Well, actually it was not really an Elise but it´s brother/sister the Opel Speedster. Anyone knows it? It is build on the same platform as the lotus and shares lots of parts with it. actually the preassembling is done in england at the same mill. to show you what it looks like, you can find some pics here: www.dieselstation.com/ archive/Opel-Speedster/
the stats:
2 seated roadster
4 cylinders, mid mounted
2.0 Liter Turbo
200 hp @ 5500 rpm
183 lb/ft @ 1950 rpm
RWD - 5 speed manual
Weight 1005 KG
5.0 KG/hp
0-60 : 4.9 sec
the impressions:
WOW!!! anyone knows gokarts? yes? this is THE gokart. very light build, very low (an average 5series next to you seems to be a mountain), really really stiff and sporty suspension, no power steering but muscle work on an ultra small wheel, short shifts. and on top the only luxury on board is a heating and radio (which is optional actually).
the seats are adjustable in distance to the wheel only. backrest, height, abgle...doesn´t matter you can´t adjust it anyway.
first hurdle is getting behind the volant. i´m 187 cm tall (6'2" if i am not mistaken) and it was a real brain trickeling experience to manage my legs underneath the wheel towards the pedals. but once you are seated, the car fits like a glove (not really when your that tall but the seats are great). the interiour has nothing but light weight screaming at you. no leather, no covers, no luxury. all is brushed aluminum and plastic. but very little plastic only. stick the key in, turn it, engine wakes up....bummer....there is no sound. it´s just the ordinary 4 banger buzz. well, let´s see what´s there to come.
i took the car on the road and on the first meters i have to admit i had my difficulties getting used to the small steering whell and lack of power steering. it ws kind of hard to get the car around corners but i got used to it. once on the road and the engine warmed up the real deal begun. and i can tell you, that was a deal. the turbo kicks in so brutal at about 1900 rpm that it blows your neck of. 1st and second gear really are mind blowing when the power kicks in. that was astonishing. i went out of town for some nice turns. on the way there the best option of course is the express motorway, and the car is definelty not build for it (or the hair cut is not![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]")
). it´s fast on even on the feeder you can already nail the pedal. like a rocket the car takes off and screams for the left lane. somehow it immediatly took me there...can you imagine? after some miles of hair blowing hurricanes the exit towards the desired turns came up and with it a mix of fearful respect and crazy desire to let her fly...the sort of feeling that usually keeps you on the road instead of off it.
and here the real fun started. it was amazing how much power and traction this car has and what these two physical values can do to the car-driver-combination. the car entered turns even before i actually steered it. amazing. there was understeer or oversteer and that with a mid engine. of course i did not touch the limit but the way towards it was already great. i am really impressed. every move of my right foot caused an immediate reaction. and i am talking really instantly. no electronics thinking whether it should do this or that now, no, the reaction was directly there. a very impressive drive.
overall, the car is not useful as a daily car. especially taller people do have their share of problems. with me it was that my knee touched the wheel or the gear lever. in 1st and 2nd that happenend both at a time actually. if i had to choose a 3rd or 4th car and it would be a true and only fun racer, that is definelty an option.
the stats:
2 seated roadster
4 cylinders, mid mounted
2.0 Liter Turbo
200 hp @ 5500 rpm
183 lb/ft @ 1950 rpm
RWD - 5 speed manual
Weight 1005 KG
5.0 KG/hp
0-60 : 4.9 sec
the impressions:
WOW!!! anyone knows gokarts? yes? this is THE gokart. very light build, very low (an average 5series next to you seems to be a mountain), really really stiff and sporty suspension, no power steering but muscle work on an ultra small wheel, short shifts. and on top the only luxury on board is a heating and radio (which is optional actually).
the seats are adjustable in distance to the wheel only. backrest, height, abgle...doesn´t matter you can´t adjust it anyway.
first hurdle is getting behind the volant. i´m 187 cm tall (6'2" if i am not mistaken) and it was a real brain trickeling experience to manage my legs underneath the wheel towards the pedals. but once you are seated, the car fits like a glove (not really when your that tall but the seats are great). the interiour has nothing but light weight screaming at you. no leather, no covers, no luxury. all is brushed aluminum and plastic. but very little plastic only. stick the key in, turn it, engine wakes up....bummer....there is no sound. it´s just the ordinary 4 banger buzz. well, let´s see what´s there to come.
i took the car on the road and on the first meters i have to admit i had my difficulties getting used to the small steering whell and lack of power steering. it ws kind of hard to get the car around corners but i got used to it. once on the road and the engine warmed up the real deal begun. and i can tell you, that was a deal. the turbo kicks in so brutal at about 1900 rpm that it blows your neck of. 1st and second gear really are mind blowing when the power kicks in. that was astonishing. i went out of town for some nice turns. on the way there the best option of course is the express motorway, and the car is definelty not build for it (or the hair cut is not
). it´s fast on even on the feeder you can already nail the pedal. like a rocket the car takes off and screams for the left lane. somehow it immediatly took me there...can you imagine? after some miles of hair blowing hurricanes the exit towards the desired turns came up and with it a mix of fearful respect and crazy desire to let her fly...the sort of feeling that usually keeps you on the road instead of off it.and here the real fun started. it was amazing how much power and traction this car has and what these two physical values can do to the car-driver-combination. the car entered turns even before i actually steered it. amazing. there was understeer or oversteer and that with a mid engine. of course i did not touch the limit but the way towards it was already great. i am really impressed. every move of my right foot caused an immediate reaction. and i am talking really instantly. no electronics thinking whether it should do this or that now, no, the reaction was directly there. a very impressive drive.
overall, the car is not useful as a daily car. especially taller people do have their share of problems. with me it was that my knee touched the wheel or the gear lever. in 1st and 2nd that happenend both at a time actually. if i had to choose a 3rd or 4th car and it would be a true and only fun racer, that is definelty an option.
![[^]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_approve.gif "Approved [^]"){kind=icon}
