Let’s just come right out and admit it: it sucks to grow up. And not just because of the stiff knees and reading glasses and taxes; too often, you have to compromise. You can’t stay out till all hours, because you have to go to work in the morning. You can’t eat junk food because you’ll be awake at 3 AM with heartburn. It’s no fun at all. So on this Friday, let’s finish up our then-and-now week with a couple of cars from a company that never did really grow up, and until recently, refused to compromise.
Yesterday we looked at a couple of Volvo sedans from different eras, and, well, color me surprised. I expected the old 240 to run away with it; I figured the newer S60 would be too generic and too complicated to appeal to many of you. But as it turns out, the S60 won it, with nearly sixty percent of the vote. Maybe the 240’s long reign is finally coming to an end.
Except not for me, it isn’t. I am an enormous fan of black jellybeans, but I have no interest in a car that looks like one. Not when the alternative is an instantly recognizable classic that can still be used daily. Give me the 240, and I’ll spend the price difference fixing it up.
“Simplify,” goes the quote attributed to Lotus founder Colin Chapman, “then add lightness.” Take as much as you can away from the design, as long as it still functions. Make it light and agile, and you won’t need a big engine to power it. Lotus sports cars are wispy little things, built of spindly steel backbones and fiberglass shells, with just enough structure to hold everything together. And while most sports cars grew in size and weight over the years, Lotus maintained that lightness and simplicity, at least up through the newer of the two models we’re going to look at today. Let’s check them out.
1970 Lotus Elan S4 – $26,950
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6 liter DOHC inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Sussex, WI
Odometer reading: 25,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
If you’re looking at the photo above and seeing a lot of NA Mazda Miata in it, there’s a reason for that; the Lotus Elan was one of Mazda’s benchmark cars for the Miata, and its front end styling is a pretty obvious homage. The smirky little grille-less air intake, the pop-up headlights, the wide and low stance – this is where it all came from. The Elan was Lotus’s second road-legal car, after the Elite, and it was produced for thirteen years – though, amusingly, no one is exactly sure how many of them were built. It’s around ten thousand, but precise counts vary.
The Elan is built on a steel backbone that runs down the middle of the car, with all the suspension and drivetrain components attached to it. The fiberglass body bolts to that backbone. It’s rear-wheel-drive, with the engine up front, based on a Ford design with Lotus’s own twin-cam cylinder head. The Elan has four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes all around, fancy stuff for its day. This one has had a whole lot of work done recently, and the seller says it “starts easily, runs great, and is an absolute pleasure to drive.”
The minimalist theme is on full display inside; there’s no radio, and obviously no power features. I’m pretty sure it has a heater, but don’t quote me on that. it’s in passable condition, but the seats have a couple of popped seams, and there’s that small rip in the back of the driver’s seat. A good upholstery shop could fix that right up. But the wood dash has been replaced, and man, does it look nice.
The seller describes the car as a “five-footer,” but honestly, if you’re going to get any closer than that, get in the damn thing and go for a drive, and don’t worry about a few blemishes in the fiberglass. It’s shiny, yellow, and cool-looking, and that should be enough for anybody.
2005 Lotus Elise (its real name) – $34,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter DOHC inline 4, six-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Gabriel, CA
Odometer reading: 66,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
After Colin Chapman died in 1982, Lotus flailed a bit. A dalliance with Toyota, a brief period of ownership by General Motors, and investments from all over the world kept it afloat, and the cars were as cool as always – yes, even the front-wheel-drive Elan S2 – but its future was never certain. A ray of sunshine arrived in 1996, in the form of a sleek, curvy, new little mid-engine sports car: the Elise.
The original Elise was powered by a Rover engine, but by the time it arrived in the US in 2005, it had Toyota power, in the form of a 2ZZ-GE four-cylinder and a six-speed manual, the same powertrain found in the sporty versions of the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. This car has nine more horsepower than those cars, and it weighs a thousand pounds less. It’s a quick car. A little too quick, for its first owner, as it turns out – the current owner bought it with a rebuilt title. It doesn’t take much to total an Elise, with its fragile fiberglass nose that isn’t separately replaceable, and a lot of them have ended up with rebuilt titles for minor altercations. The seller says it runs and drives just fine, and there is no indication of frame damage underneath.
I’ve sat in an Elise – though I haven’t had the privilege of driving one – and I can tell you that at just a hair under six feet tall, I barely fit in it. And it’s not easy to get in and out of, either. The Elise is pretty Spartan inside, but it does have air conditioning and a stereo, and both work just fine. It’s in great shape inside, too.
Outside, there’s no sign of the accident that dinged the title. It’s straight and shiny, and an excellent color. It has nice aftermarket wheels, and the original wheels are also included if you prefer. The Elise is a targa top, if you’d rather have fresh air than AC, and both the hard and soft tops are included in the sale.
Lotus is now owned by Chinese firm Geely, and its future seems to be electric and luxury-oriented, which is neither light nor simple. And I think that’s a shame, but at least Lotus’s lightest and simplest road car is still available, from Caterham. And of course, there are always used ones like these. Which one appeals to you?
I’ve never driven an Elise and I’m sure it’s great, but for me nothing can match that Elan. “an absolute pleasure to drive” is an understatement. It’s a thrill and a joy, a car that is almost telepathic in its communication and feels like you’re wearing it.
I can’t believe the S60 won! Are we even Autopians?
This one I gotta go old skool- gimmee the Elan. It does have history and classics like these are interesting and fun. The Elise (NHRN) looks like a lot of fun especially w/ the 6spd, but ND on the rebuilt title
Por Que No Los Dos?
I’ve had the chance to drive a 2006 Elise a few times and it’s one of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven. It’s like a kart on steroids. You can’t help but smile like an idiot when the vvt-i kicks in (yo). (can you say yo for vvt-i, or is that for vtec only?)
You certainly don’t look good getting in or out of it tho. It’s low and the door sills are enormous.
Told them both that I loved them
Said it, yes and it’s true
But I can’t have both of them
Don’t know what to do.
Elan.
Love them both, but the Elan is cheaper and in the kind of condition I like where it looks great and works well, but isn’t so perfect that every bug splatter ruins your day.
I love the Elan, but about this, from the original listing:
So, why not snap a pic with the headlights popped up? I’d like to see it, so show it.
Anyway. It got my vote because I’ve lusted after that vintage Lotii ever since I was a kid and it always seemed like just about the coolest wheels one could drive not named “Dino 246.”
And while I typically opt for the more practical, daily-drivable option, in this case both cars are toys. So give me the scary deathtrap that only comes out on Sundays.
One of the best showdowns. Genuinely hard to pick between these, as they are very desirable and the prices seem right.
I went with Elise just because I’ve always wanted one, and if I picked something else before that I would probably kick myself. That Elan would be a wonderful thing to have though.
The RPF1s look great on the Elise and they are perfect in the crossroads of “Light and cheap” but you’d be hosed on tire choice.
Damn, suddenly Friday got complicated. Both are wildly cool and undoubtedly fun to drive. One has old school charm and simplicity, the other has more modern sports car styling and newer car amenities (but neither would be a suitable daily driver for me). The Elise is only about a six to seven hour drive from here, so I could conceivably drive it home. That would be kinda tough in the Elan – you’d probably never walk again after a trip from Wisconsin to California in it.
Final answer is the Elan. I have a phone and ear buds, so I don’t need no stinkin’ stereo. I’ll use the savings to have the thing transported. (Although if I didn’t care about staying married, I’d be on my way to San Gabriel right now.)
Peter Egan would have driven an Elan from Wisconsin to California (and maybe he actually did), so you can, too!
Hmmm, no “both”option. I had to go with the Elise (it’s real name) simply because that Toyota engine will run forever without leaking all over the road.
Diabolical choice as I want both. In real life, I would buy the Elise as I cound daily it much easier than the Elan. I will still vote for the Elan as it is a good one. I once read a list of things that one should do before they die and owning a Lotus Elan was one of them and I think the only car on the list!
Having to make a decison between these two fine Lotuses makes me have no doubt that Mark Taylor is the kind of daemon who laughs while watching Sophie’s Choice!
Decisions, decisions, Don’t think I could fit in either one. At 6 1 I barely fit in a Miata! After an hour or so, it was like, where do I put my left foot? I’m getting a cramp! Lol…But I have owned 4 Miatas! Not a daily driver tho…walked to work, drive Miata on weekends. Would buy the Elan , and just go out in the garage once in a while and admire it! Pretty sure while the Elise holds its value, the Elan will appreciate.
When the Opel GT came out, I went to see the ” mini Corvette”. Hit my head trying to get in! Damn it! When the Scirocco came out I went the VW dealer and hit my head again! At least with the Miatas and today’s choices you have unlimited head room! But not sure I could out of either at my age! Someone, throw me a rope!!
Except for the NC, Elises have more room in them than Miatas do. The main issue actually shoe size. The pedal box is pretty tight (whether it’s better or worse with cars after they changed the pedals in 2006 I dunno). I wear 10s and I have to specifically shoe shop around whether they will fit (you can have more width than you’d expect but you absolutely cannot have a tall/extended heel).
Can confirm. I am 6ft and I fit into my Exige just fine. But with size 11.5 feet, I need to chose my footwear carefully before a drive. Converse are fine. If I try to drive in dress shoes or hiking boots or modern-looking sneakers with a wide toe box, I’ll be mashing the gas and brake pedals at the same time.
Driving shoes to go with your Driving Gloves!
At 6’3” it’s a neither for me. <sobbing>
It’s just not fair!! Call us height challenged. 🙁
Both are powerfully appealing but I finally voted for the old car today–that Elan has tremendous charm and is in ideal condition to be driven and enjoyed. Looks like a bargain, too.
Elise for me. I love the looks and I prefer coupes over convertibles.
The Elan has more Colin Chapman for better or worse and by 1970 they were pretty civilized. Although I’d rather see DCOE carbs the Strombergs don’t make the same noise. (-;
The Elise has been mid 30k for a decade. You could buy it, drive it for 3 years and then sell it on for exactly the same price you paid. They do not depreciate – even with the ancient accident history.
Weekend Toy: Elan
Daily Driver: Elise
I will take the classic with fewer miles, more recent work done, no roof, better lines, a clean title, and a lower price. The Elan is pretty much perfect in this battle of two cars you wouldn’t really drive daily. I mean, you could, but neither would be my first choice.
Haha the Elise has AC. That’s funny. The AC in any S2 prior to 2008 is pathetic and doesn’t actually work like at all. I love one, and had one and would love to have another some day, but just know that the AC is mostly just a decorative button if you pick up one from the older years.
The Elan is the rare case when the copy is better than the original, and it’s easy to get a Miata for much less than that.
I voted for the Toyota.
Elise. I don’t mind rebuilt title cars as long as they were fixed right, the accident was a long time ago, and the price is appropriately reduced. From the ad, it looks like the accident was over 50k miles ago. The car is several thousand dollars cheaper than comparable clean title cars currently listed for sale. Assuming an inspection shows the car was fixed right, this is the good kind of branded title car. It seems like a solid deal.
The Elan is cool, though.
Edit: the ad includes a photo of the odometer which shows 16k and not 66k, so the wreck was only 5k miles ago. I still think it could be a good deal, although with less post-crash miles I would want to make sure the inspection was very thorough.
Yeah I swear at this point more than half of the Elises on the market are rebuilt title, I had one and it was no issue whatsoever. It’s telling too that with most cars, the rebuilt title drops the price by around 30%, but in Elises it’s only a couple thousand most of the time. When I bought mine, it was $29k for a well done rebuild, and I could have gotten a slightly rougher clean title for around $31k, or a good condition clean title was still only $35k. The delta between clean and rebuilt is pretty small on these, because no one really cares if they plan to drive it.
Gimme the yellow go-cart.
Capital B-O-T-H. Being denied that, I love the lines of the classic.