Re Elise: Targa top makes them feel a lot more "wind in your hair" than just a sunroof. I like that a lot about them, actually. This applies to most Targa cars, w/the windows down and the roof off, they're almost like a convertible -without the marshmellow chassis' most convertibles have. With the top on and windows up they feel very secure, solid and coupe like.

6/4/2009 9:26:41 PM

Quote :

"^^and how much a year in maintenance??"

Well, lets see. Insurance is the same group as your s2k. Synthetic oil every 7,500 miles would be $80 per change assuming you do it yourself. Figure once a year oil change. 225/255 tires are relatively cheap in 18/19" form. Since most people do not track E46 M3 convertible, it is likely that rears will last 20-25k.

I spent $80 for oil change in 1 year of ownership on a car with 102k miles.

It is cheaper than you think.

6/4/2009 10:35:08 PM

ok so I went back and checked my bill from the service II - I was WAY WAY off

The service + parts + labor was $1493 for service II - that included new gaskets/seals/sparkplugs blah blah blah...now the new tires were expensive...I have the 19" rims with pilot sport 2's that at the dealer cost $927 for a rear pair and alignment

with some other work done that trip I spent a total of $2600...and that's the only money I've spent since getting it in early spring 2007

now that might still be a bit much, but I also owned an alfa romeo, 944 turbo, and a rx-7 before this car, so actually it has been one of the cheaper cars to maintain that I've owned

6/5/2009 2:44:18 AM

that sounds much more reasonable.

why are you having tires mounted at a BMW dealership? could you name a more expensive place to have that done?

6/5/2009 8:22:06 AM

I'm impressed. But I'd imagine if anything went wrong it'd be $Texas.

My S2000 is covered under warranty till 100,000 miles so other than tires and brakes I don't forsee it costing me...anything!

[Edited on June 5, 2009 at 9:13 AM. Reason : How much oil does the M3 take?! Synthetic oil change for S2k is $35]

6/5/2009 9:12:57 AM

Miata son....

Wit dat VTEC swap son....



What more could the girl ask for son?

6/5/2009 10:04:50 AM

.

[Edited on June 5, 2009 at 10:32 AM. Reason : nm]

6/5/2009 10:31:33 AM

6/5/2009 7:19:30 PM

i did it at the dealership because tirerack was backordered on the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's i needed and i was supposed to leave on a road trip in just a few days....of course I got sick and could have saved about $150 if i had waited, but at the moment it was the only option (and I don't like trie shops...bad experiences with past cars...it's either my local guy or the dealership)

the oil change was 65 bucks

6/5/2009 7:36:24 PM

^^

Something about the angle makes that car look hideous. The rim size is all out of whack

6/5/2009 7:47:54 PM

one other thing...the TWS oil that is used in the M3 is probably cheapest at the dealer (9.50/qt)...cheapest I've found it online is 11 bucks

6/5/2009 8:54:32 PM

^^ At least it has VTAK son. At least it has VTAK. Of course, it's some Toyota VTAK VVTLi BULLSHYTE BALLSACKIN' CAMERO MOTER.


But it's still some VTAK son.

6/6/2009 9:21:55 AM

dual exhaust on a 1.8L?

6/6/2009 9:36:59 AM

yeah dual exhaust on a 1.8 is stupid. you need at least 2.0, maybe even 2.2 to really warrant a dual exhaust

6/6/2009 6:15:19 PM

That Elise looks so hot, nice touch w/the no parking sign... That's not yours Noen is it?

6/6/2009 6:19:39 PM

nah, he has an Exige.

6/6/2009 8:26:50 PM

i mean they got duels on the 1.3 why not a a 1.8

best vert of all time


[Edited on June 6, 2009 at 8:50 PM. Reason : lol]

6/6/2009 8:48:38 PM

Noen's lotus is more sexier

6/6/2009 9:07:34 PM

but is it turbo with meshies

6/7/2009 3:50:18 AM

HX webs > lebaron? webs



[Edited on June 7, 2009 at 8:42 AM. Reason : .]

6/7/2009 8:42:08 AM

Quote :

"duel exhaust"

6/7/2009 12:38:50 PM

[GO]

6/7/2009 3:04:09 PM

oh whoops

6/7/2009 4:42:02 PM

Quote :

"yeah dual exhaust on a 1.8 is stupid. you need at least 2.0, maybe even 2.2 to really warrant a dual exhaust"

I lol'ed

6/8/2009 11:13:15 AM

GOTTA LOVE A SINGLE EXHAUST THAT SPLITS INTO TWO PIPES AT THE REAR SON.

FOR LOOKS SON.

LOOKS SON.



I HAD SOME-A-DAT ON MY SRT SON.

6/8/2009 11:14:39 AM

i thought lotus held themselves to a higher standard

6/8/2009 6:28:49 PM

Quote :

"yeah dual exhaust on a 1.8 is stupid. you need at least 2.0, maybe even 2.2 to really warrant a dual exhaust"

One muffler, two tips. The other option is a fart pipe tip (which they do make for the 111R's).

And it does actually make a difference, even stock it has twin tips. Mo flo baby

Here's the actual muffler sitting behind it:


Most guys go with this one though:


Adds 3-4hp, and is 16 pounds lighter than the stock exhaust. ~25lbs lighter with removal of all the baffling and heat shielding.

[Edited on June 9, 2009 at 4:34 PM. Reason : .]

6/9/2009 4:29:58 PM

^ i was making a joke about s2000s but i thoroughly appreciate your contribution to this thread as I would very much like to own an elise at some point in the future.

6/9/2009 4:39:53 PM

^The elise is a 1.8L as well don't hate on the 4 bangers

6/9/2009 4:59:16 PM

i like 4 bangers, i am driving a honda 2000

6/9/2009 7:06:28 PM

i would trade my 50lb dual tip for a single tip lower weight exhaust yesterday

6/9/2009 8:44:47 PM

^The titanium arquay pictured above weighs 9 pounds. Product link

The Larini 6" Single Tip is 12.55 pounds, and 1/3 the price

[Edited on June 9, 2009 at 9:49 PM. Reason : .]

6/9/2009 9:43:53 PM

you could turbo the motor for cheaper than that exhaust costs, lol

6/9/2009 10:57:58 PM

I also vote for E30 convertible

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNOSASEBDhg&feature=related

6/10/2009 12:03:39 AM

^not even close, but you could S/C it for a little more than double

6/10/2009 1:38:54 AM

Quote :

"CUE BBR TO TELL US THAT IT WAS IN FACT DESIGNED AS A CONVERTIBLE FIRST, COUPLE LATER!!"

winnAr!!1 yes, the c5 was designed to be a roadster from the start. the reasoning for releasing the coupe in the first year and the vert a year later was strictly marketing. the two models share nearly identical specs in terms of performance and weight, unlike the dual offerings of most other models.

6/10/2009 11:02:13 PM

/thread

6/10/2009 11:15:25 PM

Why not a nice Mercedes 560SL. I know, they are old, but they are a fun ride. If I can ever get my wife to let me take it out.

6/11/2009 11:39:30 AM

that looks like a lebaron

6/28/2009 8:05:00 PM