Is the spec. Year 2005 or 2006? - LotusTalk

cain-it · 12-31-2007, 06:01 PM

Hi LotusTalkers,

I'm looking at buying a "2005" Elise - Polar Blue, Touring, Hardtop (no Sports Pack). The build date is July 2005 with VIN : SCCPC11185HL34898.

I was a bit surprised to see LED rear lights, as I thought these were fitted on 2006 cars, yet the car has twin oil coolers, as fitted to 2005 cars with Sports Pack... err so now I'm a bit confused, as the car seems to be a bit of both years!

Has anyone made a picture log of the differences between 2005 Vs 2006 spec. so I can identify the changes compared to the car I'm looking to buy?

The_Bishop · 12-31-2007, 07:26 PM

Some have fitted LED tail lights to their '05's. A pretty simple swap if you can find them. This is what I would surmise with your VIN/build date... 'course I could stand to be corrected.

- Allen.

Eclise · 12-31-2007, 07:45 PM

Carfax shows '05...and clean!

Likely retrofitted lamps.

ChrisB · 12-31-2007, 07:48 PM

Interesting set of characteristics. The VIN indicates a late build from model year 2005, but Polar Blue and LED taillights are '06 features. According to that, it should also have only one oil cooler. A few of the possible explanations:

1. Lotus doesn't always build the cars correctly (oil coolers)

2. At the end of the 2005 model year, Lotus built several cars with what were supposedly '06 features (LSD. TC, Aspen White & Phantom Black paint). Maybe the one you are looking at was built in that twilight zone at the end of the 2005 model run.

3. The owner could have added the LED taillights...several have done that. Same for the oil coolers. But the Polar Blue paint? I would wonder why the car was repainted if that was the case. Pretty expensive just because one like that shade of blue better than the others.

4. Any combination of the above.

The_Bishop · 12-31-2007, 07:54 PM

Polar blue paint is a good catch, chrisb.

- Allen.

glb · 12-31-2007, 09:18 PM

The Bishop -

That is a wonderful photo.

Blacktan · 01-01-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisB

3. But the Polar Blue paint? I would wonder why the car was repainted if that was the case. Pretty expensive just because one like that shade of blue better than the others.

cain it is located to UAE as i saw ....

maybe polar blue was entered just to US for 2006 and after .
At least in Europe is become from late 2004 - 2005 ...

probably this is the reason ....

usofrob · 01-01-2008, 10:03 AM

It could have been a special request color. I had to special request my Laser blue for my 2005 car. It wasn't an official color, and the dealer I was working with had no idea it could be done (even though I had seem pictures of a Laser Blue car being delivered at that dealership just before I went in to order mine.

) Anyway, maybe because the color was already available elsewhere, they just wrote down that color, and Lotus was kind enough to build it that way.

ChrisB · 01-01-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blacktan

cain it is located to UAE as i saw ....

maybe polar blue was entered just to US for 2006 and after .
At least in Europe is become from late 2004 - 2005 ...

probably this is the reason ....

Ahh...I didn't notice this was a poster from outside the US. That probably explains all the differences. The VIN seemed to indicate that it was a US car SCCPC11185HL34898 (L vs. P).

cain-it · 01-02-2008, 04:38 AM

Many thanks for all the help guys.

Had another look at the car today. It appears to be an interm US spec 2005 car ie a few 2006 features were installed when factory built.

I'll put an offer in, fingers crossed...

gogogo · 01-02-2008, 08:04 AM

Mine is 06 model with 05 color so Lotus is not too strict about MY on colors.

Another way to identy 06 from 05 is the throttle.

06 is drive-by-wire throttle and 05 is cable throttle.
The pedals are different too.

Blacktan · 01-02-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gogogo

Mine is 06 model with 05 color so Lotus is not too strict about MY on colors.

this is more possible than to be 05 with MY06 colours !!!

Rat27 · 01-02-2008, 12:47 PM

I believe the "5H" in the VIN indicates it is a model year 2005.You can also check the pedals, if they are extruded aluminum it should be an '05. If they are steel rods with aluminum pads it should be an '06.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cain-it

Hi LotusTalkers,

I'm looking at buying a "2005" Elise - Polar Blue, Touring, Hardtop (no Sports Pack). The build date is July 2005 with VIN : SCCPC11185HL34898.

I was a bit surprised to see LED rear lights, as I thought these were fitted on 2006 cars, yet the car has twin oil coolers, as fitted to 2005 cars with Sports Pack... err so now I'm a bit confused, as the car seems to be a bit of both years!

Has anyone made a picture log of the differences between 2005 Vs 2006 spec. so I can identify the changes compared to the car I'm looking to buy?

ChrisB · 01-02-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rat27

I believe the "5H" in the VIN indicates it is a model year 2005.You can also check the pedals, if they are extruded aluminum it should be an '05. If they are steel rods with aluminum pads it should be an '06.

The "5" indicates it is a 2005 model. The "H" indicates it was built in Hethel. So it is clearly an '05 model. However, Lotus has not always changed model years at the same time for cars built for all parts of the world. What we in the US know as the '05 versus '06 changes may not be the same elsewhere, though this VIN indicates that this car is a Federal US car. How it got to the UAE is another story.

Blacktan · 01-02-2008, 11:37 PM

Probably this is the reason .

This car was built for federal market .

But after final checking they found the mistake on the colour (in this case i am wondering WHY federal market was not supported European colours on 2005 ?) .

So they decide in order to avoide troubles (??) to export the car to any other market area except US .

And her final destination was there ...

something like this ??

@cain it

This elise is equiped with heater fan ?

12-31-2007, 06:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
cain-it Arabian Elises R Us Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Dubai UAE Posts: 48	Is the spec. Year 2005 or 2006? Hi LotusTalkers, I'm looking at buying a "2005" Elise - Polar Blue, Touring, Hardtop (no Sports Pack). The build date is July 2005 with VIN : SCCPC11185HL34898. I was a bit surprised to see LED rear lights, as I thought these were fitted on 2006 cars, yet the car has twin oil coolers, as fitted to 2005 cars with Sports Pack... err so now I'm a bit confused, as the car seems to be a bit of both years! Has anyone made a picture log of the differences between 2005 Vs 2006 spec. so I can identify the changes compared to the car I'm looking to buy?

12-31-2007, 07:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Bishop POWR2W8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 468 Images: 1	Some have fitted LED tail lights to their '05's. A pretty simple swap if you can find them. This is what I would surmise with your VIN/build date... 'course I could stand to be corrected. - Allen. __________________ S/N:34090 Mag. Blue/Biscuit, Touring, HT, 5000K HIDs, PPE/Larini SE.

12-31-2007, 07:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
The_Bishop POWR2W8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 468 Images: 1	Polar blue paint is a good catch, chrisb. - Allen. __________________ S/N:34090 Mag. Blue/Biscuit, Touring, HT, 5000K HIDs, PPE/Larini SE.

12-31-2007, 09:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
glb Unattractive Nuisance Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chester, NJ Posts: 4,516	The Bishop - That is a wonderful photo. __________________ 05 elise (PES chip, SSRs, shift tower mods, Multivex; HID low beams); 05 Corolla XRS; 72 Elan Sprint, 170 hp (Sold) "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." G. Orwell. 6. "A bore is a man who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company." - Gian Vincenzo Gravina

01-01-2008, 10:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
usofrob Almost out of warranty :) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Melbourne, FL Posts: 687	It could have been a special request color. I had to special request my Laser blue for my 2005 car. It wasn't an official color, and the dealer I was working with had no idea it could be done (even though I had seem pictures of a Laser Blue car being delivered at that dealership just before I went in to order mine. ) Anyway, maybe because the color was already available elsewhere, they just wrote down that color, and Lotus was kind enough to build it that way. __________________ 2005 Laser Blue Elise, base model (with 2 oil coolers), Bridgestone RE-01R 205/45/16+245/40/17, 4Tress harness bar, 6-Point Schroth harnesses, Cup Car Ohlins, Blackwatch Racing adjustable anti-sway bar, ekological HID kit, Sector 111 rear panel eliminator, 2bular 7" single tip exhaust, Sector111 DOWNLow seat, Sector111 tiny mirror, Braille battery, LidBone, multivex side mirrors, snorkel delete, infinity kappa 42.7 front speakers, acousti-stuff behind rear speakers. It adds up so quickly.

12-31-2007, 07:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Eclise Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,206	Carfax shows '05...and clean! Likely retrofitted lamps.

12-31-2007, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
ChrisB I'm Lovin' It! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 3,968 Images: 1	Interesting set of characteristics. The VIN indicates a late build from model year 2005, but Polar Blue and LED taillights are '06 features. According to that, it should also have only one oil cooler. A few of the possible explanations: 1. Lotus doesn't always build the cars correctly (oil coolers) 2. At the end of the 2005 model year, Lotus built several cars with what were supposedly '06 features (LSD. TC, Aspen White & Phantom Black paint). Maybe the one you are looking at was built in that twilight zone at the end of the 2005 model run. 3. The owner could have added the LED taillights...several have done that. Same for the oil coolers. But the Polar Blue paint? I would wonder why the car was repainted if that was the case. Pretty expensive just because one like that shade of blue better than the others. 4. Any combination of the above.

01-02-2008, 04:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
cain-it Arabian Elises R Us Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Dubai UAE Posts: 48	Many thanks for all the help guys. Had another look at the car today. It appears to be an interm US spec 2005 car ie a few 2006 features were installed when factory built. I'll put an offer in, fingers crossed...

01-02-2008, 08:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
gogogo rare 06 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 84	Mine is 06 model with 05 color so Lotus is not too strict about MY on colors. Another way to identy 06 from 05 is the throttle. 06 is drive-by-wire throttle and 05 is cable throttle. The pedals are different too. __________________ ..... 2006 JDM 111R Old English White .....

01-02-2008, 11:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
Blacktan This is my 5th Lotus ... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Athens,GREECE Posts: 873	Probably this is the reason . This car was built for federal market . But after final checking they found the mistake on the colour (in this case i am wondering WHY federal market was not supported European colours on 2005 ?) . So they decide in order to avoide troubles (??) to export the car to any other market area except US . And her final destination was there ... something like this ?? @cain it This elise is equiped with heater fan ? __________________ 2006 Fed Aspen White Elise LSS -SOLD- 2006 Fed Phantom Black Exige BWR/CharlieX tune 2006 Fed Storm Titanium Exige -SOLD- BMW E66 745i GREEKS do it better www.lotusclub.gr/forum

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