Running an M12 on a daily basis

Running an M12 on a daily basis

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Discussion

Rainman

Original Poster:

52 posts

277 months

Friday 7th February 2003
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Hi Guys,

I've now done around 1700 miles in my GTO-3 and I've yet to find a serious fault on my car. This is my only car and I use it daily (even in the snow last week) and it has been an absolute pleasure, but I wondered about everyone elses experiences:-

Starting:
She starts OK, but does take a fair bit of turning over and sometimes requires a few goes with a bit of gas. She starts a little better from cold than when hot. I find it helps if you start it with a bit of gas.

Reversing:
I still can't quite get to grips with the rear visability when reversing. Anyone fitted a parking distance detector or similar equipment as yet? When reversing upto a parked car I get as close as I dare (which can be quite unnerving) and when I get out I find I've still got a good three foot to go.

Driving:
Is it me or is 1st gear just for showing off? When I'm pootling around town I've been selecting 2nd for pulling away and the car pulls cleanly and with satisfyingly long legs before I dump it straight into 4th. This engine is just soooo flexable but a light right foot is required in any gear when the road is anything but dry.

Just my thoughts.

Phil

GI2MO_3T

8 posts

263 months

Friday 7th February 2003
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Entirely agree about reversing and other problem is the very poor lock. Last night in KFC Drive thru I had to stop, reverse a bit and take another bite at it (not the Chicken!)to get round the pathway. Was a little concerned about the kerbs too.

Engine starts okay from cold but then revs tend to die away, plenty of revving to keep it going and clouds of blue smoke. The neighbours must be getting a little fed up by now. The car still seems to miss a beat periodically when tootling along at 3 - 4 thousand revs. Not a real drama but it does give a rather lumpy ride particulrly for the passenger

Some more head support would have been nice. Anybody tried fitting auxillary headrests?

joust

14,622 posts

266 months

Friday 7th February 2003
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GI2MO_3T said: Some more head support would have been nice. Anybody tried fitting auxillary headrests?

Noble do some at £180 for the pair - colour matched. I'm picking mine up tomorrow morning so if you wait I'll get some piccies up for you all.

J

joust

14,622 posts

266 months

Saturday 8th February 2003
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Here you go - lots of piccies of the new head rests. £180+VAT but very much worth it.

www.lotus-elise.org.uk/My%20Slide%20Shows/M12%20Noble%20HeadRests

J

Nightmare

5,230 posts

291 months

Monday 17th February 2003
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very pretty car Phil.....been wondering who kept appearing down the road with a variety of interesting toys!

neilmurphy

34 posts

279 months

Thursday 20th February 2003
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Just ordered my head rests... in red leather not a normal order but Mal from Noble was very helpful !!

£200 plus VAT ( o well )

loudpedal

3,934 posts

276 months

Thursday 20th February 2003
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How do you Noble chaps find the ground clearance on your cars? Some of them seem to be very low!!

abrook

35 posts

269 months

Thursday 20th February 2003
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The official clearance is 5". You soon get to know which petrol stations, road humps, multi stories etc are too steep...........

loudpedal

3,934 posts

276 months

Friday 21st February 2003
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Trouble is, where I live, that would include my drive, most of the surrounding roads, the local petrolstationsupermarket, etc....

joust

14,622 posts

266 months

Sunday 23rd February 2003
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loudpedal said: Trouble is, where I live, that would include my drive, most of the surrounding roads, the local petrolstationsupermarket, etc....


LP - the clearance is actually not that bad - no worse than an elise as long as you take the "ramps" at the right angle.

See www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=26&t=27698&h=0 for some pictures of mine going over my ramp at home - it's not exactly "smooth"!

J