RE: The last ever Lotus 340R: Spotted

[hondansx]

Q Car said:

That's a lot of money. I think if I was after a bonkers, wind in yer face lightweight special, I'd be looking at something from Ariel or KTM for a fraction of the price?

Neither handle as well or as 'pure' though.

[RobinSherwood]

chickensoup said:

not really the last one produced, rather the last one road registered

Dont think they made 340, as I dont think there were 340 buyers!, but there were more than 203, so not the last

every lotus model is fairly rare by mondeo standards anyway

There is actually a letter in the history file that states it remained unfinished at Lotus in Hethel until 2003, the chassis was of course built in 2000 as part of the limited production run.

I think it is therefore true to say it is the last produced and the last one road registered.

In my experience special edition numbering is often not done in the order that cars were produced. For example, my Maserati GranSport MC Victory is 60/180 and several of the other 10 or so UK cars have higher limited edition numbers by mine is known to be the last UK RHD car produced.

[Rawwr]

I sold mine for £17k. So there's that.

[MikeGalos]

hondansx said:

Anyway, appears there is at least one 340R in the States!
https://www.motor1.com/news/77874/this-rare-lotus-...

Lotus imported 10 of them for track day use only.

[Rawwr]

huckster6 said:

Soooo ugly, and pointless. You'd have a much more exhilarating experience on any motorcycle.

As the owner of a Fireblade SP and Africa Twin, and as a previous owner of a 340R, I'm happy to tell you you're wrong.

[lotuslover69]

Wonderful cars, ugly but i would still have one if i could afford it.

This has to be one of the most expensive Lotus road cars you can buy. The only ones i can imagine being more expensive than this second hand are

Lotus Elite


Lotus "Sports Racers" 8 eleven 13 etc


Lotus 7 series 3


Lotus Elise GT1

Edited by lotuslover69 on Tuesday 3rd October 20:22

[SidewaysSi]

All Lotus prices are going through the roof of late.

[HeMightBeBanned]

SidewaysSi said:

All Lotus prices are going through the roof of late.

Yes. Old and new, alike.

[SidewaysSi]

If you want an investment car, I would throw all my cash at a Lotus in the current market. I can see them doubling in value in a couple of years.

[xjay1337]

Id really like a late model elise or exige.
At least they are affordable (ish? With a lot of saving).

The money for this is crazy. An Aerial atom is better in every messurable way is it not? and cheaper, faster and probably more fun...

The 340R is a unique vehicle I guess that's why there is the price tag on them...

[405dogvan]

SidewaysSi said:

If you want an investment car, I would throw all my cash at a Lotus in the current market. I can see them doubling in value in a couple of years.

You seriously think this car will be worth £180K in a couple of years?

I have some beans to sell you

I really like 340Rs - they look amazing on the road - however they are massively, massively impractical and have some bonkers design issues (you have to remove the bodywork to access the battery!?) etc. etc.

Rarity - value HOWEVER rarity exists because demand was never high, even if these things maintain or increase value, they're the sort of thing which take months or years to find a buyer (and quite possibly never do?)

[kambites]

405dogvan said:

I really like 340Rs - they look amazing on the road - however they are massively, massively impractical and have some bonkers design issues (you have to remove the bodywork to access the battery!?) etc. etc.

Yeah, someone I used to work with had one and needed a new battery. I seem to remember a main dealer quoted him something like £2k; probably about 10% of the value of the car at the time.

405dogvan said:

Rarity - value HOWEVER rarity exists because demand was never high

Despite being expensive, I think the 340R was probably a loss-leader when new. It was certainly limited production and it sold out before production started.

[thiscocks]

Pretty sure it was lighter than 700kg, thought it was about 600?

[kambites]

If I'm remembering correctly, Lotus quoted a 675kg kerb weight.

[soad]

Ugly car, bonkers price now too. That's me owt.

[HeMightBeBanned]

soad said:

Ugly car, bonkers price now too. That's me owt.

Considering it's so "ugly", it never fails to draw a crowd

[Alpinestars]

Rawwr said:

I sold mine for £17k. So there's that.

I managed mid 20s for mine. Just before they took off. Great timing.

[TartanPaint]

Marwood79 said:

So the question is will the same happen to 2-11 values?

I hope so.

But no, probably not. If they get too silly you're into 3-11 money, and who would buy a used 2-11 for new 3-11 money?

[Marwood79]

TartanPaint said:

Marwood79 said:

So the question is will the same happen to 2-11 values?

I hope so.

But no, probably not. If they get too silly you're into 3-11 money, and who would buy a used 2-11 for new 3-11 money?

I agree there is probably a ceiling - but there is a certain rawness to the 2-11 - the story of the engineers working on their weekends to create it. i don't know, the 3-11 is clearly an absolute rocket. I'd suggest it is perhaps just a bit too fast for non racing drivers... a 2-11 is very quick on the road (as is a 340R) - I think in a 3-11 you could get yourself into all kinds of trouble. (I'd still happily have one though - coming down past £75k now)

There were rumours of a 4-11 with a slightly more 'accessible' power-to-weight and a lower price point. Be interesting to see how Lotus develops this extreme category now they have full Geely support...(i.e. more extreme or softer... or completely different a la 'Hipercar')...

I own a 2-11 btw. Hoping they go up a little bit yet...

[Ruxpin]

Alpinestars said:

I managed mid 20s for mine. Just before they took off. Great timing.

Sorry....

It's a great car and despite the 2 engines we have since put in it, the love for it is still very much there! I think you/we were very unfortunate with the previous 1.9 build. It is going well now though...nothing sounds quite like a VHPD at 7k+rpm!

https://youtu.be/JDXCtxKxITo

It still surprises me how different the 340R drives to an S1 with the same/similar geo.