Selling... Not imminently, but soon.

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be selling my Esprit soon!

It's not a sad day, although I will miss it - but after nearly two years of owning this great car it's time for a change.

THE REASONING

This is my second red Esprit, and although it still thrills me every time I drive it, it's time I think to get a sportscar that is more suited to long distance touring and the wet Scottish weather - and hence one that I will be able to drive more often! A few days ago I ordered a £600 inspection on a Ferrari 456, and all being well - sometime in the next week or so if the results come back favourably, I'll buy it. The money's ready and waiting and I'm not needing to sell the Esprit to finance the purchase - but it's pointless owning 3 cars in the longterm (I have a daily drive as well).

I will come back to Lotus, hopefully in 2012 when the new Esprit is released!

THE HISTORY

I got this car through this forum, the last owner before me being our own moderator Anthony Kimberley (Kimbers) - son of the Lotus CEO. He looked after it impeccably, servicing it at the Lotus factory, and bringing it to meets - it's a well known vehicle on here having appeared with the Anglian Esprit Group and at the annual Oxford meets. It is an early edition S4 from October 1993, registration L816PCL made on the same day, (and two cars behind on the production line) as the top gear S4 - L813 PCL, as driven by Clarkson.

During my ownership I've had the leather interior recovered (which wasn't cheap!), and about £800 worth of sound system installed (providing DAB digital radio, MP3/USB/i-Pod playability and the usual CD, AM/FM radio), with a colour touchscreen display and 4 new speakers - you could say it's pretty pimped! But the headunit appears as a very inobtrusive single-DIN plain black fascia - which I like as it isn't a button-fest, nor does it look too out of place in the simple interior. My philosophy whilst owning this car has always been to try as best as possible to keep things 'original-looking' - even if they're not original! I got a single-exit stainless steel sports exhaust added in 2009, and took the opportunity to de-cat it as well - but this is about as far into modification as I've gone, nothing which isn't easily reversible, and I've still got the cat for MOT tests.

I've had it serviced at PNM Engineering and Murray Lotus (the Lotus Main Dealers in Edinburgh), and other than a seized back-pressure valve one Christmas, and a wire going to the starter motor falling out on an autumn drive - it's never let me down. At the moment I'm getting all the seals, drops, and frames replaced in both electric windows - it's costing over £500 but I hate that juddering you get, and even though I may not own this car for much longer it'll be nice to have everything working perfectly in my last weeks with it. Other works that I've had done are new fuel breather hoses, new brake pads, the discs skimmed, calipers reconditioned, new power steering hose, chargecooler pump impeller replace, a C-service with cam belts in Easter '09, and some minor aesthetic stuff like getting the electric wing mirrors working again and putting new pedal grips on the pedals!

COPING WITH SAYING GOODBYE!

It's been a fun journey - and I haven't been taking this decision lightly. It's been a decision process of nearly 6 months. If I had just a little bit more free time on my hands I might consider keeping it - but since Oct '08 when I got it, it's only been driven 6,000 miles! And it will get even less attention now with the new arrival. I haven't put up any adverts yet, but I will do soon, and I'm not expecting it to sell it immediately so unless someone takes it straight away I will probably go through a 'slow-break up and grieving process' with the car - which will probably involve a drive down to the south of France and back over Easter! If it goes before then - I'll just do the same in the Ferrari!

It's been a great ride! But it's time to move over - and let someone else take this car on. I would of course love to see it stay in the forum.

[rogerch]

Ferrari owner

[red vtec]

Nice choice of Ferrari The F456 is recognised as one of the best looking ones.

I'm sure someone will be along with an offer on the S4

[mangel]

Good luck James, 456 is a lovely car, brilliant for distances. I just occassionally have a desire for a 550 but looking at my bank balance soon solves that!!

[Bibs]

James, http://www.lotusforsale.com is the place for adverts.

[hedgerley]

about £800 worth of sound system installed (providing DAB digital radio, MP3/USB/i-Pod playability and the usual CD, AM/FM radio), with a colour touchscreen display and 4 new speakers -

James, can you tell me where you had this done? I did have the Parrot 8200 installed but it packed up, both electrically and mechanically and I gave up on it. I've done a DIY install of an old Kenwood unit I had and am trying to decide what to do next. I am of a similar mind regarding the lack of buttons and bling - your install looks ideal and I'd like to give it to someone who's worked on an Esprit before.

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

http://caraudiosecurity.com/ in West London

They're a good bunch - and work quickly. :-)

[hedgerley]

Ah, I assumed you'd had done up here in Scotland. No matter, a good excuse for a trip.......

What is the JVC model number? Happy with it?

Edited February 28, 2010 by hedgerley

[Günter]

not sure that it isn't some simple sort of image-lifting with this Ferrari ....but isn't the Espit with his DIY service capability and low-tech conception more practicable in long terms to cover *long distances* ?! As the F 456 would mean high bills year by year, if you plan to service it per owners handbook/maintenance plans -so this and the in most cases low anual mileage of Ferrari owners would mean higher cost per mile.

Or is an Ferrari really that cheap in GB -mentioning insurance an emission taxes for a big V12 compared with a 4-pot??

PS.

..does the songlist mean anything !?

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

For me the switch is more about comfort, and the practicality of being able to take 3 friends for a ride rather than 1.

I'll take the hit with the servicing - it will be more; but the F456's engine is a tuned down version of the F550's and so consequently even if you floor it - it's still only operating at about 90% capacity - this pays dividend in the sense that it is never over-stressed - and so often the servicing isn't that bad anyway. As for me - I'm a self confessed lamo with mechanics so the Esprit's DIY prospects were never much help to me.

Road tax in the UK - £245 a year compared to £205 with the Esprit - not much of an increase. [pre emissions laws cars get away with a hell of a lot!]. 17mpg is more the downside than the tax front.

As for my music choice... don't ask! But the group's quite popular in Germany so I believe. The text is a live feed from the i-pod and the top line is the artist, the middle - the song title, and the bottom - the album it came from. 'Maybe this Maybe is Gone' doesn't make much sense in English let alone across languages! - but I guess it's a declaration about going indecisiveness and becoming resolved in your mind. And 'Time is the Reaper' is a metaphor for saying something like 'we're all gonna die eventually so you may as well get on and do whatever it is you're thinking about doing'. By the way Gunter - couldn't help noticing you're in Potsdam, I'm in Berlin this week - arriving tonight so if you fancy a or if you have any tips on where to go in the evenings for a quiet drink around Chausseestraß that would be great!

Oh and the JVC's model number is KD AVX-44, and it's brilliant! :-)

Edited March 1, 2010 by EspritMiltonKeynes

[fesuvious]

Hi, I tried to call you this evening. However, I notice from the ringtone you are out of the country!

When are you back?

matt

[Al]

Lovely looking car. I was l giving it the once over about 10 days ago at Murray's when dropping mine off. (I am fairly sure that was the number although I didn't study it) I was commenting to Craig that it was my favourite colour on a car (yes, I know mine isn't now, but long story) and it looked so good all these years on, unlike many manufacturers red cars which go pink or multicoloured. I have also particularly always liked simple 5 spoke wheels for some reason, and was asking Craig what model it was as I am not yet enough of an anorak enthusiast to be able to tell them all apart quickly. Hope it is still around on the 11th April and you can join the Scottish jolly in the Scottish Forum section.

[bingoking]

Lovely car James and if you are giving it up for a Ferrari then the 456 is a great choice.

Did you source the 456 locally and are you aware of Top Gear Cars near Whitburn who are Ferrari and Lambo specialists and can take care of servicing for you.

Good luck with selling the Esprit I am sure you will find a good home for it.

As Allan has said if you still have the Esprit on 11th April why not join us or a blast around the borders Clicky

[Kimbers]

Great car, but I would say that!

Like James says I spent a small fortune on that car mechanically. Must admit I considered buying it back but I think I'm saving up for an Evora.

[Simon350S]

Eh? Thought you were priced out of the Market for your exige?? How's that translate into purchasing an evora?

[Kimbers]

Like I said Simon. I'm saving up for an Evora. Doesn't mean I'm buying one. At this rate it'll only take me.....erm....about 200 years.

[Simon350S]

LOL

happy saving dudes

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

Well.. the Ferrari inpection didn't come back too favourably, and I haven't been able to convince the seller of his car's failings. He is living in Dreamland of course - but it was worth a shot.

I'm £600 down, but it's the best £30k I never spent as I keep telling myself - so the search continues...

Anthony, you should get the Evora if you can...

Can your daughter not get a graduate loan (different to a student loan), and available to people doing medicine/law/etc - I know when I was at medical school I was offered one but didn't take it - the rates weren't bad

[bingoking]

James,

Sorry to hear your Ferrari deal fell through.

Not wishing to promote the prancing horse brand my son is in the motor trade in Kirkcaldy and yesterday he took in a Ferrari 355 '97 or an R plate with £41k on the clock, Red with cream leather. He says that the last owner spent £4k on the paintwork last year but needs the belts changed.

If this is something you might be interested in let me know and I can PM my son's details to you. He's at work today.

Another thought, have you tried Top Gear Cars out near Whitburn. Carlo McCrindle is the guy to speak to and he specialises in Ferrari's and Lambos.

[Simon350S]

I do like the Red ladies