DeTomaso Mailing List: February 98, Message #77
     



From: 	ED_KORNEGAY@HP-Sonoma-om1.om.hp.com

Subject: Re: what should i buy?

Date: 	Mon, 2 Feb 1998 16:38:06 +0000



Item Subject: what should i buy?

     Hi,

     

     I'm the Motorsports director for a road racing club (CFRA) in Northern 

     California.  Our driving instructor (Scott) is a professional Vintage 

     Car racer and restorer.  People hire him to drive their Vintage cars.  

     Scott HAS driven an Elise and so I called him for his opinion.  Please 

     note that Scott still owns and has raced Panteras.  He is a Pantera 

     fan.

     

     Scott's response was that he loves the Elise and is on the short list 

     along with Doc. Bundy to get one if any are imported.  He would take 

     an Elise any day over a Pantera.

     

     "The Elise will out handle a Pantera and it's a lot more fun to drive. 

      It's also much better built than a Pantera.  It comes with a warranty 

     etc."

     

     I could give you Scott's phone number if you want to talk to him 

     personally.

     

     If you're looking for the fastest track car, a stock Pantera would 

     have no chance against a stock Elise. 

      

     If you're talking about a car that you will only drive on the street, 

     then performance is all in your mind (unless you're 16 and still into 

     the stop light drag racing).  Both cars will get to the 7-11 store in 

     the same amount of time.

     

     The Elise handles better, and has greater performance than

     a stock Pantera.

     

     The Elise will cost more and be worth less in 5 years.  Pete will sell 

     you has 580hp Pantera for $32,000.

     

     You can decide on which looks the best to you.

     

     The Elise will probably be more rare.

     

     If you want the car for drag racing, get the Pantera.

     If you want it for autocross or the track, get the Elise.

     If you want it just for the street, it doesn't matter what you choose.

     

     Please note that my input is coming from someone who has driven both 

     Pantera's and an Elise.  

     

     Ed





______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________

Subject: what should i buy?

Author:  Non-HP-SedonD (SedonD@ors.od.nih.gov) at HP-Sonoma,shargw1

Date:    2/2/98 5:22 AM





ed,

     

i write you directly, cuz i get the pantera digest only once a week, and i 

don't wanna wait for a response.  but you can bet i'll be wearing my 

flame-retardant suit next week when i get my mail!  :>)  so, all you guys 

who think "if it's not a pantera, it's crap", flame me directly!

     

anyways, i've been lurking on the pantera digest, and saving up for that 

pantera.  (mebbe i should yust get a potato launcher instead! :>)  but i've 

been reading that there's a good chance that the gnu lotus elise is gonna be 

awailable in the usa in the next year or so.  now, i normally think it's a 

complete waste to buy a gnu car - you can always find something used that 

will outperform a gnu car, for the same $$$.  but this lotus elise mite yust 

change my thinking.  here's a car that has the potential to keep up w/the 

pantera in acceleration (at least up to 100mph), and should be able to blow 

away even a...MIATA - yes even the MIATA!!! - in the twisty stuff.  and to 

my eyes, it looks great in the fotos.  

     

unfortunately, i don't foresee a time in the near future where i'd be able 

to afford both of these.  so, i'm asking you (or any of you uropeens who 

mite have 1st-hand knowledge of one of these li'l loti)  whaddya think?  

     

all responses welcome!

     

thanx in adwance,

     

dug seed in