Old photo

[Smartbear]

Just found this pic lurking in my collection, it’s my old Smart roadster coupe (699cc!) and the Lotus Elise replacement alongside it.
Mrs Smartbears Smart forfour is tucked away at the end.

Rob

 

[buzyg]

Some very smart photos their Mr Bear. Not sure about actually driving them though. Nothing their I could fit in. (Possibly the forfour :wink: )

 

[Tom2207]

I really liked those smart roadsters ,,, but ,,, if you step about three feet closer they turn into a z4 ,,, sort of ,, if you squint a bit .. and look through the gaps in your fingers .. ish .

Interesting how the Lotus got overlooked ,,, but they are so sweet too.

 

[Smartbear]

I really liked those smart roadsters ,,, but ,,, if you step about three feet closer they turn into a z4 ,,, sort of ,, if you squint a bit .. and look through the gaps in your fingers .. ish .

Interesting how the Lotus got overlooked ,,, but they are so sweet too.

How did the Lotus get overlooked? :?
Rob

 

[Tom2207]

I really liked those smart roadsters ,,, but ,,, if you step about three feet closer they turn into a z4 ,,, sort of ,, if you squint a bit .. and look through the gaps in your fingers .. ish .

Interesting how the Lotus got overlooked ,,, but they are so sweet too.

How did the Lotus get overlooked? :?
Rob

I had to go back and add the comment on the Lotus ,,, overlooked by me strange as I lusted after one for ages but the Smart Roadster instantly attracts the eye ,, maybe its just me though

 

[sars]

I think the Elise still looks stunning, I’d love to have a go in one

 

[Argyll Andy]

I’d love to have a go in one

I’d love to be able to fit in one

 

[Nanu]

Getting in is not usually an issue, getting out is a major problem

 

[Smartbear]

I think the Elise still looks stunning, I’d love to have a go in one

The stying is bold but the driving experience stands out more, it’s the lack of weight combined with a beautiful steering feel with no power assistance - on a twisty road it’s perfect, on a motorway less so.
I’ve been tempted by a Caterham 7 but don’t think mrs Smartbear would get in it :lol:
Rob

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I think the Elise still looks stunning, I’d love to have a go in one

The stying is bold but the driving experience stands out more, it’s the lack of weight combined with a beautiful steering feel with no power assistance - on a twisty road it’s perfect, on a motorway less so.
I’ve been tempted by a Caterham 7 but don’t think mrs Smartbear would get in it :lol:
Rob

I’ve owned a couple of Westfields (the second for almost 19 years) which I’ve used as road and track cars. I’ve also driven a few Elises but only on track. A Seven is to an Elise what the Lotus is to a Z4 - lighter, more responsive to any input, and much more raw - but also completely impractical and completely lacking in any crash protection. I stopped using my Westfield on the road a number of years ago simply because it is invisible to the average idiot in an SUV.

I’ve been looking for a V6 Exige for a couple of years, but the prices here are ridiculous. As such, recently, I’ve been giving serious consideration to an Elise Cup 250. It would be a daily driver (to keep the miles off my Zed) as well as a track toy. I’m just a little concerned that I’ll be disappointed not to have the V6 howl of the Exige. Your Elise is beautiful, I love the simplicity of the design and the colour is my favourite for the Elise. It’s really not helping me to avoid spending money on another ridiculous toy!

 

[M1k3yC]

I think the Elise still looks stunning, I’d love to have a go in one

You might have a "never meet your heroes" moment - I did when I drove one. I'm well aware that I held an unpopular opinion on the Elise, though!

 

[Tom2207]

I think the Elise still looks stunning, I’d love to have a go in one

You might have a "never meet your heroes" moment - I did when I drove one. I'm well aware that I held an unpopular opinion on the Elise, though!

they look great , but Im told they are hard to use as a daily driver , water leaks and the likes ,,, its the older engine that would put me off.

 

[Smartbear]

I think the Elise still looks stunning, I’d love to have a go in one

You might have a "never meet your heroes" moment - I did when I drove one. I'm well aware that I held an unpopular opinion on the Elise, though!

they look great , but Im told they are hard to use as a daily driver , water leaks and the likes ,,, its the older engine that would put me off.

You should be fine if you get an 06 onwards car with the Toyota engines, most of the niggles had been ironed out by then & the 1zz/2zz engines are usually trouble free, I had no bother with mine & definitely no water leaks
Rob

 

[Smartbear]

I think the Elise still looks stunning, I’d love to have a go in one

The stying is bold but the driving experience stands out more, it’s the lack of weight combined with a beautiful steering feel with no power assistance - on a twisty road it’s perfect, on a motorway less so.
I’ve been tempted by a Caterham 7 but don’t think mrs Smartbear would get in it :lol:
Rob

I’ve owned a couple of Westfields (the second for almost 19 years) which I’ve used as road and track cars. I’ve also driven a few Elises but only on track. A Seven is to an Elise what the Lotus is to a Z4 - lighter, more responsive to any input, and much more raw - but also completely impractical and completely lacking in any crash protection. I stopped using my Westfield on the road a number of years ago simply because it is invisible to the average idiot in an SUV.

I’ve been looking for a V6 Exige for a couple of years, but the prices here are ridiculous. As such, recently, I’ve been giving serious consideration to an Elise Cup 250. It would be a daily driver (to keep the miles off my Zed) as well as a track toy. I’m just a little concerned that I’ll be disappointed not to have the V6 howl of the Exige. Your Elise is beautiful, I love the simplicity of the design and the colour is my favourite for the Elise. It’s really not helping me to avoid spending money on another ridiculous toy!

Thanks, it was storm titanium 8)
I hired a roadsport 150 for the day a few years ago to satisfy my curiosity, i think I’d have enjoyed it a lot more without my other half moaning that she’d got grease on her shoes climbing into it, the Caterhams chances were doomed from that moment on :lol:

Rob

 

[Tom2207]

You might have a "never meet your heroes" moment - I did when I drove one. I'm well aware that I held an unpopular opinion on the Elise, though!

they look great , but Im told they are hard to use as a daily driver , water leaks and the likes ,,, its the older engine that would put me off.

You should be fine if you get an 06 onwards car with the Toyota engines, most of the niggles had been ironed out by then & the 1zz/2zz engines are usually trouble free, I had no bother with mine & definitely no water leaks
Rob

Toyota do seem to get things right most of the time .

 

[BMWZ4MC]

There’s a Series One Elise for sale in Victoria that has had a supercharged Honda K24 engine fitted (making 420hp) and an all carbon fibre Exige body conversion. I’m not sure that could be used as a daily driver though :evil:

 

[Tom2207]

There’s a Series One Elise for sale in Victoria that has had a supercharged Honda K24 engine fitted (making 420hp) and an all carbon fibre Exige body conversion. I’m not sure that could be used as a daily driver though :evil:

C62C2C81-5624-4B40-87E5-825D06ECA51F.jpeg3DE54FCD-316F-4FCA-A3AF-11559C330471.jpeg609E9469-A02A-4412-A3D0-F001A6C6ACEB.jpeg

What a stunning looking weapon ,,

 

[Colin_E]

I drove an Elise when they first came out (96 or 97 I think). Awesome! Probably my most fun driving experience to date. I duly put a deposit down and came close to buying but ended up backing out & ordering a Z3 instead because multiple impracticalities were going to make it hard to live with for what I wanted at the time - something to cruise around Europe and especially France on holiday. Luggage capacity, getting in/out and a press-stud roof cover all spring to mind. Often wish I could have had both - even though those early models had other issues too.

 

[Zedebee]

Bl**dy Hell, size of that supercharger!