Overview & Reviews

After years of letting Europeans have all the fun, the lightweight Lotus Elise sports car finally makes it to the States.

• Ultralightweight chassis, free-revving four-cylinder, uninhibited steering, supercar performance without the supercar price.

• Spartan interior, engine still a bit peaky for U.S. tastes, ride quality more Formula One than grand touring, limited dealer network.

User Reviews:

Showing 41 through 50 of 73.00

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  Lotsa fun - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Zack Jones - August 19 - 2:46 pm

  I have felt the need to have the dealer do the service which tends to be expensive. I was involved in a minor accident (not my fault), but the repairs were extremely expensive. That said, it really is fun and will turn heads and have lots of people asking what it is and how much it cost.

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  Elise - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Dion - August 12 - 3:13 pm

  Wonderful car to drive, if you are realy into driving and enjoy track days. For the price this car has no equal. The Elise puts a smile on my face every time I drive the handling limits are so high It is impossible to explore on public roads, realy is a wonderful track car. I cant believe Lotus deprived us of so much fun for the past 7 years.

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  proud to be a member of this elite club - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By larry - August 6 - 7:53 pm

  if you want a car unlike anything youve ever seen or driven before, this is it. If you are shy and introverted and do not want to draw attention to yourself, this is not your car. It stands out in the crowd of cars 3-4x more expensive. It is very quick and handles better than any other car ive ever driven. getting in and out with the roof on is initally a little challenging, particularly if you are tall. It was definitely worth the 17 months i had to wait to get it.

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  Way Too Fun - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Chris D - June 22 - 1:06 am

  Driving this car is very comparable to riding on a roller coaster: same sensations going around curves and accelerating, an occasional hard bump, etc. Other "sports cars" seem pointless in comparison. Best toy Ive ever owned. It makes me feel like a teenager again. Beats other exotics more than twice the price in many ways. Love the body lines and the handling. Absolutely a blast to drive.

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  Lotus Experience - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Ken - June 7 - 11:00 pm

  Back in the sixties when I was driving MGBs and Triumphs the car that stood out for me even then was the Lotus, particularly the Europa. This was a car that a true enthusiast would want. I never did get that Europa but, finally,in my later years, I was able to get the new Lotus Elise (an 05). The car has been a joy to drive and its handling and braking rival that of any sports car at any price. I cant count the number of times people have approached me with questions about the car and how much they liked it. I have had complete strangers come up to me and ask me if it was OK to take pictures of the car. The car has been a true driving experience, unlike any other sports car.

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  One wicked car! - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Magnetic Blue Elise - May 11 - 3:46 pm

  Bought this car 6 months ago and have the only complaint of driving it too much! Nothing has gone wrong so far and I do my own oil changes with Mobil 1 5w40 synthetic oil. On curvy roads its unbeatable. Me and my friends with fast cars (08 evo, 05 vette, 04 G35 Coupe, 04 STI) go cruising on local back roads and none of them can keep up with me. Try taking a tight turn on the hwy at 130mph... this car can do it! Has a very unique design that is eye catching for all ages!

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  Cheap at Twice the Price - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Joel - December 17 - 5:30 am

  I have the Sport-track model of the Elise. This car is for people who want a RIDE, not transportation. Having said that, though I have an additional car that I have put only 200 miles on since getting the Elise. To be blunt, driving any other car is just a chore. I cant keep a smile off my face when I drive this car. People should have to pay an entertainment fee just to look at it!

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  Best sports car, period. - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Raymond - November 6 - 12:03 pm

  Pure performance, adrenaline pumping, and fast, real fast. After driving the Elise, the Boxster feels like a sedan... The Elise gives you a unique experience that is hard to put into words. It is a fun car, not for daily driving since the suspension is hard (race-tuned) for fast curves

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  Sold for a better car - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Sal - October 12 - 7:10 am

  I owned the Lotus Elise for about 7 months. I enjoyed the car and thought that there was no better car for the same price. Then I test drove a Honda S2000. Every feature that the Lotus lacks the Honda makes up for it. more horse power, higher RPM Redline (9000RPM) and the handling is just as effective. 0-60 time is a little bit slower but 0-100 time is quicker and thats really what counts in my book. Lotus was okay but the S2000 beats it in speed and handling.

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  Mountain Drive - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Mike - May 22 - 4:50 am

  This is my daily driver. The handling is unbelievable on the narrow mountain roads in Western Virginia. It is the best handling car that I have owned. Interior is scarce, but more comfortable than it looks. Takes some time to get use to getting in and out of, especially with the hardtop on.