Rear Round Light conversion

[superdavelotus]

HI all,

I have a V8 GT in Titanium with 2002 OZ Nova Alloy wheels. I have bought the rear round light panel and also the lights but Iam having second thoughts on whether to fit. After seeing Alan Croft's V8 which is the same colour and year with his round light conversion I was seriously tempted but just at the last minute Iam having second thoughts.

What's your opinion?

Iam also planning on fitting the GRP lip spoiler to bring it in line with a 2002 and maybe finish off with the centre exit exhaust perhaps?

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Personaly I love them especialy with the LED Elise style lights in them ........ ahhh soon my precious!

[snuffy]

No.

[esprit350]

keep the nice round lights on the Elise where they belong,

just my opinion

[DVR]

If the car is a keeper I would maybe do it.

If you want to sell it someday I wouldn't.

I think car value is highest when original.

[silverfrost]

I love the look of the stevens models with the old lights

regards danny

[karluk29]

dave do you really need my opinion,,,,,he he he he, you know my answer

[superdavelotus]

Hi all,

In light of the recent news by Lotus, December 2009 for the new model will mean it'll easily creep into 2010, it just sounds better in this decade! 2 years after will be the most likely time I could afford to buy one. I have always intending on keeping this car as it's no different to the last of the run 2003 car underneath. So I am thinking that I should the whole hog and make mine look like the last of the run too!

It wouldn't surprise me if the new car gets shelved so what's the alternative? A V8 which looks like the last run but for

[karluk29]

do it and mould them in like lotus intended, the proper mans way of doing it LOL

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I like the light conversion.

"Originality" imho is the worst reason in the world NOT to do something - Who says the factory are right all the time?

If someone had made a round rear light conversion in 2000, they would have been denounced as a Karl-esque heretic... Now it's 'official' it's a viable option?!

Pah!

It's YOUR car Dave and I get the impression that actually you LIKE the conversion but may be a bit afraid of how others will view it.

If you ask 20 different people here this question, you will get 20 different answers!

Either way - there was no real shortage of buyers for the '02+ models so there are plenty of people / buyers who will like what you do.

If you like it - you do it It's your car / hard earned money and you do whatever the hell puts that big smile on your face! (Even if that's painting it pink like Karl's! )

[Jonathan]

Your choice mate - some cars they look good, others they look bad imo.

Steve Wrights car they work on and make it look a lot more modern than it really is (1988)

The V8 already looks modern....tuffy but tbh only you can made that decision !

[karluk29]

will make ppl say "is that a dancing donkey you are driving lol" which is not a bad thing really. "mould them in young jedi its the way it was meant to be" and imo looks less of a "add on"

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

Hi Dave

As it's a battle of original car V's late V8 looks, Is there any way that the conversion can work whereby you can restore the car to default spec if when selling it that would make the highest figure?

[CarlC]

Just get on with it Dave, you know your going to anyway, its onyly a matter of time . Like you say its only bringing the car upto date afterall.

However, I can understand your dilemma. At the end of the day your car looks superb now and it will still look superb after. B)

[FrogsterPL]

Agree with silverfrost

Edited September 21, 2006 by FrogsterPL

[CharlieC]

Hi Dave

I thought about doing this on my S4 having seen Karmavores website but then it would look clearly NOT original whereas with yours thats not really going to be the case - I know if I got a V8 I'd prefer the round lights.

It looks more modern and fits to the newer model.

If you decide not to do it you could always let me know if the parts are for sale

[williamives]

I'd definately say "go for it..."

But I've been having the same dilema myself. I really want to do it... but I worry about originality... However I plan to keep the car... my worry is that 'if' something happened which meant I had to sell... would it matter. I actually don't think it would be a problem to most buyers..

I've already replaced the whole centre dash... but everything I've done so far.. could be reversed!

So far things keep breaking so I haven't had the spare cash to be able to do it.

Will

[th4neuk]

I know I am biased and it is potentially my fault this thread exists but I think the round lights with the titanium colour scheme looks fantastic. It suits it more than any other colour.

Do it.

Cheers

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Having seen it on both Stephens AND Thompson cars I say anyone who likes them and wants them on their car, just go ahead and get on with it - its YOUR car

[superdavelotus]

I keep having second thoughts as I still like the look of the old lights especially with the clear indicators. I wanted to have the conversion done in time for the factory tour but I might wait so Iam not rushing into things.

[Paul C]

I like the round light look, reminds me of a lot of the 70's and 80's exotic cars

and the older GT cars of the same kind of period. To me it is a positive nod back

to sportscars of old, and all the hard-to-pronounce-low volume supercars of today

go for that look for i'm sure that very reason. I think it suits the late Esprits, but

not my more angular Stevens.

I think however the Esprits round rear lights are way too small though. They have

been borrowed from a much smaller car and IMO are not big enough for the large

rear panel. I honestly think that if the Elise parts bin was not there, that a bigger

(and more in proportion to the car) round unit would have been fitted.

I made this comparison before and still have the image i edited:

Here is the standard Elise light which i think looks just a bit 'lost'...

Here is the light made a bit larger to show what i mean...

They still look good, and the late cars look better with them than my type.

I just think they would look better if they actually filled the space provided,

the car would look less like it's squinting.

[WayneB]

Nice analyisis Paul

Hes dead right you know, the Celica lights look better, the Elise ones just look different.

Corvette C4 taillights would probably look more in proportion

[superdavelotus]

That's my opinion exactly about the proportion of the lights being too small.

[Paul C]

Must stress i DO like them still, a lot. It's just the smallness

of them that i notice, perhaps more then i should, i dunno...

[CharlieC]

Dave - have you tried photoshopping the lights onto a pic of your car to see how it'd look?

Perhaps we could see them too?