Any Lotus, Healey or Aston Owners Here?

[TheFlamesBoeing]

Hi all,

I owned my 2007 Lotus Elise up until this year late March when I sold it because of not wanting to extend lease in hopes of getting a newer "Lotus"?

I know that the new Evora is now in Canada and on PL, however, it is on the smaller scale for me now that I have a son. So I was thinking about an Aston, but not new, around 06' - 09'. Anybody here drive either Lotus Evora or any model of Aston have any advice?

I know that Frank (Really hope I got his name right haven't seen him in 4 years) the guy who runs the Ferrari dealership in Forest Lawn has a few Evoras throughout the year, though an Aston would have to be from the states, which does hold few pros and cons for me.

Austin Healey is in the title because I have always wanted to get a 3000 and use it as a summer project, anyone here drive one?


Image of My Lotus in the Spring (Dang Calgary Weather) of 2008



Thanks,
Shawn

[Nage Waza]

No man, I only drive Lambos and Stealth Bombers.

[FanIn80]

I only slum it in my Lotus when my Honda is in the shop.

[TheFlamesBoeing]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

No man, I only drive Lambos and Stealth Bombers.

This is a very common misconception about the Lotus. They are not the gas-guzzling beasts as the Ferrari's, Lambos, etc.

If you were to do some research I am almost positive you will come to find that there are folks in Calgary selling their Lotus models for around $40k - $50k. There are folks in the US selling the Lotus Elise for around $30k. The same price as an Acura.

Why should I become confined to driving an Acura, Honda, any SUV, other common car, when I can get a Lotus which runs on a modified Toyota Camry V6 engine for the same cost?

[Mike F]

A good shopping list

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesBoeing

This is a very common misconception about the Lotus. They are not the gas-guzzling beasts as the Ferrari's, Lambos, etc.

If you were to do some research I am almost positive you will come to find that there are folks in Calgary selling their Lotus models for around $40k - $50k. There are folks in the US selling the Lotus Elise for around $30k. The same price as an Acura.

You're correct $42k

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ288821694

[TheFlamesBoeing]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

You're correct $42k

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ288821694

\

very Nice find. This particular model even has the sport and track mode.

[Vulcan]

I had a 62 or 63 Austin Healey 3000 in around 66, 67, 68. Loved that car until it got sandwiched on the I5. Mine was a dual carb (they also came with three carbs) setup with wire wheels and plastic side windows that had to be bolted on with a pair of wingnuts. It also came with a removable hard top. The carbs never gave any problem but the wire wheels needed tightening every so often. Shifting gears meant you had to get use to double clutching, which I thought sounded awesome. I made the mistake of not taking the transmission out of overdrive when using reverse and it blew out the overdrive part of the transmission which was big bucks to repair.

It has some modern things like the overdrive and disc brakes but compared to today, it's a very basic vehicle that in it's day was pretty fast.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesBoeing

This is a very common misconception about the Lotus. They are not the gas-guzzling beasts as the Ferrari's, Lambos, etc.

Having the engine of a Toyota Corolla while 66% lighter than the Corolla will do that.

The Elise is awesome. I was just never a fan of the styling. Lotus is a great marque for getting an elite sports car at a decent price. My dreamcar as a kid was always a mid-90s Esprit V8 but I'll probably never get one because I dread the reliability of the Lotus engine and stupid Renault gearbox. The Elise's Toyota built engine is much better and easily servicable.

[TheFlamesBoeing]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I had a 62 or 63 Austin Healey 3000 in around 66, 67, 68. Loved that car until it got sandwiched on the I5. Mine was a dual carb (they also came with three carbs) setup with wire wheels and plastic side windows that had to be bolted on with a pair of wingnuts. It also came with a removable hard top. The carbs never gave any problem but the wire wheels needed tightening every so often. Shifting gears meant you had to get use to double clutching, which I thought sounded awesome. I made the mistake of not taking the transmission out of overdrive when using reverse and it blew out the overdrive part of the transmission which was big bucks to repair.

It has some modern things like the overdrive and disc brakes but compared to today, it's a very basic vehicle that in it's day was pretty fast.

Sandwiched on the I5! Yikes! Disc Brakes on a Healey, wow. How did the tranny feel on the car? Does it sometimes fight against shifting?

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The Elise's Toyota built engine is much better and easily servicable.

It is, guess where I got my engine serviced? Toyota! The cost wasn't to much off the Camry's service charge besides the mods that had to be imported, but I only had to import 1 part in all my time with the car

[Vulcan]

Sandwiched on the I5! Yikes! Disc Brakes on a Healey, wow. How did the tranny feel on the car? Does it sometimes fight against shifting?

Yeah, there was an accident up ahead. My disc brakes enabled me to stop in time but the station wagon behind me couldn't. Awful moment as I looked in my rear view mirror.

Yeah, it fought against shifting, that's why I double clutched.

[Ducay]

I've got '08 Lotus, but its only because that's what the entire company has to use; I'd much rather use outlook, but, c'est la vie.