The Fat Guys' Guide to Getting In (and Out) of a Lotus Elise (10K Subscriber Special)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2024
- It's a commonly asked question - how difficult is it to get in or out of a Lotus Elise? No reviewer seems able to talk about the car without discussing the entry and exit procedure. If you're of the larger frame, that could be a concern to you. So, here for your viewing pleasure is my guide to getting into and out of a Lotus Elise!
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"pretend you are the last bit of toothpaste in the tube"
You can tell this man aced his English a levels
Ahh. Listen to that door sound. Like throwing a empty can of sardines in a bigger empty can of sardines
Jay makes it look far, far easier than it is. Frankly, I'm shocked how fluidly he pours into his Elise.
When I got my Exige 6 years ago, I was 56, and even though I'm thin and pretty limber, it was beyond awkward. Mine is worse, as it has a roll cage, which restricts the height of the door opening a bit. But worse, the roll cage tube running down to the door sill in front of the instrument panel narrows the width of the door opening by about 4", (100mm).
For the first 6 months I had it, I crawled out of it, face first, onto the pavement. It looked like the car was puking me out onto the pavement. But now, it's pretty easy, as I've apparently become more limber.
On the upside, between the gymnastic egress, the manual tranny, the abrupt on-off clutch engagement, the immobilizer, and the fact that the start button is obscured by the roll cage, the whole car is an essentially anti-theft device.
Your "the whole car is an essentially anti-theft device" made me giggle! Decades ago I once had a car so bad that, when I came out of my house in the morning to find it stolen, I just shrugged my shoulders and walked to the bottom of the hill. Sure enough, there it was. They'd obviously tried to bump start it down the hill and then given up. I couldn't get it going and I had the key! 😄
@@anonymity6504 I've had some crappy cars as well, but fortunately not that bad. But my brother did in high school. An MG Midget with no reverse, and brakes only on the left front wheel. And the battery was non-functional.(He was going to "fix it up").
He was soon disabused of that idea.
Since it barely ran, one day we decided to start it by rolling it down our steep street and dumping the clutch, so I took my car to the cul-de-sac at the bottom of the hill in case we had to jump it off. I heard him coming down the hill with the engine loudly popping and farting, (much of the exhaust was rusted away). He was coming in way too fast, and above the roar of the engine, and the skidding left front wheel, I could hear him screaming MOVE, MOVE MOTHER*****R!! right before he slammed into the back of my car. Too late.
Being a Plymouth Fury, and built like a tank, the Midget lost, pretty badly. He got an accordioned fender, and I got a small scratch on the aluminum tail light bezel. I really shouldn't have laughed the way I did, and felt pretty bad about it afterward.
The Midget went away shortly after that.
Getting in and out of mine usually involves a lot of swearing. Generally tend leave dignity and grace at home for the day!
😂😂😂
Dignity is overrated, especially in the context of something as fun as driving a Lotus.
Genuinely brilliant. Your videos are constantly improving in quality and I am loving all of the Lotus content. Top marks good sir
+Tom Whitham Thanks Tom!
3 years ago i nearly bought an Elise SC 220. I loved it when i looked at it at the Dealer. I even asked the 20 something Sales man to show me how to get into and out of the car with the hardtop on . He duly showed how to do this. I followed his advice and got in without too much pain or loss of dignity. HOWEVER it took 10 minutes for me to drag my sorry 60 year old carcass from the confines of the car. I told the Salesman that i could not buy the car much as i loved that car. A couple of weeks ago i revisited the same dealer to look at an EVORA. Now i opened the door and sat in the car . I then was able to get out of the car without incurring a Spinal Injury and or Hip Dis Articulation. I liked the car a lot, but the price is so much more than an Elise. So i then had a go at an Elise with the Soft Top removed. Hey i managed getting in and Out with only mild discomfort. So i can get in and out of an Elise. But only on Warm Sunny Days and with out the roof on while entering and exiting the car. Now i have been watching all the Emira videos that i can . It is looking absolutely Gorgeous and has a bigger door than the Evora so will be even easier !!!! to get in and out of the car. I have even been onto to the Lotus Emira and specced my dream car , more than once i hasten to add. Now pricing seems to bear ABSOLUTELY NO Resemblance to the ORIGINAL : Less than 60k that Lotus spoke about in the announcement. So the dilemma persists for this 64 year old looking to a buy a Lotus . The Esprit is also a contender, but restoration and maintenance of an older car worries me somewhat. So when my Local Dealer gets in an Emira i will go and have a gander. But an Evora is still of interest. But the Elise is what i really want but for the damned entry and exit problems i have described.
Wow and I though it was a pain getting in and out of my lowered MX5, this is in a whole different league.
Funny video, should do a part 2, including getting out with a passenger and in a car park with cars either side 😂
That moment when TH-cam recommends the video I was too embarrassed to search for! Lol
3:19 "It can actually be a bit awkward if you have a very large... "
O_o
"...wallet! "
Oh, of course.
+YensR Well, when a lady tells you men who drive big cars are compensating for something, take pride in telling her you drive an Elise ;)
Wonderful! I'm tall and heavy. On the bright side, my wallet is extremely thin, so I'll never have to suffer the indignity of Elise rejection syndrome. Cheers.
The slow motion was an instant like for me
10k subs 5 years ago.... Well done! Thanks for bringing good quality content to us 👍🏼
Thanks for watching it :)
Very entertaining as well as informative, glad I found this channel
Love the content. It's funny that earlier this evening I was doing my usual - 'sell the idea of a Lotus to the wife sessions' by showing her a couple of your vids when she mentioned "he never shows himself getting in or out of the cars". Low and behold, a couple of hours later.............. 😊
I once got in and out of an Elise, and I can confirm, getting out is by far the hardest part especially if you're 1m83 and carrying a camera around you neck
I rode in an Elise a few months back and i fit in it fine :) Im 6ft 2 1/2 too!
If only you had been about 7 years ago, after a great test drive I crawled out and bought a Mini Cooper S instead :(
Full marks- great video.
Slow mo replay i's priceless.
Even though "little red sports car" is a bit of a cliche, red is a good color for these cars.
I'm still in the "lusting after and saving up" part of my life to get one of these cars. However, having to pay for a house and also have some fun with a race car, I'm pretty sure the bank is going to have to buy me one of these and I'll just have to be in debt forever.
Totally worth it.
I'm an early subscriber and really pleased you've hit 10k - should be 20k by Christmas 😜
+Jonathan Dobbs Thanks foe the vote of confidence!
I just test drove a Elise SC. Awesome car. Owner was way over 6 feet tall and his head stuck above the windshield header. Too funny. I had awkward entry and exit, not as good as you. I own a Nissan 370Z and get in/out just fine. Keep up the good work.
Well produced and entertaining video
congrats on the 10k! from one of your early subscriber
@jayemm - and to think this was a celebration of hitting 10k subscribers! How far you’ve come never mind the impressive garage fleet! All the very best James, Kevin.
Thanks for the tip. It should be helpful next time I try the same maneuver.
Congrats on the 10k subscribers!
Been looking back on your early stuff and found this. Bloody brilliant, and very helpfull.
Glad you enjoyed it
Congrats on 10k !!!
Funny video. I find it hard enough getting in and out of the Evora!
Pleased to see your subs rising fast.
You're friends with "The Mountain"?! 6'7" is crazy tall. I want to see a video of this tall fellow try and get into said car. Just for giggles. :)
Great guide for indeed anyone to getting in and out of a Lotus Elise. Yay, you are on 162k subs now here in mid-2021.
I'm 6"6" & 19 stone you should see me getting in and out of my VX220 , you short skinny blokes have got it easy . Brilliant video and channel. 👍
The first time I tried getting in and out of an Elise I looked like a complete idiot. Getting out I had to get on my hands and knees and crawl out of it, like I just couldn't figure out how to get out of it. Imagine someone pulling up to a gas pump and crawling on their hands and knees to get to the pump. Lmao, that was me
congrats for the 10K subscribers james, even her in the philippines getting in and out is a commonly ask questionfora 5'10 guy like me people are really amaze how i do it, i jjust simply say "ypou gotta do a lot of practice for this" haha
Hilarious! I'm coming from a Boxster and 911 and hope to add a Lotus to the stable one day. Your videos are fantastic. Thank you!
Thanks for this video. This can be done quite easily when the door can be fully open. In a garage or elsewhere when the door can be opened only halfway... now there's a challenge. I'd love to see a video on that.
Hilarious video James!! I'm not big as such but have a stupidly long back so don't know if this could ever be a car for me. Very glad I watched this though :'D
10k subs... well done chap. Growing fast.
Hopefully not literally lol
yeah.. if he keeps growing he won't get in an elise.. haha
lmaoo that slow motion replay
Very useful training. Thank’s a load !
I stay on the thin side by not being able to take my Elise through the drive-thru at Taco Bell. The order window is too high. Gravity is our friend when getting in; nothing helps when getting out.
This is hilarious, very entertaining, thanks.
Love the channel you guys are awesome
By the time I get my hands on an elise, I'll need this guide for sure.. Thankyou for making this video, was genuinely funny and also practical at the same time. Thankyou! :)
This is sooo funny! I’ve just got my S2 Elise, and I think it’ll be a while before I can do it quite as well as you Dude ha ha. Very cool
congrats on the 10k...
Very nice!!! Good job!
That was a lot more graceful than I expected. Well done
Thanks! It took some practise
Summary:
Step 1. Open the door
Step 2. Hope for the best
Great video!!
LOL. I ended up crawling out of an Elise the first time I tried. I'm only 1.80m & 87kg, but it was at Hethel, with roof on due to rain, & helmet on for the circuit. Not elegant, but like you said, it was fine when inside.
I had to crawl out of one the first time aswell not very elegant when you're delivering the car to the customer...
This is pretty much the same for myself and any bloody ducati !!...... love the videos and subbed....
He almost braced himself against the A pillar at the end lol.
great video!
congrats on 10k!
+G Garrison Thanks!
omg that is exactly how i get into my SLK 😂 try getting in the passenger side every once in a while just for “the joy of awkward” buzz..
Great video
Great video! Looking forward to more, Picking my 2006 Elise up this weekend can't wait . Any idea what S or R stands for?
I'm guessing you found the answer 3 years ago when you picked yours up ;) but the 111S is a K-series engined car with around 160bhp and the 111R is a Toyota engined car with around 190bhp
Yes & still loving it! Hopefully the weather improves soon so I can do some miles.
Just in case you're getting to the point where you think 'why do I make these movies, who will properly benefit from this?' the following: this morning I showed this video to my wife before we went to the Lotus dealership for a testdrive! And yes, we bought the damn thing (as per my wife's nickname for the car) ;-)
+Harald. 111 Amazing! Please tell the dealership this video helped, it makes a big difference
JayEmm on Cars believe it or not, but apparently you have already built up a reputation at the Lotus importer in the Netherlands :-D
+Harald. 111 That's great to know! Is that Van Der Kooi or Verheist?
JayEmm on Cars van der Kooi. Verheist is in Belgium :-)
+Harald. 111 cool. Those guys do a lot for Lotus too!
LOL! I rented one of these once and had to watch a video on YT just to figure out a somewhat graceful way to get in and out of the thing.
James - can you include an entry and exit and slo-mo to your sports car reviews?
Remember to take the car key out of your pocket before getting in the car
very hilarious video. inelegant is an understatement, lol that's the most ridiculous boarding demonstration into a car i've ever seen. but once you're in it everything looks sexy as it should.
You didn't mention making sure the key is out of your pocket before getting in the car. You sure as hell won't be able to get at it once you are inside
+1
Thank you!!!
This video is fucking glorious! I might have to do a tribute if we have another lockdown haha
Classic video - so true
YESS !! Thank you !! Now I know I can buy it someday ! ^^ (I was happily surprised you talked about 150 kg, then used feet for the height, but thank god, you used meters right after :) )
It is a very useful video. I am about to buy Elise S3 soon many people saying do not have hard to live with it etc. No it is not. I went to the official dealer last week I got in to car very easily and also got out either. Because I am only 157 mt. tall and 65 Kg weight. Inside the car even large for me. But as I see it is not a big deal for a big guys like you either. Wishing you healthy days from Turkey.
Hey, great videos! When is the follow up for the MR2 coming?
+Akuma Gaming as soon as we possibly can, probably in two weeks time
JayEmm on Cars can't wait, thanks for the reply!
Nice video. Thanks for sharing. I'm 6'4" and on the larger side, do you think I'd be able to fit in? I've kinda got the Elise on my list...
+John Medhurst It would be a tight fit, definitely need to try one. You can gain a little bit of space by removing the runners from the drivers seat. Your height will be the biggest issue
Excellent
I'm 250lbs and I apply the toothpaste tube method when getting out of IS. Damn I need to diet! :P
Brilliant
Best car for a museum visit!
Own the S1 model for 12 years now, and 9/10 times I either hit my head or palms end up own the floor crawling out.
Hilarious. Nice one.
Also important to exhale as you enter, empty lungs makes the process easier. Care should be taken when exiting with a passenger, the tensing of the core and squeezing of the stomach muscles in exit can result in a temporary pressure that can vent as a fart into your passengers facial region- this is very hard to restore decorum and rarely does appointing blame to the car help in resolving any unintentional offence.
At 15,000 subscribers how about a Caterham 7 with the roof fitted ?
The Elise is far too easy
Haha I tried doing that when I had the 310S for review. Not. easy. at. all.
well the slow motion might help or maybe x2 speed...
How tall and heavy are you jayemm
Can’t say I’ve ever even seen one up close but is the “drop the butt down and swing legs in” technique a non starter for the Lotus?? That tends to be the best way in most cases
Never been in one. How similar is it to its cousin the Opel Speedster? My co-worker had one of those. It reminded me of a ridiculously stripped down MX-5 with zero creature comforts.
Spot on
dude, you're funny
omg… best video ever… lmao thanks👍🏻😉😁💥
I will do my best to not get fatter 😂😭
When I was younger I always wished to be a bit taller, but after I bought my first Elise that all changed. I'll have to show this to all my tall friends who have lots of trouble 😂
My friend Igor, (yes that's his real name), is 7'1", 33.5cm, and he actually got in the passenger seat on my Exige, and was able to close the door. His knees were next to his ears because he couldn't get this legs into the footwell, but he did fit, sort of. Watching him get out was like childbirth.
I wish I still had the video of him getting out and standing next to the car. It was origami in reverse.
"Thanks to my 10,000 subscribers" 😆
Haha. Now do it in a series 1 ! Its the only one I can afford (2nd hand).
Ha-ha, very funny. Piece of cake then!
Many years ago I manages to get into a Vx220 (iirc the name), and given I have 4 goosed lower disks I just couldn't get out.
I did own a celica (2litre not the gt4 😕) in the 90s, loved the car, but as my back worsened, some days I couldn't lift my left leg over the sill to exit some days.
So my sports car days are behind me. I now prefer a hot hatch,not that I have one. Currently an GTC 165 (auto), next up is a vrs estate (need the space). However One day I may get an MX5, I may manage one of those.
Pick up my back issue in 98 serving in the RM. I've fallen along way, and put a bit of timber on too. Giant exercise with goosed disks. 😕
The Karate Kid crane stance :)
What's more entertaining is watching a girlfriend trying to get out for the first time
I wanna see the mr2 fixing up pleeeeaaase
+Itsibs We keep trying to film it but we keep having things get in the way and we want to do a proper video not a rushed job.
love to you do that in a vx220
You're husky like a strongman 😎
Also works great for a MX5.
I decided to lose 4st instead, easier to get in/out & the car accelerates better, improved MPG,etc
curently on the "lotus diet" as im 6ft 3 and too heavy... lol busying an exige s3 as soon as my current car sells, already test drove one and its not the best for leg room but ive seen a few mods you can do to make a bit more space, but the want for one is too much, i suppose its like buying those trainers thats a bit too small but you like them too much? ha