pbharcourt Posted March 6, 2020 Report Share Posted March 6, 2020 I was looking for a late model Excel but nothing is floating my boat so I am now starting to look for an Evora in the lower price bracket. Any advice on ownership and problems from these early Evora's would be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted March 6, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted March 6, 2020 Yeah - get one - they are ace Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM jep Posted March 6, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted March 6, 2020 Evora is a very special car. You should of course buy my Excel....on the button, ready to enjoy but you don't like the colour! I love both....Evora so usable in all conditions, Excel has all the charm, sounds lovely, looks the business, impresses all and so easy to drive fast. Less fun in horrendous rain but that is a rare event. Only Evora significant issue for those on a budget is the clutch....pricey to replace. Mine on its original at 65k miles. Justin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted March 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2020 White Excel Justin?😂 Send me a photo or two as I may still be interested ! I am keeping an open mind and just looking for a nice one now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted March 7, 2020 Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 I have owned a late SE and Celebration Excel, both lovely cars and superb to drive. Mind I wouldn’t have one over my Evora as totally smitten and hooked now, sublime piece of engineering and design which makes me smile every time I go in the garage. Good luck with your search. Dave 1 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM jep Posted March 7, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 https://www.lotusforsale.com/ads/lotus-excel-se-61000-genuine-miles-owned-since-2012-over-20k-of-expenditure-very-original-car/ Paul, a few pics here. I can send some more tomorrow by PM. I know the price is punchy but this is a seriously good Excel. Lotus Cars Ltd supplied to Jersey new, service book stamped. I bought in 2012, 30,000 miles with me, total now just over 60,000 miles. I have spent a fortune on it and Bell Colvill have just done head gasket, cambelt, water pump, radiator, MOT, etc.... which all happened just as I advertised it! In the previous 3 years or so, the bills had been quite low after an initial flurry of bills in 2012, 2013 as the car had not been much used. Run on Valvoline 20/50, it revs like a ferret on acid and has a bespoke LotusBits exhaust that fires out flames on the over-run and pops and cackles like Rice Crispies dumped in Panda Pops. Yet it will cruise happily at 80mph all day long, the main noise is wind from the not so perfect Lotus designed window frames, but it was the 80s. Love the Excel but life moves on. It really wants for nothing and should give someone a fabulous car with low expenditure for many years to come. Justin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted March 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 Some more pic's would be great as I have to sell this idea to the wife!.....and she wants an Evora since sitting in one😀 Email would be good : [email protected] Cheers Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DaveyT Posted March 7, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 1 hour ago, pbharcourt said: and she wants an Evora ...and there you have the decision. a sanctioned Lotus purchase? You lucky, Lucky man 🤣. if anything ever goes wrong, you can always say “I told you we should have got the Excel” 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM jep Posted March 7, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 A white Excel is just a cheap way to play James Bond. We may know it ain't THAT car but the wider public always think it is. Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted March 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 'Cheap' is my middle name! How did you know!🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted March 7, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 The Evora shows class - even if it’s a cheaper one 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdavies Posted March 7, 2020 Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 (edited) Re earlier ones, make sure you have researched the two different gearings then available. Edited March 7, 2020 by mdavies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted March 7, 2020 Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 Don’t under estimate the early cars though as mine is a LE and is a sublime drive and great fun, don’t think I would change it. Dave Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted March 7, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted March 7, 2020 Yours is a good colour as well👍 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted March 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2020 What is the difference with the gearing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM jep Posted March 8, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted March 8, 2020 Close ratio box or longer ratio box. Most early cars had the long box which I think is longer in 3rd and 4th most notably. Press cars tended to have close ratio. Some owners don't care, others it is essential to have CR box. For me, it was important as I use 2nd to 3rd a lot and like to stay up the rev range, so CR for me. The Lotus factory can confirm which box a car left Hethel with. Search TLF for more specific info on this as discussed many times. Clutch pedal can be heavy on early Evora. Excel has better clutch and gearbox feel, hence why you should ditch this Evora talk nonsense and buy a white Excel. 😁 Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOTUSMAN33 Posted March 8, 2020 Report Share Posted March 8, 2020 My view if you enjoy tinkering and want a smaller dent in your wallet then the Excel wins hands down, they have really good cabin visibility and soak up the miles with a painless ride quality. The later cars do look well finished and are pleasing to the eye from most angles (Can never make my mind up about the rear 🙄). Drive both and make your own call as both fantastic and iconic cars which turn heads and raise conversations. Dave 1 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin P Posted March 8, 2020 Report Share Posted March 8, 2020 Having had both I’d say it rather depends how you want to use it. For every day or regular use the Evora hands down. I found I just wasn’t using the Excel. If you want a classic for the weekend then I think it becomes a personal preference. Certainly enjoying the Excel on a sunny day is less hazardous to your driving licence. Boy has the market picked up. I think I sold my well known and pretty tidy excel for £2k in c2009 Quote Blessed with the competence to be a slave to the incapable. Currently without a Lotus, Evora 400 Hethel Edition in Racing Green with Red leather and 2010 Evora N/A in Laser Blue and 1983 Lotus Excel LC Narrow body in Ice Blue all sadly gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdavies Posted March 8, 2020 Report Share Posted March 8, 2020 (edited) If you get to drive an Evora, an immediate simple test for which gear set fitted: Get into top gear, and see if the road speed is 27.5 mph per 1000 rpm (CR), or 37.5mph (original cars, but not given to the road testers). So at 2,000 rpm, either 55mph or 75mph. Yes, that much difference - no mistaking! Be careful: I've had a dealer give me a car for road test, telling me it was a CR. It wasn't and the test was extremely brief! Edited March 8, 2020 by mdavies 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post blueg33 Posted March 9, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 9, 2020 Really liked my Evora with the long box. It worked very well as a daily driver and second and third were still great for B road fun 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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