Yet another new boy

[Backmarker]

Watcha guys and gals, thought it was about I broke cover!

I live just north of Stafford. Anyone else nearby? Is there a regular Esprit meet within easy travelling distance?

Like many others on this Board I do not own an Esprit but am looking out for one.

My research suggests a Stevens N/A or possibly an SE if I'm lucky.

I fell in love with Lotus when Formula 1 was watchable and Emerson Fittipaldi was gracing the screen in that gorgeous JPS.

At that time I decided I'd have to have an Europa, but then a trip to the factory in 1977/78 and a viewing of The Spy Who Loved Me convinced me that what I really wanted was an Esprit.

Rather unceremoniously I ditched Miss Europa and started to chase the new girl on the street. The fact that I also thought I was James Bond had nothing to do with this new love affair of course.

At this time I was still a student so I had to settle for a Triumph Spitfire and then a TR7.

After that, I embraced the usual mortgage, wife and 2 kids and whilst I've still got this lot, there is now a little more money left in the pot.

About 8 weeks ago an article in the Motoring supplement of the Sunday Times re-kindled the fire and 2 weeks ago I joined Club Lotus.

It was the Sunday Times article that introduced me to LEW and I would like to congratulate Kato on a very helpful and informative site. It's enabled me to narrow my search in accordance with the size of my wallet.

There is currently an SE for sale on the LEW site which fits the bill. Its in my price bracket with the right sort of service history and the Mustard Yellow colour scheme is beginning to grow on me. Unfortunatley I won't be able to commit to a purchase until after Christmas(and it's still July!!!)

If anyone knows of any unusual horror stories associated with the Stevens N/A or SE then please let me know. I suppose I could search the threads on this forum.......perhaps I can't be arsed.

Similarly if anyone near to Stafford knows of a local Esprit meeting place where perhaps I could talk to owners, I would love to know.

Thanks for taking the time to listen,

Cheers,

Backmarker

[Paul C]

If anyone knows of any unusual horror stories associated with the Stevens N/A or SE then please let me know.

Welcome

SE is a great model. It is the first model to have the chargecooled Turbo engine.

This was the last great performance leap on the 4 cyl Esprits, the later models

kept to this set-up right until the end of production.

If you look at the performance figures on LEW:

http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/models.html

then you will see that the SE (even in stock form) is still up there with the very

last Esprits in terms of performance, so there is no way you will be left wanting.

The later models do however boast equipment such as power steering, ABS etc.

There were some improvements to suspension, and they smoothed and rounded

some of the bodystyling and interior. The S4s being a very sweet machine indeed.

To me, the SE is the Daddy of all 4cyl Chargecooled cars and has a higher top end

and faster 0-60 time than the very last 4 cyl cars to roll out the factory gates

nearly ten years later!

Bargain, if you ask me

[oneshot]

I live in Cannock - not too far away from you.

You are more than welcome to pop down and have a chat about the Esprit - I have a Sport 350 - I'd happily take you for a spin.

If your interested - then send me a PM.

As far as I know there is no formal Esprit meet in the area - perhaps it's time we started one

[WayneB]

Graham, with your initial Esprit imprinting taking place in the late 70s/ early 80s ,

why dont you go for an S3 Turbo instead of an SE? Giugiaros masterpiece

not appealing enough for you?

[USAndretti42]

Welcome to the forum, Graham. Having driven a TR7 you've at least used some Esprit switchgear.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Whack a dump valve on an SE along with a K&N (or similar) and a proper open exhaust and it will happily take an S4s chip and have exactly the same power in the SE package.

Tho the S4 is supposed to handle a little more 'solidly' - the SE is reported to have become a little twitchy.... It depends on whether the bumpers bother you or not (I don't see an overall difference tbh! but this has long been a topic of great disagreement!!!!) The real downside with the S4 and later cars, as Paul has rightly pointed out is that the SE does NOT have stupid ABS, PAS, ABC, OAP, 123 or XYZ

None of that fly by wire cr4p tyvm!

Get a nice, late Giugiaro No ZX81 running it either! Carburettors are the true path!

Oh... Welcome to the group btw!

[WayneB]

Whack a dump valve on an SE along with a K&N (or similar) and a proper open exhaust and it will happily take an S4s chip and have exactly the same power in the SE package.

Tho the S4 is supposed to handle a little more 'solidly' - the SE is reported to have become a little twitchy.... It depends on whether the bumpers bother you or not (I don't see an overall difference tbh! but this has long been a topic of great disagreement!!!!) The real downside with the S4 and later cars, as Paul has rightly pointed out is that the SE does NOT have stupid ABS, PAS, ABC, OAP, 123 or XYZ

None of that fly by wire cr4p tyvm!

Get a nice, late Giugiaro No ZX81 running it either! Carburettors are the true path!

Oh... Welcome to the group btw!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Evil Dr. Fish, when did you become the forums SE expert? That position is already taken by Paul the C !

[Backmarker]

Thanks guys..............no abuse about the Mustard Yellow colour scheme?

I'll stick with a Stevens model. More rounded shape appeals.....just like my women really

I don't need raw speed. I get that from my Gixxer Thou!

I'll keep hunting and when I find something I'll let you know.

Take care boys.

Backmarker

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I like the Yellow ones! Orange was the only colour I wasn't so keen on. (Oh, and of course, the gay ice blue earlier cars!)

[Bibs]

Black SE, mmmm, imagine

Welcome to the forum Graham!

[Jussi]

Hello from Finland and welcome to forum Graham