lotus Excel overlooked?
Discussion
Back in the 80's I was on the cusp of purchasing a Lotus Excel, room for two kids in the back and drove as a Lotus should. But I decided against the buy and have always harboured a wish to buy one since, an itch. Its very unlikely that will happen but I still look at the ad's for sale. But why are the Excel's so relatively inexpensive against the other Lotus models of the similar era??
Elites and Eclats suffer from similarly low prices but are creeping up slowly and seem to be moving away from bargain-basement bodge "restorations" and modifiers into "proper" classic territory.
Possible reasons : no racing heritage/pedigree, no film-star/supercar glamour, never really made any headlines and were never made in large enough numbers to be seen by a sufficiently large population.
OTOH - when well-maintained they're fantastically reliable and practical cars which are still great fun to drive.
Possible reasons : no racing heritage/pedigree, no film-star/supercar glamour, never really made any headlines and were never made in large enough numbers to be seen by a sufficiently large population.
OTOH - when well-maintained they're fantastically reliable and practical cars which are still great fun to drive.
Edited by marshalla on Friday 8th August 09:24
crankedup said:
Back in the 80's I was on the cusp of purchasing a Lotus Excel, room for two kids in the back and drove as a Lotus should. But I decided against the buy and have always harboured a wish to buy one since, an itch. Its very unlikely that will happen but I still look at the ad's for sale. But why are the Excel's so relatively inexpensive against the other Lotus models of the similar era??
They do look very under-valued, but then that's true of contemporary Esprits as well. If they were made by guys named Gianni and Marco, rather than by guys named George and Mark, you've got to think they would be worth a lot, lot more.V8 FOU said:
Good question. People are "afraid" of potential engine problems. But at the price you can get one for, I wouldn't worry. Interiors a bit grotty sometimes.
Hasn't got the wow factor of the Esprit - but get a good one and enjoy!
The 912 in the Excel isn't exactly stressed. Earlier version do spring the odd oil-leak from cam covers if they aren't fitted properly, but there are no major weak spots. The "Lots of Trouble..." reputation stems from people who don't use and maintain their cars properly. They do not appreciate being laid up for long periods.Hasn't got the wow factor of the Esprit - but get a good one and enjoy!
Headlining is a relatively easy DIY job (they all droop eventually when the glue gives way) and seats can be swapped to deal with the usual wear on the driver's bolster.
Edited by marshalla on Friday 8th August 12:59
I think that the 912 is a well developed and sound engine, and as Marshalla says it is not unduly stressed in standard 185 BHP form. Some people tune the engines up to silly numbers but I think it's best to stick with what Lotus chose as a sensible power level that suits the car. The Toyota running gear of the Excel is tough and long lasting, and I never found the electrics to be an issue. The pop up lights are fun. The Excel is an underrated car, I think.
I'm booked in for Sunday Digger, think I will be outside the Santander Bank, least that's what I was told this afternoon. If the weather is as bad as forecast I wont be there, my old car leaks like a sieve.
Back on thread - thanks for all comments, interesting stuff. Certainly the Excel seems to remain a fine car, certainly attractive lines. But like I said its doubtful I will take the plunge now, but never say never.
Back on thread - thanks for all comments, interesting stuff. Certainly the Excel seems to remain a fine car, certainly attractive lines. But like I said its doubtful I will take the plunge now, but never say never.
I've owned two Excel SE's & used them as everyday transport with around 150k miles covered in total. Very reliable (kept outside on the drive) & surprisingly flexible cars - cover the seats with something temporary & you can get all sorts of stuff inside, plus bricks & bags of cement in the boot!
Like ALL Lotus's, it's the owners, not the cars, who are sometimes unreliable, but then moan when s
t happens. MUST stick to the correct maintenance procedures - these cars will go awol if you don't.
The 1st car also doubled as a track day machine, & ....even as an old Elan / Europa owner, I was impressed by what it could do in that mode.
I only sold out when my band gear carrying needs outstripped the Excel space availability (moving on to a Volvo V70 T5)
Great value for money still, & this will only increase imo.
Edited to add - rubbish handling in snow / ice - almost impossible to keep in a straight line or pull away without a push - rwd & wide rear tyres!!!
Like ALL Lotus's, it's the owners, not the cars, who are sometimes unreliable, but then moan when s
t happens. MUST stick to the correct maintenance procedures - these cars will go awol if you don't.The 1st car also doubled as a track day machine, & ....even as an old Elan / Europa owner, I was impressed by what it could do in that mode.
I only sold out when my band gear carrying needs outstripped the Excel space availability (moving on to a Volvo V70 T5)
Great value for money still, & this will only increase imo.
Edited to add - rubbish handling in snow / ice - almost impossible to keep in a straight line or pull away without a push - rwd & wide rear tyres!!!
Edited by Maulden7 on Friday 8th August 17:06
Before you read on, take note that I WOULD have another.
I had an Eclat and an Excel back in the day and they were fantastic cars to drive. To own, not so much! The Excel was more reliable but still not what you would rely in day to day.
The Eclat spent most of my ownership going wrong and parts were strong money, I worked out that it cost me £2 for every mile I drove in it not including depreciation, tax, insurance or fuel.
Oil leaked from the rear oil seal which contiminated the clutch, headlights failed to pop up frequently, then would pop up and stay up, or one up one down, it was always a lottery with the lights, rear silencers rotted out in less than three years and cost a bomb, trim inside was fragile and the stupid light that was supposed to illuminate the centre console and the dials therein, was joke. Steering UJ went and according to the dealers was a job of major proportions (I think engine out sort of thing - memeory is hazy) but I hacked fibreglass myself and did it in situ, all sorts of things that should have been easy to fix were nightmares due to the way the car was made/assembled. Build quality was something that Lotus were not really very bothered about at the time.
Final straw with that was when I opened the drivers door and it suddenly dropped an inch or two. Something inside the door had broken/rusted through and was expensive and unforgiveable on a reasonably young car.
But, when running, it was great fun, handled a treat and every journey felt like an event. Not fast, but quick enough to be fun.
I would have another and it would be an Eclat rather than an Excel, felt purer somehow.
I had an Eclat and an Excel back in the day and they were fantastic cars to drive. To own, not so much! The Excel was more reliable but still not what you would rely in day to day.
The Eclat spent most of my ownership going wrong and parts were strong money, I worked out that it cost me £2 for every mile I drove in it not including depreciation, tax, insurance or fuel.
Oil leaked from the rear oil seal which contiminated the clutch, headlights failed to pop up frequently, then would pop up and stay up, or one up one down, it was always a lottery with the lights, rear silencers rotted out in less than three years and cost a bomb, trim inside was fragile and the stupid light that was supposed to illuminate the centre console and the dials therein, was joke. Steering UJ went and according to the dealers was a job of major proportions (I think engine out sort of thing - memeory is hazy) but I hacked fibreglass myself and did it in situ, all sorts of things that should have been easy to fix were nightmares due to the way the car was made/assembled. Build quality was something that Lotus were not really very bothered about at the time.
Final straw with that was when I opened the drivers door and it suddenly dropped an inch or two. Something inside the door had broken/rusted through and was expensive and unforgiveable on a reasonably young car.
But, when running, it was great fun, handled a treat and every journey felt like an event. Not fast, but quick enough to be fun.
I would have another and it would be an Eclat rather than an Excel, felt purer somehow.
Im currently half looking for an excel.
But ive gotta wait for the response about an apprenticeship before i take the plunge, if i get the appreticeship then i will be getting a motorbike. (apprenticeships starts in September so any day now)
I started off looking at Tasmins. But more recently decided an excel would be better, as whatever i end up with will be daily driven.
Ive also priced up a conversion to fuel injection.
BTW, does anyone have contact details for a mod on lotusexcel.net? I registered a few days ago but havnt been confirmed yet.
But ive gotta wait for the response about an apprenticeship before i take the plunge, if i get the appreticeship then i will be getting a motorbike. (apprenticeships starts in September so any day now)
I started off looking at Tasmins. But more recently decided an excel would be better, as whatever i end up with will be daily driven.
Ive also priced up a conversion to fuel injection.
BTW, does anyone have contact details for a mod on lotusexcel.net? I registered a few days ago but havnt been confirmed yet.
Benbay001 said:
Ive also priced up a conversion to fuel injection.
How would you do that ?, Jenvey's or converting the Dellorto's ?, engine management and distributorless ?, would be very expensive (maybe a bit hard to justify ?) the standard carbs and Dizzy are pretty reliable if in good condition and maintained properly, would be a nice conversion though. Maulden7 said:
Edited to add - rubbish handling in snow / ice - almost impossible to keep in a straight line or pull away without a push - rwd & wide rear tyres!!!
Certainly hope not. I will be using mine as daily drive this winter. It will have studded tires, thou..Edited by Maulden7 on Friday 8th August 17:06
Studded tyres in the snow / ice are amazing.
I've been a co-driver in a rally car with studded tyres in a competitive event - in Finland in the winter - driven by an experienced local pilot, & was continually amazed by how we went around corners at high speed.
The driver was great, but the tyres were fantastic.
You'll be fine!
I've been a co-driver in a rally car with studded tyres in a competitive event - in Finland in the winter - driven by an experienced local pilot, & was continually amazed by how we went around corners at high speed.
The driver was great, but the tyres were fantastic.
You'll be fine!
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