[Squawks]

Originally Posted by ward

the lotus kicks the vettes ass in every handling category and is right there on straight line numbers.

Performance-wise it's up there. But the vette is bigger in every single aspect. Easier to move around in, easier to get in, easier to get out. On top of that, more amenities. Way more. You can adjust the seats, the wheel, and more. You're not just driving an uncomfortable econo-box meant purely for racing.

These two are in two totally different classes, anyway. The only reason I mentioned the vette was that it's very close to the Elise price-wise. Meaning I'd easily pick the vette over the Elise as a daily driver.

[croaker]

If you had been on a twisty mountain road he would have handed you your lunch. (If the guy could drive that is). The Lotus is made for the track not the drag strip. It can pull over a G when cornering. I drove one on a back road outside of Richmond and it was amazing. Still it is no slouch on the straight stuff either. You need to get it up over 6000 RPM though, and you are not supposed to do that for the first 600 miles or so. Maybe that explains some of what happened with you. That engine screams at 6000. The sound and power is really something to experience.

-Croaker

[Xens]

It's a little car that's extremely nimble around the bends, I don't think it was meant to be fast in the straight line. Still, it's nice to know that the 330 is at sports car level, hehehehe.

[ksfrogman]

LOTUS ELISE:
Don't knock 190 HP. At 2000 lbs, the Weight to Power ratio = 10.7 lbs/HP.

BMW E90:
The 330i's 255 HP with 3450 lbs has a Weight to Power ratio = 13.5 lbs/HP.

YAMAHA YZF R1 (COYOTE BIKE):
HP = ONLY 150.3 at back wheel. Weight = 379 lbs. W to P = 2.5 lbs/HP.



LOTUS ELISE:

0-60 mph time 4.9 seconds
0-100mph time 12.6 seconds
Quarter mile time 13.1 seconds
Top Speed150 mph
Lateral Grip1.0 G
Speed 700-ft slalom71 mph
Braking distance 60-0 mph 105

Engine2ZZ-GE dohc 16V inline-4 Bore x Stroke82.0 x 85.1 mm
Engine Size1796 cc
Compression Ratio 11.5:1
Horsepower187 bhp @ 7800 rpm
Torque133 lb-ft @ 6800 rpmEngine Redline8300 rpmFuel DeliveryElectronic Sequential PortFuel91 octaneTransmission6-speed manual1st3.12:12nd2.05:13rd1.48:14th1.17:15th.92:1 6th.82:1Final Drive4.53:1Engine rpm @ 60mph3000


'06 BMW 330i

WeightUnladen 3417 [3450] lbs
EngineLiter/type 3.0/inline 6 Bore/stroke 3.35/3.46 inch
Nominal output/rpm 255/6600 hp
Max. torque/rpm 220/2750 lb-ft
Compression ratio 10.7 :1
TransmissionManual gear ratios - I/II 4.35/2.50 :1Manual gear ratios - III/IV 1.67/1.23 :1Manual gear ratios - V/VI/R 1.00/0.85/3.93 :1Manual gear ratios - Final drive ratio 3.15 :1Automatic gear ratios - I/II 4.17/2.34 :1Automatic gear ratios - III/IV 1.52/1.14 :1Automatic gear ratios - V/VI/R 0.87/0.69/3.40 :1Automatic gear ratios - Final drive ratio 3.64 :1
PerformanceDrag coefficient 0.30 CdTop speed 1130 [149] mph
Acceleration 0-60 mph - Manual transmission 6.1 sec
Acceleration 0-60 mph - Automatic transmission 6.3 sec



YAMAHA YZF-R1 (6-spd gearbox):

Acceleration 0-60 mph 2.5 seconds
Standing quarter mile Under 10.5 secs at 130 mph


COMMENTS:

It's silly to say that the Elise has only 190 HP as if that's supposed to mean something out of context.

I wouldn't go knocking Toyota's engine or technical capabilities either. After all, it's a tiny 1796cc DOHC 16-valve I-4. The 330i's is a 3000cc 24-valve I-6. Not an ordinary apples and oranges comparision, but more like a grape vs a grapefruit.

IMHO, the lack of torque with the tiny Elise motor would be a disadvantage vs the BMW with racing starts at certain rolling speeds, esp. at higher ones.