All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

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rawsco
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All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by rawsco » Thu Nov 22, 2018 4:52 pm

So given the likely outcome of Clutch gate I find myself pondering, what's next...

Im mostly quite hostile to lotus and its total lack of giving a sh!t both in their dealer network and the factory. So I definitely won't be buying a newer lotus, this is difficult as if I look at why I want a sports car the Exige 350 makes a lot of sense and ticks nearly all the boxes. I also find myself in a position needing an additional daily driver so the X5 will be downsized to an i3 and a second ICE car for long haul duties sourced.

Whatever I go for needs to, preferably, cope with track days without drama. An I cant be arsed with all the faff of an older temperamental car.

If I get my planned outcome I'll be lotuses very soon... so what are the options:
1. New M2 Competition - Always loved M cars, never had one, this seems like a good one, Bonus it solves the second car problem too. Downside, I might lose the occasion / special event using it regularly.
2. Caterham - 620R or 420R - It's an itch that won't go away, expensive but low depreciation. not afraid of the track, would I use it elsewhere. It rains in Scotland, a lot, and its cold.
3. KTM X-Bow - Bonkers fast, Audi power looks cool. It rains in Scotland, a lot, and its cold.
4. Ginetta G40r - basically a Caterham with a body shell. cheap, cheap to run, I can legitimately say I have a homologated race car. Not sure about the image but I could go mad with the track days
4. Anything AMG with a V8 and forget about track days.
5. Audi R8, preferably V10 (these are in budget with the manual) but would it bankrupt me in running costs fuel aside? forget track days, risk of it going wrong. Would need to downgrade second daily to a total shed, which Miniblonde probably wouldn't get in.
6. Mazda or Clio sh!tbox to smash to death on track.
7. Swallow pride and principle and buy another Exige v6.

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ed
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by ed » Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:11 pm

Tricky one. Personally I would avoid anything that doesn’t have a roof, unless of course you have something else fun for the other 9 months of the year. Caterham would be the most extreme I would go. The all weather gear isn’t that bad and some of them do have a heater. I think you would get bored of the bimmer and v8 running costs very quickly. Lotus do have a habit of getting under your skin. Perhaps you were just unlucky this time out.

What about an alpine? :scratch
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by neil » Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:12 pm

If you're wanting to track it it's hard to look past Lotus. Ask Mike how well he got on with his Pork on track (I think it was sold after one trackday), I suspect the M2 will be similar or eat a lot of cash. If you're considering a Caterham or X-Bow then a 2-11 might hit the spot - I've always liked the look of the X-Bow but with the driving position it looks like you'd need to wear a helmet whereas you're a bit lower and more protected in the 2-11.

With the V6 I think you've been incredibly unlucky. There are quite a few of us running them without issues, I'm at 33k miles now still on the original clutch and most of the miles haven't been trips to the shops! I'd be tempted to avoid the dealer network, check it thoroughly before purchase, and just accept you might have to give Craig some cash to sort it if the worst happens (which it probably wont). The V6 does tick most of your boxes - maybe look at an S rather than a 350, slightly less money and if the clutch has an issue it'll presumably have been done by now or be obvious during a test drive.
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by Scotty C » Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:14 pm

Atom?
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by H8OAG » Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:50 pm

Caterham 420 is awesome on track and bearable for fun drives on Scotland’s roads
I know a man who would demonstrate its talents

Nigerian Ali has a nice 211 if you defect back to Lotus

The M2 will run out of brakes after a few laps
BMW still seem to struggle with this...

I do love the R8 but not as a track car

:cheers
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by woody » Thu Nov 22, 2018 7:00 pm

H8OAG wrote:
Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:50 pm
Caterham 420 is awesome on track and bearable for fun drives on Scotland’s roads
I know a man who would demonstrate its talents

Nigerian Ali has a nice 211 if you defect back to Lotus

The M2 will run out of brakes after a few laps
BMW still seem to struggle with this...

I do love the R8 but not as a track car

:cheers
No mention of Alpine? First thing I thought of. How's yours Iain, assuming it's been delivered?

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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by neil » Thu Nov 22, 2018 7:04 pm

Alpine?
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by rawsco » Thu Nov 22, 2018 7:08 pm

Re the M2 I know the pads are crap but disks seem up to it and driving without leaning on the stability control helps from what I found researching. Brake consumables don’t seem too much more than what my exige S2 was with the AP BBK I.e about 700ish for rotors and 200 for decent pads. I get that I’d go through more tho.

Seems the M2 chews tyres on the outside edges on track and needs a load more camber to solve although tyres with stiff sidewall fair better.

Good shout re the atom although I suspect even less bodywork than a Caterham or a X-bow might kill that.

Maybe I was unlucky, I went for the 350 as the old gear shift mechanism got on my nerves in my S2 and mine was a good one so opted for the 350 to correct.

Not a fan of the Alpine looks although seeing one in the flesh could change that.
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by H8OAG » Thu Nov 22, 2018 8:11 pm

woody wrote:
Thu Nov 22, 2018 7:00 pm
H8OAG wrote:
Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:50 pm
Caterham 420 is awesome on track and bearable for fun drives on Scotland’s roads
I know a man who would demonstrate its talents

Nigerian Ali has a nice 211 if you defect back to Lotus

The M2 will run out of brakes after a few laps
BMW still seem to struggle with this...

I do love the R8 but not as a track car

:cheers
No mention of Alpine? First thing I thought of. How's yours Iain, assuming it's been delivered?
Flipped....

It didn’t reach the financial projections either
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by C7Steve » Thu Nov 22, 2018 8:46 pm

Another Exige V6, but without any issues this time. :thumbsup


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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by renmure » Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:04 pm

Another vote for another Exige from me (ironic since I don't own a Lotus at the moment) but they do seem to give the best of all worlds. I tried the bike engined Westfield and Caterham R300 and enjoyed the novelty but know I wasn't hardcore enough for one really. I'd like to own an Atom just to have owned an Atom but am sure it would go the same way as the Caterham. Any BMW other than a nice comfy estate leaves me a bit cold and I don't think they look special enough unless you go for an extreme one. Only big AMG that I would fancy is also an Estate and I'm sure that novelty would wear off as well.
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by Mikie711 » Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:35 pm

For me it would be the R8 V10 and here's why.....
I have had both the V6 cup and the R8 V10 plus at the same time which gave me a direct comparison.
99% of the time you are using the car on the road and maybe 1% on track. Granted the R8 is no track monster, you feel the weight in the corners and it always plays on your mind what if I stuff it because it will be expensive to fix it won't catch an exige in the corners but equally the exige won't catch the R8 on the straight.
On the road however it is a different ball game over an Exige. The R8 is everything the Exige isn't, it quiet when you want it to be, comfortable at a different level, easy to get in and out of, sure footed in the extreme (thanks to the 4 wheel drive and the weight) and above all it is ballistically quick.
Will it bankrupt you, that all depends on what you buy but they are fairly built proof and most are garage queens, few are driven in anger. With one more than 3 years old you would be on Audi fixed price servicing so an oil change service would be about £500, much less if you supply your own oil. Big service isn't much more TBH. Brake pads aren't any more expensive than descent pads for an Exige (ok maybe a wee bit but not as much as you would think).
If it were me and I wanted a car for all seasons then the R8 with a set of winter alloys/tyres tucked away. If I was looking for a track toy buy the Exige.

BTW, the R8 did Silverstone, Spa, Zolder, Hethel and rest and be thankful in the time I owned it and still lasted 3 years on it pads, granted the were carbon ceramic's and one set of tyres. It covered about 14000miles and bar an argument with Audi over stuck brake nipples never put a foot wrong the entire time I owned it.
I would have another one in a heart beat and at the moment used prices make them very tempting indeed.

I forgot to add the most important reason for an R8 V10........
That engine has theeeeee most addictive scream to it when you open it up and the power delivery just never ever got old. The way it pushed you back in your seat every time and the rate at which i gained speed all the way to ridiculous numbers never ceased to amuse :D
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by campbell » Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:02 pm

Based on what you've said, Ross, another Exige S3.

Based on what Mike has said, and R8 of some sort. Go on treat yourself.

We have debated time and time again whether there is "one car that does it all" and for all their foibles, I think many roads lead back to a clutch of Lotus options. Beyond that you either have to go totally extreme for track day credentials, or totally mainstream wth huge brake and tyre bills if you take 'em anywhere near a track.

Get a relationship going with another dealer, make clear your previous experiences, set the bar high for them and crack on with it.
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by rawsco » Thu Nov 22, 2018 11:00 pm

Mmmmm veeeee10
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Re: All roads lead to Lotus... or do they?

Post by rawsco » Thu Nov 22, 2018 11:02 pm

Apparently the v10 is the thinking mans R8 as if the AC goes it’s not an engine out job... do the v10s not have the mag ride as standard which explodes at 2000 quid a go? Top end budget would be 60k if the car is useable year round, 40-50 is its a sorn for winter job.
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