Lotus Europa anyone?

[m21sniper]

Why not just buy an elise? Lotus looks and handling with a Toyota motor.

Just masochistic?

[dd74]

Yes, heed the warnings of your fellow Pelicanites. These cars are not 911 reliable as far as daily drivers.

Meanwhile, here's a good source for parts. Yes, they're in the U.K., but still...
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/cars_home.htm

This is a sample of what they produce:


Now, IIRC, Banks is/was closely affiliated with Dave Bean Engineering in San Andreas, CA. I don't know if Bean is still around, but anyway, here's the link to their site:

http://www.davebean.com/

I'd call either one of these two outfits before putting down the $$$ for an Europa; just for peace of mind.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Why not just buy an elise? Lotus looks and handling with a Toyota motor.

Maybe because it isn't gaud awful ugly and costs one third the price?

[dd74]

Some would say that's the problem with the Elise - the Toyota motor.

If you want super reliability and good speed from a vintage Lotus, I'd go with the Cortina:

[JayG]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I'm sure it's great to drive, but I just can't make myself like the looks. I suppose you can't see the body from behind the wheel. For the money, a mint 240Z, 2002, or driver GTV would blow away the Lotus.

My 2002 was fun but shave off nearly 700 lbs and add 40 hp and the motor behind you. Thats a Europa. Not into to Datsuns, Alfas doont do it for me either. I don't know why its about power or whether it would get blown away by other cars. My current 75 911 walks 997 turbos because thats what it was built to do. The Europa would be built for autox and cruising around. Make it as reliable as possible and just enjoy it.


Some of you forget I wont think twice to swap something else in it. 4age twin cam AE86 motor is a good candidate or a 4g63 2.0 turbo from a Galant or an Eclipse would fit nicely. The parts that I dont want to deal with are body work and the like.

I wear a size 9 shoe and could make do.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Maybe because it isn't gaud awful ugly and costs one third the price?

I like them a lot.

[ERH]

Some of you forget I wont think twice to swap something else in it. 4age twin cam AE86 motor is a good candidate or a 4g63 2.0 turbo from a Galant or an Eclipse would fit nicely. The parts that I dont want to deal with are body work and the like.

I wear a size 9 shoe and could make do.[/QUOTE]




Here's something interesting that would fit:

http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562069.htm



Ed

[speeder]

Originally Posted by JayG

My current 75 911 walks 997 turbos because thats what it was built to do.

Really? Your 1975 911 walks on a 190 mph, 480hp (stock), 0-60 in 4 seconds modern technology Porsche?? That's impressive, dude.

[targa911S]

It's English...my last name is Lucas. Think about it.
If you are over 6' tall you will hate it, maybe not now, but you will.
Did I say it was English?
You want English that is fun to drive? Buy an OLD Cooper S and put the rest of the money in little tires.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Maybe because it isn't gaud awful ugly and costs one third the price?

If the Lotus version is ugly, you could get the Opel version (not easy in the states), or the Pontiac, or the Saturn...

I don't like any of them, but think the Lotus is the worst looking.

[Seahawk]

My Dad bought one of the first Series 1 or 2 Europas imported to the US...I think from Colin Chapman's dealership in Long Beach in 1968. I'm not really sure which model since there are some interesting discrepancies: my Dad's windows didn't roll down, seats seemed fixed, etc.

But it was a hoot. He would take me on Mulholland Drive/Decker Canyon runs and the car seemed stuck to the road (on '60's tires). The drive around Lake Sherwood was great in those days as well, driving out of Portero Road through Hidden Valley.

If I could fit in one, why not

[the]

Originally Posted by K. Roman

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=320285429841



This is at around 8.5K 3 days left...

People really find THAT to be an attractive automobile?!?

I'm sure she's got a great personality and all, but those looks . . .

[dd74]

Originally Posted by JayG

Some of you forget I wont think twice to swap something else in it. 4age twin cam AE86 motor is a good candidate or a 4g63 2.0 turbo from a Galant or an Eclipse would fit nicely. The parts that I dont want to deal with are body work and the like.

I wear a size 9 shoe and could make do.

Shouldn't a nice high horsepower motorcycle engine fit well in the Europa's engine bay? It'd probably be much lighter than the standard Renault motor.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I like them a lot.

That's cool, we all like different things... some of us even like those goofy 944's

Originally Posted by tcar

If the Lotus version is ugly, you could get the Opel version (not easy in the states), or the Pontiac, or the Saturn...

I don't like any of them, but think the Lotus is the worst looking.

I am aware that Pontiac and Saturn make a sports cars that are the same car with differnt bodies... I didn't think they had anything to do with Lotus, I thought they were developed by GM?

Care to enlighten me?

[JayG]

Originally Posted by speeder

Really? Your 1975 911 walks on a 190 mph, 480hp (stock), 0-60 in 4 seconds modern technology Porsche?? That's impressive, dude.

On the highway, no problem. I have some nice wheelspin from a dig but the car can trap nearly 120 in the 1/4 on a race gas map.

Going fast is fun and all but being is something that nimble and light is something that I want to try my hand at. The styling is quirky but I'm down with quirky.

DD74- Shouldn't a nice high horsepower motorcycle engine fit well in the Europa's engine bay? It'd probably be much lighter than the standard Renault motor.


This doesn't have a Renault engine. This is the twin cam 1558 cc Lotus/Ford motor.

[URY914]

[tcar]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

That's cool, we all like different things... some of us even like those goofy 944's




I am aware that Pontiac and Saturn make a sports cars that are the same car with differnt bodies... I didn't think they had anything to do with Lotus, I thought they were developed by GM?

Care to enlighten me?

Lotus, owned by Proton, developed the platform for the Opel (Vauxhall) Speedster from their own. The Pontiac and Saturn are the same platform... and the Tesla electric car (forgot that one in my first post) is also the same platform.

There is a connection, Lotus used to be part of General Motors - in the 90's - before it was shuttled around, ending up in Malaysia (Proton) with a Toyota motor.

To me, their current styling is very Asian, (very un-European) and looks like some of the drifting cars with plastic air intakes and air dams. My opinion, not my cup of tea.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by URY914

Paul, that is a SWEET europa. That is a John Player special right?


Heres a nice inspirational video with a nice example and even better sounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VmB9zULOYQ

[targa911S]

i'd take the BWM though.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

That's cool, we all like different things... some of us even like those goofy 944's

944's were really nice cars too. I like 928's better, but 944's were very nice in their day.