Anyone own a Lotus?


Kayvan

Kayvan

GT Owner
Jul 13, 2006
4,782
Wondering what happened to this super-car company.

Granted the Elise/Exige are club-racers that are great bang for buck.

Seemed like the Espirit was hanging on most of 90s and til 2004.

Read Proton of Malaysia (which is imploding) owns them.

Terrible to see such a classic shape die....although a re-edition is rumored.

Most on Ebay look like terrible fit/finish inside and over-flared/winged outside with tacked on rear lights.
 
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Have lotus will travel
they really are a great car. The key to them being quick is that they are light.

I own a 2000 elise 190 factory race car. A great car and I hate to say it much easier to drive than the GT.

As much as I love the car I am selling it ( some mini's ) to pay for my new habit (GT)

pics are at www.fastmini.com under cars for sale

a great car and even if proton implodes I am sure someone will take over the brand. There is too much history

enjoy
 
I just got an exige s about 2 months ago. So far no complaints. Yes, very sparse, but that is what it's all about. It is a little rocket, straight line or on the twisties. Oh... and when you take the top off, you are in motorcar heaven. Rumors on elise talk forum is that VW is interested in buying Proton. Rumors are rumors. So who knows?

Manny #1418
 
1418 said:
I just got an exige s about 2 months ago. So far no complaints. Yes, very sparse, but that is what it's all about. It is a little rocket, straight line or on the twisties. Oh... and when you take the top off, you are in motorcar heaven. Rumors on elise talk forum is that VW is interested in buying Proton. Rumors are rumors. So who knows?

Manny #1418
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I was going to buy a lotus but got the ford instead. Manny, what color is yours?
 
Storm titanium- wanted silver, to match the gt. It's pretty close. This was the launch car for the S. Just put on the driving lights and JL audio system so I can fit in S. Beach.:lol
 
Manny, glad to see you're still alive!
 
As a number of forum members know from recent photos I have posted, I too own a Lotus. It is an Exige 240R Cup car. Prior to that I had an Elise. Both are a blast to drive.

Manny, we have got to get together. I'd love to see your 'S.
 
A couple of 7's collecting dust :frown
 
Frank- always on the site. Taking it all in, enjoying everyones post. Say hello to your wife for me. I had a very enjoyable chat with her while at the rally.

Chris- just say when. Sat.?
By the way I'm planning on going to the Homestead Nasa event in March. Are you going?
 
Turbo'd 2005 Elise here

Have a 2005 Elise turbo here ... putting 285 hp to the ground. Yellow with black interior. Probably the best handling car in the world out of the box. Good bang for the buck. Upgrading to a forced induction engine means ecu headaches and tuning .... but its worth it. Also engines are cheap if you cook one off.:willy done it once.....:frown

If you want an "econo exotic" it would be a wise choice for a driver. Fun, cheap to operate, easy to maintain, and gets looks like no other car .... ok maybe short the GT and F430. :thumbsup

It kind of reminds me of an older Dino that someone washed and left in the dryer for to long (from the side that is).:lol

Steve
 
steve592 said:
Have a 2005 Elise turbo here ... putting 285 hp to the ground. Yellow with black interior. Probably the best handling car in the world out of the box. Good bang for the buck. Upgrading to a forced induction engine means ecu headaches and tuning .... but its worth it. Also engines are cheap if you cook one off.:willy done it once.....:frown

If you want an "econo exotic" it would be a wise choice for a driver. Fun, cheap to operate, easy to maintain, and gets looks like no other car .... ok maybe short the GT and F430. :thumbsup

It kind of reminds me of an older Dino that someone washed and left in the dryer for to long (from the side that is).:lol

Steve
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Steve,
Who did your turbo package? I, too have an Elise - '06, and it is in the shop getting a Forcedfeb 275 turbo package, ACT HD Clutch, EFI standalone ECU (no Unichip crap), rear toe links, and Forcedfed wings put on. Car already has Ohlins DA shocks, custom alcantara interior, nav, subwoofer, etc. It handles better than both of my 911 GT3 and the Heritage. The targa top doesn't keep out draft as good as the Ferrari spiders. But shoot! Cars are like women, I love them all but can't be satisfied with just one... :willy My GF better not read this post.:ack
 
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HeritageBruce said:
Steve,
Who did your turbo package? I, too have an Elise - '06, and it is in the shop getting a Forcedfeb 275 turbo package, ACT HD Clutch, EFI standalone ECU, rear toe links, and Forcedfed wings put on. Car already has Ohlins DA shocks, custom alcantara interior, nav, subwoofer, etc. It handles better than both of my 911 GT3 and the Heritage. The targa top doesn't keep out draft as good as the Ferrari spiders. But shoot! Cars are like women, I love them all but can't be satisfied with just one... :willy My GF better not read this post.:ack
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I have a modified forcefed kit with custom intake, ecu from Lotus sport (mod'd), Sector 111 toelink and rear kit. Running a prototype shock, completely stock interior but have Sparco seats, harness's,etc for it sitting in the garage.

Putting the top on so it does not draft is a matter of patience. I was in the UK and went to the factory for a few things. One of the guys at lotus sport showed me a few tricks.... interesting is the only way I can say it.

I agree with the cars/women statement. selling a car is alot cheaper than a divorce thought.... so never get married. BTDT never again.:biggrin Unless she is a car addict too ...... then .........maybe .... big big big maybe. :lol

Steve
 
1418 said:
Chris- just say when. Sat.?
By the way I'm planning on going to the Homestead Nasa event in March. Are you going?
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Manny-

I can't make the NASA event the end of March because I have a board meeting in CA. I do plan on running with Chin @ Homestead March 17,18 though. Have you thought about Chin? You get significantly more track time than with NASA.

I'll drop you an email re Saturday.
 
Agree on lineage, history, heritage.

Colin Chapman (founder) had a hand in Lola suspension design, which in turn led to the GT40 which leads to us.
 
I have an Elise and I love it to death. She squeaked and rattled right off the showroom floor, and there's not a darn thing you can do about it. Right there in the owner's manual it says, in plain English, "It is normal for water to enter the passenger compartment" and "After washing the car, it is normal for a small amount of water to collect in the footwell area".

Scraped the chin exiting the dealer on mile one, got about fifty rock chips in the first week, but went back for 1000mile service four days after buying. In the first three weeks of ownership I put over 2000 miles on the car, without leaving my area code, and I have six cars to pick from.

The Elise is just a fantastic car, you can throw it around like it ain't no thang. I can't stop driving it! Raw, unpolished, underpowered... whatever.

It's a great way to spend $50k.
 
cudacharlie said:
I have an Elise and I love it to death. She squeaked and rattled right off the showroom floor, and there's not a darn thing you can do about it. Right there in the owner's manual it says, in plain English, "It is normal for water to enter the passenger compartment" and "After washing the car, it is normal for a small amount of water to collect in the footwell area".

Scraped the chin exiting the dealer on mile one, got about fifty rock chips in the first week, but went back for 1000mile service four days after buying. In the first three weeks of ownership I put over 2000 miles on the car, without leaving my area code, and I have six cars to pick from.

The Elise is just a fantastic car, you can throw it around like it ain't no thang. I can't stop driving it! Raw, unpolished, underpowered... whatever.

It's a great way to spend $50k.
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That was put very well. I wholeheartedly agree with your write up!:thumbsup
 
cudacharlie said:
I have an Elise and I love it to death. She squeaked and rattled right off the showroom floor, and there's not a darn thing you can do about it. Right there in the owner's manual it says, in plain English, "It is normal for water to enter the passenger compartment" and "After washing the car, it is normal for a small amount of water to collect in the footwell area".

Scraped the chin exiting the dealer on mile one, got about fifty rock chips in the first week, but went back for 1000mile service four days after buying. In the first three weeks of ownership I put over 2000 miles on the car, without leaving my area code, and I have six cars to pick from.

The Elise is just a fantastic car, you can throw it around like it ain't no thang. I can't stop driving it! Raw, unpolished, underpowered... whatever.

It's a great way to spend $50k.
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Raw is the perfect adverb. Usually, when you buy a car the salesperson gives you a overview of the car. When you buy a Lotus they give you the key. Yes. you are now done.

It took me 3 days to scrape my front lip.
That sucked!
By the way the Exige is no longer underpowered--although more hp would be pretty cool.



Chris- see you Sat. We will talk then.

Happy holidays to all.
Manny 1418
 
Just back from a few days in Vegas, went to the Lotus store, tried them on for size, still don't fit and I just lost 50lbs, need to loose another 50lb and try again.:bored :frown :bored
 
Lotus is going through a transitional period under Proton at the present time. Proton are committed to Lotus and have reappointed the Managing Director which they had a lot of success under in previous years. They have several new models with the major one being a new Lotus Esprit in about 18 months' time with ground breaking advances in technology and will be fitted with either a V8 or V10 turbo BMW engine. They are still having great success in selling the two small models but bigger things are coming soon. Even if Proton go bust there are other major manufacturers waiting to buy Lotus for their technology facility.
 
from talking to lotus directly it seems that the esprit is on a back burner until proton has gotten things worked out. Also the bmw motor has been set aside as too expensive.

At the end of the day Lotus does what it has the cashflow to do. what they require is a deep pocket investor who loves to drive wickedly fast light cars.

maybe we should form a shell company and become "owners" of the company that did the suspension on our Gt's?

stranger things have happened.

Steve
 
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