As some of you know I spend far too much of my time at work and have never got any time to work on my car. I have bodkit parts and other parts stored up to fit to my car for a couple of years now and still haven\'t got round to fitting them I don\'t get to drive it too often. Maybe i\'m getting old but seems a bit too fast for normal London roads( yes I know I could turn the boost down but a t51 needs a a fair bit of pressure. It seems a waste I have been considering breaking or selling as is of late. I just fancy a car which I can jump in on the odd occasion at weekends and know that I don\'t have to fit anything to it or anything just get in and drive. Replacement is hard because the rx7 is in a class by itself, but I have been considering something quick cool and a bit retro and affordable. The only thing that springs to mind is the lotus esprit s4 or gt3 turbo:confused:
rgds
Brian
ohhh id love a esprit :D :D
I dont think you can just get in and drive an esprit as you have to remove half the fallen off interior. Porsche is the only resonable turn the key and drive off car between the two.
Another car to consider with good practical vices is a Mitsi Evo FQ, went with a mate over the weekend to see one, which he has now bought, 04 plate for 10K 60k miles drives like a dream and does not mind being driven slowly.
An FD as you say begs to be driven fast
As someone who has owned a Lotus in one form or another for the last 30 years I can assure you they have to be bought with nearly as much caution as an RX7 and if you are lucky enough to buy a good one you still have to devote a lot of time on them, for the sort of money you would have to spend on a decent one you could get a really good late import RX7. I\'m not saying that there is anything wrong with a Lotus but they do need to be looked after and getting a good one is a major quest in itself, if you find the local Lotus Club owners group they are on the whole a really nice helpfull bunch of people.
Although strictly speaking not a turn key daily, how about a TVR of sorts. I think you might get bored of something that requires no fetteling.
Z3m coupe or roadster. *don\'s asbestos suit*
The esprit is a great option...I had a turbo in Essex Blue.
You will however find that the older ones are a love affair, and you will find they are a little bit of a headache at times! But they more than happily make up for it with their good looks and charm!
I did my advanced driving test in mine :) BSM instructor turns up in his Mini Metro (shows how long ago it was!) and didn\'t realise we were going out in the Esprit! The overtaking parts were fun....he went very quiet ;)
Quote from: Archbish;743340Z3m coupe or roadster. *don\'s asbestos suit*
you really are gay arnt u lol:rollin
You guy\'s are making jokes whilst i\'m going through mid life crisis:2Confused
The tvr\'s are notoriously unreliable and surely the esprit cannot be any worse?
I\'m hoping that 96 onwards models they would of sorted out some of the little gremlins in the older model. To be honest I do not mind the fettling, the issue is not having time to fettle, hence would prefer plug and play weekend fun car.
the part of me that takes the warnings a bit tounge and cheek is that people who don\'t own rotary engine cars givea very cautious warning concerning them but the people who own them hardly do. As a owner since 96 I don\'t think the rotaries are anywhere as bad as poeple make out but maybe I\'ve ben luckier than some don\'t know.
I cannot think of another car that looks both retro, modern & cool all at the same time.
rgds
Brian
Depends on your budget....but noble?
Quote from: BlitzBoy;743354you really are gay arnt u lol:rollin
That was an asbestos suit, not a sequined one. :)
The later cars 1998 onward have the nicer interior and you can get the S4 and GT3 for reasonable money but if finance permits the very late 2002 V8\'s are superb cars but tend to go for £20K plus but they have had all the little niggles sorted and are really really nice cars.
Did you decide what to do in the end?
I\'m at the same kind of stage as you!...I love my FD but its getting a real pain in the arse..
Tempted to go down the Evo route, fq400 for 20k, nice fq360 for 15k etc etc, can use them everyday, park them without worrying ill get back and have no bloody wheels.. Been looking at a few 996\'s, absolutely lovely cars...
Didn\'t realize the GT3\'S had dropped to the sort of money then had until you mentioned them on hear...uuummmmmm:3gears-lh
I know someone selling a MINT esprit :)
id consider breaking the rx and buying a good late standard one. This is one of the things going around my head at the moment. (im breaking my car)
i was thinkin of getting a skyline but apparently these are more unreliable than rx7s
hayabusa westfield
hayabusa mini
v8 rx
supra
evo
tvr.
lotus doesnt even come onto the list (the k series engine is the absolute pits of all engines imo)
a nice standard spirit type r.
a v8 twin tub esprit would be niiice.
I\'m in the process of selling my RX7 at the moment its been on Pistonheads since Saturday and I have had 5 serious enquiries interestigly enough a white Bathurst similar to mine was £8995 and has now dropped to £8450 since my advert appeared its hasn\'t got a rebuilt engine or an expensive number plate in the deal though
Quote from: gavink;746830Did you decide what to do in the end?
I\'m at the same kind of stage as you!...I love my FD but its getting a real pain in the arse..
Tempted to go down the Evo route, fq400 for 20k, nice fq360 for 15k etc etc, can use them everyday, park them without worrying ill get back and have no bloody wheels.. Been looking at a few 996\'s, absolutely lovely cars...
Didn\'t realize the GT3\'S had dropped to the sort of money then had until you mentioned them on hear...uuummmmmm:3gears-lh
I decided I will finish doing up my rx7 and get round to selling it. Becuae I do not have the time to work on it myself it will be more expensive as I\'ll have to pay someone to do the work instead. If I get it finished I will get better money for it than selling as is, and also selling unfitted parts seperately I think. But once it\'s all done and I can use it when I have a chance I may not want to sell it again:confused: but the replacement whether imminently or a little later down the road will be an esprit without a shadow of a doubt. I love retro and I think they fit the perfect balance between retro and modern.
rgds
Brian
If you want let me know your budget and I\'ll keep an eye out in the Lotus meetings for any nice ones that may come up.
Sad day today my beloved fd has gone. It was a nice feeling knowing that you were virtually unbeatable by most other stuff on the road, no more mr invincible now I\'m back to a mr regular.
rgds
Brian
A great condition standard twin is superb for just getting in and driving imo. Power fc and basic modification and its a great reliable machine for weekends.
Funny you should say that, thats exactly what I picked up this morning.
rgds
Brian
Brian, cant believe this ! you know you\'ll have another some day. I dont drive my car much these days but its still in the garage, always ready and never let me down in any way since the engine rebuild some 7-8 years ago. Good luck with new projects
Paul :WaveBye
edit time.. see I told you !
Hi Paul, hows tricks? glad to hear yours is still going strong.
I actually part exchanged mine for another standard fd. Everyone I talked to talked me out of getting a lotus esprit.
rgds
Brian