Rice burner vs. Muscle car

[inferno]

Ok, one last comment. The Lotus Elise isn't some super exotic vehicle or super car. It does use some of the track bred suspension from Lotus' other racing ventures, but the base Elise is basically along the lines of a Miata. Once again, the Elise is available and streetable in the US with the regular 115hp Rover motor, but the company that is importing them is also giving the option to buy it with the Integra Type R motor. Even with the 115hp motor, with the weight of the car, it is a pretty decent performer, but of course 85 extra hp and 30 more ft/lbs of torque go a long way in a 1600lb car. In terms of maintenance, the ITR motor is pretty simple to maintain, but the cost of labor might be a bit more because of the mid-engine placement of the motor. I am sure any shop that does work on Hondas wouldn't have that much of a problem though.

Also, in terms of affording a real Cobra R, most of those cars were bought by collectors and the prices shot through the roof. I am sure that the 300 owners of the 00 Cobra R's aren't likely to part with them anytime soon, and when they do part with them, the price is probably going to be at least 50k regardless of mileage. Ford is going to produce a new GT40, but the GT90 was a concept and will always be one. The Saleen S7 has a Ford motor and nothing else in common. Saleen is its own entity regardless of the fact that they tune Mustangs. And in terms of Ford sales, they are really concentrating on their trucks, family car sales, and fleet sales......that is where they are really making their money. Why else do you think that the basic platform for the Mustang has remained the same since 1979?