Lotus Carlton or Escort Cosworth ?
26-01-2005, 10:12 PM
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Lotus Carlton or Escort Cosworth ?
I know opinions my be a bit biased here but should i buy a Lotus Carlton or an Escort Cozz. I have a rwd saff that needs a few bob spent on it and i'm thinking should i just spend money on somthing else instead. your opinions would be appreciated.
26-01-2005, 10:37 PM
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Try gettintg cyl head gaskets for it
The car is rare but head gaskets are even more so
A friend of mine has one and he dare not give it any right foot in case something happens to the engine
ESCORT
The car is rare but head gaskets are even more so
A friend of mine has one and he dare not give it any right foot in case something happens to the engine
ESCORT
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26-01-2005, 11:08 PM
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lotus carlton for the space and speed and rarety and it has a lotus engine and they handle well and look really cool but cost a mint to insure and run
26-01-2005, 11:16 PM
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as people have said having the carlton may be a nightmare simply because the parts are difficult to get hold of and repairs will be very expensive with labour charges, if you can find someone with enough knowledge that you trust them.don't buy a modded one though!! know of a guy who had major gearbox trouble ( cracked bell housing i think, although the actaul gearbox is supposed to be strong and i think from a corvette or summat? ) . apparently cam chains are a weak point too.absolutley awesome car though and if i was spending someone elses money i'd have one over a cossie all day long.
27-01-2005, 12:04 AM
#13
27-01-2005, 01:21 AM
#14
very different vehicles so its all going to depend on what you intend to use it for really, as a car to own the lotus is a nice toy, but for trackdays an escos is a far better option
escos is MUCH easier to maintain fairly cheaply too.
escos is MUCH easier to maintain fairly cheaply too.
27-01-2005, 01:42 AM
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Park an LC, an EscCos, an FQ400, and an F355 in a row, and I'd go straight for the Carlton every time. It's one of those cars that you get all wide-eyed when driving and start humming 'Ride Of the Valkyries' as you carve your turbocharged chieftain tank through mild surburban traffic, grinning wildly and shouting 'aaaahahahhahahaaaaarrrgggghhhaaaaaa' as you charge out of every junction with smoke literally pouring from the rear tires to the bemused faces of the elderly and infirm.
If a cocaine-addicted mentally unstable Rottweiller could have a car, it'd be a Carlton.
If a cocaine-addicted mentally unstable Rottweiller could have a car, it'd be a Carlton.
27-01-2005, 06:39 AM
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Nice and rare - have some individuality 
Plus everyone goes, 'what the hell is that???', especially when cruising past them at warp factor 9 
'turbocharged chieftain tank' - FPML
Plus everyone goes, 'what the hell is that???', especially when cruising past them at warp factor 9 'turbocharged chieftain tank' - FPML
27-01-2005, 07:07 AM
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I owned a Lotus Carlton for two years they are fantastic cars for performance (0-60 4.5 secs, 100mph in 6th gear and you are only doing just over 1000rpm). However the parts are rare and they don't come cheap and Labour on the cars is expensive if you wanted it maintained properly I wouldn't take to anybody other than a Lotus Carlton specialist!!
You need to make sure that the bell housing around the clutch has been replaced as this is a weak spot.
If you want any more info you can PM me
You need to make sure that the bell housing around the clutch has been replaced as this is a weak spot.
If you want any more info you can PM me
27-01-2005, 07:12 AM
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Esocrt Cossie, easily, wouldn't even have to think. Well, depends what you want it for. I came up against a LC at Snetterton last year and yes, it was properly gone on the straights but a complete barge round the bends, so much so it kept getting in the way and then fooking off untill the next corner, and again etc.... 
But then again, the Escort Cossie is one of my all time favourites, so you could call me bias. 
But then again, the Escort Cossie is one of my all time favourites, so you could call me bias.
27-01-2005, 07:24 AM
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I compared the two before I chose an escort. The LC was just too risky IMO. I don't have the patience or reason to wait for and pay big £££'s for parts/repairs. The escos is cheap as chips and reliable, by comparison.
Also, there's something a bit "Halfords" about the dated body kit on an LC.
(Says I, who has a massive whaletail
)
LC is defo NOT a track car, either!
ESCORT
Newts
Also, there's something a bit "Halfords" about the dated body kit on an LC.
(Says I, who has a massive whaletail
)LC is defo NOT a track car, either!
ESCORT
Newts
27-01-2005, 07:44 AM
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I love the Lotus Carlton! i would have one just because their rare cars and fookin quick 
But as said above high price for a parts and finding parts is hard would put me off im afraid
But as said above high price for a parts and finding parts is hard would put me off im afraid
27-01-2005, 08:26 AM
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Nice car in their time but as Mike says standard power to weight ration aint that impressive nowadays. Wasnt impressed at all when taken out in one and considering the trouble and/or expense in soucing some parts it would not be my choice.
27-01-2005, 08:38 AM
#25
DEYTUKURJERBS
Originally Posted by Mike Rainbird
They may have been fast in their day, but 377bhp and 1600kg does not equal a fast car by today's standards 
27-01-2005, 08:51 AM
#27
DEYTUKURJERBS
Originally Posted by Mike Rainbird
Steve,
How many standard Cossies are there actually in existance. A lot less than there are standard LCs .
How many standard Cossies are there actually in existance
. A lot less than there are standard LCs . Im sure theres even less std Renault5Turbos in existance than EscCossies too, your point actually is?
MY point is you cant compare a non-std car to a std one and then say the non-std one is better, course it fookin is!
27-01-2005, 09:07 AM
#31
DEYTUKURJERBS
Indeed I do
Even tho IIRC my GTR weighs far LESS that your late spec EscCos (1430kg as its a homologation version, minus approx 100kg due to removed 4wheel steering and aircon, plus whatever extra for lighter bonnet, mirrors, spoiler, exhaust, and many removed enginebay parts )
Not to mention coming on for twice the power n far less tranny losses (You DO have the distinct advantage of your car is going and mine is a pile of unfinished parts tho )
What do late spec EscCossies weigh again?
Even tho IIRC my GTR weighs far LESS that your late spec EscCos (1430kg as its a homologation version, minus approx 100kg due to removed 4wheel steering and aircon, plus whatever extra for lighter bonnet, mirrors, spoiler, exhaust, and many removed enginebay parts
)Not to mention coming on for twice the power n far less tranny losses
(You DO have the distinct advantage of your car is going and mine is a pile of unfinished parts tho )What do late spec EscCossies weigh again?
27-01-2005, 09:14 AM
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My accountant has a Lotus Carlton, he has had it from new, and its done 18k miles. I drove it from Fort William to Sheffield a few years ago and it was a real let down as I had lusted after them when they were new. If you are in the market for one its for sale @ offers round £18k as he has gone all German (new M5 on order and GT2 Porker).
Escort every time over a Carlton IMO
Escort every time over a Carlton IMO
27-01-2005, 10:22 AM
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lotus carlton any day of the week they have awsome power and will kill a cossie , yea they mite break down but wat car doesnt, go 4 the carlton mate 
27-01-2005, 10:34 AM
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Its not about breaking down. Its finding the parts to repair, that's the problem - too much of a problem for me to own one.
Plus, an LC would have ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE getting near me on a track, which is what I enjoy doing with my car.
Plus, an LC would have ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE getting near me on a track, which is what I enjoy doing with my car.
27-01-2005, 10:52 AM
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A friend of mine owns a Lotus Carlton he bought a few months ago. He really doesn't rate it and as has been said if/when they go wrong its re-mortgage time 
27-01-2005, 11:41 AM
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Newts is spot on - My comments at the top of the post weren't here say - I know someone who's owned 6 of them and knows them pretty much inside out , and also a friends bro-in-law had one - was off the road for about 6 months trying to source SIMPLE parts.
As I said, cool car, but if I had to choose? See below.....
- My comments at the top of the post weren't here say - I know someone who's owned 6 of them and knows them pretty much inside out , and also a friends bro-in-law had one - was off the road for about 6 months trying to source SIMPLE parts.As I said, cool car, but if I had to choose? See below.....
