RE: Lotus 111R
Discussion
What have they done to the rear of the car. I mean the thing is now almost perfect but the back is a complete mess. The exausts are the worst , what a disaster, i wonder if you will be able to replace them with items from an aftermarket manufacturer. God finally enough power, and comfort and theve messed up the look.
What a Waste!
What a Waste!
I would like to start by pointing out that I rarely post replies on this sort of site. I rarely do this because they tend only to be seen by people who don't care to listen. However this being a car site i suppose there must be at least a few of you who have the capacity for reasoned debate on this issue.
Having read the article and thereafter all your comments i find myself somewhat annoyed. I am annoyed for various reasons, not least because it seems that supposed car fans see fit to pick at the slightest things. To the author of this remarkably underwhelming article i would like to suggest that you might be trying to find faults merely for the sake of finding faults when there really are none. The cabin may suffer from boom and buzz to an extent, but A) this is much less evident than in the S1, B)This is part of the experience in a car like this. To feel the operation and character of every component; and C)if you tread on the loud pedal in any car there is noise. There is in a tvr but i hear people rave about it, people say they find the sound of a 3.6 porsche lump intoxicating, and usually in a ferrari there is a fair amount of noise aswell.(And anyway, it could be argued that this type of engine is meant to boom and buzz, so stop bloody complaining)
The engine is perfectly usable and redlines as someone mentions, at way below 10,000 (a point which maybe you should have researched before writing the story).
Having read the article and thereafter all your comments i find myself somewhat annoyed. I am annoyed for various reasons, not least because it seems that supposed car fans see fit to pick at the slightest things. To the author of this remarkably underwhelming article i would like to suggest that you might be trying to find faults merely for the sake of finding faults when there really are none. The cabin may suffer from boom and buzz to an extent, but A) this is much less evident than in the S1, B)This is part of the experience in a car like this. To feel the operation and character of every component; and C)if you tread on the loud pedal in any car there is noise. There is in a tvr but i hear people rave about it, people say they find the sound of a 3.6 porsche lump intoxicating, and usually in a ferrari there is a fair amount of noise aswell.(And anyway, it could be argued that this type of engine is meant to boom and buzz, so stop bloody complaining)
The engine is perfectly usable and redlines as someone mentions, at way below 10,000 (a point which maybe you should have researched before writing the story).
If you find the seat uncomfortable then either pump up the back support or put a cushion in. The throttle travel may be slightly longer than usual, but then so is that of a Fiat Coupe 20v turbo, and i've heard a lot of people wax lyrical about that. Drop down a cog or two if you wish to overtake, if you want an accessible power band then drive the car again after you have dropped your petty prejudice. If you drive a Bentley you have comfort but compromise on fuel economy, a BMW you get build quality but expensive maintenance costs and a Caterham there is performance but zero practicality.
With a Lotus you might compromise on some small things, but then you get a lot else besides. You go to buy a car and you come away with a dream!
With a Lotus you might compromise on some small things, but then you get a lot else besides. You go to buy a car and you come away with a dream!
I think its human nature to pick fault with things personally! Nothing is ever going to be perfect and they'll always be people who don't like certain things, myself included. I don't see anything wrong with people complaining or picking fault with the new car. To you it may be great to the next person it may not be! 
Hold on a sec'
(welcome by the way).
"subjectivity"... look it up.
i'd PERSONALLY like to read an honest review from a guy who knows his cars and has reviewed/driven many vehicles, rather than a basic PR-stunt, "lets kiss ass" type review.
As we generally have our own heads, we can make up our own minds, no? we can book our own test-drive and form our own opinions, no? "Subjectivity"...there it is again...funny that?
Why should the reviewer stay objective? It's repugnant to the nature of a "review" IMHO.
As for "picking at faults", you forget you've stumbled into an Elise forum, of Elise owners. There is no other demograph/group that is more enthusiastic and hopeful for this car to go well. Not only will it bring a lot more members, but it funds "our" replacements. BUT, faults are faults. I dont have my nose up Lotus' arse. I'd rather have a bowl of coco-pops. If it's shite, you can rely on me to say it.
Zealot!
(welcome by the way).
"subjectivity"... look it up.
i'd PERSONALLY like to read an honest review from a guy who knows his cars and has reviewed/driven many vehicles, rather than a basic PR-stunt, "lets kiss ass" type review.
As we generally have our own heads, we can make up our own minds, no? we can book our own test-drive and form our own opinions, no? "Subjectivity"...there it is again...funny that?
Why should the reviewer stay objective? It's repugnant to the nature of a "review" IMHO.
As for "picking at faults", you forget you've stumbled into an Elise forum, of Elise owners. There is no other demograph/group that is more enthusiastic and hopeful for this car to go well. Not only will it bring a lot more members, but it funds "our" replacements. BUT, faults are faults. I dont have my nose up Lotus' arse. I'd rather have a bowl of coco-pops. If it's shite, you can rely on me to say it.
Zealot!
When I drive a car for review, it may appear that I'm trying to find fault with it, but that is not my intention.
I set out to list the characteristics of the car. I do my best to paint a picture and create some impression of what it's like to be in the car and to convey what my senses experience through words.
There's nothing more frustrating that reading a car review and getting to the end of it and thinking "But what's it like to drive?".
In this case my comments about the boom and buzz were trying to get across the fact that there's quite a lot of resonance in the cabin at certain times. It's a boomy, buzzy noise and it's not exhaust noise which often is a nice sound. It doesn't detract from the car particularly but I thought it might help people imagine what it's like to be in the car.
As for the throttle travel, I was just pointing out that it's long. The seats? Yes, there are solutions but again I don't think it's a crime to point out that they're a bit curved.
If I've painted a picture that comes across as negative that wasn't my intent. It's a fine car with some interesting characteristics that I thought useful to point out.
I set out to list the characteristics of the car. I do my best to paint a picture and create some impression of what it's like to be in the car and to convey what my senses experience through words.
There's nothing more frustrating that reading a car review and getting to the end of it and thinking "But what's it like to drive?".
In this case my comments about the boom and buzz were trying to get across the fact that there's quite a lot of resonance in the cabin at certain times. It's a boomy, buzzy noise and it's not exhaust noise which often is a nice sound. It doesn't detract from the car particularly but I thought it might help people imagine what it's like to be in the car.
As for the throttle travel, I was just pointing out that it's long. The seats? Yes, there are solutions but again I don't think it's a crime to point out that they're a bit curved.
If I've painted a picture that comes across as negative that wasn't my intent. It's a fine car with some interesting characteristics that I thought useful to point out.
Nice article about the Elise, although having test driven a 111r recently, I find some of the information in the article inaccurate and more reflective on the peculiarities and preferences of the writer than the car. A few facts then. Yes, the engine only really gets going around 5800rpm. The change up point is best at 8400rpm and the driver is assisted in this by a red light coming on in the rev counter, although the ear tunes into it fairly quickly. Finding where the engine redlines is also very easy as the rev limiter tells you all about it. As an ex-motorcycle rider I had no problem adapting to a engine which likes to rev. The power delivery and transition between the on and off cam setting is less pronounced with the Toyota engine than with many bikes. Clearly this guy has never ridden an RD350. In my opinion the 111r is the car the Elise should always have been. It is perfect.
Having just swapped a BMW Z4 2.2 Auto for a 111R I feel I am in a pretty good position to tell potential new owners what this is like.
It is exactly like a grown up go kart, unquestionably. It is very low, I am 5'8" and the roof is in line with my waist, well just above it. The car is very small inside in terms of width. You sit right next to the passenger and when I pull the handbrake on my elbow hits the passengers arm. In terms of leg room and height there is plenty of space. It could be described a cocooning.
It is, however, very noisy compared to anything else. It might have good ride quality compared to a go kart but otherwise it is very hard. That said you do get used to it and although you notice this when driving it didn't cause me any comfort problems.
The engine provides strong acceleration up to 6,000rpm and then flies after that requiring some quick changes, it really is very very quick when using 6000+rpm.
Quality is very good for a Lotus and although giving the impression of quite a basic car mine has leather, CD/MP3, r/c/l, e/w, ABS and air con.
Only other challenge is getting in and out of it! Advice given to me was to push the seat all the way back before attempting to get out. It is good advice and I almost look quite good getting out of it.
Overall I would say to potential owners, be 110% sure you can live with such a noisy and hard riding car. The rest is superb but day-to-day these become the most important aspects. I, fortuantely, have an A6 as back up.
It is exactly like a grown up go kart, unquestionably. It is very low, I am 5'8" and the roof is in line with my waist, well just above it. The car is very small inside in terms of width. You sit right next to the passenger and when I pull the handbrake on my elbow hits the passengers arm. In terms of leg room and height there is plenty of space. It could be described a cocooning.
It is, however, very noisy compared to anything else. It might have good ride quality compared to a go kart but otherwise it is very hard. That said you do get used to it and although you notice this when driving it didn't cause me any comfort problems.
The engine provides strong acceleration up to 6,000rpm and then flies after that requiring some quick changes, it really is very very quick when using 6000+rpm.
Quality is very good for a Lotus and although giving the impression of quite a basic car mine has leather, CD/MP3, r/c/l, e/w, ABS and air con.
Only other challenge is getting in and out of it! Advice given to me was to push the seat all the way back before attempting to get out. It is good advice and I almost look quite good getting out of it.
Overall I would say to potential owners, be 110% sure you can live with such a noisy and hard riding car. The rest is superb but day-to-day these become the most important aspects. I, fortuantely, have an A6 as back up.
and 
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