So You Want A Lotus Elise
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- The Lotus Elise was one man's dream that turned into reality. Colin Chapman began racing in the early 50’s into the 60’s and decided he wanted to create his own car. After many years of development, the Lotus Elise was born into reality. Chapman started by creating the bodys of the lotus and used a different engine, which would in turn put them on the map for success. Would you ever own a Lotus Elise? Let Us Know!
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@fitmentindustries
So You Want is a series dedicated to talking about all things automotive. From engine swaps to cars such as the Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, Honda S2000, Subaru WRX, and many more. Strap in as Alex gives you the lowdown on what to expect if you are looking at owning, working on, or modifying any of these cars.
#Lotus #Elise #Toyota
What do you think of the Lotus Elise? Let us know! Don’t forget to add your car to our gallery over at www.fitmentindustries.com/add for a chance to be featured!
I think it's a poor man's Hennessy venom
I think the ones with Toyota engines are some of the best track cars you can buy.
Ahhh slower than my s2k
I got one :)
@@justar6865 America needed a good platform xD
"We're not here to talk about the history" He says after talking about the history for 8 minutes.
FR
Yep. Lot of babble at the front, eh?
Being an Elise owner for about a decade, I can attest to the accuracy of this video. Also, my back hurts.
Only when you swap out the steering rack.
$30,000? " Yes"
Back hurts? "Yes"
Joy to drive? "Hell yeah"
The back never hurts with the infamous ProBax seats!
I saw one today and I was shocked at how small it was I was in my uncles Mustang at the time getting back from work and that thing is literally a quarter of my uncles car
Holy crap there is a bunch of bad information in here... All the US cars were Toyota 2ZZ GE motors (yamaha designed head), SC means supercharged. Most people prefer the 2005 the first model year (not 04), because they were cable throttle, not drive by wire, Later years were mandated to have TC,. The evora 400 is here, and already replaced by the GT. They are definitely NOT just an MR2 with fancy tail lights, the driving dynamics are completely numbed in an MR2 comparatively. Common upgrades to wheels are RAC monolites or Team Dynamics. Suspension came stock with Bilstiens, but you upgrade to Nitron or Penske, and for the record, the seats are about as comfortable as you can get. There is very little padding but the seats are actually designed to cradle your spine.
Yeah I had a 91 MR2 turbo and currently have two Lotus Elise's and there is no comparison. He disregards the Lotus engineered chassis which is the real magic of the Elise and the Toyota reliability makes the whole thing amazing. Really bad video in that it does not do the Elise the Justice it deserves
Yeah the info in this video is really bad and misinformation is through it
I agree. They have a lot of bad / misinformation in here. I couldn’t really pay attention due to all the hand flailing and ridiculous cuts and transitions tho. This video made my head hurt
love the probax seats - it's really incredible how so little padding can be so comfortable. Basically a strip of padding runs down the spine to keep pressure off of it
The comment about those wheels and suspension options are prolly because they carry those brands lol
"When you drive an Elise, every other car is ruined for you."
~ 2004 Lotus 111S owner (Not me - a lucky bastard I know)
He’s not wrong, I own an Elise and everything else just feels kind of numb.
So true, a porsche feels like a sofa
@@MrSaxophoneGamer what do you mean (I'm not American and I can't understand everything💀) you mean it's a good thing or a bad thing to own it?
@@foivosaaaaa9507 I'm not American either hahaha, I mean the steering is so good and precise on the elise that no other car will feel as good. So its good to own but all the cars that you drive afterward will be a bit of a letdown.
@@MrSaxophoneGamer oh sou yku meant that in a positive way, thanks
The wanting a lotus but buying a Miata is exactly what happened to me. MIATA GANG
I bought a Solstice GXP
SOLSTICE GANG,
anyone?
@@UpperRobin29 Miata gang isn't toxic and we don't exclude. You comment Is welcome and appreciated.
I wanted an Elise, settled for a miata, but somehow got a Z3 2.8i instead. 🤔 Instructions unclear: bought better car for less money.
I made the exactly opposite.
I was looking for a Miata, and i buy an Exige 😅
(Well, not from the day to night, i pass thru Miata, S2000, Elise and i finish with an Exige)
( instagram: t8li)
@Wakanda Forever Yes, I meant I got a car that's better than a miata, for less money than a miata.
I loved the story that Ed did on vin-wiki on "how to sell a Lotus". Basically the technique came down to trying to talk the buyer out of buying it. The more you point out it's short comings the more the customer wants it. Even when selling the cars Lotus is unique.
Just to point out the Yamaha designed engine was a Toyota engine . The 2zz-ge is a Toyota engine with a Yamaha designed head, like most toyota performance engines from about 1980-2005
I'm pretty sure the w20 mr2 had the 2zz.
the 08 Elise S had the 1zz-fe but since it was so light, it didn't matter that it had the same engine as the 03 corolla
If you put a V8 in it it's a poor man's Hennessy venom
Reverse Uno Card activated
Never heard something so true. 😶
It’s an actual venom
the diference is people with a hennessy wold love a lotus but not in reverse
If you want to upset the weight distribution, and need to upgrade the suspension and use a different tranny, then sure go for it
@8:20 "only one happy car can exist and that's the miata"
[Mazda 3 has entered the chat]
F*ck front wheel drive
McLaren P1
I’ve had my Elise S2 now for three years, it’s been my daily driver in the snow rain shine you name it I will never find a more driver focused car than the Elise. May need a daily now it’s been in the garage for four weeks having a suspension overhaul :)
Day...euh...25 of asking FI for a "So you want a Geo Metro" video.
I support this, ... Three-fold!
Like if you get it.
Who tf would want a 70 something horsepower car😂😂 but i Stan this comment
@@nathanielmarkey8388 I want one just to drive around and not care. Hit a pole, oh well, do it again.
Bryson Kuhn my friend has one and it’s definitely a car you can just not give a fuck about, literally so inexpensive
@@nathanielmarkey8388 yeah. You can get a beater one for like 200 to 300 and a 1 owner 50k mile one for like 2k
I dont even want a lotus i just like watching something while eating
Haha sane here
Same
Big mistake. The little Elise in a set of country turns is raw driving. Especially with fresh, soft rubber, new brake fluid, and the right suspension setup. It rides on rails. And you feel everything. Mine sits at about 850 kgs with 10 liters of fuel.
@@patrickvanrinsvelt4466 that does sound like alot of fun and i wouldnt mind trying that one day but im still gonna have to go for the Rx7 FD... i just... i just need one man
How can you eat while watching this kid? I cant even breathe!
The closest I'll ever get to driving one is in my Toyota matrix xrs
Awesome engine btw
Mr2 spyder/ Toyota MR-S the most underrated Japanese sports car
Shhhhhhhh
oi I wanted to add it into my collection before the price went up.. just keep quiet till then😂
Having owned Lotuses, the primary reason why Lotus cars, the Esprit in particular, spent a lot of time broken was that their owners hardly ever drove them! For some reason, that's the way Lotus cars seem to be in the US. There's a 2011 Evora for sale near me that has 728 miles on it! I would absolutely not buy that car. I'm a professional pilot and retired Air Force pilot, and airplanes break when they aren't being flown. Cars are the same way. Fluids sit and puddle, and components that should be lubricated aren't. Rubber and plastic components dry rot quickly. The few Esprit owners that I talked to on the forums who drove them as their daily drivers reported very few problems. I had a 1991 Elan that was my daily, and I also had no more problems than any other car. (That one had an Isuzu drivetrain.) If you don't work your muscles, they atrophy. If you don't drive your car, it will too.
Alex you're the GOAT of this channel absolutely HARD CARRYING
*So you want a Lotus?*
Looks at my 500 dollars.
Looks like it’s back to the Miata for you
me: looks at my 50 cents
Colin Chapman would be proud seeing this
You would be proud seeing this
🤣
I MISS MINE SO MUCH
Really?Why would you sell a car like that? I want one in dark green.
@@olderavideogamereviews5705 because they're worth a good amount of money and resell value doesn't depreciate and it's engine is toyota
my friends dad has an exige
this is why we're friends
I’ve always wanted the Esprit as a kid, and now I finally own an S4 Esprit and I love it !
Calling it a Toyota Elise, is like saying Mercedes Zonda , Audi Gallardo, BMW Phantom or VW Bentayga. The Lotus Elise was fully developed without Toyota while using a Rover engine, but to sell it in the US and for emission standards they sourced a Toyota engine and gearbox. The 68 kg bonded aluminium chassis is one of the key features which makes it stand out. The reason to buy this car is how it drives; it feels really fast, it has so much grip and you can ride it on the edge all day. The best thing is the communication through the non powered steering wheel, it 's like telepathy. The engineering to make a car feel so involved is on another level. Be aware of this before trying to improve this perfect driving machine. I'm so privileged to care for a Lotus Elise since 2010, can't imagine selling it. Wouldn't know what to replace it with except for another Elise/Exige.
We wanted an SLK55 as a weekend car to replace an ageing MGF VVC, but the running costs would have been huge, the Elise was ticking the box. 8 years on has not lost a penny in depreciation and it's daily'd. Cheap to run and still looks fantastic, goes around corners is really good fun. I don't see it ever being sold. BTW, the 1ZZ is more fun than the 2ZZ supercharged car and nearly as quick.
I think that Elises costs 30-40k, even now, regardless of condition because it'll cost 30-40k to fix any body work damage.
Greatest combo: Elise series 1 paired with a Honda k20 (supercharged)
No
Wrong
Terrible
Emend lurve MASSIVE HOXE
Yep Perfect Combo!
For some reason will always be $30,000 part had me dead 😂
Tried one yet? Nothing like it. Raw, sensory, loud, fun.
They’re like 40k now
@@ThePikmin18low miles they’re like 50k now😭
Just bought an ‘05 Elise, love it!
I'll be detailing a Lotus Elise over the Thanksgiving weekend. I've driven them, instructed drivers in them, now I get to detail one. And this was a fun video on some extra knowledge of a car that is truly an icon in the history of cars.
I wanted one so bad but than i got older and seen a 350z and thought oh look a fun affordable car with a great community.
I will tell you something, i had an 03 350z and now an 05 Elise... it actually reminds me of the Elise a lot with the vibrations in the steering wheel and shifter, especially if you have your z lowered a bit. 350z is still an excellent sports car. I actually want to get another someday!
The poster on my bedroom wall wasn't the Elise, but rather the Lotus Esprit.
Whoops, I probably just dated myself...
Too bad this guy doesn't know how to pronounce it. He literally thinks it's the "Es-Spirit," proving he doesn't know how to read.
I recently bought a 94 Miata and my brother got a 76 MGB as cars for us to work on. The MGB has been having a ton more problems since the previous owners had no idea what they were doing and its a British made car. My mom has recently gotten into helping us out with our cars and works on them when we can't. She recently said if she were to get another car she would want it to be a Lotus Elise. My brother, dad, and I are planning on going in three ways on one for her as a surprise. Probably will be a couple years before we get one but it will be so worth it to see the surprise on her face
To be honest, everyone talks bad about them, but I'd love to own a Lotus Elise.
Either a 2005 111S or a newer version
I've had my Elise for 2 years and I can honestly say it's one of the best cars I've ever driven, and the best car I own. The car is Toyota Corolla reliable and is always a hoot to drive. Downside? Getting in and out with the roof on is basically a weird dance where the car gives birth to you and you just spill out of the car, and the soft-top is basically just there so birds don't poop in your car when parked. Keeping out rain is...questionable. If you end up driving into a rain cloud, you just drive faster.
@@dr.mattpavlic305 lol
@K H That's why I didn't buy the Rover one ;)
@@dr.mattpavlic305 Which one?? I want a hardtop, but Exiges are god awful expensive today. So Elises look like my only option.
Went to watkins glen yesterday and saw 4 or 5 elise's with an evora 😍. Pictures dont it justice
I have owned an EXIGE S260 for the past nine years and it’s still fun to drive !
5:36 Toyota Elise my dude, was it intended or
Toni Martinovic yes
They’re powered by a Toyota engine
"1.8L" 4 banger toyota with lotus internals.
Same 2zzge as the 7th gen celica gts
And my corolla XRS lol🔥
I've had an S2 for 10 years, 7 years with a na Honda civic type R 220hp. It has the reliability I always wanted and the sound is fab. It's a 2004 so the suspension has been refreshed, so there's not a lot to go wrong. Parts are reasonably priced so if you can afford one get one, I genuinely love it.
Picking up mine in about three weeks.. it's a British Racing Green Elise 111S from 2004, with beige and green leather and alcantara interior. It only did 61,000 km. This specific model has the 160 hp Rover engine. I can't wait!!! thanks for the video.
i have never met anyone who wants a lotus elise
The voice typos are crazy… 1896…. Slow horsepower… Toyota Elise….
Only 1 minutes in and already felt attacked. This is great.
Gordon Murray, designer of the McLaren F1 said it's one of the best cars ever made. That's all you need to know.
My father bought a Lotus Elise for his marriage and told my mom he would sell it after one year. One year later im put on this world.......... Im now 15 still going strong
Imported an S1 Elise into Canada, waiting to import it into the US. Currently undergoing a Honda K series motor swap. Can honestly say it's the better bang for buck compared to the S2 in terms of performance. ~1500lbs (~400-500lbs lighter than the S2), better handling, not as common. Even after importing, DIY kit, all of the Honda components needed, etc. it was still less than an S2. Just a stock K20 alone which is good for 200-230hp depending on which one and it runs 0-100 times in the mid 9s... 997 GT3 territory.
The purest Elise is simply the first one, 700kg between 120 and 190hp it' a pretty quick and realiable car ! I personnaly own one and now you can import Elise S1 in the state, the 25 years barriers never been so close, just a year to wait !
I’ve had Porsche’s, 240z, Turbo 300ZX, Datsun 2000 Roadster, corvettes, you name it. While the Lotus is as basic as it gets, NOTHING puts a smile on my face more than my 2005 supercharged Elise. It’s just pure, raw driving fun without all the marketing doo-dads that make cars fat (and not as much fun to drive). Just got back this afternoon from a 250 mile drive and it’s the only car I can remember owning that I get downright excited to see curves coming up. Like he says, all that fun and you’ll not lose money owning it. Reliable Toyota driveline. Sold a Porsche to get it and I’ve never looked back. If a person is looking for creature comforts this is the wrong car. If however, you are looking for something as close to a track car that’s street legal, this is your ride. Even though I own a soft top stowed in the trunk, it’s never on.
The Elise (or maybe it was the Exige) was absolutely the most fun car to drive in NFS Most Wanted once fully tuned. After that I had to have one.
I owned an Elise for 6 years. All I did was track it. Never let me down. I miss it.
Is it a good car for bumpy public roads?
@@1HeatWalk unfortunately no. You can feel every bit of aggregate in the concrete through the steering wheel. I think after a while you’d hate it, if they’re really that bumpy.
Me: so I want a g35
Alex:...dramatic music starts hi so you want a lotus elise
Me: I mean they cool but I can't afford it on my biweekly taco bell paycheck
You guys heard me❤️😭 thank you for shipping my BC coil overs!!!! I just got the txt thank you guys 🙏🏽 e36 almost done ✅
Giving British car fans some love 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽these some go karts lol
My history of wanting a Lotus Elise ended abruptly when I realized that, being 6 ft 4 ins tall, I'd have to struggle every time I'd enter or leave the car and that even driving it would be a cramped experience...
You'd probably fit in the Evora! I've heard of folks as tall as 6'8" fitting in them.
@@SHMPhotography97 probably...but that's also a taller order financially...
.
My dream car besides an FD. Ever since playing Midnight Club 2 and Gran Turismo 3 ❤️
I own one. It’s great if you have nice weather and a lot of twisty roads where you live. It’s fun for auto x if you get it set up properly. Out of the box it’s quite under steery and slightly under powered. I plan to supercharge mine and I think it’ll be just right 😎
Update?
@@_.lik._2172 I actually enjoyed the car for about 2 years at stock power levels before selling it. I did install a nice set of Penske coilovers and sticky tires to have fun on the track. If I had unlimited garage space, I would have never gotten rid of the car as it is so unique and raw. Buy one and drive the hell out of it if you can, then move on if you end up not using it as much as you thought (my reason). Either way it will be a great experience and you likely won't lose money on the car :)
So I wanted a Lotus Elise at 16 after playing Need for Speed Most Wanted. I like weird cars. I bought one 2 years ago at 28. Great car but rough ride. The reason why they don't depreciate is because there is simply NOTHING like this you can buy stock in the USA. Nothing even close! It's super raw. But it's also missing a ton of "normal" stuff. No power steering, no reclining seats, no cabin air filter, no glove box, no cup holders, front clam doesn't open, no carpetting etc. It does have AC but mine doesn't work. Can't drive it during rain or summer. And yes, my back is really tight after a drive for a few hours. It's a guarantee. Unfortunately, I think it's a car that a teenager should have because of how rough it is on the back but a teenager can't afford one. I just think I missed the prime age to really enjoy it. I like the car a lot. I don't love the car.
"There can only be one happy car and that's a Miata."
Healey Sprite: "Am I too old for you?!"
I drove one. Best on corners, not really on straights. Also... ELECTRIC ISSUES.
Well duh. British cars are trash.
@Chaminda Thushara Ruwan Kasturi that would be good advice if you've been the owner since day 1.
Old Lotus yes. I now have my Exige for 4years the only thing that failed was the security system and this wasn't from Lotus.
you totally glossed over the fact that the 2ZZ-GE has v-tec/lift and revs to 7800 RPM
8200
@@ovodrizzyszn7766 they lowered it in 2003 because of oil starvation issues.. I got one in my Celica GTS
The manual say you can do 10k for 20 minutes then 40 mins under 9k. Ive hit 9.5k in my S2 just to see if it could. Only did it for about 30 seconds. Spirited driving i go to 8.5k if conditions permit.
I mean the manual says you can shift at 8500..... So I do. 😅
@@JeffSSartor well it's got such a small band where there lift actually hits so yah 8000- 9000 rpm shifts 😂
Own the current S3 Elise, it’s the best most sorted Elise yet. Had it 2 years and not an issue a squeak or a rattle. Open gears great feature and gearbox is now a dream to use. Seats in a lotus are not a back breaker it’s the opposite being angled to take the weight off your spin I find the less back breaking then my amg merc on long journeys. Pity you Americans don’t get the current version (which is mostly the reason your s2 don’t depreciated).
1:15 why is he so right I found one in Newport for 30k with a lot of miles
Thanks for posting this! Now someone hurry up and buy mine...
The way the beat builds in the intro is so beautiful lol
I swear the music and the montages are the best part of the video
I own a 2005 Lotus Elise, red (like the one shown at 1:26). Can confirm: hard to get into when the hard top is on, not very comfortable to drive (you feel every bump in the road), but a total BLAST to drive as it is wicked fast. I can't imagine ever selling mine even at 50K.
Lotus elise = Rich mans miata
"only one happy car can ever exist" lol
will ask till i die: So You Want A Honda Accord
People don’t seek out Accords. Their parents just pass them down as their first car lol
That's exactly how I got mine but I actually loved it! Vtec V6 is not half bad
"So You Want A Honda Accord" get a Civic.
You can get an accord for $300
I"m the weirdo that was obsessed with the 95 EX Accord Manual because my big brother had one....then bought one and loved it until I blew 3 engines up trying to turbo it. lmao But it looked nice on my coilovers and gold Daytons though lol
i’ve owned one for two years. just put a chassis wing on it. also just applied for fitment industries gallery 🤙 i guessed my wheel specs cuz they change lol. i LOVE the car. so. MUCH.
God damnit. Do you have the GRP chassis mount wing? I didn't get a chance to buy one before they got pulled from the site.
Yada, yada, yada...I own one and they are f*****g awesome to drive. It's all you need to know.
At the risk of sounding impatient: that was LONG time just covering its history. I thought I was watching Up to Speed for a second
The yamaha 1.8l was a toyota engine, the 2zz-ge out of the corolla xrs and such. The engine has a yamaha designed head
The engine came from the Celica GTS which is the first car to be built with the 2zzge get it right.
@@weliftnation2418 do you are have stupid?
My neighbor has one. Apparently really reliable because everything is Toyota. It's probably the car he drives the most.
Not actually that cramped inside but I guess that's just us being small Asian. Which is probably how it was designed , for southeast Asians because that's who you get in Malaysia.
No I don't, but I did just run I race in one on Forza M7 literally right before this posted.
I am amazed at your timing.
Well, I noticed it with that timing rather. You posted this half an hour ago. Lol.
I dont want one, I HAVE ONE... And I couldn't be happier with it. First time driving it at an autox and placed 3rd PAX. nothing like it for the feel of just enjoying driving.
The mini cooper of supercars
If you feel like buying a Lotus lay down till the feeling goes away.
Update on that Ramen 🍜 date, Alex. She came and I didn’t :((
Oof, go get ‘em
The prices have actually started to climb. It's a no brainer to own one.
Eyyy Back with Some Fresh Content Alex doesn't disappoint...... Haha when will we see so you want a Koenigsegg 😂😂
5:35 ok most of the time I don't bring attention to mistakes but "toyota elise" ? I don't even care if that's just me mishearing it but that's hilarious!!!!
Edit:
Carried on watching, understand that he just said it early :p
The legend says the Mr2 Spyder was designed by Lotus and Toyota was not allowed to use the 2zz engine on the Mr2 because it would have messed up the lotus Elise sales. So the mr2 spyder got the crappy 1zz engine even if the Corolla And matrix XRS as well as the Celica GTS got the 2zz engine.
Junito Ortega yeah they 2zz is a rippa of an engine. A great swap for the mr2. A shame they don’t have a good rep
As a proud of a Elise ,exige and evora I can say that I maybe obsessed with lotus and how their cars drive
I’ve been wanting a lotus for 10+ years but I’m on my 3rd Miata right now 😅😂
Lotus wasn't available on your website make dropdown...Love my 05 Elise...light modifications but maybe a supercharger in my future?
2years later…30 k?? LOL
Excellent vid my dude. Would love to see a Alfa Romeo 4c vid if you haven’t already did one.
Why doesn't this channel have like.. a billion subscribers??
i had a badass poster of a lotus in my room! i didnt know what it was until like a year after getting the poster haha. thank you grand turismo!
To say that an Elise is essentially an MR2 completely misses the point.
Toyota assembly? What are you talking about out? Toyota delivers the engines, even the ECU is a Lotus part!
two, three things that you're gonna want to know be-FOUR-hand... this right here is a poet
I have mixed feeling on these types of videos. On the one hand they’re incredible and very entertaining, but on the other it means that the price on a certain car that I like will inevitably skyrocket,
The design and development began in 1994, not 1993. Check out the documentary on UA-cam.
5:37 Toyota Elise?
Yes. Yes I want a lotus
Just a few more years and I'll finally have one! I am so excited!
🗣🗣 SO YOU WANT A LOTUS ESPRIT🗣🗣
Pronounce it as espree if you can't say esprit
I have a 2005 Elise. It's wonderful to drive but not a daily driver for sure. I'm 6'5" and yes, I do fit in the car. Just keep in mind, you don't just get in it, you put it on like a pair of pants. Once settled in, the car is 100% driver focused. It's like no other car for sure!
A Series 2 Elise in Laser Blue with black wheels is my dream car. All it's flaws that come from the weight savings just add to the appeal. Such a raw machine, just you and the road.
I'm honestly not a fan of them being turned into show cars. They're designed to be lightweight and to be one of the best handling cars on the road. Being turned into a show car tends to take away from that.
Looking at an exige right now. First holdup is, I am a C6 corvette fan. They're both same price. Obviously the vette is faster all together and in corners. But it's a different class so ofcourse it's faster. But when I test drove the exige I felt different in the car then the vette. It was much more fun to drive. However... what's killing me is the obvious difference in comfort, and bells and whistles which are kind of useful for long trips. So I'm conflicted lol never in my life thought I'd be debating between a vette and an exige.