RE: Lotus Europa S | Spotted
Discussion
Great looking car that has aged well. Much more tuneable than an Elise.
The car I can’t believe anyone likes the look of is the Ferrari 360, never liked them since day one, never grew on me in the years since. Just horrid for a ‘supercar’. Would much rather have a Europa!
The car I can’t believe anyone likes the look of is the Ferrari 360, never liked them since day one, never grew on me in the years since. Just horrid for a ‘supercar’. Would much rather have a Europa!
Edited by twinturban on Friday 11th June 08:35
I have one of these, purchased new in 2008. Great car with kitsch 70's orange interior.
One small correction, it certainly wasn't lavishly praised - in fact most reviewers said if you want a GT get a cockster or something similar.
Still, 13 years of ownership and its a great vehicle to have the occasional spin in.
People still stop and stair at it, and its often a conversation opener.
Don't believe the 'how many left' figures - there's less than 98 left in the UK....
One small correction, it certainly wasn't lavishly praised - in fact most reviewers said if you want a GT get a cockster or something similar.
Still, 13 years of ownership and its a great vehicle to have the occasional spin in.
People still stop and stair at it, and its often a conversation opener.
Don't believe the 'how many left' figures - there's less than 98 left in the UK....
I considered one of these many years ago to replace my Chrysler Crossfire. This was when I had enough cash in my pocket to buy a better car but not enough to buy a house, so around 2014.
At the time there were not ever many for sale (no surprise), but those for sale were all £20-£22k for 7/8 year old examples.
I do own a house now, so made the right decision, but nevertheless, that would have been depreciation-free motoring.
Interestingly, I wouldn't give one a second glance now that they are butting heads with the Evora, which is the far superior car.
At the time there were not ever many for sale (no surprise), but those for sale were all £20-£22k for 7/8 year old examples.
I do own a house now, so made the right decision, but nevertheless, that would have been depreciation-free motoring.
Interestingly, I wouldn't give one a second glance now that they are butting heads with the Evora, which is the far superior car.
TrotCanterGallopCharge said:
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?
Lower sills than the VX220 which makes egress/ingress easier. Lots of people 6ft+ in VX220 comfortably. Mind you roof off for track days and a helmet
bargi said:
TrotCanterGallopCharge said:
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?
Lower sills than the VX220 which makes egress/ingress easier. Lots of people 6ft+ in VX220 comfortably. Mind you roof off for track days and a helmet
I did have an Evora, you can fit in there with a crash helmet. It's a great GT car, or sports car when you wanted it to be, despite the weight, safer to I'd imagine. Europa would score more with it's lower running costs & less weight tho.
Current steed does need roof off for trackdays to!
I wouldn't mind one of these. The silver mesh against the black paintwork is a mess though, I think it looks much better and more cohesive with a decent colour and black mesh and trim:
Definitely not as much of a looker as the Elise of the same period though, but if it's a more liveable proposition then may be worth the trade off for someone wanting it as an only car which is a big ask for a Elise.
Definitely not as much of a looker as the Elise of the same period though, but if it's a more liveable proposition then may be worth the trade off for someone wanting it as an only car which is a big ask for a Elise.
roger.daltrey said:
I have one of these, purchased new in 2008. Great car with kitsch 70's orange interior.
One small correction, it certainly wasn't lavishly praised - in fact most reviewers said if you want a GT get a cockster or something similar.
Still, 13 years of ownership and its a great vehicle to have the occasional spin in.
People still stop and stair at it, and its often a conversation opener.
Don't believe the 'how many left' figures - there's less than 98 left in the UK....
It does strike me as odd how few are left.One small correction, it certainly wasn't lavishly praised - in fact most reviewers said if you want a GT get a cockster or something similar.
Still, 13 years of ownership and its a great vehicle to have the occasional spin in.
People still stop and stair at it, and its often a conversation opener.
Don't believe the 'how many left' figures - there's less than 98 left in the UK....
All I can think is they've entered the scenery due to over-enthusiastic driving, because I can't imagine anyone scrapping one for any other reason. Thoughts?
clacs2 said:
It does strike me as odd how few are left.
All I can think is they've entered the scenery due to over-enthusiastic driving, because I can't imagine anyone scrapping one for any other reason. Thoughts?
Daresay many have been written off - once the clam is damaged, good luck repairing it or finding a new clam.All I can think is they've entered the scenery due to over-enthusiastic driving, because I can't imagine anyone scrapping one for any other reason. Thoughts?
Then a few maybe are off the road, and a few more exported?
I've sprinted against one and I find them an appealing proposition and they go alright too, but they sit in an odd niche. If you want a sports car buy an Elise or a VX and if you want a GT buy....well, anything else, probably a Boxster or a Cayman.
If you're interested in stats:
There were 456 Europa Models build. 409 were 'S' the remaining 46 were factory 'SE' models.
At least 1 'S' has been converted to 'SE' spec, but this was not a works build.
3 other 'S' models were converted to 'SE' spec by the factory.
127 'S' models were RHD and 4 'SE' were RHD which gives around 131 built for sale in the UK.
The rest are overseas, although some RHD models were also exported to Japan, Australia, Malaysia etc...
Thats an approximate write-off rate of around 2 to 3 a year - which is about par for the course with a Lotus.
Just saying...
There were 456 Europa Models build. 409 were 'S' the remaining 46 were factory 'SE' models.
At least 1 'S' has been converted to 'SE' spec, but this was not a works build.
3 other 'S' models were converted to 'SE' spec by the factory.
127 'S' models were RHD and 4 'SE' were RHD which gives around 131 built for sale in the UK.
The rest are overseas, although some RHD models were also exported to Japan, Australia, Malaysia etc...
Thats an approximate write-off rate of around 2 to 3 a year - which is about par for the course with a Lotus.
Just saying...
I had both the only Persian Blue Europa SE and a blue Elise S for a while:
I bought the Elise on a whim and decided I quite fancied a Europa, then the SE came up for sale and I jumped on it, having not even seen it let alone driven one. It had great brakes and went down the road really well, and from some angles had a fantastic purposeful stance that photos never seem to capture. I really liked it.
Except the build quality wasn't the best, the "plush" interior felt like really cheap leather smothered over everything so that it squeaked even more than it would normally have done, and I never really got on with the power delivery - even though the turbo whistling and fluttering was fun for a while. After a few years it went to a new home and it's now with a real enthusiast who has had it stripped and a treated to a full respray, and comes out on high days and holidays. I always thought the Alfa 4c was more like a modern Europa S/SE and that doesn't seem to have been universally loved either...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I bought the Elise on a whim and decided I quite fancied a Europa, then the SE came up for sale and I jumped on it, having not even seen it let alone driven one. It had great brakes and went down the road really well, and from some angles had a fantastic purposeful stance that photos never seem to capture. I really liked it.
Except the build quality wasn't the best, the "plush" interior felt like really cheap leather smothered over everything so that it squeaked even more than it would normally have done, and I never really got on with the power delivery - even though the turbo whistling and fluttering was fun for a while. After a few years it went to a new home and it's now with a real enthusiast who has had it stripped and a treated to a full respray, and comes out on high days and holidays. I always thought the Alfa 4c was more like a modern Europa S/SE and that doesn't seem to have been universally loved either...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by ewand on Friday 11th June 17:05
otolith said:
Don't really get what's so controversial about their looks.
Not surprised that a car which was overweight for an Elise derivative and still too hard to live with for the mass market didn't do too well.
"Overweight" is a bit strong. Later Elises (like the 220 Cup) had more power but more weight too; the Europa SE was just under 1000kg so it wasn't like it was some lardy tub getting dragged around. What did for it was the extra price and that fact that nobody was going to put up with the sills and the cabin (architecture, noise, etc) except people who already loved Lotus. No-one would seriously weigh up a Cayman and an Europa as a comfortable, everyday sports car, and pick the Lotus.Not surprised that a car which was overweight for an Elise derivative and still too hard to live with for the mass market didn't do too well.
Check out the sales brochure though. They knew how to dream in Hethel
https://www.onlymanuals.com/lotus/europa/lotus_eur...
I had a couple of VERY enjoyable drives to the Lotus Racing series in a stock Europa S when they were new, always rated them as a drive.
Not a fan of the tan leather and the rear end isnt the nicest out there.
However, back then Hoffmans started playing with them and easily got the power to a safe 300hp for not huge money......
I always had one in mind when they hot the the 20ish mark, byt seeing that, they look like holding good value now.
Almost an Elise with different looks and a Vaux motor, not much to not like tbh......
Not a fan of the tan leather and the rear end isnt the nicest out there.
However, back then Hoffmans started playing with them and easily got the power to a safe 300hp for not huge money......
I always had one in mind when they hot the the 20ish mark, byt seeing that, they look like holding good value now.
Almost an Elise with different looks and a Vaux motor, not much to not like tbh......
ewand said:
"Overweight" is a bit strong. Later Elises (like the 220 Cup) had more power but more weight too; the Europa SE was just under 1000kg so it wasn't like it was some lardy tub getting dragged around. What did for it was the extra price and that fact that nobody was going to put up with the sills and the cabin (architecture, noise, etc) except people who already loved Lotus. No-one would seriously weigh up a Cayman and an Europa as a comfortable, everyday sports car, and pick the Lotus.
Check out the sales brochure though. They knew how to dream in Hethel
https://www.onlymanuals.com/lotus/europa/lotus_eur...
That’s the point though - if you wanted something like an Elise you didn’t want 150kg of lard, and if you wanted a comfy everyday car you didn’t want something Elise based!Check out the sales brochure though. They knew how to dream in Hethel
https://www.onlymanuals.com/lotus/europa/lotus_eur...
TrotCanterGallopCharge said:
I'm 6ft 3", got in the VX220, tried to put seat back to get comfortable, but found it was already against the bulkhead. Great shame, as I liked them, cheaper than Elise, & something different. It'd probably be the same for the Europa.
I did have an Evora, you can fit in there with a crash helmet. It's a great GT car, or sports car when you wanted it to be, despite the weight, safer to I'd imagine. Europa would score more with it's lower running costs & less weight tho.
Current steed does need roof off for trackdays to!
Whereas I'm the opposite proportions, 5'10" yet long in the upper body... No hope of wearing a helmet in an Evora (staggered my mate when I drove his, he's a good 3" taller than me yet fits just fine in all directions. I did have an Evora, you can fit in there with a crash helmet. It's a great GT car, or sports car when you wanted it to be, despite the weight, safer to I'd imagine. Europa would score more with it's lower running costs & less weight tho.
Current steed does need roof off for trackdays to!
otolith said:
ewand said:
"Overweight" is a bit strong. Later Elises (like the 220 Cup) had more power but more weight too; the Europa SE was just under 1000kg so it wasn't like it was some lardy tub getting dragged around. What did for it was the extra price and that fact that nobody was going to put up with the sills and the cabin (architecture, noise, etc) except people who already loved Lotus. No-one would seriously weigh up a Cayman and an Europa as a comfortable, everyday sports car, and pick the Lotus.
Check out the sales brochure though. They knew how to dream in Hethel
https://www.onlymanuals.com/lotus/europa/lotus_eur...
That’s the point though - if you wanted something like an Elise you didn’t want 150kg of lard, and if you wanted a comfy everyday car you didn’t want something Elise based!Check out the sales brochure though. They knew how to dream in Hethel
https://www.onlymanuals.com/lotus/europa/lotus_eur...
otolith said:
That’s the point though - if you wanted something like an Elise you didn’t want 150kg of lard, and if you wanted a comfy everyday car you didn’t want something Elise based!
What I liked was that it was still very light, still had lovely wriggly steering, still rode and handled well, but had (or felt like it did) loads more torque, so it went well without thrashing it. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff