Sparky 2,721 Posted August 16 Report Share Posted August 16 Oh, we tried... Quote British Ambassador to Florida, New York, Denmark and Newfoundland. And Sweden. Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 4,243 Posted August 16 Report Share Posted August 16 Prior to my own purchase, I asked myself the question ‘could you afford to rebuild it if the engine blew up?’ A 4-pot, yes, and indeed I’ve just fully rebuilt mine. Total cost for the engine was £3.5K. A V8, no. I’d just sell the car where it stood. After driving them, and if I had to choose all over again, it would be an S4, then GT3. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Mightymetro 254 Posted August 16 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 16 The engine cost is a tricky one as if I had done the build myself I would have saved £8k in labour so that brings it down dramatically. And then if I didn’t use aftermarket and updated parts it would have been even less. And then if I had only replaced the 2 pistons and rods and crank I actually needed and didn’t have ARP head studs etc etc I reckon I could have done it for £6-7k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike_sekinger 614 Posted August 16 Report Share Posted August 16 If you'd have built it yourself, it might be in pieces already. A fair amount of your cost could have been limited if you had only one party involved from the beginning. It's not a very good case study on how much a typical rebuild might cost. 1 Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Barrykearley 6,432 Posted August 16 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 16 Just for you @mike_sekinger 1 1 Quote Only here once Link to post Share on other sites
LotusFella 110 Posted August 16 Report Share Posted August 16 I may part with my 98 v8. Located near Ely Cambs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 16 Author Report Share Posted August 16 Thanks for all the reply’s, really good to hear opinions From lotus owners. I’m so stuck between a v8, SE and s4s it’s a really hard decision ,I think I’m going more For a s4s but there is only 1 for sale in the uk that I can find and it’s up for £50k! What would you be looking for for your v8 lotusfella? Looks awesome! I was so close to making a deal on a SE high wing, really nice car but No history for the first 13 years! Worried me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Mightymetro 254 Posted August 16 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 16 2 hours ago, mike_sekinger said: If you'd have built it yourself, it might be in pieces already. A fair amount of your cost could have been limited if you had only one party involved from the beginning. It's not a very good case study on how much a typical rebuild might cost. Yes it might be in pieces but I’d have more money to rebuild it again and not be reliant on other people 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonwat 362 Posted August 16 Report Share Posted August 16 46 minutes ago, LotusFella said: I may part with my 98 v8. Located near Ely Cambs Those wheels look so much better in black ☺ Quote Cheers, John W http://jonwatkins.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
LotusFella 110 Posted August 16 Report Share Posted August 16 Here’s my other baby. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NeilP 20 Posted August 16 Report Share Posted August 16 £47k for an S4S is prohibitively expensive, yes they are the pinnacle of the S4 development and on the rare side, but £47k is optimistic to say the least, esp when there are 2 x V8, £35k and £38k, the latter with an engine rebuild. Bauke has a nice yellow S4S in the NL, no connection to me and it’s RHD, maybe worth getting in touch? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 30 Author Report Share Posted August 30 I decided s4s is the way to go.... but finding one is another challenge! Im getting impatient so there is a black v8 for sale on car and classic, had a recent engine rebuild by max500, v8 power, sound and reliability right......? still scared of a v8 but It’s so nice. https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1239032 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Barrykearley 6,432 Posted August 31 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 31 Be patient - they are out there. I’ve just been offered another and I’ll go and take a look next week. Quote Only here once Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 4,243 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 U.K. S4s are comparatively rare, last time I looked there was about 60 in total, and there are more GT3’s. Despite the higher number of S4 cars having been built, they don’t seem to come up for sale as often. In my view, £50K for an S4s is just flying a kite. It would have had to be a total body-off rebuild, plus engine and gearbox rebuilds for that kind of money. Ultimately, the car will only be worth what someone is prepared to pay for it, and right now I would say an S4s would be between £30k £40k, depending on condition and work done. That’s just a guess though, as there’s not much to go on right now. You have to be patient when buying, the rareness means they don’t come up for sale that often, and just remember all that glitters is not necessarily gold! 1 Quote Margate Exotics. Link to post Share on other sites
CarBuff 188 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 I'd suggest trying an S4 before you buy. Quote Atwell Haines '88 Esprit Succasunna, NJ USA Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 4,243 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 I agree. Had the only S4 I could find not been the colour it was, I would have been sorely tempted. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Escape 743 Posted September 3 Gold FFM Report Share Posted September 3 On 16/08/2020 at 21:03, Bannerfd3 said: I was so close to making a deal on a SE high wing, really nice car but No history for the first 13 years! Worried me. The first 13 years are about 20 years ago. What's more important is what the last owner did to and with the car. If he (or she) drove it regularly he probably solved all issues as well and it should be a reliable car, regardless of what happend in its youth. Filip Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to post Share on other sites
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