>>>>I found this thing
>>>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-Lotus-Europa-Twin-Cam-Special-/111121220165?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item19df574245#ht_1208wt_1165
>>>>..and want to bid on it, was wondering if anyone is in the area & would be interested in swinging by to make sure the thing actually runs properly :)
>>>
>>>
>>>I just went. {g}
>>>Great Car! ... Environment friendly, economical , cheap to maintain... Perfect commuter car! Don't miss! ... :)
>>>
>>>And hurry up! I have heard rumor that Mike is already on the way there to get, it as he passed on that Camaro beauty ;)
>>>(Just kidding)
>>
>>Yeah I already tried to talk Mike into getting one ..hahaha no luck there.
>>
>>They're actually not bad cars - a little fragile perhaps but quite fun. I've been starting to clear out my fiat X1/9 collection to buy these instead hahaha.
>
>Could you go into detail on the reason for those 2 particular models ?

ha..how long do you have? hahaha. Shortest possible answer is I like the mid-engine layout and cost. I don't have these in Hawaii and yes the fiats would rust away if not properly stored. My first sports car was a 79 X1/9 and I'd always liked the Europa's since my dad had one when I was a young kid (and knew how to drive it quite well). Well I had the one 79 and then after I pretty much destroyed it I got an 85 and then well another one and another one..and some parts here and parts there..and..well you get the idea.

>Esp. the Fiat near sea water is something I would not have guessed as first choice, even if it is a nice tiny car.
>
>Provided get a climatized garage, I might go for one or 2 older cars myself, but my list is about
>- DB 190 SL
>- DB 230 SL - 280 SL (W113) Pagode
>- Austin Healy
>(-Lotus Elan)

Never had a DB or an Austin Healy (came close on a toyota powered one once though)...Lotus currently 4 3/4 europa's and a costworth powered lotus 11 replica

>for the high prized ones of late fifties to early sixties or cheaper, late seventies to early eighties
>- Alfa Spider
>- Triumph TR6 or Spitfire
>- DB 350 SL - DB 500 SL (W107)
>- X1/9 or 124 Spider
>(-Corvette C3)
>(-911 Targa)

NIce list. My dad has had a bunch of Alfa's..even a GTV6 and bunch of spiders over the years. Triumph - have a TR8 with a rotomaster turbo on the 215 alum V8 - fastest thing I own but breaks down every other time you take it out (no joke..ha) - never had that one fully sorted. Never had a spider fiat (my dad had one) but nice collection of X1/9's have 14 1/2 of those and probably enough parts to assemble 3 or 4 more of them...haha. Never had a corvette sorry that is muscle car not sports car... never had a porsche either cause the simply cost too much. You left out a couple though, the toyota mr2 I"ve had 4 of those of the years and of course now the popular thing is the mazda miata's they even have their own class in SCCA and such. Never had one of those and if I wanted one I would go get a lotus elan instead ..haha

>Planning for Roadster/Cabrio as it should be driven in fine weather only (about 1/3 over here), not on Autobahn but mostly locally, with weight/power ratio and lower speeds making them fun and hopefully a shield against inflation with some side benefits...

The weather if fine here, but you can only get going about 30mph anywhere on the island. Hell I don't even have a car over here gas is $4.50 a gallon and $180 a month for parking at home and $60 month parking at the office - screw it I bought a 50cc scooter - 120mpg free parking (GOOD parking) everywhere I go. Not like you can get going any faster anyway...ha. Yes I am the king of cheap...I know a couple of nice girls that would be happy to validate that..hahahahaha