Proud new owner of LCR 225

[niknak]

Just want to say a thank you to everyone on this forum for all the great info that helped me to decide to buy a LCR. Just picked up a '04 plate red LCR with full milltek exhaust and black powder coated alloys with only 11.5k miles on the clock. Got it for £12k which I think is a pretty good deal.

First impressions are that it's everything I hoped for and think it will be a while before I start thinking about the Revo option. Only downsides appeared when I returned home to London - turning circle is not great which I guess is only to be expected with 18" alloys and unfortunately the front splitter is so low that I can't get into my driveway. In the street for the moment and I think I'm going to have to remove the front splitter altogether. Does anyone know if it's purely aesthetic/protective or does it serve a functional purpose? Can I remove it without impacting performance and reliability?

 

[Chris*B]

congrats mate! i hope when i come yo buy my LCR i find a deal like that.

as for the splitter im not sure because im not a proud owner......yet

 

[ianrawlins]

I wouldn't remove it if I were you. It's to let you know your about to pull your front bumper off. They're 20 quid to replace and a bumper would be a whole lot more. It's purely a sacrificial bit of plastic. Can you reprofile your drive at all. even if it means using bits of wood under each tyre??

 

[niknak]

Can you reprofile your drive at all. even if it means using bits of wood under each tyre??

That is an option I suppose although the neighbours/council would kick up a fuss about a permanent tarmac-style solution so I'd have to go for a removable wood fix. I guess that would do the trick but it would be a bit of a pain and look a bit naff. If the splitter serves no purpose other than an early warning system then I think I'm happy to get rid of it. Has anyone else on here done this and regretted it?

 

[Mitchy]

I dont know if it is just just cosmetic or if it is there to create downforce. The rear spoiler has to be counter acted with something at the front. The last thing you want to do is create lift when your thundering along the motorway

It will look pretty sh*t with it off though and for the sake of £20 to replace, i'd just keep it, it does protect the rest of your front bumper!

I scrape mine all the time, like when coming out of car parks and off of hills/slopes that flatten out at the bottom

 

[Mitchy]

That is an option I suppose although the neighbours/council would kick up a fuss about a permanent tarmac-style solution so I'd have to go for a removable wood fix.

Then your liable if someone is to trip over it, postman/milkman or anyone for that matter approaching your house.

Is your driveway really that steep? Can you reverse up it?

 

[niknak]

Then your liable if someone is to trip over it, postman/milkman or anyone for that matter approaching your house.

Is your driveway really that steep? Can you reverse up it?

I would have to move the ramp out of harm's way every time I used it which would be a real pain. That's why I'm thinking that removing the splitter would be easier.

Tried going forwards and backwards, even unloading everything out of the car and still no luck. Can't approach at an angle because the approach is so narrow...

 

[schnipps]

Honestly mate just make a ramp and use it every time, lad next to me used to do it in a mini cooper every night. If u take off the spliter and prang the bumper u are looking at 300 quid + for a bumper unpainted, i wouldnt risk it atall and would just make a ramp that can slot down the side of the garage, its only what 30 secs to put it out?

 

[storeyd]

Why not try reversing into the drive. front wheels will then rise up the bump before the splitter....

Sorry, I should read things properly. Just noticed you have already tried it. Ramp seems the only option

 

[Ruddmeister]

I would leave the front splitter on it's only an £18 bit of plastic.

Reason being that the splitter protects your £400 front bumper without the splitter the first contact you get is the painted bumper.

I used to find two things helped,

- first if you can hit the drive at an angle rather than head on you get far better clearance
- Second rather than a ramp all we had on a temporary car park at work was a lump of timber 6ft long 3" x 3" or similar left in front of the kerb in the gutter which was just enugh to reduce the angle down to the road.

 

[Mad Spoons]

I had to remove mine because it got ripped of every time i drove down my road, i would agree that its ood at stopping the bumber being damaged.

I am moving house soon so it will be going back on as it makes the front look better.

 

[niknak]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to leave the splitter on and try the timber/ramp option to see how that goes...

 

[Brucel]

Good luck...