1990 Lotus Excel SE

[anonymous-user]

This is daringly modern by my standards. My seven year old daughter literally jumped for joy when she saw the headlights pop up.

[SteveDGY]

Wow, looks lovely I've had a bit of a soft spot for these recently

[kev b]

My compliments Breadvan, a very nice example. I had an Elite as my daily car for 3 years, it was not without issues but had the most comfortable seats of any car I have owned.

[anonymous-user]

I like the Elite, but already have too many 70s cars. This one, dating from 1990, really represents the 80s. It feels like a cross between a modern car (power steering, air con, stereo controls on the steering column, central locking, immobiliser) and an old one (carburettors, noise, level of driver involvement, bits liable to fall off it!).

[Vulgar LS2]

That sir, is beautiful.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, here is another pic:-

[williamp]

Breadvan72 said:

Thanks, here is another pic:-

love the setting too. Deliberate, or do you live in a swanky ex-yuppie london pad??

[Baryonyx]

Very nice indeed, that wooden trim just looks so right.

[anonymous-user]

I am indeed an ex-yuppie, and my pad used to be quite swanky, but I have sold it and now live in a very modest place, which is not the one in the picture just above. I am parking some money from the house sale in interesting and rare motors, but all of fairly modest value.

The Excel is a very interesting and enjoyable car to drive. It is the sixth Lotus that I have tried (seventh if you count a Caterham as a sort of Lotus) and has the characteristic flat and secure handling and large measure of grip, plus very effective brakes. The engine needs large throttle inputs in order to deliver its best. You have to push on the pedal rather than just squeeze it as you might do in a more modern performance car.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 25th March 20:00

[ClaesB]

LOVE IT!! I miss mine,should never have sold it

[MrBrightSi]

Always wanted a classic lotus. Have seen a Excel being driven to make progress, they sound lovely.

Beautiful car OP.

[bazking69]

Brings back memories. My dad had one for a few years and I always looked forward to the 50 mile round trip out on a Saturday morning to the local dealer to get parts (it was a common trip shall we say!)

[anonymous-user]

The car zoomed effortlessly to Penzance and back over Easter. Here it is picking up the baton from one of its cousins and stablemates, which was having a mild tant at a location in Somerset, and was allowed to sleep it off for the reminder of the weekend.

[Chunkychucky]

Very nice! At 7 years I was similarly enamoured with pop-up headlamps - when my dad brought a 928 home and I saw the lights I was convinced it was the best car ever...

[anonymous-user]

Pop up headlights....

[anonymous-user]

The venue, by the way, is Ston Easton Park, a very good country house hotel just south of Bath. The gardens are by Repton, if I recall correctly.

It is not quite as uber-fabulous as Lucknam Park at Colerne, east of Bath, where we stayed on the way back from Cornwall, but I didn't take any photos there. Lucknam has two good restaurants (the food at Ston Easton is the only thing that lets it down a bit), a mega-wonderful spa, and also riding stables (perfect for the polite TVR driver!).

[anonymous-user]

Stunning car and getting scare now.

[anonymous-user]

http://www.benani.co.uk/RV/16Valve.html

[deltashad]

olly22n said:

Living the dream

My thoughts exactly.....

[NickVyse]

Loved them ever since I sat in the back of one in the eighties - great cars. How do you like the twin dellortos? I'm just about to put a pair on my old 4 cylinder BMW.