RE: Lotus Europa S | Spotted

[TrotCanterGallopCharge]

Is it any longer, wider, or taller than a VX220 or Elise please? I couldn't get in a VX as too tall.

[pycraft]

TrotCanterGallopCharge said:

Is it any longer, wider, or taller than a VX220 or Elise please? I couldn't get in a VX as too tall.

Supposedly longer and easier to get in. Always wanted one; it seems to fit the brief of "the Elise for fat middle aged men, so they can get through the the door without looking like total idiots". Which is a win in my book.

I'd have one. Love the Evora but it's too wide for the roads in my bit of Sussex. As someone said, they were £17k forever, then blew up about a year ago. I blame all those lockdown savings...

Edited by pycraft on Thursday 10th June 17:28

[Meteor Madness]

The last Lotus to have an engine designed by Lotus.

[TrotCanterGallopCharge]

pycraft said:

TrotCanterGallopCharge said:

Is it any longer, wider, or taller than a VX220 or Elise please? I couldn't get in a VX as too tall.

Supposedly longer and easier to get in. Always wanted one; it seems to fit the brief of "the Elise where fat middle aged man can get the the door without looking like total idiots". Which is a win in my book.

I'd have one. Love the Evora but it's too wide for the roads in my bit of Sussex. As someone said, they were £17k forever, then blew up about a year ago. I blame all those lockdown savings...

Seems to have the same wheelbase. I could find Europa longer due to larger boot, & easier access due to higher roofline. Possibly same interior dimensions then?

[Lotobear]

Six Potter said:

This Evora is the cheap on 'trader, looks okay?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105112...

I've never thought of the Evora as being a GT, doesn't look like one being a compact mid engine two seater, not driven one though...

The Evora is very much a GT in my opinion (I've a N/A). It's very comfortable and very accomplished but not hard edged or raw like, say, and Elise. It's also a suprisingly large car, especially width wise.

A great car for continental tours but not so much for B road blasts.

[Maccmike8]

My word these are munters.

[Vickers_VC10]

Never ever seen one of these out in the wild. Rare car.

[thegreenhell]

Maccmike8 said:

My word these are munters.

It's seems to be a proper Marmite car. I'm surprised that so many don't like it at all, whereas I find them very attractive.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

When will car manufactures realise that the current hunting levels from the natural population of Wintons and Dickensons is not sustainable.

[ChevronB19]

I love them. Their looks seem to be hugely divisive though.

I would’ve bought one, but got into it after the values shot up, so bought an Elise instead.

[cerb4.5lee]

thegreenhell said:

Maccmike8 said:

My word these are munters.

It's seems to be a proper Marmite car. I'm surprised that so many don't like it at all, whereas I find them very attractive.

Looks are obviously subjective, but this has always been a munter for me. I usually like the way a Lotus looks, but this was a massive own goal in the looks department to my eyes.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Evora killed this off but this particular one is very nice.

[hxc_]

They were never stunning but have not aged well looks wise.

Interesting thing though.

[Jonathan-pb7yo]

I had one of these for a couple of years.

Dailied it and found it totally comfortable and usable.

Cost nothing really to maintain.

I sold it for a major profit having bought it up in the middle of the financial crash for peanuts.

The only regret. Not still owning it. ☹️

[Sporky]

I tried one and loved it until I had to get back out, which was pretty much impossible. And I was young, bendy, and not fat at the time.

Edited by Sporky on Thursday 10th June 20:58

[Nickp82]

I’m surprised there’s so much hate for the looks, I think it looks great, particularly in the colour scheme of the featured car. Shame they’re not still a £15k car as mentioned previously as if I could find one , I would be up for buying.

[Lotobear]

Nickp82 said:

I’m surprised there’s so much hate for the looks, I think it looks great, particularly in the colour scheme of the featured car. Shame they’re not still a £15k car as mentioned previously as if I could find one , I would be up for buying.

I agree - I think they look great and I was seriously considering one instead of an Evora but simply could not find one at the time. With hindsight I think one may have suited my needs rather better that the Evora - they tick the dual boxes of being a sportscar for aimless blasts but also with some weekend/overnight potential

The only slightly jarring thing for me aesthetically is the front lights, otherwise I think its a pretty well resolved and purposeful looking design and the rarity also appeals.

[skylarking808]

I would enjoy driving that on British roads A LOT!

Although I rate the Elise I am not a convertable fan in terms of ownership. This in black and tan is a great combination.

[GTRene]

I also have a love and not love view of such Europa.
the plus side is, they are light, specially compared to the Evora.
they are also rare and it seem not to difficult to get more power out such engine and since the 2.0 4 cill engines are in again with the new range small sport cars, they are 'hip' again ;-)

in NL there is one for sale with 350 hp I believe, could be fun... Its on my maybe to buy radar, but so are a few more... like a TVR Tuscan V8 homage and a Vixen Tuscan V8 wide body and or some AMG SLK 55 and then some more expensive ones...
but...have to sell my other car first, because I only have 1 garage but no driveway or accessible space on my own ground, otherwise I already had some extra cars here as sort of , better a nice (collectable) extra car , then that money on the bank.

[lotuslover69]

These are essentially a VX220 with a plush interior and new body. Originally designed for the asian market as a Proton but the decision was to allow Lotus to release them as a lotus. Either way they were builtb by Lotus at hethel regardless of if they had been a proton or not.

Lotus still had a lot of Vauxhall engines lying around and made a deal with GM to shift them.