MY08 - HAPPY DAYS!..... or not?

[Phil-CH]

Haven't seen a topic on this yet, so let me be the first to spread the love... err news:

http://www.lotus-haese.de/Lotus%20Gesamtpreisliste...

The good:

said:

A new performance pack for the Exige-S that includes:
- Big Brake
- CUP roof
- Variable TC (like the 2-11)
- Upgraded clutch
- and 243 bhp performance upgrade

The bad:

said:

new colours, but higher in price?

The ugly:

said:

Auszug aus der Serienausstattung Elise / Exige / Europa
- Airbag Fahrer- und Beifahrerseite

in other words:
MY08 now includes airbags in all Elises/Exiges and the Europa. Nice!

Happy days!

Anyone else think Lotus is losing the plot?

[21TonyK]

Saw this floating around on a couple of forums. Basically all that's changing is airbags are being added to the range.

If you buy and Exige S you have the option to add a few toys and up the power a bit. With the exception of the variable TC () everything else could be done now.

Only the variable TC () is new.








... did I mention variable TC ()

[zebra]

Phil-CH said:

MY08 now includes airbags in all Elises/Exiges and the Europa. Nice!

Weight?

[Boggy]

Phil-CH said:

Haven't seen a topic on this yet, so let me be the first to spread the love... err news:

http://www.lotus-haese.de/Lotus%20Gesamtpreisliste...

The good:

said:

A new performance pack for the Exige-S that includes:
- Big Brake
- CUP roof
- Variable TC (like the 2-11)
- Upgraded clutch
- and 243 bhp performance upgrade

The bad:

said:

new colours, but higher in price?

The ugly:

said:

Auszug aus der Serienausstattung Elise / Exige / Europa
- Airbag Fahrer- und Beifahrerseite

in other words:
MY08 now includes airbags in all Elises/Exiges and the Europa. Nice!

Happy days!

Anyone else think Lotus is losing the plot?

Yep I'd heard this already but had to keep it under my hat so to speak, Also anyone with an Exige S will be able to upgrade their car with a bolt on package so to speak

Boggy

[Phil-CH]

zebra said:

Weight?

My guess: too much


Tony: I must have missed what's so exciting about variable TC...

[Boggy]

Not to much longer and their won't be any need for either a Honda or an Audi either? You heard it here first

Boggy

[Phil-CH]

Boggy said:

Not to much longer and their won't be any need for either a Honda or an Audi either? You heard it here first

From the standard Yota lump? Doubtful... but we've already had quite a few discussions on the subject.

[RichyBoy]

I think their losing the plot. They need to go back to lightweight, cheap to buy and run cars not more than 30k like the 135r and s160.

[TonyHetherington]

Is this really anything new? I mean, they're still using the same chassis and predominatly the same body so they just add factory bits?!

[kevin ritson]

If airbags are in all cars that means that hideous dash, although it's possible that it's for export markets only.

I like the Performance pack, though - it's about time the clutch was sorted and big brakes make a lot of sense with the power upgrade. The variable T/C is a good track tool, too and one of the best things about the 2-11 IMHO

[Boggy]

RichyBoy said:

I think their losing the plot. They need to go back to lightweight, cheap to buy and run cars not more than 30k like the 135r and s160.

They can't they need to sell more unit's now (Keep Proton Happy) so they can't keep building car's to suit a niche market. We have the same old same old all the time on here about why don't they do this and why don't they build that? They just can't build large volumes of car's to suit a small market so they have to build car's that will appeal to a larger audience of buyer's. You can always get Lotus to build you something if you've got the money I suppose?

Boggy

[TTwiggy]

I'm glad I got mine with the 'simple' (non airbag) dash when I did then...

[Boggy]

Phil-CH said:

Boggy said:

Not to much longer and their won't be any need for either a Honda or an Audi either? You heard it here first

From the standard Yota lump? Doubtful... but we've already had quite a few discussions on the subject.

Come on Phil let's wind up the Honda boy's

Boggy

[Gooby]

When we met Tony, we had the same conversation. He said that for a similar spec cars the weight difference is up by about 2lbs.

[NathanE]

Super Touring pack better not be made standard fitment - the look of it is highly marmite IMO and not everyone wants a 1 tonne set of airbags in their car.

[21TonyK]

Phil-CH said:

Tony: I must have missed what's so exciting about variable TC...

It's just the ability to dial-in the amount of control you want/need. On a rainy day in winter you can put it on full, on damp roads where you're not 10/10 you can tweak it up a bit or leave it off for fun. Far superior to the on/off approach. Something like 30+ levels to choose from.

If I had the option of TC on/off (which I did) I would choose no TC to avoid the issues I had with BMW DSC and Porsche PASM (which was much better).

But, having a basic TC with a dial to control it's interference does appeal.

[S Works]

Sounds about right. Basically they're admitting that the brakes on the Cup cars weren't upto scratch and now they're offering you the chance to pay for the privilege of having them on the car, when it should have them as standard.

The TC from the 2-11 looks interesting though, would like to have a play with that.

As for winding up the Honda boys Boggy... you can have a try anytime you like mate... if you can keep up!

[Phil-CH]

Can I play too, Tim?

(only the Honda NA S2 boys, no S/C!!)


Tony: Thanks for explaining. Perhaps I'm in a minority that want Lotus to retain to the focused, purist market they once have. Traction control, DBW... though helpful, I just think it has little place in a lightweight car such as the Lotus. It's like having Caterhams with traction control etc - it just shouldn't be IMO. Sadly, even Caterham are moving away from the purist little super7 and the new CSR range (bigger, more confortable, with heaters) just isn't as thrilling to drive as the old ones.

[Grinzzz]

Need that upgraded clutch on the rest of the model range, at least anything abouve 180bhp

[Phil-CH]

Anyone notice the bargain prices for specialist paint jobs?

Lotus Haese.de said:

Premium Paint I 4.530,00
Premium Paint II 2.740,00 €

I'd be inclined to think it's a typo if it the price wouldn't be repeated across the entire Lotus range...

€ 4530.00 Euros = £ 3087.00 GBP!!!

Surely no paint job justifies such a high price?

Edited by Phil-CH on Tuesday 21st August 14:33