Lotus 3-Eleven
Discussion
I bet you're counting down the hours! It looks fantastic. Mind you, that Esprit in the background doesn't look too shabby either 
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I know, the Esprit looks mighty tempting too! I think it's great that Lotus are now restoring some of their earlier models like Ferrari and Porsche do. I'll have an Essex Esprit please.
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I know, the Esprit looks mighty tempting too! I think it's great that Lotus are now restoring some of their earlier models like Ferrari and Porsche do. I'll have an Essex Esprit please.
Collecting my Lotus 3-Eleven from Bell & Colvill tomorrow.
As a reminder the spec is as follows:
3.5 litre V6, 24 valve, water cooled, all aluminium engine with Edelbrock supercharger
Max power 410hp @ 7,000 rpm
Max torque 302 lb/ft @ 3,000 rpm
0-60 mph 3.3
Max speed 174 mph
Power to weight 443 hp / tonne
Dry weight 925 kg
6 speed manual gearbox
Öhlins adjustable dampers
AP Racing four-piston calipers
Full colour TFT display with driver selection modes for road/track
Adjustable Traction Control
My optional extras:
Colour Scheme 1 – green with yellow stripes
Gloss Black Accents
Gloss Black Alloys
Fire Extinguisher and Battery Isolator
Michelin Cup 2 Tyres
Carbon Drivers Seat
Carbon Passenger Seat
Motorsport Front Splitter & Canards
Steering re-trimmed in alcantara and white stitching
Reversing Camera
As a reminder the spec is as follows:
3.5 litre V6, 24 valve, water cooled, all aluminium engine with Edelbrock supercharger
Max power 410hp @ 7,000 rpm
Max torque 302 lb/ft @ 3,000 rpm
0-60 mph 3.3
Max speed 174 mph
Power to weight 443 hp / tonne
Dry weight 925 kg
6 speed manual gearbox
Öhlins adjustable dampers
AP Racing four-piston calipers
Full colour TFT display with driver selection modes for road/track
Adjustable Traction Control
My optional extras:
Colour Scheme 1 – green with yellow stripes
Gloss Black Accents
Gloss Black Alloys
Fire Extinguisher and Battery Isolator
Michelin Cup 2 Tyres
Carbon Drivers Seat
Carbon Passenger Seat
Motorsport Front Splitter & Canards
Steering re-trimmed in alcantara and white stitching
Reversing Camera
Thank you fellow PH'ers.
Today couldn't have started better when I clamped eyes on my new toy for the first time at Lotus Bell & Colvill in West Horsley. "Wow" was all I could say. I probably came across to the chaps at B&C like an 8 year old on Christmas day!
After a pretty exhaustive hand-over (which was expertly done by Miguel) I excitedly headed out onto the country lanes of Surrey in convoy with my brother and his 997 GT3. The weather forecast promised heavy cloud but no rain. How wrong they were. I had to quickly peddle it back home, regrettably, before I got totally soaked but it turned out to be quite convenient since I was carrying the indoor car cover, trickle charger, paperwork etc. all in the passenger footwell. Not ideal for spirited driving...
The day got slowly dryer and brighter so I decided to go for a longer drive and follow my usual "Sunday drive" route down to Goodwood. Even using 50% of the car's engine performance (I'm limited to 4,000 rpm for the first 600 miles running-in distance) the car is simply too fast for normal road use, which was at times a lot of fun but on others super frustrating. No, I think the track will be its natural habitat, although I'll still be tempted by the odd early morning weekend blast for sure.
How should I describe the driving experience? Well, I can only liken it to a 400bhp go-kart that doesn't oversteer as readily as that sounds (fortunately enough)! The steering is super direct, the car just grips and goes like a catapult. You feel and hear everything. Sensory overload! The only gripe I have so far is that I'm finding it incredibly difficult to heel-and-toe with the pedals set where there are. I'm sure I'll find a way in the coming days and weeks ahead.
All-in-all for a first day experience? Simply awesome
Today couldn't have started better when I clamped eyes on my new toy for the first time at Lotus Bell & Colvill in West Horsley. "Wow" was all I could say. I probably came across to the chaps at B&C like an 8 year old on Christmas day!
After a pretty exhaustive hand-over (which was expertly done by Miguel) I excitedly headed out onto the country lanes of Surrey in convoy with my brother and his 997 GT3. The weather forecast promised heavy cloud but no rain. How wrong they were. I had to quickly peddle it back home, regrettably, before I got totally soaked but it turned out to be quite convenient since I was carrying the indoor car cover, trickle charger, paperwork etc. all in the passenger footwell. Not ideal for spirited driving...
The day got slowly dryer and brighter so I decided to go for a longer drive and follow my usual "Sunday drive" route down to Goodwood. Even using 50% of the car's engine performance (I'm limited to 4,000 rpm for the first 600 miles running-in distance) the car is simply too fast for normal road use, which was at times a lot of fun but on others super frustrating. No, I think the track will be its natural habitat, although I'll still be tempted by the odd early morning weekend blast for sure.
How should I describe the driving experience? Well, I can only liken it to a 400bhp go-kart that doesn't oversteer as readily as that sounds (fortunately enough)! The steering is super direct, the car just grips and goes like a catapult. You feel and hear everything. Sensory overload! The only gripe I have so far is that I'm finding it incredibly difficult to heel-and-toe with the pedals set where there are. I'm sure I'll find a way in the coming days and weeks ahead.
All-in-all for a first day experience? Simply awesome
Munkeyfeet said:
Aside from the initial inconvenience of rain it sounds like a pretty perfect first day.
It sounds like an absolute blast and certainly looks the part!
Where are you in Surrey Benny?
I am haslemere and my Sunday blast is down to goodwood. Picking up my new exige 350 on Thursday so may well see you on a similar 4K capped blast.
I know that feeling, for the first time in a long time I now understand my daughters "week before Christmas" uber excitement and desire to wish the week away!
Enjoy and I hope the weather stays dry for you!
I'm based in Cobham but regularly drive through Haslemere on my way to see my father in Petworth and/or Goodwood. It sounds like an absolute blast and certainly looks the part!
Where are you in Surrey Benny?
I am haslemere and my Sunday blast is down to goodwood. Picking up my new exige 350 on Thursday so may well see you on a similar 4K capped blast.
I know that feeling, for the first time in a long time I now understand my daughters "week before Christmas" uber excitement and desire to wish the week away!
Enjoy and I hope the weather stays dry for you!
Enjoy your wonderful Exige 350. Please post a pic if you can.
Munkeyfeet said:
That is a beast, looks great from that angle.
Yeah no lazy pressure washing for you!
This thread is making my week till collection seem very long indeed.
ETA - that garage looks far too organised!
As you can see I've got a touch of OCD when it comes to my cars and garage!Yeah no lazy pressure washing for you!
This thread is making my week till collection seem very long indeed.
ETA - that garage looks far too organised!
My bother (also a big PH'er) and friends are always having a laugh when they're in the bar after a track day and I'm busy cleaning the bodywork and brake dust off my wheels.
Weather looks good tomorrow so I'm going to crack on putting the miles on the Lotus
550 running-in miles covered in the 3-Eleven this weekend. And I'm sore!
For the first 600 miles (1,000 km) you should use no more than moderate throttle openings and not run the engine continuously at speeds over 4,000 rpm. First 'after sale' service is at 600 miles then annually thereafter. After first service I can use the car's full performance. Woo Hoo!
I'm swapping the Lotus over with the McLaren 12C on Saturday since I'm taking the latter to the Nurburgring with Circuit Days on 11th April. Will be interesting to drive the Mac again after long term exposure to the 3-Eleven. Both cars offer exceptional performance but deliver it in very different ways.
All being well the first track day for the 3-Eleven will be at Castle Combe with Bell & Colvill on 15th June.
For the first 600 miles (1,000 km) you should use no more than moderate throttle openings and not run the engine continuously at speeds over 4,000 rpm. First 'after sale' service is at 600 miles then annually thereafter. After first service I can use the car's full performance. Woo Hoo!
I'm swapping the Lotus over with the McLaren 12C on Saturday since I'm taking the latter to the Nurburgring with Circuit Days on 11th April. Will be interesting to drive the Mac again after long term exposure to the 3-Eleven. Both cars offer exceptional performance but deliver it in very different ways.
All being well the first track day for the 3-Eleven will be at Castle Combe with Bell & Colvill on 15th June.
Munkeyfeet said:
Benny you are killing me, I am here just counting down the hours till I can get out in mine (75hours in case you wondered) and here you are very nearly completing the running in process!
Surprised it's different to the exige 350, on the 350 it's 4K limit until 600 miles then sporadic red line till 1000-1500 miles and then it's first service.
This weather has been perfect for you, I just hope it holds out until at least Thursday!
Good luck with the track day, imagine that will be nothing but superb in the 3-11; what happens if it rains? Are they all weather inside?
Ah, you make a good point about the running-in process. I'll double check with B&C what the score is. Surprised it's different to the exige 350, on the 350 it's 4K limit until 600 miles then sporadic red line till 1000-1500 miles and then it's first service.
This weather has been perfect for you, I just hope it holds out until at least Thursday!
Good luck with the track day, imagine that will be nothing but superb in the 3-11; what happens if it rains? Are they all weather inside?
Enjoy your 350 when the time comes. Weather is looking great for the rest of the week
If it rains on a track day I'll get wet in the 3-11 so I'll take something else if the forecast looks dodgy.
mickv said:
And meant to add - Congrats Benny on the 3Eleven. It looks superb.
Thank you Mick. I've been fortunate enough to have owned some pretty special performance cars in my time, but the 3-11 tops the list for me now. Even if it's a right pain to get in and out of the car! Please can you post a pic of your 380 together with your spec? The write ups have been fantastic.
I wonder which Lotus, if any, EVO Magazine will feature in their annual track car of the year feature?
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