Lotus 3-Eleven
Discussion
Afternoon all. Apologies if this is the wrong area to bring up the 3-Eleven but I recently ordered one through Bell & Colvill in Surrey and it goes to build next week. It should be ready for collection in early March. Super excited! Any other PH'ers have experience of the 3-Eleven? Would be great to hear from you.
I know what you mean, it was a very difficult decision to make and I did consider all the reasons why it's not the car for you. However, I took the plunge after Lotus Bell & Colvill lent me their demonstrator one sunny Sunday afternoon and what can I say? I haven't ever had as much fun as I did that day (with my clothes on)! I couldn't stop grinning in my lid as I drove it along the local rural roads of Surrey (at sane-ish speeds). God knows what it will be like on-track. I'll provide a few reports on how I get along but if that test was anything to go by, I'm in for a wild ride. Heart has ruled head completely this time.
comfortably numb said:
Congratulations! I have yet to see one other than at a car show. What spec did you go for?
Lotus 3-Eleven Road SpecColour Scheme 1 – Green With Yellow Stripes
Gloss Black Accents
Gloss Black Alloys
Fire Extinguisher and Battery Isolator
Michelin Cup 2 Tyres
Carbon Drivers Seat
Carbon Passenger Seat
Motorsport Front Splitter & Canards
Steering re-trimmed in Alcantara and White Stitching
Reversing Camera
comfortably numb said:
excellent stuff. Is the race version road legal? I guess that you cannot take the race 'box as on option on the road car?
No, the race version isn't road legal and you're right - you cannot take the race 'box as an option on the road car (at least not officially). Anyway, race version is near £120k which is getting out-of-hand.
I know the race 'box will be much quicker but there is real delight having to use the road version's manual 'box. Plus I want to jump in it for the odd Sunday morning blast along the rural Surrey roads near me!
gashead1105 said:
I've not driven it myself, but if you look on TLF, there's a video of a mate of mine spinning one at Goodwood!
Top work on ordering one, I'm sure you will love it. It is compulsory if you start one of these threads to post picture up once you've collected it...
Will do! Top work on ordering one, I'm sure you will love it. It is compulsory if you start one of these threads to post picture up once you've collected it...
maxgas said:
Congratulations on your purchase, you will not be able to sleep the week it is due!
I am sure it will be awesome, love driving my 2 11 . Just have to keep a eye on the sky and make sure you
dress warm!
Looking foward to a full report on it,
Have fun !!
Thank you. My brother used to own a JPS liveried Lotus 2-Eleven. He threw me the keys one weekend and I drove it to Goodwood and back. What an awesome drive! I couldn't stop grinning under my lid. I am sure it will be awesome, love driving my 2 11 . Just have to keep a eye on the sky and make sure you
dress warm!
Looking foward to a full report on it,
Have fun !!
maxgas said:
The thing I find about driving these cars is that wearing a helmet tends to dull the experience
a bit. I prefer wearing just my sunglasses (bullet proof ) by the way , the sensation of speed
and the noise are greater and it justs feels like sensory overload. That is the best thing travelling
at 70 mph feels a lot faster then it would in a normal tin top, you would probably need to be doing
a 1000 kleptons in too get the same buzz.
Saying all that I do sometimes drive with a lid if I want a bit more comfort, or I have been driving
on track all day.
Was hoping too get out in mine last weekend but picked up man flue!!
Have you ever taken your 211 to the Nurburgring on a private track day? I'm still deciding whether to take the 311 or not. In any event, I will book myself a spot on the Bell & Colvill track day at Castle Combe on 15 June, and at Goodwood in August. a bit. I prefer wearing just my sunglasses (bullet proof ) by the way , the sensation of speed
and the noise are greater and it justs feels like sensory overload. That is the best thing travelling
at 70 mph feels a lot faster then it would in a normal tin top, you would probably need to be doing
a 1000 kleptons in too get the same buzz.
Saying all that I do sometimes drive with a lid if I want a bit more comfort, or I have been driving
on track all day.
Was hoping too get out in mine last weekend but picked up man flue!!
Delivery of the 311 is scheduled for 4 March. I can't wait. Also crossing every finger for a decent summer!
I'll also get some goggles. Do you recommend a particular brand?
DaveGB said:
Firstly congratulations on such a great car. You can't beat these type of cars for raw fun.
I've done the Atom, XBOW, couple of caterhams and the 2-11 SC over the last 5 years. The XBOW I actually took on track at Spa and Nurburgring. Great fun.
Also always drove with sunglasses and a beanie if a bit cold. On the 2-11 and XBOW I invested in a motorbike wind deflector to offer a bit of protection, as per below
Your 2-11 SC looks great Dave. How does it compare with the Evora 400? I've done the Atom, XBOW, couple of caterhams and the 2-11 SC over the last 5 years. The XBOW I actually took on track at Spa and Nurburgring. Great fun.
Also always drove with sunglasses and a beanie if a bit cold. On the 2-11 and XBOW I invested in a motorbike wind deflector to offer a bit of protection, as per below
Lagerlout said:
Looks awesome!
I used to wear goggles in my 2-11 on the road until I got hit in the head by a stray bolt whilst at Castle Combe last year. I was wearing a lid of course, but brought home how easy it would be to get a broken noggin driving on the road without a lid as there's much more debris about. Being lanky my heads sticks out way over the screen.
Not sure I'll be able to resist driving the 2-11 lid-less though, it's such an amazing experience having that animal engine screaming behind your back!
Agreed. I know I'll look like a bit of a tit driving around my local roads in the 311 wearing a lid but that's a small price to pay to stay pretty! I might wear glasses/goggles occasionally but mostly I'll wear the lid. Just bought a new one so it will be a good excuse to wear it. I used to wear goggles in my 2-11 on the road until I got hit in the head by a stray bolt whilst at Castle Combe last year. I was wearing a lid of course, but brought home how easy it would be to get a broken noggin driving on the road without a lid as there's much more debris about. Being lanky my heads sticks out way over the screen.
Not sure I'll be able to resist driving the 2-11 lid-less though, it's such an amazing experience having that animal engine screaming behind your back!
comfortably numb said:
baronbennyt said:
In the meantime, does anyone know how we might set up a 2-Eleven / 3-Eleven sub-group on the PH Lotus Forum?
Could you please make it a 'British Lightweight Track Special' or similar forum? I've got an Elemental RP1 and would like somewhere to hang out.Any ideas?
comfortably numb said:
Any news on the car?
My 3-Eleven is now meant to arrive at Lotus Bell & Colvill on Saturday 18th March. Unsurprisingly, there has been a bit of a delay (it being Lotus of course) but I'm not particularly upset about it because the weather's pretty nasty at the moment. Once the car arrives at B&C it will have a full paint protection film wrap applied, reversing camera installed and the steering wheel re-trimmed in grey alcantara. Can't wait (weather permitting)! mickv said:
Exciting time Benny! I ended up going for an Exige Sport 380, from dealer stock, so it's all happened quite quickly. Should collect around the same time as your 3Eleven arrives.
Thanks. The Exige Sport 380 looks and sounds epic too! The write-ups have been glowing. You must be seriously looking forward to the 380's arrival. It will be interesting to see if EVO mag features the 380 or 3-Eleven for their annual track car of the year feature. What is your exact spec and how do you intend to use it?
mickv said:
Spec is:
aircon
floor mats
metallic paint (silver - I think it's arctic silver from memory)
stereo + 2 speakers (probably both redundant!)
sound insulation
cruise control
Red exterior accent pack with red calipers
Red interior accent pack
Forged wheels
Carbon sills
Lithium iron battery
Alcantara trim with red stitching (and the 380 comes with the carbon seats as standard)
Carbon exterior pack and soft top kit (to come later)
Use will be a mix of road and trackdays - it will be a weekend car essentially, although I will have to use it more early on to get to the 1,000 mile service asap. Lotus appear to specify a 4k rpm rev limit for those first 1,000 miles
Sweet. Please post pics of your 380 when it arrives.aircon
floor mats
metallic paint (silver - I think it's arctic silver from memory)
stereo + 2 speakers (probably both redundant!)
sound insulation
cruise control
Red exterior accent pack with red calipers
Red interior accent pack
Forged wheels
Carbon sills
Lithium iron battery
Alcantara trim with red stitching (and the 380 comes with the carbon seats as standard)
Carbon exterior pack and soft top kit (to come later)
Use will be a mix of road and trackdays - it will be a weekend car essentially, although I will have to use it more early on to get to the 1,000 mile service asap. Lotus appear to specify a 4k rpm rev limit for those first 1,000 miles
Sadly, my 3-Eleven delivery has been postponed again until 31st March - just in time before the 1st April tax increase!
Terminator X said:
I had a day out at Silverstone and we had one of these to use all day in amongst other "ordinary" cars. The 3 eleven was so much better / faster than everything else, it really blew my mind!
TX.
Was it appreciatively faster than other high performance cars lapping there - what was the "competition"? The wait is unbearable! TX.
TheRocket said:
Gents if interested I've just created a Tribe on Drivetribe called 'Light is Right' basically for sub 1000kg road/track day specials and more specifically the LCC Rocket as trying to get the owners together in one place but all similar cars welcome, plus sign up !
Grazie. Will take a look. Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff