The Pits Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Lotus 1 was a 1990 Esprit Turbo SE. Lotus 2 was a 1994 Lotus Carlton. Lotus 3 was a 1999 Esprit V8 GT. Lotus 4 is a 2006 Elise Sportsracer. Lotus 5 is going to be an Exige V6 Cup. I've got one on order and am planning to blog about it in some detail on here over the year. It's not due for a bit but it's a very exciting prospect. I've been fortunate to drive and own many different cars and I keep coming to the same conclusion: Nothing drives like a Lotus! I sold a V12 Vantage to buy this car. I think that's as big a compliment as you can get. The latest Lotus Racing brochure now claims 1110kg, up 30kg from the original target weight. Still a useful 66kg lighter than the standard car but it won't make that with aircon added (neither will standard car make 1176kg with aircon mind, it's optional for both). Aircon used to be 15kg on the Elise, hopefully they've found a way of doing it more lightly now! There are ways of reducing weight further though, the polycarbonate rear engine cover being a major one. However I'll see how I get on with the standard one. It will be quite novel to have some rear visibility in an Exige! It's got no radio of course but I can barely hear the one in my Elise anyway, so I figured I won't miss that much. Ipod for long journeys is the plan. I definitely won't miss the battery-draining alarm system. The removable steering wheel is a much more effective anti-theft deterrent. Choosing the colour was agony but here's a rough photoshop of what I went for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Have an official welcome Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramjet Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 And an official one from me as well. Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. For forum issues, please contact one of us Moderators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM johnpwalsh Posted February 26, 2013 Gold FFM Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 And a jealous one from me.John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Out of interest, why are my pictures squashed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 The software resizes then to fit into the page and not spill outside the frame. Click them and they'll enlarge. Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Thanks Bibs (and also for the welcome) but the pics aren't distorted in the other thread. Does two threads on the same subject constitute "banging on about it"? I suspect so. I'd also like to thank Russell Gibbons at Lotus Racing for being so helpful and generous with his time. (Is that kind of what you had in mind Russell or have I overdone it? ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Gibbo is a legend in his own lifetime, lovely guy Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimSportsTourer Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Welcome. And that colour is stunning! I can only imagine you'll have a great time. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softlips Posted February 27, 2013 Report Share Posted February 27, 2013 I love that colour, brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted February 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2013 Thanks. There were quite a few colours I really liked and very tempted by. If I was going for an 'S' I'd have had Military Grey, really unusual and not just another 'grey' absolutely stunning in the flesh. Configurator just doesn't do it justice (nothing new there). If I was feeling bolder I'd have been tempted by Autumn Bronze. Mainly because of the bronze Esprit from 'For Your Eyes Only'. For maximum contrast with the satin black panels I'd have gone for Silver. Before visiting the factory I thought I wanted Motorsport Black but decided against dark colours in the end because the matt panels are lighter. To look black you need lighter paint. MS Green won out in the end because I wanted it to be instantly recognizable as a Lotus. But I'd doff my Colin Chapman style cap to anyone who ordered one of these: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B1 RMA Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Why not come along to the pub meet at the the Kings Head in Wickham Square tonight and say hello to some fellow Lotus owners. Have you been living in Southampton long as I'm sure we would have spotted you in one of your Lotus cars as us local anoraks have been around this area for a good fifteen odd years and must have spotted you. We also go along to the local Pistonheads meetings do you attend those? Anyway it would be nice to meet you if you can come along and introduce yourself and let us have a look at your Elise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted March 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Very kind invitation but quite short notice! I have been living abroad until last year so a relative newcomer to the area (I have no idea where Wickham Square is for starters!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B1 RMA Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 (edited)  Very kind invitation but quite short notice!   I have been living abroad until last year so a relative newcomer to the area (I have no idea where Wickham Square is for starters!).  The postcode is PO17 5JN about 15 mins or less than 10 in an Elise from Southampton Edited March 4, 2013 by B1 RMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJH Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Hi Jonny, Nice to meet you on Friday! Sorry to hear that the weather was even worse on Saturday and the track day got cancelled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pits Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Yes disappointing but we did get a factory tour and some nice cakes by way of consolation. But even driving home in that appalling weather I couldn't help think was a great car my Elise is. Even with a V6 Cup in the garage I will miss it terribly. The V6 Exige is somewhere between the old Exige and an Esprit to drive. The extra size and weight is inescapable and there are times you just can't beat the lack of mass an Elise offers. I'm looking forward to the article coming out but I hope my car doesn't get too slated, I've only just realized how bald my rear tyres are. Richard Meaden described it as 'a bit slippy'! I was hoping to finish them off on the track day. Nevermind. Hope to see you at a few things during the year. Lovely car too by the way. cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardvg Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Thanks. There were quite a few colours I really liked and very tempted by. If I was going for an 'S' I'd have had Military Grey, really unusual and not just another 'grey' absolutely stunning in the flesh. Configurator just doesn't do it justice (nothing new there). If I was feeling bolder I'd have been tempted by Autumn Bronze. Mainly because of the bronze Esprit from 'For Your Eyes Only'. For maximum contrast with the satin black panels I'd have gone for Silver. Before visiting the factory I thought I wanted Motorsport Black but decided against dark colours in the end because the matt panels are lighter. To look black you need lighter paint. MS Green won out in the end because I wanted it to be instantly recognizable as a Lotus. But I'd doff my Colin Chapman style cap to anyone who ordered one of these: you can always do a wrap on the car if you not sure ...beats painting hands down !! Quote Technically sound ...Theoretically poked ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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