Too right. I've been daily driving my Excel for all the time I've owned it, 12 years now. It has now done over 200,000 miles. It's totally reliable, gets me to work every day, and when stuff does start need doing it gives me plenty of warning before it becomes critical.
Great car the Excel, so underrated. My dad bought one new back in '84, and it was used as a family car, all year round. When I turned 17 I was also on the insurance, and my dad put L plates on it!! After passing my test, used to drive it on occasion, but to be honest drove it very carefully for the fear of pranging it! Happy days.
Enjoyed that James. As with all these cars, it's part love story, part rant The Excel is such a classic design, which really grows on you. Thanks to you, I now regularly trawl the ads for one... I can't wait to have the time and space to have a 'project' car again.
Sounds like a very worthy descendent of the Elan +2, which was Chapman's original version of a proper GT. I have a +2 and love it- having one of these to compliment and contrast with the +2 would be lots of fun. And being over here in the USA, it would be even rarer than the +2! 😁
Interesting thing about older cars that use sealed beam headlights: They're very easy to properly retrofit LED headlights into, it replaces the whole round housing.
I think that the closest we get to this car in the United States is the Eclat, predecessor to the Excel. That said, the Eclat was not a loved car in the US, however, owning an S1 Evora and an S3 Elise has turned me into a bit of a Lotus junkie. I think that I would love to own a Lotus Europa; the lightest Lotus that you can buy here with a proper roof.
Hi. I had Evora 400 but had to sell it. Regret my decision. But now I found the Excel SE up for sell in Tokyo. Getting the parts could be an issue out here for Excel. Where do you recommend I should contact for parts for Excel in the UK to ship parts to me in Tokyo? Kindly let me know.
Love your video reviews James, keep up the good work. On camera you are very eloquent, do you speak from memory or do you use some cue cards? Just curious.
Actually they're legal to import to the US since they're now over 25 years old. I saw one in 2014 at a Lotus gathering in Asheville, NC and freaked out - especially since it was right hand drive and even had a Hawaii license plate which really threw me off! You can pretty much import anything to the US as long as it's over 25 years old. Right now a lot of Americans are losing their minds since we can finally start owning R32 Nissan Skylines.
+RaccoonPerformance First thing would be keep getting the videos made! You get better by practise, I wanna see part three. And I wanna drive the bugger when it is finished. You would benefit from a radio mic, and generally be more vicious with your editing
Been waiting for your excel review for a while. I previously owned two SEs great balanced car. Superb fun down the lanes. Do you have the correct 215/50 tyres on it, as the sidewalls look pretty tall ? Mine ate exhaust parts and gear knobs (I think they were from a Maestro)
James Martin I sold my last Excel in around 2000 and the correct Goodyear tyres were really difficult to source, locally I see 3 excels being used as daily's
I've had mine over 10 years now and I've driven over 135k miles in my ownership ! It's not cheap at all to run lol ! Spent about £40k on maintenance upgrades and services It's running 490bhp and 517lb/ft torque so it's quick. I've got a R26 Megane as a daily car now which I've owned for two years now and drive the Audi now and then.
Lovely car. Hugely underrated.
Too right. I've been daily driving my Excel for all the time I've owned it, 12 years now. It has now done over 200,000 miles. It's totally reliable, gets me to work every day, and when stuff does start need doing it gives me plenty of warning before it becomes critical.
Great car the Excel, so underrated.
My dad bought one new back in '84, and it was used as a family car, all year round.
When I turned 17 I was also on the insurance, and my dad put L plates on it!!
After passing my test, used to drive it on occasion, but to be honest drove it very carefully for the fear of pranging it!
Happy days.
A refreshing change of view from a real person, and a lot more enjoyable than a certain other annoying person with umpteen super cars!!!
Who could you possibly mean. Rog. Pacific sunset records.
Love the Excel!
I brought an old excel and it works great I drive it around all the time
Enjoyed that James. As with all these cars, it's part love story, part rant
The Excel is such a classic design, which really grows on you. Thanks to you, I now regularly trawl the ads for one...
I can't wait to have the time and space to have a 'project' car again.
You're the best. Don't ever stop doing what you're doing.
Cheers Nick
Sounds like a very worthy descendent of the Elan +2, which was Chapman's original version of a proper GT. I have a +2 and love it- having one of these to compliment and contrast with the +2 would be lots of fun. And being over here in the USA, it would be even rarer than the +2! 😁
How's the excel going, still doing it for you?
Great video. I have a Sunbeam Lotus with the same engine (2,2 l).
The excel se is a wonderful car to drive! nippy performance and fantastic handling, a totally undervalued car! and I also own an esprit se.
Great car,, Novel Reg plate
Interesting thing about older cars that use sealed beam headlights: They're very easy to properly retrofit LED headlights into, it replaces the whole round housing.
I'm swapping mine out to LED in a few weeks. Not a fan of the Halogen Cibies. High beam is good, low not so much.
Oh man, THAT is beautiful. Lucky person. As comment below a driving video please.
I wish I could get one of these in the States
Lovely car my dad nearly bought one!
I think that the closest we get to this car in the United States is the Eclat, predecessor to the Excel. That said, the Eclat was not a loved car in the US, however, owning an S1 Evora and an S3 Elise has turned me into a bit of a Lotus junkie. I think that I would love to own a Lotus Europa; the lightest Lotus that you can buy here with a proper roof.
Hi. I had Evora 400 but had to sell it. Regret my decision. But now I found the Excel SE up for sell in Tokyo. Getting the parts could be an issue out here for Excel. Where do you recommend I should contact for parts for Excel in the UK to ship parts to me in Tokyo? Kindly let me know.
Show us the back of this lovely car, that was my dream car growing up but unfortunately it was one of many forbidden fruits in the USA
Love your video reviews James, keep up the good work. On camera you are very eloquent, do you speak from memory or do you use some cue cards? Just curious.
Great number plate by the way! Feck 😂
This car is beautiful.....but being in the states I'll never see it 😥
I'm bringing one back in July this year. It'll be near Savannah/Jax, FL.
4everunner do a video on picking it up and driving back
marc i already own it and drive it in Germany, my military tour ends this year.
4everunner sometimes I wished I enlisted...
Actually they're legal to import to the US since they're now over 25 years old. I saw one in 2014 at a Lotus gathering in Asheville, NC and freaked out - especially since it was right hand drive and even had a Hawaii license plate which really threw me off!
You can pretty much import anything to the US as long as it's over 25 years old. Right now a lot of Americans are losing their minds since we can finally start owning R32 Nissan Skylines.
How are these on unleaded and now E10 fuel? Do they need all new fuel pipes, fuel pump and carb rubbers to cope?
They were always OK as long as you used super
nice video, but how's the evora doing ;-D
The rare slant-nosed Audi Coupé !!
Always had a soft spot for these, check out my on going restoration of my esprit, would love some video tips.
+RaccoonPerformance First thing would be keep getting the videos made! You get better by practise, I wanna see part three. And I wanna drive the bugger when it is finished. You would benefit from a radio mic, and generally be more vicious with your editing
JayEmm on Cars thanks buddy, will order a mic soon as, just watched your video on better filming techniques, can’t wait to give them a try
Been waiting for your excel review for a while. I previously owned two SEs great balanced car. Superb fun down the lanes. Do you have the correct 215/50 tyres on it, as the sidewalls look pretty tall ? Mine ate exhaust parts and gear knobs (I think they were from a Maestro)
James Martin I sold my last Excel in around 2000 and the correct Goodyear tyres were really difficult to source, locally I see 3 excels being used as daily's
Does your plate say feck? :-)
Not sure if you pay more or less for that one.
James martin I really like your vidieo's could you please give me a shoutout
Like my B5 RS4 has to be used on a regular basis.
I've had mine over 10 years now and I've driven over 135k miles in my ownership ! It's not cheap at all to run lol ! Spent about £40k on maintenance upgrades and services
It's running 490bhp and 517lb/ft torque so it's quick. I've got a R26 Megane as a daily car now which I've owned for two years now and drive the Audi now and then.