I have owned an Elise ..IMHO..two entirely different cars!
In my opinion the comparison of these two cars is to be expected as the Lotus "look" is obvious and their direct involvement in its development is known..
Frankly, after driving in the early VP and having monitored the changes that have been incorporated into the Tesla subsequent to early vehicles....I expect a great car albeit different from any other car I have owned.
Firstly, it is impossible to draw comparision to a manual transmission , ultra lighweight kart like car to a vehicle that requires no shifting, weighs approx 700 lbs more , and has numerouse interior upgrades focused toward driver comfort.( part of reason for the weight gain)
Secondly, granted the assembly quality was mediocre on the Lotus..however, often noises and rattles (smells) are confused for poor quality rather than layout, materials and design related matters...Elise is not IMHO designed to be a daily driver although it is certainly driven by many daily and the DD reviews are great...they(DDs) are willing to accept the noises, rattles and compromised comfort typically associated with an Elise because they love the daily driving experience and the car meets their expectations. In short..the driver and car are a good fit!
Lotus is an amazing automotive engineering company with a rich history..I am confident Lotus made positive contributions to the making of the Tesla..but even more confident that Tesla was very sensitive to the expectations of an owner that is willing to pay $100K + for a car...not to mention many early enthusiasts paid in advance ..well in advance
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I am expecting to receive my Tesla in December..(colors already locked in) and look forward to sharing the ownership experience as objectively as possible.
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