RE: Lotus 3-Eleven - official!

[XBOW]

RobM77 said:

The Pits said:

Hilarious, only on ph.

All hail the Cayman with a detuned 911 engine which is universally declared outstanding value for money based on a theoretical base cost.

Lotus makes a white hot track day/race car (with a road legal version) with extreme, mind altering performance for the price of a high spec Cayman GT4 and ph is outraged!

For those in any doubt the 211, just like the Ariel Atom and Caterham 7 is laugh out loud hilarious on the road but best enjoyed on the track. You really won't have to trailer a 311 if you really don't want to. For those that want a roof it's simply a question of waiting for the Exige 400 or the Exige 450 Cup which sits perfectly in between the road car and the 311. Then there's the Evora 400 for those interested in mainly road use. Lotus have all the bases covered so why ever not offer an extreme track car, set some lap times and make some headlines?

I completely agree. Lotus do a car to suit all tastes, provided that you like driving. The Evora, Exige and Elise are the best cars of their type I've ever driven - they really are utterly superb. As you know, I drive my 2-Eleven to track days and back and my car's done 21,000 happy miles now. I'm actually selling it to return to racing, but in my three years of track days I've met lots of potential 3-Eleven customers, and I haven't even done an RMA day yet! Lotus need a halo car to show how they can take on a P1 for a tenth of the price, and good luck to them, I think JMG is doing the company a lot of good.

+1

I've owned the Atom, 2-11 caterhams and now have the XBOW and love to drive these cars on the road. Only recently driven the XBOW to Spa and Nurburgring, and although a bit of a pain if it rains, the smile factor makes it all worth while.

Had a 997 GT3 Clubsport and although a massively competent car, I found it boring vs the cars above.

Also worth noting that cars such as the Lotus will be much easier on wear and tear vs heavier cars and as such could be much cheaper to run over a period of time. At the recent Supercarevent I found the XBOW and Atoms were able to give punter rides over and over with no need to give the car a rest......they just take it in their stride.

Re comparison to the radical I did look at the lower end bike engine cars, but 40hrs between engine rebuilds and extreme compromise on the road made it a no go.

Lotus have created a stunning car , and even though some of us can't afford it (including me) we should be celebrating the UK producing such amazing cars. The number of negative people on PH always stagger me.

[peter450]

otolith said:

peter450 said:

At least Lotus are giving their cars some proper performance at last, the uprated 400 + hp V6 range of Evora/Exige and this look good (don't like the styling on this much though, but then again did not like the last one much either...)

Now they need to bolt a SC onto the 1.6 and up the power on the 1.8

From what Gales has been saying recently, I think he has realised that although low weight gives you loads of good stuff, the thing it gives you that sells cars is acceleration.

Well they need to do something with the Elise range as I imagine selling the current Elise's with worse looks, same interiors and worse engines than the last batch of models is a pretty hard sell to say the least

[SidewaysSi]

peter450 said:

otolith said:

peter450 said:

At least Lotus are giving their cars some proper performance at last, the uprated 400 + hp V6 range of Evora/Exige and this look good (don't like the styling on this much though, but then again did not like the last one much either...)

Now they need to bolt a SC onto the 1.6 and up the power on the 1.8

From what Gales has been saying recently, I think he has realised that although low weight gives you loads of good stuff, the thing it gives you that sells cars is acceleration.

Well they need to do something with the Elise range as I imagine selling the current Elise's with worse looks, same interiors and worse engines than the last batch of models is a pretty hard sell to say the least

I could say the same about many cars on sale today. They have created the Elise Cup S which as all Lotuses has received brilliant reviews.

[SpudLink]

The Pits said:

Hilarious, only on ph.

All hail the Cayman with a detuned 911 engine which is universally declared outstanding value for money based on a theoretical base cost.

Lotus makes a white hot track day/race car (with a road legal version) with extreme, mind altering performance for the price of a high spec Cayman GT4 and ph is outraged!

For those in any doubt the 211, just like the Ariel Atom and Caterham 7 is laugh out loud hilarious on the road but best enjoyed on the track. You really won't have to trailer a 311 if you really don't want to. For those that want a roof it's simply a question of waiting for the Exige 400 or the Exige 450 Cup which sits perfectly in between the road car and the 311. Then there's the Evora 400 for those interested in mainly road use. Lotus have all the bases covered so why ever not offer an extreme track car, set some lap times and make some headlines?

Well said.
This is unadulterated good news.
Lotus are only going to make 311 of these, to be sold worldwide. This will remind people that Lotus I'll still here and show what they can do. It's a toy for a very limited number of customers, but it will raise the profile of the Evora and Exige.
The price for the road and track cars seems spot on for what is a limited production halo model.

If I had a City Trader's Bonus to splash on a track toy next year (unfortunately I don't), it would have to be the 3-11 or the Mono. I suspect the people who buy these don't have to choose. These will be the 4th, 5th or 6th car in the garage.

[PorscheGT4]

would it be the 3-11 or Mono though, for me it would be the Mono.

[SidewaysSi]

PorscheGT4 said:

would it be the 3-11 or Mono though, for me it would be the Mono.

Of course YOU would choose the Mono. Personally I would go Exige Cup rather than a GT4 or Cayman R.

[peter450]

SidewaysSi said:

peter450 said:

otolith said:

peter450 said:

At least Lotus are giving their cars some proper performance at last, the uprated 400 + hp V6 range of Evora/Exige and this look good (don't like the styling on this much though, but then again did not like the last one much either...)

Now they need to bolt a SC onto the 1.6 and up the power on the 1.8

From what Gales has been saying recently, I think he has realised that although low weight gives you loads of good stuff, the thing it gives you that sells cars is acceleration.

Well they need to do something with the Elise range as I imagine selling the current Elise's with worse looks, same interiors and worse engines than the last batch of models is a pretty hard sell to say the least

I could say the same about many cars on sale today. They have created the Elise Cup S which as all Lotuses has received brilliant reviews.

I can't think of a single sports car on sale using the same interior and an inferior engine to the car it replaced,.

Ok so the looks is subjective, I preferred the original S2 style but the rest is not.

It may have got ok reviews but It's a good job those didn't involve the previous car as it would have been egg on face time I suspect. Fact is the new engines needed to add a decent slug of extra power over the last batch if they were ever going to have any hope of being seen as an "improvement" or the very least not a big retrograde step

[kambites]

What previous Lotus has had the same interior as this?

[SidewaysSi]

peter450 said:

SidewaysSi said:

peter450 said:

otolith said:

peter450 said:

At least Lotus are giving their cars some proper performance at last, the uprated 400 + hp V6 range of Evora/Exige and this look good (don't like the styling on this much though, but then again did not like the last one much either...)

Now they need to bolt a SC onto the 1.6 and up the power on the 1.8

From what Gales has been saying recently, I think he has realised that although low weight gives you loads of good stuff, the thing it gives you that sells cars is acceleration.

Well they need to do something with the Elise range as I imagine selling the current Elise's with worse looks, same interiors and worse engines than the last batch of models is a pretty hard sell to say the least

I could say the same about many cars on sale today. They have created the Elise Cup S which as all Lotuses has received brilliant reviews.

I can't think of a single sports car on sale using the same interior and an inferior engine to the car it replaced,.

Ok so the looks is subjective, I preferred the original S2 style but the rest is not.

It may have got ok reviews but It's a good job those didn't involve the previous car as it would have been egg on face time I suspect. Fact is the new engines needed to add a decent slug of extra power over the last batch if they were ever going to have any hope of being seen as an "improvement" or the very least not a big retrograde step

I genuinely don't know what you are on about. The Elise has never really had much of an interior (though some of the detailing is pretty stunning to my eyes). Besides, if you like nice interiors, a Lotus is really not for you.

As for egg on face and "OK reviews", not really sure that is a valid point either:

http://www.evo.co.uk/lotus/elise

There is also a review of the Elise S Cup giving it 5 stars (in fact there I can't really think of any Lotus review which has been anything other than brilliant). Of course I am sure something like What Car? may well bemoan the lack of NVH suppression but I think we can ignore such comments.

Something like the Alfa 4C is a great case of a great design but very poor execution. Lotus is on another level compared to something like that for instance.

[unsprung]

SpudLink said:

Lotus are only going to make 311 of these, to be sold worldwide. This will remind people that Lotus I'll still here and show what they can do. It's a toy for a very limited number of customers...

This is the key to the story. The 3-Eleven is not to be reviewed as the latest addition to the Lotus range, something to consider if you pop over to your local dealership.

[PorscheGT4]

SidewaysSi said:

Of course YOU would choose the Mono. Personally I would go Exige Cup rather than a GT4 or Cayman R.

neither was a choice, the poster said 3-11 or Mono if he had a bankers bonus. I was interested if he did have a bonus what he would buy !

Bit like be stating out the blue I would have a 458 over a Ford KA ! to say Exige over Gt4 !!

[PorscheGT4]

SidewaysSi said:

I genuinely don't know what you are on about. The Elise has never really had much of an interior (though some of the detailing is pretty stunning to my eyes). Besides, if you like nice interiors, a Lotus is really not for you.

As for egg on face and "OK reviews", not really sure that is a valid point either:

http://www.evo.co.uk/lotus/elise

There is also a review of the Elise S Cup giving it 5 stars (in fact there I can't really think of any Lotus review which has been anything other than brilliant). Of course I am sure something like What Car? may well bemoan the lack of NVH suppression but I think we can ignore such comments.

Something like the Alfa 4C is a great case of a great design but very poor execution. Lotus is on another level compared to something like that for instance.

the Elise CUP came about last in the top gear speed review, stated it under steered and had a poor gear box.

same with the 211 review in evo track car of the year and the exige review the year after it won what car of the year it came no where.

every review all seem to state understeer and bad gearbox's/ gear change.

I guess Lotus never can come last now the 4C is out but I wish Lotus could give mags better cars so a basic 2.7 Cayman does not wip it's arse on a track test !

[Impasse]

#It's Not For You.

It even says it on the box.

[otolith]

It's probably not for you if you've named yourself after a Porsche.

[Ian974]

peter450 said:

I can't think of a single sports car on sale using the same interior and an inferior engine to the car it replaced,.

How about the caterham 160 that everyone seems to love with a whopping 80hp?
Some of the arguments on this I don't quite understand.
"It's rubbish because it uses a 20 year old elise chassis. Buy an Ariel atom with a 20 year old chassis or a caterham 620r using a 70 year old lotus 7 chassis instead"
"It's got over three times the power of an s1 Elise and around 30% heavier, its far too heavy"
"It's far too expensive. I'd rather buy a radical for the same price that requires engine rebuilds every 50 hours"

[chrispj]

PorscheGT4 said:

Bit like be stating out the blue I would have a 458 over a Ford KA ! to say Exige over Gt4 !!

It's very magnanimous of you to admit you think the Exige is that much better than the Gt4!

[Impasse]

otolith said:

It's probably not for you if you've named yourself after a Porsche.

The 2 Eleven and 3 Eleven are named after the Lotus Eleven, the forerunner to the subsequent "E" names.

[SpudLink]

PorscheGT4 said:

would it be the 3-11 or Mono though, for me it would be the Mono.

The BAC mono has been my fantasy car for a few years, and if money were no object what would definitely have one. If I really did have £120k to splash, I'd seriously consider the 3-11 in road spec, plus a Ginetta G40, including a season of racing.

Edit: That sounds like I can't make up my mind. But since I don't have that money to spend, I'm not in a position to decide. Ask me again when I've seen one in the flesh and read the reviews from the likes of Monkey Harris.

Edited by SpudLink on Saturday 27th June 13:13

[SidewaysSi]

PorscheGT4 said:

SidewaysSi said:

I genuinely don't know what you are on about. The Elise has never really had much of an interior (though some of the detailing is pretty stunning to my eyes). Besides, if you like nice interiors, a Lotus is really not for you.

As for egg on face and "OK reviews", not really sure that is a valid point either:

http://www.evo.co.uk/lotus/elise

There is also a review of the Elise S Cup giving it 5 stars (in fact there I can't really think of any Lotus review which has been anything other than brilliant). Of course I am sure something like What Car? may well bemoan the lack of NVH suppression but I think we can ignore such comments.

Something like the Alfa 4C is a great case of a great design but very poor execution. Lotus is on another level compared to something like that for instance.

the Elise CUP came about last in the top gear speed review, stated it under steered and had a poor gear box.

same with the 211 review in evo track car of the year and the exige review the year after it won what car of the year it came no where.

every review all seem to state understeer and bad gearbox's/ gear change.

I guess Lotus never can come last now the 4C is out but I wish Lotus could give mags better cars so a basic 2.7 Cayman does not wip it's arse on a track test !

At least you admit that it is the individual cars as opposed to anything deficient with the models.

As for the EVO test v Cayman, it was a reader's car with worn tyres that they were using. Think you are using selective details to make a point. EVO have always rated all Lotuses that I can remember and as I am sure you know a change in geo can make a huge difference so any deficiency is little to do with the car's design.

As for gearboxes, I have found them perfectly acceptable. Besides, for me, I much rather have a light car with stunning steering than something heavier with (electric) PAS (something no small tweak can do anything about). Even if that car's 'box is a fraction better.

[otolith]

Impasse said:

otolith said:

It's probably not for you if you've named yourself after a Porsche.

The 2 Eleven and 3 Eleven are named after the Lotus Eleven, the forerunner to the subsequent "E" names.

Talking forum names. Have you not noticed that people who pick the name of a car for their username tend to be a bit... partisan?