The trancemission/Shoofin Elise thread
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,522
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, KY
AWESOME!!! 
I LOVE these cars. Have had my eye on them for a few years now... but something else keeps coming up. At first my wife was against it b/c they were so small... but now that we've seen them at the local Cars & Coffee a few times, she is really starting to like them. In fact, last time we were there she looked at me and said "This would be really cool for a weekend trip to Asheville on the Blue Ridge".
Think I got her in my corner finally! 
My only real concern is having service work done. Next time I'm at C&C I'll have to talk to one of the owners to find out where they get work done on it as their are no Lotus dealers in Charlotte (closest is Raleigh area which is like 3 hours away)...
Anyway, sweet grab. Looking forward to more pics!!
I LOVE these cars. Have had my eye on them for a few years now... but something else keeps coming up. At first my wife was against it b/c they were so small... but now that we've seen them at the local Cars & Coffee a few times, she is really starting to like them. In fact, last time we were there she looked at me and said "This would be really cool for a weekend trip to Asheville on the Blue Ridge".
Think I got her in my corner finally! My only real concern is having service work done. Next time I'm at C&C I'll have to talk to one of the owners to find out where they get work done on it as their are no Lotus dealers in Charlotte (closest is Raleigh area which is like 3 hours away)...
Anyway, sweet grab. Looking forward to more pics!!
I had two Elises that came in when I had my shop and things were a little different, but with a little research they are quite simple. Just make sure you know who is servicing it or this can very easily happen.
.jpg)
Oderint dum metuant.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,496
Likes: 534
From: Lake Wylie
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Regions Leader
Regions Leader
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 218
From: Dallas TX
Mods are soon. But I just want to drive it around and get used to it.
Im not to worried about servicing. I was looking around it last night and it doesnt look all that hard to work on. I know I can do fluid changes and what not. Hell, I work on jet engines. I hope I can figure this car out.
On lotus talk theyve mentioned a guy in Ft Worth that knows them pretty well. One thing about this car is that its as simple as they come.
Im not to worried about servicing. I was looking around it last night and it doesnt look all that hard to work on. I know I can do fluid changes and what not. Hell, I work on jet engines. I hope I can figure this car out.
On lotus talk theyve mentioned a guy in Ft Worth that knows them pretty well. One thing about this car is that its as simple as they come.
True... however, still too far. If something happens with the the car and it is not drivable... 2 hours is a very long and expensive tow! Cheaper then 3 hours, but still...
There is nothing to be worried about as far as maintenance goes on these cars, what isn't toyota is very simple and easy. The real achilles heel to these cars is the front and rear clam, they are allegedly structural and easily crack, and Lotus says they can't be repaired - and they cost several grand, plus paint and installation. Personally I don't track the car, if I had a clam crack on me I would just have it repaired by a trusted body shop.
I had two Elises that came in when I had my shop and things were a little different, but with a little research they are quite simple. Just make sure you know who is servicing it or this can very easily happen.
I had two Elises that came in when I had my shop and things were a little different, but with a little research they are quite simple. Just make sure you know who is servicing it or this can very easily happen.
@ Elise...
Senior Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 81,385
Likes: 3,068
From: Appleton WI
Senior Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 169,125
Likes: 23,885
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,522
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, KY
^ Yeah, I have read that as well. Luckily (in this case anyway) my wife and I are on the short side... so it's not so bad for us.
It is funny to watch taller people do it... especially those who have never done it before
It is funny to watch taller people do it... especially those who have never done it before
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,522
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, KY
A customer let me borrow his Elise for a weekend and it was fun asking people to attempt to get in, people ALWAYS made the mistake of ass first. If you are taller(or out of shape) it is very difficult to recover from an ass first ingress attempt. I'm 6' tall and on the slim side of average so it's not too bad if I follow the agreed upon "best" method of getting in: Squat and put your right leg in -> Right hand on sill for balance -> Sweep in left leg -> Slide rest of body in place. With a few practices is it becomes simple. Getting out is damn near impossible to do and not look retarded if you are fat and/or out of shape.
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Regions Leader
Regions Leader
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 218
From: Dallas TX
yeah my wife was laughing at me yesterday. but man I tell you, once you're in it, its an entirely different animal.
Its so funny, ive seen them before. Ive been to the dealer numerous times. I just cant get over how small it is.....
Good luck with it. I look forward to seeing the mods.
One on the right for me
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,914
Likes: 272
From: Bay Area, CA
A customer let me borrow his Elise for a weekend and it was fun asking people to attempt to get in, people ALWAYS made the mistake of ass first. If you are taller(or out of shape) it is very difficult to recover from an ass first ingress attempt. I'm 6' tall and on the slim side of average so it's not too bad if I follow the agreed upon "best" method of getting in: Squat and put your right leg in -> Right hand on sill for balance -> Sweep in left leg -> Slide rest of body in place. With a few practices is it becomes simple. Getting out is damn near impossible to do and not look retarded if you are fat and/or out of shape.
Got da Internet Goin Nutz
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 3
From: The Land of Sugar, TEXAS
My first thought when seeing this thread was, I live in Houston, no use for a Lotus here, but if I was stilling living in Austin working @ 2222 and 360, I would so LOVE to have one to rip up 2222 between 360 and Mopac everyday...
Great pick up! CONGRATS!
Great pick up! CONGRATS!
I was actually coming back in to post that. I have read a lot of horror stories on Elise Talk about this... so make sure you tell anyone who gets into or out of the car to be careful not to grab onto the A pillars!!
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 25
From: Orlando, Florida
congrats...now put a K20A in it and supercharge it...lol..those cars have awesome handling..too bad the power doesn't match the handling..i ran one of these once when i had my K24 swap and was kinda disappointed but they're definitely unique...g/l with the car...i'm sure it'll be a blast to mod...
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,522
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, KY
congrats...now put a K20A in it and supercharge it...lol..those cars have awesome handling..too bad the power doesn't match the handling..i ran one of these once when i had my K24 swap and was kinda disappointed but they're definitely unique...g/l with the car...i'm sure it'll be a blast to mod...