2007 Lotus Elise S review

When most people buy a car, they think of a simple equation; practicality plus pleasure equals a good solution. They're looking for space, comfort, storage, and features that make them feel like they're getting a better deal than the next car buyer. But with Lotus, that equation is thrown right out the window, as we found in our test with the entry-level Elise S.

It has little storage space, is soft on the inside, and you'll strain almost every muscle in your legs, back, and neck as you get in and out of your car. If you're in your 50s, you'll be moaning and moaning as you attempt this near-impossible feat. Because Lotus is not practical at all.

Elise S, with its insect-like appearance, has an aggressive "I mean business" stance. The wide front is complemented by a more muscular rear. And this is a real toy for boys, the proof of which is sending on the road.

Over three different days of driving, the Lotus attracted "thumbs up" from three types of boys; 10-year-old, 20-year-old and more mature - but still a child at heart - 40-year-old. But don't worry girls, we can have some fun too.

The Elise S costs $69,990 and is the more affordable Lotus. But our test car was more expensive with the $8000 Touring Plus option package. This added features such as leather interior trim, shift knob and handbrake lever boot, interior sound deadening panels, and a soft top.

Aside from the impractical size, there are a few other things that don't make a strong selling point, including the extra power needed in corners because there's no power steering. And since there are very few flat roads in Sydney, you will feel every pothole.

Safety equipment such as ABS and driver and passenger airbags will make you feel more comfortable when you easily disguise your position on the road. But it's still quite tricky, as it's easy for other drivers to miss you, especially the ubiquitous city SUVs.

But despite those dips, after a week there was still something pretty funny in the car that managed to put a smile on your face.

Crawl inside and the cabin seems almost bare. There is a CD system, but the engine is so loud that you really have to turn it to hear anything.

The Touring-plus package offers an upgraded Alpine stereo with an iPod connector, a cup holder and embroidered floor mats, but without the Elise S package, it's feature-free.

There's no storage space, not even a glove compartment, and it has a tiny trunk. Parts of the interior are even missing carpeting, giving the Elise S a real racing feel, instead adding aluminum as a decoration.

Without regard to features, as well as using an aluminum chassis with a lightweight steel rear subframe, the car weighs only 860 kg. For comparison, Barina weighs 1120 kg.

Elise S is one of the lightest cars in the world, the weight advantage provides better acceleration, handling and braking. All this corresponds to the best performance of the small Lotus.

The Elise S is powered by a 1.8kW 100-liter Toyota engine, which may seem small on paper, but be aware that this is a car that looks like a kart and weighs a lot less than the average subcompact car.

It accelerates from 100 to 6.1 km/h in just XNUMX seconds, which also seems faster than it might seem.

In terms of performance, the Elise S puts out 100kW at 6200rpm, though it's hard to get the revs up to the top of the tach as it encourages you to upshift earlier. As for torque, Elise S develops 172 Nm at 4200 rpm.

Performance is provided by a lightweight five-speed manual transmission that sounds rather clunky as you shift gears.

But all the minuses are quickly forgotten when you let him off the leash.

Throw it into a corner and the Elise S handles well, squeezing hard as you latch on to the small racing wheel.

Sliding into topless mode is an effort. Unlike other sports cars, manual effort is required to remove the soft top.

Taking it off was easy, but putting it on took about 15 minutes and drew a crowd.

And while the car brings a lot of smiles, they disappear when it won't start, especially when one of the places where it decides to stop is on the side of a car park.

A Lotus technician later said that this could be due to the gas pedal being pressed too early - it is assumed that 10 seconds should elapse between turning on the engine and accelerating for the car to calm down. The catalytic converter apparently needs time to warm up to operating temperature in order to comply with emission law requirements.

Instructions for this quirk would have come in handy much sooner.

The Elise S is fun, but it's hardly an ordinary car. Using it as your daily driver can drive you crazy and cause cramps in your body.

But if you have the money, you can hit the track a couple of times a month, sometimes show off in traffic, or go on a longer cruise.

Because there is no doubt about the fun and attractive elements of the Lotus Elise S.

The Elise S has a long list of negatives, but those are quickly forgotten when you hit the road for some fun.