You Need This: 2005 Lotus Elise

I've been staring at this car for a month. Something about being responsible.

This isn't a knock on wirewheel at all since Hayes was great to work with, but I would encourage anyone interested in their cars to not buy one sight unseen.

I bought a clean accident-free 06 Elise from them a couple of months ago and had the car shipped up to MA. I've spent over $5000 in parts and labor already in the 400 miles I've driven the car. Blown shock, 7 year old rock hard tires, junk brake rotors, and I had a rear toe link sheer off in the first 100 miles and send me sliding across a highway. There's a load of small misc things as well that you would expect in a Lotus (burned out headlight, ill fitting interior trim, etc).

I'm REALLY happy with the car now that it's not broken anymore, but I probably would have passed on it if I had seen and driven it first.

I don't care for BRG, but I do want an Elise. My color choice would be that bright lime green that almost hurts your eyes.

I turn 50 in a few weeks. I keep thinking the midlife crisis car could be a Lotus.

Those toe links are a common weak point. I suspect that things a lot worse than skittering across the highway have happened when they let go. I'd plan to replace them every 2 years if I was driving the car regularly. Or else replace semi-permanently with one of the better aftermarket options.

Guy at NNJR brought his BRG on tan and I really liked it. Looked terrific with that combo.

Yavuz wrote: This isn't a knock on wirewheel at all since Hayes was great to work with, but I would encourage anyone interested in their cars to not buy one sight unseen. I bought a clean accident-free 06 Elise from them a couple of months ago and had the car shipped up to MA. I've spent over $5000 in parts and labor already in the 400 miles I've driven the car. Blown shock, 7 year old rock hard tires, junk brake rotors, and I had a rear toe link sheer off in the first 100 miles and send me sliding across a highway. There's a load of small misc things as well that you would expect in a Lotus (burned out headlight, ill fitting interior trim, etc). I'm REALLY happy with the car now that it's not broken anymore, but I probably would have passed on it if I had seen and driven it first.

IMO, never buy any used car sight unseen. Always either view and drive it yourself or have someone you trust go see and drive it.

Keith Tanner wrote: But I could buy a Z06 for that much!

I like this guy! He knows things! ;)

Keith Tanner wrote: And yet somehow, this is not the same car as a Corvette or a 996 Turbo or a custom-built V8 Miata or a Toyota minivan. It's like they're all valid options. Weird.

What's that don't Elsa sings?

I would take one in that orange color with black interior.