RE: Lotus Europa S

Author
Discussion

Frank987

2,121 posts

212 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
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What was the SLK like? Was it an auto?

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
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A manual SLK350. Sounded lovely, and just the thing for effortless cruising with a bit of edge if you want to play on B roads.

But ultimately a bit 'safe'. As a drivers car, best summarised as being 80% of the Boxster, which in turn was 90% of the Europa. But if you are after a 'sports tourer' I'd reverse those rankings with same kind of percentages.

Frank987

2,121 posts

212 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
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Many thanks for your feedback - that is pretty much how I thought they would compare.

Enjoy the Europa!

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Saturday 23rd February 2008
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Another week in the Europa 225, and I'm loving it.

Likes: Huge mid range performance, supple chassis but steering as sharp as my Elise, relative refinement, massive rear end grip. Oh. and the fact no-one knows what it is....

Dislikes - Lack of engine charisma, smallish range on tank (200 miles - but then I haven't driven it slowly yet....)

Twit

2,908 posts

263 months

Sunday 24th February 2008
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Cool, sounds good! Should be getting mine next week, looking forward to a stealth car! wink

jazzyjeff

3,652 posts

258 months

Sunday 24th February 2008
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Redlake27 said:
Another week in the Europa 225, and I'm loving it.

Likes: Huge mid range performance, supple chassis but steering as sharp as my Elise, relative refinement, massive rear end grip. Oh. and the fact no-one knows what it is....

Dislikes - Lack of engine charisma, smallish range on tank (200 miles - but then I haven't driven it slowly yet....)
Only 200 miles from a 43 litre tank?! eek I get 220 miles in the VXT from a 35 litre tank... Ok so my car is about 60kg lighter but surely the difference can't be that great?

Can't wait 'til I test drive one though... lick

Have you had any chance to take any piccies yet? wink

JJ

Christian43

666 posts

197 months

Sunday 24th February 2008
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Hi Redlake

Totally agree with most of your comments. Even with the Thorney suspension upgrades the rear end grip is fantastic. Out of wet roundabouts is awesome. Tank range is same on mine. Actually as I get more used to the car I seem to be pushing harder and getting slightly less. Also if you track the car and push really hard on tight left hand corners you will get fuel starvation on really low tank levels.
As I get used to the engine note and drive around with the windows open I am getting to like it more. I think the exhaust note does change with a cars life so it might just be a case of this.

I have only been home once in the last 3 weeks but managed to take the Europa for a quick blast on a sunny morning and it was just gorgeous. I really am looking forwards to getting back into the country and driving the car a bit more....oh and seeing wife and children obviously!!

glad you are enjoying it

C

jerrytlr

418 posts

212 months

Sunday 24th February 2008
quotequote all
jazzyjeff said:
Redlake27 said:
Another week in the Europa 225, and I'm loving it.

Likes: Huge mid range performance, supple chassis but steering as sharp as my Elise, relative refinement, massive rear end grip. Oh. and the fact no-one knows what it is....

Dislikes - Lack of engine charisma, smallish range on tank (200 miles - but then I haven't driven it slowly yet....)
Only 200 miles from a 43 litre tank?! eek I get 220 miles in the VXT from a 35 litre tank... Ok so my car is about 60kg lighter but surely the difference can't be that great?

Can't wait 'til I test drive one though... lick

Have you had any chance to take any piccies yet? wink

JJ
Mine usually shows empty at around 35 litres used, and I also get 200 odd miles from that, so 27-30ish to the gallon


Cheers

Jerry

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Monday 25th February 2008
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jerrytlr said:
jazzyjeff said:
Only 200 miles from a 43 litre tank?! eek I get 220 miles in the VXT from a 35 litre tank... Ok so my car is about 60kg lighter but surely the difference can't be that great?
I think 43 litres is a trick of the brochure. I've gone as far as I dare on an orange light and squeeze 35 litres in.

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Monday 25th February 2008
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But although that's a small range, it is better consumption than I'd expect from any of its rivals.

(Gosh, discussing fuel consumption on a Lotus Pistonheads forum. I'm going to get barred for being dull, so let's change the subject back to speed)

jerrytlr

418 posts

212 months

Monday 25th February 2008
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Redlake27 said:
But although that's a small range, it is better consumption than I'd expect from any of its rivals.

(Gosh, discussing fuel consumption on a Lotus Pistonheads forum. I'm going to get barred for being dull, so let's change the subject back to speed)
Good idea. What's the fastest anybody has managed so far in a Europa? (that should do the trick!!)

(in my case it's 120...indicated, no idea what the actual speed is. Must try harder ;-) ).

Also - floored it today in 3rd up to the change light and decided 200bhp is nowhere near enough. Need to talk to Thorney.

Cheers,

Jerry

Twit

2,908 posts

263 months

Monday 25th February 2008
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jerrytlr said:
Also - floored it today in 3rd up to the change light and decided 200bhp is nowhere near enough. Need to talk to Thorney.

Cheers,

Jerry
If you get it done, I'd be interested to know what its like. My Europa (Hopefully its arriving this week...) will come with the 225 upgrade, it would be good to compare!!

jerrytlr

418 posts

212 months

Monday 25th February 2008
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Twit said:
jerrytlr said:
Also - floored it today in 3rd up to the change light and decided 200bhp is nowhere near enough. Need to talk to Thorney.

Cheers,

Jerry
If you get it done, I'd be interested to know what its like. My Europa (Hopefully its arriving this week...) will come with the 225 upgrade, it would be good to compare!!
Indeed it would - I may still just go for the Lotus upgrade as it's a lot cheaper (yet to find out exactly how much though...) - but the dyno chart on Thorney's web site for the stage 2 is quite astonishing - not so much the 50bhp max increase but the amount of extra power produced throughout the rev range...and I quite fancy a slightly sportier sound with the Milltek too....

If I make any progress on all this I'll def kick of a new thread on the subject...

Cheers

Jerry

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Tuesday 26th February 2008
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About 145 indicated, Jerry.


(On a closed road, obviously)

Having test driven the 197 and 225, the difference is most noticable in the midrange where the power delivery is smoother. However, I still want 250bhp+ !

Ocean

123 posts

230 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
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I have had my Europa now for 1 month.

It has the 225 upgrade.

I am chuffed to bits with it!!!!!!

After a Boxster and a couple of Z4s one an Alpina, it is a revelation. Fast enough and just refined enough but on the right road just breath taking.

I have had the discs upgraded to cross-drilled ones and I am in the process of having a full stainless exhaust system fitted. As the engine is the VX220 Turbo unit, I am reliably informed that this coupled to the 225 re-map should give around 245 - 250 BHP and around 265 ft/Lbs. Should make for an interesting drive in a car weighing less than a ton!!!

Love the fact nobody knows what the car is and it attracts lots of attention.

Think I'm in love.

Pete

Boggy

4,603 posts

234 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
quotequote all
Ocean said:
I have had my Europa now for 1 month.

It has the 225 upgrade.

I am chuffed to bits with it!!!!!!

After a Boxster and a couple of Z4s one an Alpina, it is a revelation. Fast enough and just refined enough but on the right road just breath taking.

I have had the discs upgraded to cross-drilled ones and I am in the process of having a full stainless exhaust system fitted. As the engine is the VX220 Turbo unit, I am reliably informed that this coupled to the 225 re-map should give around 245 - 250 BHP and around 265 ft/Lbs. Should make for an interesting drive in a car weighing less than a ton!!!

Love the fact nobody knows what the car is and it attracts lots of attention.

Think I'm in love.

Pete
Sound's great any pictures?

Boggy

Ocean

123 posts

230 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
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I should hopefully be taking some pics next weekend and then will attempt to post.

Need to wash it first!!!!!!

forgestone2

8 posts

252 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
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Ocean said:
I have had my Europa now for 1 month.

It has the 225 upgrade.

I am chuffed to bits with it!!!!!!

After a Boxster and a couple of Z4s one an Alpina, it is a revelation. Fast enough and just refined enough but on the right road just breath taking.

I have had the discs upgraded to cross-drilled ones and I am in the process of having a full stainless exhaust system fitted. As the engine is the VX220 Turbo unit, I am reliably informed that this coupled to the 225 re-map should give around 245 - 250 BHP and around 265 ft/Lbs. Should make for an interesting drive in a car weighing less than a ton!!!

Love the fact nobody knows what the car is and it attracts lots of attention.

Think I'm in love.

Pete
Which exhaust are you fitting?
I know Jim (2bular exhausts) is working on a system, i am waiting for the end of the summer before i do anything to the exhaust system on mine. 225hp and exige brakes is just fine for now wink

jerrytlr

418 posts

212 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
forgestone2 said:
Which exhaust are you fitting?
I know Jim (2bular exhausts) is working on a system, i am waiting for the end of the summer before i do anything to the exhaust system on mine. 225hp and exige brakes is just fine for now wink
Exige brakes? Is that the standard Lotus cross drilled upgrade, or something different?


Cheers,

Jerry

forgestone2

8 posts

252 months

Friday 29th February 2008
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Yes europa upgraded brakes are the same as Exige. ie cross drilled.