Hey all, in the latest Roak&Track the cover story is of the American version of the Lotus Elise. What an awsome car! Get this, they put a tuned version of the Vibe/celica gt-s motor in it to pass emissions but in doing so, they dropped the 0-60 to 4.8 seconds! Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Elise the sister car of the Opel Speedster, they sure have the overall setup/looks. If they are related, why would GM not bring a Pontiac version over, but they will allow lotus to?? oh yeah and the base price was est. at 39K.
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09:55 PM
PFF
System Bot
AusFiero Member
Posts: 11513 From: Dapto NSW Australia Registered: Feb 2001
WOwo, didn't realise you guys couldn't buy them over there. They have been here all along. Once you see one in the flesh you will consider it overpriced.
They are an amazingly fast and good handling car for the money, even if it seems like a lot. All the go fast engineering is under the (ugly, IMO)skin. The cars I've seen over here in the states have all had a heavy duty anti-chip paint job put on them for track use. Lotus' parent company is no longer GM. They are owned by Proton of Malaysia.
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11:30 PM
Oct 15th, 2003
Rhino88gt Member
Posts: 718 From: Maumelle, AR Registered: Jun 2003
Yeah, i read in the article that they switched. And no I wouldnt pay that much for it! However I think bringing over the ~25k version of Opel's car would have been worth the money. A Small, mid engine car, good on gas, sporty and fun to drive, that seems pretty close to the fiero's style to me!
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01:42 AM
RACE Member
Posts: 4842 From: Des Moines IA Registered: Dec 2002
I would like to see the MG TF imported to the US. When I was in England they were everywhere and they are really cool.
Our poloution laws kill the importation of a lot of really great cars. The Porshe 959 finally got approved but only after a significant redesign of the fuel system and electronics not to mention government red tape. Its frustrating and sad.
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Elise the sister car of the Opel Speedster, they sure have the overall setup/looks.
Out of curiosity, I looked it up, and apparently the Elise is based on the Speedster. The Speedster is virtually the same as the Vauxhall VX220 as well. Interesting thing I found, though, the Speedster seems to be left hand steering, while the VX220 is right hand steering... anyone know why? 'Cause I sure would like to know. I thought they were both European cars.
Pretty neat that it's actually coming here! Perhaps if God smiles on me and money falls from the sky, I'll buy one. Otherwise, I love my Fiero
[This message has been edited by tjfennel (edited 10-15-2003).]
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04:03 AM
Fie Ro Member
Posts: 3735 From: Soest, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2001
Out of curiosity, I looked it up, and apparently the Elise is based on the Speedster. The Speedster is virtually the same as the Vauxhall VX220 as well. Interesting thing I found, though, the Speedster seems to be left hand steering, while the VX220 is right hand steering... anyone know why? 'Cause I sure would like to know. I thought they were both European cars.
Pretty neat that it's actually coming here! Perhaps if God smiles on me and money falls from the sky, I'll buy one. Otherwise, I love my Fiero
[This message has been edited by tjfennel (edited 10-15-2003).]
No,the speedster was based on the Elise. The Elise was first. The speedsters are a bit modified suspensionwise so they drive more like an....uh...Opel. So the Elise is a bit more extreme and easier taken to the edge... Vauxhall is only available in the UK (as far as I know) so that's why they have the steeringwheel at the right (wrong!) side....
Anyway, the Fiero is more exotic overhere than the Elise/Speedster so I am on the right side
There's also a midengine Smart roadster...These are fun too. Already seen a few.
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05:03 AM
Will Member
Posts: 14275 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
After somebody in a mid-life crisis absorbs the depreciation hit, I'm going to pick one of those up in about 2-2.5 years. Shortly after that I'll do a low compression 3zz stroke build, adapt a Celica turbo kit and go hunting.
------------------ '87 Fiero GT: Northstar, Getrag, TGP wheels, rear sway bar, rod end links, bushings, etc. '90 Pontiac 6000 SE AWD: Leaking ABS unit fixed, load levelling rear suspension fixed, still slow
And to clarify a few details (as others have already). The Elise was 1st. GM basically bought the near-finished Speedster/VX220 chassis from them and added a different powerplant (EcoTec 4). The Opel Speedster and the Vauxhall VX220 are the same car. Just Vauxhall is simply GM's Opel brand as made available in the UK with RHD standard.
Up until this point, the Elise has used a Rover-based engine for power... which would never pass through US Emissions standards. Sunspeed has been importing the Elise for awhile now - installing an Acura motor to get by emissions, but still "sneaking" them by crash-standards testing.
The US-Spec Elise (this info based directly on the R&T Article) now will be using a Toyota/Yamaha-based 4 cyl engine baning out about 190hp (consider the sub 2k lbs weight - vroom!). The test driver seemed to very much enjoy the ride, and I for one don't see the near $40k price tag as being too expensive... considering that it'll basically out-perform most other cars currently available in the US market! And keep in mind it's still a Lotus (no matter who owns them), and it's certainly not being put out as a commuter car
although this should probably have been placed in O/T... I really don't mind.
the elise has been here already...i've seen a few of them around me. The exige is where it's at. That thing is all performance, i've only seen one of those around here.
Sport compact car tested one awhile back that was brought to america with a 1.8 DOHC honda motor in it. They said the motor was a perfect match for the car and passed emissions.
Sport compact car tested one awhile back that was brought to america with a 1.8 DOHC honda motor in it. They said the motor was a perfect match for the car and passed emissions.
Like I said, it would've come from http://www.sunspeed.com using a B18C (VTEC Type R) powerplant. They were running about $55k - but it says on their website that they'll convert a new Elise to the B18C motor for about $25k (I think I'd stick with the Yamaha/Toyota powerplant at that price tag).
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02:59 PM
Oct 16th, 2003
Rhino88gt Member
Posts: 718 From: Maumelle, AR Registered: Jun 2003
yeah Minn, what I was trying to get at about the motor was, since Pontiac uses the 1.8 and the six speed from the celica, which is, other than the lotus tuning, the same engine as in the U.S. elise, why couldnt pontiac slap that motor in the opel and have a car with an engine pontiac is already set up for parts and service wise. Just a pipe dream, but hey it was a thought.
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01:03 AM
RCR Member
Posts: 4416 From: Shelby Twp Mi Registered: Sep 2002
Another company that deals with the Elise. www.eliseusa.com I sure wouldn't mind seeing an Elise/VX220/Speedster body kit for the Fiero. Jim Stricland at the above site was talking about one, but I don't know how far it has gone.
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09:31 AM
Fie Ro Member
Posts: 3735 From: Soest, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2001
Originally posted by RCR: I sure wouldn't mind seeing an Elise/VX220/Speedster body kit for the Fiero.
That would be interesting! but I think the Speedsters dimensions/ wheelbase etc. is much different from the Fiero. But a combination of the Speedster's modern bodyshape with say the sleek fastback GT shape could produce a nice Spiero!
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03:36 PM
John Boelte Member
Posts: 1012 From: Indianapolis, IN, USA Registered: Jun 2002
What looks like will happen is that the opel speedster and vauxhall vx220 will be discontinued and the Elise will be the only car built in the plant they currently share in England.
There is a dark blue Elise track version being shipped from one Lotus dealer to the next for test drives (on public roads no less). I saw it at Midwestern Auto Group here in Dublin about 3 weeks ago. It was only available at first to the 18~20 people who had placed deposits on the car to guarantee MSRP (~38.5K). It was later available to people who were considering adding their name to the order list (for a $2500 deposit), but I must have missed that opportunity because it was already gone! One of the guys at work drove it and LOVED it! Said the handling and power (158bhp) was perfect (of course). People were practically falling over themselves to get a better look. $40K? Hmmmm... Sell the GT. Eat rice and beans. No college fund for the boy...
Sure the Elise is nice looking and has a great suspension. but.....
For $38,000 you could have one hell of a Fiero. I'm talking high performance out your ying yang. Not a 120 hp. so-so performer.
That's correct, you don't quite understand it The new model Elise should have nearly 190hp, and weighs about 2/3 of what a stock Fiero does... and in stock trim will outrun and outhandle nearly any Fiero you throw at it.
No matter what you do to the Fiero, you're still dealing with 20-year old technology. The Elise has been designed and built as a performance car from day one. Read the R&T article (especially the tech specs on the car), you'll see that a Fiero & an Elise share little more than the basics of being a 2-seater MR car.
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09:44 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27103 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
How many of us are going competitive on the Mosport track, or Watkins Glen? Not many. We are having mostly street legal fun.
But, that being said, I am willing to bet that the basic frame and layout of the Fiero, in the hands of a good track team, could be made to hold it's own against all comers.
The newer designs like Miata are just that, newer designs, and mostly front wheel drive weenies.
Is anybody trashing Cobra's? They are older than Fiero's and still considered to be formidable.
Buy a $3,000 Fiero, give me the car with $38,000 spending money, and I'll give you a car that will eat most other street legals, including the Elise.
Buy a $3,000 Fiero, give me the car with $38,000 spending money, and I'll give you a car that will eat most other street legals, including the Elise.
LOL- confident, but broke
I'm not bagging on you for supporting the Fiero... I certainly won't be selling mine anytime soon (although I've already got nearly half MSRP of an Elise tied up in my GT). You don't need to go out of your way trying to convince me of the potential the Fiero has... I've owned my current one for 8+ years now, and I've been in & around the Fiero community for more than 10 years now. I've witnessed many of the top-performing cars 1st hand.
Keep in mind that within 5 years you should be able to buy a used elise for about $20-25k - that makes the "budget war" a little closer. But for now, the Elise will be marketed towards a certain demographic that Fiero owners are not - deep pocket enthusiasts
Would I buy an Elise? Heck yeah, I've wanted one since I first saw one in England back in '97! - But if I had that kind of money to spend, I would honestly probably spend another $20k and go with a Noble M12 instead!
[This message has been edited by MinnGreenGT (edited 10-17-2003).]
Yep! And they're now importing them to the US (minus Engine & Tranny) for the small sum of $52,700 (as advertised in the back of R&T and a few other car mags) as being sold by http://www.1gracing.com/
I had the honor of seeing one in person at the Carlisle 2003 Kit/Replicar show in Carlisle PA! I just stood there and drooled...
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06:10 PM
webqaz Member
Posts: 323 From: Harrison Twp. Michigan Registered: Dec 2002
