RE: PH Show Readers' Cars: Lotus 340R

[Craigy_97elise]

I WISH said:

I'm fed up of hearing this bks repeated about the K series engine being unreliable ..... it's not. In fact it's no less reliable than the average motor. I know loads of people with Elises that have had no problems at all. Any head gasket issues are almost entirely related to insufficient cooling (according to the tech guys at Lotus) ..... and the Elise is more than adequately cooled. If an Elise is regularly serviced it shouldn't give any problems at all.

Edited by I WISH on Thursday 19th November 01:58

I know loads of people with Elises that have had no problems at all. This includes lots of people with K-series powered cars, and all the people with Toyota-powered elises - no failures at all on those.

I know loads of people who had HGF on K-series elises (incuding myself).

As for the Elise being regularly serviced being the solution to the HGF issue, I call bull on that. My car was pristine and had the oil changed twice as frequently as required by Lotus. In my experience, HGF issues on the K (as installed in the elise) happen at random, they aren't related to servicing.

Craig

[Chewitt]

don't worry about engine posts and the dementors.....

tis the same with TVR's mostly by people who "know a mate with....." rather than actual experience

Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious or "i don't like them they are st"- is much easier to say than "nice car"

if you have one or have had one you know its worth it


its a great car - if you don't like it then don't waste your breath posting!

piston heads - where speed matters

or in some cases

piston heads - where slagging off other peoples cars/views etc matters



and waits.........

[epoch911]

Chewitt said:

piston heads - where slagging off other peoples cars/views etc matters

+1 ...and it seems to be getting worse.
I have agreed to have my car at the PH show, but TBH I'm having second thoughts now - just not sure it's worth the inevitable abuse
Ant

[Staffy1984]

epoch911 said:

Chewitt said:

piston heads - where slagging off other peoples cars/views etc matters

+1 ...and it seems to be getting worse.
I have agreed to have my car at the PH show, but TBH I'm having second thoughts now - just not sure it's worth the inevitable abuse
Ant

C'mon guys, if you're happy to recieve some peoples positive opinions then you have to expect some negative opinions.

I know you know this and are probably just venting.

haven't driven one of these, yes they look ugly, but they also look light as fook and that mean flat and rapid cornering.

Xbows are too pricey, and any se7en kit Caterhams, westfields, dax's....well they're proven to kick ass.

So to the haters...shut up and experience what these guys on here have already done...then come back with an opinion.

And to the owners, stop whining and go out and drive your dope cars, what are you doing on the internet anyway

[LPH]

Awww thanks Craig. Does that mean I have to tell eveyone how brilliant mango-couloured TVR Tuscans are

Forums are strange places filled with even stranger people (me included) but I guess that's why we all log on and use them!

Lets hope it's not snowing in early Jan or the car might not make it to the NEC, it's only about 35 mins from muy house but snow and 340Rs don't mix well. Mind you the front splitter might make a good snow plough now I think about it.......

[Oddball RS]

No i have to back up the guys on this one,

Yet again lots of people slagging cars off that they have never even set foot in, let a lone owned.

I tracked mine on occasion and did about 6,000 road miles in it. Yes you get wet, but im ok with that, its called life in the UK.

No they are not expensive to run, mechanically they are pretty cheap for what you get. Body work can be expensive yes, but its a rare exclusive car what do you expect? if you want cheap to bend get a Clio and strip it out.

I've always thought knowing you are driving an unusual (Rare?) car quickly focuses the mind slightly.

And as for the guy (Kid) who just called it 'Fugly' (yes i know its no looker) do you even drive? it looks like you are keen on lego to me?

[Tez1978]

I used to own one of these for 3 years and never had to fix anything on it AND I sold it for the same ammount I bought it for.
Had to pay for servicing obviously but that was no more expensive than any other 'normal' car i've owned.
It was the most amazing car i've ever had and SO much fun to drive.
EVERYONE would ask questions about it and take photos wherever it went.

In Leicester however it wasn't that rare as I knew of another 2 or 3 nearbye.

Plus, it was voted the 2nd best drivers car ever this year by EVO magazine. Only beaten by a £600k Pagani Zonda.

[dandarez]

Tez1978 said:

...it was voted the 2nd best drivers car ever this year by EVO magazine. Only beaten by a £600k Pagani Zonda.

I've nothing against the 340R... except the hype given to it!

I love the presence of the Elise on the road, but statements like the above from EVO mag are just bias. It's worse than Autocar, who everyone knows are in bed with Lotus - if Lotus had a shopping trolley they'd feature it/ (actually, I think they did!).

But EVO take the biscuit. We know they are Loti lovers (proven again this month with the Evora and 2-Eleven winning outright.

But really, I ask you, the 340R is the 2nd best driver's car in the world next to a Zonda? Something half-designed in a hurry with assistance from a bunch of magazine hacks.

Anyone who buys EVO and gets taken in by such crass bias wants their head examined.

[Terry Barr]

dandarez said:

Tez1978 said:

But really, I ask you, the 340R is the 2nd best driver's car in the world next to a Zonda?

Take a MK1 Elise, lighten it, add 50% or so more power, uprate the supension, close up the ratios and add some really good tyre. I'd say you have to have a serious drivers car, which is best though or second best has to be down to taste.

[TTwiggy]

It's odd - I owned an S2 Elise for two years and I've only just noticed that the front of one is just a 340r widened...



I'll get me coat...

[Chewitt]

LPH said:

Awww thanks Craig. Does that mean I have to tell eveyone how brilliant mango-couloured TVR Tuscans are

s' right mate

the handling bit of the 340 certainly flatters the driver.... ahem....


see I'll defend the car but you....

Edited by Chewitt on Thursday 19th November 18:59

[LPH]

I've had it on track 3 times and that's where you can really explore the limits. It's fast but not really on the straights. It's the handling is where it stands out.

I also have an S2 Elise with a supercharged and charge cooled Honda Type R engine it it. It's currently at about 370 hp and has track suspension and big AP disks etc. Now that car is really fast. In Autocar's 0-100-0 test this year an S2 with an SC Honda of a lower spec (just under 300hp) was faster than a 360 CS and only just slower than a Lambo Gallardo Supaleggra. However the 340R is more of an 'occasion' to drive. I also prefer the engine note of the highly-tuned K-series to the Honda.

The S2 weighs just under 800kg with no fuel and it feels like a super tanker compered to the 340R. Until you've driven one you can't really appreciate how well they handle.

As for looks - it's all in the eye of the beholder I guess. From some angles it's amazing to my eyes although there are angles that don't look so good!

I'm bound to agree with Evo's judgement aren't I. But seriously, it depends how you define 'greatest'. Certainly the handling is amazing and probably better then many many much more expensive cars. Maybe it's great because it's so rare, so raw or so stupid? Who knows......

I just wish the British weather was better so I could get more use out of it

Craig - you're dead right mate the car is far more talented than I am. I think your TVR is positively tasteful compared to some of your previous cars. I mean let's not get into a discussion about your 850R or the Elan...... I still think your 1969 Mini is the greatest car you've had. Certainly had some near death experiences in it with you at the wheel

Edited by LPH on Thursday 19th November 19:32

Edited by LPH on Thursday 19th November 19:35