Lotus Blog Archive
I decided to stash the text from all my previous posts from my Lotus blog here, in one entry. These posts span the past three or so years.
After buying a 2006 Lotus Elise I've experienced strong reactions from people everywhere I go. This thing attracts so much attention on a daily basis that I had to start a diary. Going forward, this page will chronicle my daily experiences with the Elise.
I drove the new Evora today. What a sexy car! --excellent around the town sports car. Now I really want to see how it feels on the track.
About a month ago I drove an Elise SC with stage 2 exhaust. The power increase was nice, but what really impressed me was the sound of the exhaust. I had to have it.
So now with the help of a couple friends, I got the stage 2 installed and the sound matches the looks of this car. Who knew the stock exhaust was concealing such a beautiful engine note.
This thing is loud though. After a day of hard driving my hearing was noticeably muffled. The stock exhaust made my ears ring the first few weeks too, but my ears have 'adjusted.'
As usual, too busy for updates and I don't take my camera out with me a lot anymore. This has been a good season for driving. Summer is almost over but there's still more to come. Here are some random photos from different events.
While having curb scrapes repaired on the front bumper, I decided to also have the license plate plinth removed. The guys at Garage Inc. made it completely disappear. Great job guys!
Can't believe I didn't post this before - not a new photo, but definitely a memorable day.
Well it's been three years and this week I took the Elise in for the last service under warranty. The service manager asked if I could think of anything that was wrong with it, cause after this it will cost to fix things. I'm at 22,500 miles and everything is just great. There was some foam bulging from the side sill but all they had to do was trim that off.
Every 7500 miles or so the service includes re-torquing the chassis bolts. I'm told the suspension is so stiff that the car will vibrate itself apart without this regular maintenance. Cool.
He was also servicing a new Gallardo LP560. What a beautiful piece of machinery. This new version has Reventon styling, with a sharper front-end, and Y-shaped LED pattern in the headlights and brake lights. He started it up to show one of the features of the new engine. It roars like a monster for a minute or so until it gets up to temperature, then idles down where it literally is as quiet as a Camry. A touch of the petal and it screams back to life. He also showed off the new Zagato Bently weighing in at $1.3 million. Yikes! Zagato made one of these and nearly every part of the all-aluminum body is custom made.
AutoX Days
Porsche Club @ Alameda
3/21 7am-4pm
4/25 7am-4pm
5/16 7am-4pm
Track Days
Laguana Seca
Feb 12 (Thu) Hooked on Driving
Feb 16-17(Mon-Tue) Audi Car Club
Feb 25 (Wed) Green Flag Racing
March 18 (Wed) Hooked on Driving
April 7 (Tue) On the Edge Track Days
April 8 (Wed) Trackmasters
April 13 (Mon) NCRC
April 20 (Mon) Checkered Flag
April 30 (Thu) Porsche Club/Trackmaster
May 25-26 (Mon- Tue) Shelby Club
May 27 (Wed) Trackmasters
June 8 (Mon) Porsche Club/Trackmaster
July- Dec: Not Open Yet.
Infineon Raceway
02/14/2009 - 02/15/2009 NASA
03/01/2009 Checkered Flag Club
03/07/2009 - 03/08/2009 BMW Club
03/19/2009 - 03/20/2009 Track Master
03/21/2009 - 03/22/2009 NASA
05/04/2009 Track Master
05/05/2009 Checkered Flag Club
06/27/2009 - 06/28/2009 NASA
07/04/2009 - 07/05/2009 Hooked on Driving
08/29/2009 - 08/30/2009 Shelby Club
10/8-9 (Thu/Fri)- Track Master
10/23 (Fri)- Track Master
11/6 (Fri)- Track Master
11/21 (Sat) - Track Master
Sept. -Dec: Not Open Yet.
Thunderhill
Feb.1,20- Hooked On Driving Spring Training
March 20 - Hooked On Driving
March 27-29- Porsche Club
April 3- TEAM
April 11- Speed Ventures
April 16,17- Hooked On Driving
April 18,19- Shelby Club
April 24- Track Master
April 24, 25- NASA
April 25, Volvo Club
May 15- Hooked On Driving
May 27- GGLC
May 29- Track Master
May 30, 31- NASA
June 6,7- Hooked On Driving
June 26- Hooked On Driving
July 14- GGLC
July 17- Hooked On Driving-Ferrari and Friends
Aug 1,2 -Porsche Club
Aug 8,9- BMW Club
Aug 14- Hooked On Driving
Aug 21- Track Master
Aug 22,23- NASA
Aug 28- Hooked On Driving
It's coming up on 3 years and I only updated this blog the first half of my car's life. It's not that hard to slow down and write a few words, but I lead a fast life. Last year's new obsession with my sports bike didn't help either. haha I've done many autox and track events since then.
It's been a lot of fun with plenty of close calls. I've got plenty more stories like this one: My friend was riding shotgun on a warm-up lap at the track when I touched the inside rumble strip coming out of a long sweeper, which caused an instant 720 spin out. It rained the night before and those things held in the water.
Luckily I recovered without crashing, but my friend turned off his video camera literally seconds before we went into that corner. What a shame - that would have been so cool to share and see again!! That was Nov. '07 my first spin out. Terrifying.
I had some video from the last track day laying around, so I thought I'd post it. Disclaimer: This is not the way to get good traction, but it is damn fun. :D
I'll post more details tomorrow.
This weekend was spent in wine country with my gf. We stayed in a nice resort by the sea, drinking wine by the fireplace. The mountain roads were tight and twisty. We could smell the grapes in the air as it was the beginning of harvest season.
Most of the time when we caught up to a vehicle in front of us, it meant the fun was over until they let us by. However on one mountian pass, I came up on a modified Intrgra. I was impressed by how this car realy held it's own on the tight turns.
All in all a dream weekend!
I've been too busy for blog updates, have only taken my Lotus out about once per week, and haven't made it back to the track lately. :\
In the fragments of time I do have though, I got some mods completed.
* boot lid release via a light-weight actuator
* lid bone (light-weight alternative to hydraulics) installed
* headlight mod; silver star white lights
* daytime running lights replaced with white LED
* misc. interior changes, such as replacing those plastic floor mat bits with billet aluminum pieces
When I was back from Starbucks yesterday a nice couple was debating over what kind of car it was. They went for closer examination of the brand emblem. I talked with them when I got to the car, and they first thought it was a Ford GT. haha With the top down they remarked how little creature space there is. That's one thing the Elise has with the GT.
A friend came by with his Mustang Shelby edition last night and we raced around the streets. I'm happy to say the Elise is faster, even off the line. The Shelby is a powerful beast and if it could get traction to the rear wheels it would be dangerous.
It was all fun and games until sparks flew. I went too fast through one San Francisco street and caught major air like in the cop movies. lol :( My friend who was behind me said he saw sparks when I landed. By the sound it made, I was sure something was broke, but the only damage I see is scraped paint on the front bumper.
Video from the Lotus/Lambo meet. Sorry about the shoddy camera work. Also, I cut out the sound because it was mostly a confusing mix of people talking over engine noise.
Here are some photos from a track day at Infineon in Northern California. It's only on the track where I realize this car is too good for public roads. The track is the only place where you can even come close to pushing the performance limits.
I haven't driven the Lotus all week, so I decided to take it out, even though my mods are incomplete. When the first comment of the day came along, I was preparing to answer the same range of questions people always ask. To my surprise, the guy just asked what year it was. I said 06 and he just talked amongst his friends, who had encircled my car at the stop light. The whole day was full of unusual comments.
Later in the day I was pulling out of the lot and an oncoming truck nearly came to a stop in front of me. Cars were backed up behind him as he rolled forward. I cautiosly went around him. The guy leaned out the window and said. "I was just admiring your car." It was a nice change of pace from the usual comments. :D
There was one negative. A moron in a Mustang kept trying to race me in busy mid-town traffic. lol He kept revving his engine and changing lanes trying to get around me, which was pointless since there was nowhere to go on the crowded road.
As promised, while I work on mods, here are some photos taken at the beach. Enjoy.
It's not been sunny here in SF lately, so I've kept the Lotus indoors, only taking it out once or twice per week. I'm too busy to go to the track or autox :(
Yesterday a guy on a motorcycle revved his engine next to me on the highway. I looked over and he took off down an exit. Not sure what that was about, but if he wanted to race there was nowhere to go on the crowded road. lol
I do have some photos and video to post on this page to keep the updates going. Those will go up soon.
Parts are on their way to me, and mods are planned. Oh, but when will I have time? mrmmm.
For some reason, the more sunny it is the more people comment. Today it was non-stop. On the morning drive some guys in an SUV were asking me the full range of questions whilst hanging out their windows. At lunch I parked where I could keep an eye on the car, and it was steadily swarmed.
On the drive home, one guy even tried to hold a conversation with me while riding on his bike (he would catch up to me at red lights and start talking). He asked where I got it, said I should have got the yellow one (the dealership has a yellow Lotus Exige on display currently). The last thing he said to me was "that is the only sick sports car made today" -- I didn't get it, but took it as a compliment.
My Lotus and my friend's Ferrari were used in a photo shoot this weekend. This is one of many bikini-clad models who posed with the cars. The house was literally right on the beach. I enjoyed the sun and sand with my gf.
I took my other car in for body work, and the shop had a Ford GT up on the lift. One of the mechanics brought it down so I could look at it while I was waiting. He said the whole side was replaced because the driver side-swiped *something*. A tire wall perheps?
Like an idiot, I left my car parked in the wrong place for too long and it got towed. I picked up my car this morning and the guys there had some stories for me.
He said people would come in angry, screaming about their car, then spot the Lotus. He told me they started asking about my car and forgot how angry they were from having their car towed.
I wasn't angry because I did leave my car there way too long, and they took special care not to damage it. They had it on a raised dolly so it wouldn't scrape the ground. The guy said my car was the first on the list to get towed that day, but last to actually go. He said he hated to tow such a nice car, and waited until the last possible moment to take it away.
Not bad guys, but a costly lesson.
We had a few guests in from the Sapporo office, and drove them to the morning meeting. A Porshe Carrera, Ferrari 348, and Lotus Elise. I personally went over 110mph during the caravan morning commute. It was good fast fun for all.
I was driving through the Mission district with my girl, and a group of guys started yelling, "Yo yo yo. Light em up! Lets see what you got!" and making twirling hand gestures. I laughed as we went by, dismissing their comments.
After a second though, I looked around for cops and revved the engine, which spun the rear wheels, letting loose burning rubber smells down the street. I didn't feel guilty about showing off -- after all, they asked for it. I guess it was one of those fun guy moments.
Here's a new one. I was waiting at a light and a kid walked up to my passenger window. He asked, "How fast it go?" The light had just turned green and I didn't have time to talk, so I just pointed at the speedometer. I heard him say, "Two...." something, as I was pulling away. hehe -- maybe after a supercharger upgrade.
I took the Elise to Jim Russel racing school at Infineon raceway. It was very challenging and a ton of fun. This car holds the road well, and according to my g-tech meter, I pulled 1.3 G's in the turns. (margin of error 0.1) Pictures soon to follow.
Not to be outdone, my buddy just bought a bright yellow Ferrari. We went for a little cruise in the winding roads of the hills. We cruised alongside a white Lotus Esprit for a short stretch of road. Pictures here are from a rest stop where we saw some cops go by. We took it easy on the ride home.
People were doing double-takes as we drove through the city.
I've boiled it down to a few different types of casual encounters with the Elise, as illustrated in this surveillance video. Yeah, I've got nothing better to do.
I took my friend for a ride the other day, and he said something like, "People do stare, don't they!", to which I replied, "Wha?" I've stopped paying attention to what people in other cars are doing. According to my friend, people still turn their heads and try to get a look as I drive by. After that I've been looking in other cars, and at people on the street. Yep, they still stare.
I was stopped at a light next to a bus stop and noticed a guy fumbling through his pockets. He pulled out a little camera and started taking pictures. I wasn't sure if I should smile or what. lol It was a loooong light. I tried to act casual, but I'm not used to being in front of the camera. Maybe it's better if I don't notice when people take pics of the car.
We finally got some sunshine in Northern California! Yaaay! The Elise was in the parking lot for about an hour and attracted the attention of several passersby. A couple of them walked by just to look at it, then turned around and went back the way they came.
This guy was the most interesting. He was taking pictures of the side, front, and back. Then he did something interesting. He took pictures of himself standing in front of the car. hahaha I got a kick out of that.
Another rainy weekend. The Elise stayed in the garage.
More rain, but there was some light at the end of the week.
I parked in front of my building today and when I came out I noticed some guys circling the car and taking pictures with their cell phones. Another couple walked by and the guy had to stop and check it out. His girlfriend of course, just waited with her arms folded.
After dark I went to my favorite parking lot (large circular area, no markings, light poles, or other obstacles) for some fun. I've never been one to play around with cars, always playing it safe. Tonight I had some controlled play time. I did some doughnuts, did some drifting, and once lost control of the car during a drift as the engine carried the back end out. I hung on for the ride as it spun to a stop -- not much else you can do at that point. I need to learn the limits of the car, and I'm glad I have a safe place to do it.
Tires are expensive, so I didn't go overboard. My gf got in the driver's seat for a while and practiced on the manual transmission. She's getting good, and soon she'll be ready to conquer hills. ;)
We turned off the engine, and lights for a breather. A cop car slowly rolled into the lot. We thought for sure we would be in trouble for making so much noise. The cop must not have noticed us. His spotlight turned towards the only other car in the lot, a parked Honda on the opposite side. The cop car darted over to the car and stopped. We took that opportunity to discreetly exit the lot. That was enough excitement for one night.
I finally reached the end of the break in period! The Elise went in for service and all was well. I opened her up on the highway and does she ever scream! When the second cams come in there is a kick of sudden power that is downright scary. I found myself holding on for dear life a couple times, just safely going in a straight line, but really not prepared to face that kind of acceleration.
It will be a while before I can really see what this thing is capable of. Track day is getting closer!
Northern California has seen record number of rainy days. I try not to drive the Lotus on rainy days. It's just easier to keep things clean when there is no mud to clean off in the first place.
I took the car out the couple sunny days this week. I came up on a mustang full of teenage kids that all turned around to look back at me. They changed lanes, slowed down, changed lanes again, and sped up -- so they could get a look at the Elise from all angles.
I saw an Elise parked on the street in my neighborhood, gunmetal in color, from the same dealership even. I also spotted one, dark blue, on the highway on a rainy day.
The Elise is a dangerous car. Not for the driver, though. As driver, I have complete control over the car and it communicates everything that is going on perfectly, instantly.
The danger lies in other drivers on the road. I've gotten used to people's heads tilted up to look at me in their rear-view mirrors, and their faces looking back over their shoulder as they pass by. I almost don't notice anymore, because unlike them I am actually paying attention to the road. I don't blame them, though.
The first time I saw an Elise on the road I turned around as fast as I could to get a glimpse before it disappeared into traffic. Today, though I was waiting at a light when a guy came through the intersection, and his eyes became fixed on my car. It was only a second or two, but it was enough to cause him to veer towards the concrete divider. He caught it in time, swerving back on course, but it was really close.
It makes me glad I didn't buy one in red. At least blue blends in somewhat and is more easily overlooked. I think my insurance company should give me a discount for having a safe color.
I had my car parked by a Valet today. Luckily it came out unscathed. When I was waiting to get it back, the attendant talked my ear off about it. Although at some points I think he had it confused with a different European exotic. There is an element of mystery in the minds of the general public about Lotus.
I drove past a trolly full of tourists and the heads of every person tracked my car as I went by. Further down the street, a little kid spotted me and his face lit up. He pointed and tugged on his sister's arm to get her to look. hehehe
Later in the night I took a long drive to eat up some more miles. It was dark and rainy, so I stopped in at a big circular parking lot. It was deserted except for a couple of cars parked with their lights off. I had some fun, but got bored rather quickly and left. Track day is less than a month away, then I can have some real fun!
I'm 122 miles away from having the Elise broken in. This is the home stretch.
Over the weekend I was cleaning the wheels and realized how truly amazing this light-weight concept is. I needed to clean the rim area behind the calipers, so I put the car in neutral and pushed it to reveal that part of the rim. After a couple of times moving it like that I tried rolling the wheels manually.
It finally hit me -- This thing is so light that I can just roll the wheels. Even with the steering wheel cranked to one side (so I can reach behind to clean the other side of the rim) it took no real effort. I'm blown away by the fact that it takes the same force to move the entire car that it takes to roll a big truck tire.
I was out with my gf, and we stopped for a bite to eat. When we came back to the car, it had attracted a couple spectators. One walked by, while the other orbited the vehicle. He expressed his approval when I was opening the door for her. Later on a drunken idiot in the car next to us leaned out the window and yelled something. It was either, "That girl is CUTE!" or "That car is CUTE!" Either one is a correct statement.
On Sunday I was at her place, and when I was about to leave her brother came home (I haven't met her family yet). He told her, "Hey there's a nice car parked in front of our house." and told her to come outside and check it out. Then he said, "It's a Lotus!". She played it coy, and said "What's a Lotus?". hehehe
Last night I picked up my gf from a club. She was with her friend, and I brought the car with one seat. The solution? Stack 'em! We rode back with my gf sitting on her friend's lap. It was a tight fit, but now I know -- you can fit a maximum of 2 small Asian girls in the passenger seat of an Elise.
It was a rainy week, but I did take the Elise out when things were clear.
I took my gf's gal pal for a ride around the block. She was really excited. I had fun too... think I scared her a little. I whipped around one corner with a little slip n' slide action. My heart was racing because I hadn't done that since the first day or two I had it.
The car got some nice double-takes this week, despite the rainy weather. On the drive home today a guy pulled up next to me at the light. I looked over and his jaw was litterally hanging open. lol Man-drool makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.
Earlier this evening I parked next to my building and ran up to my place. Before I went back down I checked out the window, and sure enough, a couple passing by gravitated towards the Lotus. The guy stopped to admire it, and walk around to check out the front. Meanwhile his woman was giving him crap. I couldn't hear them, but they were gesturing back and forth. She let him stay and look about a minute before they went on their way.
Just to tack onto that last post...
This afternoon I was stopped and asked what kind of car, never seen that before, that kind of thing. Always flattering to be able to say Lotus. :D
Also stopped by the nice guys of our building security. I stayed a bit late and there's a whole crop of guys who are seeing the car for the first time. So the usual Q&A session took place. Smiles all around.
I didn't drive in many high-traffic areas over the weekend, but did get quite a few head-turns, one teenager with a punky-hairdo gave me the thumbs-up with a big grin, and a little girl in an SUV next to me hung her head out the window, pointing and examining.
Today (Monday) at lunch I pulled up to a couple in a Gallant, and they both simultaniously flipped down their visors to get a look in the vanity mirrors. The visor mirror wasn't enough for the driver, whose curious eyes darted between the rear-view and side mirrors.
Not too much to speak of today. It was rainy. A ricer was behind me going onto the highway. When I merged in, he revved up his engine and sped around me. I saw him darting around for a while, but once he got ahead of me he settled into normal traffic. I slowly caught up to him by casual, traffic-speed driving just before my exit.
At lunch a lady yelled something like, "All right!" at me as I got out of the car. It was raining though, so I didn't pay much attention as I hurried into the restaurant.
Today when I pulled into the parking lot of a in-out burger joint, a guy in a BMW could not take his eyes off the Elise. Another guy was walking towards me before I even parked, so I knew I would either be answering questions, or be putting the beat down on somebody. He took his iPod earbuds out then asked how much the car cost. I told him, and with an astonished look on his face, he said his guess would have been over $100k.
So that's my new answer whenever somebody asks. I'll just say, "This Lotus cost $120k. If you touch it I will take your eyes." (*_* )
This day was filled with the usual stares and head-turns. Some note-able ones were a passenger in a SUV in an intersection who's gaze was fixed on the Elise as the SUV moved slowly through traffic. The passenger even had the gaping mouth. I thought she would look away eventually, because she didn't even blink for a long time. I was wrong, though. She just kept looking.
Many times I don't notice the attention this car is getting, because I am too busy driving and watching traffic. Yesterday my girlfriend told me a guy in a Cayenne was checking us out.
Today there were more of the same behavior as before from pedestrians, too. One guy did a double-take. One kid's head swiveled around and his eyes locked-on as his mom kept her son walking in the right direction.
Then there was this kid...
I parked my car temporarily in the parking lot next to my building, and before I went back down checked on it through the window. This young boy was going ga-ga over the Elise. He spent at least 5 minutes looking at it. His mom kept trying to drag him away, but he kept running back to the car. He circled the car several times. He was unusually interested in it. Maybe some day he will design cars.
Shortly after that I escaped to the safety of the parking garage.
I'm nearly half way through the break-in period. I'm sure the next 500 miles will be just as fun.
I got the normal stares and head-turns today, along with some comments. One guy walked in front of me as I was exiting the drive at work. Didn't hear what he said, but he sure was smiling. I noticed he turned around for a second look just as I was pulling out.
I stopped for gas, and had to answer the normal questions. What is that? How much is that? How fast is that? I think each time somebody asks the price, I will just add $10k. Then maybe one of these times a rich guy will ask how much it is and say, "Okay, I'll take it!" Then I'll buy two more. ;)
I decided it was raining too hard to subject the new car to, so I took my Tiburon. It's a strange feeling getting back into this car. The clutch felt so soft at first I wasn't sure if maybe it was broken. I also noticed how high up you sit in this car. There is so much car all around you, and when you turn, the weight of the car kind of lags behind the wheels. I guess once you get used to a tight race car, there is no going back. ;)
I saw a Lamborghini Gallardo parked at a stop light. It was pouring down rain on this bright orange super car. Amazing sight!
I parked my car this morning for a few minutes and the lot monitor called me boss. He let me know that he marked my tire. Boss. hmmm.
We drove around with the top off for the first time. It gets even more attention this way. As usual, everybody stared on the road and twisted their necks as they passed by. I pulled up behind one car full of people (2 in front, 3 in back) and everything seemed normal... waiting for the light. Then all at once, the three in the back turned their heads around. There was joy on their faces. I smiled. At the next light I was in the lane next to them. One of the guys asked what kind of car it is. I told him proudly, "Lotus". :D Then the girls in the back started singing a song in Spanish. It sounded festive. I'm not sure what that was about, but it was another interesting experience.
It was a beautiful sunny Saturday. Great day for a long drive. I had planned to take a trip to the other side of the bay with my girlfriend, but the bridge was so packed we had no chance. We exited and took some photos...
My girl's car almost got towed by 'the man' yesterday. I pulled up just as they were about to leave. We talked them into releasing her Acura. Parking space is worth more than gold in SF.
Exactly one week ago today I picked up my Elise from the dealer. I put more miles on; I'm over 300 now! A couple more weeks at this pace and I will be able to go get my first service. That's when they replace the oil with synthetic racing oil and give me the green light to use the upper rpm range.
Again today I noticed people stopping to admire my vehicle sitting in the parking lot. On the way out I stopped and let one of the guards drive it around the block. We've been talking cars for a couple months now. He thought I was full of it when I told him back then I wanted to get a Lotus. haha Victory is mine! :P
The ride home from work was a sunny one. When I was waiting at a light, an older gentleman in a large sedan asked how much it cost. I told him, and he said, "It's a very nice car." I detected a European accent, so I assumed he was probably more familiar with European imports than the average Joe driving in SF. Then a few streets down a younger guy in an Accord pulled up next to me and honked. I rolled down my window, and as he was keeping pace next to me, he yelled, "Yo, how much is that car?" lol Wow twice in one drive.
I was tempted to tell them something ridiculous because another friend said something like, "How did you get a Lotus? Don't those cost $400 thousand?" I guess I had the same impression before I knew anything about the Elise. Just seeing it, you think it must be a super-exotic, super-expensive super car with all of it's crazy curves and contours. Oh well, let people think what they want. ;)
I took my girlfriend out in the Elise to Lombard street. The goal was to drive down the twisty-turny street that is so famous in San Francisco and photograph it. We didn't even get close before traffic began blocking up. Apparently driving down Lombard St. is a popular thing to do.
We creeped along until we got to the top of the hill. The sidewalks were crowded with tourists. One by one they started turning away from the sight of the road snaking downhill, and towards us. Before long they were all staring, taking pictures, and chattering about my car. Their attention followed us as we reached the street entrance and proceeded down the hill. It was an interesting experience, although the corners are so tight you can only drive 5mph all the way down.
The street was lined with mansions, some with garages and cars parked in small lots. We sympathized with the people who live there. It must be hell to get in and out of their houses -- considering the tourism and steep grades.
We decided taking a decent picture of Lombard would require climbing on top of a building for the right vantage point. We weren't far from Fisherman's Wharf, so we headed down to the water. There we were met with even more attention from the crowds of tourists. People on the sidewalks were constantly staring and taking pictures as we drove by them. People in cars twisted their necks around to get a good look as we passed. It was amazing!
We finally found a semi-private stretch of asphalt right by the water. Here are a couple photos from that stop...
We then drove around to the beach area and st
opped for a couple hot, chocolatie drinks. The drive there presented an even greater amount of public attention. Stopped at one light, a restauranteur yelled, "Oh oh oh! What a nice car! What kind of car is that?" He was kind of far away, so we didn't bother yelling back. Then while we were driving around looking for a safe parking spot, people in 2 separate cars yelled to us as we passed, "NICE Car!". We just smiled and waved.
After we got back to the car we headed home. The last memorable thing (other than the constant stares and head-turning) was a SUV full of young guys who pulled up beside us. They were literally jumping up and down in their vehicle. The look on their faces was priceless. :D
We're still not sure how to respond to all the attention.
Well I went to the dealership today to look at the Lotus Elise. I was expecting to place a small deposit and place an order -- then wait 6 months like other buyers of exotic cars. To my surprise they had one that fit my specs in stock, just waiting for me. After some relatively painless paperwork and the signing of a large check, I drove out of the dealership with my new 2006 Elise!
My good friend David came along to make sure they salesmen didn't bully me, but they were uber-cool. I followed him back to his house (he drives a Porsche Cayenne turbo), and took him for a quick spin. He said the Lotus was the car he wanted to buy, but the wife wouldn't have it, because there's no room for groceries. ;)
After that I went straight to my girlfriends house to surprise her. On the way I got all sorts of stares from other drivers. I passed a park at one point and a group of guys were on the sidewalk. As I drove by I heard one of them say, "Is that? What?... is it?" Then he yelled, "Yeah, ITS A LOTUS!!!" That made me happy. :)
So I picked up my girl and she was surprised. She knew I was going in to look, maybe put one on order, but had no idea I'd be pulling up in the new car. We went to a large circular parking lot that's free of obstructions, markings, and mostly free from cars.
On the way I took one turn too fast and the back end stepped out on me. I nearly turned the car sideways. I have a lot to learn about the physics of a mid-engine vehicle. I was out of control for maybe a micro-second, and quickly gained complete control as I eased off the gas. Luckily there was only one other car on the road -- a lady in a minivan who avoided driving near me the rest of the way down the road.
We had a lot of fun in that parking lot, spun it around, made the tires break free and made all sorts of noise. All while keeping it under 4500rpm, of course. The engine is so new and only has 9 miles on it. The break-in period is the first 1000 miles, and I have to use restraint.
My girl is learning stick, so she wasn't too aggressive with it, but she did take it's cornering to the edge. It was so much fun!!!
After that we had a nice dinner overlooking the ocean. The sun went down and it started to rain, complete with thunder and lightning in the distant ocean clouds. The Elise got it's first bath.
After buying a 2006 Lotus Elise I've experienced strong reactions from people everywhere I go. This thing attracts so much attention on a daily basis that I had to start a diary. Going forward, this page will chronicle my daily experiences with the Elise.