, a MUCH sexier/nicer interior, a roaring DIRECT INJECTION engine, comfort, and speed, but it does 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and a quarter mile in 13.4 seconds.

    Go learn stuff on Camaro forums, maybe you'll take back what you said.

  • @back2schoolfool I own a 2006 Lotus Elise. A coworker owns a 2010 Camaro SS that he's already modified with a custom intake, exhaust, and handling package. We've both driven and both enjoy each others' cars for COMPLETELY different reasons. The Camaro will break your neck off the line it accelerates so hard. It can also carry three friends and some gear. It's comfortable too! On the other hand, the HANDLING of the Lotus is like nothing else - I can make my friend VANISH on a twisty road.

  • @back2schoolfool I own a 2006 Lotus Elise. A coworker owns a 2010 Camaro SS that he's already modified with a custom intake, exhaust, and handling package. We've both driven and both enjoy each others' cars for COMPLETELY different reasons. The Camaro will break your neck off the line it accelerates so hard. It can also carry three friends and some gear. It's comfortable too! On the other hand, the HANDLING of the Lotus is like nothing else - I can make my friend VANISH on a twisty road.

  • @back2schoolfool

    That really is all opinion..

    sure it's fast on a straight line. But I'd really like to see you try and argue that it handles well.

  • Just to add, official release day of the Camaro was today.

    V6 gets 25city/29hwy!

    And the V8 is puilling 12's for the quarter!

  • Dude, r u retarded? The lotus is a car made for the track, not for the drag strip.

    With a 0-60 in 4.0 seconds...

    u know what, im not even gonna bother to try to prove my point cause its never gonna get to ur thick head.

  • @Golfmasta its more like 4.7 seconds... not 4. dont talk about cars if u know nothing about them

  • @tonyandphil Actually someone in the garage my mum takes her to managed to do 0-60 in 4.2 seconds un-modified

  • @back2schoolfool

    In what ? a straight line. These are not good cars in any way. They don't handle at all.

  • keeps up with the ferrari's and Lamborghini's? please tell me in what way cause that toyota based 1.8L isnt breaking any records. he neglects to say that for all of us who dont have the luxury of owning more then 1 vehicle, this car is pretty bare boned. I mean, roll up windows? didnt they go extinct in like mid 80's? i do compliment the design an style of the Lotus, its absolutely stunning, but in terms of practicality...somebody please try an convince me!

  • Lotus doesn't fit electic windows as standard because electric windows add weight.

    190hp doesn't sound like much, but 4.9s from 0-60 isn't bad and the handling makes up for the lack of grunt.

    The supercharged 220hp version will do 0-60 in in 4.3 seconds and the high end Exige (hardtop) does it in 4seconds dead.

    That's supercar-like performance, supercar-like looks, supercar-like history and supercar-like coolness for a fraction of the cost. (These things are very cheap to run too)

  • 4.9 sec is fast enough to get the attention of reviewers and owners, BUT 98% of lotus owners have a 2nd vehicle due to the fact that this is not an everyday driver. 1st and most important, you need to take yoga classes just to get in and out of the car, 2nd in a straight line its not that fast, so red light wars wont help you. This is a TRACK CAR, meaning on the weekends you take it out for a few hours and have fun then put it back in the garage. Has anybody even sat in a Lotus?

  • Getting in and out is easy once you know how and have done it a few times.

    But there are some other great advantages to this car.

    1. You never have to drive to the pub on a saturday night as you cannot ferry your friends around.

    2. Watching other people get in and out of the car is so funny.

    3. Nobody in any chaved up boy racer type car has beaten my elise off the lights.

    When you say the elise isn't fast, it doesn't have the top speed, but it does have the acceleration.

  • @DTHPRF66

    Why would they, this is not a practical car. it's a race car. Most people that own one have this as their second car

  • @DTHPRF66 if you are worried about practicality you might like the nissan quest better than the elise

  • how much is it?

  • im not gay.........but im willing to do anything for this car.......

  • Does anyone know the safety rating on this car? If so please reply back..

  • Great car man. I think I'm gonna get one too. Great looks and performance for the money!!!

  • donnaile haha your so dumb

    I heard outta the factory its 130 somethin mph

    Veyron is what 250?..

  • r u kiddin me.....

  • Lol your channel sucks.

  • love your car. Gonna get a red Elise R with black rimms! one year to go...

  • oh yeah!great car!

  • I realized the Elise was a sports car, but I'm a little disappointed with the interior.

  • how much horsepower is under that hood?

  • when he opens the trunk at 2:32 it says that it has 190 horsepower 1.8L, 4 Cylinder , 6 speed manual

  • what is the name of that song in the intro?

  • haha..i wanna see how that looks?..do u know the name of that song?

  • and great for fuel not a big engien i like that

  • dosent it have a toyota engine in it?

  • yes, but it still fucking rocks.

  • Since it's technically a Celica engine, you can tune it easily. Although I don't think it's exactly the same engine, but it should be easy to tune. Besides, you don't need too much power because it's really light. There are a few Turbo Elise videos here in youtube, you can check them out.

  • NICEST CAR IN THE WORLD

  • why pay 44grand when you cuz just buy a toyota mr-s and swap in a 2zz-ge? im pretty sure its lighter than the elise so its way cheaper

  • Because the Elise is a Track car, the Toyota is a nice, but not even close on the track...

    Stock for stock.. the Elise is better..

    But hey if you don't have 40K to spend buy a MR-S... Like everyone else.

  • Man I'd snap if I bought a 2007 Elise, with the SC version out this year.

    D'oh!

  • LOL That would be the opposite for me...

    because you can buy a better after market S/C for less money, then the stock S/C.

  • BTW, the electric window mechanisms actually weigh less than the crank windows. Shows how well Lotus designs things.

  • no actually it doesn't Electric windows weigh a few kilograms more, I'm a Electro mecanic so I know that electric window might sound better but its not...

  • You are correct the electric windows are lighter and better when you need to roll down the passenger side.

  • Thanks for the great video. Be careful out at Sauvie Island. Lots of critters running across the road that can do mucho damage to the shell.

  • Nice work, looks like you really enjoy it, which is why they made the car in the first place :)

  • my dad has this car.2007 silver with black 8 spoke rims.steering wheel is the size of a small dinner plate and even though getting in and out(6'1)isnt the same as any other car,the effort is worth it.Honestly i think the design tops nearly any car today.If youre looking for a car that can handle better than anything else out there and accomodate a driver that wants to get into the driving/racing circuit than i suggest this above all else. The price speaks for it just as your love for it will.

  • blendin

  • great video... beautiful car

  • I'm 6'4, once you've mastered getting in/out it's fine, loads of room inside - i couldn't fit my legs inside an S2000 but loads of room in my Elise, the soft top fits in the boot fine - a hard top wont though, but the soft top survives British winters well, and doesn't leak

  • i want this in chrome orange :D

  • I'm 6'2. would i fit in this thing?

  • Probably yeah, If Jeremy Clarkson managed to

  • You shouldn't have any troubles. I know some owners that are 6'5" and they can fit in fine.

  • Thanks for the response dude. This car is nice and i just might end up getting it.

  • I couldn't figure out... do you like it?  Lol.

  • Nice vid, nice car. I want one.

  • Where do you put the roof when you want it off? does it go in the trunk like the del sol???

  • yes.. but can u drive it? for a change

  • the perfect car.

  • Actually, the manual window hardware adds MORE weight than if you had the power windows. . .so you may have been told some misinformation. Great car . . . .People who think it's too much $, need a little more information because a smart car enthusiast "purist" would say this car is a bargain. . .I've had the privilege of driving one for a day, and it is truly amazing. I've driven Porsches, Ferraris, etc. . .so I have some basis.

  • wonder if it will fall apart like my Mk 1 did?! ;/

  • £ for £ there`s no better car on this planet than a lotus elise... super car looks and performance at a tenth of the price.... do you lot not watch top gear.... lap times along side ferrari and porche..unfortunatly the dude on this clip is borring as fcuk... nice syrup to lol

  • totally agree!

  • Since when do they have a lotus dealer? Is it at r/t grandturismo

  • I....I really don't think this car is worth that much...that engine puts out only 190hp..I know the car is light as hell, but still, the numbers make me think this car is worth less..I can put a weak engine in a cardboard box and make it worth 44k. It's a great fun car though, just think maybe lower pricing would work much better.

    Btw, I think the roll up windows are weird, a 44k car should come standard with electronic equipment

  • i would have a hard time paying that kind of cash too, but they strip it down to save any weight they can. they usually don't even have carpet. it only does 190 hp, but its so light, which also helps with its handeling.

  • starting from 24k to 34k for the sc its amazingly cheap, the lotus elise sc does 0-60 in 4.4, an audi r8 does it in 4.6 and tht costs around 85 k

  • Lets keep in mind this car is hand built.

  • Do you think he'd race my '97 Corsica? lol

  • race a mexica with a s2000 tubor biatch

  • I'm 6'5"-6'6". Will I be able to fit into the Elise or any other Lotus model?

  • no, im 5'10'' and i cant

  • Of course you can im 6'2"

  • ur kidding? ok im 5 10 and im cramped, how do u do it?

  • with a tub of butter and a shoe horn.

  • this car is awsome,i just dont like it as a dark orange color.But isint the elise and the pontiac solcise almost the same thing?

  • everything is right except the colour that should be british green racing. Para mim era em preto. My second car, first is my MINI Cooper S (220HP). Ferrari 250GTO FTW!!

    tHANK YOU FOR THE VID EXCELENT!!!