Lotus 2-Eleven
Discussion
I've finally got around to buying a toy car after a four year drought following the sale of my Exige to fund the purchase of a second property.
I was looking for something fairly outrageous that I could enjoy on the road but also on track and be quick enough to make up for my lack of ability when taking on my friend who competed in the Caterham Academy last year.
The Lotus 2-Eleven has been something I've fancied since I saw it on Fifth Gear many years ago but at the time couldn't justify the expense. Other cars I considered were the supercharged Atom but prices have gone crazy recently and I don't like how they handle. The Caterham R500, I'm going to own one of these at some point and the X-Bow but I've not heard anything good about these, I just like how they look.
I reserved the Lambo orange Caterham R500 with sequential box from Caterham South as I had missed out on their lairy green car but before I could book in for a test drive I took the fifteen mile drive up the A43 to check out the Ardent Red 2-11 that Lotus Silverstone had for sale. On initial inspection it looked great despite being relatively high mileage for these (20k) but was slightly put off that it had been repainted from the original launch black with yellow and silver stripes to red. I went away, posted on PH and Seloc and managed to track down all of the previous owners, including the chap who had it re-painted to match his other fleet of red Lotus'.
Meanwhile I found another that had just arrived at Bell and Colvill and was awaiting prep, went to look at it on the 1st March and arranged that I would return once it was good to drive. A couple of weeks went by and when I have an idea in my head I get a little impatient so went back to Lotus Silverstone, Aimee couldn't have been more friendly and after a test drive (to ensure it would go up my drive without ripping off the front splitter) the deal was done. It then sat at their dealership for what felt like the longest three weeks ever while paint protection film was added and some original stickers and while I went on holiday for a few days.
I then further postponed collection twice due to rain but in the end went and got it, and got rather wet doing so.
Thankfully we had an amazing Easter weekend of weather so got to stretch its legs a couple of times, it's good to be back in something lightweight that really handles and gives great feedback through the pedals and wheel. It couldn't be further apart from the C63, although the other half still maintains her car is quicker....
Edit: I should probably add a little about these for those that don't know. The 2-11 is powered by a supercharged 1.8 Toyota engine putting out 260bhp and weighing around 700kgs. Lotus claim 0-60 in 3ish seconds and 0-100 in 8ish seconds.
Here's a few photos and I'll sporadically update the thread once I've a few track days under my belt.
And finally a selfie the other half took of herself, even though she said she'd never step foot in the car
Weather permitting I'll be bringing it to the Morgan Sunday Service for its first proper outing.
I was looking for something fairly outrageous that I could enjoy on the road but also on track and be quick enough to make up for my lack of ability when taking on my friend who competed in the Caterham Academy last year.
The Lotus 2-Eleven has been something I've fancied since I saw it on Fifth Gear many years ago but at the time couldn't justify the expense. Other cars I considered were the supercharged Atom but prices have gone crazy recently and I don't like how they handle. The Caterham R500, I'm going to own one of these at some point and the X-Bow but I've not heard anything good about these, I just like how they look.
I reserved the Lambo orange Caterham R500 with sequential box from Caterham South as I had missed out on their lairy green car but before I could book in for a test drive I took the fifteen mile drive up the A43 to check out the Ardent Red 2-11 that Lotus Silverstone had for sale. On initial inspection it looked great despite being relatively high mileage for these (20k) but was slightly put off that it had been repainted from the original launch black with yellow and silver stripes to red. I went away, posted on PH and Seloc and managed to track down all of the previous owners, including the chap who had it re-painted to match his other fleet of red Lotus'.
Meanwhile I found another that had just arrived at Bell and Colvill and was awaiting prep, went to look at it on the 1st March and arranged that I would return once it was good to drive. A couple of weeks went by and when I have an idea in my head I get a little impatient so went back to Lotus Silverstone, Aimee couldn't have been more friendly and after a test drive (to ensure it would go up my drive without ripping off the front splitter) the deal was done. It then sat at their dealership for what felt like the longest three weeks ever while paint protection film was added and some original stickers and while I went on holiday for a few days.
I then further postponed collection twice due to rain but in the end went and got it, and got rather wet doing so.
Thankfully we had an amazing Easter weekend of weather so got to stretch its legs a couple of times, it's good to be back in something lightweight that really handles and gives great feedback through the pedals and wheel. It couldn't be further apart from the C63, although the other half still maintains her car is quicker....
Edit: I should probably add a little about these for those that don't know. The 2-11 is powered by a supercharged 1.8 Toyota engine putting out 260bhp and weighing around 700kgs. Lotus claim 0-60 in 3ish seconds and 0-100 in 8ish seconds.
Here's a few photos and I'll sporadically update the thread once I've a few track days under my belt.
And finally a selfie the other half took of herself, even though she said she'd never step foot in the car
Weather permitting I'll be bringing it to the Morgan Sunday Service for its first proper outing.
Edited by Alex L on Wednesday 8th April 17:53
markoc said:
Stunning fair weather and track toy - and I daresay a much rarer sight than a Caterham.
Are you planning on taking it to the Lodge - I've not been to a meet there since when you had the Exige, so if that's 4 years it's been a long time!
Hi Mark, I would had I not moved to North OxfordshireAre you planning on taking it to the Lodge - I've not been to a meet there since when you had the Exige, so if that's 4 years it's been a long time!
Alex L said:
Build number 70 you say...
what are the chances...... i am 99.9% certain it was build #70; and was owned by a racing driver called B. Hetherington. Car was kept at JMH automotive in Cheshire for a while, remember washing it on a few occasions when i worked there 
ETA; here's a few pics....
Edited by melvster on Saturday 11th April 21:42
Very interesting, could well be my car but as it has be re-painted various times it's hard to tell. Plus, like Trigger's broom it has had lots of bits replaced over the years so appears in very good condition when I bought it from Lotus
I thought I'd tracked down all of the owners but perhaps I missed one.
I googled and guess it's Benji Hetherington but can't find any more info
I thought I'd tracked down all of the owners but perhaps I missed one.
I googled and guess it's Benji Hetherington but can't find any more info
Excellent choice. I agree that it looks great with the single-colour body, although the lotus 'launch colours' scheme works too. Saw one on the road recently; it looked impossibly low and wide when being pedalled through rural Hampshire. One of my favourite Lotus designs.
Have fun with it.
Have fun with it.
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