Buying an Esprit Turbo

[SE Owner :-D]

Hi to all you lucky and maybe not so lucky owners of dreams/nightmares,

I am looking at purchasing an Esprit Turbo 1988 and have recently seen one in the colour i want for the price i can afford.

I am so worried about the horrors i may miss due to my excitement and thought i best ask someone here for help - i registered via LEW after reading all that was available to view there (Great site by the way).

I've only seen jpeg photos so far and it has only served to make the desire greater not to mention getting a good insurance quote!

I'm a bit dubious of forums, as i have read a lot of crap on other web forums (nothing to do with Lotus).

I know i'll be wetting myself with my pulse racing when i go to view the vehicle (being sold by a trader that appears to be fine) and i am no mechanically minded person at all so wouldn't be able to tell much from looking under the bonnet, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[lince]

If you are looking to buy one first go check it out, dont trust the pictures go and check it out, must car seller don

[kccparis]

Lesson No 1.

do not view the esprit alone. Take someone who knows esprits. Volunteers can be found on LEW depending on the location of the esprit. They might not spot all the errors but should be more able then you to spot major future troubles. Someone with the

[SE Owner :-D]

Thank you ever so much this is great the car is in Kent and i am near Heathrow about 25 miles away.

I would love to hear from anyone who could honestly help in the way the last poster describes!

Thanks KCCPARIS and the other post re: salesmen is oh so true!! But i have no doubt they will be damn good at negotiating the price.

I have the name of the last garage to service it and it does appear to have money spent when needed-it seems low mileage for the year and hence i don't think it has been yearly serviced.

I am trying to speak with the previous/current owner and the last servicing garage.

I can't help thinking-this could be the one though!

[Mark Blanchard]

Kent you say. Is it from a Dealer? It's not UK Sports Cars is it?

[Bibs]

I'm in Beckenham, Kent and would be more than happy to accompany you to a viewing

[Paul C]

Thank you ever so much this is great the car is in Kent and i am near Heathrow about 25 miles away.

UK Sportscars?

[s4simon]

Hi Roger and welcome to the forum.

You're in the right place to start with.

I believe this is the car

and No - it's not UKSC.

Rule 1 - Don't listen to the dealer - They only talk 'liespeak'.

Rule 2 - Either take a very extensive check list or someone who has roughly the same Esprit version. Enter Bibs

Since you're near Heathrow, I live 10 minutes south, so if you want to drop in and look at an S4, I'm open all hours / 7 days a week. Just PM me (again ).

[SE Owner :-D]

I think they are in Bromley and your offer would be very gratefully accepted-when would be best for you. I'll work around you - was thinking next week. I have a vehicle to trade in that is not worth much!

How would be best to communicate i don't really want to put my details on an open forum?

Would also like to know where i can get used car prices to compare!

Thanks

[Mark Blanchard]

I am so worried about the horrors i may miss due to my excitement

I

You're right to be Cautious, there are plenty of dogs out there. Does it have FSH from Lotus / Specialist?

Hope this one's ok, the Esprit Turbo's a great car .

Good luck

[Nigel]

Roger

There is a Turbo SE being advertised on Pistonheads at the moment 58K miles , FSH (Lotus/Specialists).

Looks like a nice car and only

[Paul C]

Thats Esprit Geoff's car!, And it's a very nice SE

There's Vicki and Me in the picture too!

* Note: Vicki and Paul C are forum members and not included in the sale, thanks.

[pitstoppete]

Thats Esprit Geoff's car!, And it's a very nice SE

[Bibs]

Bromley is less than 5 minutes from me, nice You have mail Roger

[x6gas]

To be honest that's quite a lot of dosh for an 88 Turbo. Pretty sure you could get a decent SE for less than that. Now is a pretty good time to be looking I'd say...

Esprit Geoff's is a well known car on here and I'm sure you'd struggle to find a better one for the money.

Most Esprits have had plenty of money spent on them in the past, but that doesn't mean a great deal in my personal opinion. I also do not believe that a full Lotus service history is necessary for a car this old. I do most of my own servicing and I know serveral owners who do (and I trust me more than the local Lotus dealer who can't even release the handbrake!)

It needs a thorough looking over basically...

Ian

[SE Owner :-D]

Thanks for all the excellent advice gentleman! My mind is spinning from my own research and the fantastic expertise i have been given by the memebers of this site. You do the Marque proud - FACT!

I would like everyone to know how grateful and genuinely taken aback by the generous offers of help and kindness by all. Further, i want to say a very special thanks to 'Bibs' - what an absolute gentleman! And further a big thanks to Robin too.

Both of whom came to view aforementioned Kent car (in the loosest possible sense) - Bibs having picked me up at the station and Robin meeting us there!

Together we were a formidable outfit (even though i already had the deposit in my hand-so what use i was is somewhat contentious) and they had the embarrased salesmen in a spin! They knew not what they were up against! (That was just perusing an underwhelming service history)

Suffice it to say the car wasn't there to be viewed (don't ask) and my heart was truly broken as i was already in love!

Who knows maybe it's a sign! I'll let the boys tell you what transpired as they know more than me in every sense when it comes to buying/selling supercars! On the positive side there may be hope? (a bargaining tool-is what i am saying to myself Bibs/Robin)

I will definately investigate the other aforementioned Supercars on offer and see how it goes. Bibs has armed me with enough Lotus Esprit paraphernalia to only strengthen my desire to be one of your gang guys!

Much respect Bibs-you make the world a better place mate and don't you forget that! Thanks once again Master!!!

Speak soon!

Wannabe Supercar Owner

[Guest esprit geoff]

Hi Roger - I did get your email and my car is still up for sale as in Pistonheads and LEW. And thanks guys for plugging it - yes it's a great SE, full Lotus history and been well serviced and looked after in its time with me. AND it's up for a bargain winter price ---- at

[s4simon]

There's lots more quality reading here...

Esprit Geoff's LEW Page

[Guest esprit geoff]

Where's this Roger guy gone? What happened to the Bromley Esprit???

Geoff.

[steven.parkstone]

I see you all have been more then helpful with this gentlman so I'm going to ask for some help of my own. I've found a '77 eprit on ebay, which is a web site that will be the death of me, and I need to know what you would ask before purchasing this vehicle. The biggest problem being I'm currently stationed in Iraq and the car is in the states. The gentleman so far has been very honest and easy to deal with. I know it needs paint, but that isn't a worry. I'm also a rolls royce certified mechanic so I have the patiants to work on it and learn the things I need to. I've always dreamed of owning a esprit put never thought it was some thing I could do until recently so I havn't done the normal footwork I would before undertaking the purchase of a car, so if you all could help give me some quick education I'd greatly appreciate it.

Steven Parkstone

[s4simon]

Hello Steven and welcome to the Forum (via the sunny Middle East).

We'll get this question raised as a separate identity - give it it's own heading, cos I'm sure / hopefull that there'll be lots of help on this one.

Is this the one by chance...

Ebay Ref: 4604567291

[steven.parkstone]

Simon,

That would be the one. I think my major fear of the purchase is finding parts. I e-mailed the gentlman a couple times so far and he's always answered back, but I'm need specifics to look for on this particular vehicle. The fact that he doesn't have a title isn't a huge worry I've bought vehicles that way many times before. The experiances I've had over here have made me really think I need to get seriouse about full filling the dream of owning an esprit. I'll never forget the first one I saw. I was about 10 years old and my dad and I were at a open slolem race when a bright yellow eprit turbo lined up. I immidiatly fell in love. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. I always said I would have one, but never put much effort to it. But I've decided now I'm going to and I'm going to learn every thing I can. Your web page is the most informitive one I have found, and so far you all have been extremely nice, and more help then I could put in words.

Steve

[SE Owner :-D]

Myself, Bibs and B33 ENN paid a visit to Welwyn Garden City today via Colchester to view a total of 4 cars at last. The first batch of 3 were not the right car I felt along with my companions so we headed of to view Geoff's 89 SE.

Wow!

Amazing....

Perfect........

I'm now the proud owner of the world's most beautiful red SE. It's just exactly the most sorted car and impressed us beyond belief. Many thanks to Geoff for selling me his super supercar and for also keeping it in such top order for the time we had it. It's a dream and a diamond.

Thanks also to Bibs and B33 ENN for the help, support and technical expertise on the day.

Yours

One happy owner

[s4simon]

Ka-Ching

Winner in aisle three.

Well done Roger.

That colour is sooo Choice

Lots of happy motoring days lie ahead & sunny spring is almost in the air.

[Guest esprit geoff]

Hi Roger - a great pleasure to have sold you the great SE!!! Yes you got a great bargain - but you deserve it. Hopefully we'll be able to conclude the sale tommorrow night.

Geoff.