Miata Mailing List: December 1993, Message #139
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   From: Andy Poling 
Subject: Re: Lotus (fwd)
   Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 13:33:44 -0500

Remember folks - don't quote the whole article.   You'll give my list
software indigestion.

-Andy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 08:54:07 -0500
From: miata@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
To: andy@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
Subject: Re: Lotus

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As I understand it, Lotus stopped Elan production because they were
loosing money making them.  The current rumour is that Elan production
will restart soon with "simplified" production and a higher price tag.

In the UK, the price of the cheapest Elan was about UK 20,000 whilst
the basic MX5/miata costs about UK 17,000. I think that's close
enough to just about rule out price in the comparison.

Despite this, you still see about 10 miatas to one Elan in the UK.

- Jonathan


    From scol.london.sco.com!sco.sco.com!jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu!miata Thu Dec 16 17:54:40 1993
    Message-Id: <9312161755.AA03175@petra.ma30.bull.com>
    X-Archive-Key: MIATA
    Comment: Mazda Miata mailing l*st
    Originator: miata@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
    Reply-To: buck@petra.ma30.bull.com (Kenneth J. Buck)
    Sender: miata@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
    Version: 5.5.JHU3
    From:       buck@petra.ma30.bull.com (Kenneth J. Buck)
    To: Multiple recipients of list 
    Subject: Re: Lotus
    Date:       Thu, 16 Dec 1993 12:58:27 -0500

    > From: Alan Dahl 
    > Subject: Re: bugatti/lotus (fwd)
    > 
    > BTW: I find it funny that Lotus responded to the Miata by killing off
    > the Elan while Rover responded by bringing back the MGB!
    > To be fair to Lotus I suspect that a lot of the Elan's problems were more a  
    > result of GM's tinkering than anything Lotus did.

    i think the Elan's biggest problem was far & away the price.

    granted, there were differences between the Lotus & both
    Mazda convertibles (Miata & 2nd gen RX7), but the biggest one
    was price.  for ANY small convertible to compete in the US
    market against the Miata, it's going to have to have a reasonable
    price (something _less_ than twice the competition...).

    speaking for myself, i've always liked Lotus' (Lotii?),
    and hope they manage to overcome their current problems and
    continue to exist.
    as for the recent Elan in particular, i thought it was a fine car -
    even taking into account its FWD and controversial styling - BUT
    simply too expehsive for me to consider affording even if i had
    wanted one.

    --                                             
    Ken Buck                                          /|
    Internet: k.buck@ma30.bull.com                \'o.O'    ACK!
    Mail:     Bull, MA30-833A                     =(___)= THPTPHH!
              300 Concord Rd, Billerica, MA 01821    U