RE: The best used Lotus cars to buy in 2021
Discussion
The Elise and Exige were my pathway to loving Lotus cars. Both have incredible roadholding and perfect driver feedback without the electronic guff. The S2 Elise was bog standard 2nd hand and only let down by its lack of grunt above 60mph on track. So on to a 2005 Exige S2 with the Toyota engine bought in 2008 at 3K miles from Jersey. Fitting a Lotus supercharger got me to 217bhp and got rid of the disconcerting torque curve jump when the variable cam timing came on at 5K revs. Working on the principle that 1 track day mile = 10 on public roads I have serviced it accordingly and at 39K miles it has had no mechanical problems whatsoever. Adjustable Nitrons make it acceptable on long road journeys but I've new used the radio - I can't hear it.
A good friend has gone further with Hayabusi supercharger and another with a Honda S2000 engine but both break down regularly. Stick to factory options and upgrades. S2 Exige upgrades go up to 320bhp but they are not reliable.
I was tempted by the new Alpine - the closest rival Lotus has had in terms of weight, handling and power - a step up it seemed. The S was much quicker and in many ways a better car but is nowhere near as hard core as an S2 Exige which only has (dreadful) ABS. The same applies to the S3 Exiges.
Going back further I race Historic road cars. In the less than 1300cc class the Elite is untouchable when driven well (Brian Arculus) and spends most of its time dicing with more powerful machinery, including Elans. But the Elans are tough cars to drive being highly skittish on the limit. I have a Marcos 1800 GT which is much more forgiving, even though you are so low down its is difficult to spot apexes.
Lotus have made and continue to make great cars since Graham Chapman. Supremely responsive, great road holding , exceptional power to weight ratios. If they stick to this formula they will continue to engage with the small percentage of drivers who want to enjoy driving.
I watched with my driving instructor a race prepared Audi R8. 'How can he go so fast?'. ' Electronics, you could go as fast as he does.' I was at that point that I realised that speed had now nothing to do with the driver, but just the technology.
A good friend has gone further with Hayabusi supercharger and another with a Honda S2000 engine but both break down regularly. Stick to factory options and upgrades. S2 Exige upgrades go up to 320bhp but they are not reliable.
I was tempted by the new Alpine - the closest rival Lotus has had in terms of weight, handling and power - a step up it seemed. The S was much quicker and in many ways a better car but is nowhere near as hard core as an S2 Exige which only has (dreadful) ABS. The same applies to the S3 Exiges.
Going back further I race Historic road cars. In the less than 1300cc class the Elite is untouchable when driven well (Brian Arculus) and spends most of its time dicing with more powerful machinery, including Elans. But the Elans are tough cars to drive being highly skittish on the limit. I have a Marcos 1800 GT which is much more forgiving, even though you are so low down its is difficult to spot apexes.
Lotus have made and continue to make great cars since Graham Chapman. Supremely responsive, great road holding , exceptional power to weight ratios. If they stick to this formula they will continue to engage with the small percentage of drivers who want to enjoy driving.
I watched with my driving instructor a race prepared Audi R8. 'How can he go so fast?'. ' Electronics, you could go as fast as he does.' I was at that point that I realised that speed had now nothing to do with the driver, but just the technology.
Tickle said:
Seeing as pictures and a 111S was linked in the article, here's mine.
I honestly don't know what I would replace it with. A newer S3 but they are heavier or an Exige S3, again, the same issue but with bigger dimensions.
This S1 is the longest I've ever owned a car, maybe as I get older I realise the grass isn't always greener with cars.
After drooling over your car pictures over the years on different forums I've finally gone back to an S1. In my case Alan s160. I honestly don't know what I would replace it with. A newer S3 but they are heavier or an Exige S3, again, the same issue but with bigger dimensions.
This S1 is the longest I've ever owned a car, maybe as I get older I realise the grass isn't always greener with cars.
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