The 111 Shift

The preceding posts form sort of an automotive memoir. Today begins the next chapter. Since the the point I left off in the last post I was promoted, switched jobs, got promoted and then promoted again. The income has doubled again, and I can finally afford to do that which I had only previously day-dreamed about. Today, I screwed the license plate on a real sports car. It looks awesome, and it is as fast as it looks. It is a type 111R Lotus... an Elise.

I put over 100 miles on it today and I have to admit I can't stop smiling. It is every bit as good as I imagined. It is convertible and although it does nothing to hide bumps on the road, you get the distinct impression that the car is saying "give me the road back" every time it rattles over a bump. There is never a second where the car feels like it isn't fully in control. I'm 100% sure I didn't take it anywhere near it's limit today, but I went faster and had more fun than I've ever had in an automobile. For my mother's sake I won't admit how fast.

Driving will never be the same. The car has a Blaupunkt radio. I'm not sure I'll ever use it. The sound of the motor is far more entertaining than some silly DJ. The dealer's stats on the car say it can do 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. I did a standing start full tilt to 50mph today (the speed limit on the road was 50, I topped out at 65 and then slowed back down), and I don't know how long it was, but holy crap It sure felt like no time at all. They say time flies when your're having fun. That may or may not be true, but I can say for sure.... A Lotus flies and it is definitely fun.

In any case I'll tell the story of how I found this particular vehicle and answer questions like why a lotus, why not xxxx car in future posts. For now I'll just cut to the pictures (My sister is already IM'ing me that she wants them)