Europa or Elise
Discussion
I've a quandry in regards to the above, looking at buying a Lotus again (sold my S1 in 2007 just before my son was born). I've got a budget of around 18-20k but can't decide which is the best bet.
I love the soft top element of Elise,but something about the Europa appeals, rarity maybe?
Anybody had both and could give me some pointers? struggling to find a Europa fairly locally to have a good look at one so advice would be appreciated.
I love the soft top element of Elise,but something about the Europa appeals, rarity maybe?
Anybody had both and could give me some pointers? struggling to find a Europa fairly locally to have a good look at one so advice would be appreciated.
they do tend to sell quick which is good for owners.
I have to say with the Miltek fitted the engine alone sways it for me. Had a bit of fun with a tuned Scooby this morning (I work near prodrive) and the sound of the waist gates cracking open and the turbos spooling up put a massive grin on my face.
Judging by the comments of the general public a lot of people like the looks of the Europa a lot.
C43
I have to say with the Miltek fitted the engine alone sways it for me. Had a bit of fun with a tuned Scooby this morning (I work near prodrive) and the sound of the waist gates cracking open and the turbos spooling up put a massive grin on my face.
Judging by the comments of the general public a lot of people like the looks of the Europa a lot.
C43
I have just traded my Europa S. It is currently for sale at Graham Walker in Chester. I have owned an S1 and S2. Key differences for me are:
Positives
Europa - rare and always got positive attention
Europa - much more torque which makes daily driving much easier but is also rapid when pushed
Elise - convertible
Elise - easier to resell and greater choice in after market parts
Handling wise for a normal driver I actually think the Europa and S2 are quite similar and could not tell too much difference (maybe different on track)
Negatives
Elise - liked to leak
Elise - noisier at motorway speeds than Europa
Europa - rubbish standard head unit
Europa - not quite as good looking as Elise IMHO
Europa - bigger boot (just)
Hope this helps.
Positives
Europa - rare and always got positive attention
Europa - much more torque which makes daily driving much easier but is also rapid when pushed
Elise - convertible
Elise - easier to resell and greater choice in after market parts
Handling wise for a normal driver I actually think the Europa and S2 are quite similar and could not tell too much difference (maybe different on track)
Negatives
Elise - liked to leak
Elise - noisier at motorway speeds than Europa
Europa - rubbish standard head unit
Europa - not quite as good looking as Elise IMHO
Europa - bigger boot (just)
Hope this helps.
Edited by Norgles on Tuesday 2nd August 18:56
Saw advert Friday but was busy all weekend and then yesterday it was sold...damn it...I have a Europa S. I had a S1 Elise 111S before that and have driven some S2 Elise. I like the Europa best to live with but the Elise is the better looking car in my eyes. Although I enjoyed the Elise and the open top on a nice day it wasn't so good with the roof on, as was the case with the climate in the UK much of the time. With the roof on access wasn't good with the Elise, it's not a lot better in the Europa but it is a slightly easier. A boot that is a reasonable size and has a large opening that you can put a case in is a real bonus over the Elise. In the Europa you can talk to your passenger without shouting when on the motorway, or even listen to the radio! It's pretty civilised and comfortable for a long trip, I did a trouble free trip to Monaco in my car this year. With a Miltek exhaust and an ECU upgrade the Europa goes much better than most Elise in the real world, bags of torque and power at moderate revs. They appear to have bottomed out and are maybe even going up in price now, so you shouldn't loose 1000's on a Europa but a £20,000 S2 Elise will probably not be worth as much in 4 years time.
Norgles said:
I have just traded my Europa S. It is currently for sale at Graham Walker in Chester. I have owned an S1 and S2. Key differences for me are:
Positives
Europa - rare and always got positive attention
Europa - much more torque which makes daily driving much easier but is also rapid when pushed
Elise - convertible
Elise - easier to resell and greater choice in after market parts
Handling wise for a normal driver I actually think the Europa and S2 are quite similar and could not tell too much difference (maybe different on track)
Negatives
Elise - liked to leak
Elise - noisier at motorway speeds than Europa
Europa - rubbish standard head unit
Europa - not quite as good looking as Elise IMHO
Europa - bigger boot (just)
Hope this helps.
I traded my 111R for a Europa S Lux and find it a far superior car. At the time I was actually looking for an Exige S, but I found the Europa suited my needs much better. Here are my views like the above (all based on the Europa vs. an Elise R)Positives
Europa - rare and always got positive attention
Europa - much more torque which makes daily driving much easier but is also rapid when pushed
Elise - convertible
Elise - easier to resell and greater choice in after market parts
Handling wise for a normal driver I actually think the Europa and S2 are quite similar and could not tell too much difference (maybe different on track)
Negatives
Elise - liked to leak
Elise - noisier at motorway speeds than Europa
Europa - rubbish standard head unit
Europa - not quite as good looking as Elise IMHO
Europa - bigger boot (just)
Hope this helps.
Edited by Norgles on Tuesday 2nd August 18:56
Europa Positives:
- Faster everywhere except under hard braking and much more comfortable to drive fast down bumpy / poor surfaced B roads like we have in the UK. Can hold a conversation at 1.20 Leptons on the motorway
- Much better overtaking, very hard to compare the two here the Europa is that much better
- Much better modability. The engine is good for ~320bhp standard with a chargecooler and with the use of off the shelf internals and Hofmann's ecu can put out 400+bhp standard. The standard gearbox can handle this power, Randy races his 480bhp beast and has done for several years and is still on the same gearbox! VX220 bits bolt on and visa versa so there are limitless parts available. Also, people will pay better aftermarket price for the right mods
- Resale, prices have been going up for the past 2 years, depreciation doesn't seem to be an issue here
- Boot, bigger, easier to get to
- People seem to love it, nobody really noticed the Elise
Europa Negatives:
- Elise is more chuckable vs. a non-modded Europa. Europa is better after it has Nitrons, R1R's and better pads
- Can't take the roof off
As for looks, well, I prefer the Europa after some selective mods:
IMG_8961 by jimmyb156, on Flickr
"Nobody seems to notice the Elise"
Dunno where you live, but virtually every second or third person stops to peer in mine when I leave it parked on a street - both in London and out in the sticks. Plus have had people leaning over the roof to chat to me at traffic lights, kids shouting, and some random old man sticking his hand through the window to shake my hand!!
Really can't see how the Europa would get more attention, but any more and it really would be a colossal pain in the arse!!
Good points, although I'd be comparing the Europa with a supercharged Elise TBH, rather than the torq-free R. Dunno what prices are like - no doubt the Elise would then be a little more, but just seems a little unfair to say how much better one is than the other in x and x, when you can actually get Elises that are more similar in concept.
Agree with the rest though - access, quietness, more refined etc. More grown up?
Dunno where you live, but virtually every second or third person stops to peer in mine when I leave it parked on a street - both in London and out in the sticks. Plus have had people leaning over the roof to chat to me at traffic lights, kids shouting, and some random old man sticking his hand through the window to shake my hand!!
Really can't see how the Europa would get more attention, but any more and it really would be a colossal pain in the arse!!
Good points, although I'd be comparing the Europa with a supercharged Elise TBH, rather than the torq-free R. Dunno what prices are like - no doubt the Elise would then be a little more, but just seems a little unfair to say how much better one is than the other in x and x, when you can actually get Elises that are more similar in concept.
Agree with the rest though - access, quietness, more refined etc. More grown up?
pthelazyjourno said:
"Nobody seems to notice the Elise"
Dunno where you live, but virtually every second or third person stops to peer in mine when I leave it parked on a street - both in London and out in the sticks. Plus have had people leaning over the roof to chat to me at traffic lights, kids shouting, and some random old man sticking his hand through the window to shake my hand!!
Really can't see how the Europa would get more attention, but any more and it really would be a colossal pain in the arse!!
Good points, although I'd be comparing the Europa with a supercharged Elise TBH, rather than the torq-free R. Dunno what prices are like - no doubt the Elise would then be a little more, but just seems a little unfair to say how much better one is than the other in x and x, when you can actually get Elises that are more similar in concept.
Agree with the rest though - access, quietness, more refined etc. More grown up?
Seriously dude, the Europa get loads more attention, maybe it is because my elise was gray? In pictures they look rubbish but in real people love them. I owned the Elise for over a year and went to loads of car related meets and it never got pictured, not once - The Europa always get's pictured. I had a few people (strangers) talk to me at the lights, in car parks and whatever with the Elise, but people seem to get a lot more excited by the Europa, probably because it is rare and they think it is some expensive exotic thing.Dunno where you live, but virtually every second or third person stops to peer in mine when I leave it parked on a street - both in London and out in the sticks. Plus have had people leaning over the roof to chat to me at traffic lights, kids shouting, and some random old man sticking his hand through the window to shake my hand!!
Really can't see how the Europa would get more attention, but any more and it really would be a colossal pain in the arse!!
Good points, although I'd be comparing the Europa with a supercharged Elise TBH, rather than the torq-free R. Dunno what prices are like - no doubt the Elise would then be a little more, but just seems a little unfair to say how much better one is than the other in x and x, when you can actually get Elises that are more similar in concept.
Agree with the rest though - access, quietness, more refined etc. More grown up?
I drove several Exige S and Elise SC variants and the Europa seems to have more shove low down (talking the 225 ecu) than the basic SC variants. It's when you start to properly tune the Europa that it really starts to shine
I agree with Shabs, I am always getting great comments on my Europa. People tend to look at the Europa and smile, bit like they did when I hand an Esprit.
Judging by the track days I have been on with the AP front brakes fitted the Europa is very good under braking.
Both can be classed as hair dressers cars, just the Europas can be more punk, at least in my eyes.
I would go for whichever one you like, they are both great cars to own.
enjoy
C43
Judging by the track days I have been on with the AP front brakes fitted the Europa is very good under braking.
Both can be classed as hair dressers cars, just the Europas can be more punk, at least in my eyes.
I would go for whichever one you like, they are both great cars to own.
enjoy
C43
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