340R vs 2-11: your choice?
Discussion
The Lotus virus is attacking me again and even if I enjoy my M3, I am stil looking more and more at the Lotus brand again.
Just as a reminder I had a very track-focused elise 111R for 2 years , I should write for 2 wonderfullextraordinaryfabulusexctatic years (french is my first language).
SO I am now looking at a 340R or a 2-11(second hand.
I need some advice regarding the 2 goals I want to achieve:
1. pure track-toy but road-legal
2. to some extent investment (at least not loosing everything)
Please do not compare the Lotus vs the M3, I know very well which is the best
for pleasure as the other one is for comfort.
Thanks
Just as a reminder I had a very track-focused elise 111R for 2 years , I should write for 2 wonderfullextraordinaryfabulusexctatic years (french is my first language).
SO I am now looking at a 340R or a 2-11(second hand.
I need some advice regarding the 2 goals I want to achieve:
1. pure track-toy but road-legal
2. to some extent investment (at least not loosing everything)
Please do not compare the Lotus vs the M3, I know very well which is the best
for pleasure as the other one is for comfort.Thanks
as an investment i would go for the 340r... i remember a year or so back, they dropped down to £15k, but have since picked back up again.
the crappy economy will doubtlessly slow down sales of the 2-11, but there is a relative unknown on exactly how many they will end up building (i hope for the sake of lotus, it is lots and lots).
...so investment - 340r... track - 2-11
just my unqualified 2p's worth
the crappy economy will doubtlessly slow down sales of the 2-11, but there is a relative unknown on exactly how many they will end up building (i hope for the sake of lotus, it is lots and lots).
...so investment - 340r... track - 2-11
just my unqualified 2p's worth
village idiot said:
as an investment i would go for the 340r... i remember a year or so back, they dropped down to £15k, but have since picked back up again.
the crappy economy will doubtlessly slow down sales of the 2-11, but there is a relative unknown on exactly how many they will end up building (i hope for the sake of lotus, it is lots and lots).
...so investment - 340r... track - 2-11
just my unqualified 2p's worth
Thanks for your input. The problem is that in LHD the 340R cost approx £25k and the 2-11 £38k (for well maintained, medium mileage)the crappy economy will doubtlessly slow down sales of the 2-11, but there is a relative unknown on exactly how many they will end up building (i hope for the sake of lotus, it is lots and lots).
...so investment - 340r... track - 2-11
just my unqualified 2p's worth
A 340R is gently becoming a collector and probably in that generation of Lotus a must have for anybody who buy to keep, and in that mind, i think about one for more or less soon.
if it if for "serious" track fun,there is an obvious problem with the 340R it is that spares dont seems easy to find and that any hit with anything could put the car out of the road for months, not cool.
so if mainly track and not o keep many years, the 2-11 is probably a better choice.
about price, keep in mind that some dealers in UK advertise heavily to export new LHD cars;)
if it if for "serious" track fun,there is an obvious problem with the 340R it is that spares dont seems easy to find and that any hit with anything could put the car out of the road for months, not cool.
so if mainly track and not o keep many years, the 2-11 is probably a better choice.
about price, keep in mind that some dealers in UK advertise heavily to export new LHD cars;)
bher said:
dmax said:
about price, keep in mind that some dealers in UK advertise heavily to export new LHD cars;)
Could you please explain more? Do you mean they change the side of the wheel or that they track european cars to resale them?
chek this ad for exemple: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/844720.htm
Vincent sironval from the Yahoo belgian list just ordered an Evora in that way. and by the way if u go for a 340R, he sells his, as he bought the evora as he did not use the 340R at all. it is a very well optioned 340R and very good condition.
Hullo Ben 
IMO as a track toy then the 211. Whilst the 340R is nice, light and quick, the 211 has the latest gizmos like abs and traction control, is easy to drive and being a current production model you should be able to get replacement bits for it much more easily/conveniently. It'll feel more like a very raw and faster version of your 111R and if you fancy it - get the thing race prepped and enter a few of the Lotus Cup Europe rounds too.
As an investment? - that's more difficult and I think marketability may be affected by any car that's used as a pure track toy. For sure the 340R has rarity value but I suppose to keep it at a premium might also mean keeping away from regular track events.
Will look forward to seeing you out on track
IMO as a track toy then the 211. Whilst the 340R is nice, light and quick, the 211 has the latest gizmos like abs and traction control, is easy to drive and being a current production model you should be able to get replacement bits for it much more easily/conveniently. It'll feel more like a very raw and faster version of your 111R and if you fancy it - get the thing race prepped and enter a few of the Lotus Cup Europe rounds too.
As an investment? - that's more difficult and I think marketability may be affected by any car that's used as a pure track toy. For sure the 340R has rarity value but I suppose to keep it at a premium might also mean keeping away from regular track events.
Will look forward to seeing you out on track
If you're spending up to £38k for a track toy, you are in the realms of SVAd Radical SR3 (will nail a 2-11), a Caterham R500 (new version, likewise), 2nd hand mk1 996 GT3 (not as outright quick, but allows you to hone your driving skills).
If you get a 340R, make sure you get the 190hp VPHD version, but go through the service history on the engine espeicially with a fine tooth comb. As has already been said, I understand any bodywork repairs on the 340 become a major issue, and can become costly and involve a long wait....
If you get a 340R, make sure you get the 190hp VPHD version, but go through the service history on the engine espeicially with a fine tooth comb. As has already been said, I understand any bodywork repairs on the 340 become a major issue, and can become costly and involve a long wait....
fergus said:
If you're spending up to £38k for a track toy, you are in the realms of SVAd Radical SR3 (will nail a 2-11), a Caterham R500 (new version, likewise), 2nd hand mk1 996 GT3 (not as outright quick, but allows you to hone your driving skills).
Thanks very interesting. Caterham is an option I have to explore. I will look for the belgian dealer... he he 
Gooby said:
fergus said:
I
If you get a 340R, make sure you get the 190hp VPHD version, ..
wrong diddly wrong.If you get a 340R, make sure you get the 190hp VPHD version, ..
If you go for a 340r, get a honda'd + supercharged car. Take no prisoners.
Ben, hello and glad to hear you're coming back to Lotus.
I'd try the 2-11. 340R is a lovely vehicle but that engine, and the potential for issues with the bodywork and all would put me off. If you can get a Honda'd one, maybe, but they aren't infallible. The benefit to the VHPD on the road? Much more tractable power delivery, better gearbox, infinitely better map... it's just a way better engine, and if it blows up, you slot another stock one in there for a couple of grand and move on. Or you rebuild the VPHD for 2 or 3 or 4x that amount, and still it could explode on day two... with no warrantee most likely.
Personally if I were you, I'd want a car that just worked, all the time. Like the 111R. But maybe a little more hardcore. For that, it'd have to be a 2-11 or a newer Caterham, the R300 or R400 will have you laughing like a madman. They must be SO quick. Having been in a K-series Superlight R with ~210bhp that was just crazy fast, and seemed so easy to drive quickly with arse-out options whenever you wanted to.
I'm doing my first Caterham trackday in April at Donington. I can't wait
I'd try the 2-11. 340R is a lovely vehicle but that engine, and the potential for issues with the bodywork and all would put me off. If you can get a Honda'd one, maybe, but they aren't infallible. The benefit to the VHPD on the road? Much more tractable power delivery, better gearbox, infinitely better map... it's just a way better engine, and if it blows up, you slot another stock one in there for a couple of grand and move on. Or you rebuild the VPHD for 2 or 3 or 4x that amount, and still it could explode on day two... with no warrantee most likely.
Personally if I were you, I'd want a car that just worked, all the time. Like the 111R. But maybe a little more hardcore. For that, it'd have to be a 2-11 or a newer Caterham, the R300 or R400 will have you laughing like a madman. They must be SO quick. Having been in a K-series Superlight R with ~210bhp that was just crazy fast, and seemed so easy to drive quickly with arse-out options whenever you wanted to.
I'm doing my first Caterham trackday in April at Donington. I can't wait
S Works said:
The benefit to the VHPD on the road? Much more tractable power delivery, better gearbox, infinitely better map... it's just a way better engine, and if it blows up, you slot another stock one in there for a couple of grand and move on. Or you rebuild the VPHD for 2 or 3 or 4x that amount, and still it could explode on day two... with no warrantee most likely
Have you ever spent any energy in investigating the benefits of after market ECUs and the benefit from a custom dyno developed map for the car in question? Or do you like bolting things on to cars or getting your local dealer to do it for you?How many actual examples of k series engines have you seen which have 'blown up' - I presume you mean thrown a rod through the side of the block by this?
I'm not a K series 'fan boy', but do get a bit f**ked off when people jump on the collective bandwagon having had little experience of what they are preaching about.
fergus said:
S Works said:
The benefit to the VHPD on the road? Much more tractable power delivery, better gearbox, infinitely better map... it's just a way better engine, and if it blows up, you slot another stock one in there for a couple of grand and move on. Or you rebuild the VPHD for 2 or 3 or 4x that amount, and still it could explode on day two... with no warrantee most likely
Have you ever spent any energy in investigating the benefits of after market ECUs and the benefit from a custom dyno developed map for the car in question? Or do you like bolting things on to cars or getting your local dealer to do it for you?How many actual examples of k series engines have you seen which have 'blown up' - I presume you mean thrown a rod through the side of the block by this?
I'm not a K series 'fan boy', but do get a bit f**ked off when people jump on the collective bandwagon having had little experience of what they are preaching about.
Plenty.
Gooby said:
fergus said:
S Works said:
The benefit to the VHPD on the road? Much more tractable power delivery, better gearbox, infinitely better map... it's just a way better engine, and if it blows up, you slot another stock one in there for a couple of grand and move on. Or you rebuild the VPHD for 2 or 3 or 4x that amount, and still it could explode on day two... with no warrantee most likely
Have you ever spent any energy in investigating the benefits of after market ECUs and the benefit from a custom dyno developed map for the car in question? Or do you like bolting things on to cars or getting your local dealer to do it for you?How many actual examples of k series engines have you seen which have 'blown up' - I presume you mean thrown a rod through the side of the block by this?
I'm not a K series 'fan boy', but do get a bit f**ked off when people jump on the collective bandwagon having had little experience of what they are preaching about.
Plenty.
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