A Lotus run but I took my Chimaera
Discussion
This may get moved to the Lotus section but here goes.
So, on Sunday I joined the guys from Seloc on a run through Essex and Suffolk country side to Nethergate Brewery, Long Melford.
I took my Chim instead of my Lotus solely to try it out, I've owned the thing since April and not used it, I decided a run through the country side on a red hot day was what it needed.
We kicked off from Curry's car park in Tollgate Retail Park at 9am, the first part of the run was about an hour long, a mixture of A roads and tight country lanes, stopping at Church Street Car Park, Lavenham for a comfort break, before continuing the second part of the run to the brewery. https://nethergate.co.uk/
Plenty of parking and seating inside and out, their beers are superb, even the 0.5% one was good, they also have a nice smoker truck outside for lunch.
It was only when I started writing this I realised I hadn't take enough photo's.
Anyway, the Chim performed brilliantly, it loved the hot weather, the temp gauge never showing anything above 90 degree's, the pace was quite leisurely, although it couldn't match the lotus through the corners it was reasonably easy to catch up.
When I first bought the car it had a petrol leak from the tank and a dodgy speedo, both have been fixed and the repairs proven. Heading back home gave me a chance to open it up along the A120, god the car loves speed, driving it at the legal limit is effortless. All in it was a 160 mile trip, using just over half a tank of fuel. Well chuffed.
So, on Sunday I joined the guys from Seloc on a run through Essex and Suffolk country side to Nethergate Brewery, Long Melford.
I took my Chim instead of my Lotus solely to try it out, I've owned the thing since April and not used it, I decided a run through the country side on a red hot day was what it needed.
We kicked off from Curry's car park in Tollgate Retail Park at 9am, the first part of the run was about an hour long, a mixture of A roads and tight country lanes, stopping at Church Street Car Park, Lavenham for a comfort break, before continuing the second part of the run to the brewery. https://nethergate.co.uk/
Plenty of parking and seating inside and out, their beers are superb, even the 0.5% one was good, they also have a nice smoker truck outside for lunch.
It was only when I started writing this I realised I hadn't take enough photo's.
Anyway, the Chim performed brilliantly, it loved the hot weather, the temp gauge never showing anything above 90 degree's, the pace was quite leisurely, although it couldn't match the lotus through the corners it was reasonably easy to catch up.
When I first bought the car it had a petrol leak from the tank and a dodgy speedo, both have been fixed and the repairs proven. Heading back home gave me a chance to open it up along the A120, god the car loves speed, driving it at the legal limit is effortless. All in it was a 160 mile trip, using just over half a tank of fuel. Well chuffed.
981Boxess said:
Belle427 said:
next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman
Nothing wrong with your options but why a Cayman rather than a Boxster, just curious?Belle427 said:
981Boxess said:
Belle427 said:
next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman
Nothing wrong with your options but why a Cayman rather than a Boxster, just curious?
.Anyway, get the TVR - much more interesting.
keeling54 said:
This may get moved to the Lotus section but here goes.
So, on Sunday I joined the guys from Seloc on a run through Essex and Suffolk country side to Nethergate Brewery, Long Melford.
I took my Chim instead of my Lotus solely to try it out, I've owned the thing since April and not used it, I decided a run through the country side on a red hot day was what it needed.
We kicked off from Curry's car park in Tollgate Retail Park at 9am, the first part of the run was about an hour long, a mixture of A roads and tight country lanes, stopping at Church Street Car Park, Lavenham for a comfort break, before continuing the second part of the run to the brewery. https://nethergate.co.uk/
Plenty of parking and seating inside and out, their beers are superb, even the 0.5% one was good, they also have a nice smoker truck outside for lunch.
It was only when I started writing this I realised I hadn't take enough photo's.
Anyway, the Chim performed brilliantly, it loved the hot weather, the temp gauge never showing anything above 90 degree's, the pace was quite leisurely, although it couldn't match the lotus through the corners it was reasonably easy to catch up.
When I first bought the car it had a petrol leak from the tank and a dodgy speedo, both have been fixed and the repairs proven. Heading back home gave me a chance to open it up along the A120, god the car loves speed, driving it at the legal limit is effortless. All in it was a 160 mile trip, using just over half a tank of fuel. Well chuffed.
We all get used to these cars and it’s only when someone types a story like this do you realise what you've got. So, on Sunday I joined the guys from Seloc on a run through Essex and Suffolk country side to Nethergate Brewery, Long Melford.
I took my Chim instead of my Lotus solely to try it out, I've owned the thing since April and not used it, I decided a run through the country side on a red hot day was what it needed.
We kicked off from Curry's car park in Tollgate Retail Park at 9am, the first part of the run was about an hour long, a mixture of A roads and tight country lanes, stopping at Church Street Car Park, Lavenham for a comfort break, before continuing the second part of the run to the brewery. https://nethergate.co.uk/
Plenty of parking and seating inside and out, their beers are superb, even the 0.5% one was good, they also have a nice smoker truck outside for lunch.
It was only when I started writing this I realised I hadn't take enough photo's.
Anyway, the Chim performed brilliantly, it loved the hot weather, the temp gauge never showing anything above 90 degree's, the pace was quite leisurely, although it couldn't match the lotus through the corners it was reasonably easy to catch up.
When I first bought the car it had a petrol leak from the tank and a dodgy speedo, both have been fixed and the repairs proven. Heading back home gave me a chance to open it up along the A120, god the car loves speed, driving it at the legal limit is effortless. All in it was a 160 mile trip, using just over half a tank of fuel. Well chuffed.
Great fun ain't they.
You might find that 1/2 a tank is generous as it might do quite a bit less from 1/2 to 1/8 full and it’s not a good idea to run lower than1/8th of a tank at anytime.
I think you can get about 260 out of the average Chim tank without risking running out depending on the driving but that sounds like you have a nice healthy car there and it does look good from here
Belle427 said:
981Boxess said:
Belle427 said:
next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman
Nothing wrong with your options but why a Cayman rather than a Boxster, just curious?
8Speed said:
Belle427 said:
981Boxess said:
Belle427 said:
next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman
Nothing wrong with your options but why a Cayman rather than a Boxster, just curious?.Anyway, get the TVR - much more interesting.
Sorry to hijack thread!
Belle427 said:
Seems like the perfect garage.
I have a dilemma next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman.
Without wishing to derail the thread how do you find the Lotus ownership experience?
Which would you sell if I held a gun to your head?
I've had that dilemma may times, I may jinx it now, but my lotus has been perfectly reliable over the 12 years I've owned it, the only money I've ever spent on it is for servicing, consumables and upgrades, it's never let me down. I only bought it for track days, it's pretty impractical, a very harsh rise, worse now because every road in the country resembles a ploughed field, get it on a track like brand hatch with sticky tyres and nothing comes close. I have a dilemma next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman.
Without wishing to derail the thread how do you find the Lotus ownership experience?
Which would you sell if I held a gun to your head?
I'd take the bullet, would have to keep them both
keeling54 said:
Belle427 said:
Seems like the perfect garage.
I have a dilemma next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman.
Without wishing to derail the thread how do you find the Lotus ownership experience?
Which would you sell if I held a gun to your head?
I've had that dilemma may times, I may jinx it now, but my lotus has been perfectly reliable over the 12 years I've owned it, the only money I've ever spent on it is for servicing, consumables and upgrades, it's never let me down. I only bought it for track days, it's pretty impractical, a very harsh rise, worse now because every road in the country resembles a ploughed field, get it on a track like brand hatch with sticky tyres and nothing comes close. I have a dilemma next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman.
Without wishing to derail the thread how do you find the Lotus ownership experience?
Which would you sell if I held a gun to your head?
I'd take the bullet, would have to keep them both
lotus is more suited to smooth track work than our UK roads and a bit harder to live with.
Belle427 said:
Seems like the perfect garage.
I have a dilemma next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman.
Without wishing to derail the thread how do you find the Lotus ownership experience?
Which would you sell if I held a gun to your head?
I currently have a Chim 500 and an Elise 220, I need to sell one soon to make way for something else, so although the lotus looks and drives great it will be the one to go I have a dilemma next year, I’m 50 and treating myself and can’t decide between another Chim, an Elise or a Cayman.
Without wishing to derail the thread how do you find the Lotus ownership experience?
Which would you sell if I held a gun to your head?
Here's my 'fleet' (well the blue Elise is my wife's). SWMBO actually asked which is my favourite the other day, thinking it would be the Tuscan. Well it isn't - the Gold Leaf Sport 190 is my weapon of choice.
Hard to compare a Chim with an Elise though. In the Peak District with roads full on Sunday traffic, I don't mind rumbling along in the Chim, just listening to the exhaust, but not in the Elise - that is an empty road car. Thinking about her question again I suppose the Tuscan is a combination of both driving 'moods'.
How's that for a confusing and unhelpful answer!
Hard to compare a Chim with an Elise though. In the Peak District with roads full on Sunday traffic, I don't mind rumbling along in the Chim, just listening to the exhaust, but not in the Elise - that is an empty road car. Thinking about her question again I suppose the Tuscan is a combination of both driving 'moods'.
How's that for a confusing and unhelpful answer!
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