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Lotus Europa Forums => Random Europa Sightings => Topic started by: Lou Drozdowski on Tuesday,December 08, 2020, 06:18:43 PM

Title: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: Lou Drozdowski on Tuesday,December 08, 2020, 06:18:43 PM
I wanted to post this short video...

We can all agree that driving a Europa is a unique experience. Regardless of your destination, full attention to your surroundings becomes second nature. Let's take a ride through the streets of Copenhagen traffic.

I like the fact that the driver is constantly sighting....no distractions, full control and attentive forward thinking to traffic, the short blips of throttle in between up shifts. If there was one item to pick on, it would be holding it in gear too long when stopped...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUda9GA1s0Y   
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: BDA on Tuesday,December 08, 2020, 07:10:51 PM
Nice car - in spite of the fact that there was no ashtray or elbow pad.

Nice drive. Appropriately watchful.
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: Dilkris on Tuesday,December 08, 2020, 11:42:25 PM
Is it just the camera angle - or are the mirrors in an "odd" place ??
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: GavinT on Wednesday,December 09, 2020, 06:40:05 AM
Noticed the nicer gear spacing between 2nd and 3rd, too.
Unfortunately he didn't get it into 5th.
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: Bainford on Wednesday,December 09, 2020, 10:58:56 AM
A little double clutching would make those downshifts easier.

Noticed the nicer gear spacing between 2nd and 3rd, too.
Unfortunately he didn't get it into 5th.
In the twenty thousand plus miles I have put on mine, I've only been in 5th a handful of times. Almost never go there. I use 5th on major highways of course, but I avoid those as boring and pointless. No corners = no point. That's true of my daily driver, too. Shunpike all the way.
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: GavinT on Wednesday,December 09, 2020, 09:21:43 PM
In the twenty thousand plus miles I have put on mine, I've only been in 5th a handful of times. Almost never go there.
Really! - a handful of times? . . I'm surprised.

I figure the 336,352 & 365 transaxles are all pretty similar in overall gearing.
In normal suburban driving, I'd be using top gear just to trundle along because it's more relaxed.

That said, I found it difficult to determine what the speeds were in the video, but he seemed to get to a 50 MPH area in the latter part.

EDIT:

One of the suggested videos that came up was this one.
He seems to use 4th a lot too, so I dunno . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzLN7g0Jgyw
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: BDA on Thursday,December 10, 2020, 06:23:29 AM
The car in that video is beautiful! I expect they got a very good price for it.

I don’t know about Bainford, but I regularly get in 5th. As long as the motor is turning at least 2000 rpm, it takes 5th easily.
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: Bainford on Thursday,December 10, 2020, 08:01:50 AM

I don’t know about Bainford, but I regularly get in 5th. As long as the motor is turning at least 2000 rpm, it takes 5th easily.
Hhmmm... maybe I'm using too many revs. I regularly cruise in the 3200-4000 range, and it's 4000 and up when I'm getting jiggy with it. It's just so addictive when it's on the cam. Makes nice music, too.
Actually, I'm happy to avoid using 5th. Mine is a mild pain to get into 5th, and coming out of 5th is a nuisance, because if you are not careful it tries to slip right into reverse.
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: BDA on Thursday,December 10, 2020, 09:26:47 AM
Well, I definitely think you should make yourself happy!

I guess a lot depends on your motor, your driving style. I've read lots of comments from people with 5-speeds who say they would be about as happy with a 4-speed because they rarely get into 5th. My only point is that you can get into 5th gear if you want.
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: TurboFource on Thursday,December 10, 2020, 11:59:51 AM
The only fifth I will have is if it's in a bottle.....which may be useful while working on this thing :BEER3:
Title: Re: Head on a swivel...always!
Post by: BDA on Thursday,December 10, 2020, 12:16:25 PM
Brings new meaning to "Taking the Fifth."  :)    (a US joke)