First drive! next Saturday! Wahoo!

[Chugga Boom]

Hello PH'ers!!!
2nd post!! 1st dream car coming!!

This is it! Piggy Bank raided, deposit paid and a Lotus Europa is getting all spruced ready for collection next weekend - So excited YAY!!

Looking for some ideas for 1st drive home between Nottingham and Essex/Herts boarder.
Cutting from Nottingham down to Melton and along the B676 Saxby road looks ok on the map, then wiggling my way around the A1/M11.....any advice? any great, not to be missed roads?

Going to join up SELOC. Would be great to meet any other Lotus/Europa peeps about Essex and Herts - what is going on out there?

Any helpful hints and tips about the Europa?

Chugga Boom

Edited by Chugga Boom on Sunday 19th September 02:02

[J2LOT]

Great choice of car. If you're new to rwd take it easy in the wet. Otherwise just get out there and have fun. What colour and spec is your car? If you don't have the 225 ecu upgrade you should get it. Apart from that enjoy it - you won't see many others on the road we are a rare breed.

[Pabl0]

Do not know about anywhere further north but from Baldock I would take:
the A507 to Buntingford,

then either

the A10 south to A120 and along A120 towards Bishop Stortford and joining M11.

or

the B1038 towards Newport then the B1383 heading towards Saffron Waldon or Stansted Mountfitchet - dependent upon where you want to go.

[Chugga Boom]

Was thinking about - perhaps being over excited on collection and just making sure I get her home safely Saturday and then getting up and out early Sunday morning BLAAAAST!

She is gorgeous - metallic black with dark red leather interior. The 225 upgrade has been done.

Will post a picture next week

[The Bandit]

Lisa(loopylea)on Seloc is in Herts and has a well sorted Europa,join up and then go to a meet and have a chat with her.
She's very knowledgeable and a bit bonkers too
Great car, enjoy it

[S Works]

Chugga Boom said:

Was thinking about - perhaps being over excited on collection and just making sure I get her home safely Saturday and then getting up and out early Sunday morning BLAAAAST!

She is gorgeous - metallic black with dark red leather interior. The 225 upgrade has been done.

Will post a picture next week

Ah 'that' one that's in the classifieds. Good choice.

[rob999]

Plenty of Seloc meets in Essex....see you over there

[Bryn Pinzgauer]

It looked fab. Congratulations.

Edited by Bryn Pinzgauer on Sunday 19th September 20:24

[volores]

hi

Saxby road quite a good route over to the A1 at Colsterworth, quite often go out that way on a run out. I would avoid the a606 through to Oakham - although a nice route round rutland water it gets clogged up with traffic at the weekend.

Have fun!

[Chugga Boom]

Thanks peeps

I will go and have explore

Getting closer by the day YAY!

just got me pack through from SELOC

3 more sleeps......

[MadProf]

Enjoy that first drive Chugga,just take it nice and easy!

[Chugga Boom]

Well PH'ers........1st drive

Amazing.....Superb.....WOW....I reckon this grin I am wearing will be here for a while to come....

I have only just parked up and got out - I collected her yesterday morning!

What a great drive, I really don't think lotus marketed the Europa properly. GT car? erm...no, but plenty quick enough, plenty of torque and feed back compared from the steering, compared to PAS I am used to, so alive and hey, there is even enough of a boot to get on that long dreamt of trip out to Le mans!YAY

Probably though, the memory of the little kid being marched a long the local high road this afternoon, through the drizzle, who waved enthusiastically at me and was waved and flashed lights back at in acknowledgement, in that moment, the drizzle forgot about and he was grinning from ear to ear - a little PH'er of the future! A memory of my childhood - the day a Lamborghini Countach did the same and then roared off.....I was hooked from that moment on. Was an awesome highlight - MAGIC!

Great to realize a dream!

Thanks

Edited by Chugga Boom on Sunday 26th September 20:05

[rob999]

Top man, glad you loved the first proper drive. Hope theres plenty more to come...and may see you out and about in it

[Chimjunkie]

The Bandit said:

Lisa(loopylea)on Seloc is in Herts and has a well sorted Europa,join up and then go to a meet and have a chat with her.
She's very knowledgeable and a bit bonkers too
Great car, enjoy it

Only a bit bonkers? Be honest mate!!

Chugga Boom, would be great to meet up. Me and Lisa are in Ware. Where abouts are you?

See my profile for a picture of Lisa's Europa.

Jon

[Chugga Boom]

Hey Rob - Thanks, I'm in Essex too and certainly intend being out and about! look forward to catching up!
Hey Jon - I am no distance from Ware - just the other side of the boarder! near Epping. It would be really great to meet up! I love driving, but to be honest this all new and would be great to have a chat over a brew. The Elise looks something else. I thought I might need a shoe horn to get out the Europa, but what did you use to squeeze that engine in there?! Lisa's Europa looks amazing, love the stripes.

Looking forward to it - I am only about Friday/Saturday this week as work has gone nuts, if you have any time then.
I was going to go up to Castle on Friday and say "hello".
I need to look into some new back tires

Will email later

Rich