Kev946 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Which would you buy? Actually a Cayman or whatever they call it. http://cars.uk.msn.com/Reviews/article. ... id=6428325 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickya Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Well I would rather go for Cayman out of the two. But the one car I would consider swopping the zed for in a couple of years time (similar catergory as above cars) would be a fully loaded Z4M Roadster; Piano Black trim/Coloured leather; Alpina front & rear spoiler; Eisseman exhaust; Big brake kit; Strut brace & ditch the run flats. Perfect Z4M IMO, main flaws taken out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmmackfc Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Cayman's I believe can be modded to produce 911 performance for less than it would cost ot buy a 911 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinbad Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Cayman for me too, but only just. It'll be better built and easier to live with on a daily basis. I'm with Rick though, the Z4M would have a look in too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickya Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Z4M coupe or roadster is about approx £7k to £10k cheaper than a Gayman S; quicker in a straight line though fractionaly slower in the twisities. Id pocket that £7k & spend approx £1.5k of that on above mentioned mods & a further £1k on some tasty 19"s Z4M.......0mph to 60mph 4.8sec!! (as tested by EVO magazine) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickya Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 ps havving read all that article you linked Kev & seen the second hand prices of the Europa, Im quite intrigued!! Seems good value for money & a bit different from the norm. (Iv heard servicing Lotus's can be costly is that so?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zedrush Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 id have a Z4M too over them or even the Z3M love the look of them too and the wheels are huge and easily moddable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 the europa is just the VXR with a different bodyshell. Doesn't quite pull it off in the looks department, Don't think the Porsche does either for that matter. Think the rear 3/4 view is ugly. Rather have a noble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Rather have a noble Thats what my mate thinks I should get next, but I couldnt do my 120mile daily round trip in that I dont think, not in traffic anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev946 Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 the europa is just the VXR with a different bodyshell. Doesn't quite pull it off in the looks department, Don't think the Porsche does either for that matter. Think the rear 3/4 view is ugly. Rather have a noble I've seen a Europa in the flesh and they look very nice. Some of the launch pictures don't do them justice. Lotus are competing in a very tough market. A car hand built and glued from aluminium and fibreglass is going to make it difficult to compete on level terms. But for me the Europa is a specialist car. Different in every way, and look at the price of it compared to it's performance. I reckon the Europa is an absolute bargain. The fact it isn't selling in big numbers is no surpirse as it is effectively competiting with the Exige and not the Gaymen / Z4 Coupe. If you fancy something different and don't want a fully focused Exige and need a bit more room then the are brilliant. Also there are many nearly new bargains to be had both private and a dealers. Try driving a propoer light weight car compared to the 1.5 tonne monsters of today which they call sports cars. The difference is remarkable. As for servicing, why should a Lotus be that expensive. There's loads of Lotus specialists around. Engines are reliable units from otehr manufacturers unlike TVR, and the low weight means low stress on all mechanical parts. They only come with 2 years warranty though. As for it being a VX220. The VX220 was designed and was built by Lotus, so nowte wrong with that. So for me, pound for pound, I'd have a Europa.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 out of the two Kev yes agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I would probably go for the Lotus as they're rare as hen's teeth. They do look better in the flesh but where the top of the window meets the roof is still decidedly iffy. I'd prefer an Elise S - from what I've heard the Europa isn't really that much more civilised compared to "proper" cars like the BMW and Porsche. Elise looks sexy as f**k too! Agree with Ricky on the Z4M though. M-cars aren't fitted with runflats though, Ricky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 As much as I am a Lotus fan would still go for the Porker. From what I have heard you gain very little in the Europa compared to an elise or exige. For everyday drive a 18 stone chubby like me needs easy access. Honestly go for the 2-eleven as cannot see you being disappointed unless you worry about your hair style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev-the-Rev Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Despite being a huge fan of Lotus (both an ex employee and owner) the Cayman is in a different league in terms of build quality and lack of depreciation imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinbad Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Id get a lotus Exige S if i where you kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev946 Posted October 20, 2007 Author Share Posted October 20, 2007 Id get a lotus Exige S if i where you kev Good idea, thanks... I reckon the Exige S is the Europa's biggest problem TBH. The dealer told me that Lotus were only looking to sell 250 Europas in the UK for the first year. Makes it a mega rare car though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H5 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I nearly bought a Cayman S after a lengthy drive in one. It wasn't until I took 5 minutes out from doing the paperwork and went outside to look at it and had the Zed parked next to it, that I decided it was fugly and I couldn't justify the premium over the Zed. Between the two though, most would go for the Porker, but I would like a drive in a Europa S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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