Lotus Excel SE
Discussion
I had this car for a couple of years before it was eaten by rats. More on that after the review...
This car was bought privately after a relatively quick test drive. Initially there was some disappointment as the relatively large size, rather grumbly engine and GT credentials led me to expect far more low down grunt. Of course, this is a Lotus, and all the interesting stuff happens when you wring the neck of the engine and keep the revs nice and high. So throw it into corners and you'll find plenty of fun.
The late models (I think there were 19 made in the final year, of which this was one) are finished in a deep green metallic paint which looks lovely when cleaned. A cream leather interior is smart, not overly padded, but shows its age. The back 'bucket' seats are an interesting solution to leg and headroom, but work well enough once you fold yourself into them. You can even fit a child's booster chair in there with a bit of a wrestle.
The front is a very pleasant place to be. All the electrics worked - mirrors, windows, switchgear. The air conditioning does a ferocious job, making long hot journeys easy and producing clouds of cool air in muggy weather. The original Clarion stereo was dead, but a replacement unit was easily fitted.
The engine is non-turbo'd, and needs a little TLC as it still runs on carbs. Once tuned though, it's robust and joyful. One nice feature is the purge pumps gurgling into life shortly after parking up at the end of a spirited drive. The suspension is a little agricultural, but once moving does the job. The non-Ackerman steering makes wheel scrubbing your way around car-parks a feature, but the payback is effortless cruising on motorways.
Pain points are the fifteen inch wheels - obscure even at the time - which make replacement tyres expensive, and Citroen electric wing mirrors which haven't aged well and are difficult to get hold of. The windscreen wash is arthritic and I'd have welcomed a high pressure replacement.
In general, this was a great daily driver that you could cheerfully consider driving the length of the country in. Fuel consumption was low twenties at best - but that might have been related to the fun to be had driving hard. Very little went wrong with it that wasn't self induced - the worst being having to replace the headlining after an over enthusiastic clean.
The rats? As we live on the edge of a village, with cars parked outside, we do get occasional problems with rodents. With the Excel, the first indication that something wasn't right was that it wouldn't start one day after being left standing for a couple of weeks. Taking it to the garage revealed a chewed wiring loom, with some sections of wire completely missing. It seems the local rat population had found their way in, and they really, really like making their nests out of electrical cable.
Unfortunately, as there are no metal bulkheads in the car, dodgy electrics are seen as a serious fire hazard, so the recommended repair was a complete replacement wiring loom. The cost would be more than I paid for the car, so it went from daily runaround to write off. The insurance company actually sent someone round to get a formal statement - they don't handle rat damage very often! Since then I gather the car was bought and restored, so it's good to know it's still on the road. The only disappointment is that finding a replacement is no easy task.
This car was bought privately after a relatively quick test drive. Initially there was some disappointment as the relatively large size, rather grumbly engine and GT credentials led me to expect far more low down grunt. Of course, this is a Lotus, and all the interesting stuff happens when you wring the neck of the engine and keep the revs nice and high. So throw it into corners and you'll find plenty of fun.
The late models (I think there were 19 made in the final year, of which this was one) are finished in a deep green metallic paint which looks lovely when cleaned. A cream leather interior is smart, not overly padded, but shows its age. The back 'bucket' seats are an interesting solution to leg and headroom, but work well enough once you fold yourself into them. You can even fit a child's booster chair in there with a bit of a wrestle.
The front is a very pleasant place to be. All the electrics worked - mirrors, windows, switchgear. The air conditioning does a ferocious job, making long hot journeys easy and producing clouds of cool air in muggy weather. The original Clarion stereo was dead, but a replacement unit was easily fitted.
The engine is non-turbo'd, and needs a little TLC as it still runs on carbs. Once tuned though, it's robust and joyful. One nice feature is the purge pumps gurgling into life shortly after parking up at the end of a spirited drive. The suspension is a little agricultural, but once moving does the job. The non-Ackerman steering makes wheel scrubbing your way around car-parks a feature, but the payback is effortless cruising on motorways.
Pain points are the fifteen inch wheels - obscure even at the time - which make replacement tyres expensive, and Citroen electric wing mirrors which haven't aged well and are difficult to get hold of. The windscreen wash is arthritic and I'd have welcomed a high pressure replacement.
In general, this was a great daily driver that you could cheerfully consider driving the length of the country in. Fuel consumption was low twenties at best - but that might have been related to the fun to be had driving hard. Very little went wrong with it that wasn't self induced - the worst being having to replace the headlining after an over enthusiastic clean.
The rats? As we live on the edge of a village, with cars parked outside, we do get occasional problems with rodents. With the Excel, the first indication that something wasn't right was that it wouldn't start one day after being left standing for a couple of weeks. Taking it to the garage revealed a chewed wiring loom, with some sections of wire completely missing. It seems the local rat population had found their way in, and they really, really like making their nests out of electrical cable.
Unfortunately, as there are no metal bulkheads in the car, dodgy electrics are seen as a serious fire hazard, so the recommended repair was a complete replacement wiring loom. The cost would be more than I paid for the car, so it went from daily runaround to write off. The insurance company actually sent someone round to get a formal statement - they don't handle rat damage very often! Since then I gather the car was bought and restored, so it's good to know it's still on the road. The only disappointment is that finding a replacement is no easy task.
Pleased to read your write up of the excel, always liked the car having had two test drives of used examples in the late eighties early nineties . Never actually committed to buying one though and ended up on the TVR route, the exhaust note and brute power did it for me back then.
Really the lotus of the time compared to the TVR were chalk and cheese, finesse and driving elegance v raw power and raw handling. Keep promising myself to buy an excel and have looked on and off for a couple of decades! Bucket list job now.
I do recall from my early test drives now delicate and responsive the excel was, and the handling beyond reproach. Not a great deal of power even when the cars were new but as with the elan that followed, power was secondary to the chassis of the car allowing for fast travel across country roads, something the elan excelled at!
Fabulous cars and I have no idea why I didn’t or have t yet purchased one.
Back on the day I recall Lotus created a competition for the public to name its new car at the time, IIRC it was the replacement for the esprit, but I could be wrong in that. Anyway I forwarded the name ETNA, and didn’t win, only to find that name used at a later date.
Any more poster reviews of old or recent of the excel please. I know I. hold go into the lotus forum but prefer this yesterday’s hero’s
Really the lotus of the time compared to the TVR were chalk and cheese, finesse and driving elegance v raw power and raw handling. Keep promising myself to buy an excel and have looked on and off for a couple of decades! Bucket list job now.
I do recall from my early test drives now delicate and responsive the excel was, and the handling beyond reproach. Not a great deal of power even when the cars were new but as with the elan that followed, power was secondary to the chassis of the car allowing for fast travel across country roads, something the elan excelled at!
Fabulous cars and I have no idea why I didn’t or have t yet purchased one.
Back on the day I recall Lotus created a competition for the public to name its new car at the time, IIRC it was the replacement for the esprit, but I could be wrong in that. Anyway I forwarded the name ETNA, and didn’t win, only to find that name used at a later date.
Any more poster reviews of old or recent of the excel please. I know I. hold go into the lotus forum but prefer this yesterday’s hero’s
Lotus Excel:
I had one briefly a few years ago.
Felt dreadfully underpowered compared to the low down torque of a TVR or my old Volvo 940 turbo estate
Gearbox was one of the nicest I've used in 48 years of driving, it's a Toyota one.
Boot space is good, chassis is galvanised but that can wear off.
Interior was pretty but suffered from visible screwheads
The biggest problem was the leaks. It had been stored outside before I bought it and had rained in, possibly for years and it stunk.
I couldn't get rid of the smell and sold it on.
Pointers: Look for water ingess, they all do that sir. Look also for peeling vinyl/leather dash tops and A pillars. Engines can need rebuilds after about 80k miles.
I had one briefly a few years ago.
Felt dreadfully underpowered compared to the low down torque of a TVR or my old Volvo 940 turbo estate
Gearbox was one of the nicest I've used in 48 years of driving, it's a Toyota one.
Boot space is good, chassis is galvanised but that can wear off.
Interior was pretty but suffered from visible screwheads
The biggest problem was the leaks. It had been stored outside before I bought it and had rained in, possibly for years and it stunk.
I couldn't get rid of the smell and sold it on.
Pointers: Look for water ingess, they all do that sir. Look also for peeling vinyl/leather dash tops and A pillars. Engines can need rebuilds after about 80k miles.
Nice to see a thread about the Excel. I've had my 1989 car for 3 years - during which I've driven almost 20,000 miles, including a couple of times into Europe. Monaco white with red 1/2 leather interior. Non A/C car - but this is the one thing I wish it did have.
Bought it so as to be able to take the whole family out, which it does really well. Takes 5 suitcases with room to spare in the boot, and the kids have been able to fit in the back comfortably. Although the space behind the driver's seat is becoming a little but tight for my son.
Been on a couple of track days in it, and it copes admirably if the other cars are of similar age - although you mustn't over fill the fuel tank as the filler is notorious for leaking on left hand bends.
Last November I had decided to sell up as the family was beginning to grow out of it, but a week after I made this decision, the nikasil liner on one of the pistons decided it had had enough . I've had the engine rebuilt at GST in Newmarket, and am currently running it in - I've done 600 miles out of the 1500 required. Not too sure whether I'll be selling up now.
Points made by a couple of other posters:
Heating is good, warms up a lot quicker than my modern Peugeot. Fan works well and ambient air is blown in at a good rate, but as I said above I wish it had A/C.
I guess there needs to be some pictures to go along with the words.
Visiting home
Abroad
Around town
Sisters - the reason the Excel isn't kept in the garage.
Bought it so as to be able to take the whole family out, which it does really well. Takes 5 suitcases with room to spare in the boot, and the kids have been able to fit in the back comfortably. Although the space behind the driver's seat is becoming a little but tight for my son.
Been on a couple of track days in it, and it copes admirably if the other cars are of similar age - although you mustn't over fill the fuel tank as the filler is notorious for leaking on left hand bends.
Last November I had decided to sell up as the family was beginning to grow out of it, but a week after I made this decision, the nikasil liner on one of the pistons decided it had had enough . I've had the engine rebuilt at GST in Newmarket, and am currently running it in - I've done 600 miles out of the 1500 required. Not too sure whether I'll be selling up now.
Points made by a couple of other posters:
- Engine - revs freely up to the 7000 limit - although I'm currently limited for 3000. Doesn't have the poke that the Turbo Esprit has, but is delightful to drive.
- Carbs - if tuned correctly are great. I was thinking about going down the fuel injection route, but was persuaded not to, and don't regret this.
- Suspension - Doesn't compare with the current offerings from Lotus, but on twisty a & b-roads is the handing is great,
- Tyres - while the original 215/50/15s are difficult to get hold of, I find 205/55/15 Vredsteins are a satisfactory replacement.
- Mirrors - not had a problem once I replaced the glass with ones from Ebay.
Heating is good, warms up a lot quicker than my modern Peugeot. Fan works well and ambient air is blown in at a good rate, but as I said above I wish it had A/C.
I guess there needs to be some pictures to go along with the words.
Visiting home
Abroad
Around town
Sisters - the reason the Excel isn't kept in the garage.
I had a look at one last autumn, which had been advertised privately towards the upper end of the price spectrum. It was also one of those late model very dark green special edition cars mentioned by the OP, but I didn't like the tan coloured leather interior. The bodywork was OK, but had a few significant scratches. It drove well and pulled hard, but what put me right off was the condition of the running gear underneath. Every metal component was badly corroded. I'm not saying it would necessarily be an MOT failure, but that fibreglass body really can hide a lot of unexpected unpleasantness underneath. So, unusually for me, I walked away.
I am sure a nice one would be a great car to own though.
I am sure a nice one would be a great car to own though.
I've got a fare bite of experience racing the 900 series engine in from wheel drive, a few pointers, the head is much better than the bottom end, it will rev to destruction, rod stretch is a major issue on std rods.
If you rebuild it and want o use it to its full potential, oil restriction in the head, (google this) open up the oil returns to the sump at he back of the head. Consider steel linnets to replace the nicosel ones. Replace the auto cam belt tensioner with a manual one.
If you do an engine rebuild look at JE piston conversion, I think its a Honda piston.
And I stress this - join the Jensen Healy group in LA, their forum is brilliant on this engine.
Always use the correct oil filter.
Electric water pump is a nice conversion.
Power is easy to get, not cheap, reliability at revs not so easy, if you have it apart check you have the latter cross drilled crank, most 2.2 are
If you rebuild it and want o use it to its full potential, oil restriction in the head, (google this) open up the oil returns to the sump at he back of the head. Consider steel linnets to replace the nicosel ones. Replace the auto cam belt tensioner with a manual one.
If you do an engine rebuild look at JE piston conversion, I think its a Honda piston.
And I stress this - join the Jensen Healy group in LA, their forum is brilliant on this engine.
Always use the correct oil filter.
Electric water pump is a nice conversion.
Power is easy to get, not cheap, reliability at revs not so easy, if you have it apart check you have the latter cross drilled crank, most 2.2 are
)In road tune its a great engine, just do the things I've listed if you strip it, early cam belt then change to the latter round tooth timing belt.
I was running over 240 Bhp without a turbo, Lotus told me I was mad, but when it went it was great, Latter engines blocks are stiffer, cranks are better etc The problem is the head is too good so it reves until it breakes, my main issue was rod stretch, but i'm talking the wrong side of 7500 Rpm.
Steel lining stiffen the block, up-rated rods, sort out the oil flow, (I had my linings made for me) I lighter fly wheel isy needed for high revs, never seen it but I've heard of them coming through the bell housing.
As a road engine I'd have no trouble I ran a Lotus Sunbeam as a daily driver in the 80's, The only problem by today's std is its on carbs and needs TLC. Good plugs and battery get it started and I've never broke down on the road.
Track I've broke everything, sized crank with oil starvation, holed pistons, blocks, piston in the head, but as I say massive revs. Its a big engine and the bits are massive, I replaced it with a SR20DET, same approx cc but so much smaller, I think the shear mass of the moving parts becomes an issue at high revs.
E.g. The cam pulleys look so much wider than on modern Japanese stuff, it just a lot of metal moving round
I was running over 240 Bhp without a turbo, Lotus told me I was mad, but when it went it was great, Latter engines blocks are stiffer, cranks are better etc The problem is the head is too good so it reves until it breakes, my main issue was rod stretch, but i'm talking the wrong side of 7500 Rpm.
Steel lining stiffen the block, up-rated rods, sort out the oil flow, (I had my linings made for me) I lighter fly wheel isy needed for high revs, never seen it but I've heard of them coming through the bell housing.
As a road engine I'd have no trouble I ran a Lotus Sunbeam as a daily driver in the 80's, The only problem by today's std is its on carbs and needs TLC. Good plugs and battery get it started and I've never broke down on the road.
Track I've broke everything, sized crank with oil starvation, holed pistons, blocks, piston in the head, but as I say massive revs. Its a big engine and the bits are massive, I replaced it with a SR20DET, same approx cc but so much smaller, I think the shear mass of the moving parts becomes an issue at high revs.
E.g. The cam pulleys look so much wider than on modern Japanese stuff, it just a lot of metal moving round
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 23 June 01:15
I have a late Eclat 2.2, which has the 912 engine and a galvanised chassis, but has the more vulnerable running gear of the earlier wedges. One option is to swap out the running gear and brakes for Excel running gear and brakes.
By the way, pub bores will tell you that an Excel is a Toyota Supra in drag, or even that it has a Toyota engine. These things are not true. Toyota provided the drivetrain, brakes, and some electrics. Some early Excels have Supra alloys. The engine, design, and handling are by Lotus, and Lotus provided consultancy to Toyota to improve the handling of their sporty cars of that era.
By the way, pub bores will tell you that an Excel is a Toyota Supra in drag, or even that it has a Toyota engine. These things are not true. Toyota provided the drivetrain, brakes, and some electrics. Some early Excels have Supra alloys. The engine, design, and handling are by Lotus, and Lotus provided consultancy to Toyota to improve the handling of their sporty cars of that era.
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