A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Originally Posted by JWA
You need a "I don't have any big gripes" option. If I had to choose my two biggest "gripes" would be A) The stock rear view mirror was laughably over-sized,
Yep. People always seem to make polls with foregone conclusions, and they don't leave the option for anything else.
I don't really have any gripes about my Elise - I haven't had any problems. As for the mirror, I agree that it is too large, but I also understand that the size of it was determined by government requirements (contrary to popular belief, in real life, one size does not fit all).
As for all the posts about the bad stereo, I humbly disagree. It's the best radio I've ever had in a car, and I have not complaints at all (other than they didn't wire it to dim the display when the lights are on). But then again, I'm not one to install 1,000 watt amps and subs in my car (and I realize that the Elise is not a good acoustic environment).
A:
Window bolts and screws coming loose!!! Top squeaking is a bit tiresome too.
A:
My only gripe is people griping about tiny gripes that don't don't matter if you're driving the car as it was intended to...
Speaking of which, where is the ICE MODE option in your poll???
A:
I'll second the headlight misalignment. Until I get that fixed, I don't drive at night. I figure with our low ground clearance that this is a good strategy to keep anyway. It's just too hard to spot small obstacles and pot holes at night that could cause serious damage to the Elise.
A:
Originally Posted by Moto44
I'll second the headlight misalignment. Until I get that fixed, I don't drive at night. I figure with our low ground clearance that this is a good strategy to keep anyway. It's just too hard to spot small obstacles and pot holes at night that could cause serious damage to the Elise.
No offense, but when you guys get the headlights REALLY aligned properly, I think you'll all be OK at night. Well, maybe not the kids used to HID's, but all the rest of us. For the quantum leap, install the Lotus driving lights and aim them correctly. End of compaints. Really. Good alignment is always an amazing thing (see also Suspension and Windows).
Jim
A:
Honestly the only thing that bothers me is the ROAD CONDITION. I love everything about the car, but it seriously gets its ass(my ass) kicked on any remotely non-smooth roads. So in conclusion, I wouldn't change the car. I'd change the road.
A:
By reading some of the post, you can tell that there are a lot of new members because, I remember in the past people saying that they didn't buy the car for the radio and that the only music people wanted to hear was the music coming from the engine...my how times have changed
A:
Not many gripes, bmw1. Not many gripes.
A:
Originally Posted by LARRY
Not many gripes, bmw1. Not many gripes.
Hi Larry, yeah, my gripes are not with the car itself...
A:
My biggest gripe?
Why is there alway a police car parked just around the corner when I've just dropped it in to 2nd & left the poser in beemer for dead?
A:
Originally Posted by bmw1
By reading some of the post, you can tell that there are a lot of new members because, I remember in the past people saying that they didn't buy the car for the radio and that the only music people wanted to hear was the music coming from the engine...my how times have changed
For me the radio is something to listen to for about 5 mintues when I first start driving and I am waiting for the temperature gauge to indicate the engine is warm. Once I see the dash pop up with a temp, radio goes off and it's the greatest hits of 2ZZ for me, I espescially like the over 6k remix.
A:
Originally Posted by delise
I espescially like the over 6k remix.
I hear it's going platinum
A:
Originally Posted by bmw1
By reading some of the post, you can tell that there are a lot of new members because, I remember in the past people saying that they didn't buy the car for the radio and that the only music people wanted to hear was the music coming from the engine...my how times have changed
One of my biggest gripes is there was no radio delete, preferably with an option to put gauges where the radio is. Another gripe: I think Lotus should offer a tuneable ECU. This is relatively easy to accomplish from their end, but a nightmare for others to develop.
A:
Originally Posted by fpitas
One of my biggest gripes is there was no radio delete, preferably with an option to put gauges where the radio is. Another gripe: I think Lotus should offer a tuneable ECU. This is relatively easy to accomplish from their end, but a nightmare for others to develop.
You can always remove the radio but as far as a tuneable ECU, I think they leave themselves open for warranty nightmares. IMO, an obvious decision not to allow this.
A:
Originally Posted by bmw1
You can always remove the radio but as far as a tuneable ECU, I think they leave themselves open for warranty nightmares. IMO, an obvious decision not to allow this.
Not at all. Spec the tuneable ECU as "Track Only", which they would have to do because of emissions anyway.
A:
Originally Posted by bmw1
You can always remove the radio but as far as a tuneable ECU, I think they leave themselves open for warranty nightmares. IMO, an obvious decision not to allow this.
Not only warranty nightmares, but nightmares with the EPA. They also have to guarentee that the car meets emission standards for 80-100 thousand miles - not something they could do if people could hack their ECU...
A:
Originally Posted by TimMullen
Not only warranty nightmares, but nightmares with the EPA. They also have to guarentee that the car meets emission standards for 80-100 thousand miles - not something they could do if people could hack their ECU...
That wasn't what I was suggesting. I meant another ECU available from Lotus that is tuneable, and is labelled and intended for racing use only.
A:
Originally Posted by fpitas
That wasn't what I was suggesting. I meant another ECU available from Lotus that is tuneable, and is labelled and intended for racing use only.
Unfortunately, the EPA wouldn't be very happy with that, and Lotus, being a small company, can't afford to upset the EPA.
It might be nice, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.
A:
Originally Posted by TimMullen
Unfortunately, the EPA wouldn't be very happy with that, and Lotus, being a small company, can't afford to upset the EPA.
It might be nice, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.
To my knowledge, as long as equipment is intended for off-road use the EPA has no say about it.
A:
Originally Posted by Andrikos
My only gripe is people griping about tiny gripes that don't don't matter if you're driving the car as it was intended to...
Speaking of which, where is the ICE MODE option in your poll???
Let's see, I drive the piss out of my Exige . I just got back from a two week trip to Vegas. I put on over 2,500 miles in that time. I chose to drive instead of flying. I had to go there on an emergency for the family. I beat the next plane flight arrival to Vegas by eight hours. 750 miles plus in under 10 hours. That includes gas and food stops, you do the math. Is that what the Lotus was "intended" to do?
Prior to that, I tracked her at the State Patrol test track in Golden CO. I was there from the time that they started in the a.m. and was the last off the track as the sun was going down. I put up the post question about fender wells wearing out, both of my fronts have holes in them. Some say it is from "tracking" the car. Is that what it was intended to do? I've worn out my original AO48's in less than 5K miles. Hell, I had chord showing (yah, I know, not too smart). My front tires are at the wear bars.
I've personally pulled my driver's side door apart to fix my window . I pulled off the belly pans, just to clean out the rocks and road grime. I posted up a "how to" on converting the Exige to a convertable. Gee, I don't think it was "intended" for that. I've ridden thousands of miles of canyons in colorado. I "race" with sportbikes. I've updated to a Stage II and yes it gets noiser over time. I saw one of the first prototypes of the SC for the Exige. I ain't rich. But I'll install one when I can.
I've shown my car in 4 car shows and yes I've donated some good, hard-earned cash to a worthy cause to "show" my car. Is that what it was "intended" to do ? I hand sewed a cover for my car and then paid somebody to do it better. I think I'm one of the first to have a professional photographer shoot the Exige and then I posted the pics for all to see and copy, etc., By the way those pics belong to Keith and I. I've loaned my car to my friends when their "basic" car broke down. Yes, I shoulda added more options to the pole. But, I deferred to the 4 questions that the poll was set up for in its template.
I support my local Lotus club. I hand-tighten every nut, screw and bolt I can reach--every month. I removed my mirror (without cracking my windshield), I may have the most miles of any Exige in the country. I haven't had a ticket since 1992. I drive slow in school zones and fast on the track. I can knee drag on my Kawasaki ZZR 1200. Hmmm, I wonder if that was what "it" was inteded to do. I put a Sirius receiver in my car so I could hear something besides the exhaust (which is loud and I like it that way). I'm gonna replace the speakers. My carpets were soaked from driving 15 hours in the rain. My highbeams were missaligned from day one: Lotus doesn't cover alignment of lights. Good thing my right front low-beam burned out in a fog bank last Thursday. I detail my engine--with a Q-tip. I researched the heck out of ICE mode and still need to understand it better. I drive in a dry climate so my AC doesn't tend to ice up too much. I'm working on a decent solution to noise and heat in the cabin. I prefer to post up "positive" comments on other's cars. I only used the word "gripe" to get people to view the post. Hey, the more posts, the more views, the more views, the more this site makes on adversiting hits. Is that what this site was "intended" to do. Well, I think I'll go out and see what kind of silicon I have in my garage so I can seal the tub. Then I'll have one less thing to "gripe" about.
May God, Allah, Yaweh, Buhda bless you all.
Pilot