Wreck Me Otter

...

Sam N

Kim,

Cool picture. I see 1 Lotus Espirit in that entire group. I wonder what they think of him? Where is that picture taken?

Sam

M758

I think the picutre was taken at the top of a ski resort in the alps..... My guess is Switzerland.

I am sure they really had a hard time getting to the top....

stinky

Since I got my 993 I haven't been following the Elise coming to N. America, but I think they're coming... soon. Anybody know details?

Ruairidh

Stelvio is in the Swiss Alps, the Stelvio pass is one of the most famous roads in Europe, the kind of Alpine setting you see in James Bond movies for car chases. While you are just as likely to get encounter elderly couples driving Merc Diesels at 35mph and young lads suicide passing in beat up FIAT Puntos - these roads are fantastic drivers roads and one of the very few things I miss about Europe. Have a look at how the ascending road winds in these pictures on this<a href="http://members.aol.com/ottoaxel/stelvio/" target="_blank">web page</a>

That said, and keep in mind I'm a former Lotus owner and motor racing stopped interesting me after Lotus left Formula One, comparing a Porsche to a Lotus is like comparing chalk with cheese. I wonder how many folks go from Porsche to Lotus and stay loyal to the Hethel marque?

....but my local wrench shop did have a rather nice fire engine red original 1959 Lotus Elite for sale in the last time I went in........

ked

Stelvio Pass is sometimes part of the Giro d' Italia bike race - right up there w/ the Alp d' Huez in the Tour d'France in serious pain, suffering & the Big Payoff.

Just got back from the Historic Races this weekend at Road Atlanta - nice support from Lotus Motorsports staff, a number of Esprits, Elans, & Elises. The Elises they brought were not "street legal" (Feds have no sense of justice, do they?), but looked real sharp & fun-in-spades for the track. They beg for some kind of spec series. I believe the next generation is supposed to be "US Legal for street use". Neat.

While I've never owned one, I have friends who have (& still do), and I know of many enthusiasts who appreciate Lotus as well as Porsche. Porsche is the daily driver that can race, Lotus the race-car-on-the-road. I've never driven a street car that could produce the lateral sideloads that a Lotus could (a well set-up Europa). An equally well set-up 914-6 w/ GT options was close...

pig4bill

Well, Ford is having a promotion with zero percent financing. Maybe you can get that Focus of your dreams.

RT7

Kim:

Here's one that I took inside the hotel's garage during Italiano Concorso event. I spoke to the owner who just drove that morning from Irvine. He had dealer's license plate.

Riccardo

Being Italian I would like to point out that the 'Passo dello Stelvio' is actually in Italy and not in Switzerland.

<img src="graemlins/icon107.gif" border="0" alt="[icon107]" />

Stefan

[quote]Originally posted by Ruairidh:
<strong>...the Stelvio pass is one of the most famous roads in Europe, the kind of Alpine setting you see in James Bond movies for car chases. ....Have a look at how the ascending road winds in these pictures on this<a href="http://members.aol.com/ottoaxel/stelvio/" target="_blank">web page</a>

..</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wow! ... and I just got back from the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton thinking that was something. Still, compared to Ontario, I may as well have been in the Alps

Ragin' Bajan

One of the Rennlisters used to own an Elise and wrote up a <a href="http://www.boggianos.com/Cars1.html" target="_blank">comparison</a>.

Ruairidh

[quote]Originally posted by Ragin' Bajan:
<strong>One of the Rennlisters used to own an Elise and wrote up a <a href="http://www.boggianos.com/Cars1.html" target="_blank">comparison</a>.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I hadn't seen this - good writing and interesting.

My Lotus experiences are with earlier Elans (both the 60's and 90's versions)as well as a number of the heavier Eclat and Esprit models. Those cars (especially the Elans) - when they worked - were delights. High revs were the order of the day and they truly would forgive even my cack-footedness in driving and on narrow twisting country roads when the mood took you they were simply fantastic.

However - and here is the rub - build quality control and reliability are two things that I hold dear and Lotus (at least in my experiences) get very low marks for. Thats why I think Porsches and Lotus are actually very different approaches to the sports car concept.

I agree with the folks who talk of a Lotus being a fantastic toy or track car - they are. But, and keep in mind that my heart always will be Lotus racing green with a yellow stripe down the middle, I'm a convert to performance Stuttgart style and cannot see me changing back. Which is why I'm interested in other Porsche owners views on Lotus cars.

Ruairidh

[quote]Originally posted by Ragin' Bajan:
<strong>One of the Rennlisters used to own an Elise and wrote up a <a href="http://www.boggianos.com/Cars1.html" target="_blank">comparison</a>.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I hadn't seen this - good writing and interesting.

My Lotus experiences are with earlier Elans (both the 60's and 90's versions)as well as a number of the heavier Eclat and Esprit models. Those cars (especially the Elans) - when they worked - were delights. High revs were the order of the day and they truly would forgive even my cack-footedness in driving and on narrow twisting country roads when the mood took you they were simply fantastic.

However - and here is the rub - build quality control and reliability are two things that I hold dear and Lotus (at least in my experiences) get very low marks for. Thats why I think Porsches and Lotus are actually very different approaches to the sports car concept.

I agree with the folks who talk of a Lotus being a fantastic toy or track car - they are. But, and keep in mind that my heart always will be Lotus racing green with a yellow stripe down the middle, I'm a convert to performance Stuttgart style and cannot see me changing back. Which is why I'm interested in other Porsche owners views on Lotus cars.

Jack667

Here's a pic of an Elise at the Glen this year for Memorial Day weekend. It spent more time on the trailer than on the track, as there were mechanical issues (clutch/tranny, I think).

Note the Beaver Run logo - these guys are openning that new track in Ohio.