Discussion
I understand it's because the body is in one piece and any damage normlly means replacement - they go for around £8k a piece I think.
Not usre how much the damage you're talking about will be I'm afraid.
If you're picking up a crash damaged one be careful as none of the Elise derived cars takes knocks well and the damage could be a lot more than cosmetic.
Not usre how much the damage you're talking about will be I'm afraid.
If you're picking up a crash damaged one be careful as none of the Elise derived cars takes knocks well and the damage could be a lot more than cosmetic.
give Sinclaires a call - they have 3 x 340Rs in at the moment....a few grand I reckon
The body itself is about £2K + spray and fit...its the labour thats the killer as its a good 4 or 5 hours each way on/off
www.sinclairebodyshop.co.uk
The body itself is about £2K + spray and fit...its the labour thats the killer as its a good 4 or 5 hours each way on/off
www.sinclairebodyshop.co.uk
bogie said:
give Sinclaires a call - they have 3 x 340Rs in at the moment....a few grand I reckon
The body itself is about £2K + spray and fit...its the labour thats the killer as its a good 4 or 5 hours each way on/off
www.sinclairebodyshop.co.uk
Good thing I clicked "back to topic" as we posted at the same time. Cheers for the link. I will get in touch. The damage doesn't look bad, it looks like a light knock but the car doesn't look like it takes knocks well. Not really what they were made for eh?
when I said 3 - I meant 3 broken ones that they are repairing ...not in stock to sell. They do carry quite a few 340R bits though and also they own one themselves so know a lot about them...in fact I think Wayne & Gill (the owners of Sinclaires) own one of nearly every modern Lotus between them !
Understood what you said to mean they were repairing three 340Rs. I have wanted one for a while now and now that the prices are really quite low I thought I'd go for it. Saw a damaged one, which didn't look too bad but I thought I'd get rough quotes and compare to buying a good 'un. Currently in the process of buying two other cars and this one would be a perfect addition to the stable. Mrs MARA is completely against the 340R though.
TOUGH BLOODY TITS is all I can say about that
TOUGH BLOODY TITS is all I can say about that
Exactly! My moolah!
I am just lucky to have a Mrs who loves cars. She just doesn't agree on the 340R styling. I'm sure once she's taken it out the handling will win her over. Anyway, as I've said before, in a super/sports car you can't see the thing when you're inside giving it large on the pedal to the right.
I've known a few girls who give it the "you could have bought a house why spend it on a pile of metal". Also girls who thought the idea of blatting across Europe as fast as possible on the best roads stopping only to sleep and dine was insane. Needless to say they lasted as long as a full tank and a heavy right foot
*cough, cough, shopping sprees come in handy just before you announce car purchases, cough, cough*
I am just lucky to have a Mrs who loves cars. She just doesn't agree on the 340R styling. I'm sure once she's taken it out the handling will win her over. Anyway, as I've said before, in a super/sports car you can't see the thing when you're inside giving it large on the pedal to the right.
I've known a few girls who give it the "you could have bought a house why spend it on a pile of metal". Also girls who thought the idea of blatting across Europe as fast as possible on the best roads stopping only to sleep and dine was insane. Needless to say they lasted as long as a full tank and a heavy right foot
*cough, cough, shopping sprees come in handy just before you announce car purchases, cough, cough*
However(tries to salvage some pride)if I want it then by Jove I'm going to buy it. The Lotus will be the only car she hasn't mentioned we should buy. However, with it being in Miami it should be perfect for the little 340 to impress. I can imagine if she had a gripe if it stayed back home in London for regular use.
Back to the car. I am aware the car was designed with a smaller battery initially but then the battery changed size and the access point didn't. This resulted in the body off job to change the battery. Now, would it be worth doing the body off job and fitting a smaller battery in? Maybe any other things that need checking can get done at the same time.
Also noticed a roof option for a few grand, anyone have it? Feedback would be great.
MARA
Back to the car. I am aware the car was designed with a smaller battery initially but then the battery changed size and the access point didn't. This resulted in the body off job to change the battery. Now, would it be worth doing the body off job and fitting a smaller battery in? Maybe any other things that need checking can get done at the same time.
Also noticed a roof option for a few grand, anyone have it? Feedback would be great.
MARA
I have a 340R in NZ. Bought it from a dealer in the UK, who put it in a box and when the container arrived we opened the door, started the engine and drove it home. Fabulous car and my wife who has probably done as many miles in it as I have loves it and loves driving it.
And her dream car is rubbish like Mercedes SL500.
Once you get someone behind the wheel they are hooked. I drove a friends Elise on the track and my imediate thought was 'I have got to get one of these'
Its the only road car I have driven that gives the sort of sensations, on the road, as an Open Wheel race car does on the track.
As far as the battery is concerned, I had mine go flat
and die, as I spend a lot of time in Australia. The solution was to fit the racing battery (I bought nearly all the Lotus race bits, as we were going to race it) which can go in and out of the hole in the body work.
I keep the car on trickle charge and starting is no problem. Battery has been in the car for a year or more. And yes removing and refitting the body is a total nightmare. I reckon the guys who 'engineered' the body fixing should have been made to fit and remove a few.
And her dream car is rubbish like Mercedes SL500.
Once you get someone behind the wheel they are hooked. I drove a friends Elise on the track and my imediate thought was 'I have got to get one of these'
Its the only road car I have driven that gives the sort of sensations, on the road, as an Open Wheel race car does on the track.
As far as the battery is concerned, I had mine go flat
and die, as I spend a lot of time in Australia. The solution was to fit the racing battery (I bought nearly all the Lotus race bits, as we were going to race it) which can go in and out of the hole in the body work.
I keep the car on trickle charge and starting is no problem. Battery has been in the car for a year or more. And yes removing and refitting the body is a total nightmare. I reckon the guys who 'engineered' the body fixing should have been made to fit and remove a few.
Maranellouk
You are right the handling will win her over! It did me.
Get a 190 version it feels like it goes like stink Although it's not so great on the road, but it is driveable, WTH after all it is not an everyday car is it? and just Fantastic on track.
If you are thinking of taking the body off anyhow why not get it painted a different colour at the same time? Let the wife choose which colour (can you trust her?
)Then she will have a vested interest in the car and think of it as her baby too. (also worked with me)
Gill
@Sinclaire
You are right the handling will win her over! It did me.
Get a 190 version it feels like it goes like stink Although it's not so great on the road, but it is driveable, WTH after all it is not an everyday car is it? and just Fantastic on track.
If you are thinking of taking the body off anyhow why not get it painted a different colour at the same time? Let the wife choose which colour (can you trust her?
)Then she will have a vested interest in the car and think of it as her baby too. (also worked with me) Gill
@Sinclaire
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