S3 Turbo Running Costs?

[Hairyarse]

Apologies if this is a regular question but I searched the forum and couldn't find the answer! It may still be some time before I'm sleeping in my 1st Esprit (well, with such a stonking looking car, I couldn't leave it outside all on it's own now could I? )

I'd like to get an idea of running cost for my ideal purchase, an S3 Turbo. Now, I guess it's one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions, given anything could break anytime and make me bankrupt (again!) However, I guess also there must be an 'average' figure to cater for servicing costs each year etc - at least this will give me some idea what I need to aim for.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

cheers

Andy

[Bibs]

I allow

[Hairyarse]

Cheers Bibs, that's about where I had been thinking.

Doesn't sound too bad! I spent

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Well I have had my car for a little over two years and so far the running total on spending is

[WayneB]

Im spending about $3000 a year on mine (restoration parts ran about$15,000)

[Couger]

Try and buy something half decent in the first place, it will save you a shed load in the long term. also dont be scared to get your hands dirty, get your spanners out if required its only a car underneath

[gpz900r]

Try and buy something half decent in the first place, it will save you a shed load in the long term. also dont be scared to get your hands dirty, get your spanners out if required its only a car underneath

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Half the fun for me is that fact that it really is just a car underneath, I look under my BMW and wonder whats going on. (I dont want to work on it) The esprit is now the best thing I have ever had to get an excuse for anything, You just say "Lotus trouble" with a very serious frown in any situation and say god bless to the in-laws frequent visits, horrid trips to the gym, no! sorry dear, the lotus might explode! IF I dont fix this turbo rigt now and well you know, hide in the garage while the washings done, every great man and every successfull marrige is guided by having a shed or a garage, and if your going to have a shed or a garage, you make sure that what ever you buy to put in it will require all of your time and even the tinest bit of your time spent away from fixing the car means that your a saint in her eyes from saving the house hold from a huge holiday size garage bill , im sure you all know exactly what I mean B) ................. Well dear its 12 miles to the gallon but hey, you can walk everywhere else and stay green,

[Hairyarse]

Thanks for all the tips lads.

Robin!!!! Are you serious!! Do I assume that your avatar picture has a direct link to the amount of money you've spent??!

[WayneB]

That Robin has money to burn $$$$$$$$ Listen if you dont smoke, drink(heavely) womanise or gamble you could afford an Esprit (or get parents to pay)

Edited July 21, 2005 by WayneB

[Hairyarse]

Damn I'm buggered!

[Splashout]

well i have lost count on what i have spent to date it is up there with the fishy one but primerilly this was down to buying a dog in the first place if you by a sorted car then you should be able to manage relatively easily!

Also as has been said they are not that hard to work on, so far i have carried out myself enging rebuild, petrol tank replacement with engine in situ, radiator replacement and much more. All of this with relatively little knowledge before i started.

So buy a good one always have some money asside as even if you do it yourself you will need parts and you should be able to manage.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

ok... melodrama and comedic effect aside......

[WayneB]

Fixing up an old Esprit is an excellent way to spend time(and money) I feel sorry for the guys who just buy a new one and take it to a dealer for work, they are missing out on the best bit(IMO)

[Paul C]

Wide question, running costs...

My S3 had over Six Thousand pounds off me in the first year.

The next four years total came to about

[Simon350S]

Out of interest......

All you guys with huge spend out on your esprits, are you paying for restorations, maintenance/servicing and engine/gearbox refubs at dealers/specialists or have you been doing all the work yourself and its the parts that are hugely expensive?

Cant seem to figure out why its all costing so much money???

Gettig a little worried myself at this point in time!!!

[Paul C]

Out of interest......

All you guys with huge spend out on your esprits, are you paying for restorations, maintenance/servicing and engine/gearbox refubs at dealers/specialists or have you been doing all the work yourself and its the parts that are hugely expensive?

Mine gets done at a specialist. There is some stuff i do, and depending

on how busy he is, there's some stuff i've done i'd have preferred to pay

him to do.

I'm an Electrical contractor, and the car is my weekend toy. TBH getting

my tools out at the weekend (even for the Esprit) is like going back to work,

so i'm much happier getting someone to do it. I know a lot of owners work in

an Office enviroment, and if i did then i'm sure i'd do a lot more myself.

As i said earlier, it's being in for the long haul that makes bills higher, for example:

My S3 had one Cracked piston. I decided while it was apart to have four new

pistons and liners, new head, main bearings etc, etc... Because i was KEEPING the

car and wanted to sort out everything i could while the block was in bits. I could

have always just had the one piston and liner done and saved 3-4 grand in parts

and labour, but i'd have kicked myself paying him to take the engine back out to

mend something i could have replaced then!

Must stress though, this cars are ACE and it's ALL worth it!

So don't let this thread cast any negative thoughts.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Just cos you can BUY one for Mondeo money.. don't think for one second you can RUN one for Mondeo money! They are still Supercars (just tragically undervalued)

Some parts are GM prices but then there are other parts that are 100% Lotus - eg Turbo Manifold ~

[Hairyarse]

I know I'll buy (when

[oneshot]

, if you go to someone like Paul Matty are you guaranteed a good car? I'd still check it over anyway but is it worth paying a dealers premium for the peace of mind with an Esprit?

Good question I bought mine from a dealer (Nick Whale's) and I thought about the dealer premium. Although my car is only 5 years old, I was still concerned about major parts failing etc. The dealer gave me 12 months warranty with the car and the option to renew after 12 months. This warranty covers repairs up to the purchase price of the car.

I thought that paying a bit extra was worth it in this case (although the price I paid was actually the going price for the car anyway).

To be honest I think it depends on the dealer.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Ditto David's final comment - It's all down to the dealer.

Matty seems to have a reputation for cars that are a

[Splashout]

I have done all the work myself on the car except stuff that i thought would be to risky in terms of it failing if i did it. An example of this is that i had QED rebuild the bottom end of my engine when i did the rebuild as i too went the upgrade route of putting HC pistons and liners in which incurs a huge cost in terms of machining the block a couple of thou to take them.

and i have always taken the attitude that if it is susspect replace it.

so the engine rebuild origonaly cost me

[oneshot]

If you are considering a dealership then this link might be useful:

Dealer comparison

[Curly Jon]

For me it all came down to the condition of the car in the 1st place.

New leather inside Inc everything about

[Hairyarse]

I notice in Esprit adds it's common to see the statement 'recent engine rebuild.' Is this something that is taken as certain to happen - is it at a certain mileage you tend to need a rebuild or is it purely pot luck how long they last?

[jimmybondi]

I notice in Esprit adds it's common to see the statement 'recent engine rebuild.' Is this something that is taken as certain to happen - is it at a certain mileage you tend to need a rebuild or is it purely pot luck how long they last?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not particulary a Lotus or Esprit thing, but you tend to drive a car like the Esprit quite fast and hard.

Especially the Turbo version should be looked after quite often in order to prevent an early rebuild, as it is very delicate.

My n/a '88 Excel SE has almost the same engine as the Esprit and + 90k miles on the clock, engine still going strong, though I'm pushing her very hard!

Edited July 22, 2005 by jimmybondi