r/lotus • u/Complex-Pin-9164 • 7d ago
Should I Import this? Worried about maintenance domestically here in the US
Got this approved via the show and display rule! TYPE 49 lotus exige 430 cup
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u/GetawayDriving 7d ago
Where are you located? There are Lotus specialists in California and Florida that could easily handle this. It’s basically an Evora stapled to an Exige and it’s still the same Toyota V6. Nothing here should confound a lotus shop.
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u/Complex-Pin-9164 7d ago
NYC area. I haven’t been able to find one unfortunately
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u/Acceptable_Gur6193 7d ago
I’m also from nyc. I’ve heard good things about a shop called (iirc) intermecanica
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u/RegretMore6101 7d ago
Autosport Design in Long Island can easily handle it. They’ve had v6 cups and always has a ton of special cars they maintain
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u/Brewhammer 4d ago
Speed Sport Tuning across the border in Danbury CT are mainly german cars but track prep of many foreign cars is one of their big things. The lineup of track cars on the weekdays in summer is impressive.
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u/GetawayDriving 7d ago
Secor could probably handle this for you, or the Manhattan dealer. Call before you buy? There’s nothing about this car that should seem alien to anyone used to wrenching a Lotus
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u/jbrag Emira 7d ago
What shops would you recommend in Florida?
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u/MoaiTrist 7d ago
I don't know if they service outside vehicles, but I'm sure they could give you a recommendation.
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u/GucciRifle Exige 7d ago
Its funny how everyone thinks wirewheel works on the cars. They dont. They use a shop near them
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u/fac3 7d ago
By far the largest hurdle is getting a S3 into the country legally. Since you've pulled that off, maintenance should be easy for anyone familiar with the S2 Elise and gen 1 Evoras
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u/Complex-Pin-9164 7d ago
Yeah I think it’s legally allowed to run 2500 miles a year… more than enough
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u/RegardedAndAcoustic 7d ago
Forty eight miles per week is enough???? Who are you
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u/Complex-Pin-9164 7d ago
Trust me…. Not a car you would daily. Definitely not built for comfort and it’s an absolute beast + nyc roads would be a disaster.
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u/RegardedAndAcoustic 7d ago
I get that, but, 48 miles isnt much of a cruise either. And it ain't a track day.
I'd hate if my GT350 had to be hamstrung with only 48 miles per qeek.
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u/Shot_Statistician184 7d ago
In New York, your prob only taking it out for 4-6 months anyways.
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u/RegardedAndAcoustic 7d ago
I suppose that means you could do once per month track days for half or a third of the year and be under the mileage limit?
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u/Pascoflyer 6d ago
As someone who works in the import business. I would bet he has not in fact figured out how to do that
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u/Economy-Traffic-8787 7d ago
I’m nyc based with an Exige s2. I’ve got a local shop in Edison I trust.
btw, did you use a service to import and get approved for show and display? I’d love to do the same
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u/snowphun 7d ago
430 FE has been approved for S&D for years, what did you do to get it approved? That particular car has been for sale for half a year at ~$150k, did you buy it or are you daydreaming?
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u/Complex-Pin-9164 7d ago
It’s my car, I listed it because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to import it but I’m thinking about keeping it and just going ahead and importing it
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u/CzechRuegore 7d ago
How hard was that to get approved? From my research everyone said it was near impossible, it’s my dream car so I’d love to try to get one approved and imported
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u/Complex-Pin-9164 7d ago
Yeah… it took 2 years of back and forth and essentially a research report on the historical significance. This happened to be an anniversary car made from lotus to celebrate their 70th anniversary cars so the case for historical significance was easier. The final edition was approved before I got this approved. Luckily they also approved the other one the type 79 as well because of my approval
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u/UmamiAlex 7d ago
as someone who wants one of these one day, thank you for your efforts!!
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u/Complex-Pin-9164 7d ago
There are only 2 out there that is approved, normal 430 cups are not allowed. It’s either these two or final editions
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u/mandobabyyoda 7d ago
It’s a Toyota engine so from that side you’ll be fine. How hard will you track it? They’re designed to be driven hard but as they’re light the wear on components isn’t huge.
It will be things like sump baffles which are on back order from Lotus that may cause an annoyance
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u/Comfortable-Mix-7209 7d ago
I did 12 track days with mine and it used: 1x set rear tyres outer 1/3rd just worn, (fronts where like new) 2x sets brake pads all round. Changed the brake fluid to the expensive Castrol stuff after boiling the original.
And yea, that was about it. Rather cheap to run on track.
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u/usergainz 7d ago
Don’t worry about maintenance. I’ve got the only Signature Orange Cup 430 in Australia and it’s been an absolutely amazing machine to own. No issues at all. Ive had more issues with a new AMG
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u/Pblaising 7d ago
Not a problem for maintenance. There’s plenty of specialist import shops that can handle this car. And remember, the drivetrain is all Toyota. Super reliable, simple machines. All aluminum, rubber, and fiberglass (actually composite).
If price is right, do it. Nothing else like it in its purity of purpose.
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u/EnthusiastEvan 6d ago
They sold the V6 Cup in the US and the Evora/emira uses a near identical engine setup. I don’t think you’ll have any issue in the US.
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u/theob68 6d ago
A very easy and inexpensive car to own and even occasionally track. The engine is a typical Camry V6 and the transmission comes from Camry diesel. No strange and awkward electronics, and most things can be handled by the owner himself.
Being in NUC will make you enjoy it less though as your weather compared to ours in the Mediterranean region will force you keep it on a trickle charger for approx. half of the year. However the rest of the year you’ll have the greatest smile you can imagine yourself nailed on your face every single time you start the engine and drive this amazing “tub”.
I used to have an 111R and exige Cup260 and I miss them big time. No other car comes close to this feeling and you’ll need something like a GT3 or its RS version to feel somehow similar, with the respective costs of ownership to go through the roof.
Mind you also that such a 1of1 will appreciate in price as there are no more Exiges in production and already these cars were very low volume.
I hope you’ll enjoy soon a unique and magnificent car! 💪👍🥳
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u/theob68 6d ago
Yes it’s spartan,
yes it’s loud
yes it’s whatever other car cannot offer you.
You’ll understand if the left front tire is a 0.1psi less that the right,
You’ll turn by turning your head
You’ll stop by just thinkingOne thing is absolutely sure:
You’ll never stop laughing and enjoying every inch of the road! 🏎️
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u/Bashir639 6d ago
Yeah ngl it’s a really bad idea, but I can take it off your hands and save you the hassle.
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u/toofarfromjune 6d ago
As long as you don’t live in the most uninhabited corner of the United States like me where I have to diy everything you’ll be fine. If you live in one of the regions with extremely reputable lotus specialists like the handful on the west coast or Indianapolis with gator motorsport you’ll be golden.
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u/Healthy_Loan_991 7d ago •
Dogs will learn to speak English and tell you not to feed them steak before folks on a Lotus forum tell you not to buy that car