Your opinion on black alloys?

[superdave]

I have just bought a 1990 Turbo but it has black alloys, see my pics on my profile (courtisy of Paul from [e-mail]). Iam undecided as to whether I like them. I have had mixed responses and Iam thinking of either changing the colour to polished alloy or changing the wheels altogether. The wheels are only 4 months olds and it seams a shame to waste them, whats your opinion?

[jamesmac]

Dave,

I think the car looks good with the black wheels, especially with a flat colour such as yours. They give a more motorsport theme to the appearance of the car. I have an Elise S2, red with black wheels & I have found that people have mixed opinions about black wheels. If a car has a metallic paint finish, then I would say a definite no to fitting black wheels.
I would stick to what you have got.

Jim.

[apache]

mmmnn see your point, I think the colour is too bright and the wheels too dark, if the car was flat orange or the wheels anthracite it might work better.....but I may be biased

[superdave]

Apache,

Thanks for your comments, i'll take them on board though I see what you mean about a biased opinion. By the way, your car looks great. I've only ever liked 2 makes of car, Lotus and TVR. I have been looking at some TVR's because of the legroom advantage. Iam 6'-3" and the fit in the Esprit is cramped but had to get one, with the same old ambition as everyone else 'James Bond Film' when I was a kid.

[lotusguy]

I have just bought a 1990 Turbo but it has black alloys, see my pics on my profile (courtisy of Paul from [e-mail]). Iam undecided as to whether I like them. I have had mixed responses and Iam thinking of either changing the colour to polished alloy or changing the wheels altogether. The wheels are only 4 months olds and it seams a shame to waste them, whats your opinion?

Dave,

Hi, and congratulations on your 'new' Esprit. As your car is just recently purchased, why not wait a while on the wheels?

Heaven forbid, as you adjust to your new car, you may find some other defficiencies screaming for your loose cash and the wheels may, in fact, 'grow' on you. This is an item which can always be upgraded at any time in the future...Jim '85TE

>> Edited by lotusguy on Thursday 16th January 14:18

[Johnny G]

I'm a bit undecided myself but I'd prefer silver or polished aluminum. Black on black is good but black on a bright colour makes the wheels look small.

What might work nicely is to get the outer lip of these wheels polished, to show a ring of bright aluminum so you can at least tell where the wheel ends and the tire begins. That's what always bugs me about black wheels. That wouldn't cost much so if you have unexpected expenses, as was already mentioned, it wouldn't hurt as badly.

Car looks great though!

J

[Podie]

apache said: mmmnn see your point, I think the colour is too bright and the wheels too dark, if the car was flat orange or the wheels anthracite it might work better.....but I may be biased

I agree with apache - anthracite would probably look a bit smarter... the black wheels kinda get "lost"...

[cnh1990]

Dave,
Your car is a little different. No glass back, 88 style front spoiler, and pinched side skirts. Plus a sport 300/S4s/97 V8 rear spoiler. Do you have 88 style oil cooler or the SE twin oil coolers? Is your car an SE or an 88? Still a very nice looking car.
Calvin 90 SE

[Child0fthecorn]

I have to say here that I don't really like chrome/polished wheels in general, I prefer black or alloy but I'm undecided on these.
They do look a little "lost" under those arches, I think you should leave it for a while see if it grows on you, and if your still bothered about it in a few months time sort it then.

Johnny G's suggestion is good, just get the outer lip of the wheels polised, it makes quite a difference... http://turboesprit.tripod.com/BCU_Festival_2001/T0002800.jpg

Tony

[superdave]

Thanks for the suggestion of polishing the outer rims, thats a great idea! Iam a little reluctant to do anything yet on these wheels as they are only 16" I was hoping that they were 17"s when I asked the guy who I bought it from. I also enquired what he did with his original Lotus wheels. He told me that he gave them away to his service guy, FOC!

[kylie]

Going on what Calvin said, what are the mods to it??

If they are alloy rims underneath that mat black, I would get it taken off. Polished shiny rims all the way Would look better with a yellow car.

[Child0fthecorn]

After saying what I said above about not liking chromed/polished wheels I actually think yours would look pretty good if you left the centre black and polished the outer part of the rims, it seems to go well with the yellow of the car, see here...
www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=6621

(sorry couldn't find an Esprit with the same colour/wheel combination)

[apache]

now thats more like it, s'funny how a slight detail change can make all the difference........cheaper than a new set of wheels too, and if you don't like em you can spray em black again

[superdave]

Thanks for all of your opinions. One of the companies who I work for uses a powder coating firm. They have offered to sand blast and powder coat in say gunmetal grey or anthrasite for under £50. If I don't like it, I can always changed the colour. Got a few other bits to buy first as a few of you have suggested, cheers.