Auction: 2007 Lotus Europa S

TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED
Author
Discussion

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

davidjamesmorris

10 posts

4 months

Friday 5th July
quotequote all
Hi Nick. Is it possible to arrange a test drive next week? It’s give me confidence before bidding.

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Friday 5th July
quotequote all
Hi,

Yes, i can do that. I'm available most evenings from around 5:30pm on Monday and Tuesday, and 6:30pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
Do any of those times suit you?

You will need to bring proof on insurance if you want to drive it, otherwise i can take you out in it.

Cheers
Nick

bcr5784

7,182 posts

152 months

Friday 5th July
quotequote all
The 4 point harnesses give me the impression that this is a track focussed car. I would personally want a road car that is no more compromised/noisy/unrefined/uncomfortable than (say) an Elise 220. Does your car meet that requirement?

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Saturday 6th July
quotequote all
Hi bcr5784,

I cant comment on the noise / comfort compared to an Elise 220 as i havent driven one. But i have driven and tracked an Elise 135. And this Europa is more comfortable and quieter than that ever was.
The ride is more compliant, and the seats are more padded.

I understand these Europa's are based on the VX220 chassis, which is then a little bit longer and wider than that car was. It also has lower sills, so its easier to get in and out of. That being said, it is a Lotus based on an Elise / VX220 chassis, so its never graceful getting in or out.

Yes it has harnesses, but they are actually quite easy to use. And I normally have them a little lose for driving. But yes, on a track, i would have pulled them tight. But you dont need to for day to day driving.
However, the engine does have a larger turbo and wastegate, so i would say it is a bit more noisy than a standard Europa, but i havent driven a standard one, so i cant compare.


davidjamesmorris

10 posts

4 months

Sunday 7th July
quotequote all
Details say car resprayed in 2023, after a repair was carried out to some of the bodywork. What bodywork undertaken and has the car ever, under all owners, been involved in an accident requiring bodywork or chassis repairs?

Also I noted the sticker saying it needs high RON grade fuel. Is this the case and is it due to the Courtney remap or can it run happily on cheaper lower RON petrol?

Has cat had PPF and/or ceramic coating applied?

Has car been kept in a garage or is it happy to sit outside year round?

Evening difficult for me I’m afraid - daytimes best for me to view.

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Sunday 7th July
quotequote all
Hi David,

Apologies, as this was my fathers car, and he can no longer drive, I’m selling it on his behalf, as such, I’m finding more details out as I go through the rather extensive paperwork.

I know it was resprayed in 2023 following some bodywork damage. I know there was a disagreement with a garage door. But that was not recorded, and the Car Vertical report has come back totally clean for it's whole life. If you pm me your e-mail address, I can send you the report. There is no recorded chassis damage, and everything else has come back clean also.

It did have some PPF fitted, but I believe this was removed for the paintwork to be done. And I don’t believe it had a ceramic coating applied. If I was going to keep it, I would have a PPF applied to the front and a ceramic coating applied to it to keep the paintwork looking good. And it does look good I have to say.

I believe it does need the higher RON grade fuel due to the tuning performed by Courtney. The Super Unleaded from Shell, Esso or even Tesco is more than sufficient. I have a GT86, and that also prefers the Super Unleaded.

It has been kept in a garage while in my father possession, but at the moment it has been either on my drive or garage for the last month or so. So it will happily sit outside.

I can do Monday or Tuesday daytime next week if that works for you?

In answer to another question, I believe the original seatbelts may still be fitted, as there is an invoice for fitting the harnesses while tucking the lap belts behind some trim. But I cant vouch for that unless I start pulling it apart.

davidjamesmorris

10 posts

4 months

Sunday 7th July
quotequote all
Sorry Nick, I meant to also ask you if the car has had all its annual services and MOT's since 2019 to date?
Also has the car been driven regularly the last 5 years - like at least once a month?
I ask this as if it's been 'laid-up' over a few years it'll need a thorough recommissioning service by a Lotus specialist.
These cars (like many performance cars) don't like sitting idle for extended periods.
Mon or Tues daytime is great but weather looks total rubbish except Mon AM before 12:00 or Thurs AM.
If you have some flexibility then we could play it by ear & see how the weather develops - we just need a 2hr dry window.
I'll check weather again later (& message again) but i could probably do Mon AM & get to you by 10:30.

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Sunday 7th July
quotequote all
Its had regular services throughout it life and there is a history of MOT’s.
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?regis...

It has been regularly driven, with the longest lay up of about 3 months at the beginning of this year, due to my father’s ill health.
There is a very comprehensive set of invoices showing items like antifreeze, oil and sparkplugs over its life, right up to a replacement turbo etc.
And given the amount of work put into it by the previous owner, I don’t see it needing recommissioning.

I could do Monday after 10:30 if that works for you. But I cant do Thursday morning.

Please PM me to organise.

davidjamesmorris

10 posts

4 months

Sunday 7th July
quotequote all
How do u PM on this site?

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Monday 8th July
quotequote all
Hi David,
If you click on my name it opens an email window.


davidjamesmorris

10 posts

4 months

Tuesday 9th July
quotequote all
I forgot to ask if the Air Con is working properly - blowing really chilled air & able to maintain a cool cabin temperature on a hot day. They’re not the best of systems & can be v pricey to get working properly (£2-3k).

Also does the paintwork show any signs of the osmosis blisters that blight many Lotus, old & new? Or has it has these in the past but they’ve been resolved through resprayed or panel replacement?

Thx

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Tuesday 9th July
quotequote all
Hi David,

The air con system was refreshed by the previous owner, and i can confirm it works fine with lots of cold air.

And the paint appears fine to me, but i'm no expert. Given it was resprayed, i would assume any issues were resolved at the time.

Cheers
Nick

Edited by NickTurney on Tuesday 9th July 16:54

davidjamesmorris

10 posts

4 months

Thursday 11th July
quotequote all
Hi Nick. I’ve had insurance quotes back in and they’re 4 times the price of a standard Europa S so I’ll have to decline and pursue a standard car. Sorry & good luck with your auction

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Thursday 11th July
quotequote all
Hi David,

OK no problem. I know my father used to have this on a classic car insurance policy, with an agreed value and I don't think it was that much more.

Good luck with finding another car though.

Cheers
Nick

Ben Lowden

6,522 posts

184 months

PH Marketing Bloke

Thursday 11th July
quotequote all
davidjamesmorris said:
Hi Nick. I’ve had insurance quotes back in and they’re 4 times the price of a standard Europa S so I’ll have to decline and pursue a standard car. Sorry & good luck with your auction
If you're using a insurance comparison website, they don't really work well for modified cars and premiums always tend to be huge through them.

I'd recommend speaking to Footman James or Greenlight - pretty much all of my cars are modified and my policies are barely any more expensive than a standard car with a specialist insurer.

NickTurney

Original Poster:

8 posts

80 months

Friday 12th July
quotequote all
Hi Ben,

I currently use Adrian Flux for my modified GT86. The comparison sites work fine for my wife's car, but not mine.

With Adrian Flux, it's almost the same cost for both cars. Crazy, but there you go.

It pays to shop around.

Cheers
Nick
TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED