Bazza 907 Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 I'm in the market to buy another Esprit as I'm a real glutten for punishment. I've come accross two early G Turbo's that are priced about the same. One is totally original with low mileage, the other is quite high mileage but has had alot of money spent on it (mostly underneath). The question I'd like your thoughts on is which is the better one to have ? What do you reckon? Bazza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKE40 Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 I'm in the market to buy another Esprit as I'm a real glutten for punishment. I've come accross two early G Turbo's that are priced about the same. One is totally original with low mileage, the other is quite high mileage but has had alot of money spent on it (mostly underneath). The question I'd like your thoughts on is which is the better one to have ? What do you reckon? Bazza IF the restoration has been done properly , then buy the one that the PO has ' Blown their brains out' and spent fortunes on and cannot complete the task in hand as this should take you some way into a perfect car. You will have to analyse your budget and .............'HOW MUCH' do you want that model ?. Also, are you going to keep it ,or are you on the way up to a later type, in which case hang loose and pounce when you find your dream ! Mike Quote "Neglect not thy opportunities" Martock ,Somerset. 1661 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayevora Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Thats a really tough question to answer. Having bought one that needed alot of work, my first thought is let somebody else spend the cash on it then buy it. It will also depend on the standard of work carried out. One mans excellent repair is another mans bodge. You can also get a great deal of satisfaction watching a poorly looked after car get back to a more appealing condition, although you can easiliy spend alot more than the car is worth with all the hidden work that needs doing and it doesn't actually look like you've got anything more for your money. If I was doing it all over again, I would take alot more time and be a little more choosey and find the right 'minter'. OK the really good ones will be more expensive and don't come on to the market that often, but will be worth it in the long run. Just my 2p. Quote Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk - that will teach us to keep mouth shut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbclotus Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Hi Bazza not sure what to say is either a dry sump car .i know you looked at the essex car ,that they have now put the price up on .you have a fantastic car in your s3 fantastic condition , but if i had the money i think it would be nice to own a turbo .sorry i have not answered your question,good luck in your search mike S 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted March 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Hi Bazza not sure what to say is either a dry sump car .i know you looked at the essex car ,that they have now put the price up on .you have a fantastic car in your s3 fantastic condition , but if i had the money i think it would be nice to own a turbo .sorry i have not answered your question,good luck in your search mike S 3 Mike I will be keeping the NA S3. I would intend to keep the S3 Turbo for a long time and don't mind spending money on it (within reason) but just wonder if in years to come, if Esprit's ever finally become real collectors cars, will the one with original paint and interior be more desirable (worth more) than one that's been restored. The restoration on the higher mileage one has been done properly and it's very good mechanically. Bazza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseraven Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 I think it really depends on what you want to do with it after you've bought it. If you go with the original, I think you'd feel guilty about making any changes, particularly to a g-car. With the non-original, you'd have more options. You could either go the restoration route, or make further changes without worrying that you'd be burnt at the stake for heresy. Having said that it's your cash you're spending (I assume), so do whatever makes you happiest. Phil Quote More speed, less haste Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lince Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 If you find a well made restoration then that is the one to buy for sure specially on Esprits as parts and labour are costly but avoid incomplete or not well done restorations as they are costly, if you go for an unrestored one then find one that is complete and unmolested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneB Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 (edited) In my opinion a low milage mint condition all original Giugiaro Turbo trumps a restored version of the same car. Its the closest one can come to buying a brand new 1980s Esprit! The original is a true representation of how the cars were built by Lotus and consiquently have added historical value over the "restored" example , which may have non original parts and been finished to a altogether different way/standard to the original car. However some people are not happy with the standard to which the cars were built back in the day, so a highly restored example might be more appealing to a perfectionist type. An amateur restoration might be great, OK or crap depending on who did the work and how much money was (or wasnt spent) Also If the original has been sitting around It may well suffer from leaking seals and shock absorbers , spongy brakes, clutch slave cylinder playing up and electrical gremlins. You pays your money etc. Edited March 17, 2007 by WayneB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Cannon Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Can you LOOK at the resto one and tell its restored? If so it will never be as appealling as a mint original car. Cosmetics are the hardest thing to get back on an older car, oily bits can be fixed (even if it does cost Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Blanchard Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 I'd go for the low mileage original car. IMO it's nice knowing it's as it was when it came out of the factory doors and doesn't have mods (which could make it worth less). I also think Ian made a good point, "One mans excellent repair is another mans bodge." Reminds me of Curly John's Turbo Esprit that was absoloutely mint and perfect, then he found out it wasn't and needed a total engine rebuild. Also, have you thought about Kato's Turbo Esprit? That's original and I'm sure he'd be please to sell. Quote Mark www.lotusespritturbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit22 Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Low milage, 50k between the two cars is a big factor in my book. Also being "unmolested" gives you the rare chance of giving such a beautiful piece of Lotus history a new life,... the way you want it done. Think of it like decorating a house( not that you do that sort of thing!), yes you can get the bods in to do it all for you and the end result looks great, but do it yourself, put your own thoughts effort and love into it and the end result is fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted March 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Low milage, 50k between the two cars is a big factor in my book. Also being "unmolested" gives you the rare chance of giving such a beautiful piece of Lotus history a new life,... the way you want it done. Think of it like decorating a house( not that you do that sort of thing!), yes you can get the bods in to do it all for you and the end result looks great, but do it yourself, put your own thoughts effort and love into it and the end result is fantastic. Thanks chaps. I'll go and have a look at the low milegae one tomorrow and try and decide between the two. Bazza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAndretti42 Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 In what way is the restored one unoriginal? It may have all original parts rather than aftermarket parts. If so, I would think it would be the way to go. On the other hand, you have an Esprit to drive so you could have one to play with in the garage. Depends on your patience and how much time (and money) you want to spend on it. Do you want a car to retore back to its former glory? And, if so, how original will it be when you are done? I don't think the value of the Esprit will ever rise to dizzy heights of, say, the contemporary Ferrari V8 so a well-restored one will always be worth more than one that needs restoring. Quote S4 Elan, Elan +2S, Federal-spec, World Championship Edition S2 Esprit #42, S1 Elise, Excel SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loose Cannon Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 Pictures required! Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted March 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 I promise I'll post some pictures when I've dealt on one of them next week. I'm leaning towards the low mileage original one with the thought of keeping my fingers crossed that mechanically it doesn't cost a small fortune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted April 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 I promised to put up a picture of the car if I did buy it so here it is. Apologies if it doesn't come out too well as I'm not used to attaching photos. In the end I went for what I would describe as the more original with much lower mileage (20,500) - the one that hasn't been restored. It was a tough decision and until top Esprit man Gerald Turner has been through it I won't know how painful a financial decision it was. Bazza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matk Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Bl**dy H*ll! I didn't realise one of the ones you were looking at was an Essex! No comparison, you had to go for the Essex. Congrats! I'm really jealous. More pics and info as soon as you can please. Quote Regards Mat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bo90 Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Bl**dy H*ll! I didn't realise one of the ones you were looking at was an Essex! No comparison, you had to go for the Essex. Congrats! I'm really jealous. More pics and info as soon as you can please. WOW Bazza! Great find! hope you managed to get it at a good price too! Quote Mike Kimberly at the launch of the Lotus Evora, "These cars will be for the few who know the difference!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit350 Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 top man, congrats 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 comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 907 Posted April 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Thanks - The two cars I was considering were both Essex Esprits. There are/were 3 Essex's for sale at the time which fortunatley gave me the chance to compare all 3. I think I paid a fair price although it certainly wasn't cheap. At the end of the day nobody with an Essex is going to give it away. I will only really know the cost once it's been fully checked over and sorted. It has been off the road for quite a few years which I guess will be the caiuse of most of the problems but hey, somebody had to get it back into circulation. Bazza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbclotus Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Good luck Bazza ,great car to own mike s3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilly Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Jammy sod !!! Hilly Quote 1981 S3 4.2 V8 6 speed (The Mutant) Mutant V8 Conversion Thread Knowledge is power .................... apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayevora Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Really nice buy Bazza. You are going to have rather a nice looking garage. And tough Questions to ask yourself, like which Esprit shall we take out today? Congrats on the purchase and when shes ready, enjoy the driving. Quote Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk - that will teach us to keep mouth shut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneB Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 (edited) Good to see you finally came out of the closet Bazza. That is a great looking car, you de man! Edited April 4, 2007 by WayneB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAndretti42 Posted April 7, 2007 Report Share Posted April 7, 2007 I don't think we've had someone on the forum having to choose between 2 Essex Esprits. Now wonder you were struggling. Car looks great. Hope it gives you many happy miles. Quote S4 Elan, Elan +2S, Federal-spec, World Championship Edition S2 Esprit #42, S1 Elise, Excel SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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