Parting with the Lotus...?

[madmezza]

Every bit of logic is telling me to part with my Esprit, but I can't quite bring myself.

I'm getting closer, primarily because:

1. it costs

[Rick Edwards]

When I sold my last esprit it took about 10 seconds after watching it drive down the road before I got the "what have I done" feeling.

Also on those 10 times you drive it, are they not the best times behind the wheel in that year and bring back loads of memories for you?

[silverfrost]

Hi Rich,

I personally would hang on to it for few reasons.....

1. It was your brothers and like most esprit owners he probably loved the thing to bits and if you sell it you will regret getting rid of something that you are probably emotionally attached to not only because its an esprit but because it was your brothers.

2.

[Advantage]

Use it more.

Go to work in it. Take it to Tescos. Do the school run. Anything, but get out in it more often and then decide. 10 times a year isn't giving that poor car a chance to ingratiate itself into your life!

[tinywillyuk]

I echo all of the above. To know it is to love it.. so get to know it, touch it, feel it, breath it and you'll love it too.

Then you can enjoy it to the maximum.

[cumbriaimp]

i sold my gt6 ages ago for a half arsed reason after spending months sorting it

i still really really regret it. i can't afford one now

i sold my clan crusader rally car for a half arse.......

i sold my fzr1000 exup for a half....

i have a tired esprit and a nearly finished tasmin i can't afford to run at the moment

there is no way either of them are going, it's a lifestyle thing i guess

HTH

[mayevora]

Hi Rich

Remember well meeting you and your sister a couple of years ago now at the first LEF factory visit with that gleaming red Esprit and the reasons why you both came.

I think that really, its only a question that you both can answer as it will will have the obvious emotional tie to you both.

As an aside, I remember a few years ago asking my wife the question - If anything happened to me, what would you do with my Esprit?

"Sell it. That would be one of the first things I would do." was her immediate answer, which was not the answer I would have wanted or one I expected. However, thinking that through logically, why would I expect her to keep and run a car she has very little interest in for an indefinite period of time which would also be a drain on her resources?

If you genuinely love the car, keep it. If you are keeping it for other reasons then that's a tough call to make Rich.

Hope you both come to the right decision.

Ian

[rogerch]

Take it out of the garage, wash it, shamie it off, put gas in tank and go for a drive, come home, delete this topic. Done deal.

Roger

[Paul C]

it costs

[USAndretti42]

Of course, most members are going to advise you to keep the car but, like Paul said, it's you who has to pay the bills and give up the space. I'm with Graham. Try using it more, then decide. You may fall totally in love with it and not bear to be parted with it ot think it's just too much hassle to use it often. It's a very personal thing.

On the other hand, I would think that now isn't a great time to sell a sports car but if you think it could find a better home elsewhere, then you need to estimate whether you will get an extra 800 pounds a year hence.

[Dave Freeman]

Keep it, you will regret selling it. For me the only time I would sell is if is was in exchange for another one, or if I die, in which case I would want to be buried in it.

Enough said

[TrapperJohn]

I am rather attached to my SE. Always have loved the marque, for it's unique and very practical approach. If something doesn't directly contribute to making it go or turn faster, don't design it, grab it from someone else. It stands in stark contrast to the more pretentious makes.

But let's be perfectly honest here - you have to be very fond of a Lotus to own one. They can be expensive, or time consuming, often both, especially the older models. If you're a decent amateur mechanic, you can keep one on the road for a modest sum. If you have to hire someone else to perform the upkeep and repair, they will eat you out of house and home.

If I were to drop dead tomorrow, I'd expect it to be sold to another Lotus lover. My wife isn't a bad driver, but she's a bit oblivious to the finer points of automobiles. She'd probably marry someone else, and that slob would demolish it. Yep, sell it to someone who appreciates it.

On the other hand, I still have my brother's high end audio system. It's probably worth $USD10k. He gave me a thorough thrashing when I was 12 for messing with his stereo. So when he died, I went to clean out his apartment, found all that very high end gear, and at great expense had it shipped from Amsterdam to Kentucky. Can't beat me up now, can you?

I guess we grieve in our own personal ways. I think about him every time I turn it on. So if those ten drives a year bring back the memory of your brother, perhaps it's worth the trouble.

[mr.oogieboogie]

if its for sentimate keep it. as once its gone thats it. if it was just for the driving and the money i'd say use it more, then if you get a big bill you can still sell it.

not the kind of decision i would want. best of luck

[slewthy]

[superdavelotus]

Hi Rich,

Hear me out here on this one. I think you've answered you're own question simply by posting on LEF forum. I don't know a many people on here who would tell you to sell your car and I think this is the answer you wanted to here. Don't get me wrong, I too fell victim to this and have posted a similar thread about my car. I think that I wanted to be talked into keeping my Esprit and I did!

Now have you asked this question to someone closer and if so, what did they say?

As for maintenance costs,

[Atle]

Hi Rich,

Hard desicion. Follow your heart - or stomach as we say. Look ahead long term. Needless to say from my subjective point of view - never sell it!

[islandbloke]

Rich - many sensible suggestions here, and I wouldn't dream of advising you either way. All I can do is relate my own story.

I bought Lottie new in 1990 when I had a business and was making plenty of money. I used her every day and we racked up around 130,000 miles together. She was always MUCH more than a car, she was also a reminder of good times and adventures.

However, by 1997 the bubble had burst and I'd moved here to the Isle of Man to regroup, start afresh and make a living as a freelancer. There was very little work available at the time, and when it became apparent that Lottie needed a complete overhaul (which I couldn't afford) I made the decision to rent a lock-up and store her until I had the money. Five years later I gave her to a mechanic pal, who soon decided that she needed much more work than he'd originally thought, and that the renovation would cost more than the car would ever be worth (he knew of a mint 1995 S4 with low mileage that would cost less to buy than mine would to fix). His advice was to sell Lottie as a project to an enthusiast.

I thought long as hard about it (as you are doing now) and steeled myself to make the 'sensible' decision - after all, it's only a car and it's silly to be emotionally attached to something made of plastic and steel. So I sold her, and the minute she went on the back of Gavin's trailer I felt like I was at a funeral and had made a horrible mistake. Fortunately, I managed to convey to Gav that if HE ever wanted to sell her, call me first.

I spent 4 years missing her. Isn't it silly? Every time I saw a Lotus, it brought back the longing - but not for another Esprit (or Elise) but for MY car. Then Gavin called, told me about the mountain of work he'd done to her, and asked if I was still interested in having her back.

Long story short, I flew myself over to Yorkshire, and probably paid more than I should to do the deal - which we completed at Liverpool a couple of weeks later. It was like meeting up with the girl you SHOULD have married.

She's cost me a small fortune to get right, and even now I'm contemplating a full body-off respray, and I don't begrudge a penny of it. But that's me, and a reflection of what the car has always meant to me. Either way I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you!

Stu

[Atle]

Stu, that was quite a story. Seems to conclude, whatever you pay, its worth it.

[nello]

Rich - interesting - looks like we have matching cars - and matching issues - though mines not been on the road for 6 years now?!?!!

I could not part with mine unless I had the cash to go up the next 'ladder rung'......

Had mine since 1996 - we went on the first part of honeymoon in it so its emotionally attached now. Hang on to it - cherish it and keep using it.

Desperate to get mine going again - especially with this weather......

[TrapperJohn]

Stu:

I bought an Esprit steering wheel from someone on the Isle of Man several years ago. Was that you?

[islandbloke]

No, probably Glyn Harper (who posts here too). His Turbo WAS white, is now black and has more updates (V8 interior last I heard) than Microsoft.