Bye, Bye Lou Lou.. (Shortlist added)

[mwmackenzie]

Well the sad day has come where Lou Lou the Lotus, as my Daughter called her when we took a day trip to Leamington Spa to buy it, and I have parted company, I sold her tonight to a nice Gent called Tony who is doing as I had planned and is having the 22K mile 111s running gear I'd source fitted to her... Well she didn't want to go, she was on her best behavior tonight as I drove her to the surgery where her heart will be changed out....

As you know on the NC500 she went onto 3 cylinders and was put off the road. Craig diagnosed a loss of compression on one cylinder I took her out of Craigs on the 15th of December as he was going to paint his floor over the festive break so I put her to the bodyshop where I was going to have the clam fixed. she drove fine on the bypass, and when we got to the A1 she went back onto 3 cylinders but made it to the bodyshop in Portseton. She has sat there since last year until I took her home last week, needed a jump start after sitting for 3 months but she drove all the way home on 4 cylinders but the MIL light was on... I took her to Tesco's on Sunday she was again back on all 4's but MIL light was on... Tonight though, she started on all 4 no MIL light and drove to Denny without a glitch, she was on her very best behavior begging me not to sell her and part of me, a large part wanted to keep her but her new owner was there as was the chap who was going to do the surgery along with his 500BHP Audi Elise S2 Now that was a very special beast indeed so I'm happy she's in good hand and will soon be back to fer former glory if not more so soon. Weird how she's self healed herself to a degree??

I'm very, very sad I've sold her but I do want back in an S2 soon or the other options are a 987 Boxster S or a Z4M or even a 3.0 Z4 who knows? Anyone with any experience of these with any buying tips feel free to steer me in the right direction. If anyone is thinking of selling an S2 or know of anyone thinking of selling theirs soon at a reasonable price I'd be interested to hear what you have I still hope to get some runs in over the summer and some track action and would like to do further driver training in what ever I do buy, dare I say it I even kinda like a TTS, not sure I can stretch to RS money though.. Glad to hear your recommendations

[campbell]

A TTS has not escaped my notice either, Mark. If it's as good as our recently acquired TT Quattro, then it's well worth a shot.

It'll be no Elise, mind...

[rawsco]

Mark, I had a Z4 from 2008-2010 2.5 and I really enjoyed it, nice engine and great to drive. If you go for one go for the SI engine, either 3.0si or 2.5si, they are magnesium/aluminium composite block and considerably lighter in the nose which makes the car handle a bit more like the 2.0. the 2.5i and 3.0i engines were big heavy iron lumps, my only complaint was that turn in was a bit sluggish and I wished I'd stumped up for the 2.5si in hindsight.

I got a run in a Z4 M and it was awesome but totally uncompromising suspension for daily use on our roads, I expect it would be awesome on track.

I'd be so tempted to get a track slag tho, RenaultSport Clio or the likes and rip out everything that slows it down, or an R53 Mini JCW/GP.

[mwmackenzie]

When I was driving the Elise over last night with the roof off I was thinking what the hell am I doing but as Craig pointed out I'm only going to pile the miles on her and at 133K already it was time to part company as I had a buyer willing to take her on as a project, so Craig's wise words of wisdom was my deciding factor and tipping point towards selling her. The TT is the sensible option as I could sell the 3 series too and the wife could use it as a daily but I'm not sure it'd tick my box on track, I bought her Mini cooper s with the same view of she can run it and I can track it but it never transpired that way as I was never that confident in it and I think to get it track worthy I'd have ended up spending a whack on brakes tyres and suspension.. I'm swaying towards a 987 Boxster S at the minute as Lotus do seem a little out of my reach unless someone was thinking of selling theirs to the trade and wanted another option.

[rawsco]

Or... a baby race car with an MOT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 3022854763

[campbell]

The TT is no track car Mark.

And a Boxster could be expensive to maintain. Especially if tracked.

In "Total cost of ownership" terms, all roads lead back to an Elise I'm afraid!

[Corranga]

There are plenty other Elises out there. Perhaps this is just an opportunity to try something different.

Have fun!!

Chris

[Mike Scib]

MX5

[douglasgdmw]

Neil,

If you ever want a look over a Boxster or want any advice then give me a shout. I would definitely recommend that you go for a 987 Gen II as they are a little bit more bullet proof compared to the Gen I. Also the components may be expensive but there are a number of good specialists (CMC obviously but also Motortune in Shotts, David Phillips etc)

Unfortunately my Spyder is very seldom out of the garage but at least it will give you an idea of what a Boxster is like etc.

George

[campbell]

MX5

Good shout there...

Add a supercharger and you're sorted. What can possibly go wrong =8-o

[istoo]

Or... a baby race car with an MOT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... 3022854763

weirdly i looked at that last night, always liked the idea of them.
Ali (Roberston?) used to have a G50, used to see him at KH a few years ago.

I had an E46 M3 before the Elise, different car, but as a daily do everything car it really is very good. The problem came when i bought a daily, the M3 just never felt special enough to take for a hoon, in my eyes at least. Contemplated a CSL/ Z4M but felt the elise was more of an occasion. CSLs are now STUPID money. Z4M also heading that way too. As pointed out the 3.0 Si Z4 isn't a bad thing either. Got too scared about porsche running costs and risk of a major failure... so i bought a K series... hmmm.

MX5's are a hoot. Chap who used to be on here, Neil Johnston did his own turboed MX5 a few years ago, he runs 'ramp-up' these days, but all in it many smiles per mile. After the last track day in October i looked at MEV exocets as a self build, not the prettiest... http://www.mevltd.co.uk/kit-cars/mev-exocet/pricing if you have the space...

either way, its a great problem to have.

[mwmackenzie]

Thanks guys, Porsche running costs would be scary if it ended up with bore score or an ims failure, other than that, for the mileage I'd be doing shouldn't burst me too much, they do look a little bland to my eye though. MX5 is a no go for me I'm afraid as I see that as a huge step backwards from the Elise, M3 is a contender but as stated above may lack a sense of occasion and to most not in the know it's just an old 3 series. I keep going full circle and ending up at Lotus

Other silly options that might keep the wife happy as her daily or not, lol would be Masserati 3200 or 4200, Jag XK 4.2 or any Chelsea tractor... It's just if I can justify spending a whack to sit outside the house 6.8 days a week.. The other concern with Lotus is it'll be outside on the street and every time some tool parks by it and hits it, it's never a minor repair where as my 1 series is a wee bit of paint to the bumper not a fiberglass repair and paint.

[mckeann]

Have you considered a bus pass? You really aren't lucky with cars, I think you need to know when to stop

[mwmackenzie]

Have you considered a bus pass? You really aren't lucky with cars, I think you need to know when to stop

Mate if I got on a bus it'd likely breakdown too, I couldn't be held responsible for all these people being late I just need something robust lol

[Ryan]

I have ended up with a Honda S2000 in the interim after my 111R and its been surprisingly good fun and pretty cheap (apart from the road tax). I use it for my commute and its still great fun on the back roads with the top down. Have taken it on Knockhill a couple of times too with only a decent set of tyres and fluids and it was great fun. Not a lotus, but only a Lotus is an alternative to a Lotus.