jep

Seems cheap ......but the description is vague to say the least. Which I'd expect from this auction house. It seems to have won a show event in 1989. Pictures suggest it is very original and if it doesn't need any major surgery, it certainly is value. I suspect it is just a nice old car but will need some expenditure to get it to show condition. Justin

Exige 350. Probably the best Lotus road car ever. Adored my LF1 and I'll get another one day. Roadster is super rare and elegant without the wing and splitter. Supple suspension, CUP versions not for me. You'll adore it. Justin

Not 'as new' warranty which B&C was. You'd be lucky to get much repaired under statutory protection - certainly not a clutch, brakes, hoses on an 8 year old 50,000 miler. Perhaps a total engine failure but not much else. Good point on trade-in, the profit is already made. Justin

I bought an 8 year old 50,000 mile Evora from Bell and Colvill with an as new one year warranty. In 2018. I would say the car was £1500 above private sale price. Rear camera went. Replaced free.

NHS not geared for prevention. It never was and cannot afford to. It is changing, v slowly. Woman in particular are screened and it's happening for men but we are decades away from prevention rather than cure. If you can afford it, have an annual check-up at a private GP. In London this costs £350. Over 50, every 5 years have a colonoscopy. Not cheap though and NHS will not do this until usually too late. Ultimately, treat you're body like your Lotus. Expect to pay for routine annual servicing. NHS is like insurance, there when facing total loss/accident damage. Justin

EV sales were initially boosted by businesses receiving massive tax breaks to buy one (or more). Private customers followed with Government subsidies, though I still can't fathom anyone buying an expensive EV from taxed income. As the subsidies fall away, the inevitable is happening. If you really want a luxury EV, go in with your eyes open. I'm sure it will be great but the capital depreciation is most likely to be massive. Justin

This was a Service of Thanksgiving. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/motor-sport-readers-invited-to-stirling-moss-memorial-service-at-westminster-abbey/

Woodcote Park today:

A special morning. No mourning; a celebration of a wonderful and courageous life.

Hose pipe ban-ished

Yokohama AD08 would be my choice.

Don't start me on non-Lotus chassis. We had this debate last month on another thread. It divides opinion. I wouldn't touch a Lotus without a Lotus designed chassis. And yes, I have owned a Spyder chassis Lotus many years ago. Justin

Not up close she doesn't. Cookeen face.

The worrying aspect is, it will sell at that or near that level. Yet getting £10k for an original, low mileage FSH Excel is not easy. Ask me how I know 🙃 Justin

Wider tyres....typical of designers drawings, cars look better with bigger tyres and wheels.....but for road use, skinny tyres are much more fun and better feel.

Insurers won't repair stuff like headlamps and seem to insist on new bumpers etc....instead of repairing. Owners will usually find a way to get around any parts issue, with the help of genuinely enthusiastic specialists. Justin

Evora artwork: both sides of the tote bag issued in 2009 for the Evora launch. I have two, I'm not going to use them, so best they go on the wall. Sadly I no longer own an Evora 😥

I fear it is track specific. F1 seems to be all about the tyres in this era. Justin

F1 ain't all about 1st place......but don't let ACBC hear. So happy for Mclaren. They've had a rotten time, especially the road car division. And quite a comeback from the start of last season.

It's a con. Now the government subsidies have finished in most territories, low and behold, manufacturers prices drop. Yet again, taxpayers have filled the bank accounts of the car companies. It happened with diesel, twice, and now electric. Justin

You'll (nearly) always get a better price selling a Lotus privately. I can't think of an example were that wouldn't be the case. Not many dealers will want a 10 year old Evora in p/ex, if any. They'll trade it straight out again. P/ex is there for folk who: are too lazy to sell privately/are too scared to sell privately/are time-poor (read 'can't be bothered')/company is paying/need out fast/who can afford it. P/ex is fabulous for dealers, they make more money otherwise they wouldn't do it. They make that money from you as the p/ex customer, it isn't magic by a Money Tree Car Fairy. Justin

Nothing like being prepared.....but not sure even The Lotus Forum crystal ball can predict what will happen in 2025/2026.

It's fun watching Mclaren resurgence

Newey: full respect to him, incredible man and so sad Williams didn't offer him equity all those years ago - how different that story would have been. However, reading and watching the coverage lately, it's seems Newey is the greatest Grand Prix designer ever. Newey has been at it for 30+ years and won 13 driver titles/12 constructors as a designer. Colin Chapman was active in F1 for circa 20 years as a designer, team principal and team owner. He won 13 titles in an era when reliability made serial winning very tricky. Chapman is surely the greatest ever in F1. He may or may not be the most successful in any one discipline but in terms of overall input to multiple high pressure tasks, no-one can touch him. Justin

A definite improvement. The S1 wheel is not pleasant, in look or feel. The S2 Nardi is fabulous, one of the best. Justin