Do Lotus Deliberately Try To Confuse Would-Be Owners?

[Flintstone]

Well, do they? Because it works!

Just how many bloody variants are there? I've trawled through here, clicked on all the links and I'm still none the wiser as to which (used) model I want.

Maybe another TVR? At least I understand those

[Vixpy1]

Not got anything to say, just passing through, carry on.

[Hollywood Wheels]

Enjoying your Saturday night Charlie?! Class.

[Silent1]

Flintstone said:

Well, do they? Because it works!

Just how many bloody variants are there? I've trawled through here, clicked on all the links and I'm still none the wiser as to which (used) model I want.

Maybe another TVR? At least I understand those

Elises.co.uk should tell you, althought it's not working for me right now

Here's a cache though, that still has the text.

[boobles]

Have you tried telling people what you actually want from the car? If you want no mod cons at all then the S1 is for you. If you want something more practical then obviously the S2 is the way forward, but there are loads of varients to choose from but it all depends on what you want really.

[Gooby]

Umm... it aint that hard. Only a TVR driver could get it wrong (hairy knuckles)
There is only 4 cars,
Elise
Europa
Exige
2-eleven

With the elise you get;
Elise S (Basic model about 140bhp)
Elise R (The best model 190bhp)
Elise supercharged (220 bhp)

Exige
NA - same as the R (190 bhp)
Exige S ( Supercharged 220 Bhp)
You can then put various sport pack on the S to take it to 240 bhp or 256 bhp.

Europa
2 specifications, Original (poverty speck) and the new which is very nice.

2-eleven
Available with different engines. 190bhp N/A or supercharged 220bhp / 240bhp / 256 bhp.

[Francelise]

Gooby said:

Umm... it aint that hard. Only a TVR driver could get it wrong (hairy knuckles)
There is only 4 cars,
Elise
Europa
Exige
2-eleven

With the elise you get;
Elise S (Basic model about 140bhp)
Elise R (The best model 190bhp)
Elise supercharged (220 bhp)

Exige
NA - same as the R (190 bhp)
Exige S ( Supercharged 220 Bhp)
You can then put various sport pack on the S to take it to 240 bhp or 256 bhp.

Europa
2 specifications, Original (poverty speck) and the new which is very nice.

2-eleven
Available with different engines. 190bhp N/A or supercharged 220bhp / 240bhp / 256 bhp.

Think you have missed a big part out. I understand what the guy is saying:

S2 models from 2001 until the toya motor

There so many options on these ones, I would list them but i would get it all wrong!

francelise

[Beachbum]

Gooby said:

Umm... it aint that hard. Only a TVR driver could get it wrong (hairy knuckles)
There is only 4 cars,
Elise
Europa
Exige
2-eleven

With the elise you get;
Elise S (Basic model about 140bhp)
Elise R (The best model 190bhp)
Elise supercharged (220 bhp)

Exige
NA - same as the R (190 bhp)
Exige S ( Supercharged 220 Bhp)
You can then put various sport pack on the S to take it to 240 bhp or 256 bhp.

Europa
2 specifications, Original (poverty speck) and the new which is very nice.

2-eleven
Available with different engines. 190bhp N/A or supercharged 220bhp / 240bhp / 256 bhp.

Goobmeiter, you've only considered what you can buy new currently. How about 160's, 135's 135Rs, 240R's, 111, 111S(Toyota & Rover) and there are others, I just cant be bothered to tax what grey matter is still functioning after a night shift.

[Beachbum]

Beachbum said:

Gooby said:

Umm... it aint that hard. Only a TVR driver could get it wrong (hairy knuckles)
There is only 4 cars,
Elise
Europa
Exige
2-eleven

With the elise you get;
Elise S (Basic model about 140bhp)
Elise R (The best model 190bhp)
Elise supercharged (220 bhp)

Exige
NA - same as the R (190 bhp)
Exige S ( Supercharged 220 Bhp)
You can then put various sport pack on the S to take it to 240 bhp or 256 bhp.

Europa
2 specifications, Original (poverty speck) and the new which is very nice.

2-eleven
Available with different engines. 190bhp N/A or supercharged 220bhp / 240bhp / 256 bhp.

Goobmeister, you've only considered what you can buy new currently. How about 160's, 135's 135Rs, 240R's, 111, 111S(Toyota & Rover) and there are others, I just cant be bothered to tax what grey matter is still functioning after a night shift.

[Flintstone]

And Beachbum hits the nail on the head. So many variants.

Much as I'd love to I can't stretch to a new car. Anyway, it's against my religion what with depreciation and all that. Sadly that excludes a few nice ones. I like the look of the S2 (the S1 looks a bit dated), really like the look of the Exige but that's outside my budget of £15,000.

If at all possible I'd like to avoid the 'K' series engine. I know, I know. HGF is probably right up there with the myth that TVRs always break down but they still seem to me to be a bit fragile. I've had a tuned 'K' series engined car before and have a fair idea what they're capable of but..........

Lastly (but my prime consideration) is performance. Yes, the car will be my everyday drive but I still want some poke. I know I won't get the same torque and noise I'm used to from a V8 but if I can't get something that goes I may as well stick with a shopper.

Thanks for the links, I'll have another look round and oh, Gooby? That's hairy @rsed, not knuckles, if you don't mind

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Not just the variants either, there are some quite big changes between model years in some instances as well. Like probax seats, touring pack as standard, LED lights etc.

[miro]

the Elise 111s is Rover the Elise S is toyota 134bhp not to be confused with the Exige S

[fatwomble]

I think at £15K you're stuck with a K Series, Toyota engined cars are a bit pricier. If that hasn't put you off an S2 111S (156 bhp) would be available at the price you can afford.

Don't let the relative lack of power put you off, try one first.

[R-Racer]

Know what you mean. I went through the list last Aug when i was looking for my new toy!
In my mind,you must go for one with the Toyota power unit,for the shear piece of mind if driving it everyday,(ex Alfa owner talking,sorry).

[hueandcry71]

can you put a performance pack on a N/A Exige???
I didnt think so (at least thats what a brochure i have says) but have seen one adverttised with one "supposedly" on.

[TIPPER]

Depending on what you want from the car and what you want the car for is the best place to start.
If you're looking for a point and squirt type of machine then the Elise probably isn't going to be for you (but I suspect you know that!).
Do you intend to use the car as your only car/daily wheels? Occasional track days? Weekend toy? Weekend toy/lots of track days? The various Elises will cover all of those bases - the 111R (yota engine) probably being the best bet for daily use and a modded S1 being at the other end of the spectrum.
I wouldn't get too hung up about the K, plenty of Elises are well into six figure mileages now and anything up to about 160/170 bhp can be reliably and relatively cheaply attained. HGF is also relatively cheap (say £800) to fix properly.
Tell us what you want the car for and we can probably help a bit better

[Silent1]

[quote=TIPPER]Depending on what you want from the car and what you want the car for is the best place to start.
If you're looking for a point and squirt type of machine then the Elise probably isn't going to be for you (but I suspect you know that!)...[quote]

Not quite, i use my VX (yes, burn the heathen etc) daily and providi9ng by point and squirt you aren't expecting masses of torque it's really fun, especially leaving work on cold tyres, i've now perfected the powerslide out of the carpark

I only do it as everyone else thinks i spend too much on cars, whilst they trundle about in MK1 fiestas

Edited by Silent1 on Sunday 27th January 23:01

[Chris49]

Flintstone said:

(the S1 looks a bit dated)

You what!!!

[Flintstone]

Chris49 said:

Flintstone said:

(the S1 looks a bit dated)

You what!!!

Sixteen posts before I pissed someone off, sorry It's the round headlights that put me off and the only thing I didn't like about my Chimaera (apart from the fuel bills). On reflection an S1 190 might do the trick though. I could live with the headlights if I had 190bhp or more. Shallow I know but I'm coming from a 300bhp car (albeit a little heavier).

So let's see. Budget £15,000 and I'm looking for something to drive 'enthusiastically'. Practicality not too much of an issue as there's the family car for that. I commute 70 miles each way but only a couple of times a week (I drive to work and go away for a few days so the suitcase would have to go on the pax seat). I've only ever done one track day in my life and may do a couple more but not regularly. 'B' road blasting is much more fun than outright straight line dragging, don't see the point in that.

I know the 'K' series is nowhere near as bad as it's made out to be, as I said I had a modified 'K' series engine before, but as R-Racer said there's that peace of mind thing. If it came to a choice between a 190bhp 'K' series and lowered powered Toyota I think I'd take the 'K' though.

fatwomble's suggestion was a good one, drive one (some). Any suggestions?

[Mattt]

IIRC Dream Machines hire them out, and if you buy one through them they refund the hire. Not sure it's new cars only though.