What made you UNHAPPY today!

[Sparky]

Eeek, I believe that's a concentric slave.  Good luck!

[Barrykearley]

4 hours ago, windymiller said:

jeez took the vivaro for a mot with fingers crossed that it would be painless, failed on a couple of small things (sigh of relief) then lost all the brakes on drive home 😞 reckon the brake test has fooked sommit

My bets are on a rear flexi 

[Sparky]

Haha, mea culpa, I read clutch instead of brake.

[Kimbers]

Have we really reached a point where "I had to bath my children in the kitchen sink" becomes a Headline? 

I mean...... AND? I was bathed in the kitchen sink and so were my kids. It saves on filling a whole bath for a young child and is safer and less time consuming. F***ing grow up you entitled bunch of idiots. "Oh I have to save money instead of using a whole bath of water to bathe my baby". 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64213649

As for this.............. Holy F*** what is the world coming to? 

Yeah! How very dare you try and have normal human interaction face to face!! Get back home and interact on headsets. What a world we live in!

"Pupils at two schools in Essex have been banned from having any physical contact while at school.

Parents and carers at Hylands School in Chelmsford were told in a letter the ban included "any aggressive contact", "hugging" and "holding hands".

Southchurch High School in Southend wrote "students are not allowed to touch each other", with performing arts, sport and PE the only exceptions."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-64237779?at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_medium=social&at_format=link&at_link_origin=BBC_News%3A_East_of_England&at_link_id=F12D489C-9257-11ED-A752-3B83FC756850&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&fbclid=IwAR0wD48i__y5EdV4U78lbigD05efHBhnUGFeRj65gzF4Sd1vjqWY9PhOqgs

[PaulCP]

These people just wouldn’t stand a chance of surviving in the 60’s.

I was bathed in the kitchen sink every evening apart from Sundays, when a quick dip in the old tin bath in front of a coal fire was a luxury. Had to be a quick bath before the water went cold

@KimbersThat BBC report is a prime example of how stupid and political our media have become

[Dave Eds]

@KimbersUncle Albert in ginger 

[ramjet]

The S4 is all nice and clean as a guy from Melbourne is coming to have a look tomorrow. I am happy about that, but I will be dead honest, I will be sad if he decides to buy it.

I will probably never own another Lotus.

Hey, at least I owned one and it is a beautiful S4 Esprit. Couldn't wish for much more that that.

[Bibs]

It's not too late to change your mind! 

[Barrykearley]

Put it back in the garage - you know it makes sense

[bogle]

Michael,

I had a 91 SE Turbo Esprit for 5 years (3 of those days the A/C worked) and basically gave it away to my mechanic due to another pending engine out service.  For a year and a half, I was Lotus Less Bill instead of Lotus Bill.  It really was depressing.  I bought 2 brand new 2020 Subaru Outback XTs hoping it would ease the pain.  The new car smell wore off in about 10 days and there was still no Lotus in the garage.  Sometimes I would walk into the garage and hoped it would still be there or show up magically.  At least think about replacing the Esprit with another Lotus to keep your sanity.  Although it is my opinion and my brothers (he has a 90 Turbo Esprit) that the Esprit is unique.  Just look around.  The only time you see another Esprit is at a Lotus gathering.  It's always the WTF is that car whenever it goes out for spin.  So please think it over.  When you stated you'll be sad to see it go - that's a hundred percent correct.  When my 91 got towed for the last time even my neighbor was sad.  

[johnpwalsh]

Sadly, My last Elite project went off too a new home yesterday. I'm happy in the fact that she has gone to a real enthusiast. But, it would only have taken the slightest nudge for me to have kept this one. On a happy note, her new location is only a couple of miles from the McLaren facility just outside Woking. We had to drive past it and it put a huge grin on my face to see had bad the huge sign was on the outside perimeter of their side. Great big illuminated white sign that you couldn't tell what was on it. A prodigious site with a cheap crappy sign. I was soooo tempted to stop and take a pic with the Elite in front of it. Pity it was so near a roundabout. LOl

[ramjet]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

I have to sell it as a LOT of LIz's savings went to paying for us to live after I had my stroke and was subsequently out of work for three years. I have to give some money back to our accounts.

I can't drive the car the way it can be driven. My eyes can't keep up with it. Liz has a lot of trouble getting in and out of the car after back and hip surgery. Her hips don't give her grief in the joints like they used to, but her sciatica can play up on both sides. Over an hour sitting and Liz can tend to seize up. 

It is an even more beautiful car now that the stone chips and things have been corrected. electric chargecooler pump and brake switch setup from Lotus Marques. Gets rid of the mechanical chargecooler pump and the failed ABS switch.

Even Liz agrees that the car looks better now than when I purchased it.

At least I can say I owned my dream car for many years.  15 of them. That is nearly 50% of the time I have been able to drive on the road. I'm calling that a pretty good deal.

[bogle]

I'm sorry to hear of your health issues both Liz and yourself.  Completely understand your predicament and the actions you're taking.  Thank you for sharing your story.  It's good that you were able to own and drive your dream car for 15 years.   

[ramjet]

It looks very much like the S4 will be going to its new owner. Some paperwork to sort out and that will be it.

Next chapter.  

[johnpwalsh]

Hi Michael. I know you have pondered about selling the Esprit for a good few years anow, and I guess time has come for reality to take over. Lets hope your 15 years of Lotus ownership leaves you with many good memories and that the short run you had in my S3 while you were in Aviemore, touring Scotland a few years back was also a time of enjoyment. All the best to you and Liz.

[PaulCP]

11 hours ago, ramjet said:

 

At least I can say I owned my dream car for many years.  15 of them. That is nearly 50% of the time I have been able to drive on the road. I'm calling that a pretty good deal.

I can fully empathise with you Micheal after having felt the pain when I had to sell my Evora 4 years ago due to a medical issue which, at the time, meant that I had to surrender my driving licence and was told that I couldn’t drive for 2 years. 
Shortly after selling it the 2 year driving suspension was reduced to 1 year (I would have kept it if they had told me 1 year at the time of diagnosis).

That Evora was a 1 of 6 limited edition and one that I treasured. I did consider buying another one once I was cleared to drive again but I knew the medical issue could return at anytime in the future so I decided not to do so, I just couldn’t go through the pain and heartache again if it did and my driving restriction reared it’s head again shortly afterwards.

Yes it’s only a car and if I had bought another one I could have had 3 years enjoyment from it to date, but then again I might have only had it for 6 months, so I decided to look at it in the same way as yourself. I can say that for a period of almost 4 years I was fortunate to have owned and enjoyed, both on the road and on track, the best car that IMO money could buy after becoming too old to continue enjoying the VX220 that I owned for the 14 years previous to the the Evora.

[Barrykearley]

Good luck with everything in the future @ramjet. We are all but temporary custodians of these fantastic examples of engineering. You have all your amazing memories with the car to cherish. 

[windymiller]

eldest lab had a stroke last night poor gurl 😞 better news this orning though as she has started to walk abit better and had a drink😚

[bogle]

Michael and Paul,

So good of both of you to share your stories even if they are emotionally tough on all the Lotus drivers to hear.  You two are truly special representatives of what's it like to have the privilege and the honor to drive/own/track your vehicles.   And I know others would say it's "just a car".  However, All of us know - It's not just a car, it's a Lotus.  That means we are much more passionate because we bond with our cars.  I'm a Hall of Fame dog breeder, scuba diver, and former pro musician - But nothing brings me as much joy as the Lotus (well the dogs do, too).  I've met so many interesting people because of the car and as a result driven other exotics that I would have never been able to drive.  And this is why it's so difficult to part with a car that make you feel so good and connected.  Let's face it...Lotus is part of our DNA.  

[bogle]

1 hour ago, windymiller said:

eldest lab had a stroke last night poor gurl 😞 better news this orning though as she has started to walk abit better and had a drink😚

Alan, 

Very sorry to hear about your girl.  How do you know it was stroke as opposed to a seizure?  I know this is hard to experience when your dog is in distress.  Please let us know how she's doing.  

[windymiller]

vets said if she had a siezure that lasted for less than 5 mins she should be fine ? so although still wobbly she took herself outside for a wee (lab not wife) she had a bit to eat and seemed usual lab type i dont even taste it i eat so quick, any after care things we can do bogle ? 

[march]

@windymillerWe had an Aussie that had a seizure (we believe it was a Vestibular seizure) a while back. This happened over night so we do not know how bad it was but in the morning she was terrified - couldn't stand properly, unable to walk without falling over, didn't really know what was happening to her, etc.. Over a week or so she became used to the 'new normal', doorways could be a bit of a challenge as she could miss them and life went on. Over time she got a little better each day until she was pretty much back to normal (bouncing and rolling for fun was still a bit of a challenge but it didn't stop her) and she went on to live a long and happy life.

Here's hoping your girl has a good recovery and she recovers well, it just takes time.

[bogle]

5 hours ago, windymiller said:

vets said if she had a siezure that lasted for less than 5 mins she should be fine ? so although still wobbly she took herself outside for a wee (lab not wife) she had a bit to eat and seemed usual lab type i dont even taste it i eat so quick, any after care things we can do bogle ? 

Watch her to see if she experiences any further seizures.  If this repeats itself, there's a possibility of epilepsy.  Some of these epileptic attacks are mild and only last a minute or so and the dog recovers relatively quickly.  Others are called Grand Mal Seizures which are sometimes overwhelming to see and recovery times are much longer.  Epileptic attacks if they persist can be managed by prescription medications for canines.  The fact that your Lab recovered quickly suggests a very mild seizure.  It may or may not return.  I would contact your breeder to inform them of the situation.  In 22 years of breeding Aussies, I have witnessed a few dogs with epileptic seizures.  I would certainly want to know if an owner's animal experienced a seizure and monitor the situation.  Breeding is about breeding traits you wish to keep and identifying traits which you want to discard.  Our breeding program is based on generations of dogs which are given thorough medical exams (i.e. eyes, hips elbows using OFA or Penn Hip testing) and DNA testing.  Currently, we have an owner who is a geneticist attempting to isolate the gene sequencing for cataracts.  Our hope is to eliminate cataracts in all Aussies and possibly other herding breeds.  Goldens and Labs are prone to hip dysplasia while Aussies are prone to cataracts.   Epilepsy is found in many breeds and there's no cure or genetic test for identification as far as I'm aware.  Hopefully, our geneticist may get around to in her upcoming years of studies and research.  

Please note that I'm a breeder and not a licensed vet tech or medical profession (I do spend a lot of time around them especially when it comes to breeding).

Hope this helps a little.

[bogle]

5 hours ago, march said:

@windymillerWe had an Aussie that had a seizure (we believe it was a Vestibular seizure) a while back. This happened over night so we do not know how bad it was but in the morning she was terrified - couldn't stand properly, unable to walk without falling over, didn't really know what was happening to her, etc.. Over a week or so she became used to the 'new normal', doorways could be a bit of a challenge as she could miss them and life went on. Over time she got a little better each day until she was pretty much back to normal (bouncing and rolling for fun was still a bit of a challenge but it didn't stop her) and she went on to live a long and happy life.

Here's hoping your girl has a good recovery and she recovers well, it just takes time.

Marc,

Thank you for posting your Vestibular information about your Aussie.  First of all, it must have been alarming to see these side effects with your dog.  I agree with your suspected diagnosis of Vestibular seizure due to the length of time it took for your dog to recover.  Whereas an epileptic seizure recovery time is typically within minutes to hours (not days or longer).  Glad she returned to normal over time.  Did you take her to the vet after seeing the symptoms?

[march]

25 minutes ago, bogle said:

Did you take her to the vet after seeing the symptoms?

Oh Yes!