Why is the Lotus Esprit not appreciating in value??
Discussion
I've had my S4s for over 12 years ,and on balance i think that all the arguments i've read have merit in some form or other,i wont lie there have been times when i've wanted to throw a match at mine ,but you don't you just get stuck in find the fault ,fix the broken bit and take it for a drive and ask yourself why you doubted it.They are glorious things of beauty but of course that is in the eye of the beholder, when they are bad they are very very bad but when they are good they are sublime.If after 12 years of ownership and you still feel the same way every time you turn the key then then that's all that matters.
Gary C said:
Can I just make it clear. I love the espirit and would probably have one if my 911 had not landed in my lap.
Just responding to the negative view of it.
While it must seem as if rising values is a wonderful thing for a car owner, apart from a conversation piece it's a pain unless you happen to want to sell and hit the top of the curve.
It makes insurance more expensive, it makes you worry about actually using your car, makes you worried about theft.
But then you feel you can't sell as you will always regret it and never be able to get another one
Spares prices rise too.Just responding to the negative view of it.
While it must seem as if rising values is a wonderful thing for a car owner, apart from a conversation piece it's a pain unless you happen to want to sell and hit the top of the curve.
It makes insurance more expensive, it makes you worry about actually using your car, makes you worried about theft.
But then you feel you can't sell as you will always regret it and never be able to get another one
Fesuvious said:
...lots of sensible stuff...
Ally that to the fact that most comparable cars in the looks dept at the time, and of the era had bigger engines, and/or great sounding 12's or V8's and to put it simply you ended up with a typical pre elise era Lotus;
Beautiful to drive, and everyone would have one on loan from a mate for a week and enjoy it totally. But to own, well, .......... the dealer network isn't expansive, its very much a 'parts bin' car which the snobs don't like and you just might need to fix something daft when you least expect it.
All this adds up, and weighs on values, past, current and future.
Very well put, I think you've summed up the reasons for low values very well there, and I think what you say has also carried over to haunt the Evora.Ally that to the fact that most comparable cars in the looks dept at the time, and of the era had bigger engines, and/or great sounding 12's or V8's and to put it simply you ended up with a typical pre elise era Lotus;
Beautiful to drive, and everyone would have one on loan from a mate for a week and enjoy it totally. But to own, well, .......... the dealer network isn't expansive, its very much a 'parts bin' car which the snobs don't like and you just might need to fix something daft when you least expect it.
All this adds up, and weighs on values, past, current and future.
Gary C said:
DonkeyApple said:
swisstoni said:
Here's a thought - maybe old geezers (demographically the major classic car buyer (I'm guessing)) can't get in and out of the bluddy things ?
Man sized people can't even get in them. 
Gary C said:
Can I just make it clear. I love the espirit and would probably have one if my 911 had not landed in my lap.
While it must seem as if rising values is a wonderful thing for a car owner, apart from a conversation piece it's a pain unless you happen to want to sell and hit the top of the curve.
There are other negatives. How often do you see SCs or 3.2 Carreras being raced these days? They used to be the staple of the Porsche Club Championship and TBH I would love to be racing my 944 S2 race car against its other 80's Porsches. Rising values mean collector cars sadly. Once nice race cars get the cage cut out of them and converted back to road cars. Maybe not for many but for me this is properly sad. My own personal opinion but the very nature of the rather anal collector mentality is completely at odds as well with those who race.While it must seem as if rising values is a wonderful thing for a car owner, apart from a conversation piece it's a pain unless you happen to want to sell and hit the top of the curve.
At least with the Espirit one can play at being Nic Olson, I did race in the same race as him a few times but sadly didn't see much of his car as he has been at it so long he is generally way out in front.
NJH said:
There are other negatives. How often do you see SCs or 3.2 Carreras being raced these days? They used to be the staple of the Porsche Club Championship and TBH I would love to be racing my 944 S2 race car against its other 80's Porsches. Rising values mean collector cars sadly. Once nice race cars get the cage cut out of them and converted back to road cars. Maybe not for many but for me this is properly sad. My own personal opinion but the very nature of the rather anal collector mentality is completely at odds as well with those who race.
At least with the Espirit one can play at being Nic Olson, I did race in the same race as him a few times but sadly didn't see much of his car as he has been at it so long he is generally way out in front.
Good point and glad to see someone living the dream.At least with the Espirit one can play at being Nic Olson, I did race in the same race as him a few times but sadly didn't see much of his car as he has been at it so long he is generally way out in front.
Impasse said:
DonkeyApple said:
Pretty much the only reason I've never bought an Esprit is because I don't fit and I'm 6'2. Around 20 years ago I went to drive an S2 and it was farcical even attempting to drive it safely. It was a huge blow.
I'm 6' 2" and fit fine. Pretty much the only Lotus I've been able to drive was a Lotus 7 my father had that he thought was suitable for me to learn to drive on when I was about 13.
swisstoni said:
Here's a thought - maybe old geezers (demographically the major classic car buyer (I'm guessing)) can't get in and out of the bluddy things ?
The fact that the Esprit is a pig to get in to certainly doesn't help.But a more important factor is that an early Esprit is genuinely horrible to drive.
The steering is too heavy, the gearbox is often obstructive (try getting reverse....), you can't see out of it, the switchgear is crap and they can be uncomfortably hot unless you are lucky enough to have the Riviera sunroof.
For an Esprit to become pleasurable, you need to grab it by the scruff of the neck. Then the steering comes alive, the handling becomes fluid, the ride becomes compliant and you forget about all its other faults.
As a driver's car an Esprit is fabulous, but you really need to be in the right mood for it.
But as far as prices are concerned, I really couldn't care less.
I took this pic whilst driving back from Le Mans a few years ago. I came across a Dino and a Stratos. For several miles we were hammering along in each other's company.
Three disparate examples of mid engined exotic styling courtesy of Pininfarina, Bertone and Giugiaro. Each looked spectacular. Each car had similar performance. Each produced by a manufacturer with huge motorsport heritage. And somehow, the Esprit didn't seem completely out of place. Three old, impractical slices of exotica from the sixties, seventies and eighties, being driven as their designers intended.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
It was only later that I reflected that my Esprit was worth one tenth of either the Lancia or the Ferrari.
But I certainly wasn't only having one tenth as much fun.
Maybe one day the market will wake up to the Esprit?
Let's hope not.
Impasse said:
DonkeyApple said:
Pretty much the only reason I've never bought an Esprit is because I don't fit and I'm 6'2. Around 20 years ago I went to drive an S2 and it was farcical even attempting to drive it safely. It was a huge blow.
I'm 6' 2" and fit fine. St John Smythe said:
Impasse said:
DonkeyApple said:
Pretty much the only reason I've never bought an Esprit is because I don't fit and I'm 6'2. Around 20 years ago I went to drive an S2 and it was farcical even attempting to drive it safely. It was a huge blow.
I'm 6' 2" and fit fine. Lovely shot Pat!
I'm 6'2" and fit in Esprits but would not be able to drive a Ferrari 308. A GTS maybe but then I'd have to be looking above the windscreen to see! As with an XKR convertible (strangely), the windscreen frame is directly in my line of sight. I will always look at a 308 and smile with affection but they are comically tiny inside - and that's coming from a current Exige owner!
I'm 6'2" and fit in Esprits but would not be able to drive a Ferrari 308. A GTS maybe but then I'd have to be looking above the windscreen to see! As with an XKR convertible (strangely), the windscreen frame is directly in my line of sight. I will always look at a 308 and smile with affection but they are comically tiny inside - and that's coming from a current Exige owner!
The Pits said:
I'm 6'2" and fit in Esprits but would not be able to drive a Ferrari 308. A GTS maybe but then I'd have to be looking above the windscreen to see! I will always look at a 308 and smile with affection but they are comically tiny inside - and that's coming from a current Exige owner!
I'm also 6'2", but long in the leg.I just about fit in the Esprit, though my shins are up against the bottom of the dash. Cramped, but just about comfortable.
Head room is less of a problem.
In fact, I did a couple of fast blasts along the sprint course at the Cholmondeley Pagent of Power last month and had to wear a helmet. With the sunroof tipped open I just managed it.
I had two happy years with a 328 GTS, which was a wonderful car. Prior to buying it I tried a 328 GTB and just couldn't get behind the wheel.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff