Am I crazy for considering this?, Talk a friend off the ledge... Options

[nynone4]

Well - I'm having a dilemma about my 914-6.

I had the opportunity to test drive a new Lotus Elise last week, and I can't stop thinking about it. I feel like I've "cheated" on the six, and couldn't even bear to look at it in the garage until yesterday - where I tried to make amends by spending the day waxing the car and giving it a good cleaning inside and out.

But that didn't help. I still spend a lot of free time going over the numbers in my head. If I sold the 914-6, I think I could pull off buying one of the new S2 Elises (though financially things would be a little tighter). Am I nuts to consider getting rid of my loyal 914-6 to fall deeper into debt for a plastic and aluminum hunk of sexiness?

I know coming here to ask for support is like an alcoholic asking a bartender to keep him from taking a drink... but maybe that's what I need? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

Here's a pic of my car (it's the one from October in the Ladies of the 914 Club calendar):

[alpha434]

You DID cheat. FEEL GUILTY, DAMMIT! You deserve it! Haha. No. Be happy, either way. Maybe you've grown out of teeners. That's a sad possibility, but it is possible. But the real question here is; do you still love the 6? Will you still feel guilty after it's gone? Will you miss it? Will it give you bad dreams? Will having some Lotus make up for all of that? The answer to the last one is "maybe." Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Eddie Williams]

you should sell it... to me.... how's $4000 sound? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[olav]

I drove my friend's 05 elise and then got back into my 6 and loved it even more!

The sound, the speed, the smell, the room.

The fact that all I need is a 13mm wrench.

I know it's old but that's why I like it, it has character.

Didn't feel that way abou the elise.

I saw a Exige yesterday driving home and thought it looked cool.

but the toyota engine.

That's how the Elise affected me.

[Allan]

I went through the same process last year.

I was thinking about, and actually had the opportunity to buy a new Corvette.

I had to look at what I was and what fit me.

I ended up buying a /6 conversion that I now regret but I stayed with the 914.

It's really up to you and what makes you feel the best.

I do feel this: If I had gone ahead and bought the brand spanking new Corvette last year, I would be like all the other lackies that want to be seen and wished I would have waited for the next Z06.

I say, stay with the teener.

BTW, this is just MHO and does not in any way endorse excessive 914 usage.

Allan

[d914]

your six will always be worth the same $$ now and or more into the future..

The lotus $46k now, $35k next year 25k 2-3 years later and your still paying interest on depreciating capital!!!


Paid for is good (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) !!!

[Katmanken]

Like that Lotus relationship will last...

Lotus eaters.... drugged into being happy... Sweet young thing turns your head, you are attracted, you go for a ride... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

You LUST .... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/drooley.gif)

If you do it, you will wake up one night in a sweat, and realize what you did....Then you will search the earth for her and find she's really and truly gone and only tacky rusty ones remain.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

You will remember those times when you could carry stuff in the trunks, instead of asking your passenger to ride with a bag of groceries or a suitcase in her lap.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

You will remember the ease at which you used to be able to get into the teener, (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif)

And, late at night you will hear the growl of a six in the distance... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/huh.gif)

If you do it , you will come back....

They all come back...

Even Bruce Allert the Miata man...

Ken (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/happy11.gif)

[Allan]

QUOTE (d914 @ Feb 19 2006, 03:09 PM)

your six will always be worth the same $$ now and or more into the future.. The lotus $46k now, $35k next year 25k 2-3 years later and your still paying interest on depreciating capital!!! Paid for is good (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) !!!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

[olav]

This should be a poll!

[wbergtho]

Kwales pretty well summed up exactly how I feel. That Lotus is just like a drunk whore you pulled out of a bar somewhere (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mueba.gif) only to find out later at your place that she's got cellulite & stretch marks under those sexy clothes. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/barf.gif) STICK WITH THE SIX! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

[Eric_Shea]

Why ask?

[Allan]

QUOTE (olav @ Feb 19 2006, 03:22 PM)

This should be a poll!

Start one.

[nynone4]

QUOTE (Eric_Shea @ Feb 19 2006, 03:41 PM)

Why ask?

I guess I wanted to see if anyone else has driven an Elise and has felt similarly for them. The Toyota engine that Olav seems to think is a negative point for the Elise is a positive for me. I owned several mid-engined Toyotas, and though not as torquey, they were always dead reliable.

The point about the depreciation of the Elise is well taken. I had considered that - but probably not to the extent I ought to. Time to take off the rose-colored glasses I'm wearing.

By cheating on my current car, have I lost the trust of the club never to regain it fully again? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Allan]

Lets just put it like this:

If you buy a Elise, who are you gonna hang out with?

Other Elise owners? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/av-943.gif)

[d914]

feel better, spend 10k and put a bigger motor in the six!!!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[nynone4]

QUOTE (d914 @ Feb 19 2006, 04:15 PM)

feel better, spend 10k and put a bigger motor in the six!!!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

This car doesn't need a bigger motor. It squashes almost everything it runs against. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[degreeoff]

I would say DON"T!!! sell yours, it is history and YOU have a piece of it. If you can't afford the elise right now, one day you will.

914....without it what would we do??

914nut-moneypit-blood bank etc etc etc....

Josh

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Though I have no doubt as to the E's go-kartiness, there are and will be other cars out there that will fit that bill and won't really be all that unique (unless, of course, you go exotic like Ferrari). Personally, I find the front end of the Elise hideous! Waaay too busy in front. Not a pretty car in my eyes. And the only color I've seen in the Portland area (of the three that I've seen) is (yawn) yellow.

[anthony]

QUOTE (nynone4 @ Feb 19 2006, 03:41 PM)

Am I nuts to consider getting rid of my loyal 914-6 to fall deeper into debt for a plastic and aluminum hunk of sexiness?

To me "fun cars" should be paid for with cash. As mentioned, classic cars hardly depreciate. Some even appreciate. I think that in a few years a 4-5 year old Elise with low miles will be a great sports car bargain.

[Rand]

If you have a 914 six that squashes everything it runs against and you are still tempted by the Lotus.... Then maybe you should go with the Lotus.

My take is, there are radically different reasons for being into different sports cars. Allow me to go off on a tangent now...

There's the ego trip prestige machines... I would love to own the ultimate million dollar supercar.... Actually that's not really me. I don't even want to deal with the insurance on that.

There's the best bang for buck modern factory sports car.... Here I have a tough time choosing between the Z06 Vette and the Elise. Hmmm.... Tough call. If I had mega bucks I would have both. If I could only have one.... My choice would vary from day to day.

I think I might settle on the Elise because there are less of them on the road. But then my love for the 914 kicks in and I think about what kind of 914 I could have for the price of the Elise. Oh yeah....

Bottom line for me is, this dilemna runs down to your soul....

What do you want? Modern factory car? Or an ultimate sleeper? Something that anyone with money can buy? Or something way more unique that could compare in performance... and hold its value as well.

If I won the lottery, I would have them all. But since I'm working for every buck that goes into my garage, I choose 914 because I love it, I can afford it now, and if I could build a $40,000 914 I would love it as much as anything on the road.