Public attitudes towards the Elise
Discussion
Hey folks
I wonder what kind of reaction you get when you drive your Elise on the roads of Britain?
I live in Glasgow and have had 99.9% positive feedback from young kids waving and older folks querying what the car is when sitting at the lights.
Today however I had my first negative experience from some hooligan types, looked like they were off to get their next fix (that type of look) who shouted w@nk whilst driving by with my 5 year old nephew in the car.
Charming!
Whats with these folk? Fecking loosers!
Web-dude
I wonder what kind of reaction you get when you drive your Elise on the roads of Britain?
I live in Glasgow and have had 99.9% positive feedback from young kids waving and older folks querying what the car is when sitting at the lights.
Today however I had my first negative experience from some hooligan types, looked like they were off to get their next fix (that type of look) who shouted w@nk whilst driving by with my 5 year old nephew in the car.
Charming!
Whats with these folk? Fecking loosers!
Web-dude
I did a run yesterday with more than 30 other Loti. It was a very noisy, colourful and fun procession through the narrow lanes and small villages of North Essex.
Basically, the reaction whereever we went was superb. In the morning half my girlfriend was driving and we got separated from the group. No less than three groups of kids shouted out "NICE CAR!" and when we stopped so I could take over driving a bunch of lads came to look at the car and talk to us.
Driving in procession was fantastic, people stopped and stared as we all drove past; some waved. People opened doors and windows to watch. No-one was exceeding speed limits in built up areas which was probably noticed and appreciated. The best bit for me was when we past a pub in village where the road went over a hump-back bridge and then turned left. There were loads of people sat outside the pub watching and waving as we drove past. I was about 20th in line at that point and gave them a cheery flash and wave.
I only saw one negative response. Some bloke wearing underpants jumped out from a farm in front of my car waving his arms and shouting "SLOW DOWN!" we were doing less than 30mph anyway so I swerved and ignored him, but the significantly wider Esprit behind me nearly took him out!
Basically, the reaction whereever we went was superb. In the morning half my girlfriend was driving and we got separated from the group. No less than three groups of kids shouted out "NICE CAR!" and when we stopped so I could take over driving a bunch of lads came to look at the car and talk to us.
Driving in procession was fantastic, people stopped and stared as we all drove past; some waved. People opened doors and windows to watch. No-one was exceeding speed limits in built up areas which was probably noticed and appreciated. The best bit for me was when we past a pub in village where the road went over a hump-back bridge and then turned left. There were loads of people sat outside the pub watching and waving as we drove past. I was about 20th in line at that point and gave them a cheery flash and wave.
I only saw one negative response. Some bloke wearing underpants jumped out from a farm in front of my car waving his arms and shouting "SLOW DOWN!" we were doing less than 30mph anyway so I swerved and ignored him, but the significantly wider Esprit behind me nearly took him out!
Bonce
glad to hear the run went well - I wanted to go but domestic duties beckoned ....
Yep I can confirm best reaction is from youngsters - who are not to embarrassed to shout as you go by
but all sorts of people have come over at petrol stations and asked about the car - never had a negative reaction ... so far
glad to hear the run went well - I wanted to go but domestic duties beckoned ....
Yep I can confirm best reaction is from youngsters - who are not to embarrassed to shout as you go by
but all sorts of people have come over at petrol stations and asked about the car - never had a negative reaction ... so far
The general feedback that I get when driving is, as was said in another post, about 99.9% positive. It seems to be the young kids that are more impressed with the looks of the car.
I have found it strange that I have on several occasions have been asked how much the car was by youngsters.
I have only had one insult thrown me, a guy in a Rover 216 shouted "You Fcuking Knobber" as he went passed. Made me feel bloody anoyed, the jealous tw*t!
In Edinburgh have had tourists take photos of the car as I have been waiting at the lights.
J
I have found it strange that I have on several occasions have been asked how much the car was by youngsters.
I have only had one insult thrown me, a guy in a Rover 216 shouted "You Fcuking Knobber" as he went passed. Made me feel bloody anoyed, the jealous tw*t!
In Edinburgh have had tourists take photos of the car as I have been waiting at the lights.
J
I have only had good responses in the UK driving both Elise and Opel Speedster ("nice car, what is it?" for the latter)
Driving a yellow Series 1 Elise in Detroit, I was pulled over - the cops just wanted a look!
The one car that generated really filthy looks was an Escort Cosworth (with the HUGE wing) that I borrowed back in the early 1990s. People seem to think Cosworth drivers are all w*nkers. I really wouldn't like to comment
Driving a yellow Series 1 Elise in Detroit, I was pulled over - the cops just wanted a look!
The one car that generated really filthy looks was an Escort Cosworth (with the HUGE wing) that I borrowed back in the early 1990s. People seem to think Cosworth drivers are all w*nkers. I really wouldn't like to comment
quote:
I have found it strange that I have on several occasions have been asked how much the car was by youngsters.
agree....the odd thing for me is that anyone over 10 says "how fast is it, or how fast you had it?", those UNDER 10 ask what it costs...happened several times...
have had one negative reaction from an old bloke shouting at me to slow down from his car, but that's it really...everything else definitely v positive...especially from a pretty young lady on a horse...gave me and the car a long, studied look - v ego boosting I must admit!
Night
I just bought an Elise here in holland, and I took it for a spin and ended up trawling through the centre of Amsterdam.
Within 20 mins of driving the car though the streets, I felt like a tourist attraction. I had 4 seperate people photograph the car - One lad even got his mate to take the pic, whilst he leant on the wing for the shot. I couldn't stop laughing.
One guy shot me on video camera, and countless kids shouted 'nice car' (but in dutch of course)
I would say you can't have self confidence issues and drive an elise over here - everyone WILL look at you.
The only negative aspect here is that I am quite young, and people assume that the elise is really expensive and as such, I am sometimes accused of dodgy dealings (you get the idea if I live in Amsterdam)
but in general - good reactions.
Within 20 mins of driving the car though the streets, I felt like a tourist attraction. I had 4 seperate people photograph the car - One lad even got his mate to take the pic, whilst he leant on the wing for the shot. I couldn't stop laughing.
One guy shot me on video camera, and countless kids shouted 'nice car' (but in dutch of course)
I would say you can't have self confidence issues and drive an elise over here - everyone WILL look at you.
The only negative aspect here is that I am quite young, and people assume that the elise is really expensive and as such, I am sometimes accused of dodgy dealings (you get the idea if I live in Amsterdam)
but in general - good reactions.
I have had a "W@nker" shouted at me over the weekend (first time for me too). Though I was driving I past one of the poorer local areas.
All in all the reactions are good, and most people just give it a good hard look as you pass (especially when there are a column of you).
I must admit to looking at my dream cars (Lotus (got that one now
), TVR's, 911's) and thinking rude thoughts because I cant afford one yet (but only ever thinking).
I put that sort of thing down to pure envy and take it almost as a complement, all be it a less eloquent, Max Power generation complement.
All in all the reactions are good, and most people just give it a good hard look as you pass (especially when there are a column of you).
I must admit to looking at my dream cars (Lotus (got that one now
), TVR's, 911's) and thinking rude thoughts because I cant afford one yet (but only ever thinking). I put that sort of thing down to pure envy and take it almost as a complement, all be it a less eloquent, Max Power generation complement.
I like the view of the drivers side of the Elise, thats the one I normally get as I am easing past one (obviously on a straight stretch of road .....) 
Seriously though, there was a similar thread on the TVR pages recently and the results seem to be the same.
The Elise is the type of car that will always get a reaction, just don't take too much notice of the low % of W*nkers that give you a negative opinion.
Seriously though, there was a similar thread on the TVR pages recently and the results seem to be the same.
The Elise is the type of car that will always get a reaction, just don't take too much notice of the low % of W*nkers that give you a negative opinion.
Parked my Elise outside a convenience store last Thursday night, I noticed there was a gang of youths rushed over as soon as they clocked the car. As I got out they commented "nice car", "how fast does it go" and "I'll look after it for you if you give me a pound". I was a bit worried about not giving them a pound incase they kicked my car in while I was in the shop, sufficed to say I kindly said I didn't need their protection as it had a trackstar device fitted and if anyone touched it the Police will be over in no time...and headed into the store hoping nothing would happen to the car. I got what I had to get in the store and bolted out but thankfully they didn't do a thing to the car.
>> Edited by lavaman on Monday 9th September 21:43
>> Edited by lavaman on Monday 9th September 21:43
Some Kids came up my street and one of them sat on my neibours TVR Chimera......They shouted oh i sat on the Jaguar [Idiots]
Thankfully the majority of people are fine but there are some W****** out there
They never came near our house because Our Fully grown Gun Dog was bouncing off the door!
Cowards!
Thankfully the majority of people are fine but there are some W****** out there
They never came near our house because Our Fully grown Gun Dog was bouncing off the door!
Cowards!
It was the British Car Show in Palo Alto (California Bay Area) last weekend. There were several hundred cars, including 64 Lotus and 4 Elise.
Lots of positive comments, everyone likes the shape of the Elise. Some had deposits waiting on the official Lotus import.
My car and one other were Sun International conversions, and the third Elise is a true kit car with an 1100cc Kawasaki engine conversion and everything stripped for low weight.
Its based on a conversion someone in the UK put together.
The fourth was an Elise Motorsport (looks like an Exige) track car.
Everyone loves the Elise, even the cop that pulled me over for doing 90+ on the way there let me off and told me to keep it below 85 in future (speed limit is 65). I was amazed (first because he appeared out of nowhere and didn't set off my radar detector) and then because he let me off!
I could have pulled!!
Little old lady with a walking stick, 85 if she was a day...
Did the decent thing and waved to let her cross the road. She took about 20 seconds to cross in front of the car - or would have done if she hadn't stopped half-way to mouth "l o v e l y c a r" before finishing.
Nice to know its not just small boys who have taste!
Little old lady with a walking stick, 85 if she was a day...
Did the decent thing and waved to let her cross the road. She took about 20 seconds to cross in front of the car - or would have done if she hadn't stopped half-way to mouth "l o v e l y c a r" before finishing.
Nice to know its not just small boys who have taste!
quote:
quote:
You want to try driving a 911......
Tell me about it. Any Porsche will do the trick.
Agreed. Before I bought my S2 Sport 190 I had a '96 911 Carrera 2, and a '98 Boxster before that.
During my time with the Porsches I was spat on numerous times, cut up continually, called every name under the sun and even had half a house brick thrown at me once.
I absolutely would not, ever, leave them parked anywhere other than locked in my garage or the private secure parking space I lease in the town centre.
And I live in a nice part of town.
I've only ever had a couple of poor experiences whilst in the Lotus, and they were minor in comparison. It certainly turns more heads too, surprising since I live 10 mins from the factory and Elises are everywhere around here.
Left it roof down all over the place, never a problem.
Tim.
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