I miss my lotus, it’s been just over 2 months since it went into the garage for a gear shift related issue, the gear cables needed replacing (not too expensive).
That uncovered a shifter issue, the blue plastic ball that holds the gear stick was cracking (ouch, getting very punchy in cost with the options).
Then we found the gearbox itself was kippered and needed a rebuild (reeling with pain, super expensive). As they say, it comes in threes. Bugger.
I share this to help others with my research if they find themselves in a similar position. My general philosophy is ‘buy once, buy right’ which my bruised and battered wallet will attest to.
Gear cables: replaced with improved ones.
Gearbox rebuild:
This is what got done. The sharp eyes of you will spot the added LSD, how did that get in there 
Strip Gearbox and Inspect
Rebuild Gearbox with the New Following Components
3rd+4th Gear (SSC Gears)
2nd Gear Syncro
3rd Gear Syncro
4th Gear Syncro
3rd/4th Sleeve
3rd/4th Hub
All New Bearings ( All shaft bearings and diff bearings) and Seals
Quaife ATB Diff
The old gearbox lasted 62,000 miles. Hopefully, with this level of freshness and reinforced spec it will last the next 100,000
The shifter: now this is where it gets interesting with the options.
This is a picture of what happens to the blue ball (it’s not my unit but it was similar, the gearstick will literally pull out!).
I could replace it with the same Lotus shifter, but that’s a future problem in waiting as it will break again at some point in time because of its inherent weakness. Plus I’m not sure how easy it is to get that whole part and suspect it won’t be cheap being Lotus.
There are used ones on eBay but their age will only accelerate the inevitability of the blue ball of doom breaking sooner.
Or, I use a replacement part, as far as I could see there are 4 options which all seem very good, high quality bits of billet beauty.
First off they are all costly and all are roughly the same price. But in defence of that it’s low volume production, stunning quality from all and hand built. You get what you pay for, they are a fair price for the craftsmanship and what they are, especially when you consider what the alternatives are outside these 4. So I applaud all the makers and wish them all success.
Option 1: Inokinetic Ultimate Shiftr111 version 2 - great quality, proven design, looks pretty cool. $1,600 + tax and duty, depending on options. can choose colour options. Has very good feedback.
Option 2. Dolomiti - Euros 1,357 (+ VAT I think and any possible customs charge?) for the standard, a little more to customise.
Nice looking, has had great reviews and is proven. I was sure of the plastic components which do look solid and well made but over time will they deteriorate as I plan to keep my car for the next 30 years and don’t want to have to touch the shifter again. Nice the way you can choose the colour of some components, very cool. Excellent and informative website, nice and clean design (like the shifter) with good information. Clearly shows an attention to detail. Not in stock at the moment and needs to be shipped from Italy, so that was an issue.
Option 3. AliTech Shifter $ unknown
Price, no idea, all second hand now. Made in the US. Lovely quality, looks a tiny bit bulky for my taste with the casing but that could be an optical illusion which once seen in the flesh works. Not sure if the standard surround could fit over it, but would you want to when it looks that good. The shifter unit looks mint and it seems they are no longer made, ceased production in 2018, now rare as 240R Lotus Sport Wheels so practically unobtainable especially in the timescale I needed one. So that counted that out.
Option 4. HPE Automotive £1,395 + VAT. Made in the UK. A work of art, simple design, elegant, proven. The engraving on the gear knob looks okay, clear and simple but basic and not as nice stylistic as the original in my view.
You can use the original gear surround, it all fits within it. But if you want to keep the leather shroud that goes up the gearstick then apparently it just slightly rubs against it and hinders completely clean gearshifts so there is a slight notchiness to it as it catches slightly.
So realistically, you need to forgo having the shroud part.
Part of me quite likes having the opening so you can look down into the cavity as it does look cool but the other part of me would prefer to keep the stock look. I wouldn’t leave it all fully exposed, that wouldn’t suit my car but for some more stripped out cars I feel it would look good. I’d be interested in getting an S3 exposed surround but they seem very expensive!
I had a try of one on a static car with engine off and it felt very positive with a reassuring clunk into each gear. Will be very interested to see what it feels like in action and will report back.
Which one did I go for? No prizes for guessing.
The HPE, for a number of reasons; I could get my hands on one, it was available from Dave at Seriously Lotus (cheers Dave), BackonTrack had good experience of them, which meant they knew how to fit and adjust it well. Plus they recommended it. It’s also made in the UK and I like to support local quality trade where it makes sense.
In summary, it is an awful lot of money to switch in a shifter. I had to replace my busted shifter, no way I’d have done otherwise. I found the OEM shifter perfectly decent, not amazing, nothing to write home about but importantly it wasn’t jarring, it worked and I never felt it was terrible or particularly lacking, it just wasn’t special. You never changed gear with it and said ‘ooh that feels good’.
It’s taken a while because of the busy season for suppliers and parts availability, but am nearing the end of the road (excuse the pun).
With the weather being so good and not having my car to drive on road or track, it’s felt like torture. I love the Lotus and found myself pining for it. Is this normal behaviour for a grown man.
I pick the car up tomorrow and will report back! Fingers crossed. Can’t wait.
