Impression
	It was the spring of 1993 that Europa came to the our house. It was put on the large trailer and handed around 3:00 at midnight. Still, since it was in the state [ having passed along preliminary inspection ], it had to go to the District Land Transport Bureau, and the license number had to be taken. Pains are taken to look for the position of each gear before getting used as written to various magazines in the time of having operated directly for the first time driving.
It was easy to mistake 2speed and 3speed by the adjacent gear position especially, and 2speed were wrong, and it became that it is likely to put in to a reverse gear, and sometimes heard frequently the scream of a gear box. Although the neutral was once passed when carrying out a shift down to 4speed prompt 3speed, 3speed were missed in many cases from the neutral, and it was puzzled in many cases at the crossing. Thus, time is required in order it comes to be able to perform a shift change quickly in search of the gear which considered. Needless to say, since Europa is a sports car, it is very awkward that it is slow by gear change. The shift down was carried out instigating an accelerator, the brake was stepped on, the wheel was turned and a series of motions which say that an accelerator breaks in and rises were needed for managing smoothly and being able to run now smoothly about three months. For the person who was reading the "wolf of a circuit", it remains in memory that lane change can do a handle a part and only by cutting even as for a fist. The talk makes a lane change simply conjointly with the light body rather than is exaggerated. If it turns over, unprepared handle operation will go in the direction to which the body reacts immediately and a thought is not applied, either. When riding on Europa, even now, it is become tense. If it rides also for one hour, it will be tired of it being bad if it does not ride working the senses while having ridden, and taking out enough. Although it is the time when the part density is deep ... 　Then, We will imagine from the place which actually rides. If it stands beside a car first, 1m 8cm car hight will feel it low. It comes to the place where a roof is somewhat higher than the waist. Probably, the body of the total FRP made will be uncertain to the person who rode and got used to the iron body. If a door is opened, it will support to an uncertain hinge, and a left leg will be thrown in into a cockpit, dropping the waist on the feeling which sits on the ground, in order to get in, and its weight will be supported for a right hand about side shell (portion under the body when opening a door). Next, a right hand puts in a right leg into a cockpit, and it sits on a seat, bending the body so that the hips may be slid in. The position which sits down is so low that the ground can be touched with a hand from the place which sat on the seat. If a door is shut and a handle is grasped, at hand, six meter of a chromium plating ring is located in a line. The other side of a front glass has the ground immediately visible to the point of a fender. If there is a car front of us, a front scene will completely disappear. It is fear when a track comes next. Though Honda NSX and Matsuda RX7 are horizontally located in a line, because a partner's driver will be looked up at. If the lowness of the body is imagined. Next, a leg will be put on an accelerator. There are ABC pedals very closely. There is only about 30cm from the end of an ABC pedal to an end. With shoes with wide width, it cannot operate by any means. Although it is the angle which it is not extreme and is easy to operate although the seat is lying down, there is no angle adjustment mechanism. Although a sheet rail is movable forward and backward, even a sheet does not move a fellow called the early Europa series 1 forward and backward most. Immediately, horizontally, there is a center console as the elbow of the left arm of a driver, and the passenger seat is separated. The gearshift stands on the position high about 10cm unreliably there. Although those who cannot understand a sports car will be annoyed by its feeling of a blockade, feeling of oppression, and uncertainness, the straitness makes a formula car consider to a sports car lover, and they are moved by exciting space. 　If a starter lever is pulled, an acceleration in twice and a key is twisted when starting the engine, fire will go into engine by 2-3 tries. A ignition of sparks is weak, and although it used mind until the winter season required engine, after ignition system changed to CDI, although winter season also came to start comfortably. The torque of low rotation is clearly excellent in the CDI ignition system more than point formula ignition system. Rotational sense of stability becomes good to a run at a slope or a slow speed especially. In how to use every day, a CDI ignition system is good and is touch that a point ignition system is pleasant on a mountain path. Even if it says so, unlike the ordinary car, speed is raised with the sufficient feeling also by CDI by the favor of the light body. In a curve, the feeling of a racing car can be experienced by the low viewpoint and the seat and handling. Although capacity is insufficient in a circuit use, there is no big dissatisfaction also in a front solid disk brake and a rear drum brake on a general way. The rear tire is 185-13-70 in front 175-13/70, it is the low performance tire of a grade. Although the cheap tire is attached to the brake ordinary as mentioned above, that the body is very as light weight as 730kg acts, and grip sufficient also at a corner is carried out. The run which is characteristic of mid-ship engine layout and was stabilized can do an accelerator rather. The limit of a car is not especially yet held on a downward slope. Since it will be stable to where if it breaks in and runs, the feeling which thinks is fearful comes previously. It is said that the old vehicle breaks well. My lotus Europa was also hit by various troubles. From now on, it introduces. 1.Rear hub bearing damaged 　Europa's rear hub the surroundings are a structurally weak place. Because of the drive shaft serves as the upper arm. It has the structure of adding stress to transmission and around hubs. 2.The slack of a hubs nut 　A nut loosens and rear one of Europa and the hub have only structure which bends a locking washer as a stop. If it runs loosening, a hub and a drive shaft will be spoiled. Two sets have been spoiled until now.　Although it had heard that the tire was able to be off by the funny story, a thought was not depended. Unfortunately while running the mountain path towards a from Miyakonojo to Miyazaki, the left rear tire move out from my Lotus. I do not want to believe that the tire which is visible over a window screen is itself tire.　However, the sound to which the body rubs against the ground can be heard from rear section. A brake is not effective. I kept my mind to settle down and the brake was stepped on. ABC pedal is checked anew and a brake pedal is stepped on, it has plunged to a bottom more lightly than a clutch pedal. Oil pressure had fallen out.　I never thought it that fearful that a brake is not effective. Giving up and pulling the handbrake Europa stopped at last.　Broken parts are upright･drive shaft･rear dumper unit･drum brake piston and rear wheel. Expenses were considered. However, a consolation in its misfortune did not need to inflict an injury on other cars or person. This experience is made use of, a nut is trenched and a drive shaft drilled a hole. In order to avoid to loose a nut was success. After giving this processing, a nut has not loosened. 3. A power window will stop. 　Although manufacture began from the 60s, Europa and Elan have equipped the power window. It was simple, the connector in a door be off by vibration and a power window may stop having operated. It has been troubled when it stops opening a window on a rainy day. A connector is replaced with a new article and it stops recurring. 4. The air of a tire leaks. 　The air pressure of a tire had leaked in 2 or 3 days, when it purchases and there is also no between. It was because of the tire with wide width and the aluminum wheel made from 1973 something wrong. The air leak was stopped when returning the aluminum wheel replacement article and tire size changed to the standard. 175 / 70-13[ front wheel ] and 185 / 70-13[ rear wheel ] are the standard tire sizes of Europa. A wonderful corner-ring speed can be felt by a those poor tire and low air pressure[ from 1kg-cm to 1.5kg-cm ] of this level. It has also contributed this that the body is light as much as the level of 700kg. 5. Oil Leak 　Mainly, Amount of the transmission oil leak more than from engine oil leak. Because of the drive shaft which parts also constructed as the upper arm, add the stress to transmission. 6. Radiator rusted. 　It was replaced by reproduced big capacity radiator. The uneasiness of overheat was alleviatived. 7.Missing of fuel at carburetor 　When the acceleration became failure like empty of fuel, the carburetor's seal rings was eroded. The seal rings was replaced. 8.Radiator liquid has gone 　The trouble was radiator thermostat move out from it, water going to empty level. Then temperature was going to higher at gauge. I reassemble the thermostat into the radiator, and fill of water. 9.Out of order the thermostat 　Although I reliefed the water trouble by exchanging the new radiator, thermostat has been out of order. Water temperature was higher again. I had make a short of thermostat electric circuit diagram, the fan become regained. 10.Radiator header tank was rusted 　It was replaced by reproduct. 11.Ignition conversion to CDI 　The answer which conversion was successful, Starting of engine in the cold season become obviously easily. And engine rotation was good at low rpm. 12.The door ill fitted 　Europa and Elan causes door ill fitted while long time using. Owner need to be tighten the bolts of door hinge. 13.Sound a horn when steer the wheel When I steer the wheel, sound a horn every time. Because of the electric plate winded. It was getting well after amend the electric plate set in horn button. 14.The starter motor broken 　Starter motor stopped by consumption of contacter. I tried to remake the contacter by solder, but it has not been useful just one time ignite. It was replaced by rebuilt starter motor. It continues.
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