Why not a 340R?

[mdrc]

I was tempted to buy a superb looking 340R today - can someone please tell me why I shouldn't?! Are there any obvious pitfalls to ownership I should be thinking about? Are all the bits readily available still including spoliers, windscreens etc??? My use would almost entirely be road based.

[Peter450]

you can even buy a hardtop so nope cant think of a single reason not to get one if thats ehat you want

[bogie]

none really, other than the practicality of it and how often you could use it ....you may find for pure road use then you'd find an Elise/Exige more useable daily and youd get more out of it in that respect....however if its a 2nd/3rd car dry weather plaything then go for it

[speedyellow]

They are about the best dedicated toy you can buy.... and this is one time I would say if you fit a supercharged Honda you have the fastest monster on any track day!

[JAZ 34]

"Can someone please tell me why I shouldn't"

Sure..........£205 to change a light bulb, howzat!

JAZ 34 - Ex owner........

[Sam_68]

Some costs can be pretty fearsome due to the one-piece bodyshell.

A light accident that would require the relatively cheap replacement of a front or rear clam on an Elise would mean a very expensive replacement bodyshell on the 340R.

Similarly, maintenance that would require clamshell removal (even something as trivial as a seized radiator cooling fan - a common fault on Elises, or a failed battery) can turn into a time-consuming - hence expensive - exercise on the 340R.

Unless you really love the car's looks, I'm not sure that the extra performance and exclusivity outweighs the reduced practicality and potential for increased costs.

It's a very personal decision, though, so if you want the car enough, go for it!

[bher]

It is a wonderfull car but I am always surprised by the turn-over (frequent change of owner) they have. With the maintenance cost (other posts) I understand why...
The few who had one say "that it is a very good track weapon" but they still sale it for an exige or a 111R...
I have seen one at the dealer with a HGF, inform you about F(L) SH
In any case enjoy. I am sure that everybody has at least a few minutes thank about buying one... for me it was just 2 minutes...but they were long

[kevin ritson]

Just bear in mind they're not for the faint-hearted, for the reasons above plus that nagging worry the VHPD's going to go 'bang!'

But if you're slightly unhinged (and you have to be if you use a Lotus everyday, for example) or looking at sticking a Honda lump in (which IMHO makes more sense here than an S1 Exige sauna) then why not?

[mdrc]

Many thanks to all - my summary take from all of this is probably to get an Atom!! It's got the Honda engine - still in production (at the moment anyway and one hopes for time to come!) Just a bit priceier, but 6 month waiting list and holding secondhand prices well currently. Although it's less of a 'car', there seems to be a little less to go wrong and when it does, maintenance seems more readily available - close call though!!!

[Mr_C]

Personally I'd have a 340R over an Atom, although I've never been in an Atom, 340R's are so cool, and have a windscreen..

Fish off here just traded his Elise 111R for an Atom, and andysv has a 340R so it might be worth speaking to them.


Paul

[S Works]

mdrc said:

I was tempted to buy a superb looking 340R today - can someone please tell me why I shouldn't?!

Because eventually that lovely VHPD metro engine will explode. Awesome cars though.

[speedyellow]

S works... did you notice even I was recommending a Honda lump on this one!!!!! ;-)

[S Works]

Welcome to the dark side my friend

Was @ MSC this weekend and saw a lovely one being prepped for it's new SC ricer. That will be a rocketship.

[speedyellow]

There was a sc Honda 340 at Silverstone earlier in the year..... god it was fast... the Radicals were not expecting to be shoved out of the way... lol

[gooby]

speedyellow said:

There was a sc Honda 340 at Silverstone earlier in the year..... god it was fast... the Radicals were not expecting to be shoved out of the way... lol

It takes radicals? God, what a M/C

[laurieb]

S Works said:

Welcome to the dark side my friend Was @ MSC this weekend and saw a lovely one being prepped for it's new SC ricer. That will be a rocketship.

"Lovely one" eh ? Hope it was mine ...... Waiting for the body tub to get finished in Ardent Red, and there's a delay on the Nitron quick-rack. Looking at end week after next for completeion. Cant wait and my right foot is itching ....

Cheers,

L

[S Works]

Yep it was yours Laurie. I've never seen such a clean 340R ever, even Julian was commenting that it had bits on it which he'd never seen on other 340R's it was that original.

The CF Airbox looked like it had just been fitted.

Hope it looks as good in red as it does in it's current colours. Are you changing the colours of the interior?

[laurieb]

S Works said:

Yep it was yours Laurie. I've never seen such a clean 340R ever, even Julian was commenting that it had bits on it which he'd never seen on other 340R's it was that original. The CF Airbox looked like it had just been fitted. Hope it looks as good in red as it does in it's current colours. Are you changing the colours of the interior?

Oh goodo ..... havnt seen it myself yet .... interior to remain standard for the moment. Did at one stage consider a 1960's Team Lotus type colour scheme with the tub in Brit Racing Green and the black/carbon bits in yellow, in whch case would have changed the interior to match the 1960 Lotus race car red/maroon colour. Maybe next year ....

Cheers

L

[steff]

Sounds cool

Post some pictures when its finished

[mdrc]

Having now done some research and had some very helpful discussions with PH members offline, it seems that the biggest drawback is that there are no replacment windscrens available any more!