Spec

Anything goes in here.....

Black pack or not

Full black pack with soft top (most common spec)
2
18%
Black pack rear panel + mirrors only with coloured hardtop (see images and mockup below)
4
36%
No black pack derivative (very common on final editions)
5
45%
 
Total votes: 11

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scott_e
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Spec

Post by scott_e » Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:16 pm

Long post sorry. Got a bit of time yet before defining the final specification. Can I ask SE for your opinions please on the black pack and other areas of the spec ?

-----------------------------------------------------
Current thinking:
-----------------------------------------------------
Interior
• Black alcantara interior
• Yellow stitching
• Yellow internal colour pack includes
o Yellow seat hops
o Yellow switches
o Yellow controls
o Yellow exposed gear linkage surround
• Radio
• Air con
• Black floor mats

This is what I always planned to do before the additional Final Edition colour alcantara options were introduced.

Exterior
• Black rear spoiler as standard
• Black wing mirrors as standard
• Black aero pack as standard
• Yellow hardtop
• Yellow roll hoop
• Yellow engine bay cover with black grill
• Yellow front panel
• Add the BLACK PACK rear panel.
• Red brake callipers
• Black alloys
• Union jack delete
• Full PPF front and sides
-----------------------------------------------------

Regarding the full black pack:
• 99% of 250 Cup builds have the black pack but why ?
• Black pack rear panel essential IMO.
• With a coloured hard top I also have the option of the black soft top when I feel like a change.


My current preference exterior looks something like this (minus flag):

Image

My current preference interior looks something like this (minus carbon sills and full carpeting):

Image

Closest matches for real i can find:
Image

If I go full black pack I would drop the hardtop option. This looks great , but many of them about but feels like a safer choice.
Image

This image put me off the full black pack, too much black plastic if you include the hardtop is my issue.
Image

No black pack at all
Image

Originally only silver alcantara was available on the Cup then lotus wanted to charge 1500 for black. But after some consumer push back black was available again.

Silver alcantara looks good on certain colours but not with yellow and you end up with a grey, black and yellow interiors, total miss match IMO. Also the only coloured alcantara options available were blue and orange. only black works with yellow.

This is why I avoided silver alcantara / yellow needs black alcantara:
Image

Orange with orange alcantara overkill IMO plus the shades differ but is unique to the Final Edition.
Also I got a look in person at a red heritage edition Elise with red alcantara seats and it was a wee bit to much for me.
Image

Grey car / silver alcantara works well:
Image

Have considered orange and isotope green.

I want to keep this car for a long time, its speced for me clearly but I also don't want the car to be unsellable when I am forced by the tax man to upgrade to an electric derivative.

-----------------------------------------------------
Alternative Spec:
-----------------------------------------------------
Interior (same as above)
• Black alcantara interior
• Yellow stitching
• Yellow internal colour pack includes
o Yellow seat hops
o Yellow switches
o Yellow controls
o Yellow exposed gear linkage surround
• Radio
• Air con
• Black floor mats

Exterior: (full black pack no hardtop)
• Black rear spoiler as standard
• Black wing mirrors as standard
• Black aero pack as standard
• Soft top only
• Full black pack
• Red brake callipers
• Black alloys
• Union jack delete
• Full PPF front and sides
-----------------------------------------------------

So I think i comes down too:

INTERIOR - pretty much confirmed.

EXTERIOR - choice between:
• a. full black pack + soft top
• b. partial black pack with coloured hardtop.


Also its unlikely the car will see the track. Weight saving options not really important to me over the standard options.

So decision making not my strong point then :lol:

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graeme
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Re: Spec

Post by graeme » Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:49 pm

No black bits. Lotus are terrible at it.

How to do a black rear panel properly: Image

Beautiful, functional cooling, quality component.

How to rip that off as cheaply and tackily as possible: Image

It is painted, but manages to look like a bit of black wrap from Halfords. Horrible.

Then consider how bad Lotus are at mixing matte, gloss and carbon black bits right next to each other on the same car... it's just a mess. Occasionally they get it just right, but it almost seems to be by accident.
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958

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Scotty C
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Re: Spec

Post by Scotty C » Wed Jun 16, 2021 3:06 pm

i dont like the wheels but Liquid yellow looks awesome. picture stolen from Oakmere's FB page this morning.

https://www.facebook.com/OakmereMotorGr ... 8424798088

Image
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StiflerMR2
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Re: Spec

Post by StiflerMR2 » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:31 pm

I voted no black pack, as I think the single colour is a nicer look.

However I would caveat that with the fact, that for me, it is colour dependent. I.e. the grey you posted above would benefit from the rear panel being black to break it up just a touch.

If it was me, I think a full yellow with a black wing / aero / diffuser, black wheels with a black soft top would be peachy.

Nice dilemma to have tho :)

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renmure
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Re: Spec

Post by renmure » Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:23 pm

Could you repeat the question?



















Err.. ok... only kidding. Full black pack
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tonyg
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Re: Spec

Post by tonyg » Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:42 pm

I liked the contrast between the bright yellow of the car and the matt(ish) black roof on my car.
Good contrasts from side view also.
Don't think it works so well on some of the other colours (only saw it in blue before i bought).
Looks better with black mirrors too. Don't remember them being available as an option when i bought.

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campbell
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Re: Spec

Post by campbell » Wed Jun 16, 2021 8:14 pm

graeme wrote:No black bits. Lotus are terrible at it.
I remember Graeme Fraser vs Lotus Cars Ltd in the case of the Exige With Black Bits Image

My 2p. I like the black bits on mine. All are matte. Including the rims. Albeit, in a related case of Graeme Fraser vs Lotus Cars Ltd on the matter of asymmetric non-handed forged rims, there was a Not Proven verdict Image

With the roof on, it adds a touch of S1 grace using the black roll hoop cover.

The black rear transom is a touch Cortina E, which may or may not land for some.
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IanD
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Re: Spec

Post by IanD » Wed Jun 16, 2021 9:20 pm

Definitely needs black rear panel
And not discussed but black petrol filler surround is good.

Not the rest.

Both my Elises came with hardtops I do feel they give the Elise quite a different look (when in body colour) and it’s a good look.
But I used neither apart from the day I bought the cars.
So definitely wouldn’t be spending any money on a hardtop.
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campbell
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Re: Spec

Post by campbell » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:50 pm

Black filler surround. Ah yes. Our first mod when I brought the Club Racer home

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C7Steve
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Re: Spec

Post by C7Steve » Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:06 am

No black for me at all, car looks much nicer without it. It’s your car, spec it how you want it and I wouldn’t worry at all about future resale.

Get it ordered now. :drive


Steve.

Ps Agree with what Graeme says about the black bits and the silly vinyl on the roof.

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campbell
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Spec

Post by campbell » Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:29 am

Aye. With Steve. Unless you’ve got bizarre taste (like pink mirror caps on a green car etc), worry not about resale. It’s your car!

Things could be wrapped then unwrapped if you are really worried.

Fun times. I once spec’d an Elise. 22 years ago . (It was a bit simpler back then ... the options list was about 8 bullet points!)
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scott_e
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Re: Spec

Post by scott_e » Thu Jun 17, 2021 8:24 am

Brilliant, thanks for the response lads. all opinions are very welcome.

I feel my first listed spec is right. Lotus clearly trying to make the FE interior unique but it doesn't work for some colours. By going back to black alcantara my FE looks like all Elise's (and indeed Exige's) on the inside but that's good, its the interior I have wanted for so long in one of these cars. But I want the externals to be different from most Cups and the way to do that is no black pack and a coloured hardtop. Leaning towards the rear black panel though.
renmure wrote:
Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:23 pm
Could you repeat the question?
:lol: sorry Jim. Months of research dumped in a single post there. Getting my own back for your very long Stratos thread :D
C7Steve wrote:
Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:06 am
Get it ordered now. :drive
Car is ordered Steve but the confg can be adjusted for a few months yet. I have had two dreams recently where I am driving a 250 feeling disappointed its not an Exige ... my subconscious is telling me something :?

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scott_e
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Re: Spec

Post by scott_e » Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:59 pm

Home and tucked away. Loads of room in the garage to the to wax away the winter, was concerned about space but can walk all around it for maintenance indoors which is great. Nothing really prepared me for how awesome it is in person, images and videos from Parks really did not do the little gem justice, was a WOW moment when I arrived.

Swapped out the black wing mirrors for yellow at the last min, really glad I did not get the black front panel or hardtop, equally glad I got the black rear panel. Only thing I am still on the fence about is the wing mirrors. Added cruise control last min too. Love the new interior and the LCD display is simply magical. Bearing in mind I am coming from an 2005 Exige 190 NA. Interior quality has come on leaps and bounds since then. Managing the lithium battery has been a wee challenge as drains every 10 days but keeping it on trickle now. Laura supplied a charger and a integrated battery wire so its plug an play really. Need to remember to give it a wee run after washing to dry the discs.

90 miles down , 910 to go go before that 1000 mile service. I am incredibility tentative driving at the moment (miss daisy comments welcome) but need to build up some confidence. Kids not been out for a drive yet will will get a few miles done once the roads are dry and clear of salt. Nice to be back in a Lotus. Had forgotten how much attention they get !

(edit to add my 2008 Exige photo v 2022 Cup comparison shot in the same place)

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Last edited by scott_e on Tue Mar 15, 2022 3:55 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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rossybee
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Re: Spec

Post by rossybee » Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:21 pm

Looks fantastic Scott - well done sir! :cheers

Must be a marvellous feeling having a lotus back in the garage 8)
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---------
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2004 Bentley Conti GT

Now browsing the tech pages :mrgreen:

:cheers

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scott_e
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Re: Spec

Post by scott_e » Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:23 am

Thanks Ross. Its been a long road to get here ! looking forward to enjoying the dry summer roads. My exige wants have certainly dissipated for now :D

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