attention grabbers

[james280779]

I have had many very nice cars over the last few years including TVR's, Porsches and my latest toys is a Lotus Esprit Turbo. Its a 1988 sprayed bright orange with a later s4 bodykit. Never before have I been stopped so many times, every day someone pulls up next to me and tells me how great the car is. I get waved at by strangers and last Friday I was asked out for a drink by a gorgeous blonde filling her car up next to me at the petrol station! Whilst I am used to getting looked at, this type of attention is unheard of -despite the fact its one of the cheapest supercars I have ever owned (about 10k).

I also have a concourse 911 carrera that never gets looked twice at! I thought that would be the attention grabber.

Anyone else get attention like this in a car they never expected?

[james280779]

haha

mid 20's, about 5'10 with a cracking pair of ....

she was actually a very good looking girl. I would love to think it was my good looks but I am sure it was the car!

[james280779]

haha no, I am not interested in women that see a nice car and cash signs!

I have an old smokey volvo 850 estate I would use for a first date, I like to think I am good enough without the cars lol.

[james280779]

Tyrewrecker said:

Don't see the issue if you play it right ...

well everyone is different and I am lucky enough to not have the need. Everyone has to play to their advantage!

Delorean's look amazing! Did I see it somewhere that the Delorean factory is now making them in electic? what a waste! bet they wont hit 88 anymore but at least it solves the missing person issues!

[james280779]

Tyrewrecker said:

I never implied you'd struggle without the car I just think you should smash her hard for being greedy

that actually made me belly laugh out loud in work- thanks!

your right, I should have done. never thought of it like that.

[james280779]

[james280779]

I know its a gorgeous car- thats why i bought it but......

My previous cars include a custom TVR S1 in chameleon paint with a cosworth engine, A custom 406 coupe in spectraflair, as stated above a Pearlescent White 911 in pristine condition. None of these even come close to the attention I get in the Lotus. I expect some attention but just not the levels I am receiving lol

[james280779]

PompeyM3 said:

I had my Esprit for 11 years and the most common car it was mistaken for (by those that said) was a Ferrari, but I guess as it was red, that's an easy enough mistake even though there was a Lotus badge on the front !!

Never got asked out for a drink by anyone though... but that just might be down to me !!!

yeah I get the Ferrari comments pretty much daily. i expect those to worsen when the car gets to Australia where they have even less Lotus's.

I even got a nice ferrari comment here whilst driving my wifes MGTF!!!!
If it aint a Holden they havent got a clue lol.

And give me a choice between the lotus and my old TVR?? no contest - I miss the sound of the Tiv!

[james280779]

blindswelledrat said:

Because they are common and bland.
I don't really understand your confusion.
A white Porsche? Seriously?
A 406?
An S1?
ALl nice enough cars but irrelevant. Of course they won't get attention

If you honestly can't see a difference between that list and a bright orange Esprit, then you don't deserve the Lotus!

common and bland??

S1 - about 850 less made than the lotus, 911 carrera - 80's schoolboys wet dream, 406 coupe- was brand new with custom paintjob and rare as rocking horse poo when I bought it (1998)- My local two peugeot dealers wouldnt even work on it as they didnt have the tools.

[james280779]

Xtype said:

It looks nice except the wheels,

totally agree -they are now sitting in my garden and original Oz alloys re-instated.
trouble is now I find out those wheels are the three piece split rims of the uber rare Lotus X180R sold in the states (20 made with a price tag of $128k).

only info I can find is alloys are super rare and mega expensive so now have no idea what to do with them.

[james280779]

deltashad said:

I was out for a jolly with my mate, he was in his 205Gti and I was in my old red integrale, he got more attention than I did. I was really peeved.
Whenever I do get attention though, its from guys, never girls.... Girls look at the Evo and say, mmm... is it a Golf?
Xtype is right though, the car looks great really stunning, but the wheels...sorry... can't hold it in....

as I said, I agree. My first question was -love the car but do you still have the orginal wheels?. The previous owner was miffed and asked why the hell would I want those the new ones are so much better. I myself had to stifle a laugh and be very civil about it. I wanted the car after all! I was gutted it took nearly a week to refurb and respray the originals. problem now sorted and looks million times better with the Oz ones! I actually avoided driving it with those monstrosities on. BTW if anyone has them I apologise but I am a traditionalist.

On another point, when I took them off, I reckon those sh*te wheel weighed about 3x more than the original. Kinda defeats the object of a lightweight sports car.

[james280779]

so called said:

Lovely Esprit, one of my all time favourite cars.
I'm a TVR fan and been driving them a few years now.
My Mk1 Tuscan was the car that received the most attention. A few years ago I was parked in an Aldi car park in Germany and loading my shopping into the boot.
From behind I heard a woman's voice say in German "oh what a lovely car".
I turned around to find an old lady covered from head to toe in various shades of purple and lavender, including a purple hair colouring :0
Of course it was the Tuscans colour, purple paradise, that had caused the response.
My navy blue Mk2 Tuscan convertible hardly gets any comments except for the deccated, protech exhausted, glorious soundtrack
Lovely Esprit in any colour.

I actually went shopping for a Tuscan S and ended up with the esprit!
Stupid TVR never fitted ECE plates as standard. that meant I couldnt export it to Australia without the emissions testing which would have cost me about 100k, plus compliance testing at another 20k. - thats without the shipping and taxes! Had a major rethink and bought the Esprit. Next will be either a Tuscan S or an F355 upon return to the UK in the next few years.

[james280779]

so called said:

Isnt the lack of emissions testing the reason why TVR's are low TAX as they are registered as Private Light Goods. My Tuscan and Chimaera are 215 quid a year road tax.

Possibly but means its virtually impossible to export them, there is a way round it which is not ideal but I am working on it!