Why is the Lotus Esprit not appreciating in value??
Discussion
wongthecorrupter said:
DonkeyApple said:
Or has the value of the currency fallen? 
Either way its worth more, not that it matters I wouldn't sell it. The GBP is worth a lot less than it was a few years ago, hence why things like houses and Classic cars look like they've risen in 'worth'. The real test is if you take the new GBP value, can you buy more necessity goods today than you could back then? My guess is no.
Sorry, just being a nerd.
DonkeyApple said:
I'm just being awkward . The GBP is worth a lot less than it was a few years ago, hence why things like houses and Classic cars look like they've risen in 'worth'.
The real test is if you take the new GBP value, can you buy more necessity goods today than you could back then? My guess is no.
Sorry, just being a nerd.
I agree, very true. The GBP is worth a lot less than it was a few years ago, hence why things like houses and Classic cars look like they've risen in 'worth'. The real test is if you take the new GBP value, can you buy more necessity goods today than you could back then? My guess is no.
Sorry, just being a nerd.
dirty_dog said:
Yep best looking car on there by far. I did whince a few times for the sake of the wheels though!
Yeah I love those massive OZ wheels! They are even more impressive in the flesh. Would love to see how straight they are after all that abuse. (Assuming they were any good to begin with).danjama said:
dirty_dog said:
Yep best looking car on there by far. I did whince a few times for the sake of the wheels though!
Yeah I love those massive OZ wheels! They are even more impressive in the flesh. Would love to see how straight they are after all that abuse. (Assuming they were any good to begin with).In the past 12 months the V8 Esprits have probably shown the biggest percentage increase of all the cars. A surprise to some extent but having owned one it would be hard to pay the same money for a 4cylinder once you've tasted the torque of the V8.
S2s are definitely more sought-after now and the general view is that the ship has already sailed for Esprit S1 and Essex cars.
Sport 300s remain at around £50k if you could ever find one.
Current estimate for dry sump Turbo Esprits stands at somewhere between 10 and 15 roadworthy cars in the UK.
S2s are definitely more sought-after now and the general view is that the ship has already sailed for Esprit S1 and Essex cars.
Sport 300s remain at around £50k if you could ever find one.
Current estimate for dry sump Turbo Esprits stands at somewhere between 10 and 15 roadworthy cars in the UK.
te' yet?
Ozzie Osmond said:
American classic muscle cars have never been more popular/expensive than they are today. Why? Because Ford are selling a good Mustang today, Chevy are selling a good Camaro today and Dodge are selling a good Charger today - all shifting in big numbers.
I think you've confused the cause and effect there. The reason the muscle cars are fetching so much money is that the guys who grew up coveting them, the US baby boomers, are now the wealthiest large group of people on the planet.
Old Chargers selling for $500,000 makes the Charger name and shape cool - that's why the manufacturers decided to make a cynical new Charger available for $50,000.
SpeckledJim said:
The reason the muscle cars are fetching so much money is that the guys who grew up coveting them, the US baby boomers, are now the wealthiest large group of people on the planet.
The very same people who watched James Bond drive his Esprit under water and then went on to take his Esprit Turbo ski-ing in the alps, and who coveted those truly exotic cars. Lotus has nothing on sale today which gets close and I think interest in the brand has faded to a very low level. Sad but true.I think the main reason is because they're a big fragile liability. But, I must defend their looks, they don't look half bad, plus they handled, also I don't know what the average PHer drives if an 87 classic that reaches 60 in 5.3 and 13.7 for the quarter mile is considered slow ?.........But I wouldn't consider one solely based on the fragile liability bit.
Ozzie Osmond said:
SpeckledJim said:
The reason the muscle cars are fetching so much money is that the guys who grew up coveting them, the US baby boomers, are now the wealthiest large group of people on the planet.
The very same people who watched James Bond drive his Esprit under water and then went on to take his Esprit Turbo ski-ing in the alps, and who coveted those truly exotic cars. Lotus has nothing on sale today which gets close and I think interest in the brand has faded to a very low level. Sad but true.I dont think any current 65 y.o. Indiana chain-of-hardware-stores millionaires grew up wanting an Esprit. But they all wanted a Pontiac GTO.
Point taken about the current lack of a top-line car - very sad.
The Lotus twin-cam is actually very robust and saw active service right up until the V8 Esprit of 1996. Fortunately parts are plentiful and very affordable compared to the exotics. While only four cylinders it was always made to a high spec in terms of internals. Even the 1980 Turbo had 16 sodium filled valves and high spec pistons for example. Most people now consider the 2.2 turbos to be less troublesome than the later V8s.
Some parts for the early dry sump cars are becoming very rare now however. The dry sump pumps are very thin on the ground and many owners have a spare in case the worst should happen. The later Giugiaro cars are more straightforward but they don't look quite as good, which is what matters most for a classic car, so well worth it for me.
Does anyone really think a 1981 Ferrari 308 would be any more reliable? The problem with Esprits is finding a well maintained example. Too many are run on the cheap and self-maintained. Old cars need money spent on them to keep them working properly, it's simply unavoidable but many have tried. There are good cars out there and they are a positive bargain in today's classic car market. A perfect £20k car is a vastly better bet than a scruffy £15k one.
Some parts for the early dry sump cars are becoming very rare now however. The dry sump pumps are very thin on the ground and many owners have a spare in case the worst should happen. The later Giugiaro cars are more straightforward but they don't look quite as good, which is what matters most for a classic car, so well worth it for me.
Does anyone really think a 1981 Ferrari 308 would be any more reliable? The problem with Esprits is finding a well maintained example. Too many are run on the cheap and self-maintained. Old cars need money spent on them to keep them working properly, it's simply unavoidable but many have tried. There are good cars out there and they are a positive bargain in today's classic car market. A perfect £20k car is a vastly better bet than a scruffy £15k one.
SpeckledJim said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
American classic muscle cars have never been more popular/expensive than they are today. Why? Because Ford are selling a good Mustang today, Chevy are selling a good Camaro today and Dodge are selling a good Charger today - all shifting in big numbers.
I think you've confused the cause and effect there. The reason the muscle cars are fetching so much money is that the guys who grew up coveting them, the US baby boomers, are now the wealthiest large group of people on the planet.
Old Chargers selling for $500,000 makes the Charger name and shape cool - that's why the manufacturers decided to make a cynical new Charger available for $50,000.
The Pits said:
Does anyone really think a 1981 Ferrari 308 would be any more reliable?
Exactly the same comparison with final V8s. Prices here are the same for F360 v Esprit, both around 55k euro. Prices on the 360 are more negotiable as there are more of them. Friends and people I know with 360s have had wallet raping maintenance costs. A couple were certainly got shot of because the owners had had enough.The Pits said:
The problem with Esprits is finding a well maintained example.
If you do, it will cost you. Again the same with Ferrari. At least you don't find counterfeit service books and faked history with a Lotus.The Pits said:
when I was 11 this was the most desirable car on the planet!
80's 911= Widowmaker?
They are much better than the scaremongering suggests. I find it's only really bumps that upset them. The lift off oversteer is not as savage as is often stated and there is plenty of grip.
for a future classic that are cheap as chips, have a look at gt4's !
Not seen them mentioned so far I am restoring an S2.2 Esprit to me one of the best compromises all the looks of the S2 with galvanised chassis and 2.2 engine and just over 80 made, if only they had done a turbo version!!
I ran it as my daily driver for 18 months in the 90's with very few reliability issues easy to work on and parts are reasonable.
I think they will just suddenly shoot up in price at some point due to low numbers produced stunning looks and affordability to run and maintain
I ran it as my daily driver for 18 months in the 90's with very few reliability issues easy to work on and parts are reasonable.
I think they will just suddenly shoot up in price at some point due to low numbers produced stunning looks and affordability to run and maintain
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