RE: Zenos E10 R: full review

[ads_green]

I don't understand this place sometimes.
We have got an exciting, fast, easy to live with and relative to the competition affordable British sports car.

But no, an Mx5 will tick all the same boxes.

I get people like different things but to write off this (and I don't see how you can't write off all convertibles exotic or not) with the same brush is to me baffling. 'Boxster s, Ferrari 458 spider? Macca convertible? No, an mx5 will do the same for a fraction so why bother'.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Highly entertaining track toy!

I'd want to hand it back at the end of the session though.

[ads_green]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Highly entertaining track toy!

I'd want to hand it back at the end of the session though.

In that case I'd agree cheaper and perhaps more dedicated equipment available.

But. Seriously, it's not that bad at all With the roof off its no different to an elise - a mk1 Exige was considerably more hassle and effort to drive on the road.

[flyingscot68]

rollo said:

Ok. I don't claim to have an exclusive on logic and/or common sense. I had a Busa-engined Westfield for a while. No roof, no padding on the seat shells, no windscreen. My wife travelled in it once, from Cambridge to Bedford. She got out of the car, gave me a "look" and never got in it again. If your wife can tolerate that level of discomfort all the way through France and back, then hurrah for her (and you).

It's just as well that we like different things, otherwise we'd all be in the same place, driving the same car etc. I still don't understand why you'd pay that sort of money for something so compromised. Wouldn't an MX5 just do a better job all round?

By the way, I could configure a Sports 2000 for track-day use and you could run it for 5 years without laying a spanner on it, all for £20k. But even I would take the MX5 in that situation.

MX5

Eh, no thanks. Zenos and MX5 = chalk and cheese

[SpudLink]

ads_green said:

I don't understand this place sometimes.
We have got an exciting, fast, easy to live with and relative to the competition affordable British sports car.

But no, an Mx5 will tick all the same boxes.

I get people like different things but to write off this (and I don't see how you can't write off all convertibles exotic or not) with the same brush is to me baffling. 'Boxster s, Ferrari 458 spider? Macca convertible? No, an mx5 will do the same for a fraction so why bother'.

I share your frustration. It's an a fast, light, capable, affordable, mid-engined, hand-built British sports car. How can this not be popular on a forum that is supposed to be for driving enthusiasts? The driving experience of the MX-5 is as different as it is possible to be.

The same thing happens whenever there is a review of a Lotus. Instead of celebrating it, there are pages of comments suggesting it should be half the price, twice the power, and that you should buy somethings from Stuttgart instead.

[Ozzie Osmond]

SpudLink, you yourself describe it in your profile as a "weekend toy".

Daily Driver:
BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0si Sport. Purchased at 3 years old in 2012. (It's beginning to look like this one's a keeper.)


Weekend Toy:
Zenos E10 (Normally aspirated). Collected from the factory 31st July 2015.

[SpudLink]

Ozzie Osmond said:

SpudLink, you yourself describe it in your profile as a "weekend toy".

Daily Driver:
BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0si Sport. Purchased at 3 years old in 2012. (It's beginning to look like this one's a keeper.)


Weekend Toy:
Zenos E10 (Normally aspirated). Collected from the factory 31st July 2015.

Yes, that's how I use it. I could travel to work in it every day, as I used to do on a motorbike. As a result, riding a motorbike stopped being fun, and became part of my daily routine. When I had the Elise it was supposed to be a weekend toy but I loved driving it so much I used it everyday, and of course it lost its magic.
It took me a few years, but I realised that if I use one vehicle for everything, I eventually want something else. But keeping something that I use purely for the fun, and something else which is 'a nice place to sit' seems to work for me.

As for the MX-5, it's a pleasant enough drive, and is as weatherproof as you like. And using it everyday is a more sensible option. But driving it is nothing at all like the Zenos. So buying one would put a roadster in your garage, but you are not getting the same experience, or anything close.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Yup, I think that's right on target. I was very excited when the KTM X-Bow was launched and Zenos has a similar feel about it. Also saw the latest Lotus 3-Eleven at Goodwood recently. All of these must be great fun on track!

[anonymous-user]

SpudLink said:

I share your frustration. It's an a fast, light, capable, affordable, mid-engined, hand-built British sports car. How can this not be popular on a forum that is supposed to be for driving enthusiasts? The driving experience of the MX-5 is as different as it is possible to be.

The same thing happens whenever there is a review of a Lotus. Instead of celebrating it, there are pages of comments suggesting it should be half the price, twice the power, and that you should buy somethings from Stuttgart instead.

Yes but if it's a Porsch(arr) it'll be less reliable, cost more but be totally forgiven, they're pure, even with cup holders apparently

With the limited space to drive at daft speeds and volumes of traffic I think what you said about the daily and weekend car is how it fits with me. If it rains I don't go out, or I get wet. If it's cold I don't go out, or....and so on. People are far too caught up in the details and are missing th point. Sub 700-800kgs a load of power, decent steering and rwd. What's the problem exactly? Next it'll be a Focus or Golf being mentioned, seems to the way with PH at the moment

[Ozzie Osmond]

yonex said:

.....seems to the way with PH at the moment

The irony is strong.

[rollo]

Irony is strong. Steely is stronger still. Carbon Fibrey is stiffer, stronger, better altogether....

The MX 5 suggestion was very much "tongue in cheek". Have fun with your choices, Gentlemen. They're all good ones.

[SpudLink]

So, everyone has seen the video of the E10 R in action, and I'm guessing you've probably seen a few of the E10 S on track. However there's a shortage of track videos featuring the normally aspirated car.

Here's my attempt to remedy the situation...
https://youtu.be/sOqQHfqYeK4

Feel free to comment on my driving, spelling, track behaviour, etc with the sensitivity for which PH is renowned.

[SpudLink]

ash73 said:

I like the orange and black combo, got any pics?

This was taken at the Santa Pod PH Sunday Service...
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/140042383@N08/262122...


And these were taken by the same lad the Silverstone Sunday Service...
https://flic.kr/s/aHskw4h1wS

Edit: found this pic on my phone...

Edited by SpudLink on Sunday 22 May 15:29