Category: Roadsters 
Price Range: £25,712 to £32,067
Huge grip combined with infinitely adjustable handling and fantastic feedback from steering, brakes and throttle. Punchy performance, muscular looks.
'Parts bin' feel, leaky roof, difficult to get in and out with any grace. Tiresome noise on longer journeys.
Quite simply one of the most accomplished driver's cars available. It's got its faults but none that detract away from the whole point of the Elise - driving it.
Lacking in the kind of safety equipment that we now expect in even our lowliest cars, the Elise does without airbags or ABS. Untested by NCAP, the Elise's stiff bonded structure should protect well in an impact, but aside from seatbelts there's little else in regards to dedicated safety kit. Its agility should help you avoid an accident in the first place - its brakes able wash off speed more effectively than most - but despite Lotus saying that customers don't want airbags a driver's one wouldn't go amiss. Security is fairly minimal too. The immobiliser should deter the casual thief but the lack of central locking means it's all too easy to leave a door unlocked - though access through the canvas roof wouldn't be too difficult either. If you're going to park it on the street get a decent steering wheel lock and consider fitting an alarm.
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wrote on 22 12 2007
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