Europa SE
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Discussion

Stu_00

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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After seeing it last night - I thought it looked stunning !

L100NYY

36,824 posts

274 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Having been working on the stand for the lsat week or so it would seem that after the Evora the Europa SE is the most popular car on the stand.

It does look absoloutely stunning in the Ice White with Oxblood leather lick

ad220

147 posts

258 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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This might be a controversial view but I read someone saying the Europa makes the Elise looked dated. I have to agree.

I think the Europa looks stunning and I've seen very few pictures that actually do it justice!!

Stu_00

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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So what sort of price could I expect to pay for the one on the stand?

Tempting, very well spec'd car.

I always like the Europa in the flesh.

Gilesie Boy

64 posts

301 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Anyone get any pic's from the show?

NathanE

539 posts

233 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Looks great. I heard that the SE they had at the show was sold?

Stu_00

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
quotequote all
Does not surprise me !

So I think that must be in the region of £35-8K from what I understand.

NathanE said:
Looks great. I heard that the SE they had at the show was sold?

Stu_00

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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If anyone has got a decent photo could they post it.

Think I may of found my next purchase....

NathanE

539 posts

233 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Got to be one of the most desirable 2 seat "still sporty" GT cars IMO.

Pics were posted on SELOC by someone

Edited by NathanE on Thursday 31st July 12:35

Stu_00

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Agreed its not a bad GT! Where do I sign. Might have to pay another £5 and go and sit in it again!

Cheers for posting pictures !

Dan x2c

145 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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I went onto the Lotus stand last friday and thought it was stunning too. Interior really is a lovely place to be.

I found that being 6'2 i was almost touching my head on the roof though and would have no chance of sitting in there with a lid on.

Walked over to the other side of the stand though and saw the Exige locked up with no one around it, managed to get a guy to open it up for me and was pleasantly suprised there was a lot more head room.....think i know what i'll be doing next!

Stu_00

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
quotequote all
Not sure why they did not make more of the Exige. But overall good effort on the stand. Maybe they are putting more effort into Europa sales - which is not a bad idea.

Makes my Elise seem bland

bogie

17,100 posts

303 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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the biggest Lotus did wrong with the Europa was saying that it was a "GT" car FFS ...its a posh Elise that is much easier to use daily, a bit lower sill, a nicer interior, a more flexible, less peaky engine.

It is NOT a "GT" car - Grand Tourer means you and the missus can go away for a week touring Europe, in posh hotels with at least a suitcase each as you need to carry a DJ etc...AFAIK you are limited to a squashy bad in the Europawink

And of course, when something arrives for a magazine review proclaiming to be a world class "GT" car it will get reviewed as such, and of course it took a slating compared to an AM Vantage or Maser, an F550 or even a Z4M

Now if they had positioned it as a more friendly Elise for the daily drive to work and the odd weekend away etc im sure it would have got much better reviews

Taken for what it is, its a very lightweight sportscar,that handles and goes well.... thats "slightly" easier to use than an Elise - dont forget to most people, just one try getting in/out and falling over like a prat, its enough to steer them towards a Cayman or Boxsterwink

If this was available 6 years ago when I bought mine, which was at the time a daily driver company car for 20K miles a year+ then the Europa sure would have been the car to choose smile

NathanE

539 posts

233 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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I think most people that know what it really is use the "GT" word loosely

It is more a sport tourer but then it isn't but then it is.. OK it's a niche car! It definately has a personality problem but 2 years on most people can see past that now.

Stu_00

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

250 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Well Said Bogie - Sounds like could be the ideal motor after an Elise !

bogie

17,100 posts

303 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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I think if you have an Elise, are not a track day addict, and just want a nice comfy sportscar for everyday use and it may be your only car, then its the one to have IMO smile

L100NYY

36,824 posts

274 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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I've done a few trackdays in our 'modified' Europa and by God it's a quick, don't underestimate one as a road come trackday car although obviously not as focussed as Elise/Exige but great fun!

bogie

17,100 posts

303 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Oh yeah, I can imagine, with a 2nd set of wheels n tyres, some Nitrons...and youre sorted smile for an alround daily driver that can hold its own on track, it would sure be nice.

I know there will always be those who want a stripped out S1 that weighs 720Kg etc, but for most mere mortals Im sure the Europa will be more than enough smile

L100NYY

36,824 posts

274 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
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Well taking my Lotus corperate hat off for a wee second..................

If I was buying myself a new Lotus then apart from the Evora my money would cetainly go into a Europa SE, I absolutely love it. So much useful grunty torque for 'ahem' making progress on UK roads but more than capable of mixing it with the big guns on the circuit too.

Oh and by gum they look good -


jazzyjeff

3,652 posts

290 months

Thursday 31st July 2008
quotequote all
Stu_00 said:
So what sort of price could I expect to pay for the one on the stand?
I was at the show too on Monday and the price on the spec plaque was £36,995 eek Which I hope is not going to be par for the course for an SE spec car since I was expecting them to start at £32,995 (and that's what Lotus themselves reported the car was going to retail at when it was unveiled at the Geneva show).

One other thing... it was showing up in CO2 band G at 229 g/km (up from the 220 g/km of the S) rolleyes Shame they weren't able to keep below the magic 225 to stay in F...

Unfortunately the car was locked when I was there frown ... should have asked them to unlock it... nuts

JJ

Edited by jazzyjeff on Thursday 31st July 17:33