what is lotuses finest car?

what is lotuses finest car?

Author
Discussion

alanpetts

Original Poster:

8 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
what in your opinion is the finest model lotus has ever built? name your top 5. my personal favourites are 1)esprit 2)elan 3)elise 4)europa 5)exige. it would be interesting to get other peoples views?

Bodo

12,420 posts

273 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
1.) 23
2.) Elite
3.) Exige
4.) Elise

plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
The Seven.

Matt.

Bodo

12,420 posts

273 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
5.) Elan

Whereas Elan and Elite should be the original ones.

jamesmac

102 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
Lotus 78 (Ground Effect F1)

Jim

melw

33 posts

270 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
Difficult one, racing cars aside I'd guess....

Seven : The embodiment of all things Lotus and still going strong.

Elise S1 : The Seven reborn, time will tell.

Esprit : The Lotus supercar. Flawed but aren't they all?

Elan : Gorgeous sytling, amazing handling, defined Lotus in the 60's.

Excel : Massively underated Lotus for those who bought Elans the first time round. Still hard to find an affordable car in this class with charisma. With a few more years developement plus a makeover it could be giving the Maserati 3200 a run for its' money at half the price!

jamesc

2,820 posts

291 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
The James Bond Lotus Esprit

clanger

1,087 posts

265 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
1. Exige
2. Europa Special
3. Elise S1
4. Esprit GT3
5. Elan M100SE
6. Elan +2S/130 - handles so much better than Elan
Sprint (owned both) - SORRY FOR SLIPPING XTRA ONE IN

Have never owned Elite S1 - but think it is one of sharpest looking cars ever - viewed from any angle.

Simonelite501

1,440 posts

275 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
1: Esprit S2
2: Esprit S3
3: Elite/Eclat
4: Europa S2
5: Elan +2

In my opinion, the Giugiaro Esprits are some of the finest vehicles ever made. I realise that they have their problems and that the shape is often seen as being dated and out of fashion, but that has often been said of me too! To my mind, the S2 is the best looking Esprit, although the S3, whilst not looking too disimilar has the benifit of the galvanised chassis.
The Elite/ Eclat has to be in the list as it is one of the most maligned, yet underated cars that Lotus ever built. Its wedge shape recorded one of the lowest ever drag co-efficents 0.29.
The Europa was the second Lotus that I hankered after, but its popularity of late has kept its price, even for rough examples, out of my reach.
The Elan +2 just looks so much nicer than the awfully small Elan Sprint.

egomes

89 posts

270 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
1989 Esprit SE!

Supernaut

20 posts

266 months

Thursday 24th October 2002
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S4 Elan

Hazzer

119 posts

276 months

Thursday 24th October 2002
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Top 5 for me would be (personal bias I own the first one!)

Carlton
7
Elise
Elan
Elite

Most are brilliant in their own particular way but my favorites are ones that redefined the rules for their class. Oh and I love my 10 year old saloon that can show those Tiv`s and Scoobys a trick or two

Haz

adeewuff

567 posts

277 months

Thursday 24th October 2002
quotequote all
Esprit
-
It was the first sports car I can remember lusting after when I was a kid.

Original Elan
-
Simply one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

sparkey

789 posts

291 months

Thursday 24th October 2002
quotequote all
Esprit (been around for so long and was always a boyhood dream car for me)
Elan +2 (coz I've got one)
Elise
7
Elite (the first one - prettiest car ever)

Tried to put them in order but I can't so that'll have to do.

Also agree with Simonelite501 about the Elite/Eclat range

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 24th October 2002
quotequote all
Proton Satria. Fwooar.

HarryW

15,279 posts

276 months

Thursday 24th October 2002
quotequote all
The Lotus elevens of the late fifties, radical to the n'th degree, Chapman at his best IMHO.

Harry