Europa vs exige
Discussion
not much really - with some mild mods you can make a Europa as quick as an Exige around the track
check out Randys racing Europa
http://www.lotus-central.com/index.php/news/93-lot...
if you like the styling, then a Europa is a bargain...if you can find one for sale ...and for a road going sportscar, the interior is the most luxurious out of the Elise range ......
check out Randys racing Europa
http://www.lotus-central.com/index.php/news/93-lot...
if you like the styling, then a Europa is a bargain...if you can find one for sale ...and for a road going sportscar, the interior is the most luxurious out of the Elise range ......
Boggy said:
Agree with Bogie,
Think of the Europa as an Elise GT, I'm really sold on them but not sure if they are going to continue making them
Boggy
It's a shame if they stop making them early. I plan to get one as a daily driver when I retire, in the not too distant future, and keep the Exige forever as my summer / weekend treat.Think of the Europa as an Elise GT, I'm really sold on them but not sure if they are going to continue making them
Boggy
It doesn’t kick in that hard, but you defiantly know when it’s doing its thing.
There is little linearity across the rev range, but rather than describing it as lumpy. It accelerates well and then the turbo pops in and it does its warp thing.
However It is not ideal as its something you have to learn. If you go from something that has a linear throttle response you will probably think it unnerving. Personally I love all that torque in something so light. Driving at normal road speeds takes a bit of mastering too. I find I do not go over 3.5K revs and I am changing gear, but driving like this means you go through the gears very quickly. I have also noticed there is a kind of advantage to the turbo “lagged” power delivered. Stick it in first and pull the clutch up without hardly pressing the accelerator and then quickly sticking it in to second seems to give some very controlled quick get-always. Not hitting the accelerator too hard in first seems to allow the turbo to spin up with the added advantage of not spinning the wheels, but by the time you are in second you have good forward motion and the turbo is spooled up just as you have the traction to release it. Well if you time it right!
I will not be disappointed if they stop production early. It will just mean these cars are rarer and possibly more desirable in the future. I hope it is not looked at as a failed Lotus. I personally think it was release too early. If Lotus had waited for the new Esprit to be released it would have bridged the gap of the Elise driver who likes the idea of a supercar Lotus, but still wants that Elise lightweight feel and handling.
There is little linearity across the rev range, but rather than describing it as lumpy. It accelerates well and then the turbo pops in and it does its warp thing.
However It is not ideal as its something you have to learn. If you go from something that has a linear throttle response you will probably think it unnerving. Personally I love all that torque in something so light. Driving at normal road speeds takes a bit of mastering too. I find I do not go over 3.5K revs and I am changing gear, but driving like this means you go through the gears very quickly. I have also noticed there is a kind of advantage to the turbo “lagged” power delivered. Stick it in first and pull the clutch up without hardly pressing the accelerator and then quickly sticking it in to second seems to give some very controlled quick get-always. Not hitting the accelerator too hard in first seems to allow the turbo to spin up with the added advantage of not spinning the wheels, but by the time you are in second you have good forward motion and the turbo is spooled up just as you have the traction to release it. Well if you time it right!
I will not be disappointed if they stop production early. It will just mean these cars are rarer and possibly more desirable in the future. I hope it is not looked at as a failed Lotus. I personally think it was release too early. If Lotus had waited for the new Esprit to be released it would have bridged the gap of the Elise driver who likes the idea of a supercar Lotus, but still wants that Elise lightweight feel and handling.
I have a tuned Europa and have driven a lot of Exiges now and there is not a big difference. Looks is up the the individual but the Europa is every bit as quick as any Exige but without the whining supercharger. In fact there are a few good reasons to think that the Europa will be quicker (aero, CofG height). I think the Europa feels quicker on the road because the torque is so accessible for overtaking.
Nice choice to make.
C43
Nice choice to make.
C43
1560 said:
hi,
I know a Europe is less performance-orientated,
but is there???????
- a different chassis
- different gearing
- weight???
- whats else makes it less agile
they cost a lot less when you look at the 200hp you get out of an europa
and I'm not in to convertibles....
grtz
s.
I know a Europe is less performance-orientated,
but is there???????
- a different chassis
- different gearing
- weight???
- whats else makes it less agile
they cost a lot less when you look at the 200hp you get out of an europa
and I'm not in to convertibles....
grtz
s.
To specifically answer one of your questions - the gearing is noticably taller in the Europa than in the current 6 speed Exige & Elise. It's one of the key reasons why I bought a Europa rather than an Exige. (Like you, I'm not into convertibles.
)Also, having a rear windscreen, the significantly better rearward visibility in the Europa, compared to the Exige, allows for far more relaxed driving in city centres.
One final, minor point is that the ride height of the standard Europa S is slightly higher than that of the Exige & Elise - so slightly less risk of catching the front on speed bumps.
Movano said:
1560 said:
hi,
One final, minor point is that the ride height of the standard Europa S is slightly higher than that of the Exige & Elise - so slightly less risk of catching the front on speed bumps.
In 60,000 , miles of exige driving I have never caught a speed hump on the splitter. One final, minor point is that the ride height of the standard Europa S is slightly higher than that of the Exige & Elise - so slightly less risk of catching the front on speed bumps.
A tree, kerb, rabbits, yes, but not speed humps.
I chose Europa over Exige about 18months ago - thought Exige handled better and was more "exciting", but wanted to get more use out of car and didn't see driving long distances or day-to-day in Exige. First trip in Europa was on collection - from Southampton to Edinburgh...very comfortable!
Thought Europa was brilliant car on the road - right power, and small enough, to drive hard a lot of the time, and esp with Lux pack interior was way more comfortable than Elise/exige. If you didn't back-to-back it with an Exige, you would think its handling was better than anything comparable could match. The engine map and turbo lag were only downsides in my opinion, but you do get used to it.
Didn't want to sell it, but upside was trading in for an Evora!
My Europa is now up for sale here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1496339.htm (I've done my trade-in, so no personal benefit involved!)
Thought Europa was brilliant car on the road - right power, and small enough, to drive hard a lot of the time, and esp with Lux pack interior was way more comfortable than Elise/exige. If you didn't back-to-back it with an Exige, you would think its handling was better than anything comparable could match. The engine map and turbo lag were only downsides in my opinion, but you do get used to it.
Didn't want to sell it, but upside was trading in for an Evora!
My Europa is now up for sale here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1496339.htm (I've done my trade-in, so no personal benefit involved!)
Mine is a hybrid of S and SE spec. An S with with the 225hp ECU, Milltek and SE front tyres (195 rather than 175). I love the car....and use it far more than I would an Exige. I echo the above comments.
I occasionally use mine on track, and swap over to a second set of wheels with track rubber. Then it compares well on pace with the Exige on similar rubber.
I occasionally use mine on track, and swap over to a second set of wheels with track rubber. Then it compares well on pace with the Exige on similar rubber.
junks said:
Boggy said:
Agree with Bogie,
Think of the Europa as an Elise GT, I'm really sold on them but not sure if they are going to continue making them
Boggy
Even better reason for buying one then Stew Think of the Europa as an Elise GT, I'm really sold on them but not sure if they are going to continue making them
Boggy
Going for an Elise S3 sir, may be an Evora for Mrs Boggy as she's earns the big bucks
Boggy
footsoldier said:
I chose Europa over Exige about 18months ago - thought Exige handled better and was more "exciting", but wanted to get more use out of car and didn't see driving long distances or day-to-day in Exige. First trip in Europa was on collection - from Southampton to Edinburgh...very comfortable!
Thought Europa was brilliant car on the road - right power, and small enough, to drive hard a lot of the time, and esp with Lux pack interior was way more comfortable than Elise/exige. If you didn't back-to-back it with an Exige, you would think its handling was better than anything comparable could match. The engine map and turbo lag were only downsides in my opinion, but you do get used to it.
Didn't want to sell it, but upside was trading in for an Evora!
My Europa is now up for sale here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1496339.htm (I've done my trade-in, so no personal benefit involved!)
That look's like a very good buyThought Europa was brilliant car on the road - right power, and small enough, to drive hard a lot of the time, and esp with Lux pack interior was way more comfortable than Elise/exige. If you didn't back-to-back it with an Exige, you would think its handling was better than anything comparable could match. The engine map and turbo lag were only downsides in my opinion, but you do get used to it.
Didn't want to sell it, but upside was trading in for an Evora!
My Europa is now up for sale here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1496339.htm (I've done my trade-in, so no personal benefit involved!)
Boggy
Boggy said:
footsoldier said:
I chose Europa over Exige about 18months ago - thought Exige handled better and was more "exciting", but wanted to get more use out of car and didn't see driving long distances or day-to-day in Exige. First trip in Europa was on collection - from Southampton to Edinburgh...very comfortable!
Thought Europa was brilliant car on the road - right power, and small enough, to drive hard a lot of the time, and esp with Lux pack interior was way more comfortable than Elise/exige. If you didn't back-to-back it with an Exige, you would think its handling was better than anything comparable could match. The engine map and turbo lag were only downsides in my opinion, but you do get used to it.
Didn't want to sell it, but upside was trading in for an Evora!
My Europa is now up for sale here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1496339.htm (I've done my trade-in, so no personal benefit involved!)
That look's like a very good buyThought Europa was brilliant car on the road - right power, and small enough, to drive hard a lot of the time, and esp with Lux pack interior was way more comfortable than Elise/exige. If you didn't back-to-back it with an Exige, you would think its handling was better than anything comparable could match. The engine map and turbo lag were only downsides in my opinion, but you do get used to it.
Didn't want to sell it, but upside was trading in for an Evora!
My Europa is now up for sale here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1496339.htm (I've done my trade-in, so no personal benefit involved!)
Boggy
footsoldier said:
My Europa is now up for sale here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1496339.htm (I've done my trade-in, so no personal benefit involved!)
That interior looks fabulous, I think.i found the feel a lot better in the exige
you can almost feel each individual wheel whereas in the europa it's more of a generliased sense of 'mush' underneath you
still great by any normal standards, but not as detailed or communicative as the exige
drove them back to back as well so the difference was very apparent
you can almost feel each individual wheel whereas in the europa it's more of a generliased sense of 'mush' underneath you
still great by any normal standards, but not as detailed or communicative as the exige
drove them back to back as well so the difference was very apparent
jackal said:
i found the feel a lot better in the exige
you can almost feel each individual wheel whereas in the europa it's more of a generliased sense of 'mush' underneath you
still great by any normal standards, but not as detailed or communicative as the exige
drove them back to back as well so the difference was very apparent
Nothing a change of dampers wouldn't sort out, maybe its more optimised for the road than the track if its all a big softer and suppler same underpinnings afterall.you can almost feel each individual wheel whereas in the europa it's more of a generliased sense of 'mush' underneath you
still great by any normal standards, but not as detailed or communicative as the exige
drove them back to back as well so the difference was very apparent
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