[quote=MrBean]
Just go out and have FUN in whatever Lotus you have…before the brand is history. 
[/quote]
Spot on, mon ami 
Thanks for all your comments so far, they make for interesting reading! My actual Exige driving experiences are limited to mhaney’s S1 car some years ago and as a passenger in a S2 (190) around Donnington. I’ll be home from the desert within a fortnight and hopefully straight behind the wheel of our car for the first time to put the theories to test…I can’t wait!
I believe if my Dad actually tried an Elise for a week or two, he’d see how good a modern Lotus is, and maybe the thoughtless statements would be a thing of the past.
I’m very proud that my wife and I have secured what is for me a dream car, something I thought beyond me for years to come. My colleagues have often asked what car I’d buy if I won the lottery (as you do), and even though I now own one, I could only say a S1 Exige. Roll on getting home, there is some driving to be done before the dream is realised.
Cheers,
Kurt
That’s the wrong way round Mike 
More weight, yes but the penalty is working air con & a more ‘livable’ cabin (less noise)
Less aero? not for the road, marinal on some tracks but the S2 is ‘cleaner’ for higher top speeds
Higher rided (not sure about that) & understeer is marginal & can b e dialled out.
Having owned an S1 for over 3 years from a new purchase & using it less and less for me the S2 is the one. Looks wise it is S1 all the way though - stunning compared to the S2
Just bought an S1 after having done 20000 miles in my 340R , mainly rainy days , wearing a helmet and dressed in a waterproof biker suit, my duffel-bag in a plastic bag…
Scotland, Ireland, belgium , France , Germany,…and many more…
I really enjoyed those trips.
Being 64 I believe my old head deserves a roof:-)
Just kidding ,perso I still enjoy a ride in the 340 ,even under heavy rain,
I wanted the same kind of driving feeling therefore the purchase ,
On top I m sure that the Exige will keep his value…
I m lucky having other Lotuses but I think the S1 types (Elise,340,Exige)handling are the greatest…
Sorry for my “basic” English.
Tam
Welcome Tam, & good man for using the 340R properly 
Where are you based?
I m commuting ,Hungary ,luxembourg and Belgium for my job (media)
Doing track days and some club racing on a 211…frankly speaking I do prefer the handling of my 340…and on top I do not need 1 gear box per year with it… 
Taking the opportunity I would like to wish to all of you a happy new year!
Tam
Tam,
Sir, you have nothing but respect from me, you must be a true driving enthusiast to the core! I’d love to sample a 340R to get an appreciation of one, but I suppose that will remain but a dream. Did you sell yours? What was it like after the being filled with rain? Easy to clean the tub or not?
I’ve been using my S1 of late and after starting this thread before I saw the car. In the last few days I’ve been out in it in the rain, creating superb rooster tails, then bringing it home for a wash. The worst aspect of each drive is the constant rolling roadblocks driving at 40 mph EVERYWHERE!
After the last drive of 2011, I just went back out to the garage to check a detail for a fellow Exiger and the smell of hot oil and fuel allied with the general smells of the car reminded me of what a superb car it is in every respect! The smells remind me of old generation sports cars, the performance is very contemporary, the looks are out of this world (subjective, I know).
I truly hope that in 2012 I get to meet up with some of you and exchange views and opinions and hopefully enjoy a pie and pint! All the best for the New Year.
Kurt
…in the 340 there are 2 drain holes in the footwell…serious !
During the first heavy rain in the 211, I was driving from Brussels to Abbeville (track day) I realized that Lotus Motorsport did not offer this fantastic option (the rain water holes) therefore my feet were in a nice Aquarium
The next day I DIY this great upgrade…
Happy new year to all of you!
Tam
Tam - Happy New year & welcome - get some photos posted of your fleet, I’m sure we would all enjoy seeing them. Like others here, I have a great interested in the 340R and would love to have one on fleet also.
Stevegreen,
Here some pictures, of my pride
[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]
![http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]](http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]](http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
[image]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]
![http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]](http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
[image]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]
![http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]](http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]](http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]](http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]](http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]](http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]](http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg%5Bi%5Bimage%5D){kind=link}
[image]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg
[image]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]
![http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]](http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg](http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg%5Bimage%5Dhttp://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg){kind=link}
[image]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg
[image]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg[image]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[i[image]
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg
[image]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg
[image]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/image]
Regards
Tam
[quote=TAM340R]Stevegreen,
Here some pictures, of my pride
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg
Regards
Tam
[/quote]
Well it seems that it is not the way to post pictures ;-(
Tam
Well I m really sorry …I m really bad with PC s
Mea Culpa…tried to delete but was not possible anymore !!!
Tam
Tam
You need to post your links in between brackets as follows
Some stunning machinery in your fleet - fabulous 
[img]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5663/seveny.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/632/photocyd.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9724/lotusnivelles.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6505/klaar90.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7654/img0896fx.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7439/80900351.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9393/196020lotus20elite1.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6271/elansprint.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9800/dsc05861n.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7439/80900351.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6773/340ky.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9085/23mettet.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1117/7mettet.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8213/img0016mt.jpg[/img}
[img]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/637/jbs06771.jpg[/img}
Thanks Tam
The final close bracket is not correct you have a } rather than a ] after /img
Make sense? What a wonderful fleet on cars though
Sorry - je suis a right tosser! 
I’ll re-post them on your behalf
Fantastic - 340R would be my pick of that bunch but maybe not when you have to get the brolly out