Car Talk - Non S2000 General Motoring and Non S2000 Car Talk

First Europa review

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Old Sep 11, 2006 | 11:39 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by trinis2001,Sep 12 2006, 01:00 AM
A turbo 2L making less than 200hp and 200 lb-ft is an under achiever (think Evo). But of course, your lite chassis makes up for the engine's short commings.....
in the vxr it kicks out 220 bhp.

think evo? - think running costs and service intervals of an evo.
it's not because it has seats which are hard to clean or really expensive brake fluid.

think golf gti, think focus rs...

you can increase turbo pressure if you want/need more power. it is supposed to be quite a durable unit, depends how driveable you want it, i once drove a 350bhp escort cossie.. to get away from the line at all required 3,500 rpm..
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Old Sep 11, 2006 | 11:50 PM
  #22  
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This is the Europa 'S' - no doubt there will be an 'R' along in a while with more power.

Then in a year or two, another six variants with differing power and trim levels.

I like the idea of an everyday Lotus, I'm just not sure yet if this is it.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 12:16 AM
  #23  
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"think golf gti, think focus rs... "

Think S2000...240 na - 300 @ 400 sc
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 12:22 AM
  #24  
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I personally like the idea of a common as muck understressed engine in a Lotus, it keeps down both purchase and running costs and it's nice to know that it'll probably hold together while the rest of the car falls apart around it

I know I've said it over and over again but straight line speed is not what these cars are about.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 12:36 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by Bada Bing!,Sep 11 2006, 02:57 PM
Why do they have to replace the Elise, moff?
I think the Elise is gorgeous, and I loved the facelift, but I think they need to move with the times and get a new version developed to replace the current one - I am talking next 2 years.

I think this thing is a embarrassment to Lotus, a big mistake.

I really hope that this Europe thing does not in anyway reflect the new Esprit, which was always my favourite car.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 01:01 AM
  #26  
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You're right - the review is badly written.

The sentence about the doors & sills really is inglish writ gud.

As for the Europa, why not? There will always be a small, yet discerning market for a more luxurious, useable, middle-aged Lotus.

It's hardly likely to be as podgy as the over-sold krautwagens, although I accept it's gonna be imopssible to get that level of NVH refinement out of the Elise's platform anyway.

I've not read mapping criticisms of the Opel unit before (although most krautwagens seem to have flywheels made by James Watt) so it may be a classic Lotus build issue.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 02:53 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by moff,Sep 12 2006, 09:36 AM
I think the Elise is gorgeous, and I loved the facelift, but I think they need to move with the times and get a new version developed to replace the current one - I am talking next 2 years.

I think this thing is a embarrassment to Lotus, a big mistake.

I really hope that this Europe thing does not in anyway reflect the new Esprit, which was always my favourite car.
There is an Elise S3 due next year I think, but I hope they go for lighter materials. The new VW project worries me, as it's lighter than the current S2 and looks more substantial inside.

Nah, I think the Europa is just being made to use up the last of the VX220 parts bin, myself. I think an everyday Lotus has to come some day, but that's not it.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 06:38 AM
  #28  
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http://tinyurl.com/pl55f

That's more like it...
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 08:07 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by jml,Sep 12 2006, 03:38 PM
http://tinyurl.com/pl55f

That's more like it...
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 08:31 AM
  #30  
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http://tinyurl.com/jdfow
sorry
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