After four years of Europa Ownership

[Toaster]

Well after four years of Europa ownership the time has come to change the car, despite the poor initial press write-ups
and early comments on piston heads the Europa is one heck of a car and I will be very sad to change it . I have to say it has been a privalige to own such a car. Its been reliable, fun and had Lotus been making these I would have brought another.

Europa comments on here seem to have dried up a bit on PH but all I can say if anyone is reading this who is thinking of a Europa just do it I can't think you would ever regret buying one.

Edited by Toaster on Monday 27th February 11:13

[M5Fan]

Tell us more....have you advertised yours yet ?

[Toaster]

what would you like to know? regarding advertising I have not as part exchange seemed a reasonable option but if someone was going to make a quick offer I would consider it but I guess thats unlikley

[C43]

I have had mine for 4 years also and have been playing about with the idea of selling her. Trouble I can't think of anything to get that won't either cost me a vast sum of money to buy or leave me wanting my Europa back in 6 months time. They really are massively under rated cars, especially once played with a bit.

C43

[Chugga Boom]

I think they are pretty well loved by all people I have meet that own them.
I know there are not many, but you never see many for sale.
I have tweaked a few bits and probably will carry on as I develop as a driver.
Great fun all round. road, motorway or track. Heating and Air Con work. Good (for a little Lotus) Boot. Strong engine and gearbox.Sadly under rated and miss sold by lotus.
Wish they still made them and not that I am going to replace mine any time soon, I have no idea like C43 as to what I would replace mine with.
There is a Facebook Europa group with about 80 people on it
http://www.facebook.com/groups/lotus.europa/

[Toaster]

Yes its a real dilemma and am very sad to be changing and hope that whoever buys the car will look after it well, I have toyed with the idea of keeping it until it turns to dust but that is probably not the best option. I am very fortunate to have my play car which is a Caterham. I have decided to opt for an Evora , again like the Europa when you look at the comments people seem to make negative comments on the Evora thread as was the case in the early days of the Europa.

[M5Fan]

what would you like to know? regarding advertising I have not as part exchange seemed a reasonable option but if someone was going to make a quick offer I would consider it but I guess thats unlikely

Could you list the pros/cons....any bad aspects of ownership, did anything go wrong with it? I've almost convinced myself to get one, just need a bit more encouragement !

[Toaster]

M5Fan][i said:

Could you list the pros/cons....any bad aspects of ownership, did anything go wrong with it? I've almost convinced myself to get one, just need a bit more encouragement !

I suspect the Pro's and Cons have been done to death, but its a sports car the Probax seats are incredibly comfy it cruises well taking it easy you can get >40mpg the sat nav is actually quite good once you have worked out how to use it, its two dimensional and no distracting features it gets you to where you need to go you just have to remember to enter the country you in for the first use or subsequent country you enter.

Has anything gone wrong well I replaced a central air vent that broke, plus all the normal servicing Tyre replacement. Its a modern car and highly reliable the Trim and body work look in good condition but then again I did look after it. M5Fan you don't need encouragement just go and get one I think all the Europa owners will say the same.

[CTE]

How many miles have you done?

[Toaster]

45,000 Miles I see there is a Europa that has done 67,000 for sale

[C43]

I have also had mine for 4 years, have done 40k including track days and European trips. The only problem I have had is the water pipe came off, was put back on under warantee. If I change it I will go for an Evora but I must admit it is a difficult one. The NA Evora is too slow and the S feels like a tank in comparison. The Europa really is a great little car.

C43

[Toaster]

Interesting comments Lotus claim for the Europa 0-60 as being 5.5 and with the 225 upgrade 5.1 the Evora 4.8 and 4.4 for the S so not much in it unless you have the perfect start. I guess and it was similar comments about the Europa being slow particularly when compared to a VX220 Turbo which if my memory serves me right is 4.7. I have heard Lotus say that the Evora is 2seconds a lap faster then an Elise.

I did not take my Europa on a track day, I doubt I could go any faster in either car on the road. Both the Europa and Evora have more potential than my driving capability therefore they are 'quick enough' for me and most mortals. When I want to scare myself stupid I have my Caterham R400 and have to remind myself it is on the Xbox I fall of the track at silverstone :-)

I have driven a Evora and it is one heck of a car 'too heavy' I don't think so, I have had the pleasure of being a passenger in an Evora driven by a professional slow and tank does not come to mind but ballistic, projectile do along with awesome stopping power of those brakes and was a major reason for deciding to get an Evora.

The Evora and Europa are clearly different cars its only an opinion but I personally could not use the word slow, tank, cramped, worse to either they are both great cars in their own right, one thing I can say is when I have PX'd my Europa I know i will miss it. But then I can start a new affair with the Evora :-)......Autoglym wax at the ready....

Edited by Toaster on Wednesday 29th February 16:39

[M5Fan]

Toaster would you mind posting some pictures? No problem if you'd rather not. Thanks for the information too.

[pac1uk]

Hi,
I have had my Europa 4yrs now and still love it. It's a weekend car and showing 17500 miles. I have looked from time to time to see what I would replace with. But come back to the Europa, I guess I can't justify spending a shed load of money on something else. How better would it really be? How does it make you feel?

I think it feels quick, stick on the Milltek Exhaust and it sounds loads better.

Problems I have had are split radiator (plastic end caps) and it's just recently developed a Turbo boost problem. Will not hold full boost. I am going to change the Boost Solenoid - cheap part to start with.

Agree the seats are comfy, but the interior is full of hard plastics with creaks and rattles.

[Toaster]

pac1uk said:

Hi,
I have had my Europa 4yrs now and still love it. It's a weekend car and showing 17500 miles. I have looked from time to time to see what I would replace with. But come back to the Europa, I guess I can't justify spending a shed load of money on something else. How better would it really be? How does it make you feel?

I think it feels quick, stick on the Milltek Exhaust and it sounds loads better.

Problems I have had are split radiator (plastic end caps) and it's just recently developed a Turbo boost problem. Will not hold full boost. I am going to change the Boost Solenoid - cheap part to start with.

Agree the seats are comfy, but the interior is full of hard plastics with creaks and rattles.

I agree it is a very hard car to part with, and if it was not my everyday car I would keep it the Exige was a possible option but I do need a slightly bigger boot and the Europa was just right, I had a dilemma over my Caterham having built it I had upgraditus and changed it for my R400 is it a better car well yes in some aspects and no in others for a start it is harder to tour in it just gets so hot, but it handles better and is obviously much quicker.

Yes I am spending more money but if it was an ordinary every day car I would be spending more money so that doesn't really count, yes the Europa is a quick Car and I bet the Miltek Exghaust sounds great I nearly over looked the creaks and rattles it gives the car character I don't have too many The full Lux pack or SE finish would get rid of some of that hard plastic :-)

I forgot to mention I got 40,000 out of my front tyres (couldn't have been trying hard enough) the rears are good for 18-20,000

[C43]

I should probably qualify my comments comparing the Europa to the Evora..my Europa is not exactly standard in terms of engine, brakes, chassis, tyres...oh yes and sound system....also the Europa gearchange is light years better than the Evora, something that must be giving the Lotus engineers a bit of a headache when developing the V6 Exige.

Where the Evora wins in refinement and ride, and since I do a reasonable drive to work it is looking more interesting.

C43

[BC007]

I'm an Esprit owner and was lucky enough to be at Hethel when both the Europa and Evora were first introduced and managed to drive both. The Evora is great but it was the Europa that I will never forget. Absolutely a brilliant car - it just felt so right.

Shame about the critics but I wonder how many of them have actually driven it?

BC

[C43]

I would be interested to know the 0-30 times for both as it is on initial go that mine feels so much stronger than an Evora.

C43

[Toaster]

C43 said:

I would be interested to know the 0-30 times for both as it is on initial go that mine feels so much stronger than an Evora.

C43

I have given up blatting away from traffic lights :-) i'm always caught at the next set, seriously though I am a Europa fan and would have brought an SE if they were still produced but time has moved on and was very sad having to leave my Europa with the dealer but it will have a new owner who I hope will take as much care of it spend lots on Autoglym stuff and have it serviced properly. I can't help think these cars are like old Fender Telecasters in 20-30 years they will be worth a fortune.

In the mean time the Evora is fantastic but its just different and I will celebrate the difference and just grateful I have had the opportunity to own both terrific cars

[C43]

Hi Toaster

I will be very interested to hear how you get on with your Evora. Like you I have spent a lot of time looking after my Europa and it still drives brilliantly, pulling like a train and handling like a true lotus.

Which Evora did you go for, S or NA?

enjoy

C43