M coupe (bimmer i had one and LOVED it, not to mention very rare), M3, 993 body 911, NSX, 996 porsche, Corvette or Lotus, boxster. That is my pecking order.

My issue withet vette is the styling. Its not so hot. AND you see TONS of vettes everwhere. But then again they do put up the perforamcen numbers. SO if it was track only car the vette ranks muchhigher. The boxster is porsche in panties....

One of my favorite cars that I have owned was a Brit.

It was a TVR Vixen. I lost my liscense in 3 states on the East Coast. This is one of the reasons I reside on the West Coast today.

The Lucas electrical system worked fine.
The lights worked fine during the day, and my windshield wipers always worked when they were dry!! :D :D

I really miss that car!

If you want trouble-free BMW is definitely a good choice. I had a M-Roadster before the Lotus and I had no complaints except that it was always called a Z3 and Z3's are everywhere. Never could stand the styling of the M-Coupe though. I don't know what BMW was thinking when they designed that thing.

Vettes are nice too - had three of 'em. It's just that they are a dime a dozen around here. My luck would be to get one and then my neighbor would pull up in its identical twin a week later.

A Viper was my second choice. I just wanted something that was more unique. I see several Vipers a week when the weather is nice. I've never seen another Lotus around here and believe there are only two or three more in Tennessee. There are less than 200 of them imported each year, 97 total for my model year.

You're probably making the right choice about a Lotus for a daily driver though. They really are a detuned European race car. The stock motor is detuned significantly and still makes 350 HP from 3.5 Liters. The fulltime Lotus race cars run the box stock motor with a different chip (ups the boost, etc.) and they turn about 500 HP. There is also a European-spec chip that lowers the torque curve for more low end without increasing HP. You can buy either chip, but the 500HP will void your warranty!

Most of the complaints people have mentioned are regarding the pre-V8 models. These should be considered like a classic American muscle car. I know some will disagree but I think old muscle cars are realistically a hobby, not a means of daily transportation. The owner of a pre-1997 Lotus needs to know the car and how to work on it. If not expect to find a mechanic and pay dearly to keep it running.

The good news about a V8 Lotus - By 1998, they were updated significantly, twin turbo V8, very tight shifter linkage, American-design electrical system, standard 3-year warranty with the timing belt covered for 7 years or 100,000 miles, and mine doesn't leak a drop of fluid.

Regarding the interior size of a Lotus they are definitely tight. Mine is about equal to a BMW Z3 or a 1968 - 1982 Corvette inside, but with less legroom than the Vette. If you're much over 6 feet it will be a pinch.

Cars are like performance boats - Lot's of different ones to choose from because there are a lot of different people choosing!! One of the best parts is looking at all the choices and finding the perfect one for you!

Good luck with whatever you decide on!

Jeff

Jeff,

I like your Lotus, for whatever that is worth.

As far as used cars under 40k? If I recall, you said this primarily for your WIFE. With that in mind, a Vette is HARD to top.

You can get her into a '95 SL500 for that money, easily. Stay away from the 320 (doesn't have the sound) and the 600 (maintenance costs NUTS for no good reason).

The AMG SLK is a hotrod, and is a sexy unit. Easy to mistake it for a normal SLK though.

BMW's M-Roadster is a fast, refined little monster (the 315hp 2001 and newer). It is VERY narrow, though, and doesn't "stand out" from the crowd except to car folks.

ViperGTS is a hardcore beast, and I'm selling one for a little over 40k. Real windows, A/C, good sound system. FAST and dizzying torque. Always a looker, too.

Porsche hardware is good stuff, too.

NSX is definitely a consideration. In the price range, has the looks, is refined, and Jap dependability.

BMW850. Wonderful lady's car. Sexy. Sexy.

I'm sure I'm leaving stuff out...

When the lotus runs or not?

The best bang for the buck is the Vette, I had a 99 coupe glass removable top. I don't think I would go with a Z06 as a daily driver, who want's to shift gears all day in traffic. You can go get a nice used one for 30k.