Howdie from Surrey

[Veloce_Rosso]

Hi all. I'm in automotive heaven, always loved Lotuses and Colin Chapman was an engineering genius.

Owned a 1968 Elan +2 in the late 80s. Loved the driving experience, and as a classic car nut I'll perhaps look at a Sunbeam Lotus in the warmer months. I can't be selfish so I need a Lotus that's family friendly.

Best wishes, Richard.

[exeterjeep]

Welcome to the TLF, my personal opinion is that cars like the Excel are the most family friendly ones, although they are pretty old now and these days are not considered a high performance car. (Maybe I am a bit biased having owned 4 over the years.)

[jep]

Welcome. Monthly meet at Newlands Corner for all types of Lotus (the plural of Lotus is Lotus 🙂). Third Sunday of the month. 

Justin 

 

[ChrisJ]

Welcome to the forum - I second @exeterjeep - I had to buy an Excel to carry my family around in as they didn't fit in my Esprit.

[Veloce_Rosso]

Thanks.

Hadn't thought about the Excel. Age and speed doesn't bother me as prefer how they drive, the feedback when cornering.

 

That's why I love my Alfas, the communication from the steering is impressive. They won't win any traffic light GPs but the smiles per mile is great.

Edited February 10 by Veloce_Rosso
Addition

[exeterjeep]

Elite/eclat/excel are all becoming rare in running order, even spending loads doing one up will not make any money as they do not have the popularity of models like the elise and esprit.

The elite has more room in the back than eclat/excel due to the way the roof is higher, but they are that much older. They may have odd electrical gremlins but will not suffer the computer/software issues of the latest new cars.

There is an elite in gold that is having a total rebuild down here in Devon, the owner must be spending a small fortune on it. 

[jep]

I sold my very sorted, genuine 63000 miles last year for £10k. I did 30,000 miles in 10 years, it never let me down. Maintenance costs not cheap in relation to capital value. 

Excel is a very well sorted Lotus, Toyota parts add reliability and ease. Elite/Éclat v special but you'll need to be more dedicated if you use it a lot. 

Wait for a good one from an enthusiastic owner who either knows his way around the spanners or who doesn't scrimp on maintenance. A poorly maintained Excel is not worth the bother.

Justin 

[Veloce_Rosso]

2 hours ago, exeterjeep said:

Elite/eclat/excel are all becoming rare in running order, even spending loads doing one up will not make any money as they do not have the popularity of models like the elise and esprit.

The elite has more room in the back than eclat/excel due to the way the roof is higher, but they are that much older. They may have odd electrical gremlins but will not suffer the computer/software issues of the latest new cars.

There is an elite in gold that is having a total rebuild down here in Devon, the owner must be spending a small fortune on it. 

So you wouldn't recommend a Talbot/Sunbeam Lotus?

I don't like a basic Talbot Sunbeam but one with Lotus engine and transmission should be quite spicy.

There's one in our village you see during the summer months. They look quite nice.

 

[exeterjeep]

52 minutes ago, Veloce_Rosso said:

Talbot/Sunbeam Lotus

Don't know anything about them , seen a few but never even sat in one. They are a pretty rare car these days. 

[Veloce_Rosso]

15 minutes ago, exeterjeep said:

Don't know anything about them , seen a few but never even sat in one. They are a pretty rare car these days. 

They are very few indeed, the Avon version is even rarer. If I had bottomless pockets, the Lotus Carlton are perfect family cars.

I know you can pick up twin cam Escorts with Lotus power plant but I'm not a fast Ford enthusiast.

That said, MK1 & MK2 Lotus Cortinas are quite desirable but the price tags isn't. 50k for a well sorted one, nah.

[jep]

MK2 Cortina much cheaper than MK1. MK2 was built by Ford alone, MK1 much more Lotus involvement. 

Sunbeam - body the issue, buy a good one and don't leave it outside. 

Justin 

[Veloce_Rosso]

29 minutes ago, jep said:

MK2 Cortina much cheaper than MK1. MK2 was built by Ford alone, MK1 much more Lotus involvement. 

Sunbeam - body the issue, buy a good one and don't leave it outside. 

Justin 

To be fair, though, all those early Lotus engines were based on Ford Essex, so the MK2 Cortina wouldn't be an issue for me. My 60s Elan + 2 had a Essex-based plant. But I understand where you're coming from.

[ChrisJ]

I went and looked at a 2+2 Evora when my kids were 9 & 6, they couldn't fit in the back, so I bought an Excel. Kids now 19 & 16, I can still get 3 in the car in relative comfort, although I wouldn't want to take on a family holiday with more than 2. The boot is surprisingly large. I have got 6 flight suitcases in it - more than some modern SUV/Crossover things.

A mechanically well sorted one is great to drive. The bloody ULEZ has reduced my usage as although I'm outside it, I used to drive to my hockey club inside it at least once a week. I should really reduce down to one classic Lotus - my heads says keep the Excel, my heart the Esprit.

[jep]

@Veloce_Rosso engine fine. Body heavier on MK2, I think no alloy panels. 

@ChrisJ 40 years old and the car will be ULEZ exempt. Hang in there.....or buy a 1983 Excel 🙂

Justin 

[TomE]

14 hours ago, jep said:

Welcome. Monthly meet at Newlands Corner for all types of Lotus (the plural of Lotus is Lotus 🙂). Third Sunday of the month. 

Justin 

 

Welcome @Veloce_Rosso

As Justin says, every third Sunday for breakfast meeting at Newlands Corner.  

https://forums.thelotusforums.com/forum/334-uk-slegs-southern-lotus-england-group/

There are usually several of the older cars attending, with owners happy to chat and show you around.

[Veloce_Rosso]

1 hour ago, TomE said:

Welcome @Veloce_Rosso

As Justin says, every third Sunday for breakfast meeting at Newlands Corner.  

https://forums.thelotusforums.com/forum/334-uk-slegs-southern-lotus-england-group/

There are usually several of the older cars attending, with owners happy to chat and show you around.

Hi Tom.

Yup, Newlands Corner is a 15 min drive from my house. I'll let you know whether it's this month or next. As long as you don't take the rise out of my 156 Sportwagon.

[Veloce_Rosso]

58 minutes ago, Veloce_Rosso said:

Hi Tom.

Yup, Newlands Corner is a 15 min drive from my house. I'll let you know whether it's this month or next. As long as you don't take the rise out of my 156 Sportwagon.

Around 9.00am?

[Veloce_Rosso]

11 hours ago, Veloce_Rosso said:

Around 9.00am?

Next Sunday I presume.

[Veloce_Rosso]

My only real concern is I'm 61 and have legs like Basil Fawlty, so although I'm fairly nimble for my age, that's my only lingering doubt

[Escape]

Welcome to TLF Richard!

As above, the Excel is the perfect family friendly Lotus. Affordable, reliable and fun. 😉

Filip

[Veloce_Rosso]

I'll turn up at Newlands Corner next Sunday, my 21 year daughter might come along. She's a car nut like me.

Can't miss my car as it's the only Alfa Sportwagon in light blue (Azzurro Gabbiano) left in mainland UK.

Look forward to seeing you.

 

[Veloce_Rosso]

Weather is grotty. Hope it eases up for tomorrow. I'll still make if there'll be enough of you Lotus boys turn up.

[Kimbers]

On 10/02/2024 at 11:54, Veloce_Rosso said:

So you wouldn't recommend a Talbot/Sunbeam Lotus?

I don't like a basic Talbot Sunbeam but one with Lotus engine and transmission should be quite spicy.

There's one in our village you see during the summer months. They look quite nice.

 

God Yes! I want a Sunbeam Lotus myself! But would have to sell my Evora to get it. Bloody awesome car!

[peteyg]

@Veloce_Rosso Azzurro Gabbiano - great colour!!

 

[kkv444v]

Having run Sunbeam Lotus and Excels, I can say that they are both great cars. You will need to try both to really understand which one suits you best. From a budget point of view, you will get far more with an Excel as a really good one will be half the price of a good Sunbeam. Engines are very similar, of course, and almost identical in effect for late Sunbeams/early Excels, and both can be modified from standard quite easily if that's your thing.

Excel is obviously much lower than the Talbot, so that might have a bearing on both access and how the car feels. It also affects tinkering with the car; I hated doing anything on my Excels.

The Lotus will ride better as standard but improvements can be made to the Sunbeam, which is a bit soft in factory spec. Driving both cars is a joy; I found throttle reponse on the Excel not as good as a Sunbeam, though. Interior ambiance is obviously different, especially if the Excel is full leather.

Rust is naturally the tin-top's enemy, whereas the Excel is more likely to suffer paint issues such as lacquer peel.

Of course, if you have a proper Sunbeam Lotus budget you could look at an Evora, which I can attest to being a superb car also.