Andy M3

He used the word crap at least once

YouTube - Fifth Gear: Jason drives the Lotus Elise SC

It's not mapped right, the ergonomics are all wrong, it needs a diff, it is too expensive were just some of the comments. This should have been a stonker of a car, has anyone else experienced the car?

stilover

How can a manufacturer let a car go on sale that isn't mapped right?

Shame on Lotus. They really do need a big manufacturer to take control of them. Proton isn't the right owner for Lotus.

Look at Aston Martin. They came on leaps and bounds when Ford took over.

Nicci

I wondered what Lotus had done to upset him, as he couldn't praise anything.

The Zohan

Maybe is was cr@p. maybe is was not set up right or at least how he would have liked/should be.

I quite like JP and he is usually pretty fair and honest in his opinions - maybe is something in it.

Lotus have been known to screw up from time to time and maybe this is one of those times.

Like all these things i suppose it is subjective.

TopBanana

I suppose the novelty factor of something that uncomfortable doesn't count for much if your office is a touring car.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

EVO reviewed it and said that although it was a good car, they could not work out who it was aimed for given the price. They made no comments with regards to its map, and liked the variable traction control settings.

They critised it for an uninspiring engine note, and for me that is the end of it. If it does not sound nice then there is no point in buying it as a normal car. For me the noise a car makes is a major part of the enjoyment (4" pipe on a classic Impreza )

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

Only just started watching 5th Gear, usually a fan of Top Gear, but on 5th it surprised me that he noticed holes in the map. Clarkson seems to concentrate more on amusing metaphores rather than knowing too much technical info.
I got the overall impression he didn't like it.

Normski

He buried it well and truly.

Do you know who Jason Plato is? It doesn't surprise me one bit that a professional racing driver can feel when a car isn't mapped right.

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

Didn't know he was a Pro. That explains it.

The Zohan

Jason Plato - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

quite acomplished, more akin to The Stig ability wise than Clarkson

Edcase

Lack of a diff as standard is unforgiveable in a car like this IMHO. It was bad enough on my 335i, but on a 'focused' car like this, its verging on ridiculous.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Pretty much everything he reviews he seems totally underwhelmed by!

webby v7 slipperwagon

iTrader: (2)

I think, Loads_Of_ Trouble_ Usually_ Serious, are starting to return to their old habits, the same which nearly killed the company. Taking a great product that sells well, then cheapskate on it, charge silly money and try to b*lls*it you with... This is the best blah blah blah we have ever made. The consumer, thanks to the likes of EVO mag etc.. are a lot lot wiser than our parents.

BOB.T

The best bit of the show for me was when the yank asked Tiff if he'd had any racing experience

Brun

It is over priced. My Elise minus the option packs is £24k, so assuming that you can get the sc minus the packs, that stands the daft spoiler and the blower at £8k

slim_boy_fat

At the end i think he was quite embarrassed, saying if we went any faster i would loose my job

It was a classic.

Shark Man

The engine tune could be due to emissions issues, or fault.

I can understand why there is no LSD: It's all PC; the Elise does have a snappy **** when in the hasnds of a feejit, deleting the LSD helps remove that issue, so makes the car safer for the average talentless clog-footed and ham-fisted driver that will buy it.

Must admit though, modern Lotii (MK1 Elise onwards) are just too Heath Robinson; And seem no more than athrown together kitcar (like TVR). It's a rehash of an old car. And expensive one at that.

Think I'd rather spend an extra £8K and have a Caterham RST and spare set of underwear

P1Fanatic

Aargh didnt realise it was back on. Anyone know if this is repeated at any time?

Top Gear for entertainment - 5th gear to see some decent driving from Jason and Tiff.

IIRC Plato did love the F430 when it was first released - said he had ordered one but not sure if that happened.

Simon

P1Fanatic

Answered my own question:

Fifth Gear (Motoring)
Starting: 10:00 on Sunday 23rd March. Duration: 1 hour. Showing on five.

tv listings | five.tv

Simon

scoobynutta555

Why on earth would anyone buy this when you can get a typeR engined S1 for £14k ish?

scoobynutta555

210 bhp for the import engine, just shy of his 217 bhp. You can also supercharge the typeR engine to get 300bhp.

phil_wrx

iTrader: (2)

he wasnt underwhelmed by the type25