Lotus Elise vs. Ford Mustang Cobra

[3000ways]

I just love how so many different cars use so many different ways to get you from point a to point b, fast! I mean there is the high reving 4-Cylinder S2000 , to the 10-Cylinder Viper, to the Supercharged 8-Cylinder E55 AMG, to the Inline-6 tech heavy M3, to 4-Cylinder AWD EVO. All these cars are different in the ways they go fast, but they all go FAST. Here is a crazy comparison between two cars, that have absolutely nothing in common except that they are fast (and pricing is kind of close). These two cars use different or almost opposite methods of being fast, which do you like? Which method is to your likings and get's the job done the best? First you have the light weight Lotus Elise, it's 190HP 4-Cylinder is combined with it's incredibly light weight to give this car go kart like reflexes. Then there is the american muscle supercharged Mustang Cobra. The complete opposite with it's 390HP and 390TQ that out muscles many opponents including the likes of the BMW M3 and Acura NSX. Who would you take, two competely different methods of going fast, but they both go fast. The Elise or Cobra?

2005 Lotus Elise (US Version)
1.8L 4-Cylinder
190HP@7800RPM
133TQ@6800RPM
1980Lbs
0-60- 4.8 Seconds
1/4 Mile- 13.4 Seconds
Handling- 1.00g


2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
4.6L Supercharged 8-Cylinder
390HP@6000RPM
390TQ@3500RPM
3660Lbs
0-60- 4.8 Seconds
1/4 Mile- 13.1 Seconds
Handling- .88g

[3kgt8]

Lotus Elise because there are too many Mustangs out there.

[Demon_Mustang]

I don't get people like that. They try so hard to be "different" that they end up conforming to their own crowd of non-conformists. I wonder if he realizes that there are a bunch of people out there that are exactly the same way. And in no way are they being "unique" they are just part of yet another group of people.

Anyway, I've always gone for the low-end torque over the high-revving cars myself. Both are fast, and the high-revving cars would mostly have an advantage in the twisties, but I've been a straightline guy from the day I got my license. Since in order to keep from getting a ton of traffic tickets, the best rush I could get out of everyday driving is from 0-speed limit, which is like 55mph, well, 45mph, but the cops where I live usually let you get away with up to 10mph over, so 0-55 is about what I end up doing most of the time. I never really have much of a chance to go on an actual track to be able to push a car to it's handling limits. On regular streets in regular speeds, any of these cars will be able to handle without breaking a sweat, so it comes down to the low-end torque that makes the difference with me.

[crayzayjay]

The most ridiculous comparison ive seen in a very long time. Elise.

[youngvr4]

i prefer the elise, i don't think its that bad of a comparison, we are talking two diff speeds.

demon mustang, your right bieng unique puts you in a catogory of another, but its not so common, and people prefer to have a lotus esprit instead of a corvette, since its more rare that way you get more looks and your not like most others.

[freakonaleash1187]

i would much rather have the elise. not only does it look better (imo), it handles like it is on rails. i love it when a little 4-cylinder can keep up with a supercharged v-8.

[Jimster]

Elise, duh.

[3000ways]

Originally Posted by crayzayjay

The most ridiculous comparison ive seen in a very long time. Elise.

Why do you say it's ridiculous? Don't get me wrong I stated that the two cars are very much different, but in a way they are both fast. Sure I could compared the Cobra vs. Camaro SS, or even a Cobra vs. E55 AMG (both have supercharged V8s, or evn a Cobra vs. Cobra R. But I thought this was interesting to show just how differently cars do the same thing. I would absolutely hate it if all cars were the same. So again I ask why do you say ridiculous, is it because you believe the Cobra is no match for the Elise?

[crayzayjay]

Originally Posted by 3000ways

Why do you say it's ridiculous? Don't get me wrong I stated that the two cars are very much different, but in a way they are both fast. Sure I could compared the Cobra vs. Camaro SS, or even a Cobra vs. E55 AMG (both have supercharged V8s, or evn a Cobra vs. Cobra R. But I thought this was interesting to show just how differently cars do the same thing. I would absolutely hate it if all cars were the same. So again I ask why do you say ridiculous, is it because you believe the Cobra is no match for the Elise?

Sorry, i didnt mean any offense. But i disagree that these cars "do the same thing", and yes, I believe the Elise is extremely superior to the Cobra.

[3000ways]

Originally Posted by crayzayjay

Sorry, i didnt mean any offense. But i disagree that these cars "do the same thing", and yes, I believe the Elise is extremely superior to the Cobra.

Yeah I see what you are saying and I do kind of agree, but I do have to ask why with 390HP and 390TQ is the Cobra so over matched? Why can't Ford who has had almost half a century of building Mustangs get it right, I mean a Cobra that offers both straight line speed and killer track performance? Why do I have to pay $50,000 for a Cobra R to get straight line speed and killer track performance, when I can get straight line speed and killer track performance for $30,000 from an EVO or STI, and for $40,000 from an Elise?

[crayzayjay]

Originally Posted by 3000ways

Yeah I see what you are saying and I do kind of agree, but I do have to ask why with 390HP and 390TQ is the Cobra so over matched?

The answer's in your first post.

Cobra - 3660lb
Elise - 1980lb

Where did you get the stats from? I dont like seeing skidpad data next to "handling".

[3000ways]

Originally Posted by crayzayjay

The answer's in your first post.

Cobra - 3660lb
Elise - 1980lb

Where did you get the stats from? I dont like seeing skidpad data next to "handling".

Yeah the weight makes sense, still the Cobra is almost double the weight and also double the power. Besides that is not the answer I was looking for, I was asking why can't Ford create an affordable all around performance car. Weight is certainly an issue, but Ford has no trouble in getting the just as heavy Cobra R to handle very well, yet I would have to pay around $50,000 for that. Other heavy cars that handle very well, BMW M5, Nissan Skyline GT-R, 3000GT VR4, and let's not forget the Supra tiped the scales at over 3500Lbs in the United States. But for Ford and the Cobra the issue of weight is a problem, and that is what disappoints me, the Cobra which saw an increase in power also saw a significant increase in weight. When will Ford learn that it's more than just power that makes a sports car.
Oh yeah the handling data came from previous model Elises, this particular Elise has yet to be released in the Unites States and has yet to be tested, slalom numbers are all 70MPH+ for previous Elises. the 0-60 time is what Lotus says it does, the 1/4 mile time is a guess figuring it's horsepower and torque, the Elise should be able to accomplish 1/4 mile times somewhere between 13.2-13.4 seconds depending on driver and car.

[Kurtdg19]

Originally Posted by 3000ways

Yeah the weight makes sense, still the Cobra is almost double the weight and also double the power. Besides that is not the answer I was looking for, I was asking why can't Ford create an affordable all around performance car. Weight is certainly an issue, but Ford has no trouble in getting the just as heavy Cobra R to handle very well, yet I would have to pay around $50,000 for that. Other heavy cars that handle very well, BMW M5, Nissan Skyline GT-R, 3000GT VR4, and let's not forget the Supra tiped the scales at over 3500Lbs in the United States. But for Ford and the Cobra the issue of weight is a problem, and that is what disappoints me, the Cobra which saw an increase in power also saw a significant increase in weight. When will Ford learn that it's more than just power that makes a sports car.

I think the Cobra fits good in Fords lineup as is. Look at the market of people that buy the Mustang. Would they still be interested in buying a Cobra that looks small and short with more similarities to traditional imports versus their own? They do have the Ford Focus SVT which is a good car in the handling department. Although this is only what I think about the Mustang's design, hopfully it will become even more well rounded in the future.

As far as choosing between the two, Elise all the way. The go-cart handling characteristics exceeds IMO the low-end grunt and power of the Cobra. Thats quite odd of me saying that since I like the feel of lowend torque, but I cannot ignore the inherent qualities the Elise offers.

[TatII]

hmmm a cobra is based on the f chassis which is over 20 years old vs. a new high tech light weight super stiff lotus elise chassis. the STi already handles better then the cobra and is better at transistional handling compared to the cobra. the elise will run circles around the STi so theres your answer. the elise may not be easier to drive fast, but if driven right, it is down right fast. sport compact car did a comparision a few years back. it was a elise with a type R motor vs. a mustang cobra R. the elise destroyed the cobra in a road course by a few seconds. if you can look up the sportcompactcar website and try to find "unlikely contenders" everyone even sport compact car thought the cobra would be a close race and they even praise the cobra for handling extremely good. but the elise was just unreal. also the cobra even the cobra R was still slower then a Z06 vette ( mostly due to the fact that the Z06 is much smaller ) the elise is atleast 1000 lbs lighter then a Z06

[DinanM3_S2]

Not a bad comparison, but the Elise is simply an incredible car. The Cobra isnt a bad sports car, but its your basic example of an American company sacrificing weight and handling for power. The Cobra is designed for Americans looking for a loud, good 1/4 mile, American car. The Elise is designed for people looking for a spectacular true sports car. I would take the elise any day.