Esprit Market Watch - Help for those searching

[steve930]

So long as my car doesn't depreciate, then I'm a happy bunny  

For me it's a case of investing a chunk of money, having enjoyment from that investment and knowing I can get the money back if needed.  I had a long line of Porsches before moving to lotus & always broke even or made a small profit, as long as lotus follow the same path then happy days 

[Vanya]

That yellow one has been for sale for over a year, The Spanish are delusional on car values. They put a massive price on them then just leave the ad running forever. 

There is a red S3 turbo that has been for sale in Madrid for over a year asking 30k+ , 

There is a Lotus Sunbeam for sale for 30k+ aswell been up for a year.

There are so few classics out here they ask insane money for them.

This is why I'm thinking of giving the guy a call and flying over for an inspection. I've experienced sellers are quite flexible in terms of pricing if they find the right buyer. 

Although after 4 hours of driving my SE yesterday and a run in the V8 earlier today I think it might be hard to make me part with the latter - the comfort is insane compared to my 4-pot. The 300 would really have to feel special. 

[Barrykearley]

Buying a lotus is a bit like buying shares - your value may go up as well as down.....

May also request an additional cash injection as well.........

Could never imagine owning some shares that would make me smile as much though

[rudolphwolven]

I'd still love a Turbo SE, still waiting to find a mint, factory original example. There just aren't any left.

There are some left I believe, however few...........

For instance my LHD SE from 1990 (original Dutch Imported car / since 1993 I am the 2nd owner) in a rather exclusive and distinguished color........steel blue metallic (color code A59) with beautiful blue/grey leather trim; still smelling delightful.

My car is (almost/near) mint in factory original execution.......

(except the "Cavallino"-sticker on the sill, which is from the Lotus-race department of the Ferrari/Lotus-Importer Kroymans those years and applied by the 1st owner)

The SE has 31.000 mls on the odo.........never driven in the rain or winter (sorry); she passed the MOT last week for another year.

Best regards, Ruud

[Mysterae]

That's a really nice colour Ruud .

[The Pits]

Fantastic Ruud, good to see.

[rocket63]

Lovely car Ruud

[Vanya]

Pits, if you want mint and are willing to buy LHD, then I can attest to Ruuds post - I know of one of the best kept examples on Earth not far from me.

[Andyww]

So long as my car doesn't depreciate, then I'm a happy bunny

For me it's a case of investing a chunk of money, having enjoyment from that investment and knowing I can get the money back if needed.  I had a long line of Porsches before moving to lotus & always broke even or made a small profit, as long as lotus follow the same path then happy days 

Exactly.

My other car, Ferrari 328 has gone stupid in values. All it means is that (in theory) I should be having it maintained by a rip-off Ferrari specialist to maintain its "provenance" (but I dont) and means hugely inflated insurance prices. I now have to deal with the poncey "bespoke department" at the insurers with costs to match.

Also means they disappear from the roads as people stop driving them. Parts become more expensive. Unavailable parts disappear because cars are no longer being dismantled. Current going rate for a 328 front indicator/sidelight unit is £3000.

I feel far more relaxed driving the Esprit knowing that every stone chip is not wiping hundreds off the value and that if something goes through a front light it will be 20 quid.

[Mark Blanchard]

My other car, Ferrari 328 has gone stupid in values...

Also means they disappear from the roads as people stop driving them. Parts become more expensive. Unavailable parts disappear because cars are no longer being dismantled. Current going rate for a 328 front indicator/sidelight unit is £3000.

Wow, so that's the other side of the coin.  Never knew that.  So suppliers get greedy and put their prices up.

Makes running an Esprit seem like a bargain.  That's good with me .

[Loose Cannon]

Three grand for an indicator? Worth going into the repro business!

[Bazza 907]

Probably more even more expensive on an Audi - I've never seen one working...

[steve930]

Trouble is, unless you sell your lotus & bank the money you're never going to realise any profit, similar to houses really .  Assuming you've owned the car for a good few years.

Exactly.

My other car, Ferrari 328 has gone stupid in values. All it means is that (in theory) I should be having it maintained by a rip-off Ferrari specialist to maintain its "provenance" (but I dont) and means hugely inflated insurance prices. I now have to deal with the poncey "bespoke department" at the insurers with costs to match.

Also means they disappear from the roads as people stop driving them. Parts become more expensive. Unavailable parts disappear because cars are no longer being dismantled. Current going rate for a 328 front indicator/sidelight unit is £3000.

I feel far more relaxed driving the Esprit knowing that every stone chip is not wiping hundreds off the value and that if something goes through a front light it will be 20 quid.

Not long after buying my last Porsche ( 1980's 911 turbo ) I could at a real stretch bought either a 328 or 512bbi but decided to keep the Porsche a few more years.  I wish I'd sold the Porsche because subject to a lottery win both of those cars are truly dream cars for me now

[Mark Blanchard]

The BB has got everything going for it except one thing, every second year you need an engine out major service to replace the timing belt and gaskets.  So services costs are eye watering.

[Andyww]

Ferrari vs Lotus service costs are a whole other issue.

Replacing the timing belts on a 328 is dead easy. I can do it in 4 hours easily and a professional probably less. But a specialist (not dealer) charges £1000 for a timing belt service. 

Replacing the belt on an Esprit is far more difficult and on a car with A/C its the closest thing to impossible you will ever get to, as many on here will agree! I have no idea how much a Lotus specialist charges for a belt service but I bet its not £1000 !

[stephenwhyte]

When Chris Foulds did the belts and tensioner for my old '86 Turbo with AC in 2008 I was less than £700.......no doubt more now but I'd be surprised if it was much more.

Edited May 26, 2015 by stephenwhyte

[Jacques]

Andy W. Exactly my Words. If the prices are rising really high, so are spares, and many end up on fat carpets with red rope and shiny led lights all over. It happened to some Porsche models, and Ferrari, Lamborghini and many more. It happened to many Classic motorcycles too.

Hard to get parts; sometimes impossible, and often made of unobtanium - moneywise and availability.

I prefer prices to be low, but not silly too, as probably some people who just don't care about the car/motorcycle etc, would buy it and destroy it.

In Denmark, there is one, read: 1 Lotus dealer, and they have never had their hands on an Esprit. Would you trust them to undertake big service on your Esprit? No, probably not. Would I? No, never.

And their working hour rate is starting at 250 GBP plus 25% tax. And that is for the starter models. Since the Esprit in not seenas a starter model, prices are more like 400 GBP and up, per hour. With no experience on these cars, they would take for ever to maintain it propperly. So noone does it. People do it themselves.

Look, I even asked them for a paint repair stick. Three days later they answered, that they couldn't get it.

Of course, they have to earn Money, and they have a huge staff and a really shiny fancy shop, with Lotus, Lamborghini, Porsche, lexus etc.

That is what happens, when Money sneaks in on these matters.

Silly prices - No thanks.

Cheers,

Jacques.

[Sparky]

Bloody hell, I'm moving to Denmark.

[pete]

Thought you already were

[Chillidoggy]

Bloody hell, I'm moving to Denmark.

Even I might be persuaded. How's your Danish?

[Vanya]

Hold that thought guys. Ask Jacques why he didn't buy a Sport 300 or an Esprit manufactured after 1992............

(Hint: taxontaxontaxontaxontaxontaxontax)

[Chillidoggy]

Was it perchance something to do with, say, tax?

[Sparky]

At that hourly rate, who cares?

[Chillidoggy]

I thought that WAS your hourly rate for international work?

[Vanya]

I'll let Jacques explain but it's depressing what some Nordic countries have taken to in order to promote "green motoring" (read: ensure that motoring becomes a question of social class rather than that of overall environmental impact):

From memory:

From model year 1992 onwards, you have to pay a 180% tax on the original list price of the vehicle - and in 1992 prices were jacked substantially (half a million danisk kronor) for reasons unknown to me right now.

Long story short, one would be broke attempting to even import a Highwing SE to Denmark