Scottish Elises

...you are lucky, or smart, or like driving, or have too much money, or all of the above, or something else entirely (if so please elaborate!)

It was launched when I was 14ish, and as we know lauded as the greatest sports car of the time; just the right conditions and age to burn itself into the conscience and, unwittingly at the time, made its way onto the attainable cars I will own list. So, when the earnings and depreciation curves converged, it was time. I also love the innovative engineering; the extrusions, the way they are used and the single minded adherence to Lotus DNA.

The looks and handling don't go amiss either

"14-ish". Deary me. I *am* old...

woody wrote:It was launched when I was 14ish, and as we know lauded as the greatest sports car of the time; just the right conditions and age to burn itself into the conscience and, unwittingly at the time, made its way onto the attainable cars I will own list. So, when the earnings and depreciation curves converged, it was time. I also love the innovative engineering; the extrusions, the way they are used and the single minded adherence to Lotus DNA.

The looks and handling don't go amiss either

yea same for me although I was older and had just passed my test when they came out. the "out the box" (apologies for the use of a w4nk word) thinking really appeals to me. Lotus did it on the cheap and under terrible conditions I find that appealing.

Like woody one day I realised that I could afford one so I bit the bullet and got one only for it to break down and then me crash it. but still I don't care haven driven it, and owning one It makes all the grief worthwhile.

And the ladies love it , but not getting in and out

woody wrote:It was launched when I was 14ish, and as we know lauded as the greatest sports car of the time; just the right conditions and age to burn itself into the conscience and, unwittingly at the time, made its way onto the attainable cars I will own list. So, when the earnings and depreciation curves converged, it was time. I also love the innovative engineering; the extrusions, the way they are used and the single minded adherence to Lotus DNA.

The looks and handling don't go amiss either

EXACTLY the same as me (inc the age i reckon)

At one point in my life I vowed i'd own 3 specific cars.

A Mini, An Elise, and an F40.

I'm 25, on my 4th car, and my list so far is:
84 Mini 1000
91 VW Jetta (oops )
98 Mini 1275mpi (For sale <- buy it!)
98 Elise

Oh, and they say 2 out of 3 ain't bad...

Corranga wrote:

woody wrote:It was launched when I was 14ish, and as we know lauded as the greatest sports car of the time; just the right conditions and age to burn itself into the conscience and, unwittingly at the time, made its way onto the attainable cars I will own list. So, when the earnings and depreciation curves converged, it was time. I also love the innovative engineering; the extrusions, the way they are used and the single minded adherence to Lotus DNA.

The looks and handling don't go amiss either

EXACTLY the same as me (inc the age i reckon)

At one point in my life I vowed i'd own 3 specific cars.

A Mini, An Elise, and an F40.

I'm 25, on my 4th car, and my list so far is:
84 Mini 1000
91 VW Jetta (oops )
98 Mini 1275mpi (For sale <- buy it!)
98 Elise

Oh, and they say 2 out of 3 ain't bad...

The guy I bought mine from had had an F50 in the past

I was lucky. Loved the Lotus Elise after seeing one pass in the street but never imagined ever owning one.

Was in business with my mate and we started to sell Computer training software to a Government training programme. Started to sell loads and a Lotus was then in sight. Ordered one up and in the four months wait I had saved up the full amount. While picking it up and paying for it I kept getting phone calls from my mate which I ignored as I was in the middle of getting the Visa/Bank payments sorted.

All the finance sorted and phoned my mate back. He had just had an email form his frined down SOuth telling us that the Government had put an immediate stop on all payments as their was a worry about fraud in companies down South. The outcome was that we never got thousands and thousands of pounds that the Government owed us. Luckily had some money in the bank which helped fund tyres, insurance, track days and petrol for a few years before I had to end up selling it. Still it was great fun while it lasted and not just a car but a whole community.

Definately just lucky.....

20 and on my third S2. Plus a couple of other cars in between!

It was mostly being unlucky though that got me in this position so i guess its just one big cycle.

Even with all the problems that come with it i still feel lucky to own mine

it's all zippy's fault... thanks Iain

Something to take the place of motorbikes .

"got lots of debt".

Lucky I got posted up to Scotland and it was actually cheaper to use trains to get back to Preston every weekend. Choice was a sensible diesel or something different and the train... The rest is history!

Like the S1 when it first came out but couldn't afford anything like it (I was running around in a Citroen Visa FFS)

Saw the S2 at the motorshow with Mandy just after the launch and that just made me want one even more and started Mandy's love affair with the car too.

Anyhoo - there was no way we could afford one, I had just about got a raise that covered the monthly payments but there was still the deposit and as I said there was no way as we were saving hard for our Wedding in Mexico.

Few days later Mandy's sister had a serious horse riding accident (don't you just love having to explain the detail to prevent smutty remarks ) which in one foul swoop denied Mandy of her bridesmaid, hairdresser and witness but also took my bestman & witness too (me & my best mate married sisters)

So - one night over dinner we discussed the options, go to the 5*+ hotel on our own, and find some witnesses over here or cancel, put back the wedding to the date of the party we had already book and use the mexico cash on the car.

Simple choice really

The really good thing about buying the car is all the really cool extras you get (that's you guys!)



Mac

Can't afford one.

I need to keep the Evo in parts and fuel.

It would only slow you down Don..........



tut

Got my driving licence back after 6 years without (medical), just coming up to 60, so thought that I would buy a sensible OAP car.

150,000 miles later and never regretted it.

tut