New Purchase...

[skeeter]

Some of you may remember my earlier post about trying to combine some more modern running gear with an OSF body, trying to create something fast and characterful.

 

After a lot of research I concluded that I couldn't really achieve what I wanted through this route, so took a different approach. Rather than try and create something fast and characterful, try and find something that was already like that.

 

After a bit more searching I have finally purchased a garage mate for the 1600e, and in many ways they are distant cousins. So what is it I hear you ask?

 

I have plumped for a 1993 Lotus Carlton, low mileage and in pretty good condition all round. Having driven it a little bit this week confirms it ticks both the fast and characterful boxes. Needs a little TLC on the inside which I will get attended too over the next couple of weeks

 

Why a distant cousin? Well in my mind the Lotus Carlton is a direct descendant of the original Lotus Cortina, at least that is my argument!

 

Now I know a thread like this is useless without pics, so here are a couple.

 

S

 

 

[SmokeEm]

One of my dream cars.

[qwerty]

Flipping fantastic.

[GJUK]

Love these, weird to get an idea of value on them though, some go for 8k others 25k...

[skeeter]

Love these, weird to get an idea of value on them though, some go for 8k others 25k...

That is true. Cheap cars generally have rust issues around the rear wheel arches and boot floor which is very expensive to deal with. The second big issue is a noisy gearbox, again expensive to fix.

 

Top end cars are priced between £30k and £50k, but they stick around for a long time. Good solid cars with reasonable mileage and owners etc tend to be somewhere around £15k - £23k or so.

 

The real issue is that there are less than 100 in the uk and only around 50 of them still on the road so finding a good one is hard. But, boy is it worth it!

 

S

[Muzzman]

That is truely epic, definitely on my dream garage list. What a Q car

[Vista]

Very cool, the late 80's / early 90's hyper saloon.

 

How does it compare to your old M5 driving wise?

[skeeter]

There are actually quite a lot of similarities and for a car from 1993 it drives surprisingly "modern".

 

In terms of compare and contrast;

 

- the M5 and the LC can both be refined high speed cruisers when you want it, with long top gears (7th in the M5 and 6th in the LC)

- both are centred around the engine which dominates the driving experience, both fast revving and seem to enjoy that

- the brakes on both are strong and inspire confidence

- both turn in well and the front (on both cars) has a lot of ultimate grip

- the "cockpits" have a similar ethos, everything the driver needs is close at hand and other stuff placed out of the way

 

The key differences?

 

- goes without saying that the M5 is probably harder to crash, the LC has no active diff, no traction control, no stability control etc

- having run an M5 for 4 years I knew just what it would do in any particular circumstance, I haven't quite worked out the LC yet

- with the M5 in M Dynamic Mode it seems to handle like the LC, good initial grip both pushed on the rear lets go first, in any other mode the M5 feels more controlled

 

Overall the LC is an amazing drive considering its age. Not quick from a standing start, the long throw gearbox and lack of any real traction control sees to that. However, from around 30mph when the engine comes on song it really is seriously quick and doesn't feel that far away from the M5. Although lacking in ultimate BHP it is lighter and has pretty much the same amount of torque.

 

I think the LC probably has the M5 beat in terms of mpg though - my last M5 averaged 12 mpg over 30,000, the first tank of the LC works out at 22mpg

 

S

[john_3.0s]

awesome car, lucky you!!!

[thrashermax]

Great car, good choice for fun and investment, enjoy!

[marky4]

Love those cars nice buy

[Vista]

Have you seen the recent review in the Telegraph?

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/10720961/Lotus-Carlton-classic-car-review.html?utm_content=bufferf0a2e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[skeeter]

Yes I have seen that and in fact I have been in touch with the Vauxhall Heritage Centre for some specific info on the car, they were very helpful and interesting guys.

 

The car is now with my trusty mechanic for a thorough look over, having only done about 1000 miles in the last 10 years he is going over it with a fine toothed comb, checking things like rubber pipes, connections etc.

 

Everything seems to work and the car drives really well but I want it to be as near perfect as I can get it - so that it matches the 1600E in terms of overall quality. I should get it back sometime next week and will take some pics of it with the 1600e which I pulled out of storage tonight to run around in for the next couple of weeks in the run up to the Goodwood Revival.

 

S