The Lotus has arrived!!
22 January 2000, 07:55 PM
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Hi All
I finally picked up the Esprit today. Thanks to everyone who helped with the decision process.
Well.. I was genuinely choked about letting the Scooby go, but have to say, soon forgot the pain!!! WOW.
The Esprit is fantastic. I saw Stef tonight and he asked me whether it was better or worse than the Scooby. Difficult one. It is a different experience all together. I really don't think I could say which I prefer.
I'd love to have both!!
The Esprit is quite noticably faster than the scoob in terms of raw power, but, the scoob would still kick bottom as soon as you throw a bit of water on the road. Dry Country lanes.. hmmmm??? I'll have to get back to you on that, I think it would be close. I would normally say Scoob without question, but the Lotus Chassis is so incredible and the suspension takes care of the bumps so well that I think it would be close. However, if it was really bumpy and really twisty I think the Scoob would win again. By the same token, smooth flowing and medium corners the Lotus is one of the finest and most competent I have ever driven. It would genuinely leave almost any scoob standing.
The best thing about it is the incredible poise when sideways (so I've been told). It has the most comandable rear end (
) I have ever experienced. Just as I remember the one I drove at MIRA.
Bloody uncomfortable though after about 2 hours, but willing to put up with it due to the HUGE amount of attention it generates. It's weird I must have lost weight and become amazingly good looking within the last 24 hours or something?
Anyway.. I'll keep you posted. Here's a quick pic I took earlier today. Thanks to everyone who told me how to post the pic!!
Cheers
Simon
[This message has been edited by Simon de Banke (edited 22-01-2000).]
I finally picked up the Esprit today. Thanks to everyone who helped with the decision process.
Well.. I was genuinely choked about letting the Scooby go, but have to say, soon forgot the pain!!! WOW.
The Esprit is fantastic. I saw Stef tonight and he asked me whether it was better or worse than the Scooby. Difficult one. It is a different experience all together. I really don't think I could say which I prefer.
I'd love to have both!!
The Esprit is quite noticably faster than the scoob in terms of raw power, but, the scoob would still kick bottom as soon as you throw a bit of water on the road. Dry Country lanes.. hmmmm??? I'll have to get back to you on that, I think it would be close. I would normally say Scoob without question, but the Lotus Chassis is so incredible and the suspension takes care of the bumps so well that I think it would be close. However, if it was really bumpy and really twisty I think the Scoob would win again. By the same token, smooth flowing and medium corners the Lotus is one of the finest and most competent I have ever driven. It would genuinely leave almost any scoob standing.
The best thing about it is the incredible poise when sideways (so I've been told). It has the most comandable rear end (
) I have ever experienced. Just as I remember the one I drove at MIRA.Bloody uncomfortable though after about 2 hours, but willing to put up with it due to the HUGE amount of attention it generates. It's weird I must have lost weight and become amazingly good looking within the last 24 hours or something?
Anyway.. I'll keep you posted. Here's a quick pic I took earlier today. Thanks to everyone who told me how to post the pic!!
Cheers
Simon
[This message has been edited by Simon de Banke (edited 22-01-2000).]
22 January 2000, 08:51 PM
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Just been out with Simon, and I can honestly say the car is lush! 
Very sexy colour, and I'm sure once he's used to it, it'll be seeing a lot more sideways action!
I think it'd be a very close battle point-to-point with a Scoob.
As for the track, we'll have to wait and see.
Stef.
Very sexy colour, and I'm sure once he's used to it, it'll be seeing a lot more sideways action!
I think it'd be a very close battle point-to-point with a Scoob.
As for the track, we'll have to wait and see.
Stef.
22 January 2000, 09:55 PM
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Thanks chaps!
Have to say... Stef's car is without doubt the best UK car I've driven. Had a short burst around the block and it feels not far off as quick as an STi.
Have to say... Stef's car is without doubt the best UK car I've driven. Had a short burst around the block and it feels not far off as quick as an STi.
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23 January 2000, 03:54 PM
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Simon,
What a stupid car.
Stupid color.
Stupid line.
Probably nowhere near a scoob....
Oh my gawd I LOVE IT !
Go away :-)
Theo [you just bought the one car I was dreamin' about for the last ten years]
[This message has been edited by EvilBevel (edited 23-01-2000).]
What a stupid car.
Stupid color.
Stupid line.
Probably nowhere near a scoob....
Oh my gawd I LOVE IT !
Go away :-)
Theo [you just bought the one car I was dreamin' about for the last ten years]
[This message has been edited by EvilBevel (edited 23-01-2000).]
23 January 2000, 09:56 PM
#14
Simon - am i supposed to be looking at the old shed in the top half of the picture - or the old shed in the bottom half???
Very confused
Scamp.
(only joking - looks the part)
[This message has been edited by jjones (edited 23-01-2000).]
Very confused
Scamp.
(only joking - looks the part)
[This message has been edited by jjones (edited 23-01-2000).]
23 January 2000, 10:38 PM
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Hi All
Thanks for all the kind words. Especially since I am now a mere Lotus owner.
I have now done 500miles in it and can provide a report as follows:-
WOW!!!
Oh My God!!!!
It just can't be real!!!
Seriously..
The car is all I have dreamed it would be for the majority of my life! (Theo.. I'm with you!)
The chassis is absolute perfection, I really can't go on about it enough. So I won't!
Plus Points:-
Ride / Handling, Steering, Performance (astonishing!), looks (I love it more every time I look at it!), The attention it draws (almost everybody stares!), Economy (Motorway driving, it's actually far better than the Scoob!!), engine / transmission sound (fabulous wine and yawl), lights (WOW!!)
Negatives:-
Miss my Scoob
, Few creaks and rattles, uncomfortable after about 3/4 hour, EVERYBODY wants to race you, 2 seats, Stereo is ****!!, heater is crap.
Observations:-
Incredibly quick once you get the power down. Can wheel spin in third at 60 (I nearly poo'd!!). Even Mini's tower above you!! I can't actually walk away from it and into the house without help.
It's a fantastic car, I am really glad I bought it. I do genuinely miss the Scoob though already and know it is only a matter of time before I have one (of your girl's cars - come on Mike Rainbird!!) again.
Cheers All
Simon
Thanks for all the kind words. Especially since I am now a mere Lotus owner.
I have now done 500miles in it and can provide a report as follows:-
WOW!!!
Oh My God!!!!
It just can't be real!!!
Seriously..
The car is all I have dreamed it would be for the majority of my life! (Theo.. I'm with you!)
The chassis is absolute perfection, I really can't go on about it enough. So I won't!
Plus Points:-
Ride / Handling, Steering, Performance (astonishing!), looks (I love it more every time I look at it!), The attention it draws (almost everybody stares!), Economy (Motorway driving, it's actually far better than the Scoob!!), engine / transmission sound (fabulous wine and yawl), lights (WOW!!)
Negatives:-
Miss my Scoob
, Few creaks and rattles, uncomfortable after about 3/4 hour, EVERYBODY wants to race you, 2 seats, Stereo is ****!!, heater is crap.Observations:-
Incredibly quick once you get the power down. Can wheel spin in third at 60 (I nearly poo'd!!). Even Mini's tower above you!! I can't actually walk away from it and into the house without help
.It's a fantastic car, I am really glad I bought it. I do genuinely miss the Scoob though already and know it is only a matter of time before I have one (of your girl's cars
- come on Mike Rainbird!!) again.Cheers All
Simon
23 January 2000, 11:01 PM
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Superb Simon Looks gorgeous, It is almost as fast <I>(on paper)</I> as my old Renault Alpine A610. 
Bring it to the Midlands meet on Tuesday night, (see Events Thread) so I can slaver on it in the car park.
Mike.
[This message has been edited by Mike Tuckwood (edited 23-01-2000).]
Bring it to the Midlands meet on Tuesday night, (see Events Thread) so I can slaver on it in the car park.
Mike.
[This message has been edited by Mike Tuckwood (edited 23-01-2000).]
23 January 2000, 11:18 PM
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Simon,
Looks the business Simon. Nice, very nice. Faster than a scoob, and lovely swoopy lines. Can't be bad.
My Evo VI won't be here until March now I changed the colour, so the Mira trip will have to wait until may or so - hope you'll give me a ride as a passenger then, in exchange for a go in the Evo. The esprit was one of my drream cars as a kid.
Regards,
Gary.
Looks the business Simon. Nice, very nice. Faster than a scoob, and lovely swoopy lines. Can't be bad.
My Evo VI won't be here until March now I changed the colour, so the Mira trip will have to wait until may or so - hope you'll give me a ride as a passenger then, in exchange for a go in the Evo. The esprit was one of my drream cars as a kid.
Regards,
Gary.
24 January 2000, 11:05 AM
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Simon, Simon, Simon!
What a total beaut! I never knew a Lotus could look THAT good! She looks absolutely GORGEOUS! You know what that means - you've got to get the matching purple racing boots! I'm getting my V.Ltd back this W/end - love to run it up to MIRA to check out your new baby! (I know you'll always be there from now on!)
Rich.
What a total beaut! I never knew a Lotus could look THAT good! She looks absolutely GORGEOUS! You know what that means - you've got to get the matching purple racing boots! I'm getting my V.Ltd back this W/end - love to run it up to MIRA to check out your new baby! (I know you'll always be there from now on!)
Rich.
24 January 2000, 01:10 PM
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Simon; a man after my own heart -
I started a PEP to save up for an Esprit and bought a Scoob as a runaround in the meantime.
I'd be interest to know what year/model you went for and how the running costs/reliability goes.
Have fun,
Andy
I started a PEP to save up for an Esprit and bought a Scoob as a runaround in the meantime.
I'd be interest to know what year/model you went for and how the running costs/reliability goes.
Have fun,
Andy
24 January 2000, 02:12 PM
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Very nice! Add me to the jealous list, it was my alltime fave car as a youngster. When's it getting a run at MIRA? Don sent me a list of TWTB March dates & I'd love a lap in it.
Now all you need is one of those security systems that blows the car up if the side window gets smashed....
Add me to the jealous list, it was my alltime fave car as a youngster. When's it getting a run at MIRA? Don sent me a list of TWTB March dates & I'd love a lap in it. Now all you need is one of those security systems that blows the car up if the side window gets smashed....
24 January 2000, 06:38 PM
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Simon,
Is this your small run-about ??!! (see below)
Blackie
"My plan is this:-
Do a course.
Sell my Scooby before the court date and get a small run-about car to indicate how seriously I am taking this".
Is this your small run-about ??!! (see below)
Blackie
"My plan is this:-
Do a course.
Sell my Scooby before the court date and get a small run-about car to indicate how seriously I am taking this".
24 January 2000, 06:43 PM
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Simon
I have to admit - that's one lean mean mega machine - and I take back everything I said about squizzed frogs - and who cares about the shopping !
It was nice to meet you at last.
P
I have to admit - that's one lean mean mega machine - and I take back everything I said about squizzed frogs - and who cares about the shopping !
It was nice to meet you at last.
P
