Cayman S vs Elise

[CosmosMpower]

I don't remember the air conditioner on your RX-8 spewing smoke from an electrical fire...

Not working, smoke...all minor details The a/c in my RX-8 did suck though.

[Darron65]

I guess we've found the BS(how ironic!) guy that's also moving to SS.

I think a yellow banana was also mentioned in that thread. Hmm, who ran a yellow car in BS?

[smartmx5]

Probably wouldn't run a Cayman S in SCCA just local club autocrosses. I was just thinking it's kind of a waste to leave the Elise in the garage 5-6 days out of the week. It's not a good street car but is brilliant on track during the weekends. I think I may get bored quickly with the Cayman S though. The grass is always greener.....

I surprisingly haven't had too many build quality issues with the Elise. Just a few small things covered under warranty (nothing worse than I experienced with the RX8 ).

Sounds like you want to drive the Elise more? But do not b/c of ride on road. I have had students with Elises' (how do you plural this?) and one student had a Cayman S, both at MSR. By far the fun factor was the Elise, however, the new Cayman S was absolutely amazing. Handled lighter than I thought it would and gave me a 911 feeling. Go with the Cayman S, especially if you would drive it more during the week.

[goofygrin]

Cayman S hands down if it's anything more than a track toy. How many Caymans are daily driven? How many Elise-i? There's a reason for that disparity (and not just the 60 treadware tires on the Elise).

[CosmosMpower]

Cayman S hands down if it's anything more than a track toy. How many Caymans are daily driven? How many Elise-i? There's a reason for that disparity (and not just the 60 treadware tires on the Elise).

Percentage wise, I'm not sure. There are QUITE a few nuts on the Lotus board that daily drive their cars. The Cayman would be 2X better suited though, I agree. It's not so much the ride etc but I'm scared to leave it parked unattended.

[Kestrel]

It's not so much the ride etc but I'm scared to leave it parked unattended.

Scared to leave the Elise unattended or a Cayman S? I daily drive my Cayman and leave it unattended all the time...

Others have said it, but it's basically the difference between a purpose built track car and a great all around, multi-use car. I doubt there is anything on the planet (at that price point) that is more fun on a track than the "Lotus line" (Elise, Exige, etc.), but you know better than I how many sacrifices are required if you use it as a daily driver. The Cayman, on the other hand, is an extremely capable track toy, but gives you the benefit of being a very reasonable daily driver as well. A bit like the Miata, actually. A Miata on steriods.

If I could have two cars, I'd have an Elise/Exige as a track car and a second (nice) car -- something like a BMW 335 or M3, or perhaps an Infiniti G37S Coupe -- as my daily driver. But since I can only have one car, I am extremely happy with my Cayman. Well, I suppose I wish I had an S version, but I could afford that!

[CosmosMpower]

Scared to leave the Elise unattended or a Cayman S? I daily drive my Cayman and leave it unattended all the time...

Others have said it, but it's basically the difference between a purpose built track car and a great all around, multi-use car. I doubt there is anything on the planet (at that price point) that is more fun on a track than the "Lotus line" (Elise, Exige, etc.), but you know better than I how many sacrifices are required if you use it as a daily driver. The Cayman, on the other hand, is an extremely capable track toy, but gives you the benefit of being a very reasonable daily driver as well. A bit like the Miata, actually. A Miata on steriods.

If I could have two cars, I'd have an Elise/Exige as a track car and a second (nice) car -- something like a BMW 335 or M3, or perhaps an Infiniti G37S Coupe -- as my daily driver. But since I can only have one car, I am extremely happy with my Cayman. Well, I suppose I wish I had an S version, but I could afford that!

I'm nervous leaving the Elise unattended, I wouldn't mind a Cayman S. It's a nice car but somewhat common so people probably wouldn't mess with it as much. I think the RX-8 was a great daily car and a good track car, but it was boring. Now that I think about that, it's probably not such a good idea to trade :)

[Magma]

Why so nervous about leaving the car unattended?

[altiain]

I wouldn't mind a Cayman S. It's a nice car but somewhat common

Apparently you and I have different definitions of "common".

FWIW, I actually see more Elises than Caymans any given week, but I wouldn't say either car is common.

[altiain]

Why so nervous about leaving the car unattended?

It might catch on fire, or parts might fall off of it.

[CosmosMpower]

Apparently you and I have different definitions of "common".

FWIW, I actually see more Elises than Caymans any given week, but I wouldn't say either car is common.

Interesting, you must drive by Overseas motors every week. I've only seen 3 others on the road since owning one a year go. I see a Cayman probably once or twice a month.

From a quick search there are about 7,500 Cayman's built a year and 1,200 Elise's built per year.

[CosmosMpower]

It might catch on fire, or parts might fall off of it.

Or someone might back into it or key it. You of all people should know how much a clam repair costs I haven't had a single part "fall off" yet. Too bad Mazda couldn't make the interior trim in the RX-8 as good as a Britsh car built in a barn by a bunch of turnip farmers. Your half of a 90 second run at MW that ended badly is a pretty poor and limited opinion of an overall excellent car.

RX-8:
3 broken sunvisors
2 broken cupholder doors
1 major door rattle
1 sticking cigarette lighter door

[POS Racing]

Or someone might back into it or key it. You of all people should know how much a clam repair costs I haven't had a single part "fall off" yet. Too bad Mazda couldn't make the interior trim in the RX-8 as good as a Britsh car built in a barn by a bunch of turnip farmers. Your half of a 90 second run at MW that ended badly is a pretty poor and limited opinion of an overall excellent car.

Ya gotta wonder if you were not so scared to let the Lotus outside how it would really compare to an everyday use car.

I know my Miata has never experienced a mechanical breakdown while sealed in it's protective bubble and locked in the garage!

[CosmosMpower]

Ya gotta wonder if you were not so scared to let the Lotus outside how it would really compare to an everyday use car.

I know my Miata has never experienced a mechanical breakdown while sealed in it's protective bubble and locked in the garage!

I bought it with 3,500 miles on it last December. It now has just over 11,000, not bad for a second/weekend car. That's probably 2X more mileage and 10X more track time logged than your museum Miata. There are quite a few over 60,000 miles with no issues and one guy has daily driven his 05 to over 100,000 miles with no issue.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f3/100k-miles-65861/

[POS Racing]

I bought it with 3,500 miles on it last December. It now has just over 11,000. That's probably 2X more mileage and 10X more track time logged than your museum Miata. There are quite a few over 60,000 miles with no issues and one guy has daily driven his 05 to over 100,000 miles with no issue.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f3/100k-miles-65861/

Wow 7,500 miles!

The POS III ran a few more mile than that in '08 but thanks for playing!

If the Lotus is so great why this post asking about the Porsche, or are you just tired of driving the Girlfriend car??

[CosmosMpower]

Wow 7,500 miles!

The POS III ran a few more mile than that in '08 but thanks for playing!

If the Lotus is so great why this post asking about the Porsche, or are you just tired of driving the Girlfriend car??

I guess I have Ken O disease, itch for a new car about this time this year. The Mini S is more fun to drive and faster than our local CS "contingent". I'd take that offer all day

[altiain]

Or someone might back into it or key it. You of all people should know how much a clam repair costs I haven't had a single part "fall off" yet. Too bad Mazda couldn't make the interior trim in the RX-8 as good as a Britsh car built in a barn by a bunch of turnip farmers. Your half of a 90 second run at MW that ended badly is a pretty poor and limited opinion of an overall excellent car.

RX-8:
3 broken sunvisors
2 broken cupholder doors
1 major door rattle
1 sticking cigarette lighter door

While my run at MW in Clovis' car may be the most famous of my stints behind the wheel of a Lotus, it ain't the only one.

I've driven a couple on the street, and those drives just reinforced the opinions I formed while driving Clovis' car. Although the brakes definitely work better at 5/10ths on street tires and smooth surfaces. Still, it's too bad a $40k+ boutique sports car can't have brakes as good as the average Japanese crapbox.

My RX-8 has had it's fair share of warranty issues, but I haven't had the interior problems that you have. Nor has Jon, and he's got 78k miles on his.

As for interior rattles on an Elise:

1. There isn't much interior to rattle on an Elise to start with.
2. It would be hard to hear any rattles over the resonances from the different aluminum extrusions.

[altiain]

Interesting, you must drive by Overseas motors every week. I've only seen 3 others on the road since owning one a year go. I see a Cayman probably once or twice a month.

No, I see one or two a week over here in far northeast Garland (aka crack town ). I see a silver one pretty regularly, along with a red one and an orange one.

[POS Racing]

I guess I have Ken O disease, itch for a new car about this time this year. The Mini S is more fun to drive and faster than our local CS "contingent". I'd take that offer all day

Opps I should have specified which of her cars! Aren't you driving her S2000 these days??

Are you even going to participate in any Autocross events next year now that jrj512 has stolen your co-drive?



BTW. Shouldn't you be saving up for an engagement ring?

Seriously how long do you figure you can charm her with your personality before she finally goes off and finds a nice guy!

[tailchaser]

No, I see one or two a week over here in far northeast Garland (aka crack town ). I see a silver one pretty regularly, along with a red one and an orange one.

What he said... I only see P cars when I drive past the P car dealer. Saw the first one in the wild for weeks last night as the driver went 4 wheelin across a couple 6 inch curbs to make a left turn instead of a u-turn... I guess his last car was a subaru...