RE: Lotus Exige Cup 380

RE: Lotus Exige Cup 380

Author
Discussion

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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I can see that for mainstream sports cars, but how many people who are genuinely in the market for an Exige wont know the difference between a wet and dry weight?

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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SidewaysSi said:
Yipper said:
Reavenger said:
Yipper said:
An epic car from the outside. Hideous car on the inside. Lotus badly need to up their game on their awful interiors.
I disagree. Lotus Exige interiors are functional and minimalist. It fits with the ethos of the car. Everything is logically laid out even if there isn't much to lay out! The seats are some of the best bucket seats you can buy. However, it would be good to see more of the alcantara in the cabin and the sills a tad thinner.
Paying 83k for an interior that looks like a cheap gokart is insane.

Lotus is finally pulling itself together in business terms and making a small profit. If Lotus can refine its interiors and appeal to normal people, their profits will go even higher.
That makes no sense at all. Having the interior of a Lexus or Porsche is not the Lotus way and will come with a weight penalty.

People who like nice interiors won't get Lotus at all. No point going after that sort of buyer. The Evora does have a better interior if that maters.
I've not seen anyone suggesting adding leather and mass etc though.

And a comment of 'people who like nice interiors won't get Lotus' is absolutely bonkers I'm afraid.

For many years Lotus decided that they would market themselves as 'cheap'. This did them no favours. They are now turning the business around by ditching that awful image and doing a great job of it. Every new edition looks more grown up and professional and addresses other issues that had made them undesirable. All of this great work by Gales has allowed him to push the prices forward but there is no doubt that their success at pushing prices forward is now moving them into an area where a few further points need to be redressed, one of which is the mid 90s style, cheap hatchback dash. It needs a redesign along the same lines of the other cosmetic areas that have been brought into the 21st century. That doesn't mean adding weight at all.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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What the interior desperately needs IMO is a new steering column assembly, not so much for the more modern stalks as for reach adjustability. Where most manufacturers are designing cars around the centre 95th+ percentile, Lotus seem content to still sell the Exige to the middle 50%.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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DonkeyApple said:
For many years Lotus decided that they would market themselves as 'cheap'.
Lotus cars have never been cheap.

suffolk009

Original Poster:

5,344 posts

164 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
I rather like the dash in the exige. I'm not at all keen on the new generation of flat screen dashboards that most supercars now seem to have. I like a dial.

I'm not sure that the new "only two lights" rear end works as well as the old one. I know, weight, cost, but I find it less atrractive.

I'm also unconvinced about all the little aero addenda. The dive planes, the splitter, the skirts, the big wing. It seems most cars get this stuff added as the model moves into middle age. Just look at an early Pagani Zonda S. No extras, just a simple beautiful line. Does anybody really think that a late winged and arched Countach is better looking than an early Periscope?

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Cold said:
DonkeyApple said:
For many years Lotus decided that they would market themselves as 'cheap'.
Lotus cars have never been cheap.
That was their entire business model from when they halted selling the Esprit and focussed on the Elise. It was all about cheap track/sport motoring. The focus of everything was to tell you that it was the cheaper alternative.

This is why they've had to work so hard to move prices up since Gales took over to make the business credible and profitable.

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
suffolk009 said:
I rather like the dash in the exige. I'm not at all keen on the new generation of flat screen dashboards that most supercars now seem to have. I like a dial.
That's just the binnacle though. Or rather the contents of the binnacle. It's the whole dash section that is beginning to look a little bit of a weak point when the price tag is £80k+

suffolk009

Original Poster:

5,344 posts

164 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
DonkeyApple said:
suffolk009 said:
I rather like the dash in the exige. I'm not at all keen on the new generation of flat screen dashboards that most supercars now seem to have. I like a dial.
That's just the binnacle though. Or rather the contents of the binnacle. It's the whole dash section that is beginning to look a little bit of a weak point when the price tag is £80k+
I see your point, but I still quite like it.

Mind you, I'd order black crackle paint instead of carbon-fibre every time. I concede I'm probably not a typical customer.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
DonkeyApple said:
That was their entire business model from when they halted selling the Esprit and focussed on the Elise. It was all about cheap track/sport motoring. The focus of everything was to tell you that it was the cheaper alternative.

This is why they've had to work so hard to move prices up since Gales took over to make the business credible and profitable.
No, the focus was on light weight and modest power. The early cars were circa £20k which compared unfavorably with competitors such as the MX5, MGF and even Caterhams.

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Cold said:
DonkeyApple said:
That was their entire business model from when they halted selling the Esprit and focussed on the Elise. It was all about cheap track/sport motoring. The focus of everything was to tell you that it was the cheaper alternative.

This is why they've had to work so hard to move prices up since Gales took over to make the business credible and profitable.
No, the focus was on light weight and modest power. The early cars were circa £20k which compared unfavorably with competitors such as the MX5, MGF and even Caterhams.
Exactly. Cheap cars. They are now close to hitting £100k for some models and are no longer pitching their brand as cheap performance but serious products getting on for serious money. Probably why they got rid of the 'CBeeBies' smiley grill for something a bit more grown up. wink

suffolk009

Original Poster:

5,344 posts

164 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
But that smiley grill - a sort of D on it's side) was just about the only constant on all Lotus Cars since the first Elite. It was even on the Esprit and the 340R.


DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
suffolk009 said:
But that smiley grill - a sort of D on it's side) was just about the only constant on all Lotus Cars since the first Elite. It was even on the Esprit and the 340R.
You can see it on the original Elan also and it looks fine and proper but when they did the Elise they seemed to take the premis and massively exaggerate it to look like a child's toy. The current change while subtle makes for a much more grown up look.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
DonkeyApple said:
Exactly. Cheap cars. They are now close to hitting £100k for some models and are no longer pitching their brand as cheap performance but serious products getting on for serious money. Probably why they got rid of the 'CBeeBies' smiley grill for something a bit more grown up. wink
How does being one of the most expensive in their sector mean cheap?
Back in 1999 a Sport 350 was £65k, go back a further ten years and an SE Esprit was knocking on the door of £50k - £50,000 in 1989. So it's not as if they aren't used to selling cars with comparatively high prices. They haven't ever been cheap.

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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Can't see the interior architecture being substantially revised this side of an all-new Elise in three years or so.

There isn't much to change, 'cos there isn't much there.

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Cold said:
DonkeyApple said:
Exactly. Cheap cars. They are now close to hitting £100k for some models and are no longer pitching their brand as cheap performance but serious products getting on for serious money. Probably why they got rid of the 'CBeeBies' smiley grill for something a bit more grown up. wink
How does being one of the most expensive in their sector mean cheap?
Back in 1999 a Sport 350 was £65k, go back a further ten years and an SE Esprit was knocking on the door of £50k - £50,000 in 1989. So it's not as if they aren't used to selling cars with comparatively high prices. They haven't ever been cheap.
Exactly. They stopped selling the Esprit in what? 2003/4? That's when they gave up trying to be premium. They are only back to trying to get into that sector since Gales took over and lost ok at how he has transformed the business through a thousand small but essential changes that have moved all the products up market in large old and perception.

The single point being that the dash of the Exige in this £83k car is starting to look clearly like another legacy from the 'cheap' era that is needing to be redressed.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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I realise it's very popular on this website not to like Lotus for some reason. Perhaps PH doesn't enjoy dynamically interesting cars? But at least base your prejudices on fact and not some made-up nonsense. Otherwise you become just another pub bore expert who's best ignored.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
I don't think Lotus ever really tried to be "premium" because that, to me at least, implies a focus on perceived quality at the expense of other things.

They've certainly pushed the 111 platform up in the performance and price stakes but they've (quite rightly IMO) not made it much more "premium" in the process. To a degree that's what the Evora is for but I wouldn't even call that a "premium" car.

Edited by kambites on Monday 24th April 18:05

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Cold said:
I realise it's very popular on this website not to like Lotus for some reason. Perhaps PH doesn't enjoy dynamically interesting cars? But at least base your prejudices on fact and not some made-up nonsense. Otherwise you become just another pub bore expert who's best ignored.
It's also quite common for PHers to be analphabetic. wink.

At what exact point have I said I didn't like Lotus? If you're having to resort to this then all I can suggest is that you either go back and read what has been written or go away until you are emotionally mature enough to cope with an adult conversation.