2005 Lotus Elise

Description

Nobody was more fond of the idea of less weight being equal to more horsepower than Colin Chapman, and this 2005 Lotus Elise continues the founder's mission by combining, well, less weight with more power. Is the Elise the ultimate track-day weapon or simply a wonderful sports car that does everything right simply by virtue of being lightweight? How about both!

It's hard to call something this small "imposing" but it definitely has presence, so we'll say that it's definitely purposeful. Stripped down to only the bare essentials, it's like the bodywork was shrink-wrapped over the mechanicals. There's plenty of metallic in the finish, so it has a depth and shine that makes it look expensive and there's not much evidence that it's been used for the past 21,762 miles. That translates to less than 2000 miles per year and it shows. Lotus's panel fit and assembly quality has made great leaps and strides since the dark days of the 1970s Esprits. There's no bright trim to speak of, although we like the elongated headlights up front and simple round taillights out back, along with the many vents and cooler openings that help keep the engine comfortable. It all comes back to "purposeful."

The interior is stripped down to the basics as well, although this is the more luxurious "Touring" model, which includes such upgrades as A/C and power windows. Nevertheless, the Elise's mission is plain to see: more speed. The thin-shell seats are like racing buckets, the steering wheel hangs in space well away from the dash, and the backbone of the car is exposed as it merges into the shifter tower. Big white-faced gauges are reminiscent of a race car, too, and the use of exotic competition materials is left out in the open for everyone to see. There's an AM/FM/Bluetooth radio, which is nice on a car that you might want to drive regularly, but we're pretty sure running it through the gears of the 6-speed manual gearbox will be more entertaining. The lift-off soft top provides protection in case of inclement weather and there's adequate storage in the forward and aft trunks.

With so little weight to haul around, the Toyota-sourced 1.8 liter inline-four over-performs and pushes the Elise around with the athleticism of a Corvette. The valve cover shows Lotus's name and they do get credit for the tuning and software, and it gives the Elise a very unique personality that's 100% Lotus. There are also hundreds of modifications and upgrades for these cars, but this one has none, preferring to go the stock route that enhances durability and means that this Elise should run practically forever. It's been properly maintained and there's a fantastic sensation of endless acceleration thanks to a sky-high redline. Of course, it wouldn't be a Lotus without fantastic handling, and when coupled with a disc brake at all four corners, this is a car that's ready for the track without any major modifications. The exhaust has a fantastic guttural tone and those big black alloy wheels only enhance the purposeful look. Staggered Dunlop radials are designed to be sticky, making this a car that will make any driver look like a hero.

Nicely documented with maintenance records, this 2-owner Elise offers a ton of curb appeal and performance on a decidedly lightweight scale. Call today!