Faults:

Burst one radiator hose.

Dip light relay sticky.

General Comments:

This car is fantastic, it drives like it's on rails (really it does).

Very comfortable for the driver and passenger.

Enough room in the back for kids, and adults on a short run.

Great on a long motorway run, even better on "B" roads.

I find myself taking the longer route now, so I can drive it more.

Buy the best example you can afford; cheaper models are false economy, you'll end up spending twice as much getting it up to scratch.

A replacement clutch is an engine out job. £1200!! So you need to be a good mechanic or have deep pockets.

It's not a cliche, you smile when you drive it. The looks are retro but slick.

Faults:

Apart from the normal service items and a new oil cap, ownership has been a pleasure.

Cambelt has to be changed regularly.

This should be first on the list if you buy one.

General Comments:

The car puts a smile on your face everyday.

Handling and performance is Lotus, so needs no explanation.

Decent rear seats for your children or your mother in law (if she is still flexible).

Body does not rust.

Chassis is galvanized.

It is the most reliable Lotus ever built due to the many Toyota components.

The beating heart is genuine Lotus, but gearbox, final drive, brakes and heating system are Toyota.

Need I say more, if you know that the W58 gearbox was used until 2005 by Lexus!

Left hand drive is hard to find, and 3 times as expensive as a right hand drive.

Almost nobody seems to know of the existence of the Excel, except for you now.

So grab yourselves a bargain supercar while you can! You will not regret it.

Faults:

Last owner blew the head gasket at 43,000 miles. Total engine re build.

Cambelt & kit fitted at 63,000 miles.

New front brakes fitted for MOT.

New battery at 64,000 miles, old one wrong size.

4 wheel tracking 64,000 miles & 205/50x15 tyres fitted.

Restoration of leather seats & trim badly worn.

I have a massive history file from the car been new, every bill of work & parts, all the MOT Certs,& road fund discs, Lotus service book fully stamped by dealers from new.

General Comments:

What a car!

The Lotus Excel SA is a real drivers car, now a modern classic sports car now 22 years old.

It is as quick still today on a par with modern sports cars; 0-60 in 7 seconds, 130 mph plus, restricted to 6,000 rpm, the same engine in the Lotus Esprit unlimited. It goes around corners like it's on rails on country roads in dry conditions, but watch the back end in wet weather.

It out performs many modern cars with turbos. It shocks many drivers who do not realise how fast these GT sports car are!

I use it as a every day car, it never fails to put a smile on my face.

It is a reliable car with the 1980's partnership with Toyota many parts from the Supra turbos.

These hand built cars have become very rare now, making them more collectable.

Faults:

Electrical gremlin in the rear lights.

Some leather wear on the drivers seat.

Head liner sagging.

Rear tires have little traction.

General Comments:

This car is amazing.

My dad purchased this car last year. We owned a Lotus Excel S.E. in 2000 but we had to sell it, it was a bit impractical with 2 kids, but now I am older he wanted to buy another sports car. We looked at everything from a Mitsubishi Legnum to a Ferrari Mondial, but nothing could get close to this.

One gripe with owning this car though, is the amount of people that cut in front of us while my dad is driving. The amount of Audi TT owners that have driven away with their tails between their legs is crazy. Just because it's a classic, people think it's slow. In many cases yes, but not this car. My dad's Lotus has about 200bhp and will take 90 degree corners better than a engineer's square.