What would you guys choose a straight caymen or a elise??

 

I love the sporty feel of the lotus, but the cayman is just the better all-around car IMO. I love both of them, but it's the cayman for me.

 

well your right practicality wise but if thats not an issue it's a tough one

 

Cayman S is fun to drive but Elise is more fun! What would I rather have NO question......... Cayman!

If I just wanted a track car the Exige S would be the one!

 

How tall are you? I'm 6'1 and 180lbs and had a very hard time getting in the Exige.

 

im 5'8 and i really didnt have a prob getting in and out. Im trying to make up my mind on what to buy, i also have a audi a4 so space isnt an issue and i really like both cars so thats why i need some help lol now the caymen would be a straight cayman not an S plus i was looking at some of the stats and saw that 0-60 in the porsche was like 5.8 and the lotus was 4.7 so that was a plus on the elise side but i just dont know tough discission lol

 

Cayman S -- Tried both for a week before pulling the trigger

 

the lotus is a cool car.. but for anything more then race or weekend use the Cayman hands down

riding in a cayman the drive hit 5th gear and hit my knee with his hand that was still on the shifter.. its just too close inside.. the cayman is MUCH more comfy..

id love to have a CS for everyday and fun times and an Exige or Elise for autox, Road racing..

 

Not thought aboput getting a low mileage year old Cayman S then? About the same price as a new Cayman.

It sounds like it is a toy for you somethign that you only want to use at the weekends. For this reason I think I would probably give the nod to the Elise over a standard Cayman....it is a hardone. Now if you put a Boxster S in there then I would take that over either the Cayman or Elise and its not like you can say you dont want a softop because that is exactly what an Elise is.

The Boxster S now has the Cayman S engine is only a little more than a Cayman. 55 base price on the Boxster S and 50 on the Cayman and 59 for Cayman S. 9 K is a big stretch 5k is just a couple less options on the Cayman you would have bought.

 

Cayman > Elise
Cayman < Exige

 

+1, its just so bad-***!

 

Can I choose both of them??
They are two different cars...both enjoyable for what they are

 

Same quandary I've kicked around.

Lotus Exige = hardcore, focused track toy. Not a touring vehicle (from what I've read - a lousy 'trip' car.) Un-matched though as an apex straffer. The Exige S with supercharged Toyota motor must be a hoot. Only 300 delivered per year here in the US (I think) so mega exclusivity. Apparently the best value super-car you can buy < $75K. Fantastic, supercar looks. Lightweight, diminuative, outrageous. Down sides? I've read engine management hic-cups (fuel map). Track focus precludes luxury items, spartan interior. Re-sale? Who knows what the market is for a used Lotus? Track focus detracts from street focus and really just how many times in a year are you on a track? Reliability? (haven't seen much information one way or another - good or bad. The Toyota motor is a plus (although it's NOT a Honda motor), the rest is sourced (I guess from the UK). Small, small factory/company, Financial stability?

Cayman S - more 'well rounded' automobile. At home on the track or street. Easy to take on any drive short or long. Unquestionable (I think) build quality. Depth of engineering expertise, deep dealer network. Company financially stable. Brand recognition, vast market for resale. Not quite as exclusive as the Lotus but not as common as Honda Accord or Toyota Camry either.

For $70K the Lotus is mainly a track toy. Yes you get mega exclusivity and bragging rights on having a genuine super-car. It lives for the track and short tracks with lots of turns at that. In that regard it's probably the most track focused streetable car you can buy under $75K.

The Cayman S for $70K (yes, some options), gets you a multi-dimensional, high quality car. No it won't hang with the Exige on a short track in the corners, but make it a long track or find a mega open road and the equation changes. Make a 2 hour+ trip to a club track in both cars. In the Lotus you probably hate the drive there and back, but on the track you are in heaven. With the Cayman S, you love the ride there, back, and on the track (well me thinks anyway).

 

Im 6' 3" and in the 180's and sure, its a little tough getting in and out eloquently, but once Im in I fit just fine. We have one and its such a great sports car...adding a Cayman S to the fleet soon, so maybe Ill do a comparo and write up.

 

if it were a daily driver i would want the Cayman, if it were a semi-daily or weekend car, Lotus, no question, it's the most fun I've had on four wheels.