MOTOR CHAT

[jimihendrix]

Re: Re:

Looking much healthier now than when you got it... definitely a good move getting rid of the superfluous A/C bits. Was the A/C factory fit?

Cheers man, yep, A/C was standard on this model, also power steering (also gone), and car was originally an auto but now five speed manual, was pretty well spec'd (for 1980) when new, electric drivers door mirror, electric windows, A/C, P/S, four speaker stereo and a Dictaphone (long gone sadly)

Was a very expensive car when new though £16.5K in 1980, the same price as a Porsche 911SC and a couple of grand cheaper than a Maserati Merak.

Beats me why the cars are worth so little nowadays compared to it's rivals at the time.

 

[clubby]

Re: Re:

Beats me why the cars are worth so little nowadays compared to it's rivals at the time.

It's an 80's Lotus!

Seriously though, only a brave man with your skills would ever take one on. Porker from the same era would be far safer choice and therefore more sought after.

 

[RobMac]

Re:

While we've got the Motor Chat thread open.
Last weekend I had a local/yokel round asking about my MK2 he wanted to strip the shit out of it and I said NO but we agreed on a price for the whole thing, "I'll pay on Wednesday" he says, no show Wednesday and now I'm hoping he wont show at all. My plan was to start over again and get a running MK2 a (running project) to eventually replace the Audi, I'd even started looking around for MK2's their getting expensive and a bit thinner on the ground :?

 

[jimihendrix]

Re:

Beats me why the cars are worth so little nowadays compared to it's rivals at the time.

It's an 80's Lotus!

Seriously though, only a brave man with your skills would ever take one on. Porker from the same era would be far safer choice and therefore more sought after.

You mean reputation ?, but look at the value of S2/S3 Lotus Esprit's (8K for something decent), same performance as the Elite (same engine), same cost when new, same old Lotus issues (more awkward to work on than the Elite though) could argue that thats a cooler car though being two seater and rear engined (and James Bond drove one).

I had a shot of a 1985 Porsche 911SC about ten years ago, was the scariest car i have driven, admitedly it was raining and it had budget tyres but it felt like it was going to launch backwards through a hedge at every corner and that's coming from someone who ran a few 3.0S Capri's all year round.

 

[jimihendrix]

Re: Re:

While we've got the Motor Chat thread open.
Last weekend I had a local/yokel round asking about my MK2 he wanted to strip the shit out of it and I said NO but we agreed on a price for the whole thing, "I'll pay on Wednesday" he says, no show Wednesday and now I'm hoping he wont show at all. My plan was to start over again and get a running MK2 a (running project) to eventually replace the Audi, I'd even started looking around for MK2's their getting expensive and a bit thinner on the ground :?

What's your MK2 needing Rob ?, is it just the engine ?, i've been through all this before with cars, sold what i had, bought something else then was left wishing i'd just kept what i had and spent the money on it instead, it's a frigging merrygoround with me though and i cant get off .

The bloke sounds like a time waster anyway, if he really wanted it he'd have been there with the money Wednesday.

 

[RobMac]

Re:

I bought the rolling body every thing in it bar the engine (brilliant condition inside & out) I did get the engine with it but I think it was needing a rebuild, so the last owner said. Its a 2 door 16v Gti BTW.
Ive also got a shit load of new goodies for it Bilsteins, polybushes, strut braces etc.

 

[ajm]

Re: Re:

was pretty well spec'd (for 1980) when new, electric drivers door mirror, electric windows, A/C, P/S, four speaker stereo and a Dictaphone (long gone sadly)

A dictaphone, brilliant! I'm always interested in the "optional equipment" sections of old parts manuals, there are often some fairly odd things in there! 80's Elite man was clearly a high flying executive... wouldn't have thought all those heavy motors and a/c bits were much in keeping with the Lotus philosophy but I suppose they had to offer what people wanted to pay for.

 

[highlandsflyer]

It is time for the 4x4 staying out front of the gaff now, currently driving my dad's old Landcruiser so looking forward to messing about in the snow when it hits. Feels like it is going to be a harsh winter too.

 

[kaiser]

Re:

Mark, have you saw the Overhaulin Chronicles with the Lotus Europa? Purists will be spinning I'm sure but it turns out rather bloody nice.

 

[jimihendrix]

Re: Re:

Mark, have you saw the Overhaulin Chronicles with the Lotus Europa? Purists will be spinning I'm sure but it turns out rather bloody nice.

Remember seeing it a while ago, remember having to switch it off before the end as it was repulsive :facepalm: , love the original Europa, hate the modernised version they did.

Funny thing is i like the Banks Europa but at least an original was'nt destroyed to create one of those (it's a kit car/replica)

Also disliked the "Pro-Touring" trend with muscle cars, modern engine, big brakes, huge wheels, modern interior, de-chromed, dull modern paint colour why not just buy a modern car :facepalm:

Tried watching that Chop Shop crap too, watched the one with the Capri, they fitted a Rover V8 (200bhp straight out of a scrappy :roll: ), first test run, kick the living daylights out of it up and down a runway till it blows up :facepalm: , clowns.

Love Fast n Loud though, and Wheeler Dealers (Owwwld Aaawt Yer Aaaand )is'nt bad