Lotus esprit S4 What to look out for and servicing costs

Lotus esprit S4 What to look out for and servicing costs

Author
Discussion

Davswilson

Original Poster:

40 posts

217 months

Saturday 30th December 2006
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I am looking to buy an Esprit S4 but not sure what to look for. Wanted one for a while, bought a TVR chimera instead but still got a hankering for an S4.

First of all, i live in the north east of England and was wondering where is the best place to get a service done and what are the costs for A,B and C services???

Is there any thing i should be aware of when looking and anthything that should be avoided?

Thank you all in advance

P.S if you have and S4 please send me some details

David

britten_mark

1,593 posts

252 months

Sunday 31st December 2006
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S4 is a good introduction to Esprit ownership, quality levels are much improved over earlier cars, plus you get power steering. Having said that even the newest cars are going to be 12 years old now and you may have to see a few before finding a really good one, and be prepared to travel (lots).

Not much choice for servicing in NE, 2 main dealers so pricey. There is a sniff of an independant being set up but it's early days.

I am a really slow typist so if you want a chat PM me and exchange numbers.

lotusespritworld

317 posts

262 months

Monday 1st January 2007
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You should firstly get a checklist.

www.lotusespritworld.com/EBuying/checklist.html

Then checkout the articles on this page.

www.lotusespritworld.com/buying.html

Watch out for cracked manifolds. Also the S4 with Brembo brakes is worth a little more than the pre-Brembo equip'd S4s.

As for services, all depends on what needs doing, as they'll always be a few extras. But basically A Services are £350, B Services are £500 and C Services are £1000. All the schedules are here:

www.lotusespritworld.com/EGuides/EMaintenance/4-cyl-ServiceSched.html

If you're looking for an S4, look here:

www.esprit4sale.co.uk/Sale/UsedCarCentre.html

There's a few on there.

davswilson

Original Poster:

40 posts

217 months

Monday 1st January 2007
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Thanks, been espritworld for a few months and read quite a few reviews! No a bit more but im no mechanic and dont really know a great deal about what i am looking at!!!

Havent been and viewed any yet as its still early stages and there just dont seem to be that many round but i suppose they only made 600 and od.

Ive heard before about checkings maifolds and gaskets as it can get very expensive but as they were the first esprits with power steering, have any of you had or know anyone that has had major problems with it????

s4simon

77 posts

228 months

Monday 1st January 2007
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I've owned my S4 now for 4 years - no probs / breakdowns so far.

A few things have been replaced / repaired as ongoing maintenance. Manifold (cracked at 45k mile), Cam tower leak fixed (cheap) / ABS accumulator (under warranty) / ECU replaced (under warranty) / Upgraded to slotted grooved discs (old ones damaged by P.O.) / Sports exhaust (the best mod you can do by far). Took me twelve months to source the right car (red with tan interior) + some long drives. Keep active on LEW and LEF as good cars will only last 24 - 48 hours in the 'for sale' area. I have an in depth write up on the ownership of an S4 on the Lotus Esprit Forum under the 'garage' area + heaps of photos. Can't miss me, just scroll down to the top ten and I'll be somewhere near the top ;-)

toyroom

490 posts

233 months

Monday 1st January 2007
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Seriously consider an S4s. Said to be the best Esprit (by Mike K. and others) and is no more expensive to insure. It may be the best of the 4 cylinder cars with Sport 300 performance (almost) and S4 luxury (almost). The main problem which keeps coming up over and over is the wheel corrosion suffered by the S4s. Like it is said above, the youngest cars are now very old for a car which is (sadly) usually purchased by folk who can just afford to buy one but can't keep it in the manner it needs. These are eighty grand Italian exotics at Japanese Grand Tourer prices and unfortunately, their maintainance belongs to the former rather than the latter.
This is a problem that affected most Escort RS tubos once they passed the third owner. It used to be really sad to see the bald remoulds and cracked windscreens etc. As a result, most Esprit S4 cars will be neglected to the point of requiring what almost amounts to restoration, or not for sale at any price.
All that said...just like houses and (wo)men, there will be another one right along. Wait and be choosey, the right car will come up,....But not quickly.

toyroom

490 posts

233 months

Monday 1st January 2007
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What's wrong with a V8 ? Maintainance is almost at S4 level ( and insurance)

davswilson

Original Poster:

40 posts

217 months

Monday 1st January 2007
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The problem is that i am not a huge general esprit fan! I only really want an S4 and have for a few years, much prefer the way it looks, dont know why but i have seen a few s4's and just dont like them. The V8 is a different story though but i have heard so many horror stories and at 23 my insurance would be double that of an S4!!!!!!!

I agree it will take time to find the right one and hopefully i wont jump in with to feet. It took me a few months to find a decent chimera including a 800 mile round trip to brighton only to discover it was the worst example of the lot.



bojangles

464 posts

243 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2007
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s4simon said:
Keep active on LEW and LEF as good cars will only last 24 - 48 hours in the 'for sale' area.


My S4s has been posted for 2 months.. and it is a good car.. I get some tire kicker messages.. but no real interest.

britten_mark

1,593 posts

252 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2007
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davswilson said:
I only really want an S4 and have for a few years, much prefer the way it looks, dont know why but i have seen a few s4's and just dont like them.


In standard format he S4s has a different rear wing, wheel arch extensions, split rim alloys, and polished wood interior trim. Personally I am with you in thinking the S4 is worth it for the lighter, leaner overall look, but the groundswell of popular opinion seems to prefer the S4s based mainly on the additional performance.

For practically the same money have you considered a GT3? In general Lotus terms newer=better in terms of build quality, and mine has been just 100%. They are a little down on power compared to an S4, but benefit from the development work done for the V8 programme. The downside is insurance, I am waiting for mine to click over that magic "10 year old" barrier which enables the S4 to enjoy classic insurance at about a third of my annual premium.

Like I said before I am in the North East too and more than willing to assist you in your search, but if you want to go it alone thats up to you.


Davswilson

Original Poster:

40 posts

217 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2007
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Cheers for that Mark, if you could give me your number i will give u a call if thats ok!!!

I have considered a GT3 but they seem to be even rarer than and S4 infact if i'm right they didn't even make 200.....and to me they seem a little squarer!!!

From talking to people on this sight and others it would seem that yes the S4s is the most popular choice but if your sepending so much money i suppose you have to be picky.

The best quote i have had fully comp on an S4 is £899 with 2 years no claims and 3 points(I'm a 23 year old estate agent)from elephant.co.uk and for a GT3 and a V8 i am looking around the £2000 mark WHAT A JOKE (If any of you know of a good insurer please let me know)........I know buying the car is only part of it and keeping it going is the major annual cost but the insurance costs have sealed my opinion on what i will be buying.

P.S just something extra i forgot to mention i have had a Lotus before.......and it was the worst car i have ever owned (Elan M100 turbo)have any of you lot owned or driven one because i thought owning it was terrible.

splodge s4

1,519 posts

236 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2007
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Davswilson said:
I'm a 23 year old estate agent


Are you thinking of using it everyday or just weekends? I use mine at least once a week but never for work. For the first 3 years i had it insured with Elephant & they were the cheapest for 6,000 miles pa, ive now switched to Classic line & for 5,000 miles pa it was half the cost, £325pa. Now if i drove it to work, & i actually said to them maybe once a month if the weather was fine, they wanted an extra £75.

They are cracking cars, the Esprit community is great & everyone helps each other out. Its often personnel taste to which model to go for, when i bought my S4 i didnt have a clue about it (even the difference between the models i had no clue about!) but i was very lucky & its been fine. 4 years of ownership this month & its cost £6,700 in servicing, tyres, bits etc (keep the receipts what ever you do!) so about £1,700 per year & thats very good going especially when that includes a PNM brake upgrade etc. If you spend less then your skimping & you may regret it. What i love about them though is zero depreciation. If i bought a mondeo for 15k 4 years ago what would be worth now? £2,000? £3,000? As with the Esprit it will cost you 2k per year but you will get your money back.

Ferrari 355 performance with looks to match... for a third of the price.

Good luck mate with your quest....



LooseCannon

288 posts

226 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2007
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The S4 shares the same shell and wheels as the GT3, what it lacks is the surfboard spoiler which sits on the S4 rear hatch (and makes it look a little longer/flatter). The GT3 has an extended rear lip above the tail lights doing the same job. I like the S4 spoiler best of all, but again thats a cold and lonely viewpoint.

Check back on the LEF forums, there is a whole section devoted to insurance with recommendations. Best prices will come from specialists like Aon/Lancaster etc but they will place mileage and use restrictions and may want a valuation every 2 years (£25-ish) for agreed value. If its your everyday car I have found that a lot of brokers are jumpimg on the bandwagon for "toy cars" and are offering much better rates than were available even 3 years ago. Either that or I'm getting old...

No idea what an M100 is like to drive and own, just couldn't get away with the looks enough to find out!

couger

539 posts

235 months

Sunday 14th January 2007
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As mentioned in previous posts, there are a lot of rough/neglected Esprits doing the rounds, take somebody with you who knows a bit about them or get a proper Lotus medical done before you hand the readys over, Im also in the North East, Sunderland area if you need any advice

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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