Hey everyone. First post here.

Hey everyone. First post here.

Author
Discussion

Sicshift

Original Poster:

7 posts

260 months

Sunday 29th September 2002
quotequote all
Hey everyone. Just came accross this board. I am looking to buy a 93ish Esprit SE over the next few months so I just wanted to say hi.

Sicshift

Original Poster:

7 posts

260 months

Sunday 29th September 2002
quotequote all
By the way, I have about $30,000 US to spend. Any recommendations?

cnh1990

3,035 posts

264 months

Sunday 29th September 2002
quotequote all
Go buy this one. It's Mike's from this forum.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1863109636
Would like to chat but in the midst on an emergency some poor fellow has lost all hydraulic fluid going to his clutch system.
Calvin

Sicshift

Original Poster:

7 posts

260 months

Sunday 29th September 2002
quotequote all
Thanks for the link. I saw it. Looks great. I have been staring at it for a few days now. I am currently waiting for a settlement before I buy. (got hit on my motorcycle by a car this Tuesday.) Once I get that, I am going to sell my Mustang GT Convertible and start shopping. Damn they are hard to find!

This sounds stupid because I am sure you guys get asked this all the time, but are maintenance and parts really going to kill me in cost? I saw on this site that spark plugs alone are 27 us dollars each!!

I really want a Lotus but this is the only thing I am hesitant on.

727driver

21 posts

265 months

Sunday 29th September 2002
quotequote all
sicshift,
I have a 1993 SE for sale if your interested. It's silver, black interior, 38xxx miles, Alpine stereo, everything is stock except for the SS hose upgrade. Asking $28,500. Located in STL. 618-580-4298.

GREG

cnh1990

3,035 posts

264 months

Monday 30th September 2002
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The plugs are pretty cheap at NAPA or bike shops that sell the NGK plugs

GUY JOHNSON

179 posts

265 months

Monday 30th September 2002
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Well if you do most the work your self they can be cheap.
But if you can not fix it it gets $$$$$$$ .

You sound like some one I now.

cnh1990

3,035 posts

264 months

Monday 30th September 2002
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Guy, did I meet you at LOG this year?
Calvin

sicshift

Original Poster:

7 posts

260 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
Hey guys, thanks for the replies, I will post again in a month when I have the cash in hand to see if someone is selling.

Good news on my part. My cousin is an Alfa Romeo mechanic and has worked on many a Lotus. He says they are very similar so it looks like I have a trustworthy, cheap mechanic for it.

This would be my only car and daily driver. Is this the same situation for everyone else? I am debating between a Lotus and a BMW 840. I know they are completely different cars. lol.

ErnestM

11,621 posts

268 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Hey guys, thanks for the replies, I will post again in a month when I have the cash in hand to see if someone is selling.

Good news on my part. My cousin is an Alfa Romeo mechanic and has worked on many a Lotus. He says they are very similar so it looks like I have a trustworthy, cheap mechanic for it.

This would be my only car and daily driver. Is this the same situation for everyone else? I am debating between a Lotus and a BMW 840. I know they are completely different cars. lol.


For a tad more you could always look at the '94 S4 or '95 S4s. Just a thought...

ErnestM

sicshift

Original Poster:

7 posts

260 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
yeah, I am open to that. I just pretty much put a 30,000 cap on my spending range. If its a much better car for just a few thousand more though, I would consider it.

ErnestM

11,621 posts

268 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
quote:

yeah, I am open to that. I just pretty much put a 30,000 cap on my spending range. If its a much better car for just a few thousand more though, I would consider it.


Well, I don't know about better. That's a car by car judgement call. The S4 does have the upgraded body style and it is, after all, the last of the four cylinders. Most people cannot tell the difference between the S4/S4s and the V8 (or a Ferrari or Lamborghini for that matter )

For reference:
Karl's car on the factfile is an S4s (with mods)
Mine is a '98 V8 click here for the web site.

I happen to know of a BRG/Tan S4s in my neck of the woods going for about $32K, so they are out there.

ErnestM

GUY JOHNSON

179 posts

265 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
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What is LOG cnh1990?

sicshift

Original Poster:

7 posts

260 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
thanks for the info! 32K is definitely feasable for me. Do you guys know any sites for classifieds other than ebay? I don't like purchasing through dealerships.

cnh1990

3,035 posts

264 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
Guy,
LOG 22 is an abreviation for Lotus Owners Gathering held once a year in the North America. This years turn out was one of the largest. Well beyond 100 cars in attendance. For the concours event they had slated 110 spaces and we ran out of room. Tony Vaccaro of the NY club took some pics and it is on his site:
www.lotusowners.com
Log was a 4 day event.
Day 1
Registration, welcome reception, and a chance to meet old and new friends from the list and forum. wandering the parking lot looking at hundreds of cars arrive.

Day 2
Concours, a chance to show your car and be judged by other Lotus owners. Auto jumble, which is a swap meet for lotus stuff. Awards dinner for the concours, guest speakers from past Lotus cars execs from the glory days of F1, LUSA, etc. plus many door prizes for the lucky.

Day 3
Autocross event, Rallye event, and dinner cruise with many door prizes. We say ggodbye to many people this night.

Day 4
Track day at a road course.
To use the full width of the road surface during turns was a blast and brught back many memories of my youth when I used to track cars. I was a little more daring back then.
I met so many people at LOG it was amazing.

I am on the home page of the www.lotusowners.com
Front and center of the first picture. The rest of the guys are experts in repair and restoration of various models including but not limited to Elan, Europa, Europa TC, Eclat, Elite, M100, Esprit G car, Esprit S car. We have not yet taken apart a V8 but give us time. The second picture is part of my car next to the police Esprit. Click on th pictures for more. There is also a pic of me and the president of the St. Louis club Mark Pfeffer on photo set 3 row 4 picture 4. I'm in the blue jacket. The pictures do not do justice to what goes on at LOG. It is a fabulous event that should be experienced by all Lotus owners. There are many people envious of us as one of the wives remarked. She noted that all of us owners have this passion in life with our cars and many people are void of this type of passion, car related or other interests and that she noted what a shame to have such drab lives without this sort of passion for something, anything for that matter.
There are hundreds of pictures showing up on many sites of LOG 22

Calvin

GUY JOHNSON

179 posts

265 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
Well I never went. The only car show I went to was up in Santa Barbera.

sicshift

Original Poster:

7 posts

260 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
hey, I'm in Santa Barbara!

cnh1990

3,035 posts

264 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
I met Gordonie from the LA club at the LOG. Nice V8 with many of the seam lines eliminated.
Calvin

GUY JOHNSON

179 posts

265 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
sicshift I goto Sata Barbera al the time.
I have some feriands up their. Witch alows me to bring the car.
Calvin are you and east cost or west cost?

ErnestM

11,621 posts

268 months

Tuesday 1st October 2002
quotequote all
quote:

thanks for the info! 32K is definitely feasable for me. Do you guys know any sites for classifieds other than ebay? I don't like purchasing through dealerships.


I feel the same way about most car purchases, but most Lotus dealers are different. You can get a really well taken care of car by purchasing from dealers such as Fox Valley in Illinois.

Also, get the VIN# from the car that you consider and do two things: Run a Carfax AND call up Lotus USA in Atlanta and get a history from them...

You may also want to try:

www.collectorcartraderonline.com/adsearch.html

and of course the Dupont Registry...

Good Luck. When you get closer to purchase time let us know and, I for one, will help you look...

ErnestM