It’s no secret that Phoenix is devoid of interesting roads. Some point to its grid-like layout as a marvel of modern transportation efficiency. These people likely drive the automotive equivalent of a kitchen appliance.

Sometimes I wonder if I purchased the wrong car, simply because the closest public road that might be considered fun is over 150 miles away. Perhaps the 7.0L Corvette Z06 would have been more fun to drive from stoplight-to-predictable-stoplight with its torque figure almost four times that of the Lotus. The real shame is the lack of a single car that can fit my every mood or desire. A 997 CarreraS comes suspiciously close with a decent power:weight ratio, well-regarded road and track manners and comedy back seats for that rare occasion. I’m almost glad I purchased the Elise when I did as the 997 C2S has dropped in price lately thanks to the introduction of the 997.2 and I might have been a bit more tempted.

Several months ago, on a whim, I decided I needed to revisit some of the twisty roads of California which were previously conquered in the S2000. Thankfully I did not give the 300 mile trip much thought as the Elise proved to be absolutely punishing even on the relatively smooth roads of I-10. Gone are the days where I give more than a moment’s thought to my car’s gas mileage but I’m always amazed when this car pulls out 32mpg averaging 85-90mph. Upon arriving in Riverside I was reminded how difficult Elise ownership could be with the terribly bumpy roads and massive amounts of highway traffic. It served as a pleasant reminder that Phoenix affords comfortable Lotus ownership with its wide lanes, smooth roads and a commute that manages to avoid the highway. It was obvious that my eventual return to California will require me to do a sanity check and purchase a more comfortable daily driver.

There’s nothing like waking up in the morning and knowing you’re about to attack the twisty canyon roads of the San Bernardino Mountains with two of the best sports cars ever made. Accompanying me in the Lotus was a 1993 Mazda RX-7 and judging from the pictures it might look a bit familiar. This is in fact the RX-7 I owned in Kansas but now in the more capable hands of a true rotary enthusiast.

The drive towards the coveted roads was a more refreshing wakeup than any cup of coffee could ever provide. Between the deafening roar of the four-cylinder inches from my ear and the exhaust gasses from a turbocharged car running a bit too rich making me lightheaded, I was ready to explore the limits my R-compound tires would afford me. Because it was early March and the opening roads were generously covered by trees a fair amount of snow was still on the sides of the roads. While it made for interesting pictures, it was less than ideal to drive due to the wet pavement and copious amounts of sand and salt on the road. Still, if one has confidence in their machine a wet road can be just as fun at low speeds. Unfortunately I am new to world of mid-engine cars and lack the complete confidence I felt with the 50:50 weight distribution of the S2000.

Once we hit the high point of the mountain we stopped for a moment to give the cars and rest and to allow enough traffic to pass to ensure we had a fair amount of clear road. Upon leaving I took the lead as handling would be the focus of the next section of road. I was a bit disappointed that the Elise seemed a bit slower in a straight line to the twin turbo RX-7 but as I was about to prove, few cars on the road can keep up with it when the road rapidly changes direction. Thankfully traffic was light in both directions so I have no qualms saying I did not exactly abide by the posted speed limits. After the first few sets of corners I became absolutely focused with the task at hand. Four hundred miles of driving led up to this point and one slow car might ruin it all. I was mindful of the RX-7 behind me but with every corner the Japanese wonder fell further and further behind. As I grew more confident I pushed the car harder and harder. Double the speed limit. Add another 5mph. Another 10mph. The car absolutely would not give up. The grip the chassis and tires provide is staggering. There were corners I needed third gear to continue accelerating where the S2000 would struggle to reach the VTEC cam in second gear. This drive proved to be the direct comparison I needed. The only unfortunate realization I came to on this drive was that exploring the limits on a public road in the Elise is not just a felony; its limits are so high it will require a highly technical track to exploit its capabilities. Regardless, never have I felt so exhilarated than when I finally caught up with traffic and allowed myself to come down from the high of properly driving a Lotus. A fun aside, the hardtop will stay behind in the future as the chassis flex in hard cornering caused the bolts to loosen and provided a bit of drama on the drive back.

There is no doubt that the most fun I’ll likely have in the Elise will be on a proper racing track. This trip proved many times over that I should start preparing the car now for the fall track season in Phoenix. It also proved that I can no longer ignore the importance of having fun, interesting roads that are close to where I call home. I will forever have issue with the state of California as long as they continue their budget woes and exorbitant tax structure but as a friend once told me, one drive on the nearest twisty road is all you need to forget it all.