Bannerfd3 1 Posted July 30, 2020 Report Share Posted July 30, 2020 Hello everyone, Iv finally decided to move from Japanese cars to owning a lotus!! Iv always loved the esprit so I’m going to look and test drive a SE turbo, V8 and a S4, all 3 are on piston heads and Iv done research on what to look for but looks like it all comes down to the history of the car. Iv attached a couple of links of the cars I’m interested in, I would really appreciate some advice on what else to look for, I know The esprit Isn’t a daily, it will Be cared for and used occasionally in my possession. The V8 is 1996 I did read to stay clear of this year but why is this? www.pistonheads.com .. p;cId=10459995&cId=7310883 www.pistonheads.com .. p;cId=10459995&cId=7310883 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarBuff 195 Posted July 30, 2020 Report Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) The early V8s (1996 - 1997) suffered from piston liner failures. Most of those issues should have been resolved by now. But, on any V8, it is wise to do a compression & leak-down test, and have the oil analyzed for coolant. But IMO the early cars had the better, bigger binnacle with more instrumentation. Edited July 30, 2020 by CarBuff Quote Atwell Haines '88 Esprit Succasunna, NJ USA Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,798 Posted July 30, 2020 Report Share Posted July 30, 2020 if i was looking at a v8 i think i would prefer one from a known lotus specialist https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10441098?cId=10560391&cId=9832146&cId=10159067&cId=10459995&cId=10441098&cId=7310883 Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
NeilP 20 Posted July 30, 2020 Report Share Posted July 30, 2020 This one is down the road from me, I can walk there in a few mins.. let me know if you’d like me to take a look. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2020 Thanks for your reply’s, today I viewed the esprit Pete suggested, https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10441098?cId=10560391&cId=9832146&cId=10159067&cId=10459995&cId=10441098&cId=7310883 history was very good and is a lovely car, only thing that concerned me that there was no evidence in the history about the engine issues being resolved being a early v8, would this concern you guys? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 6,853 Posted August 1, 2020 Report Share Posted August 1, 2020 Since it now has 45k on the clock - no it would not. Quote Only here once Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,798 Posted August 1, 2020 Report Share Posted August 1, 2020 Warranty? Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2020 We haven’t got as far as negotiating warranty as yet but I would want at least 3 month. This is all new to me, Iv never bought a classic before, very nervous but it’s my dream, I’m trading in a Nissan 370Z nismo so I guess it all comes down to what they can offer! Fingers crossed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peteric 38 Posted August 5, 2020 Report Share Posted August 5, 2020 Lovely looking car and i hope you find a great Esprit. They are lovely cars and a passion of mine too! However......regarding warranty..... I will be very, very surprised if you get a warranty or a good one at least on a 24 year old classic super car. Best of luck finding a good Esprit though Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,139 Posted August 7, 2020 Report Share Posted August 7, 2020 Welcome to TLF and happy Esprit hunting! Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 thanks for the welcome. Today I had a test drive in a SE high wing, what a car! I’m so surprised how a 30 year old car can accelerate like that! Brakes need a bit of attention though. Next stop v8 test drive!! Then devotion time... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 6,853 Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 The V8 is a different animal entirely. You can drive it really lazily and it will pull like a monster. A 4 pot needs to be utterly thrashed to perform at its best. A word of warning.... If a V8 engine gives way - prepare to part with £10-15k to fix it. A 4 pot - about £4-6k you pays your money takes your choice. Been there done that - I’d opt for the 4 every day of the week. the old adage - even a bad esprit will blow you away is very true. Quote Only here once Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 12 minutes ago, Barrykearley said: The V8 is a different animal entirely. You can drive it really lazily and it will pull like a monster. A 4 pot needs to be utterly thrashed to perform at its best. A word of warning.... If a V8 engine gives way - prepare to part with £10-15k to fix it. A 4 pot - about £4-6k you pays your money takes your choice. Been there done that - I’d opt for the 4 every day of the week. the old adage - even a bad esprit will blow you away is very true. Thanks for the advice, I think I will go for the 4 pot it was far better than I expected, I would love the v8 but the extra cost is a big jump I will test drive just to tease myself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,798 Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 Try to drive more than one 4 cylinder esprit if possible Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 11 minutes ago, pete said: Try to drive more than one 4 cylinder esprit if possible I agree, hopefully will test drive another once decided. Anyone know who to use for a professional inspection? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,798 Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 Where are you Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 5 minutes ago, pete said: Where are you I live near Norwich, the car I’m interested in is in Surrey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,798 Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 Hangar 111 do reports and have found them very helpful Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
Bannerfd3 1 Posted August 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 10 minutes ago, pete said: Hangar 111 do reports and have found them very helpful Email sent thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 6,853 Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 1 hour ago, Bannerfd3 said: Thanks for the advice, I think I will go for the 4 pot it was far better than I expected, I would love the v8 but the extra cost is a big jump I will test drive just to tease myself. They are utterly different cars. The drive of them is completely different. Quote Only here once Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Dan E 1,550 Posted August 8, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 1 hour ago, Bannerfd3 said: I live near Norwich, the car I’m interested in is in Surrey Although he will want to kill me @Sparky is your man as I am sure everyone will tell you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,139 Posted August 8, 2020 Report Share Posted August 8, 2020 https://max500.com is Surrey and knows Esprit inside out so is a nice, local option as is http://www.backontrackmotorsport.co.uk if the other's are busy/too far. Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Popular Post Mightymetro 275 Posted August 16, 2020 Gold FFM Popular Post Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 Thought I might add my thoughts to this ive owned a n\a Stevens , used a s4s For a weekend and now own a V8. In my opinion it all comes down to what you want the car for. The main reason I went for the v8 is that I wanted the later dash and the wider arch trims after the 1997 update. Petty I know but that’s what I hankered for so it was a gt3 or v8 but the gt3 didn’t have the arch trims and wider wheels. N/A - was a fab Stevens car in azure blue with cream leather. Didn’t feel very fast and was pretty rough but it was a nice car, it just didn’t feel like I imagined an esprit to feel. Might have just been a bad example etc but I didn’t keep it long s4s - definitely felt more fun to drive hard than my V8. Really good turbo kick that enhances the whole feel of driving it. Whooshing everywhere, light nimble, fast. Fabulous machine but just preferred the later facelift. It felt like an occasion everytime the turbo spooled up. The Purchase cost Of this car was actually more than my v8 was and it also was quite tatty cosmetically so the work mechanically on my v8 kind of balanced the cost I would have needed to spend on the s4s interior and exterior. v8 - love at first sight with the old girl but it’s taken a while to get my head around enjoying the car. It really isn’t a rev monster and relies a lot on torque to get it going where it is going. In my eyes it feels like a very accomplished GT car rather than a track \ back lane blaster and I didn’t gel at all. BUT........I’m learning to drive to its strengths and I’m now completely happy with my decision to plump for the v8. I can’t say the car feels heavier or Lardy like most reviews do because I cannot feel it and I believe the 4 pot turbo feels lighter due to the engine characteristics and delivery which is masked by the V8. It just doesn’t feel fast until you look at the speedo. I try to use it as much as possible and have found it excelling on both A and B roads. A blast around the `north Yorkshire moors with a friend with a Caterham proved just how good it is at those back road blasts that I never gave the v8 credit for. It just does it in a silent assassin style compared to the s4s. I’m in West Yorkshire but if you want an extended run out in a v8 Your more than welcome to hop aboard. Always happy for an excuse to have a blast a quick note though about my car I purchased a v8 2.5 years ago and drove it a couple hundred miles and then the engine let go (due to a poor rebuild by a previous owners preferred `lotus dealer). The engine bill alone was just shy of £18,000 for the parts and labour however pretty much everything has been upgraded to make it as reliable as possible including billet crank, steel rods, Forged pistons etc etc and included the usual maintenance while it was out work like refreshed turbos. While it was off the road I went about refreshing other things on the car like suspension, cooling system, fuel tanks, brakes and dropped another £10,000+ On these items. This was with me doing the work too although this work is the same cost on most models. I was heartbroken and wallet broken and questioned why I didn’t just cut and run. However.......having got it running again in June I’ve completed 2000 miles in it and have forgiven it all it’s sins . It’s as close to having a mechanically new esprit as I can hope And I am loving driving her again. 6 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 6,853 Posted August 16, 2020 Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 Bloody hell @Mightymetro don’t scare him off. Quote Only here once Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Mightymetro 275 Posted August 16, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 2 hours ago, Barrykearley said: Bloody hell @Mightymetro don’t scare him off. You didn’t scare me off should have listened 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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