340R - am I mad?

[thegobetween]

Would love to get back into Lotus ownership with a fun car, having had an S2 and S1 in the past.

For a change, I have wondered about the 340R, which I have always loved. I have heard these are more difficult to work on due to the body, but does anyone have experience of one?

Do they drive any differently to an Elise?
How do you get on with the lack of practicality?
What price do they command?

If I didn't get one of these, I'd love a special version of an S2, but I just don't get on with the interior on the 135R...alternatives?

Cheers

[TTwiggy]

No experience of the 340R, but for a 'special' S2, how about a sports racer? Or, an NA S2 Exige (certainly 'special'!) and if you want to you can still take the roof off (just don't tell anyone...)

[Thorburn]

I'd guess a 340R is 100% a toy, I can't see how you could use one for anything other than trackdays/the occasional fair weather blast.

If you don't like the 135R's interior couldn't you just change the seats/get it retrimmed?

[Jackel]

I've only ever driven modified or race prepped examples of these but my immediate opinion is that they feel much more lively than the Elise in every way.

You certainly need your wits about you in order to pilot one at the limit.

Edited by Jackel on Tuesday 5th August 12:29

[bogie]

I have a few friends who have realised their dream, owned one, kept it a while then gone back to an Elise


1. Do they drive any differently to an Elise?
std Elise S1 vs 340R is a huge difference in suspension set-up, geometry and tyres ...but if you have a modded Elise with Nitrons, A048s, a good geo it will feel the same if not better than a std 340R

2. How do you get on with the lack of practicality?

Of course this is the biggest problem, Ive thought about it myself many times and each time come to the conclusion that a modded Elise is better for me, mainly as I use it more, can go out long distances with the other half and not worry about rain, go on holiday, goto work in a suit etc. The 340R really is just a weekend toy and mostly for the summer...so thats £20K sat in the garage, with limited use (for me personally)

3. What price do they command?

£20K ish or less, depending on condition/mileage, yes they are harder to work on as the body is one-piece and requires 2 people to get it off. Yes if you prang it, you could be waiting a long time to source a new one.


Personally, just too many negatives for me, so id just have a modded Elise.

If you dont like the 135R then maybe a 190R ? I guess it depends whether the primary use is road or track as to which one you go for, and if you dont mind having a car modified to suit or you want a factory standard car...so much choice with Elises, one for every price range, stripped out track toys up to luxury daily drivers

[thegobetween]

Cheers guys, some great feedback!

Yes I should have pointed out that this will be a total toy, I have a German barge (nice though it is!) for the day to day stuff.

You almost cant beat Elises, but I'd just like to buy something different this time. Track days will be good, but it will really be for the blasts when I get home.

I had thought about some nice Porsches, but I always end up coming back to Lotus...

[bogie]

for a pure toy, Id get one then, none have got huge miles, so you could buy one, put 5000 miles on it and still not lose a penny ...cheap unique motoring if you look at it that way

[subaqua]

You're not mad in the slightest. I drove a 340R around a year ago.. (it had just arrived at a friendly main dealer).

I loved it totally, but at the time, it was a modest elise daily driver I was after, so I wasn't ever going to do a deal.

However.... it was special enough that, one day, I'd love to join the two lotus family crowd and get a 340R for the sunny Sundays. You only live once eh?

Edited by subaqua on Tuesday 5th August 19:33

[Pharoah]

I owned a 340r for a year and loved it, not to mention the fact that I sold it for £2000 more than I paid for it as well!

Great toys but really impractical, very low (speed bumps, driveways, carparks can be a nightmare) and no storage space / wet weather gear. Parts can be difficult to source and things like a flat battery can require the whole body to be taken off which is about 8 hours labour. You can't see anything behind you due to the rear spoiler, you will be paranoid about leaving it anywhere, you can't leave it outside overnight (on the street) BUT I would still say buy one, drive it for a year and then sell it with a big grin on your face. They are much more go kart like than the Elise (I have owned an S1 Elise and an S1 Exige as well) and immense fun.

Buy one with a 190 upgrade and if you can find one a boost tube - awesome sound!!!

[Gareth135R]

I have one having owned a few Elises, Exige and a Caterham.

So I haven't had to leave it anywhere in town but I've still booked Oulton park in October which will be a 6hr drive for me.

Potential bills for removing the body which will need done if you have HGF - as for battery, buy a race one that can be removed from the front access panel.

It has to be one of the only cars on Pistonheads classifieds that falls into a category of a car that's not going to depreciate.

I took it out last Sat. Sunny when I left the house but 60 miles from home it was torrential rain. Having left the shower cape at home, not having any water proof trousers I still made the decision to park up outside a restaurant and have some lunch. So I got back into a wet 340R, ass gets wet and drive home the 60 miles in the pi55ing rain. Rain coming over the top and round the sides of the windscreen yet I still didn't get wet. So if you're moving you will be fine.

Some have owned since new and will never sell but most own for a year, tick that box of dream car and sell on for the next person to go through the same process. Exactly what I will do.

I'm happy having owned one and do love it when I drive it. Not to say tomorrow I will wake up and decide to sell.

[miro]

WillB on SELOC had a Honda 340r at one of the Carlimits action days . it sounded Amazing and looked fantastic.... If you can live with the impracitcalities get one but id be worried about not being able to use it as much on days where its fine but changeable. Id be lookng at an Elise with a Honda/Audi engine (y)