Wednesday 18th November 2009

PH Show Readers' Cars: Lotus 340R

Another cracking PH gem that will be on display at the PistonHeads show in January

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Want to get a closer look at this?...

January 14th isn't that far away, which means the PistonHeads show isn't either. Now, following on from the 'Swordfish' TVR we revealed in late October we've decided to pop back into the Reader's Cars stand to show you another attendee.

It's the Lotus 340R, a hardcore Elise, for drivers who can go without wind-down windows. Or windows of any sort, in fact. Or even a roof. It promised more power and bigger thrills on the road, so is that what drew owner Leigh Holloway to his?

"I used to have a fast Audi estate as a second car, but also had an estate as an everyday car, so I decided that, good as the Audi was, I really needed something more impractical to justify having a second car! I knew what the Lotus was but had never really considered one until then. But one drive and you're hooked."

...then come along to the PH show

The 340R was originally pegged to have 190bhp, but because some people don't appreciate exhaust noise or emissions, it was muzzled at 177bhp. That doesn't matter to Leigh, though - he had a little fettling done.

"Lotus offered a 190bhp upgrade as an aftermarket fit. The first owner of the car had this done. After I bought the car I had an Emerald ECU and vernier cam pulleys fitted as well as having a custom mapping session. The car now puts out 198bhp. The power delivery is much smoother, it pulls harder and it doesn't run anywhere near as rich as it used to. It makes the car much easier to drive."

So, apart form the presence of the 340R, why should you come to the PistonHeads show? We'll let Leigh tell you.

"It's not just about seeing my car, as I'm sure there will be lots of impressive vehicles there. But, if you want to see what happens if you take an Elise and remove anything that isn't strictly necessary (like the doors and the roof), then pop along and take a look at the 340R."

If you like the look of Leigh's Lotus and want to see it in the plastic, head to the PH show website and book some tickets to the show.

[Oddball RS]

They were (are) a great fun car - many happy memories

[nickpan]

Are you trying to tempt us into coming with limited visibility photos?









Looking forward to see you all at the show..!

[Chewitt]

last time I saw that it ran over my foot!


the green is MUCH better n that in real life - really shows the 340's shape off very well - you won't see many and you won't see any other in this colour.

o'course if Leigh is reading this then you should have painted it yellow

[roberthiggs]

fugly

[111KAB]

Much better looking than this one ....

[bubaak]

111KAB said:

Much better looking than this one ....

I realy dont like tuner´s...

[Benny Saltstein]

111KAB said:

Much better looking than this one ....

Colin Chapman would be turning in his grave.

Take a nice light car and burden it with loads of tat.

[R1_NUR]

I just don't get the 340R. Half the point of a lightweight car is that is cheap speed.

The 340R is not cheap on any level especially when you add in maintenance and repair costs. Plus it is pig ugly and impossible to use as an everyday car.

[loomx]

I have to agree with you on that one... But each to their own and all that.

[Gareth135R]

My 340r set the trend!




Those that don't get the 340r haven't driven one!
Granted repair costs would not be cheap...but as for maintenance...it's a K series after all. Cheap as chips to replace!

Edited by Gareth135R on Wednesday 18th November 19:04

[Pharoah]

Is that T20 TOY Gareth - I used to own that if its the same car!

[PascalBuyens]

R1_NUR said:

I just don't get the 340R. Half the point of a lightweight car is that is cheap speed.

The 340R is not cheap on any level especially when you add in maintenance and repair costs. Plus it is pig ugly and impossible to use as an everyday car.

Then you probably don't get the likes of a Seven, Atom and X-Bow either.

[TVR-Boy]

I am sure I have seen it somewhere before?

[Gareth135R]

Pharoah said:

Is that T20 TOY Gareth - I used to own that if its the same car!

Sure is and I'm gutted I sold it!

[dandarez]

It's an 'half' Autocar design.

Why did they decide to get involved in the 'We Help Design Radical New Lotus' a few months prior to the 98 Motor Show?

It was all a mad rush for the 1998 Motor Show (on an Elise chassis) where it was launched on Press Day to a round of muted hand clapping (I know I was there!) but not ready to sell.

[R1_NUR]

Gareth135R said:

...it's a K series after all. Cheap as chips to replace!

Edited by Gareth135R on Wednesday 18th November 19:04

Yes cheap to replace - but it is a K series so you WILL have to replace. (=NOT cheap!)

PascalBuyens said:

R1_NUR said:

I just don't get the 340R. Half the point of a lightweight car is that is cheap speed.

The 340R is not cheap on any level especially when you add in maintenance and repair costs. Plus it is pig ugly and impossible to use as an everyday car.

Then you probably don't get the likes of a Seven, Atom and X-Bow either.

Not at all. You jump to conclusions. I fully understand the Caterham - I have done over 50,000 miles in them. 30k in one year. That is the thing you see. I could use it everyday - just!

Atom - I don't get - it vibrates like an absolute bh. More than a Caparo. to the point where it can be difficult to breathe. Pointless. And the bloody wind blows up your trousers. Just a joke.

X-Bow. Now for some reason I love that and if you halved the price I would buy one. I reckon it would be cheap to run. May still own one.

[Aero8]

dandarez said:

It was all a mad rush for the 1998 Motor Show (on an Elise chassis) where it was launched on Press Day to a round of muted hand clapping (I know I was there!) but not ready to sell.

Very true. Just that name brings back bad memories...I got sick of mine spending more time at the dealer than on the road. I could go on all day about the problems with it.

Edited by Aero8 on Wednesday 18th November 23:08

[cragswinter]

simply gorgeous

[LPH]

Hi all

Nice to see my car has created some discussion! They are pretty much a love / hate kind of car but it would be boring if we all agreed wouldn't it.........

The pictures don't really do the car justice. This is a better pic:



Never had any problems with it but to be honest it's now a 3rd car so gets very little use.

[I WISH]

R1_NUR said:

Gareth135R said:

...it's a K series after all. Cheap as chips to replace!

Edited by Gareth135R on Wednesday 18th November 19:04

Yes cheap to replace - but it is a K series so you WILL have to replace. (=NOT cheap!)





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