New Elise

Post by **simon** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:05 pm

Apparently it's a different engine from the R and it only has a 5 speed 'box.
And the touring pack isn't free on the R. It's gone up by £2k in price to just under £30k OTR with the optional touring pack. So that probably means you can delete all the sound deadening and stuff but still pay almost £30k!

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:22 pm

I don't see the attraction

Post by **Shug** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:26 pm

Lotus Elise for 25K - new punters will simply not get the fact that it's a totally different engine/box than the R - they will see TOYOTA & VVTi and then glaze over and sign the cheque.....

As there are no K models in the range, the cheapest elise was the base 111R at, what 27-28K - too much. The Elise needed a base model again (although I still think it's a grand too much)

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:28 pm

So basically this is seriously goin to knock any k series S2 value.
How much was a standard S1 when new?

I hate cars....constant pocket drainer!

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:33 pm

VVTi engine is the same as fitted to Mandy's celica and normally comes mated to a 6 speed box.

It's a nice enough engine but DOESN'T have the second cam action that you get with the VVTL-i. Doubt it will be much better than the K, but it does come from a manufacture that is still in business and has Japanese build quality (said with a straight face - honest)

Mac

Post by **Shug** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:39 pm

Gareth wrote:So basically this is seriously goin to knock any k series S2 value.
How much was a standard S1 when new?

I hate cars....constant pocket drainer!

Yeah - but any update will always knock values of an older model. I honestly think you may be onto a winner with the 135R though, I bet the values will firm up on them soon - they are already recognised as probably the best K series variant.

I think a Standard S1 was £21ishK + from new.

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:08 pm

I was hoping Lotus bring out the equivalent of the 135R.
Stripped out, trick suspension, wheels and tyres.

DDtB · Post by **DDtB** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:15 pm

Gareth wrote:I was hoping Lotus bring out the equivalent of the 135R.
Stripped out, trick suspension, wheels and tyres.

Me too.... coz then it'll knock the residuals of the 135R down into my price bracket

Post by **Shug** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:17 pm

Yup - there's always next year.....

I think some of their issues come with legislation. ABS is a requirement now, which means fitting a heavy servo. The Yota was needed for yank emissions, but is a heavier engine.

Still, I dare say they could shed some puoundage off the R and make an RR or something - maybe by doing a Sport 190 trick and putting them through SVA via Lotus Motorsport (allowing them to drop the brake servo/ABS and go a bit more hardcore all round)......

Heres hoping....

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:42 pm

Shug wrote:
I think a Standard S1 was £21ishK + from new.

so, taking inflation into account (have the tables here!) a £21k car at 1996 would be the equivalent of £26,460 today. On that basis, it does look reasonably priced

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:06 pm

Cannot be assed looking up and quoting piston heads gassing station but they mention the R has a yamaha head and the S a std head hence no remap up to full power spec.

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:14 pm

I think when the S1 first came out it was £18,995 ! seriously.

Post by **pete** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:26 pm

It would seem at the moment as if they have decided that the Exige is their track/road car, the Elise R a fast road car and the S a not-as-fast-but-still-fast road car. The PH quote of pulling buyers away from MG and MX5 is worrying as one of thse no longer makes cars so isn't a great market to attack. I doubt this will steal buyers from the Z4!

I worry (don't get me wrong it doesn't keep me up nights or anything but it crosses my mind) that Lotus M-Sport is more concerned with building their "track car" (headlines, more TG time, but bugger all in the way of sales) than doing what you suggest and building an RR.

Lotus need, IMHO, to start finding a way to KEEP exisiting customers. Yes they will find new ones with the cheaper S but that is essential as their existing customers must be leaving to get something faster/bigger. The Exige is faster but the roof will put a lot of folk off.
Why they haven't managed to build a 2+2 is beyond me. Their intial Elise market have kids and need an extra seat, I know there are some on here who have gone on to get RX8s and 911s (latter ones secondhand). I've got mates who've dallied with TVR after Elise ownership (the bills!!!) all of whom must be a ready made market for Lotus to exploit if only they had something to sell them.

Europa?? Pah. Yet another Elise derivative but one that is heavier, not as fast and doesn't handle as well as an Elise but isn't as luxurious or well built or as practical as a 993/TT/350Z et al. (And no I haven't seen one but I am guessing.) Sorry to anyone here who has bought one, I may be wrong.

RAnt off

pete

Post by **simon** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:39 pm

The_Rossatron wrote:I think when the S1 first came out it was £18,995 ! seriously.

Yeah, in '97 it was £19k for a std S1 but that was in the days when a radio was optional.

Who knows/cares what kind of effect it'll have on K series cars, it'll certainly confuse the hell out of anyone looking at a pre-today Elise S, which has a K in it!!

But seriously Lotus, sort out the bloody naming policy!
Exige = standard
Exige S = faster Exige
Elise S = standard
Elise R = faster Elise

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:00 pm

simon wrote:
But seriously Lotus, sort out the bloody naming policy!
Exige = standard
Exige S = faster Exige
Elise S = standard
Elise R = faster Elise

Also when all the electric windows came out the standard K elise with all that stuff was called the Elise S!