2-Eleven US Arrivals?

[MickOpalak]

Originally Posted by Patricko

That is the Lotus USA press car that was at LOG28 & 29.

They've had a 211 at a LOG that hasn't even happened yet?!?! I think you mean LOG 27 & 28.

[Patricko]

Originally Posted by MickOpalak

They've had a 211 at a LOG that hasn't even happened yet?!?! I think you mean LOG 27 & 28.

I guess I am focusing on the future

You are correct sir

[Noah Vail]

Heard from my dealer yesterday; he says Lootus (as this will be my first L car I'm not sure if that's a typo or prescient) has completed a bunch of 211s, which will be shipped in a week and a half when the company returns from vacation. Cars destined for central and western U.S.will be delivered to Houston and trucked to final destinations. S. Cal ETA is early Sept.

[Toad]

Car Details Page


Star Motor Cars has one on their website

[Alphonse]

The one currently at star belongs to the U.S. head of Aston Martin. It's been there a couple of weeks now and they are preping it with a healthy covering of star shield. It has an accu sump installed.

The next batch of U.S. arrivals is on the water as I write and should be in customs shortly. How long till those are ditributed is anyones guess.

[Patricko]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

The one currently at star belongs to the U.S. head of Aston Martin. It's been there a couple of weeks now and they are preping it with a healthy covering of star shield. It has an accu sump installed.

Where is he based? I would have expected him to be in the LA area.

They all come with an Accusump...

[Alphonse]

Patrick,

I'm not sure where his base office is but he had the Houston Lotus dealership, (which also sells a lot of A-M's), order it and prep it for him.

Did not know that the U.S. versions had the sump as part of the package.

Al B.

[ww111]

Mine arrived at 4:19 this afternoon...
More to follow!!

Wooo Hoooo!


Collins

[chiuman]

Collins,

Congrats, thats awesome. You want to trade rides next year at the Glen

Chris

[Jack]

Originally Posted by ww111

Mine arrived at 4:19 this afternoon...
More to follow!!

Wooo Hoooo!


Collins

Congrats!

Got mine last week -- you'll love it...the 2Eleven is amazing.

Now get it to the track... break-in photos from the last two days.

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by Jack

Congrats!

Got mine last week -- you'll love the it...the 2Eleven is amazing.

Now get it to the track... break-in photos from the last two days.

Outstanding!

[Brent Bauman]

I think I can see your massive smile inside your helmet.

[R'elise Me]

Woohoo!!!! Looks great - nice color! It'll be nice to see the LCS Ultra class come to life finally.

So what kind of times are you getting in that so far, Jack?

[Jack]

Originally Posted by R'elise Me

Woohoo!!!! Looks great - nice color! It'll be nice to see the LCS Ultra class come to life finally.

So what kind of times are you getting in that so far, Jack?

Thanks .... 1:19's at SOW...........




Glen, I'm trying to break it in...not break it.

The car is razor sharp, handling is simply amazing....once I can unleash it, I think it will turn some great times....especially in the hands of Craig Stanton.

I put some miles on the car at Big Willow on Tuesday and even though we were short shifting at 5.5-6K, the car has so much stick (on Yoko's, no less) that I was going through the turn 2 sweeper 6mph faster than in my Cup255 on slicks (and that was when I turned my personal best time of 1:33.xx). This car has some serious potential ...it will be quite some time (if ever) before I get close to extracting it fully. It will be fun trying.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by Brent Bauman

I think I can see your massive smile inside your helmet.

Thanks, Brent.

Usually, it's my neck that hurts after track days, but lately all that smiling has taken its toll.

[Brent Bauman]

Wish I could have made it up there. How many miles did you put on it? I'm sure it measures up to your expectations, very nice.

[whl3]

Jack, et al,

I probably was the first US delivery and within three days had it on the track at LOG 28. Jack, you've been much easier on break-in than I was. I seated the rings and brakes after two sessions. I sent my first "lengthy" impressions back to Nick Adams at Lotus UK. He was very responsive and e-mailed me the next day with answers to all of my questions. He suggested, as I do to all US customers, to become a member of 2Elevenforum (Powered by Invision Power Board) for shared information. Nick monitors this forum and responds when necessary. Check out my whl3 "introduction" comments on that forum with Nick's comments. In short, do not put slicks on the 2-Eleven without dry-sump (something Lotus is working on), keep the fuel tank full or risk severe fuel starvation in long left handers (or buy the optional FIA fuel bag that has dual pick-ups; Lotus is working on a fix for the OEM tank); have your suspension settings and geometry checked carefully before taking to the track (don't assume that they were set correctly when leaving the factory, even for a nominal sized European!).

Having a Cup car, Jack, your first impressions were interesting and very similar to mine. I've tracked my Elise, my Exige, and my Exige "S" and there is no comparison. The obvious additional HP, in my case, makes a real difference. The obvious reduced weight for you, makes a case for your first impressions. The car, obviously, is much less visceral than my 23B. I think the "more solid" optional motor mounts will be the first accessory I install to get more "seat of the pants" feel for the car, as well as, more positive shifting, a common problem for all of the Elise variants. (Check out Taylor Racing for some interesting Lotus Quaife alternatives!) A very close second will be an optional exhaust system, either aftermarket or Lotus, to also get a better feel (or ear) for what the car is doing. In stock form, the car is just too antiseptic for a track/race car. Lotus is working on a ($$$$$) "data" instrument binnacle to get rid of the useless Elise instrument pod and unreadable idiot lights in an open top car.

My next track outing will be at Grattan with the Great Lakes Lotus Club on the first weekend of October. I can't wait to reconfirm my initial impressions and using Nick's suggestions with the vartiable LTC.

See you all on the 2Elevenforum! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Bill

[ww111]

Originally Posted by chiuman

Collins,

Congrats, thats awesome. You want to trade rides next year at the Glen

Chris

Leeme think about that for a second... no.

I did drive it home tho' Put a dealer plate on it and managed to dodge all the big Central New York potholes. Of course had to stop at the pub-n-grub, they don't see too many cars without doors there. Got it in the garage just as the sun was heading down. There's an auto cross this Saturday NIGHT at the local kart track. I'm wondering if I can put rally car lights on the roll bar???

[Alphonse]

You guys are killin me! Congrats on your 2-11's. the 2-11 site is a must. Lot's of information from the Euro guys who have had them for some time now.
Lucky bastards can drive them all over the place as evidenced by one Alpine vacation posting.
Listen for a loud yell of joy from the southwest region and you'll know more have arrived. Hope to see a good showing of 2-11's at LOG 29 in Birmingham.
should make for some interesting track day photos.

See ya,

Al "phonse" B.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by whl3

Jack, et al,

I probably was the first US delivery and within three days had it on the track at LOG 28. Jack, you've been much easier on break-in than I was. I seated the rings and brakes after two sessions. I sent my first "lengthy" impressions back to Nick Adams at Lotus UK. He was very responsive and e-mailed me the next day with answers to all of my questions. He suggested, as I do to all US customers, to become a member of 2Elevenforum (Powered by Invision Power Board) for shared information. Nick monitors this forum and responds when necessary. Check out my whl3 "introduction" comments on that forum with Nick's comments. In short, do not put slicks on the 2-Eleven without dry-sump (something Lotus is working on), keep the fuel tank full or risk severe fuel starvation in long left handers (or buy the optional FIA fuel bag that has dual pick-ups; Lotus is working on a fix for the OEM tank); have your suspension settings and geometry checked carefully before taking to the track (don't assume that they were set correctly when leaving the factory, even for a nominal sized European!).

Having a Cup car, Jack, your first impressions were interesting and very similar to mine. I've tracked my Elise, my Exige, and my Exige "S" and there is no comparison. The obvious additional HP, in my case, makes a real difference. The obvious reduced weight for you, makes a case for your first impressions. The car, obviously, is much less visceral than my 23B. I think the "more solid" optional motor mounts will be the first accessory I install to get more "seat of the pants" feel for the car, as well as, more positive shifting, a common problem for all of the Elise variants. (Check out Taylor Racing for some interesting Lotus Quaife alternatives!) A very close second will be an optional exhaust system, either aftermarket or Lotus, to also get a better feel (or ear) for what the car is doing. In stock form, the car is just too antiseptic for a track/race car. Lotus is working on a ($$$$$) "data" instrument binnacle to get rid of the useless Elise instrument pod and unreadable idiot lights in an open top car.

My next track outing will be at Grattan with the Great Lakes Lotus Club on the first weekend of October. I can't wait to reconfirm my initial impressions and using Nick's suggestions with the vartiable LTC.

See you all on the 2Elevenforum! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Bill

Bill,

Thanks for all the tips. I'm just following Lotus' break-in recommendation as specified in the 2Eleven manual...first 100 miles, vary the RPM's and use no more than 2/3 max. RPM's or engine load and then for the next 200-300 miles or two track days...just drive it. Change the oil to synthetic at 3-400 miles or two track days. I'm ready for my first oil change. Brakes were bedded in the first 20 minutes of driving.

I tried not to waste too much time and follow your lead of getting the 2Eleven exercised...took delivery on Thursday afternoon (the 28th), had engine mounts and exhaust/muffler changed out, had Recaro seat repositioned (no easy task), added some clear bra to certain additional vulnerable locations, had the car corner balanced and aligned and had it on track by Tuesday (the 2nd). I thought that was FAST!

I don't plan on running slicks...at least in the short term. Interestingly enough, the owner's manual implies slicks are acceptable as Lotus furnishes alignment recommendations for use of slicks. But, I've heard the same warning that the car is capable of pulling "too many G's" with slicks and can overpower the oiling system even with the accusump. Changing the oil pan and monitoring the oil pressure with an appropriate oil pressure gauge and, most importantly, a conspicuous warning system may be a possible interim measure until lotus gets me the dry sump system. I'm having some gauges installed next week. A "data" instrument binnacle would be great...you're correct, the cluster is difficult to read under certain lighting conditions without the shade of a roof.

The car's handling blew me away as compared to my Cup255, and I've got that car set up very well. Of course, it has wonderful power delivery. Surprisingly, the 2Eleven appeared to have better throttle response than my Cup cars. I expected some lag/laziness due to the longer run of intercooler pipes, but that wasn't the case. Perhaps Lotus made some tweaks to the ECU tuning or total boost to compensate or maybe it's just the 450 pounds of less ballast. For me, it was all about the weight reduction...you could feel it in many areas, suspension, braking, pulling power (especially at lower revs/taller gears). I do need to get used to the open cockpit experience...it's a new feeling for me. It definitely makes the driving experience all the more raw and I like it. I played around a little with shock settings but have yet to adjust the front roll bar (it's set in the middle from the factory) or add more rear down force. Car as I have set it up now is very slightly biased towards oversteer. Btw, I still can't get over the initial turn-in...the car feels like a slot car. I had no fuel starvation issues, but I know what to expect so I don't let the gas tank run down to less than 4 gallons.

I should have back on track for some more miles next week...I typically do about 5-6000 track miles per year.