>>>>...you could always get this car ....
>>>>http://wirewheel.com/2007-Lotus-Elise-Yellow-for-sale.html
>>>>..these things have Toyota engines and transmissions so they are reliable and last a long time. Although if you're in the northeast these things are a bit tricky in the snow.
>>>
>>>From the look of it, it would be expensive to insure.
>>
>>Yes that is true. I'm paying $3800+ a year to insure mine with a clean driving record - and that was a good deal because everyone else wanted over $4400 a year and most won't even insure it.
>>
>
>I realize that a car not as common as a Rabbit might have more expensive insurance just because there is no template to compare to, but that is crazy. Over here you would have to contact several insurerances (the cheapest will not insure special cars), but you could find full coverage (including coverage for theft,fire+weather, up to 1/5 of total cost AND coverage for own repair cost of accidents you are responsible for, typically ~2/5 of total cost) between 2000 an 2500€ at 100% (no discount or hike because of driving history).
>
>Your driving history can result in a factor between 22% (over 30 years without causing an accident) and 250% (causing several accidents shortly before) in our insurance system, but this factor is not calculated when calculating theft risk/cost.
>
>There is 1 special insurer I know of who typically offers coverage for exotics at a discount if your other life characteristics are normal, reducing insurance cost by 25 - 35% of the numbers quoted above. But you clearly have to re-check for approx. half a day each year to be certain that you are not fleeced.
>
>After modeling prices over here for our "blue book" I rewrote and maintained insurance programs for cars and home insurances for several years, so I know a bit from 2 sides of the problem... Seems you are gouged not only in medical insurance and/or cost of your judicial system blends through to a high degree.
>
>condolences (for your cost) and thumbs up for having fun ;-)
>
>thomas

There are several factors that cause the insurance rates on these cars to be so high (and I was aware of all this before I bought the car). First - it's a mid-engine 2 seater sports car - so that up's it right there because often people who own such a car have a tendency to drive them fast. Plus - the whole car is made of fiberglass and aluminum and the front clam is 1 piece as is the rear clam. So if you bump it - well no matter what you just did $10,000 damage at least because now you have to replace the clam, and they're 10k a piece plus labor. If you do any other damage to the all aluminum chassis of the car (you can google this - it's not built like any other car on the road) - you've destroyed the car to the point you can't fix it so it's totaled. I'd say that probably 25% of these cars on the road have a 'salvage rebuilt' title because someone bumped it and the insurance company decided to pay for the car instead of paying to fix it - then auction the car off to someone willing to replace the clam(s). It would appear that many of the guys that buy them do not have the proper skill set to drive them. I've owned mid-engine 2 seater cars for over 30 years and have gone to Bondurant School of High Performance Driving as well as Skip Barber Racing School plus I grew up with a father with and extensive road-racing background so I learned a lot from the time I was born - so hopefully I will not crash mine. The cars are difficult to master - too fast into a corner, you spin. Too fast out of a corner you spin. Slow too much in a corner you spin. And it happens very quickly so recovery when you start to spin is very very tricky to learn and almost impossible even with practice. I've only had it for 1 year and have not put it on a track yet - but I think by next season I will be comfortable enough with it to do a few track-days with it. Tell ya what - the thing is fun fun fun fun to drive hehehe I have a smile on my face every time I'm in it and I'm always turning around to look at it after I park it cause it looks cool too.