what car thread - Lotus Edition

[Jobbo]

Have you got some Fabsil for the roof yet? They weren't known for being entirely waterproof even when fairly new.

[Rich B]

Have you got some Fabsil for the roof yet? They weren't known for being entirely waterproof even when fairly new.

i haven’t, another for the list then!

[dan]

Yes good point, carry a towel just in case it ever rains while you're out, you'll definitely need it!

[Matty]

Maybe I was lucky, but I never had too much of an issue with major water ingress in either of mine...but then I did regularly treat the roof, so maybe I've just validated the above.

What I also would get is some moisture/dehumidifier things, the ones you can renew in the microwave. Drop that on the dash, massively helps with interior moisture keeping the windscreen clear.

[Jobbo]

My S2 must have been no more than 2 years old when I did a Walshy day at North Weald in the pissing rain. By the middle of the day the fabric of the roof was so wet it was just constant dripping through the roof itself. I Fabsil'd it after that and it made a massive difference.

[dan]

The s2 roof is vastly superior to the S1, I used to fabsil mine but doing 20 - 25k miles a year for several years I was inevitably caught in downpours that even fabsil couldn't keep out, the big gap in the front corner where it meets the side windows is usually the biggest problem for water ingress.

[Jobbo]

I did get a little water passing the seals, so that part of the S2 may have been a bit better than the S1. It certainly fitted well and simply. The problem was the basic fabric simply didn't keep water out. If the S1 was worse then I'd probably buy a few tins of Fabsil rather than the one I used.

[Rich B]

“Seals” - there’s large gaps!

[Marv]

I thought it was quite characterful with the Caterham 7 that I hired when it was raining and the roof was up, water still ran down the inside of the windscreen.

[240PP]

My longtail S2 roof never let any water in unless it was properly hammering it down. Never treated it with anything.

[Jobbo]

“Seals” - there’s large gaps!

More water got in through the supposedly waterproof fabric than any gaps

[IanF]

Sounds like camping.. ie not for me!

[duncs500]

I've never noticed mine leaking to be honest, I do avoid driving it when the weather is shitty anyway, but I do occasionally get caught in a shower. Even with the roof off if you can keep moving you don't get all that wet.

... maybe I still consider it luxurious after my 7.

[Rich B]

i’ve been having a flick through the service history file today - loads of info/receipts*. It inspired me to make a better effort to keep track of everything for the rest of our cars too. I’m always going through piles of paper to find V5 docs or whatever, and with MOTs being all on line, i’ve got lazier.

So I bought a ring binder for each (in the correct colour obviously) and i’ll try to find/file everything i have (or get bored and forget about it).

*i particularly liked this page - no practical use for keeping them, but i like that they did!

[GG.]

Tax discs seems like such an archaic concept now don't they

[Rich B]

i did once experience the practical side of tax discs though. I got pulled over by a police car that i passed (they were stationary about to come out from junction) at about 50mph. They caught up and pulled me over, and without even looking at the windscreen the cop said they stopped me because my tax disc was out of date.

Turns out my disc was the previous years colour, so they knew because it wasn’t blue/red/whatever it was out of date. No need for any ANPR! I got a producer!

[ZedLeg]

Saw an M2 parked where your Lotus used to be and thought it would be funny if it was the former owner’s new car

[Rich B]

Saw an M2 parked where your Lotus used to be and thought it would be funny if it was the former owner’s new car

[Rich B]

i’ve ended up spending a fair bit on the Elise, its had a full service and check over, with a fair amount of bits and pieces replaced and tweaked. i was getting a bit concerned, but then i’m still within my original “low” budget for an S1 and i’ve got a car that i can be confident in for years to come.

i’ve just ordered new tyres (AD08RS), the current ones are just over 2mm. and i’ll get the tracking checked too.

i might get a new battery too, this one runs down if not left on charge - then the rev counter goes weird. they’re cheap by the looks of things (especially compared to the ones i’ve had on M BMWs!!!)

[scotta]

i’ve ended up spending a fair bit on the Elise, its had a full service and check over, with a fair amount of bits and pieces replaced and tweaked. i was getting a bit concerned, but then i’m still within my original “low” budget for an S1 and i’ve got a car that i can be confident in for years to come.

i’ve just ordered new tyres (AD08RS), the current ones are just over 2mm. and i’ll get the tracking checked too.

i might get a new battery too, this one runs down if not left on charge - then the rev counter goes weird. they’re cheap by the looks of things (especially compared to the ones i’ve had on M BMWs!!!)

TADTS - Even my S3. Leave it for over a week and it wont start.

Get a full geo check not just tracking. Mines was a degree different on camber across the axles. Dunno WTF set it up. Was night and day after we sorted it.