IS THIS LOTUS THE ULTIMATE SUPERCAR KILLER?

[@drew699]

Cannot agree with you more about roof down motoring and at all times of the year! The connection with the environment, the smells, the sounds of birdsong, the wind in your hair, the engine sound, exhaust, induction sound is epic & makes any journey an exciting adventure. The only car I think is more involving than an Elise is a Caterham! Doors off on the Caterham in summer, tonneau on in the winter/ rain is amazing too! Enjoy.

[@shortshiftuk]

Agree completely!

[@sivuyiledumalisile6308]

Drove the Series 2 Elise in 2021. It's the best handling car I've ever driven. It changed my entire perspective on what these cars are all about.

[@shortshiftuk]

Agreed, you have to experience it to know!

[@BakerOnYT]

Great review and very accurate, having a mix of performance/fast cars over the years I picked up my first Lotus this year, an S2 111s K-Series Elsie, had it six months now and done a little over 1.5k miles in it; it's old, it's tiny, has various random rattles, and its too low/hard for a lot of the local pot-holed roads. But get it out on some decent B and A roads and it's just sublime to drive, has the right amount of power to make it feel exciting without having to do license losing speeds.

[@shortshiftuk]

Agreed, 10000%! :)

[@jonathanknight8251]

I agree with just about everything you said. I would add the the 2ZR engine can safely make about 300 HP with stock internals and a few bolt-on mods. That quite transforms the car. If you still want to go faster around a track, a set of Nitron or similar dampers and stickier tires will help significantly too, but at the expense of the comfort that makes it such a nice road car. As a final note, your channel should have way more subs!

[@shortshiftuk]

Blimey that would be some power from virtually no weight! That's what the 1ZZ engine lacked - tuneability, and it just did not have enough power standard! Thanks for the comment re subs, we're certainly working on it ! :D

[@cteague4988]

You know your stuff, and your videos are brilliant!!!

[@shortshiftuk]

Thank you!

[@millstonebarn]

Well done Annie. Great News! Since recording this, I suspect, it has been announced that Lotus are not going all-out EV now. I do wonder if there will be hybrids in future - maybe even the Type 135? I am now very excited to see what they come up with going forward.

[@shortshiftuk]

Yeah I've seen that in the group since recording. Glad they're not going down the just EV route now, interesting to see if they can start doing some proper stuff again. Would be good to see them do it like Porsche do, boring stuff to pay for the company and then proper stripped out, raw track stuff for the other people haha

[@andrewbox8984]

Honest, from the heart, down to earth great opinion and review. I love your passion about Lotus, a REAL drivers car. That's why I also have one :))

[@shortshiftuk]

[@andrewbox8984]

@shortshiftuk I've currently got a 2104 Evora S Motorsport Edition. In my teenage years my dad had a 1986 Lotus Turbo Esprit

[@superandy89]

Your production is great! You got my subscription You and Jayemm would be a great duo on KZbin

[@markwhitaker3673]

What a lovely review-thanks so much. You really distilled the essence of this brand with your comments. I feel like I need an Elise to go with my 69 Elan S4 DHC. I agree re the direction Lotus feels they need to go in-rather sad I think. Even though my Dad drove his Elan as an everyday car back in the day I have always considered Lotus a high days/holiday sort of car although you are to be commended for 60k in your Elise as a daily! I think that trying to compete with Porsche with more mainstream products is a road to ruin. I wish Lotus could remain a driver's car company with special/unique offerings and leave the electrics, SUVs, etc to someone else.

[@shortshiftuk]

Thank you, and agree with everything you've said there. I'd add the old Elan is one of the best looking cars in my opinion - need to get some goes in older Lotus cars next year!

[@chalesnu]

Love the content and the commentary. Let's see the Sunday morning drive with an external camera too.

[@shortshiftuk]

Working on it, just have to be careful about not putting cameras all over the cars and potentially damaging them :(

[@kevinmcg6747]

Annie I think you should be held to account for the misleading ease with which you managed to enter the car :) I think it's a combination of your small stature and technique but for the vast majority of people it's a real 'challenge'! What a car tho, I think you are right in that there is something about a lightweight car that handles which intensifies the experience - heck you can even get an amazing buzz out of an MX5 for similar reasons (I suspect the MX5 has the better gear change but the Lotus wins in most other areas when it comes to driving). I did smile at the lack of glovebox and storage in general which all chime with my Alpine however I'm envious of the cup holder - something we don't have! Like you I'm concerned as to where Lotus is going, the old cars will no doubt increase in value as time passes. Finally you forgot to add, anything that majors on lightweight pays you back in low consumable usage (brakes, fuel, tyres etc). Keep going with the vlogs, your enthusiasm is infectious. Cheers, Kevin.

[@shortshiftuk]

HAHAHA you are correct!! I've been perfecting the technique for about 10 years now! :D The Alpine doesn't have a cup holder?! Yep, you are correct. And you can do a lot of the simple stuff yourself even if you're not particularly mechanically minded. Thank you sir :D

[@davdidit6]

I grew up around the Great Lakes area of America. A long time ago I had a Pontiac Firebird with T-top roofs. I used to love to take off the t-tops out during chilly weather, put on a hat and scarf and drive around listening to music. Actually had a couple friends that liked it too. I guess we are a different breed. I also had friends that would let me drive their MGB convertible. Not during winter, it was tucked in and hibernated. Also, am I the only one that misses t-top roofs? Any way great video.👍🏻

[@shortshiftuk]

There really is nothing like it is there? How was the MGB to drive?

[@davdidit6]

@ it was a long time ago, over thirty years. I loved the MGB but don’t remember the driving experience. I remember that the manual transmission was fun, the ride didn’tl), seem too harsh and it seemed to handle well. It is the reason I want to get a Miata, except I am a big guy, tall and round, so I might not fit🤦🏼‍♂️. Maybe an older Boxster

[@nathanmercer4652]

Having had an S2 Elise and now a V6 Exige I’d agree with some of the other comments, that the Exige makes a better car for longer distances and touring. Not all Exiges are the same of course, so I think you need to try an earlier V6S that’s NOT been fitted with race pack, as these have more compliant suspension. Ideally try a non-race pack V6S Roadster, for the best of both worlds 🙂

[@nathanmercer4652]

Great review btw!

[@shortshiftuk]

Yeah I think that's the thing. The 410 and 430 are a bit more hardcore than the early ones. I'm hopeful to drive a 350 or 380 without the Komotec upgrade next year!

[@shortshiftuk]

Thank you!

[@andygtv]

Great review, looks more exciting than an Emira.

[@shortshiftuk]

Honestly? Yes it is ha!

[@volodymyrshoniia2424]

Can confirm the supercar killer on twisty roads after passing McLarens sideways and huracan performante or 991.2 gt3rs not being able to pull away at all

[@shortshiftuk]

Aha love this!!

[@lewis72]

I owned one of these for 2 1/2 years. Novelty wore off after 9 months and I was glad to get rid of it after that.

[@shortshiftuk]

Oh really? How come?

[@lewis72]

@@shortshiftuk - Roof leaked. - Heaters ineffective. - Car steamed up due to above two. - Snappy traction at the limit. - Noisy. - Radio couldn't find a station. - Steering influecnes too much by road imperfections. - Hard Ride. - Poor straight line stability at high speeds. - Washer bottle holds little water and you have to unbolt the front panel to access it. - Rain gets in through rear panel causing engine to misfire. - Couldn't lock the doors from inside, so anyone walking by could just open it. If I lived on a reace track and worked at the other end of it I may have kept it.

[@doubledaggy]

The steering in my opinion is the reason to get one of these. It connects you with the road like not other car. Modern power steering makes you realise how artificial it is.

[@rallymouse1]

Hello Any, did you ever tried S3 1.6 atmospheric version ?

[@shortshiftuk]

I have not yet! Would love to!

[@simonl8819]

"....do it with one hand and a couple of fingers" (Said the actress to the bishop) 4:18

[@shortshiftuk]

Hahahah!

[@Shooterpirat]

Love your enthusiasm. Maybe I can buy or at least buy a Lotus some day too 😊 (but rather buy of course 😅)

[@shortshiftuk]

[@zenifgar6686]

Some of the S2 models did come with the push start. Probably the last year or two. I have a 2010 that has a button.

[@nickvlaanderen]

I have a 2006 Elise S2 R with a OEM SC Kit and it has a start button too. The car revs to 8500rpm❤

[@shortshiftuk]

Ah yes, must have been the later stuff!

[@shortshiftuk]

Interestingly my 2007 Elise didn't have one!

[@kman5711]

I will never part with my 2005 Federal S2 as long as I can help it as it is absolutely perfect for the windy Appalachian mountain roads. I love all three generations of the Elise and hope to also be able to drive an S1 and S3 in the near future. I'm not sure how credible the sources are, but there have been reports of Lotus changing course by looking into offering hybrid technology due to the lack of EV demand. Even if Lotus doesn't make a car like the Elise/Exige ever again, part of me is hopelessly optimistic that they can sell the rights to continue manufacturing the car to a company like Caterham like they did with the 7...

[@shortshiftuk]

Yeah they announced that after we filmed this. Glad to hear it though tbh. Ooh that would be a plot twist! I'm not sure they will though unfortunately. It was a different time when the Caterham / Lotus agreement happened. We can remain hopeful though!

[@johnmills8997]

Looks and sounds nice

[@mkkat8089]

Brilliant. Can we get a Shifter and Pedal shot too?

[@shortshiftuk]

Aha I'll do one in the Exige for ya :D

[@peterthompson9854]

I disagree. The s3 exige is more of a road car than the Elise. Longer wheelbase increases comfort and large, higher torque engine decreases driver workload. S2 Exige... different story

[@shortshiftuk]

While I agree in theory, the reality is I would happily drive around in an Elise every day, but I do not like driving the Exige on the road, AT ALL. haha

[@peterthompson9854]

@@shortshiftuk I find my S3 Exige more of a GT than I found my Elise. Both standard. It is a different mindset to driving it. The Elise is a fun toy, the Exige needs some thought and commitment.

[@tkskane]

Dream car

[@gcbadger]

Manual Boxster S - got to be very close I reckon

[@shortshiftuk]

Yet to drive one but would love to!

[@petrol_burner]

My S2 had the same dash, with the start/stop. It was a 2009 car

[@shortshiftuk]

Ah that's interesting! My 2007 didn't so it must have been a late model thing!

[@AjitChambers-l7y]

cool.. good review. ajit chambers

[@shortshiftuk]

Thank you!

[@David.W72]

Luggage space is deceptive, especially if you are of a certain disposition and manage to pack for a week camping at Le Mans 😅 Nice car BTW

[@shortshiftuk]

Hahahah yesss I remember! LOL! Also, the year dad didn't come and it was about 15 million degrees. Leather steering wheel - not the one!

[@killersniper4]

elise or gr yaris?

[@A861967]

Precious❤

[@RetroGamebloke]

Nice motot!

[@JeanRedele62]

Alpine A110R

[@shortshiftuk]

Got one for me to drive?? ;)

[@JeanRedele62]

I would love to come with mine but I am in Italy at the moment. Don't miss out on the Alpine A110 R. Amazing car

[@CORLEONESPORTS97]

the black wheels are ugly however the woman is pretty

[@znttommy]

first

[@shortshiftuk]