Best Handling Car?

I'd prefer a small rear/mid engine car. The two I've been looking at is the Lotus Elise & the Porsche 911.

Go with the Elise, it is pretty much a full size and full bodied go kart. I hear the thing is very hard to get unstuck from the road.

I'd prefer a small rear/mid engine car. The two I've been looking at is the Lotus Elise & the Porsche 911.


well since you posted in the autox forum i presume you inquire about autox performance.

Anyway the elise should have the upper hand in most autox courses, the 911 might get the upper hand only if its one of those rather rare high speed setups (if a Z06 guy made the course for example;))

well, the elise is currently qualified as a Prepared class car, so you would be racing against true race cars, while 911s are allowed to run in all classes, including Stock

A couple of good drivers showed up to the nationals this year with an elise. It doesn't seem to be able to beat the Z06. In fact, nothing has proved to be as dominating as the Z06. Here's a short list of what cars are in Super Stock:
http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Lists/2004/stockc.html#SS

well, at the event today an elise got its ass handed to it by a mk1 mr2. both cars were stock, and both ran street tires.

i say mk1 mr2... but i'm biased

well, at the event today an elise got its ass handed to it by a mk1 mr2. both cars were stock, and both ran street tires.

i say mk1 mr2... but i'm biased


two questions: Was the elise driver any good? and Was the mr2 turbo or NA?

it's not mid or rear engine, but the Mini Cooper S is one of the nicest handling cars i've driven, that and a Boxster. Both very nice to throw around, and relatively cheap.

both were competant drivers... a mk1 mr2 (i would have said if it was another mk1.5 like mine) but stock mk1's were only n/a or s/c. this one was n/a.

I own a Mk1 SC Mr2. I was thinking of dropping massive cash in & transforming it into a 1.5 (3S-GTE engine). New racing technology came out & buying an allready fast, lighter car might prove more promising. I'm doing research right now for my final choice but I'm curious what other people opinions are.

both were competant drivers... a mk1 mr2 (i would have said if it was another mk1.5 like mine) but stock mk1's were only n/a or s/c. this one was n/a.


i must say I'm quite surprised to hear that. I though the elise would do better.

With a better driver or at least a turbo mr2 with a better powerband, I would understand. That is rather disapointing from the elise.

BTW you've seen it run, and i was curious about one thing, does the elise fall on its face in super slow corners due lack of low end? Could it be the reason it got killed?

Wow i have heard many ppl rave about the new elise and it cappiblites With the sport package of course. Those mr2 keep surpising me day after day. Get the elise put some nice tires on it mybe the gforce kd's and i think u will have a amazing handling machine.

My Mustang does well on the straights! lol

The elise's handle rediculousy good. Isn't their roadholding like about 1 G? That's damn good.

I think one of the main factors that they handle so damn good is because they weigh essentially nothing. I don't remember the exact curb weight, but I'm pretty sure it was less then 1900 pounds. Anything with that low of a mass can change dirrection fast with very little effort.

The Elise does suffer some turbo lag in the tight corners, though, but that's nothing that can't be overcome with a little left-foot braking.

i'm pretty sure the elise is not turbocharged from the factory... you might be thinking of the esprit.

You are correct. No turbo on the Elise. The lag I experienced in my ride-along must have been due to the camshaft switchover. Like Vtec, but made by Toyota. "Vtec - all the turbo lag without all the annoying power." -TopGear

lol @ the quote, you are probably reffering to the T-VIS system that a lot of toyotas have. the acceleration actually isn't that hindered by the opening of ports, you just feel a bigger jump over ~5k rpms