I thought I’d share my impressions of our ‘88 excel after the first week together…..I’m sure you lot all know this already as you have one, but if anyone is thinking of taking the plunge then read on!
We’ve had a few short journeys, the wife’s been to Tesco and proved that you can fit a weeks shop in the boot. The only complaint is the doors could do with opening a bit wider. My daughter has squeezed into the rear and marvelled at the comfort “but would be better if I had no legs”. Tonight we’ve had longer run down to the Malpas classic car meet. Still can’t get over how well it drives and that it runs so well with big 45 Carbs and not fuel injection. My BMW ‘02 has twin 40’s and I’d love it cope as well as the Lotus. Tonight’s run was cross country on some nice A roads and the first time I’ve had a chance to sample the car through a series of fast sweeping bends - the steering is absolutely sublime and the gear ratio’s really well spaced to make brisk progress. It’s brilliant.
The reactions from other people have ranged from Why? To Wow! Anyone with a sniff of petrol in their veins will pull a face about reliability and yes, I know what LOTUS stands for but they insist on telling you anyway. After a week, the predictions About breaking down on every trip, electric issues or sudden catastrophic engine failure have failed to materialise. I have however had to unblock a washer jet. There’s a to-do list - a few bits of rattley trim, a door seal to re fix and tidying up the sun visors . Brakes need a strip and clean as squeeling (Lack of use). I’m sure the list will grow but so far we’re loving the lotus!
First impressions….
Moderator: Board Moderators
- Hawaiis0
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 4146
- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
- Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
- Colour: BRG; Dirty White
- Year: 1986
- Location: West Oxfordshire
Re: First impressions….
lovely. Smiling like a cheshire cat.
The door hold straps can be extended a little by adding 1cm of extra bar length which opens them wider.
The door hold straps can be extended a little by adding 1cm of extra bar length which opens them wider.
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!
- MetBlue
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
- Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
- Colour: Metalic Blue
- Year: 1974
- Location: Northampton
Re: First impressions….
Great reading your positive first impressions.
I know my car needs a suspension refresh. Reading this really makes me want to dive in before the winter, but I must resist.
As Stu says, later cars had a wider door opening. See this link for differences. A little creative thinking should allow a short extension to be fitted.
.https://www.lotusexcel.net/viewtopic.p ... 095#p94095
- and there's always one more job that can be done. That's part of Lotus ownership.
Tony
I know my car needs a suspension refresh. Reading this really makes me want to dive in before the winter, but I must resist.
As Stu says, later cars had a wider door opening. See this link for differences. A little creative thinking should allow a short extension to be fitted.
.https://www.lotusexcel.net/viewtopic.p ... 095#p94095
- and there's always one more job that can be done. That's part of Lotus ownership.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 2226
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 15:06
- Model: Elite S2.2 Automatic
- Colour: Essex Blue
- Year: 1981
- Location: Worcestershire
Re: First impressions….
Glad you’re enjoying your experience. The Excel brought reliability to the Lotus ownership experience - even today quite a few are used as daily drivers. Having owned a Porsche 944 (a comparable car to the Excel) I can attest to the delightfully sensitive dynamic character of the Excel.
Cheers, Richard
Cheers, Richard
- bash
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2005 15:34
- Model: Se, V8
- Colour: white
- Year: 1986
- Location: Doncaster
- Contact:
Re: First impressions….
Welcome to the fold.
My car made it into PPC in march 2010, and yes, it is v8 powered now.
Bash
My car made it into PPC in march 2010, and yes, it is v8 powered now.
Bash
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-
- Verified Poster
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2022 23:17
- Model: Excel
- Colour: Red
- Year: 1988
- Location: Chester ish
Re: First impressions….
Thanks everyone. Extending the check straps sounds like a must do mod. There’s a little bit of paint to rectify and some trim to sort it everything seems to work (famous last words!)
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- Verified Poster
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- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2022 23:17
- Model: Excel
- Colour: Red
- Year: 1988
- Location: Chester ish
Re: First impressions….
Just read the text. So the rover v8 has found its way in then. Send me some words and a few pics and I’ll see about getting it in again
- bash
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2005 15:34
- Model: Se, V8
- Colour: white
- Year: 1986
- Location: Doncaster
- Contact:
Re: First impressions….
Sounds like a plan, I will do that. Meanwhile, if you get bored, theres a build log on here.
viewtopic.php?t=8397
Short version is Rover v8, standard w58 gearbox, Fitech self learning 4 barrel fuel injection.
Bash
viewtopic.php?t=8397
Short version is Rover v8, standard w58 gearbox, Fitech self learning 4 barrel fuel injection.
Bash
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-
- Verified Poster
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2022 23:17
- Model: Excel
- Colour: Red
- Year: 1988
- Location: Chester ish
Re: First impressions….
hi bash
sadly PPC is no more although it may get rescued by another publisher. read your stuff and it would have made a good feature!
sadly PPC is no more although it may get rescued by another publisher. read your stuff and it would have made a good feature!
- bash
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2005 15:34
- Model: Se, V8
- Colour: white
- Year: 1986
- Location: Doncaster
- Contact:
Re: First impressions….
That is a real shame, I hope all the staff get jobs quickly PPC was one of the last tuner mags where people actually got dirty hands by working on cars rather than reporting on what other people did.
Bash
Bash
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 3720
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
- Model: Elite
- Colour: Monaco White
- Year: 1974
- Location: Nottingham
Re: First impressions….
I bought the first (and lots afterwards) edition of PPC. They were looking for project cars to feature and I told them about my LS1 V8 Excel project - this was so long ago that they asked - what is an LS1?!! - I had one of the first in the country - everyone knows about them now of course
Pete
Pete