Midlife Crisis!

[C8RKH]

It's the Swindon effect.

[Chillidoggy]

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” 

Except in @swindon_alans case it’s “Don’t try it until you’ve knocked it.”

[swindon_alan]

On 24/01/2019 at 21:48, Mark Blanchard said:

And you're still married?

No, we're not married and never have been. So don't fret, it's perfectly acceptable.

15 hours ago, Barrykearley said:

Once you’ve been married a long time like Alan - it simply saves his missus the hassle 🤣

Nope. Think of it as a double whammy Bazza.

14 hours ago, Chillidoggy said:

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” 

Except in @swindon_alans case it’s “Don’t try it until you’ve knocked it.”

I just KNEW you were going to say this! You really should come to Swindon for some um "leisure time", I can help you with that sir...

[Mark Blanchard]

On 23/01/2019 at 20:09, Barrykearley said:

@Mark Blanchard

 

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/lotus/esprit/lotus-esprit-esprit-sport-350-------------1999/9391023

Had a look at this car today.  Amazing condition and just had £15k spent on it.  It has a LEW tax disc holder, anyone recognise it?

 

I noticed the car was featured in Evo a while back:

[Barrykearley]

Worth making sure you’ve a flexible mortgage advance before buying that 

[Mark Blanchard]

Yes, £70k does seem steep, they were knocking around £30-35k not so long ago.

[Barrykearley]

I was referring to when the engine implodes...... 

what a car though 🤩

[Mark Blanchard]

Nicest car to brake down in though.

[Bazza 907]

It's Trevor's (old?) car 

[swindon_alan]

Well your "average" V8 has been around £35-£40k recently. S350s are very thin on the ground though. I'm thinking that is higher than what @purso got for his very low mileage Final Edition. So probably about £10-£15k too high?

[Barrykearley]

Ffs @swindon_alan don’t loose sight of the fact this is a s350..... makes it simply the one to have imho.

sadly im not a multimillionaire so im never destined to have one

[swindon_alan]

Yes I know Barry but the differences between a late V8 and an S350 are much, much less than between an S4 and an S300. They're mainly cosmetic after all.

Hence my comparison with an FE.

[Ekku]

As v8 owner I have not even though possibility it blowing. It seems so easy going and the possibilities of exploiting it's full potential is not really possible In our road enviroment. 

I am plannanning to attend a track day on next summer,  so I might think different after that... 

I have done many with motorbike and they take that easily, but Lotus might be different thing. 

[swindon_alan]

I completely agree. The V8 was designed to output up to 550bhp as a race engine and at a detuned 350bhp it is hardly trying or stressed. Granted, it could (potentially) go bang in the GT1 full on form.

The other point is that the performance and handling limits and capability are way beyond my driving abilities and as you note, improbable to reach on public roads. So again, engine stress is lowered. 

Aside from all this I don't get why other Lotus owners diss the V8 engine so much. After all it was designed, developed and tested by the best automotive engineering company in the world which we must surely all agree on.

Looked after properly it a reliable thing of wonder and to me, admiration. 

[Ekku]

I must admit that I have developed a bit hooligan habit. About half mile from my home is a roundabout when coming from a motorway and after that is the gas station where old geezers are sitting and talkin shite with the friends. This place is near but not visible from the roundabout. 

So, when I am heading home, I just can not resist the urge to do little power slide In the roundabout on the second gear or on third if it is wet weather. 

It is childlish I know, but so rewarding... 😃

The current tyres, Kumho Ecsta sports make quite a sound and when coming to the sight of the old men sitting outside the gas station, I just pass them In the fourth gear and near idle revs... 

 

 

I guess that next I will buy some tyres with better grip. 

 

[Trevsked]

6 hours ago, Bazza 907 said:

It's Trevor's (old?) car 

Yep my old car and it was a good one when I sold it and know the owner spent lots as stated over the last year, not because it needed it but because he wanted it to be the best. Must be very nice now, I’ve not seen it but will call down some time.

 

Trevor.