Summer cars

AK99

The VX is a car that I've warmed to over the years, I don't find them unatttractive these days - I think age has been kind to it, though it is a shape that is fairly colour sensitive.

The biggest difference between the VX and both the K series engined elises and the later Toyota VVTLI engined ones I find btw is that the Vauxhall / Opel lump is a fairly slow revving, unexciting thing. They can make a lot of power in turbo-charged and indeed supercharged form, but I find the engine just not as 'zingy' or rev-happy as you would hope in a lightweight car like any of the the 111 series - and especially the 111R engined elises and exiges.

A Cat D could be just one that has been written off as too expensive to repair. From what I've heard a new front clam is virtually unobtainable nowadays, so 'official' repair costs could mount rapidly if there was any damage there - even though the car itself was structurally perfect. Would tend to agree on your treat with caution stance - you'd probably want to see what's under the clams before going too much further.

AK99

Debating whether to tax and insure my own again soon. Can't actually remember the last time it turned a wheel in anger:



Pre lockdown..and then some

stickyfiddle

My dad worked at Lotus for a couple of stints in the 90s and 00s - he was one of the lead engineers overseeing the S2 Elise and then the M250 that got canned just before production and eventually reborn as the Evora. 

Elises have a special place in my heart because of that, but I think I'd struggle to buy one as they're a rattly pain... Great fun once you're in and on the twistys, mind. 
 

prowla

strtdv said:

There's actually a VX220 listed locally (ugly sister to the S2 Elise), but it's a Cat D and I'm not convinced your average repair shop or insurance adjuster would be able to assess whether a bonded aluminium chassis was roadworthy or not, so don't think I'll risk it.
Planning to see the Mazda tomorrow.

I've been driving my wife's grandpa's old car since selling the RS which to be fair is very economical but also awful in every way (it's a 2013 Citroen C3)

Depending upon location, you could have a local Lotus specialist available to check it out.

Cat-D means it's repairable; I'd imagine that the tub itself should be intact, but the front and rear accoutrements and/or the body/clamshell could be toast.

I've been to my local one and he was working on one whose driver "ran out of talent" on a circuit.

prowla

AK99 said:

I used to have a blue one. One of the much lighter S1 variants..

I like the air suspension.

prowla

stickyfiddle said:

My dad worked at Lotus for a couple of stints in the 90s and 00s - he was one of the lead engineers overseeing the S2 Elise and then the M250 that got canned just before production and eventually reborn as the Evora. 

Elises have a special place in my heart because of that, but I think I'd struggle to buy one as they're a rattly pain... Great fun once you're in and on the twistys, mind. 
 

I find just having the driver's window up a smidge stops it rattling.

However, if you're ever following a Lotus and it appears to be driving erratically, it's likely that the driver is avoiding the pot-holes in the road; hitting one of them makes your teeth rattle.

But taking one out is just an experience, every time.

stickyfiddle

prowla said:

stickyfiddle said:

My dad worked at Lotus for a couple of stints in the 90s and 00s - he was one of the lead engineers overseeing the S2 Elise and then the M250 that got canned just before production and eventually reborn as the Evora. 

Elises have a special place in my heart because of that, but I think I'd struggle to buy one as they're a rattly pain... Great fun once you're in and on the twistys, mind. 
 

I find just having the driver's window up a smidge stops it rattling.

However, if you're ever following a Lotus and it appears to be driving erratically, it's likely that the driver is avoiding the pot-holes in the road; hitting one of them makes your teeth rattle.

But taking one out is just an experience, every time.

I was talking about the engine!! He once had to deliver a BMW Z3M from Norfolk to Bracknell and pick up an S1 Elise - I tagged along and bunked school. The journey was fantastic in both directions but I remember how much the K-series engine in the little Lotus sounded like a bag of spanners after being in the smooth straight-6 BMW for 3 hours...  

But no argument on driving them. I could get behind an Evora at some point - or maybe whatever is coming later this year.

strtdv

Well I'm now the owner of a 2016 MX-5 Sport Nav 2L

The test drive was just fine, but figured I'd take a punt on it. The more I drive it though the more I find to like. The gearchange in particular is wonderful, great feel and a short throw.

Compared to my old Mk1 it feels more "serious" as a sports car, everything is much tighter feeling, the steering is sharper although with less feel due to the change from hydraulic to electric power steering. It's also much quicker, I'd imagine the BBR Super 200 feels very quick indeed.
You get much more sensation of speed than my RS despite the Ford being the much quicker car.
The Mk1 used to lean into the corners (both the soft suspension and the body twisting), this is much flatter and stiffer.

Overall very happy with it, and appreciate all the creature comforts that it has which the old one didn't (heated seats, a windbreak that actually works, Bose sound system, sat nav, and headlights that actually illuminate the road)

AK99

Cool
Next stop Kirkistown.. ?

strtdv

AK99 said:

Cool
Next stop Kirkistown.. ?

For the track or to get David Cousins to tinker with it?

AK99

Track first I'd say. Give it a proper run and see how it copes
3 or 4 laps of a track will tell you more about the health of a car than a couple of thousand on the road. Besides..it's a drivers' car - be rude not to..

breezytele

Congrats !  

The creature comforts are always welcome, and they definitely got better in that regard,
from the  mk3 onwards. (I had a MK2 2.5 as well)

And many agree that  the  best  thing,
is the sensation of speed you get at real world/ license safe speeds

stickyfiddle

Nice. Red?

strtdv

Resale grey! I'll get some photos up later

I'd love a 2019 in red (Mazda changed the formula of their red around then, it has more of a flake), they look stunning, but the chances of one coming up for sale in Northern Ireland are pretty low and new ones have got silly expensive (an equivalent spec new MX-5 is near £30k, I paid under £13k).

strtdv

 
Lovely day today so after giving some of the seals a good clean and treatment with rubber protector I went out for a spin down some nice rural roads.

The feel you get through the seat of what the car is doing is fantastic, more than makes up for the loss of steering feel, particularly as although it feels rear driven and you can feel the diff pulling you through corners a bit, the handling is actually pretty neutral.

Hattigol

I'm looking for the midlife crisis thread - am I at the right place?

stickyfiddle

That grey would be my second choice. We had a couple of rentals in Japan over the last couple of pre-covid years. One red, one pearl white, both awesome even with auto boxes. 

@Hattigol If you mean the point where people have enough disposable cash to go and do what they always wanted without giving a shit what other people will say? Then yeah, I guess...? 

strtdv

At 33 I'm hoping I'm a bit young for a midlife crisis

TTony

strtdv said:

At 33 I'm hoping I'm a bit young for a midlife crisis

I reckon you could have a crisis now - early midlife - and then you've got plenty of time for another one - late midlife - later.


I really like the look and concept of the MX5.  And the hardtop removes many of the downsides of  the original.

But having sat in a mk1, I also know that I'd soon miss the comfort and space!

AK99

strtdv said:

At 33 I'm hoping I'm a bit young for a midlife crisis

Depends on how long you're gonna live really.  I always worked off the basis that as that was pretty much an unknown, better get one in early just in case