Common as muck

[Skaffen]

Usually a rare sight on the road we got 7 together in one place yesterday (including 2 SEs):

7 Lotus Europa (S/SE)

I'm lucky enough to own this one:

Lotus Europa S at Lotus F1

[simpo555]

Nice photos. Still a bit sad that the Europa didn't have the success it deserved. Never driven one or been anywhere near one but it looks the part. Over here in France there are a couple for sale but they seem to take far longer to get sold. If they are rare in England, they're even more rare over here. Asides the cars in the adverts, I've never seen one on the road. as you say, common as muck!!

[Skaffen]

Cheers .

The Europa is a great car - I think the consensus is sales were hampered by Lotus' wrong-headed marketing of it (marketing it as a GT car when it's not comfortable enough for that) and haphazard build quality including on demonstrators (I believe there was still some of that at first with the Evora too). I don't think great photos of it were put out either and it's one of those cars that often looks better in person. Setting that aside I think it may have had a small potential market in any case - I'd say it's ideal for someone who wants an elise/exige type driving experience but a little more headroom, a little more bootspace and more relaxed cruising (slightly quieter and torquey engine) - perhaps just a slightly less outrageous look too (although it's by no means understated). That it's not too different in feel from the elise/exige is what appealed to me - I had an S1 elise before and still wanted that Lotus driving experience.

One of the ones for sale in France is Hervé's silver SE which has been somewhat upgraded - it's a complete monster of a car as it's got, amongst other things, the fully programmable syvecs ECU fitted and a chargecooler so nicely up on power and torque! I think there's also a white SE up for sale too over there.