Excel Se

[Bramble111s]

Just found an 87 Excel on my doorstep, it has 4 seats and a roof, this fills my criterior for a winter/family car! Also well within budget as second car, well to buy it anyhow, not sure on the budget of running it, hence this post..

 

obviously its not gonna be ultra reliable, but does anyone have any experience with this kind of car? I will be sure to renew my RAC cover, but are there greater problems I need to be aware of? like how thirsty it is? which bits fall off, etc?

 

All knowedge greatly accepted!

thanks

Bramble

[Ladders]

Jim, probably fits your criteria, exept it probably wont be as reliable as a more modern car!

 

Bob will prob be help you with this!

 

So, keeping the Liz then?

[Tango190]

Yep, it's nearly all Toyota running gear apart from the 2.2 912 Lotus engine.

 

The SE is a good car, later cars have red cam covers which do not leak like the early cars. Should have 15" rims and a slight bulge in the body over the rear wheels.

 

Power steering is off a Granada I think, water pumps and power steering pumps are hard to get to.

 

Headlinings do sag but easy cheap fix.

 

Dellorto carbs are easy to balance with a manometer, but invest in a £25 carb rebuild kit from Paul Matty's as the lower diaphrams leak fuel direct onto the starter motor causing engine bay fires.

 

Points to check:-

1) Oil cooler hoses at the crimp ends.

2) Rear "hoop" around the diff for rust/rot

3) Rear seat belt mountings

4) H/lamp POD motor functions.

5) Seized rear calipers.

 

Other than that, they do good MPG, as thitchy as hell in the wet (spins are common without caution or good wet tyres)

 

There are plenty about so if in doubt walk away, or better still by my early car for around £1500 12 months MOT cam belt just changed at Horizon.