1999 Lotus Elise Standard from UK and Ireland - Comments

From new the steering rack was faulty, has been replaced and now OK. Squeak in steering from rubber bung, fixed.

Alarm switch in boot replaced where rubber protection top ripped off. Leaking boot, fixed myself.

Sticking throttle at 2-3K RPM, fixed with new throttle body.

The dealer I bought it from was hopeless, they rarely fixed problems first time and rarely called back. I have since changed to a new dealer who are fantastic. Visit www.eliseweb.com to get users comments on dealers if you buy one of these cars. Now all the 'new car' problems have been fixed, it is very reliable. Always starts, always quick!

This car is quick, very quick. It's everything I want in a car, softop, flashy, neat and not too expensive with Ferrari performance. Newer models or upgraded cars have better top end performance. If you don't mind the spartan interior and firm ride this is a great car, it is also something you learn to appreciate the longer you have it.

Nearly everyone looks, some shout. It handles so precisely, the steering is delicate and the pedals are well tuned. You also have good feel of the road and the brakes due to the fact there is no powersteering and no servos on the brakes. Get a copy of Jeremy Clarkson's video, Apocalypse Clarkson to get a better description. This car is an extention of your nervous system.

Ferrari performance!? I think not. A Ferrari has a 0-60 of about four seconds, and is capable of speads of up to 175mph. The Lotus Elise struggles to top 125mph and has a 0-60 time of around 5.6 seconds. Get your facts right next time please..

I have just purchased a early 98 Elise and reading your review just makes the fact that I have to wait another 2 weeks for it all the harder to bear!

Cannot Wait!

Jesus some people are so serious!!!

The guy was simply saying it was a quick car, most probs faster than your skoda 1.4.

I'm getting an elise in about a month's time, I can't wait, will drop a review in here as soon as I can

S.

Not all Ferraris have a 0-60 time of four seconds,

in fact there's very few Ferraris that will do it in around four seconds, I suggest 'YOU' get your facts straight before slating an excellent and informative report for perspective owners.

Ease up on the caffeine. Equating the performance of a standard '99 Elise with a Ferrari isn't a credible thing to say and that's really all the guy was getting at. The F355 and 360 Modena for example have a power-to-weight ratio of 0.29 bhp/kg, whereas the Elise has a little over half that at 0.16 bhp/kg. Added to that any Ferrari since about '94 will exceed 170mph, hit 60mph in four seconds, and cover a quarter mile eight seconds later. The little Lotus couldn't keep up in a month of Sundays and you're totally, utterly, kidding yourself if you think it would.

You guys have some issues.

A lotus is a car for going around corners.. fast.. No matter HOW had a ferarri tries, on a very twisty course I lotus would beat it easily. A ferarri handles well, yes, but its weight and handeling is no match for a lotus's. Of course a ferarri could beat it in a straight line, what a stupid question, it's a 1.8L 4 ffs! I have a '98 3000GT VR-4 twin turbo, with enough horsies to own a ferrari back to italy. I run low 11's, with 4wd and 4ws and suspension upgrades to own a ferrari on almost any track. even still, on a windy course a lotus would take my car to school.

Basically if you think a ferrari is faster, you would probably be right, but if you think a ferrari can out-handle a lotus, you need to go back to physics 1-1.

Elliott.

Nice one elliott.

It's funny that the designer of the car, Julian Thompson, owns and drives everyday a 246gt Ferrari; and it's funny how the engineer of the Elise project, Richard Rakham, owns a Ducati 916.

The Italians can give us "amore" with our machines, but it is only the British that can pull together those two ideals into one fantastic car.

Fast and light. "Bravo" Lotus Elise.