Andy_A 7 Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 Hi, everyone. I've had my esprit about seven years now. It's a '96 V8. She is pampered to death and only comes out of the garage on dry sunny days. Did about 50 miles last year, and she's got about 21k on her. She's originally a Lotus Company vehicle, which I bought from Bell and Colville. The only problems I've had are the engine light remaining on ("unspecified fault"), and the L/h drive shaft seal that's been replaced 5 times and still seeps a little. Oh, and I had a wheel bearing replaced some years back. Had the belt change done a few years back, the belt came out looking like new, but the engine is never as smooth once it's been out! So she can keep this belt for ever now. All that gets done now is a service and run to the MOT station. There's another red V8 here in Sunderland and we keep in touch by text from time to time. This year we both bought the 1:18 scale AutoArt model on e-bay from Canada via Hongkong (!). I'm also a keen 'biker with a Honda Blackbird and Varadero. This time of year however all is quiet in the garage! I don't think I'll ever sell my V8 as it's worth more to me than anyone else, but it sure takes up a lot of room in the garage. My day to day car is a Volvo 850 T5 with R chip and suspension. But I'm sure you don't want to hear about her. Anyway hello all, again, and compliments of the season! Quote Current menagerie; Kawasaki Z1000SX 2017 (Thinking man's sports tourer) BMW X3 35D M Sport 2015 (Thinking man's chelsea tractor) Toyota Hilux Invincible 2007 (Thinking man's mud plugger) Lotus Esprit V8 1996 (Thinking man's thinking destroyer) Link to post Share on other sites
dodgy 26 Posted December 31, 2006 Report Share Posted December 31, 2006 Hi Andy and Welcome to the Mad house the saying 'Use it or Loose it' applies very well to the Esprit, as long as the weather is dry, try and drive it around the block at least once a fortnight, it will keep the tyres from getting the flat spots, and the seals have less chance of drying out and leaking on the car keep an eye on the events thread , as some good Great things go on during the year Donnington in March, another Factory trip in July (hopefully) the 2 Oxford runs June(ish)+Sept(ish) and many many more events we will get the mileage up Happy hooning and Welcome again 'Dodgy' Dave Quote Лотос - для тех которые знают разницу ENIGMA for those who are paranoid or download one Link to post Share on other sites
Loose Cannon 582 Posted December 31, 2006 Report Share Posted December 31, 2006 Howdy neighbour! We are up the A690 in Durham. I was going to say its strange that my Lotus-radar had not seen you out and about until I read the bit about doing 50 miles last year... And as for running a chipped 850 T5 as a family wagon well that's just spookily coincidental! Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,391 Posted December 31, 2006 Report Share Posted December 31, 2006 Hello Andy - Welcome to LEF. You're gonna be told a lot to go drive your car! Sounds like a corker to be honest so enjoy it more 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
cbclotus 521 Posted December 31, 2006 Report Share Posted December 31, 2006 Welcome Andy you have a fantastic car cheers mike s3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
esprit350 2 Posted December 31, 2006 Report Share Posted December 31, 2006 (edited) Welcome to the forum, by the way you need to use your car... Edited December 31, 2006 by esprit350 Quote The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. Friedrich Nietzsche find me on Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvis...mbers/espritguy Link to post Share on other sites
formatc 0 Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 Happy New Year all - god my head hurts. Hi Andy Great car. Nice to see another Esprit in the north east. I just live a couple of miles from Sunderland. I agree with the last comment - you should use it more often :^) Cheers Mick 99 GT3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_A 7 Posted January 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 (edited) Thankyou all so much for your welcoming posts! I hope that in the Spring we can get together for a run out, especially with local-yokels; Format C, and Mark Britten. I take your collective point about running her more often. In my perfect world I would. There are a whole host of reasons why I don't . -Pride in keeping the car mint. -Security; not flashing it about. -Security; got to get the keys for and move; the Volvo, the Transit, the Blackbird (garaged broadside on), get -the Lotus out, put the blackbird back in, and lock everything up. Then do the opposite when I return! -Boyracer hassles and rude behaviour from other motorists. -Time; too many toys, not enough, er, well... time! -etc, etc.. But hey that's just me! Might I just share a quick anecdote with you? I was out on my Blackbird in the Summer, and I pulled into the carpark on the sea front at Whitburn, just in time to see a red V8 parking up. I rode over to the car and knocked on the window. "I've got one of those..." I said. Yeah right sonny. As expected. I managed to persuade the driver to follow me back to mine (brave/foolhardy fellow), where there was proof of the pudding. And that's how I met "Malcolm Lotus" from Sunderland. Which reminds me, I must tell him about this site! Anyway, thanks again for your welcome, and; Happy New Year! Edited January 1, 2007 by Andy_A Quote Current menagerie; Kawasaki Z1000SX 2017 (Thinking man's sports tourer) BMW X3 35D M Sport 2015 (Thinking man's chelsea tractor) Toyota Hilux Invincible 2007 (Thinking man's mud plugger) Lotus Esprit V8 1996 (Thinking man's thinking destroyer) Link to post Share on other sites
matk 17 Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 Welcome! Lovely car, but if you've not changed the cam belt for a few years I'd get that done pronto, it's a time wearing item not mileage and you don't want one of them going ping on a V8! Quote Regards Mat Link to post Share on other sites
Kimbers 1,839 Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 Please do tell him about the site, the more the merrier! Welcome, sounds like you've got a few toys. Unfortunately my 4 kids have all the toys......university funds....college funds......etc etc. Quote Possibly save your life. Check out this website.http://everyman-campaign.org/ Distributor for 'Every Male' grooming products. (Discounts for any TLF members hairier than I am!) Link to post Share on other sites
USAndretti42 312 Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 Welcome, Andy. I can understand why you did only 50 miles last year if you take it out only when it's dry. Like others here, I think the rain will do less harm than having it standing in the garage for months at a time. Quote S4 Elan, Elan +2S, Federal-spec, World Championship Edition S2 Esprit #42, S1 Elise, Excel SE Link to post Share on other sites
Jussi 1 Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 Hello Andrew and welcome to forum I don't blame you for not driving on rainy days, I don't drive my car either on rainy days B) Quote Check my blog and leave comments/suggestions Jussi's photography blogSee you in G+ Jussi Alanko in Google+ Link to post Share on other sites
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