Advice Please on Europa
Discussion
Thinking about buying a Lotus Europa and wanted to ask a few questions on upgrading power etc..
My last car was a 500bhp Noble but after selling it a while back i am now ready to try something else, something a bit more practical with electric windows and a boot etc.. so at least there is somewhere to put my Gym bag or the chinese takeaway.
My criteria was to find a small engined car performance car but also has good straight line acceleration for on a motorway, I also needed a reasonably comfortable ride for everyday use, the Europa seemed to fit quite well but is just lacking on performance figures, for this weight of car i would to looking to achieve 300bhp.
What power can you take the Europa to and what mods are required/recommended and how much would the mods cost?
Any problems with these cars and what should i watch out for when buying?
How do these cars fair with high mileage? Does the gearbox and engine and all other components hold up without problems? I.e if i were to look at a Europa that has done 30k would the engine and gearbox/clutch be getting badly worn and soon to be in need of attention or rebuild?
Any rattles or unwanted noises from the cabin? Is the build quality good?
I would love to hear from any Europa owners on here and their ownership and driving experience for road use.
Many thanks
My last car was a 500bhp Noble but after selling it a while back i am now ready to try something else, something a bit more practical with electric windows and a boot etc.. so at least there is somewhere to put my Gym bag or the chinese takeaway.
My criteria was to find a small engined car performance car but also has good straight line acceleration for on a motorway, I also needed a reasonably comfortable ride for everyday use, the Europa seemed to fit quite well but is just lacking on performance figures, for this weight of car i would to looking to achieve 300bhp.
What power can you take the Europa to and what mods are required/recommended and how much would the mods cost?
Any problems with these cars and what should i watch out for when buying?
How do these cars fair with high mileage? Does the gearbox and engine and all other components hold up without problems? I.e if i were to look at a Europa that has done 30k would the engine and gearbox/clutch be getting badly worn and soon to be in need of attention or rebuild?
Any rattles or unwanted noises from the cabin? Is the build quality good?
I would love to hear from any Europa owners on here and their ownership and driving experience for road use.
Many thanks
Take a look at Hoffmans website. They can go past 400hp on their GT race car, but it may not be what you want for the road....
The standard ECU is a tough one to open and reprogamme, but some owners are working on this at the moment. So ensure you get the 225hp upgrade rather than the original 197hp model. A Milltek exhaust turns it into a 240bhp/tonne car, which I find quite enough. I use Mintex pads and the wider SE tyre sizes, but otherwise I've not modded mine.
Although I've only done 15k in mine, one of the attractions of the Europa for me, compared to Caymans, was the simple mass-market engine and box. Versions of these engines do high mileage service in many GM cars (Astra Turbos and Saabs I believe), lugging a far heavier lump than the Europa. I'd be amazed to hear of any engine problems on a Europa.
Some of the ancillaries can be a bit weak. Radiators and hoses seem to be let down by cheap plastic clips. A decent set of jubilee clips is the best upgrade for this car - total investment £3.20!
I enjoy the combination of power, torque, stability and usability that the Europa has. The rarity means it gets a lot of attention. It can do 32mpg yet lap a track in Exige S territory. A truly versatile, under rated car.
I do have an Evora itch though, so mine may be on the market soon (depending on the cost to change)
The standard ECU is a tough one to open and reprogamme, but some owners are working on this at the moment. So ensure you get the 225hp upgrade rather than the original 197hp model. A Milltek exhaust turns it into a 240bhp/tonne car, which I find quite enough. I use Mintex pads and the wider SE tyre sizes, but otherwise I've not modded mine.
Although I've only done 15k in mine, one of the attractions of the Europa for me, compared to Caymans, was the simple mass-market engine and box. Versions of these engines do high mileage service in many GM cars (Astra Turbos and Saabs I believe), lugging a far heavier lump than the Europa. I'd be amazed to hear of any engine problems on a Europa.
Some of the ancillaries can be a bit weak. Radiators and hoses seem to be let down by cheap plastic clips. A decent set of jubilee clips is the best upgrade for this car - total investment £3.20!
I enjoy the combination of power, torque, stability and usability that the Europa has. The rarity means it gets a lot of attention. It can do 32mpg yet lap a track in Exige S territory. A truly versatile, under rated car.
I do have an Evora itch though, so mine may be on the market soon (depending on the cost to change)
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