Looking for Esprit Turbo

Looking for Esprit Turbo

Author
Discussion

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
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Hi, am new to this forum and Lotus but not PH, Im in the market for an Esprit turbo and have a budget of around £12-£14k, am I looking at the right price for a decent running Turbo?

I have trawled around the web forums and looked at the "What to Check" things to look for, so was just wondering if anyone could point me in a direction to find a decent one for sale, I have done the usual `Bay and PH and I`m narrowing down on a couple for this weekend hopefully. So any info you could give would be appreciated.


Impasse

15,099 posts

240 months

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Friday 5th June 2015
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Thanks Impasse, Ive already looked in there and going to look at one at the weekend.

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Wednesday 10th June 2015
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how set are you on an Esprit turbo?

I have a classic 911, stephens Esprit Turbo and TVR Chimaera. The Esprit doesnt really get driven compared to the other two (unfortunately its in Australia otherwise I would sell you that)

The 911 will be way out of that price range but that will get you a half decent Chimaera. In my experience a much better car if you want british plastic. Much more reliable, faster, sounds better, more comfortable, economical and a beautiful interior (which cannot be said of the Lotus) and a fraction of the price to run and maintain. My Lotus has cost approx 7k gbp over last four years while the TVR is circa 22 quid. Lotus has only 16k miles from new.

just thought I would chime in with my personal experience


phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Thanks for the offer James but i have just decided to up my expenditure to buy a V8GT and yes i am very stuck on an Esprit.

Espritmania

21 posts

211 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Hi,I have my S4 Esprit up for sale on piston heads if this is is of any interest please let me know.Paul G.

fflyingdog

621 posts

238 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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I would think that you are going to have to drastically up your original budget to get a good V8 ,don't get drawn in by the shininess.

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
quotequote all
fflyingdog said:
I would think that you are going to have to drastically up your original budget to get a good V8 ,don't get drawn in by the shininess.
How about double my original figure?

Hedgerley

620 posts

267 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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At least, a bit more for a decent one. The best ones aren't going anywhere and prices have been on the up for the last year or two. I paid £20k for mine 8 years ago. Had it valued for insurance purposes 2 years ago at £25k. Best ones are £30k plus now - that mint, low mileage example at Stratton is £50k and LHD at that. Friend of mine sold his V8, one of the last, for £35k privately a few months ago.

Good luck with your search.

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Yes I have realised that if I buy a 2.2, I will always have wished I had a V8 so I have decided to bite the bullet and jump straight in and go for the big one, I`m only here once, I have the funds so why not.

Hedgerley

620 posts

267 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Sense of deja vu. I thought I wanted a late GT3, the last of the fours. Drove a few, also an S4S and then had an opportunity to try the V8. I was smitten, upped the budget and never regretted it. Wrote my first one off on black ice and 3 months later bought another, my current one.

A couple of months back there was a similar post to yours on TLF. He was looking for a four but I offered him a ride in my V8, an offer he took up. A few weeks later he bought one. It seems to have that effect on people, despite the higher bills!

Go for it.

Edited by Hedgerley on Thursday 11th June 22:22

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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I have been there and done it before with an old Audi coupe, once I had one I then immediately wanted the Quattro turbo, eventually got one and loved it, wished I had bought it instead of the normal coupe. So thinking back I might just as well go for the big one and be done with it.

fflyingdog

621 posts

238 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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S4s against a V8 try before you buy,different animals but not poles apart.


Eta .I didn't see the GT V8 of your post.

Espritmania

21 posts

211 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
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Sorry now sold


Edited by Espritmania on Saturday 13th June 19:23

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Monday 22nd June 2015
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I found a "nice looking" V8 for sale last week so as it was over 240 miles from me and the fact that I have never owned a Lotus before I decided to employ a professional inspection company to get it inspected before I decided to go to look at it. Inspection came back to be as favourable so I went to look on Saturday with a view to place a deposit if it was actually in the condition the report said it was.

Shock horror, I picked up about 5 points on the car that the inspector hadn't mentioned in the report and these were not small easy fixes, the owner knew of the faults but hadn't told me about them when we spoke on may occasions on the phone and via email. To say I was miffed about the 6 hour drive there on Friday evening was an understatement and really not happy about the very weak report.

Im not going into too much detail here on this due to the fact that I have written to the inspection company displaying my great displeasure in driving all that way to see a car and that in my opinion hadn't been inspected correctly. Suffice to say I did not buy the car.

The hunt goes on.

Impasse

15,099 posts

240 months

Monday 22nd June 2015
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Give us a clue as to the nature of the issues. Some are more easily fixed than they might appear.

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Monday 22nd June 2015
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Impasse said:
Give us a clue as to the nature of the issues. Some are more easily fixed than they might appear.
Without going into too much detail, engine/gearbox oil leaks and they were dripping.

Serious engine misfire, in 3rd, 4th and 5th gear, when feathering the throttle and accelerating. Not sure why it didn't show in 1st or 2nd gear but it was enough to put the element of doubt in my mind, especially when im not up on Lotus engines.

Petrol filler pipe rubber seal between pipe and body heavily perished.

A very heavily corroded "Sandwich plate" at the very rear of the car inside the rear boot under the carpet, im not sure what it does exactly but seems it sandwiches tow body parts together, it fell to pieces when I touched it

and there were others. But really the inspector should have picked these up.

There I have probably mentioned too much now.

Le TVR

3,092 posts

250 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2015
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There are very few that I would have confidence in for inspecting a V8.
Mine had been inspected by a very well known 'Lotus' name + specialist. His conclusion after 10 pages of waffle was 'nothing of concern'.
Well....
The exhaust was terminal and blowing and one end pipe was just about hanging on,
EGR pipe leaking,
The transmission seals were both leaking and dripping oil,
The LHS oil cooler was leaking,
Rear suspension bushes were beyond fked,
Rear upper links rusted solid and rear geometry has so much camber it was blatantly visible and
Rear body / chassis mount broken, body cracked.

I think if was ever looking for another I would happily pay Gerald (GST Performance) to go and check it over first.

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2015
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These inspections are not cheap either....

phumy

Original Poster:

5,671 posts

236 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
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I have just placed a deposit on a very nice and original V8, should pick it up next Friday/Saturday, will post some pictures when I get it....cant wait.