The King's new ride (warning: Norfolk mustard content)

[meshking]

 

Picked up my winter ride ...

 

 

No exciting collection story because it's my Mums old car. Came a massive 1.5 miles away. It's a one owner élan s2 turbo, one of the limited edition last ones. Good fun to drive, with a reasonable amount of poke.

[spike60]

Looks lovely.. I'd like a one for meself.

[meshking]

It's done 74k from new, the past 5years or so it has just been sat in the garage with occasional run. It's good to drive, a bit more pointy than my old mk 1 mx5, and much more acceleration due to the turbo.

[spike60]

I'm a sometimes sporty shite buyer myself, 2.8 Z3 at mo, Alfa Spider 916, Corvette LT1 etc but the only Lotus I've had was the highly tweaked twin cam engine in a Dutton Phaeton. The Elan is probably the only Lotus I would take a punt on.

[Asimo]

Lovely colour!

 

ATCNBE

[AlabamaShrimp]

Wow! The only Lotus I ever wanted. Yellow just beats out the red one (not seen them any other colour) when are you letting people have a go?

[Guest Breadvan72]

Me love me Lotuses.  Top buyageation!

[purplebargeken]

Nice car and love the colour. Is that Safety Yellow?

 

Z3.... also on radar. 

[Jim Bell]

Thats a looker. Well inherited.

[dome]

Good effort. Been tempted by one in the past-I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts on how it drives. Thinking of changing the 944 but not sure what for.

[meshking]

The colour is called Norfolk Mustard. Needs a good wash, and the rear screen has gone opaque. I think there are a few hard tops available occasionally secondhand but they go for crazy money.

Will try and get to a shiters meet at some point with it next year.

[meshking]

It goads you into dropping down a gear and booting it at every corner. The waste gate chatters beautifully. My first ownership of a petrol turbo, need to check the cambelt etc, it's got fsh but I'm not sure when it is due.

 

It rattles immensely, something that the mx5 didn't do. It's like a 2cv in that respect (wind noise, rattles).

[Chas4545]

The colour is called Norfolk Mustard. Needs a good wash, and the rear screen has gone opaque. I think there are a few hard tops available occasionally secondhand but they go for crazy money.

Will try and get to a shiters meet at some point with it next year.

 

Love the colour. The rear screen might respond well to Macguires plastic screen renovator/cleaner/restorer thingy  stuff. Had a Z3 with the same thing that looked like new after a rub. Mind you, like a lot of Z3s the spot welds holding the rear axle in were shot so it had to go.

[trigger]

I'm loving that! Top bombing!

[Guest Breadvan72]

Good effort. Been tempted by one in the past-I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts on how it drives. Thinking of changing the 944 but not sure what for.

 

 

928, or maybe an Eclat or Excel.

[HillmanImp]

That is fit, I would love it. Sadly, I would look like a total pratt driving it. 

[dollywobbler]

I need to try another one of these. The only one I've driven was absolutely bloody horrible. I need to prove that they're not all like that. I am impressed with the excellent* choices of winter beater people on here seem to pick though. 

[meshking]

Next time you're in my neck of the woods, give me a shout. This still drives pretty much as it arrived from the dealers in '96.

[Noel Tidybeard]

Picked up my winter ride ...

 

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1417881134.852112.jpg

 

No exciting collection story because it's my Mums old car. Came a massive 1.5 miles away. It's a one owner élan s2 turbo, one of the limited edition last ones. Good fun to drive, with a reasonable amount of poke.

very poor- alot can happen in 1.5 miles it is a lotus after all!

[meshking]

This is very true, the first foible I found was that the temp gauge sits on cold all the time. It briefly went up, and the fans cut it and brought the temperature back down to cold again. It's the vauxhall dash, so we all know how reliable that will be.

[Jim Bergerac]

Love that, suspect you will deservedly win the Autoshite Winter Wheels of the year award.

 

I really fancy one one day, a want that can probably be traced to too much playing of Lotus Turbo Challenge 2.

[meshking]

I don't think I would be a deserved winner, my mileage is pretty much zero outside of commuting and my commute is a 1.5 mile walk!

[Guest Breadvan72]

PHACKT:  all Lotuses go faster when in Norfolk.  PHACKT.

[Guest Breadvan72]

PS Bagsy first dibs to buy it when you get fed up with it?

[Rusty_Rocket]

This is very true, the first foible I found was that the temp gauge sits on cold all the time. It briefly went up, and the fans cut it and brought the temperature back down to cold again. It's the vauxhall dash, so we all know how reliable that will be.

 

It's a Cavalier/ Astra-3 dash in these isn't it?

If so, they're about the most reliable instruments you'll ever see- I'd guess the problem is more likely the Lotus gubbins feeding it   

[dome]

928, or maybe an Eclat or Excel.

 

A 928 has been on my list for a while. Sadly I can't afford one, and I'd want a manual which is rarer than a rare thing.

 

An Excel has been on my radar though-as a kiddy I had a Lotus catalogue from the late 80's and it was the Excel that a young Dome lusted after over the Esprit. Problem child obviously.

 

I had thought of a TVR wedge but we shall see.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I was planning on buying an M100 but then the prices started rising. All the ones I looked at were missing the weird spongy door seal. I like them as they are bloody quick point to point and I have no issue with the Isuzu engine. The lack of a decent hardtop is a fault.

928, or maybe an Eclat or Excel.

The Excel is a superb motor but only touch one in good order, a scruffy one will cost a lot to sort out. I owned an early one, it sounded awesome, lovely controls and driving posn/seats. Bullet proof engine/gearbox. Actually nowt wrong with electrics, very often just lousy connections/earthing. Galv chassis. Far better car than early Esprit...

[meshking]

Been blatting about in this, but it's starting to show a reluctance to start. It will churn over on the starter for 5 secs or so and then stumble into life with a bit of right foot.

It has been very well looked after, the oil is sparkly clean. I'm tempted to replace the spark plugs to see if that improves things. It feels like the 2cv does when everything gets damp, so plugs and coils. Sound reasonable place to start?

[Sudsprint]

Gorgeous colour. That shape is colour sensitive has really matured over the years and looks absolutely spot on now.

[Largactil]

Nice work 

 

I had one as my first 'proper' car back in 1998 - Not a flashy S2 (too expensive at the time), but an SE.

 

 

Decent shite credentials - Isuzu Piazza engine, Mk2 Astra calipers / glovebox lock / stalks and (some) buttons.

 

IIRC my old one was pretty reliable - Seized a front caliper, snapped the gear linkage (repaired with a metal tie wrap), and the hood unstuck from the frame suddenly at speed, flapping around like a cape in the wind (re-glued it). Nothing too serious or terminal.

 

Surprisingly rapid little cars, and amusingly handling 

 

(I'd also be inclined to check the battery voltage - When the cold weather starts, sick batteries start to suffer).