Ramblings of a soon to be 340 Owner

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:09 pm

As you know, Karen and I are trading the orange 111R in for the 340R at MMC. All being well we should get the new car some sime over the next week or so.

This particular quest started some 2 years ago. I was at Bedford for a corporate day on the Clio Cups, FPA's Palmer Jaguars, Caterhams, 350Z's etc. Great fun. In the evening, I arranged to meet Nick Duce; one of the SELOC guys who had bought the cat pipe from my old S2 at Merritts Lotus in Amersham, just off the M25.

Did the deal and spotted a cracking 340R in the showroom. Got chatting to Nick about the car and it's owner, who had just bought a 111R. So, back in my car, mind working in overdrive and called Karen. To cut a long story short, she arranged the 6am first flight from Edinburgh to Luton, where I picked her up, and we drove down to Amersham again to look at the car, getting there just as they opened at 9am.

Having convinced the sales man that we hadn't taken leave of our senses, and were serious, the car was wheeled out of the garage and fired up. After one of the best test drives ever, we got back in to do a deal. Unfortunatley, I was offered a comedy trade-in value, and couldn't reach agreement, and there followed a long, silent drive north.

However, the 340R bug continued to eat away at us both. When this one was at MMC last year, the timing was all wrong. We had just got the orange car a few short months before, and Karen her BMW a few weeks before. We were thinking that the chance of a good one was running away from us, until a couple of weeks ago, when through the powers of SE we discovered this car.

After seeing that almost everyone was interested in the car, we kept a low profile, not wanting to fall for the car, only to find out it was sold. After a couple of weeks, and with the car still available, we went along last weekend.

Graeme and Iain were as helpfull as ever, and I think Mr Robertson knew the score as soon as he saw Karen in the showroom. She has never gone in without having a signed purchase order in her hand, and after a couple of seconds crunching the numbers, we went away to think about it (Aye right!).

Graeme called on Tuesday morning (while he was on holiday!) to confirm the figures and having dug under the sofa, we found enough coppers in the jar - the deal was done.

Now I'm waiting on a couple of bits and pieces at this end, Graeme is back and the car is getting MoT'd etc, and we should collect in a couple of days.

Despite having 3 Loti in the past 3 years, this is as far as I am concerned the last Lotus I ever need to buy. Notice I did not say the last Lotus I ever will buy! Even writing this I can't shift the idiotic smile from my face.

This only leaves 2 problems. Firstly, it now looks lke we'll take the 330 cabrio to Le Mans; you just cant fit a 340R with all the gubbins a girl needs to take on holiday. Not sure if I can fit all the stickers I'd ordered a few weeks before though. But the plus side is we can bring back much more wine.

Second problem is the lack of roof. Since I'd chosen the cash option in lieu of the company car in January, when my Saab went back, I'd been using the Elise for running to airport and train stations. Come forward Tom Paine Esq. A couple of calls later, and I'd bought my second car of the week - a VW Polo 1.4L of about 1998 vintage. A perfect foil to the 340R. It's cheap to run, but keep it topped up with oil and water and will go for ever. All being well I'll pick it up from Tom over the next few days.

This tale would not have been possible without my ever understanding wife Karen, the good work of Graeme and Iain at MMC and Ed and Tom for sorting me out with the Polo.

All that remains is the perfect feeling of anticipation until the keys are in our hand, and pressing the 'start' button before taking the longest, twistiest route possible from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:21 pm

Liking your work

Post by ed » Mon May 21, 2007 8:24 pm

Cant wait to see it in the flesh!

jj · Post by jj » Mon May 21, 2007 8:24 pm

Sounds like you guys are really looking forward to getting it; cars like the 340R need committed owners I reckon. It looked mint when I saw it at MMC.

Its pretty funny that Ed has been looking for a shed for the last few weeks, and Tom was selling the Polo, yet they never managed to spot the obvious

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:28 pm

jj wrote: Its pretty funny that Ed has been looking for a shed for the last few weeks, and Tom was selling the Polo, yet they never managed to spot the obvious

Did Tom not say that he would not / could not sell the polo to Family or friends ......

......

Post by ed » Mon May 21, 2007 8:28 pm

I decided that i was foolish buying a car especially at this time of year when it wasnt 100% necessary!

douglasgdmw · Post by **douglasgdmw** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:40 pm

An option could be to take the 340R to Le Mans and let DHL take care of the luggage.

A mate of mine did that when he had his 916 for the IOM TT & it worked a treat.

Cheers
DMW

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:44 pm

douglasgdmw wrote:An option could be to take the 340R to Le Mans and let DHL take care of the luggage.

I'm taking the Atom on FF6 - and couriers might make an appearance

Congrats on the purchase - nearly bought that car last year

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:46 pm

I was in MMC on Sat and its a

love the cf bits

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:49 pm

Love the anticipation

Karen · Post by **Karen** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:20 pm

I have a great line in baseball caps already lined up for the arrival of our new toy and a very nice blue waterproof to match the car! Today was a 340R day weather wise and I was out enjoying the orange beastie for probably the last time

Made me sad to reverse it in to the drive, however I've had a shot of the orange thing and it's time to move on to colder, wetter and less sophisticated cars!

Yikes, what have we done????

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:58 pm

It's great to read about that excitement leading up to picking up a new car!

Sounds like the same feeling we all had when we got our first Lotus . . . and to think it's still happening after you've already owned a few Loti! Just shows what these wee plastic cars do to us all!

Enjoy!

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:05 pm

Nice wee story - loving your work

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:12 pm

As to luggage look here http://www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk/

she has a very good reputation for making space where there is non on the 7s

She might be able to make some custom stuff up for a 340r

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:26 am

Derek, reading that's made my palms sweat with anticipation!

I know you'll love that car - I drove it last year and was only a garage purchase away from buing it.

All the evry best mate, and like so many others I look forward to seeing you enjoy the car