The Lotus Grand Tourers

Still not got myself an Excel (taking longer than anticipated to sell my MG BGT, and that has to happen first), but doing a bit of forward planning.... I was hoping to get myself a Haynes manual, but they don't seem to do one for the Excel! Or indeed any Lotus. Does anyone else do a decent workshop ...

Well, I didn't buy it, nor did any other sucker.

The search continues...

Got some answers back from the seller. Good news is that the door beams have been done and there's a recent cam belt change. Bad news it's not only the wrong carb, it's the wrong engine! His full reply: "I replaced drivers hinge bar.all electrics are working ok.cambelt changed at MOT time & full ser...

Not only still looking, but jumping the gun a bit! Had meant to wait until the MG BGT was MOT'd and sold. Cracked radiator delayed the MOT (got a new one to fit this weekend), then I'm off on holiday, so she won't be for sale 'til mid-August. Still, they don't come up for sale in Scotland too often,...

There's one that was on sale on Pistonheads recently:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1805699.htm

Interior is bright red:



No idea if that was original, but I certainly couldn't conceive of living with it!!

There's an Excel on eBay right now - item 370410188072. Non-SE, '87, blue. It's in Falkirk - close enough to Aberdeen that I don't mind travelling there to pick it up, but too far away to go over and view in person before the auction ends. So, if I buy it, it'll have to be sight unseen (unless someo...

It could become the new "celebrity Lotus", alongside the James Bond Esprits!

I guess bagpussawake hasn't spotted this thread yet! :P I'm also toying with the idea of buying an Excel, and he was good enough to let me poke around his and take me for a ride last week, so I could make sure it'd suit me. Well, it was more like a drug dealer handing out free samples to get you add...

Not necessarily - last series they had the classic car challenge where they bought a Sprite (Clarkson), Lanchester (Hammond) and Citroen (May), and all liked their cars so much that they bought them off the BBC to keep afterwards. This despite the fact that Clarkson has several times in the past exp...

What if the feature ends up suggesting it's a really good car? People all over the country will want to rush out and buy one, there's only so many for sale out there, and prices will be pushed up (albeit briefly). I'd better get out there and buy myself one before the rush starts! Would help if anyo...

BTW - do/did you work at Baker Hughes? I remember seeing a Scimitar parked outside a few years back when I had a meeting with someone there.

Hi! Good to meet a local, and I'm glad I'm not the only one doing this. BTW (if I can ask this on a Lotus forum!) - is the Excel appreciably better/worse than a Scimitar for family duties? I have been toying with that as an option too. I'm guessing from your photo that your Scimitar is now a crispy ...

Oh, and as for models, I'd definitely prefer a manual, so the SA is out. Given the choice I'd prefer an SE, but it's not essential. Same with any of the optional extras - a/c is nice, but hardly essential in Aberdeen (particularly if the car is light-coloured). I'll take what's available, at the rig...

Thanks for your advice! Definitely worth more than a pinch of salt (sorry, I shouldn't make jokes that could be mis-construed as insulting until I'm a bit better known around here, and should use more smilies when I do!). Based on what you've said, and my experience running classics as daily drivers...

Hi, a quick introduction: I'm Richard, and I'm toying with the idea of buying myself an Excel. I currently run an old BMW 3-Series Compact (everyday) and MG BGT (for fun). However, I'm about to move home, to somewhere I'll be within walking/cycling distance of work, shops, and most of my social life...