JusNoGood

Thanks very much everyone. Appreciate the honest information Kevin. yes when I go in the Elan I always have breakdown cover. I check the car over myself and replace anything I think could go, fitted Samco last time. Then get the car thoroughly serviced beforehand too. I have confidence in the Elan to jump in and drive any distance. Ive not yet got the same confidence in the G but after hearing a few of you I think Im going to plan a trip in the spring. As you say Kevin will be quite a special adventure. I’ve seen a trip to Monaco, across the top of Italy then down the coast to Athens I like the look of Thanks very much. Yes I have a full Euro kit from previous visits. Wasn’t aware of the one call-out per-trip. I’m with RAC so I’ll have to look at different Euro cover. Handy info thanks.

Hi All I have had my well sorted Esprit S3 for around four years now. Love the car and thoroughly enjoy using it. I’ve done little 500 mile uk holidays and am now thinking of doing a Euro trip. Perhaps to a Nurburgring classics then down to Italy. I have done a few 2-3,000 mile trips in my M100, one 6 week trip to and around northern Italy. Has anyone done a similar trip in a G Esprit? Any stories to share to give me confidence to do it? Jus

I only live a few miles from there. Would have gone. I didn’t see anything about it in any of the local papers and mags.

I’ve not had one negative experience so far in my S3. Pretty much the opposite. I’ve had a guy stop walking his dog and wave at me. While I was in the slow lane on the m25 I’ve had people drive past and honk from the fast lane, two lanes over, including a few chaved up 3 series BMWs . Had a American muscle car drive level and give me the thumbs up, and big waves from a couple in what I think was beautiful 60’s Merc Pagonda.

Yes I tried that a few weeks ago but mine are very brittle and split. Actually read your post from 2018, you used the German stuff, gummi phledge or whatever it’s called. Same stuff I used. out of interest Simon. I don’t have a/c. When I open the drivers window I get complaints the wind goes straight into the passengers ear, I have the same problem when the passenger opens their window. Do you have the same problem ans have you overcome it? Not found anything through searching yet.

Very good idea. I started by freeing the cable at the far left hinge and started to loosen its attachment to the right boot hinge. Stopped for a coffee and read your post. I left the outer sleeve of the cable in place and instead I tried pulling the wire cable out. The cable came out easily and the new one slid in very easily and made it’s way through into the boot. I think the hardest part of the job was unattaching the cable to begin with reattaching it afterwards 😁 Rereading your first post Simon I now realise that’s what you were telling me to do 😂 now to fix the leaky boot.

Can you try drilling a few holes to see if you can get to it? 😂

Thanks for the reply Simon. It is the handle that is broken, see attached pic. SJS sell the whole thing, cable and handle, so my intention is to replace it all. I'd be very annoyed with myself if I replaced the handle and two weeks later the cable snapped. I just dont know how to get to the other side of the panel pictured to loosen off the nut holding the handle in place. The S4 guidance is that there is a panel behind the seat to access the ECU in which you can get to the nut as well. 75632BDD-147F-4C8D-B37E-F932AED7CE14.heic

Hi All The pull handle on my hatch cable has broken. Luckily the cable is in place still so I can still pull what's left of the handle to release the boot. I've bought a replacement cable and handle from SJS and plan to fit it. I found the LEW instructions, linked below, on how to replace the cable on a S4. Do we, S3, have a hatch behind the drivers seat like the S4 (cant see one on the parts manual) or do we need to find another way to get in behind the handle panel? http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EGuides/EMaintenance/HatchCable.html Regards Jus

Yea, couldn’t fit all the wife’s shoes in the Elise 😂

I get ad no longer available. The m100 is an excellent car. A lot more practical than the Elise (boot size, driving comfort and getting in and out). Highly recommended. I did a six week trip from Surrey to Italy in mine in 2019, love it. LEC is an incredible forum and group of people. The best model specific forum I know of.

Yes great. Guildford not too far from me 🙂

Stunning photo. We went in early September. Roads were clear. We had the top down and wearing T-Shirts all the way down france and through Switzerland. Stopped at the top like you and had snow next to the car. When we came back up, mid-October, the pass was closed unfortuantely as it was forecast to heavy snow in the next hr or so. Yes, it is the one done up by the Doctor. How do you know it Spy? Thanks all for the tips. My daughter moved to Edinburgh in Sept last year. We did a trip first to the west, Isle of Mull and stayed in Barcledine Castle then went across to see her. Stunning holiday but very wet and chilly.

Yes, I think the M100 is an exceptional car for covering long distance in comfort and plenty of luggage space. When we were driving back from Italy over the Alps I found its achilles heal though. The heavens opened and we got pretty wet inside the car😆. Totally acceptable for one day but I'm worrying two weeks of that would really....errr......dampen the spirits ☺️ Out of interest what time of year did you go Barrie and what was the weather like? I've heard May is the best time to go...missing caravans and midges.

Thanks Dave. I've plowed quite a bit of money into her since I bought it from you. All reversible upgrades but she can eat continents now 😁 , which she did with ease. 70-85 all the way down France, then over the Alps and all the way to Assisi and back via Cinque Terre was a doddle. 6 weeks of perfect top down motoring. S3 was an interesting choice for me. I think in 96 I would have gone S3 Turbo and definitely in red no question or a JPS if I could find one. Evening before going to see this one the Mrs asked why I need a 3rd car (3rd? I have plans for 4 😆, didnt tell her). When she saw it she immediately said, can we go on driving holidays in this? Even before I'd decided myself to buy it! Great thanks for the encouragement Justin. I'm very keen to start putting on the miles and enjoying it.