A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Alienated? Are you nuts?
Lotus is a great company. That makes great cars.
It's the most unique sports car in the world and I love it.
A:
I think something's wrong with the poll. My original thread (with background on the poll) is now post number 3.
A:
Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs
I think something's wrong with the poll. My original thread (with background on the poll) is now post number 3.
It's not just this thread, this message-shuffling has appeared elsewhere in the forum. I think it's straightened out now though (meaning, it shouldn't happen anymore; the time stamps of existing messages isn't changing).
A:
Lotus haven't alienated me....
Before switching out my Boxster for the Exige the alternative I was considering was the Cayman. When Porsche brought out the Cayman they went to great lengths to emphasize that it was not a Boxster coupe - the main difference cited being the larger and more powerful Cayman engine that placed it between a Boxster S and the entry 997. They are now putting the Cayman engine into the Boxtser S so what does that make it?
Would I have waited to get get an Exige S if I had known it was going to be available 8 months later? Certainly, but
A:
The only thing lotus has done is turn me into an alien, continuously blowing money on any new mods that I can find.
A:
I'm now alienated from the side of me that was spending money with a passion on my house. Now I have a $50,000 lump in the garage instead. It wasn't the rational choice, but after two years I've not had a moments regret.
A:
Lotus should just offer the supercharger kit at the end of the production run and solve all the crying.
A:
Alienated?
I bought an Exige because I preferred its fastback body style, it has plenty of real estate under the hood to add go-faster parts like a blower, its limited production ensures scarcity, and it is track ready out of the box as well as very street worthy.
At $65 grand out the door (all options / msrp, CA tax & license) an 2006 Exige was a smokin' deal, and a fully loaded 2007 Exige S at $72 grand is still a smokin' deal. Performance of both Exige '06 and '07 models is incredible...especially when considered against alternatives that have similar performance on and off the track.
There is always risk (= 100% liklihood) of product upgrades and performance obsolesence due to ongoing product development and marketing cycles.
Enjoy your Lotus, and realize someone - maybe even another Lotus owner - will always have a faster, shinier, newer, and maybe even more expensive car than yours. That's life.
A:
Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs
c) The one year run of the n/a Exige
This is the issue for me. Earlier on it was the price point but that was before I realized that they had discontinued the N/A Exige. That now being known the price point of the S is not as big on an issue for me because we would still buy. It really is not that much more than my current car was out the door. But yes the one year run on the '06 car simply blows my mind.
A:
I don't think anyone should expect an evolving version with more umph in everyway isn't coming in the future. Just about every car maker makes a better car that the one already out in the market. Most don't avdertise it, it's not necessary, it just happens automatically. It is possible that eventually there may be something better than the Exige S.
A:
Originally Posted by shokwaves
I don't think anyone should expect an evolving version with more umph in everyway isn't coming in the future. Just about every car maker makes a better car that the one already out in the market. Most don't avdertise it, it's not necessary, it just happens automatically. It is possible that eventually there may be something better than the Exige S.
I think most people realize that their current stead will not always be top dog. Again, much of the anger comes from timing not that fact in itself that they developed an upgraded version.
A:
OK, here's something that'll make all you 'regular' Exige owners feel a little easier about the stunning car you own. TRD (Toyota Racing Development) never supercharged the 2ZZ motor because it gave them too many reliability issues when they tried it, and they tried numerous times too. They found it's layout simply wasn't suitable for prolonged use with a blower. I have this straight from the horses mouth at TRD. Lotus are on thier own with the blower, so if you like driving hard in your Exige you may just be better off than your pal in his 'S' afterall.
A:
Originally Posted by macfly
OK, here's something that'll make all you 'regular' Exige owners feel a little easier about the stunning car you own. TRD (Toyota Racing Development) never supercharged the 2ZZ motor because it gave them too many reliability issues when they tried it, and they tried numerous times too. They found it's layout simply wasn't suitable for prolonged use with a blower. I have this straight from the horses mouth at TRD. Lotus are on thier own with the blower, so if you like driving hard in your Exige you may just be better off than your pal in his 'S' afterall.
I'd be interested in knowing how many times this season the GT3 Exiges from the British GT3 series were rebuilt to keep them "reliable"???
A:
I had a bad experience at South Bay in Hermosa/Manhattan and I think it was probably because Qais was fine working on an Esprit, but his new hired helper (Skeeter?) didn't want to and shot my wife a sky high estimate for service.
I think I'll like my used Esprit, and if not, I'm getting a Ferrari next (after I get my Porsche back).
A:
I see it this way...
My heart will always be with Lotus yet, Lotus alienated themselves from my bank account. They could have gotten considerably more money had they offered more car to purchase. Their loss.
Now that the purchase has been made the sale is final. If they decide to offer dealer installed upgrades the relationship between Lotus and my bank account will be restored.
A:
Originally Posted by macfly
OK, here's something that'll make all you 'regular' Exige owners feel a little easier about the stunning car you own. TRD (Toyota Racing Development) never supercharged the 2ZZ motor because it gave them too many reliability issues when they tried it, and they tried numerous times too. They found it's layout simply wasn't suitable for prolonged use with a blower. I have this straight from the horses mouth at TRD. Lotus are on thier own with the blower, so if you like driving hard in your Exige you may just be better off than your pal in his 'S' afterall.
I guess that kills the CC for you -- word is that they will only bring in the SC model. Check with Mark for details.
BTW, did TRD tell you how much boost they tried in their experiments and whether they used intercooling? I was told that they were running significantly more than 5 lbs and no intercooler.
A:
Originally Posted by mark.r
I'd be interested in knowing how many times this season the GT3 Exiges from the British GT3 series were rebuilt to keep them "reliable"???
A reliable source told me -- never -- no engine rebuild during their 13 race season.
A:
Originally Posted by Jack
A reliable source told me -- never -- no engine rebuild during their 13 race season.
That is interesting, really interesting.
A:
Originally Posted by macfly
OK, here's something that'll make all you 'regular' Exige owners feel a little easier about the stunning car you own. TRD (Toyota Racing Development) never supercharged the 2ZZ motor because it gave them too many reliability issues when they tried it, and they tried numerous times too. They found it's layout simply wasn't suitable for prolonged use with a blower. I have this straight from the horses mouth at TRD. Lotus are on thier own with the blower, so if you like driving hard in your Exige you may just be better off than your pal in his 'S' afterall.
I don't know about TRD, but Toyota supercharged the 2ZZ on a production car, with no inter-cooler...the Corolla T-Sport Compressor...with almost identical power & torque ratings to the Exige S. In a heavier car with European drivers, I'm sure it gets exersized pretty well. The Exige S with the inter-cooler should have even better reliability.
A:
Originally Posted by Jack
A reliable source told me -- never -- no engine rebuild during their 13 race season.
They eventually tore at least one of them down, out of guilt (seriously), but found nothing wrong.