Lotus Europa - really that awful?

[Pig Skill]

I am sure I am in the minority here but I am strangely drawn to them. I think they look great and having owned a few Elise in the past, the extra refinement would be a welcome change.

I know they have a lot of Bad press and that puts me off - largely because I would worry that I would lose a wedge come resale time, which knowing me is statistically every 8 months!

Anyone actually own(ed) one that could give me some honest opinions?

Edited by Pig Skill on Tuesday 17th August 06:59

[GravelBen]

Most reviews I've seen have been very positive about the driving experience - I think most of their problem may lie with being too Porsche-like to appeal to many Elise owners, and too Elise-like to appeal to many Porsche owners.

[Chicken Curry]

I was thinking this also, I saw anlovely black one last week and was instantly in love.

It looked great and it's now become what I aim to have once I've paid off the corsa and bought a house....all in a few years.

[Gun]

I like the look of the Europa as well, I actually saw one on the road a couple of weeks ago as well, first one I've ever seen. They're definintely on my "To own at some point" list.

[Scuffers]

treat them as a VX220 with a different body on it.

nothing wrong with them per say, just marketed in a bit of a no-mans-land.

[LuS1fer]

Like most Loti, they suffered by comparison at their new price. Once they're second hand, the values all tend to even out and it's academic. It's a good looking car and as you say a bit more grown-up than the Elise.

[300bhp/ton]

Pig Skill said:

I am sure I am in the minority here but I am strangely drawn to them. I think they look great and having owned a few Elise in the past, the extra refinement would be a welcome change.

I know they have a lot of Bad press and that puts me off - largely because I would worry that I would lose a wedge come resale time, which knowing me is statistically every 8 months!

Anyone actually own(ed) one that could give me some honest opinions?

Edited by Pig Skill on Tuesday 17th August 06:59

Bad press have they really had bad reviews??

Rare, only seen 2. But I don't see how you can't like them.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 17th August 08:35

[andy_s]

What Scuffers just said in a nut-shell.

I think, at their price, that they're an intelligent choice.

[Gun]

andy_s said:

What Scuffers just said in a nut-shell.

I think, at their price, that they're an intelligent choice.

, there are a couple around for £17k at the moment, once they drop to about 12k I'm going to take the plunge I think!

[BoRED S2upid]

Wouldnt the fact that they are so rare help them maintain a decent price? Im a big fan of them for the very reason that you don't see many around im sure they are great to drive too!

[L100NYY]

Gun said:

andy_s said:

What Scuffers just said in a nut-shell.

I think, at their price, that they're an intelligent choice.

, there are a couple around for £17k at the moment, once they drop to about 12k I'm going to take the plunge I think!

I really can't see them ever getting that low to be honest Gun, mid teens will be there lowest I would think.

[Jgtv]

Never seen a bad review but I always thought they tried to pitch them just a little to high without really being able to come up with enough to justify it.

Realistically I see them as easing into lotus ownership with one of them rather than jumping out of a boxter/ cayman into one.

I would get one if I could afford to run it on the 20-25K miles a year I currently do.

[kambites]

I rather like them, but as above, it's basically a VX220 with a different (uglier?) body and a leather covering most of the plastic/aluminium.

[900T-R]

Jgtv said:

Never seen a bad review

Except from Car's GBU section giving it two stars against four for the Elise/Exige and five for the Evora, making it look like it's a bad car while all it indicates is that for the average punter at list price, it may not be the most VFM.

[Rawwr]

Lotus Engineer: "Hmm, so we got asked to make this car for the land of the rising dog-eaters but now they don't want it."

Lotus Marketeer: "Well that's not a problem! Instead of putting a Proton badge as it as planned, we'll put a Lotus badge on it."

Lotus Engineer: "Dude! It's a VX220 in a mildly uglier body! Nobody's going to be stupid enough to think it's a new model!"

Lotus Marketeer: "Trust me, wrap everything inside in leather that's only marginally thicker than human skin and then give it a name of a model that people loved in the past. Winner!"

Lotus Engineer: "When I get home, I'm going to cut myself."

[Brian Harvey]

Rawwr said:

Lotus Engineer: "Hmm, so we got asked to make this car for the land of the rising dog-eaters but now they don't want it."

Lotus Marketeer: "Well that's not a problem! Instead of putting a Proton badge as it as planned, we'll put a Lotus badge on it."

Lotus Engineer: "Dude! It's a VX220 in a mildly uglier body! Nobody's going to be stupid enough to think it's a new model!"

Lotus Marketeer: "Trust me, wrap everything inside in leather that's only marginally thicker than human skin and then give it a name of a model that people loved in the past. Winner!"

Lotus Engineer: "When I get home, I'm going to cut myself."

You are so close to the truth there it's not funny. Quote from an actual Lotus engineer: "Dressing up the interior like a fking satchel isn't going to make that thing sell."

Lotus had its nose put out of joint by having the Europa foisted onto them by Proton and never put any heart or effort into its promotion.

[Jgtv]

900T-R said:

Jgtv said:

Never seen a bad review

Except from Car's GBU section giving it two stars against four for the Elise/Exige and five for the Evora, making it look like it's a bad car while all it indicates is that for the average punter at list price, it may not be the most VFM.

Not seen that one so my point still stands

seriously thought I will give it a look, still I quite like then but I certainly agree its not good VFM.

[DJC]

The main criticism was the engine mapping. Namely they fked it up. Massive hole in the power band.

Ive never been entirely sure what happened there or what Lotus was thinking. Thats a no-brainer thing to get right and the package they were starting with was already pretty bang on the money!

I like them, I especially like them at around 300 ponies which Ive already discussed with Loon.

[GKP]

Brian Harvey said:

Rawwr said:

Cynical stuff

You are so close to the truth there it's not funny. Quote from an actual Lotus engineer: "Dressing up the interior like a fking satchel isn't going to make that thing sell."

Lotus had its nose put out of joint by having the Europa foisted onto them by Proton and never put any heart or effort into its promotion.

Although the finance guys were more than happy as the development costs were written off by the parent company, so every car sold was a good chunk of cash in the bank.

Journos didn't understand what the car was about, neither did internet 'experts' as it wasn't an Elise, so unfortunately the model didn't sell in huge numbers. Those that did buy, loved it. There's a strong demand for them now the inital purchase price has been softened by the secondhand market and good used examples don't hang around for long.

[Rawwr]

GKP said:

neither did internet 'experts' as it wasn't an Elise

It fking is