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A dream fulfilled: Lotus Elise rentals are coming
Yesterday, our vision of a perfect world took a small step towards reality, when Lotus announced that they would make the Elise available to select rental car agencies. The decision was made in response to the unbridled affection shown by the U.S. market for the sub-ton roadster, along with the number of requests the company received for such a service.
The press release explains that the Elise will be classified as an exotic, with all the pomp, circumstance, charges, waivers, and hefty insurance premiums that go along with the designation. The selected rental agencies weren't specified, but one could safely assume that your local Hertz, Budget, Avis or Joe's Rent-A-Wreck won't make the short list. Due to limited supply, the first batch of Elise's will only be available in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada and... wait for it, Pennsylvania (?). Other states will be added as supply increases, assuming the loss ratio doesn't go through the ceiling (or, more aptly, the racetrack tire barrier).
We would ask that the first reader to find an Elise available to send us a tip, so we can do a "follow up" on the story.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DPC car videos 10:20AM (9/16/2006)
I would assume that 99% of these cars rented will see some kind of racing, track or canyon.
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Mike 1:34PM (9/16/2006)
I assume these will probably only be available at exotic car rental places where they want $2000 to rent a Ferrari for the day.
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Car chops and Discussion 10:44AM (9/16/2006)
Thats it. Im renting one :P
http://www.carchops.com
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Ted K 12:39PM (9/16/2006)
I'm on it!
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Anthem 1:00PM (9/16/2006)
Great. Just what we need; a group of under-experienced, over-enthusiastic weekenders red-lining around the states. Can't wait to see all the pretty colors of the first front of Elise-meets-back of semi truck I come across.
And by the way, The Elise is not an exotic- it's an afterthought.
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CJ 1:10PM (9/16/2006)
A joke made up by my friend who totalled his Elise at the track:
Knock knock.
Who's there?
Elise.
Elise who?
Elise you haven't hit a tire wall yet.
***
Oh, my, rental Elises! On the smart meter, this is right up there with leasing nuclear weapons to North Korea. Perhaps not a great idea to put a light, short, twitchy mid-engined car that demands precision into the hands of inexperienced Camry owners who can't even pronounce "trailing throttle oversteer." Ever driven a pendulum before? Feeling lucky, punk?
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SwatLax 1:14PM (9/16/2006)
An article in todays Baltimore Sun on exotic rentals says that Exotic Car Express, based in Miami, will be renting the Lotus Elise. Lotus isn't listed on their website, at least yet.
For article on exotice car rental in Mid-Atlantic area:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/lifestyle/bal-to.experience16sep16,0,5028217.story
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Joe 1:34PM (9/16/2006)
do you figure its in PA for the fact that BeaverRun racetrack is there?
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Ted K 1:58PM (9/16/2006)
Anthem, piss off.
The elise is a fantastic car and its driving characteristics makes it exotic.
Have fun in your camry.
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Chris 2:12PM (9/16/2006)
They can be found in Vegas...
http://www.dreamcarrentals.com/cars-lotus.php
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Steve 5:41PM (9/16/2006)
If there ever was a term called "fast junk" this would be it.
Lotus makes the best use and throw cars. buy on Friday, drive on Saturday, send to junk-yard on Sunday while the lotus accountant counts the amount he just fleeced you from on Monday.
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Green Lotus Elise 6:16PM (9/16/2006)
"Lotus makes the best use and throw cars."
You could have just simplified your comment by tossing in the ol' "Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious" quote... I do have to disagree though. The Lotus cars of the past were, by the majority, big pains in the ass as far as reliability & servicability go. Very fun to drive but took a bit of dedication to put up with. The Elise really is much more "well thought out" though. I've been driving my Krypton Green 05 Elise almost daily for the past 7 months, have put about 9,500 miles on it, and have little to no complaints or horror stories. It's been a very pleasant experience that I'd recommend to anyone who "truly" enjoys driving.
As far as the Elise rentals go, I may take one out (depending on price) just to have some fun that I probably wouldn't do in my own Elise.
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Steve 7:01PM (9/16/2006)
Dear Kryptonite
The horror is still very much there. Sales disaster has already acted as a massive red alert sign "Don't buy a Lotus".
How many customers did they fleece last year? 2000?
The chiropracter business and the roadside mechanic business is booming again, thanks to these lotii.
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yob 7:17PM (9/16/2006)
Steve, you are so full of sh*t it is coming out of your nose!
Two years in my Elise and NOT ONE SINGLE PROBLEM!
Get back in your slammed Civic you ignorant troll!!!
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Neil 12:24AM (9/17/2006)
They are available in Seattle at Park Place, I believe. Well, it's Bellevue, but still. If you pick one up, I recommend, Highway 97 to Wenatchee, Lake Chelan, and Leavenworth (and maybe Highway on the way back if you want to relax and enjoy the beautiful sights).
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tariq 7:38AM (10/03/2006)
"Lotus makes the best use and throw cars. buy on Friday, drive on Saturday, send to junk-yard on Sunday while the lotus accountant counts the amount he just fleeced you from on Monday."
i think steve is talking about the 30 year old esprits.
he doesnt seem to know that the esprits were based on the design and technology of 1975, and that lotus was cash strapped at that time, so much that they never developed a proper gearbox for it.
the elise is a totally different story. the problems that haunted esprits can not be found in the latest elises. Lotus now has CASH
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mike 11:42PM (11/21/2006)
I just don't get it !
Why is everyone making a big deal out of lotus "officialy" making elises available for rent , when any idiot with money can simply buy one and rent it out like people are already doing ! The elise is already available to be rented if you just look , so stop your cryin for gods sakes !
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