2005 Lotus Elise Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
It was eight years before Lotus began compliance with U.S. safety standards to allow the Elise into the U.S. market. The 2005 Elise gained...
It was eight years before Lotus began compliance with U.S. safety standards to allow the Elise into the U.S. market. The 2005 Elise gained instant fame as a sports car tour de force among performance car aficionados. It set a 600-foot-slalom course production car record in one high profile review - the Porsche Boxster S swooshed around the cones for an average 70.9 mph, while the diminutive Elise ripped a 73.2 mph average. Its skidpad performance bested both the Boxster S and the Corvette Z06, trailing only the $193,000 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, which it bested on the slalom course - a David among Goliaths.
With a 12.5-foot length, 5.6-foot width, and 3.6-foot height weighing a svelte 1,979 lbs. it doesn't take much to make the Elise perform. A Toyota 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine sits behind the aluminum tub formed cockpit. Lotus modified the basic Celica GT-S engine with new intake and exhaust systems and its own engine control electronics. Producing 190 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and an 8,500-rpm redline, Lotus claims 0-60 in 4.9 seconds topping out at 141 mph.
That weight advantage also provides the Elise with its gas mileage rating. EPA rates it as 23 mpg city, 27 mpg highway. But with a 10.6 gallon gas tank you won't get very far with a heavy right foot. Cockpit seating is tight. The passenger seat doesn't move - no adjustments, while the driver gets a little more space and adjustments. There are airbags, air conditioning, and anti-lock brakes. Both occupants could enjoy the luxury of the touring option, which "boasts" full leather seating, power windows, insulated soft-top, additional sound deadening, and carpet.
One reviewer claimed the Elise was for "divorced dads" looking for weekend sports car recreation. Perhaps, but I've seen retired couples at autocross sharing the fun of playing Davids among the Goliaths.
What owners say
"The 2005 Lotus Elise is highly praised for its exceptional handling, light weight, and thrilling driving experience. Owners love the powerful acceleration, precision steering, and the car's ability to be both a fun toy and a practical choice for daily driving. However, some drivers note the car can feel underpowered at times, and the ride can be rough with high noise levels at speed. A few also mention the limited storage and the occasional electrical issues as downsides."
I have over 63K miles on my Elise with a mix of daily driving, track, and highway (trips from Houston to St. Louis MO and Aspen CO.) Car has been as reliable as you would expect a 4 cylinder Toyota to be. No significant problems. Car is very comfortable to drive. Seat and driving position are perfect for me. I wear the same headphones on road trips that I wear on commercial jet trips and the noise is not a problem. The car is very much at home on the track and driving it there is the only way to really appreciate what this or any other high performance sports car can do. Great car for driving on twisty country roads too. The Elise still gets looks, waves, and "Nice Car!" yells. I have even found lipstick lip prints on the rear clam twice. Most people think the Lotus costs several times its actual price. I have driven other high performance sports cars, most of which cost much more than the Elise. I have yet to find one for which I would trade even if cost was not an object. I found out the hard way that the costs of repairing a damaged Elise can quickly result in the car being totaled by an insurance company. Damaged the front suspension and body work and the cost of repairs was more than half the value of the car so it was totaled. There is nothing I would rather drive than an Elise so one week later I purchased a 2006 Elise. Like this one even better than the '05. Lotus made several improvements and the car is even better.
May 21, 2012Easy to drive at 9/10ths - that last bit is a real test! Beware of turn-in oversteer if you trail-brake too far into the turn.
February 25, 2008The good: Handling: Nothing beats a Lotus in handling. Perfect for canyon roads, very predictable and easy to drive. Steering: The best in the world. Never driven a car with such a precise feeling. Transmission: Feels very solid, very rare to miss a gear, excellent transmission and clutch feeling. The bad: Minimal storage capacity. Not good for long journeys, will get you tired faster. If you have broad shoulders. You will be rubbing them with your companion. Could use more power. Maybe the Exige S240 is the cure.
July 12, 2009What owners say
I have over 63K miles on my Elise with a mix of daily driving, track, and highway (trips from Houston to St. Louis MO and Aspen CO.) Car has been as reliable as you would expect a 4 cylinder Toyota to be. No significant problems. Car is very comfortable to drive. Seat and driving position are perfect for me. I wear the same headphones on road trips that I wear on commercial jet trips and the noise is not a problem. The car is very much at home on the track and driving it there is the only way to really appreciate what this or any other high performance sports car can do. Great car for driving on twisty country roads too. The Elise still gets looks, waves, and "Nice Car!" yells. I have even found lipstick lip prints on the rear clam twice. Most people think the Lotus costs several times its actual price. I have driven other high performance sports cars, most of which cost much more than the Elise. I have yet to find one for which I would trade even if cost was not an object. I found out the hard way that the costs of repairing a damaged Elise can quickly result in the car being totaled by an insurance company. Damaged the front suspension and body work and the cost of repairs was more than half the value of the car so it was totaled. There is nothing I would rather drive than an Elise so one week later I purchased a 2006 Elise. Like this one even better than the '05. Lotus made several improvements and the car is even better.
May 21, 2012Easy to drive at 9/10ths - that last bit is a real test! Beware of turn-in oversteer if you trail-brake too far into the turn.
February 25, 2008The good: Handling: Nothing beats a Lotus in handling. Perfect for canyon roads, very predictable and easy to drive. Steering: The best in the world. Never driven a car with such a precise feeling. Transmission: Feels very solid, very rare to miss a gear, excellent transmission and clutch feeling. The bad: Minimal storage capacity. Not good for long journeys, will get you tired faster. If you have broad shoulders. You will be rubbing them with your companion. Could use more power. Maybe the Exige S240 is the cure.
July 12, 2009For those that love to drive, this is by far one of the quickest most confidence building cars on the road. It's light weight, responsive steering and power to weight ratio, low cost to own make this one of the top roadster cars to own!!! Bar-none!
March 2, 2008The car looks great, it runs great, its easy to work on, its very reliable. Its fast, only has two seats and small trunk space enough for one suitcase or some milk and eggs. Everyone should own a Lotus at some point in their life :)
May 26, 2015The 2005 Lotus Elise is a niche vehicle to the extreme. Imagine driving a go-kart with more power and surrounded by a fiberglass shell. The car will go where you point it, but the drag-strip is an enemy... While the car will move from a standstill to sixty miles per hour quickly, anything beyond eighty becomes noticeably taxing on the low torque of the engine. The look of the car is based on the Ferrari Dino, and while beautiful it doesn't allow it to slip through the air, instead generating downforce and parasitic drag in the process.
July 21, 2012It's a Lotus Elise. I could write all the same stuff you have read many times over in car mag after car mag but it would just say a lot of the same stuff. It's a total blast to get up in mountains and wail around on the roads. You know a car handles good when guys in full leathers on Ducatti's wave you by. Has been very reliable, and is fairly economical to operate especially considering it's performance level. Tire replacement every 5-8K miles does add up a little though, as does insurance, but that doesn't stop me from daily driving it every day it's not nice enough to take the motorcycle.
June 29, 2008I drove an Elise S1, very quick, good brakes, good turn in with massive amounts of steering feel, very strong and cofidence inspiring brakes, puts big smile on your face, despit all this it is still twitchy, specially at high speed (which i found out first hand :S).
April 16, 2008Overall the handling was amazing. The only thing i would change would be engine modifications.
December 22, 2007The car has some light modifications done to it. It's loud, and it eats porsche's for breakfast. It's the cheapest way to buy a race car and drive it on the street. Only downfall is the all fiberglass body, which is light weight (the car weighs less than 1900 lbs), but has no bumpers.
April 4, 2008Trims & specs
Base MSRP $43,860 | Seating 2 |
Engine 1.8L 190 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 4.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 22 | Drivetrain RWD |
