Not Practical, Not Tactical, Loads of Fun!

[jesselp]

I have loved Lotus cars ever since I saw James Bond in his Lotus Esprit back when I was a kid. I would imagine folks a bit older than me feel the same way about Aston Martins - they are just cool.

Anyhow, a friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse on his rarely driven Lotus Elise, so this followed me home last weekend:

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It is totally non-practical. My gym bag barely fits in the trunk, and I have to contort myself to get in and out, especially with the top on. But I have a huge smile on my face whenever I drive it, beautiful young women constantly ask to sit in it, and random people honk their horns and give me the thumbs up when they see it.

It's my dream car, and now I own it. I can't see myself ever selling. I drove it to the gym, and proceeded to deadlift over 400 pounds for the first time ever.

(As an aside, you'd be amazed by the number of folks who ask if they can try driving it, and then back out when they see it's got a manual transmission. What's up with guys who can't drive stick? I thought that was a basic man skill.)

[Mr. Anthony]

The Elise is my secret dream car--not a "name brand" supercar like a Lamborghini or similar, but legitimate racing performance and power in a package that won't set you back a quarter mil.

Nice work!

[Greg Nichols]

Nice! sad face I miss my Abarth, now the new Alfa Romeo is SEXY.

[shooterb]

Nice! That should be fun little car to tool around in. And yes, being able to drive a manual transmission is a man skill that's going the way of the dodo. Maybe hipsters will make it "cool" again...:eyecrazy:

[Trench]

That is one SWEEEEEEEEET car!

[coastalcop]

And the powertrain in the elise is actually durable and well thought out.

[ERN]

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I drove it to the gym, and proceeded to deadlift over 400 pounds for the first time ever.)

Two huge wins. I have always wanted an Elise and they are surprisingly affordable used. I will have one eventually. Great job on the car and the lift.

[emtdaddy1980]

I've informed my two oldest sons aged 13 and 11 that their first cars WILL be manual transmission, no discussion.

SWEET CAR congrats.

[kabar]

I see lots Lotus's around driving around day to day... There's a Lotus stealership about a mile away from the Microsoft campus where I work and you see them regularly in the parking lots. You see lots of other fun if slightly impractical vehicles there, too.

[BlackCamo]

That's very cool - well done.

Manual trans too!

[45Smashemflat]

Jealous :)

[DutchV]

That's just gorgeous.

An upside to owning a car a with manual transmission is that a lot of young car thieves are clueless about them. They can't steal what they can't drive.

[randyho]

Love elise's. Well done!

[Roadfoolsride]

Good job. That will be great fun to run around in.

[P.D.]

A Lotus - ANY Lotus - was my ultimate dream car when I was in high school!

[Alex Nieuwland]

Well done!

[GHERKIN05]

Sick ride, and yes, everyone should be able to drive a stick. I also think everyone should be able to drive a tractor.

[epilepticninja]

That thing is the sickness. And you would be amazed how many people can't drive manual transmissions. At my dealership, I have to pretty much drive my truck up on the lift, because no one there can drive a stick.

[steve_k]

I see lots Lotus's around driving around day to day... There's a Lotus stealership about a mile away from the Microsoft campus where I work and you see them regularly in the parking lots. You see lots of other fun if slightly impractical vehicles there, too.

Another tribe member on campus?

And what a nice car! Manual transmission, best security system in this day and age. No one seems to know how to drive them anymore.

[TannerStarr]

Niiiice vehicle.... Not everything has to be practical or tacticool..... Just plain fun is cool enough !