Anyone kill a Lotus Elise yet?

[Redbaron]

One of my work competitors has got one, and thinks he'll take me. The car mags times looks like it'd be a dead heat. Any track stories?

Mine: 2002 E46 M3 no mods

[p nut]

I haven't seen one run at the track, but I'm leaning towards the Elise around the track. They've put on just the bare essentials in that car to make it street legal.

Although, I barely saw a video of the CSL taking an Elise at Tsubuka.

It'll be a tight race, though (and by "tight," I don't mean it in the sTunNa slang).

When you race one, make sure you get a video mount beforehand.

[kaiservon]

Its all about the driver. One of my good friends has an Elise. On the street my E36 has better acceleration. Much of that though is attributed to the low end torque. He has to try and catch up from there. On the track or mountain roads like the Dragons Tail, it is neck and neck. Again, It's all about the driver.

Side note: It is easy to get cocky about the Elise's acceleration, because it feels real fast. Very small, very lightweight, very low, mid engine, rwd. It gives a great sensation of speed. Though it's not as fast as you'd think.

[RPM_M3]

From the results of my last track event with the THSCC (thscc.com). The Elise was .1 sec faster than the fastest M3.
http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/events/results/2005/VIR%20South.htm

I'd say it'll go to the better driver.

[SiberianHusky]

Yesterday around 11am, I saw a red Lotus Elise with temporary tags parked in Kroger's parking lot (the strip mall has a Blockbuster and a chinese restaurant). Two gentlemen were looking at the car. Do you happen to be one of them?

[wolverine]

Its all about the driver. One of my good friends has an Elise. On the street my E36 has better acceleration. Much of that though is attributed to the low end torque. He has to try and catch up from there. On the track or mountain roads like the Dragons Tail, it is neck and neck. Again, It's all about the driver.

Side note: It is easy to get cocky about the Elise's acceleration, because it feels real fast. Very small, very lightweight, very low, mid engine, rwd. It gives a great sensation of speed. Though it's not as fast as you'd think.

You've got one hell of an M3 if you can keep up with an Elise on the track.

[kaiservon]

More driver than car. Knowing the limits of the car. I was running two secs a lap faster than him at Talledega Raceway (road course) a couple of months ago. The M3 has basic bolt on's with RE750 street tires.

[tkd134]

guys there is a video of an elise taking an f40 and a gt3 on the track. Do a search i think i found it somewhere on bfc. Its so incredible

[bähnstormer]

depends on the track a lot ^^^
small track the elise will whomp on those cars
simply b/c of weight...

[SpecM]

Its all about the driver.

-I agree. It could go either way.

[91M5]

Having instructed in an Elise with a novice driver, I think the Lotus would lay the smack down on the M3 with an equal driver. Insane grip. The guy was exiting corners at the same speed I was with a much lower entry speed and pretty bad driving. It also pulled pretty darn hard once on the boil. It was the "sport" model whatever that means. It had A032's. I admit it would take a good driver to have the cajones to carry the speed through the corners but it is my opinion that cornering speed plus a pretty decent engine would be enough to negate any power advantage the M3 has.

[p nut]

I think the "Sport" Model comes with a beefed up suspension they call LSS and also different set of wheels and tires (more track oriented). From the elise forums, it's a must if you track the car.

[CLee36]

i read somewhere that the elise does low 13's to high 12's in the 1/4. not that many bmws can hang with that stock. btw i saw one on i95, beautiful car!


charles

[91M5]

The one I rode in did have A032's. By the way, he drove it everyday and there is no way I would do that. The E30 M3 is positively luxurious and quiet compared to the Lotus.

[p nut]

Ha ha. Yeah, I test drove one at this dealership and the salesman told me an elderly gent came in one day looking for a car for his wife. He took a liking to the Elise, took it around the block, got out, said, "thank you" then left.

This car is NOT made for a pleasant, cushy drives. It is as hard core as a stock production car comes race ready. The sport model doesn't even come with carpeting! I still want one...

[Hugo]

One of my work competitors has got one, and thinks he'll take me. The car mags times looks like it'd be a dead heat. Any track stories?

Mine: 2002 E46 M3 no mods


:nono