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[Baker07]

Hi guys

I currently drive a 911 gt2 but have always fancied a lotus esprit. There is one which caught my eye in grey at lotus hedge end it's gt v8 does anyone have any information on the car also at 57k miles should I be concerned do they get costly with more miles.

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Paul

[Hedgerley]

Probably worth posting on TLF as well. More than likely someone there knows the car. I've had my V8 GT or over 6 years now, its been a peach.

[superdave]

Hi there,


It's on the slightly high side but it all depends on what work it's had and the overall condition of the car. I live pretty local to you on Wirral and have a late V8 if you want to come round and have a look to compare ones that you go to look at?
I can also give to pointers where to look at.
I would say that I'd sell you mine as I don't really use it anymore but I can't bring myself to part with it.

Regards,



David Walters

[Baker07]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the response yes that would be good if possible at some point. Your car looks very well on the profile.

Regards

Paul

[superdave]

Thanks Paul, I've owned it for last 9.5 years now and it's only got 36K on the clock, so a really low mileage example. Just send me a PM when you want to come over.
I would look at some of the others with lower mileage on PH, there are some yellow ones on there I think.

Regards,



David Walters

[Baker07]

Hi David

Just couldn't bring myself to buy a yellow one not sure why. Can you let me have your email and I can organise seeing your car I promise I won't take up much of your time, once again thanks for your help.

Also who looks after your car.

Regards

Paul

[GhostWKD]

Baker07 said:

Hi guys

I currently drive a 911 gt2 but have always fancied a lotus esprit. There is one which caught my eye in grey at lotus hedge end it's gt v8 does anyone have any information on the car also at 57k miles should I be concerned do they get costly with more miles.

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Paul

Hi Paul,

I went to view the car a while ago and it looks & drives very well, there was an oil leak underneath from somewhere which they said they would endeavour to fix and the wheels needed a refurb which they said they could do as part of sale. As I say the car drove very well and was very refined with no untoward noises.

It has a decent service history also although has had paint on the front iirc can't remember why. Quick link to the car in a previous life; http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EOwners/GrahamCarr...

Hope this helps a little, unfortunately it wasn't for me as I needed to review my financial position and have a smaller budget for my V8 Esprit dream now. Plus I like the yellow

Cheers,
Alex

[Baker07]

Hi Alex

Thanks for the response I emailed the previous keeper as I read the history on the car but he wouldn't pass comment which has put me off that car it does look very nice but I can't understand why he wouldn't say anything so obviously nothing positive to say maybe I don't know.

Will keep looking.

Paul

[superdave]

This makes interesting reading and nice link BTW to the PO details. It's interesting as the advert picture the seller is using are over 5 years old! The car must have gone down hill since then not to use up-to-date pictures?

[Baker07]

Hi Dave

Will try and get over next week if convient for you busy week in work.

Cheers

Paul

[philip600]

Hi David, how are you doing ? Still can't bear to part with the Esprit :-) I don't blame you although I'm contemplating an Aston Martin V8 Vantage as my next bucket list car ?!
Paul, go & see David's V8, listen to what he says with regards what to look out for as he has a vast knowledge in this area, he helped me a great deal when I was looking for an Esprit. I looked at a few V8's but decided on a low mileage S4s & I love it.
Good look in the search.
Phil.
P.S. try & temp / persuade David to sell you his as it is gorgeous

[superdave]

Hi Philip,

Long time no speak. I am doing fine, I've been a bit of the forum scene for a while. I've been back since May when I bought my Evora. How's it going at your end?
Don't swap your Esprit for a Vantage as you'll be disappointed! I nearly bought my mates this year and it's not as fast as you think. Also for the new purchase cost, I wasn't blown away by the build quality neither. In the end I bought an Evora and decided to keep the Esprit. I need a 2+2 car as we have a family of 3, so I couldn't keep the Esprit and buy a Vantage and there's no way I was replacing the Esprit for the Vantage. The Esprit still feels special every time I get in it. It's even feels more special than the Evora but I prefer the Evora to use every day as it's easier to live with. Also The shape of the Evora is starting to win my heart over the Esprit now. It's a modern take of where Lotus are/were 5 years ago as opposed to 25 years ago but we forgot that the Esprit was ahead of it's time back then!


Regards,



David Walters

[superdave]

PS, I bet you are happy going down the S4s route and it's worth a lot more now than you paid for it!

[snuffy]

Dave is talking about my old Vantage. I'd take his advice if I were you. I had it for 18 months (had a Noble M12 and 4 Esprits before it) and whilst it looks the part, the biggest let down for me was that Aston Martin failed to fit an engine in the 4.3 Vantage.

[Impasse]

I'm not disappointed in my Vantage - it's a huge step up in comparison with a late model Esprit in the overall ownership experience. I've owned my Vantage for longer than I owned either of my two V8 Esprits and have done a greater amount of mileage in it simply because it's a better car. It's not a quicker car, but it's a better car.

[snuffy]

Impasse said:

I'm not disappointed in my Vantage - it's a huge step up in comparison with a late model Esprit in the overall ownership experience. I've owned my Vantage for longer than I owned either of my two V8 Esprits and have done a greater amount of mileage in it simply because it's a better car. It's not a quicker car, but it's a better car.

It's probably fair to say that I'm in the minority with my views on the Vantage. I did not dislike it, and of course it's much more modern than any Esprit (and way more than my Noble). I think I kept trying to convince myself it was an okay car, and that's what I think it was:an okay car. But it's just okay, and that's the problem.

I suspect if I'd have gone from a V8 Esprit to a Vantage I'd have been happy with it. But having a Noble before the Vantage meant I was used to bonkers performance so that's why I found it somewhat boring. But of course different people want different things.

[philip600]

Hi David, I'm good thanks. I certainly still love the S4s & don't regret buying it at all. My mate thinks I'm mad even considering replacing it with a Vantage. I haven't driven one ( yet ) & maybe will be disappointed & change my mind but I've always hankered after an Aston Martin & the Vantage fits into what I could afford.
I would certainly agree that the Esprit will be hard to replace in the looks department, it still looks fantastic now & gets admiring glances wherever I go, she's done 43k miles now so I've done 8k miles in her in 3 years but I think I would use a Vantage more as I don't use the Esprit much in the Winter & am always careful where I park her.
I've got a few jobs to sort over Winter, AC packed up last time I was out in her & I replaced the brake pressure switch with the ones a lad over on TLF sourced for his car but I've started having occasional ABS light on again. I also want to get the front & rear bumper painted as they've been done in the past but are a bad match.

I saw you'd bought an Evora, lovely looking car. Enjoy !
Regards, Phil

[V8 FOU]

Time I bought another V8 Esprit. Really miss mine! Nothing, but nothing comes close. Porsche / Maserati / etc. Nothing wrong with yellow either. Do like the look of that silver one though....