GavinT 109 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Hi all, It's been about four months since I waived goodbye to 165H and I really miss her. I did good things with the money from the sale ...paid down some debt and expanded my business....but doing the 'mature' thing has left me unsatisfied. Although I didn't drive her much, I was proud to be her owner. The rush when I opened the garage door is gone. It sounds stupid to say 'I am still in mourning' but I think I really am. 165H will never be mine again but I feel that I will need to fill the void sometime soon. Life really is too short. In the meantime I shall take pleasure from your sharing on this forum. Cheers to all. Gavin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
molemot 521 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 "Mature"...."Sensible".....may the fates defend me from such unworthy thoughts!!!! As you have found, once it's gone, it's gone. Only twice in 68 years have I sold things in a so-called "sensible decision". Once was the MG TC...;which was sold when I was in the RAF and couldn't keep her as she should have been kept...and the other was the aeroplane, after I had wrecked my shoulder and couldn't reach the radios. Both bad decisions. To get them back again would now bankrupt me!! 1 Quote Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been." - Albert Einstein Link to post Share on other sites
GavinT 109 Posted November 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I've learnt my lesson. In the future when it comes to things automotive I SHALL NEVER BE SENSIBLE OR MATURE. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
espritmania 34 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I was in the same boat,doing up a house costs spiraling as usual .Car stuck in the garage because all the time was spent on the house.So decided to advertise it not expecting to sell it (you know what I mean,just to get it out of my system). A collector from the USA phoned me up and A deal was done before I could change my mind. The short story is yes i am sad i sold my S1 but I paid off some of the mortgage and now have an S4 Esprit and also by luck an ultra rare Altaire green Esprit S3 .So I am quite happy still. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Andy Esprit SE 87 Posted November 19, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I know a fella who has just bought the same actual esprit for the 3rd time !! Going to get the full story at weekend but hes sold it twice for different reasons and bought it back again a couole of years later. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GavinT 109 Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I think next time around I will look at a later model Esprit. Either a G Turbo or a Stevens. I'd really like an S3 N/A but not available here in the States. I love the simplicity of the engineering on the S1/S2 but am all too familiar with the early models shortcomings. I think a later car, being better engineered will be somewhat easier to live with. In no rush but the search begins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Coleman 471 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Screw sensible! I'm a bloke - I'm not supposed to grow up? Quote Lotus Esprit [meaning] a 1:1 scale Airfix kit with a propensity to catch fire Link to post Share on other sites
Laurie Cross 15 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I bought mine at the time I should have been most sensible with the other half 3 months pregnant, Everyone asking where does the shopping/baby go. So hopefully I never get affected by this affliction that you all mention. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
islandbloke 1 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I feel your pain. I bought Lottie new in 1990 at a particularly exciting time in my life, and used her as a daily drive. Moved to the IOM in 1997 and wasn't using her much at all (it's a small island and I was working from home!) and she started to play up to the point that a mechanic I trusted said she needed a complete overhaul rather than messing around fighting small faults. So I rented a lock-up while I saved the £5k we thought that would cost (by now I wasn't making much money any more). In 2002 my mechanic started the overhaul then called me one day to say he'd taken the engine out for a bit of refreshing and decided it actually needed completely replacing...so that was the budget gone with lots still to do. I'd been talking to Lotus engine guru Garry Kemp about the overhaul, and told him the bad news - he said he knew someone looking for an SE as a resto project, so to cut a long story short I sold her. It was like selling one of my children - as the trailer was pulling away I knew I'd made a big mistake. Luckily I kept in touch with her new owner, who did lots and lots of work over the next four years, and told him if he ever wanted to sell her, to give me first option.. He did exactly that in 2006 and I bought her back, with a gleaming new paint job (which has now faded yet again) and an uprated engine per Garry's specification and guidance which he reckons makes 370-390bhp. I think he might be right, although I'm not going to risk a dyno run to find out. Now we're back at square one - I don't use her much, she needs another respray and is booked in for new oil coolers and a raft of other jobs. I sometimes think I should swap her for an Elise (more sensible on our narrow roads here) but I know I'd regret it. We have too much shared history of good times (and bad). So find out where yours is Gavin and plant the seed... 1 Quote Proud recipient of the LEF 'Car of the Month Award' February 2008"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: "Wow, what a ride!!" Link to post Share on other sites
rajesprit 13 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I get a stomach ache, just at the thought of selling my S1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GavinT 109 Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 The chap I sold 165H to I think will be holding on to her for a long while, unless something really unforeseen happens. He had studied automotive design in his youth and the S1 was always his favorite design. He's not mechanically inclined so the maintenance costs of paying someone for every little thing might wear him down, but he certainly wasn't short of a penny or two. I really didn't factor in how much personally the car meant too me. My mileage over the last couple of years was less than 500 a year and I figured that was way too low to really miss driving her. I think there are many on this forum that have made the mistake and now I know first hand what that regret feels like. It's spilt milk now so I shall not dwell but look forward to the next one. I'm not so looking forward to the vetting process though, as so many cars are missrepresented. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GavinT 109 Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 One of the biggest things I miss is tinkering. I loved getting my hands dirty and felt such a feeling of accomplishment after a job was done. Even if it was a pain and a knuckle buster. Hell, my first ever solo timing belt change was on 165H. Never felt so afraid when I turned the key for the first time but that quickly went away and was replaced by a big grin when she fired right up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HowardRoark 40 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I feel your pain! My first Lotus was an 89 Esprit SE, white with white leather interior. I LOVED it. Sold it to pay some bills and I always regretted it. I now own a 1999 Esprit V8 in white (the only 99+ in white I have ever seen in the US), so I love this newer car, but I would always like to own that first one again. I kind of actually liked that turbo lag with the SE where you put your boot in, and half a second later, your head slams backward into your seat like a jet taking off. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andy b 26 Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 i sold my mk 1 cortina lotus in 1987 to pay for some work on a lotus eleven i had bought. i missed it so much i bought it back in 1988 and i still have it.A chap in the local garage sold his mk i in the seventies to replace a stair carpet i bump in to him about once a month the first thing he says is the mk 1 for sale. thats a long time for regret'sandy b Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurie Cross 15 Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 My dad is always going on about cars he had back in the 60's wish I hadn't sold my Tiger, Wish I hadn't sold my Lotus Cortina and the one we were talking about a month a go was wish I had bought that RS1600. someone offered him one in the 70's but wanted alot of money saying "They didn't make a lot of these they are going to be rare" My dad said his comment at the time was something like its just an escort it will never be worth a lot........ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lotusespritse 44 Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 I feel your pain! My first Lotus was an 89 Esprit SE, white with white leather interior. I LOVED it. Sold it to pay some bills and I always regretted it. I now own a 1999 Esprit V8 in white (the only 99+ in white I have ever seen in the US), so I love this newer car, but I would always like to own that first one again. I kind of actually liked that turbo lag with the SE where you put your boot in, and half a second later, your head slams backward into your seat like a jet taking off. That white on white SE looks stunning. Do you have more pics? I would love to own that combo. I had a 91 Jim Clark Esprit SE. After selling it, I went through a lot of super cars looking for the same thrill, but came back to the Esprit. It would be hard to go back to the SE from the V8, but if a white/white SE showed up, it would be hard to say no. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vanya 563 Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 ...stay away from the SE's....they are addictive. You wouldn't wanna give up your V8 for one...but there's a risk you might buy an SE in addition to it for its raw power and addictive turbo lag. 1 Quote Vanya Stanisavljevic '91 Esprit SE | '97 XK8 Link to post Share on other sites
Hemlock 4 Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 I hope you find another one soon, good luck in the search. Quote Hey whats wrong with this wreck? We`re getting gas back here. Link to post Share on other sites
HowardRoark 40 Posted November 29, 2014 Report Share Posted November 29, 2014 That white on white SE looks stunning. Do you have more pics? I would love to own that combo. I had a 91 Jim Clark Esprit SE. After selling it, I went through a lot of super cars looking for the same thrill, but came back to the Esprit. It would be hard to go back to the SE from the V8, but if a white/white SE showed up, it would be hard to say no. Thank you Philip! Yes I loved the white leather interior. Here are a few more pics... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Pat H 22 Posted December 4, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 (edited) Third time round for me. I really should hang onto it this time. According to Lotus, it is the very last domestic market Giugiaro Turbo built in Monaco white. It has now covered a whopping 34,000 miles. It's damn good to have it back. Edited December 4, 2014 by Pat H 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,101 Posted December 4, 2014 Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 Please take some more pics Pat, is that the only one you have? I'm sure I first saw it on PH about 3 years ago, and a hundred times since and haven't seen any others. Shame for such a pretty car! 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
rudolphwolven 96 Posted December 4, 2014 Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 ...stay away from the SE's....they are addictive. You wouldn't wanna give up your V8 for one...but there's a risk you might buy an SE in addition to it for its raw power and addictive turbo lag. Indeed...........raw power and addictive turbo lag......that's the SE........... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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