jep

I can't find a thread on market watch for the 4 seats wedges: https://charterhouse-cars.com/product/1976-lotus-eclat-520 Apologies if duplicate thread. Justin

I've never had an issue selling privately. Yes, the occasional wasted viewing but very rare. And more than compensated by (a) a better financial return (b) meeting many lovely people especially selling a Lotus. Pure laziness to not sell privately. Or need cash quick. Justin

Massa is pathetic. A sad blurring of what is really important in life. It's just a sport and none of it is real life. He should pop over to Gaza for a reality check. Justin

M25 shut Jct 10 to 11 this weekend starting 15th March. If there is a Newlands Corner meet planned, be warned that it could be busy locally. Justin

https://richbrook.co.uk/product/discarnect-battery-master-switch/ Or this.

Privately you may get £32k with a service completed. As an auction price for a Lotus on a platform proven to be rubbish for selling Lotus, that's a fair result for the vendor. Collecting Cars is for folk too lazy to advertise their cars privately. Or those needing to be out quickly. Barring the occasional freak result, prices are soft on CC. Justin

Extension lead with charger and the head of the extension lead in the boot. Cable will come through the closed boot/door/bonnet easily. If anything untoward does happen, your consumer unit will trip the fuse. For added safety, add a circuit breaker to the plug socket: plug in circuit breaker, I use on my washing machine. £10 from DIY outlets, Screwfix etc ....I don't use tumble dryers but a must-do on those. https://www.screwfix.com/p/masterplug-13a-fused-plug-through-active-rcd-adaptor/63731?tc=DB3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw17qvBhBrEiwA1rU9wxU-9AZ1Ipwv6r-NL0lqx8JKE5uG7Xd-X7zdgTRqm4xVIB2wlcDcmhoCmLYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Justin

Welcome. Catalytic converter can go on little used Evora or did on my Sport 410. The warranty I had covered the cost so I'd read the warranty closely. If you buy from a Lotus main dealer, you'll get a 1 year as new warranty. Evora very reliable but any car of that age can have issues, especially if it has lived outside for a sustained time. Steering probably better on the McLaren but Evora not far off. Given a choice, I'd pick Evora over McLaren as an overall ownership experience. The power rush on McLaren is addictive but in reality you can't use it much. I'm not sure I'd track a McLaren regularly, I'd fear the costs. Justin

No surprise. Car division is in tatters, Artura not selling. Factory already sold (leased back). It is impossible to make cars these days and have a sustainable business unless you are very small (niche like Zonda) or have some volume. Min seems to be circa 10,000 pa, probably more. McLaren targeted 5,000 pa back in 2010, it didn't happen. Lack of new models and refusal to do SUV has done for them. Nowadays, even 5000 pa ain't gonna do it, unless your margins are enormous - which they aren't. Justin

I don't know what motivates Horner but I'd imagine he'd be a brilliant leader of a new racing team outside of F1. A ProDrive equivalent. He's a superb operator though not someone I warm too. Justin

Perhaps, as when Artioli bought Lotus, they've opened a shed door and found hundreds of crates of engines and gearboxes: V6 this time not Isuzu 4 pots. Thank goodness they did back in '94. Elan S2 was born which part funded the Project 111 - the Elise. Back on topic, I'd love to drive the Merc Emira, I would think a very impressive everyday sports car. Justin

Which shows ACBC was correct in the early '70s with regard Elite, Éclat, Esprit. Luxury cars with small engines and low weight. Unfortunately the public don't agree; if they have a choice to buy a fat prestige car instead, they do. The solution: tax vehicles on weight and width. Justin

Looks fab.

Yep. It should read 'walk away' not 'walk around' video. For the brave.....

Lot 85 - 1998 Lotus Esprit V8 GT (wbandsons.com)

A total bargain. If I was in buying mode, it would already be with me as I remember when it popped up last year. Sadly, I can't give it the home it deserves at the moment. Justin

Great post Steve and welcome. Pictures please, cars ideally not you 🙂 Justin

Good publicity for the always brilliant Elise but not a colour scheme I warm too. It looked odd at the time and still does. Justin

https://www.evaengland.org.uk/our-work/zev-mandate/ 22% of production for cars in 2024. 10% for vans. Even before ZEV was announced, the ban being brought forward from 2040 to 2030 (changed to 2035 subsequently), forced manufactures down the EV route as it was the only technology remotely ready to be rolled out to mass production. Justin

Electric was the (newer) technology most advanced when governments announced a ban on ICE. By banning hybrid and allowing massive tax subsidies on EV, plus rolling out more charging points and the short timeframe for the ban, government have in essence forced EV as the solution to tailpipe emissions. The hybrid ban was short sighted, they should have allowed a gradual and phased lowering of ICE assisted power. This would give time to formulate a better solution than pure EV. They should also tax cars on width and weight, to encourage innovation and to halt the endless growth in the mass of vehicles. Justin

RAC Club Dinner 2024 with Sir Ron Dennis and David Richards CBE. Utterly brilliant night with some interesting stories: Apple (as in computers) were on the verge of buying McLaren. David Richards ripped up a letter he found from Ron (then of Project Four not McLaren) to Rothmans asking for money to buy McLaren, circa 1980, as David wanted the sponsorship. McLaren F1, 300 were supposed to be built (106 was the final tally but only 64 road cars). Ron owned 3 at one point, they couldn't sell them. Owners insisted on racing them, not McLaren and that brought in much needed cash. Justin

Plenty of good body shops around your area I am sure. They must understand fibreglass and personally I think it's worth travelling.....but plenty on here can point you in the right direction. Do it once, do it properly.

Probably osmosis. If so, that is moisture within the fibreglass/gel coat and to fix properly you'd have to repair the moisture problem (by renewing the gel coat) as just removing the paint and respraying will probably lead to a similar issue in the future. Steve Williams in Maidenhead will be able to give a professional opinion. Justin

I'd love to drive a GTE. I enquired about the black and gold one for sale a few years ago (No8?) but it wasn't the right time for me in the end, with regret. I would think a LHD auto in UK a very tough sell at £90k. It's rare but tiny market and even at £70k I would think it would still struggle. Hopefully it sells soon. Justin

NA Evora a special car. Welcome and you have a lot of happy miles ahead. Justin