Lotus Europa... what are they like?

[tegwin]

Anyone have any first hand experience of the Lotus Europa S?

On paper they look like reasonable cars... fairly light, moderatly powerful and driveable every day...


Do we think using one as an every day car would be a bad idea? Im guessing the engine/gearbox being vauxhall/GM.... it should be reasonably reliable...

What are the price/availability of parts like... things like bushings, suspension arms etc?


Anyone have ideas on where to find them for sale? And anything to look out for?

[Ozzie Osmond]

So far as I know Lotus managed to sell almost none of them, customers preferring the much cheaper Toyota-engined Elise. Running costs will presumably be more or less the same as Elise/VX220 and I imagine Lotus used as many existing components from the parts bin as possible.

Seems to have been a car which answered a question no-one was asking. So a rare car which is not necessarily a good sign.

[kambites]

They're good cars, but not suitable for the market Lotus were aiming them at and too expensive new. Consider it a follow on to the VX220 and you wont be far off.

ETA: The default engine map was rubbish, but that's easily correctable.

Edited by kambites on Sunday 7th February 17:25

[Ocean]

I had one for almost a year. It was an S but it had been upgraded by Lotus to the 225 remap. It also had cross drilled discs.

I have to say that it was absolutely brilliant. Really really good fun, very rare so turned lots of heads and on the right road was very very quick.

If you haven't driven a Lotus before then you will never tire of how amazingly they handle and brake. It's really refreshing.

I know why the car didn't sell as it was marketed very badly and when compared to a TT or a Cayman it was never going to be as well built.

If you look at it as a slightly bigger and very slightly softer elise with a few more mod cons then you won't go far wrong.

Servicing was cheap as mainly Vauxhall stuff and MPG as you would expect was great.

For value for money, rarity, performance and sheer fun, they are hard to beat.

You should look for one with the 225 map if you can find one.

O

[Herman Toothrot]

The Europa is a VX220 turbo with new clams and a posh interior. Hofmanns race one and its been doing well, superior Aero to others in the family apparently.

http://www.hofmannsofhenley.co.uk/content/index.as...

[Bill Carr]

I always liked the Europa - especially in a dark colour - but there's no doubt in my mind that it was marketed poorly.

I'd quite like one.

[tegwin]

Thanks for the input all

So appart from the looks and slightly larger boot space, the europa is more or less the same as the VX220...???? A VX is about 10-13K... the europa nearer 20.... hmm...

My only concern is potholes.....well actually... is the europa/elise any good on dirt tracks?? thats all we have around here!


If I go look at either of them.... what areas of weakness should I be looking at specifically?

Edited by tegwin on Monday 8th February 14:05

[Woodstar]

I remember Matt Master (from Top Gear Magazine) had one on long term test when they first came out. He took it to the south of france if i remember correctly and it was a good GT car as well as sports car.

Look out past issues think around 2007-08 or on their website!

[flattotheboards]

tegwin said:

Thanks for the input all

So appart from the looks and slightly larger boot space, the europa is more or less the same as the VX220...???? A VX is about 10-13K... the europa nearer 20.... hmm...

My only concern is potholes.....well actually... is the europa/elise any good on dirt tracks?? thats all we have around here!


If I go look at either of them.... what areas of weakness should I be looking at specifically?

Edited by tegwin on Monday 8th February 14:05

Terrible! It makes me cringe everytime I see a pothole that I cant avoid because its too late. The only way is to try one on this road,

[kambites]

Pot holes are awful.

It's not that they are particularly uncomfortable when you hit a pot hole or that they're particularly likely to be damaged by them (although it is rather easy to knock the suspension geometry out) but the horrendous crashing noise that the suspension makes - it sounds as if you've damaged something, even though you usually haven't.