I need a new car

[randychase]

Hey.. I drive two cars right now. One is a racing trailer queen, but still street legal Toyota MR2. The other one is a Lexus RX-300. A very nice suv with heated leather seats and a killer Nakamichi stereo CD changer and cool gadgets.

But I want a cool car that is smaller than the SUV, that I can race around in. The MR2 is up for sale, and it looks like someone from Virginia is flying out in a couple weeks to pick it up.


What I really really want is the Lotus Exige. Yes... I would sell off some body parts for this car.

http://www.lotuscars.com/motorsports/exige/Exige%20front%203-4.jpg

I would even take an Elise...motorsports version.
http://www.lotuscars.com/motorsports/MotorsportsRace2.jpg

Sigh... but reality sets in. Maybe a Toyota Matrix, the high horsepower version? The Mitsubishi EVO (now coming to the USA). The WRX?

Maybe I should wait for the Mazda RX-8? The New Z is coming in August.

But I really want the Lotus....

[randychase]

The Mini Cooper S is kinda cool too. Should be here this Spring.

http://www.miniusa.com/en/images/althome/car.jpg

http://www.miniusa.com

[randychase]

Toyota Matrix
http://studiomatrix.videomixer.com/img/saatchi.jpg

http://www.isthistoyota.com/

Arrives in February

[randychase]

Mazda RX-8

http://images.rotarynews.com/images/rx-8_moving.jpg

http://images.rotarynews.com/images/RX-8Tokyo/

http://www.rotarynews.com

[ratkiller]

Ok when i get home i am going to bust yall a true classic. ;)

[Colorado-PC-Dude]

Randy,

I want this car so bad I actually have a framed 8x10 collage setting on my desk! My wife thinks I'm completely nuts 'cause I want to make a four hour (one way) trip for a 15 minute test drive. Have you seen the Elise 240R? They're still finalizing the design but you can find a preview on some of the exotic car sites.

Ben

[randychase]

Dude... I have the Exige brochure from England on my desk. It's my motivation when I am routing.

I have heard that the Elise MKIII IS coming to USA next year. It will be $39,500 and possibly have a Toyota engine. I am so there.

Today I am going to the LA Auto Show to check it out.

http://www.pcbstandards.org/alin/Lotus%20Elise%202.jpg

[randychase]

I went to the LA Auto Show and talked to the Lotus reps. Saw a lot of cool cars too.

I was able to sit in a Lotus Elise and it fits like a glove. WoohoO!

Looks like I might be able to test drive one soon. September 2003 and I am buying one.

[Mark Larson]

Hmmm... the Toyota Matrix is what I will probably be getting if I find the one I want, it will save me a bunch of money by replacing 2 vehicles, Toyota Highlander (poor man's Lexus RX300) and 1988 Fiero (poor man's MR2) .

I also like old pickups, here is a 53 chev total retoration, the only flaw I saw was a nick in the dashboard chrome.

[randychase]

Great looking truck! It would look awesome pulling my antique teardrop.

I like the Matrix, if I was not saving up my pennies for the Elise, I would consider it. I might do it anyway and sell off my Lexus.

[Victor Tejeda]

When I think of sports cars I think European, When I think of economical cars I think Japaneze.

[randychase]

The Lotus is going to be both. European styling and famous Lotus handling, and a Japanese drivetrain for reliability.

The old days of Asian cars being considered as appliances and European cars being true sportscars has passed I think. There are some great sports cars that have come out of Asia, such as the Skyline, Evo, WRX, Supra, RX-8, and more.

[thunderstorm]

When I lived in England, I came about TWO seconds away from buying an older very custom Mini-Woody. It was awesome! We went back and looked at it about 8 times. Good thing I didn't cuz the BMW 850 I ended up with was totalled a couple days later when I got hit by a truck doing 100+ mph. Had I been in the mini, I'd not be typing right now. :(

We also drove up to Manchester to check out an older restored Lotus. Now THAT was a beauty. It was a show car, but the interior was a little like shabby-chic. Not my style. My ex ended up buying a '63 fully restored (mint) S-type jag. Bright red, and gorgeous. A real English motoring car. You had to put your legs out in front of you horizontally to sit down in the seat. :D A bit of a rough rider, but definitely a head-turner.

Aren't the new mini's made by BMW and aimed at the younger crowd? (ie; the Honda Civic crowd...) I also understand that they are selling like hotcakes in europe, thus the delay in getting them across the pond. I heard 2003 for sure though!

Sorry guys, that Matrix is one ugly vehicle. For my money there are about 81 other cars I'd buy first. But then, who the heck am I? :p

[Mark Larson]

I agree with you somewhat about the looks of the Matrix, except in Black, the combination of Black body and tinted windows blend into one another, I think they tell fat people to wear Black don't they? The first Matrix I saw was some shade of light Blue or Gray and I thought it was butt ugly, then I saw it in Black and thought it looked rather sharp.

Now if you can suggest an alternative vehicle that I can haul my canoe on top of, securely store my bicycle inside of while still hauling a passenger, get well over 30 mpg, sleep in the back of comforably if need be, back up and actually see where you are going (think van here, not!), haul my X-country skiis in, parallel park with ease, and cost under $20K I'll be glad to listen.

I presently have 3 vehicles to do all that.

[Colorado-PC-Dude]

Randy,

Check this one out:

http://www.motorpics.co.uk/othpg25.htm

If you like the Elise, you'll love this.

Ben

[randychase]

Yeah, I love the 340R. It's a little too much for me though as far as looking "boy racerish" or however you put it.

[Mark Larson]

It looks like a dune buggy somebody built in their garage from the rear and a something an 8 year old would like from the front.

[Colorado-PC-Dude]

>>It looks like a dune buggy somebody built in their garage from the rear and a something an 8 year old would like from the front.<<

That's ok. Dune buggies are cool and if it takes an 8-year old attitude to like the looks, well I've always said I may grow old but I'll NEVER grow up! <G> I AM going to own one of these cars! Also an Elise, a '72 Opel GT, a late '70s MGA, a late '70s MGB, a late '50s MG-TD, a '78 Corvette, a '57 Chevy, etc... The list goes on and on! I'm already designing the house with the 7,000 sg. ft. garage to hold them all! <G>

Ben