2008MY spec changes....
Discussion
zebra said:
RobM77 said:
Does anyone know if you can order an '08 car without an airbag?
....and the rest of the cr4ppy us dash.Zebra
I was curious because I can't actually drive an Elise or Exige very easily without switching the wheel for a Momo one and extending it out towards me with a spacer. Most airbagged wheels don't allow such modifications to be made.
We've been here before on other threads 
The problem seems to be that the Elise is especially 'Italian' in the way the pedals and wheel are set up, which doesn't allow much scope for variation in body proportions.Rob, I doubt it. Thinking laterally Lotus would be smart if they were trying to re-organise their production line such that the differences between Fed and non-Fed Eliges are minimal. I suspect the airbag is now some kind of requirement, and deleting it will only be possible by fitting an aftermarket steering wheel and fiddling with fuses or something to blank of any warning lights etc.
I agree. Having been around the factory at the Hethel Birthday Bash recently, I had thought to myself that they seem to have an awful lot of build variations for such a basic production facility (mostly hand built, no computers/robots to follow algorithms and programs to avoid misbuilds) - and the old-fashioned paper build-sheet sellotaped to each car was, I thought, a build error just waiting to happen.
By minimising the number of spec variations and thus simplifying the production line, their productivity and efficiency will improve (ie more cars built faster) which will mean lower overheads and ultimately keep car prices down.
In addition, it will simplify parts purchases from Lotus' suppliers - coupled with the fact that if every car uses the same components it allows bulk buying (and therefore better purchasing discounts for the factory) this will again save money per car built.
Any money saved can be channelled towards new projects - like Eagle, Tesla and further Elise/Exige derivatives.
Not to mention the obvious benefit of the improvements to the specification and modernity of the current line-up.
Bring it on!!
By minimising the number of spec variations and thus simplifying the production line, their productivity and efficiency will improve (ie more cars built faster) which will mean lower overheads and ultimately keep car prices down.
In addition, it will simplify parts purchases from Lotus' suppliers - coupled with the fact that if every car uses the same components it allows bulk buying (and therefore better purchasing discounts for the factory) this will again save money per car built.
Any money saved can be channelled towards new projects - like Eagle, Tesla and further Elise/Exige derivatives.
Not to mention the obvious benefit of the improvements to the specification and modernity of the current line-up.
Bring it on!!
Zebede29 said:
....are making me wanna change my car. DOH!!
<slaps self around the face>
!!Help!!
(dreaming of a new Elise SuperCharged in lovely new Ice White with black 111S-style wheels, a/c, Touring & Sports packs and hardtop mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
)
do you have a link to the new specs and price etc? Im a bit worried that it may affect the price of the 111R in the second hand market?? Not that im going to sell it for at least 10 years mind (just in case the Mrs reads this).<slaps self around the face>
!!Help!!
(dreaming of a new Elise SuperCharged in lovely new Ice White with black 111S-style wheels, a/c, Touring & Sports packs and hardtop mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
)
hueandcry71 said:
Zebede29 said:
....are making me wanna change my car. DOH!!
<slaps self around the face>
!!Help!!
(dreaming of a new Elise SuperCharged in lovely new Ice White with black 111S-style wheels, a/c, Touring & Sports packs and hardtop mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm )
do you have a link to the new specs and price etc? Im a bit worried that it may affect the price of the 111R in the second hand market?? Not that im going to sell it for at least 10 years mind (just in case the Mrs reads this).<slaps self around the face>
!!Help!!
(dreaming of a new Elise SuperCharged in lovely new Ice White with black 111S-style wheels, a/c, Touring & Sports packs and hardtop mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
)hueandcry71 said:
do you have a link to the new specs and price etc? Im a bit worried that it may affect the price of the 111R in the second hand market??
Sorry mate, my twisted sense of humour, but you know the answer to that one don't you?It's one of many things that will drive prices down, not least depreciation. As I'm sure you know, the early years on all new cars hit you hard in the wallet, then it evens out. Lotus actually are pretty good after the initial dive though, when you compare to other marques.
S Works said:
Rob, I doubt it. Thinking laterally Lotus would be smart if they were trying to re-organise their production line such that the differences between Fed and non-Fed Eliges are minimal. I suspect the airbag is now some kind of requirement, and deleting it will only be possible by fitting an aftermarket steering wheel and fiddling with fuses or something to blank of any warning lights etc.
I expect somewhere like Plans Motorsport could do that for me if I wanted/needed a new Elise in the future. So long as the Elise remains a car that one can race, that airbag will be deletable I'm sure.I'm very happy with the 111S, but it worries me that if it should get written off for whatever reason I wouldn't be able to replace it.
LivinLaVidaLotus said:
hueandcry71 said:
Not that im going to sell it for at least 10 years mind (just in case the Mrs reads this).
It's not just your Mrs that doesn't believe that for a second, lol.Im going to start changing my family car every 5 minutes instead.I only do a total of 9k miles each year so perhaps i should just get rid of both and get taxis??
hueandcry71 said:
LivinLaVidaLotus said:
hueandcry71 said:
Not that im going to sell it for at least 10 years mind (just in case the Mrs reads this).
It's not just your Mrs that doesn't believe that for a second, lol.Im going to start changing my family car every 5 minutes instead.I only do a total of 9k miles each year so perhaps i should just get rid of both and get taxis??
Boggy
Boggy said:
hueandcry71 said:
LivinLaVidaLotus said:
hueandcry71 said:
Not that im going to sell it for at least 10 years mind (just in case the Mrs reads this).
It's not just your Mrs that doesn't believe that for a second, lol.Im going to start changing my family car every 5 minutes instead.I only do a total of 9k miles each year so perhaps i should just get rid of both and get taxis??
Boggy
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