BMW Z3 or Lotus Elise ?
Discussion
The small black, white and fish friendly one has a point - it should be on the elise board!
amd he's right about everything else too....unless you REALLY like the look of the Z3 (in which case you should be either female or seeking professional help) the elise is better in absolutly every respect (IMHO)...and I have one which undoubtedly biases me....
try a pros and cons list....it wont take long. I dont think that the Z3 is much more practical anyway to be honest, and er....!!
cheers
Night
quote:Errrm. Really? I drove an Elise recently at Thruxton and thought it was a stunning car. But practical? ANYTHING else has GOT to be more practical surely? I can think of 'bikes that are more "practical"! BTW: LOVED the Elise - but as a daily car? NO! (Unless you're mad for one...people are sometimes!)
I dont think that the Z3 is much more practical anyway to be honest, and er....!! Night
Thats's nice and friendly Reg!
The BMW Z3 is a nice car but my best advice to you Robert is to take an Elise for a test drive. Drive it on motorways/dual carrageway, in town, and most importantly country lanes. If you like it, buy it and you wont have any regrets.
The Elise is a minimalist car. Most people ignore the impracticality because they enjoy the drive. However they can be used everyday with no problems. The boot will hold a reasonable amount of stuff (and supermarkets deliver nowdays!)
Don: kit cars can be less practical than an Elise. I built/drove a kit-car every day for 7 years. Weather protection was a waterproof suit! The Lambo Diablo also strikes me as more impractical than the Elise.
If you prefer the more practical Z3 buy that. Whatever you decide enjoy your motoring.
quote:You have access to purchasing an Elsie? Then you should realizing a car is not , not, not an investment. The Elsie has all that a sports car should be; it is a production race car similiar to 1960 and 1970's: drive them to the race track, race them, then either drive them home or take them home on the end of a tow truck. I own and drive corvette, porsche 914, alfa gtv , and Lotus Esprit (1977). All these cars are designed in the Elsie. An Elsie is the best, but with the best comes the maintenance costs. You are extremely fortunate to be able to purchase an Elsie. We cannot in the United States. Worth an extra 4000 pounds? My opinion, yes. I wish I were in your shoes. As you can tell, I am very impressed with the car. If you can afford any sports car in this caliber, porsche-bmw-alfa-corvette-lancia, buy the Lotus Elsie. It has similar elements encompassed within its sole. I am an Alfisti, but an Elsie could change me very fast. Good luck. Steve Hurt hurt.s@worldnet.att.net
Seeking guidance from Lotus drivers - is the extra £4k to get an Elise a good investment?
You can't compare an Elise to a Z3. I used to have an MX5 & I suppose you could compare that to a Z3 although the MX5 is a pure sports car & the Z3 is a hashed together BM, that was half heartedly made to try & break into the sports car market. I now own an Elise & realise that it doesn't really have any direct competition.
Scoobys are as fast but Japenese & 4WD, Caterhams are faster & less practical, MR2s, MX5s & MGFs are slower & Ford's new RS will be front wheel drive.
If you like the idea of a Z3 & the Elise is too much of a sports car, buy an MR2 or a new MX5.
What do you drive now??
CJ
I am probably telling you what you would like to hear, otherwise you would not have asked the question.
Buy an Elise. I have just purchased an Elise S2, and have not looked back. I have also driven a Z3, and there is no comparison. The Z3 is like driving a Sherman Tank once you have driven an Elise. It is like comparing an out of shape boxer (Z3) with a gymnast (Elise).
Do what you already know you should do.....
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