Who here has driven a Sport 300?

[siocox]

Hi, the colour is Lotus Racing Green with alcantara trim. It has a roll cage that was fitted when built and willans 4 point harnesses also fitted at new.
The oz wheels are perfect complete with new tires, the rears are 335. The milage is 33k, I have only done 14k in the last 10 years.

[The Pits]

that sounds stunning, could you send a few recent pics?

cheers

[siocox]

Here are a couple of pics

[The Pits]

sorry couldn't see those,

you can mail me through my profile if you like

you'll notice I have an Esprit Sport 300 parked in my fantasy garage!

cheers

Edited by The Pits on Tuesday 24th November 17:12

[siocox]

Hi tried the email link but it said you do not allow email

Simon

[The Pits]

OK I just sent you an e-mail so hopefully you can reply to that.

cheers

[anonymous-user]

siocox said:

Hi, the colour is Lotus Racing Green with alcantara trim. It has a roll cage that was fitted when built and willans 4 point harnesses also fitted at new.
The oz wheels are perfect complete with new tires, the rears are 335. The milage is 33k, I have only done 14k in the last 10 years.

It's not J*W **6 by any chance?

[jackal]

brooklands said:

Good afternoon all,

Just a quick word about the car, I know I'm selling the vehicle but just some more information on this particular car - it wants for nothing hence the price. The one that sold a while back was LHD too so whilst you may find one for less it has not had the work done to it that this has. Currently having a new tracker installed too.

Some notes on the Lotus:

It was the London Motor Show Car 1996 - this is the reason Lotus made
a special interior for the car rather than just the alcantara fitted
in other Sport 300'S

I have receipts of work by previous owners and delivery, warranty work
from the first owner.

The engine work completed by Lotus - this was a planned maintenance
program and not because of faults.
The brief was to check everything!

Gearbox re-build including new crown wheel and pinion.
Chargecooler overhaul
New exhaust manifold
Cylinder head overhaul
Waste gate replacement
Oil sender replaced
Temp. sender replaced
Crank seal replaced

Other small jobs were completed including track testing and handling.

I went to see this car some time ago.

Negative points were the brake caliper pistons and the manifolds (both very common problems) which had been replaced relatively recently but not with uprated items that will prevent future problems. I also found the cosmetic condition of the engine bay (red paint on the cam covers, appearance of the chargecooler etc..) out of kilter with the excellent exterior condition and I would have wanted to do a bit on the interior as well. The car had had quite a lot of work done which is expected with any car of this nature. You don't pay extra for the fact that the tyres aren't bald and the engine starts first time and as with any high performance car, you never get your runinng costs back when you sell.

Those points considered, and given the value that S300's have changed hands for in the last 6 years or so I made the price about 28k ... some way off the asking price but actually more than what the car last changed hands for during economic 'good times'. I'm sure plenty of lotus nuts would disagree with me but I don't personally see the esprit as an appreciating asset, S4S, S350, S300 or otherwise and I certainly don't see it sitting alongside 993tts, F355s, GT3s, GT2's, F360's etc... If you've driven any of those cars you'll know exactly what I mean.

The LHD black example being quoted here was completely mint with a ludicrously low mileage so IMO its 33k sale price bears no comparison. The brief advert of this car that appeared on PH had pictures of the wishbones, dampers, underneath etc.. suffice to say you will probably never find a nicer example again. With the strong euro/weak pound the fact that it was LHD actually made its price stronger as well.

You are on the precipice with this one and it needs a leap of faith .... the esprit market is historically weak and ignoring the price distortion of places like UK sports cars who sit on their cars for 16 months at a time, even the celebrated model one down the S4S, change hands in the real world for 15k. So the question is, do you believe the S300 is the next 'Climax Elite' or 'S4 sprint'. I personally don't, but I think you would firmly need to at 40k.

All just my opinion though.. and i'm a well known tight &rse when it comes to buying cars. I don't doubt it will be worth pretty much any price you care to stick on it to the right buyer.

Edited by jackal on Tuesday 1st December 17:30

[The Pits]

thanks Jackal for your helpful and well informed post.

I still hope to view the car for myself soon but just haven't got the time at the moment.

I had a turbo SE back in the day and that was an astonishing car at the time. The Sport 300 was always 'The Daddy' though.

But at £68k a bit too rich for me at the time.

I went instead for the faster and much cheaper Lotus Carlton but part of me regrets not having a Sport 300 from new. That way I'd have had a nice 1 owner car maintained to my fastidious standard in the garage since 1992. It would probably have been pacific blue like my Turbo SE too.

[Loteuk]

Has anybody ever looked at the engine bay on this car?

[Bibs_LEF]

I saw this car in an 'Esprit Special Edition Ultimate Showcase' at the NEC recently, engine bay looked very tidy

Oh, and I've driven a Sport 300, and been 'round Brands in one! Love 'em!

Edited by Bibs_LEF on Thursday 3rd December 10:46

[The Pits]

Are they actually any quicker than an S4S?

[Bibs_LEF]

Yup, bigger turbo, lighter, head work, ecu, bracing all adds up to a faster car.

Check out Octane next month, there's a Sport350 vs Sport300 article.

[beano700]

Has Jackal ever driven all those cars and a sport 300 ?, I would say the sport 300 is a way better car than a 355, they are miles apart, oh and I own the best one out there.

[Grenville1]

Has Jackal ever driven all those cars and a sport 300 ?, I would say the sport 300 is a way better car than a 355, they are miles apart, oh and I own the best one out there


Wasn t this the cat 'D' car advertised for an age in a comedy green with a humerous interior and bling exterior?

[beano700]

Grenville, have I touched a nerve ?.

[siocox]

Just gone in to Brooklands to have a look at #64. It was sold yesterday.
Simon

[jiw916]

excel789 said:

siocox said:

Hi, the colour is Lotus Racing Green with alcantara trim. It has a roll cage that was fitted when built and willans 4 point harnesses also fitted at new.
The oz wheels are perfect complete with new tires, the rears are 335. The milage is 33k, I have only done 14k in the last 10 years.

It's not J*W **6 by any chance?

J*W**6 HASN NOW CHANGED IT PLATE TO K3**SP

[anonymous-user]

jiw916 said:

excel789 said:

siocox said:

Hi, the colour is Lotus Racing Green with alcantara trim. It has a roll cage that was fitted when built and willans 4 point harnesses also fitted at new.
The oz wheels are perfect complete with new tires, the rears are 335. The milage is 33k, I have only done 14k in the last 10 years.

It's not J*W **6 by any chance?

J*W**6 HASN NOW CHANGED IT PLATE TO K3**SP

Love that car, took some pics of it at Donnington a few years ago. Sport 300 is the ultimate Esprit imho. Guess it would be ok to post a photo.



I even think it looks good in Boring Racing Green as well.

[Bacchus]

I know it's an older thread, but I wondered what happened to The Pits plans? In his profile
the Esprit 300 is still listed in his fantasy garage... So question to The Pits did you finally
have the chance to drive one?

Cheers

Bacchus