to swap or not to swap

[s.hogan3]

ive had an offer to swap the 400 for a lotas espri se turbo in silver 1990 with 85.ooo miles on the clock the car is up for 9,500pounds but ive spent about 16,000 on mine at the moment with the byeing it and mods
the question is would you swap or not?
im very tempted

[gsx600]

Do you get 100 or so of them meeting up every year

Are there still 100 or so still running at any one time ?

Many years ago I saved up my money with the sole intention of buying an Esprit, had enough for a nice one went to a dealer that was selling one, got a test drive in it loved it and all looking good.

Then someone came back in a Mica blue 350 heard it, said I wanted a go in that and drove it away the next day

I'm sure Wedgie will give an unbiased view as he owns both

[boltontvr]

I suppose you're asking the wrong people on here. I wouldn't do it. My mate has got an Esprit, and it's a great looking car, but mine is what I always wanted, so I'm very happy with it. My mate will always concede that mine is by far the better sounding car, and there's the benefit of it being a full convertible. Yours also has the added benefit of having me being photographed in it, which will always add value .
Keep yours. It's a belter, it sounds great, and there's nothing to say the Esprit won't fall apart the first time you put your foot down.

[wedg1e]

All I can say is: drive the Esprit and see which you prefer for the reasons you want a car.
The Esprit (or at any rate a Turbo) will almost certainly leave all but a huge wedge for dead in a straight line. On a twisty road no contest, the Esp IS a go-kart.

The TVR cabin is cosy; the Lotus is almost claustrophobic. Servicing-wise, there's not much in it. Some bits are easier on the TVR, others a doddle on the Lotus. However the Esprit can be frighteningly expensive to fix if (when, some would say ) it breaks. All the engine parts are Lotus-specific, used engines rarely come up on Ebay and even average ones are a grand. The Citroen transmission has virtually no spares availability and the later Renault type was modded for the Esprit so a straight swap for the apparent Renault car equivalent can be foolish as it'll break.

The one thing the Esp does lack though, is 'occasion'. As I said to a few people at BBWF, the TVR makes you want to don flying jacket and goggles and shout 'contact' to the bloke swinging the propellor.
The Esprit by comparison is uninspiring. It would, however, make a superb trackday car. Stripped out, pulled on a trailer... I'd do it myself but I don't have the space.

Keep your TVR, give me £3K for my Esprit and have some fun. Meanwhile I'll buy an even bigger BBW

[dickymint]

s.hogan3 said:

ive had an offer to swap the 400 for a lotas espri se turbo in silver 1990 with 85.ooo miles on the clock the car is up for 9,500pounds but ive spent about 16,000 on mine at the moment with the byeing it and mods
the question is would you swap or not?
im very tempted

Personally i would swap it..........................................for a turnip two sweeds and half a pound of peas. (as long as i'd bought them from the Spar).

[pwd95]

The Giugiaro Esprit Turbo and the Turbo SE were my dream cars for years. I drove a couple of earlier ones and they're great cars but as Ian says a lot of the oily bits will cost an absolute mint to put back. For me the 400SE is the ultimate supercar, reliable, sounds awsome, goes like shit off a shovel and any decent mechanic can fix it. What more do you want.

[mikeb]

A 450SE or SEAC of course! (preferably one with a new gear box and AP racing clutch!).

I must admit I sneaked a 'dream ride' in a 4.2 Cerb at the BBWF - what a car.

First gear pulled strongly big wheel spin, changed gear (actually hurting my neck) and another big wheel spin!, second gear pulled like an absolute train, changed up to third and (hurt my neck again), more big wheel spin! - all very nice but I personally thought about on par with me 450SE.

In third, pressing the loud pedal a bit more, I then though this is now pulling much faster than the 450 (hurt me neck) and changed up again planted the throttle then I though f%^*()ing hell! the thing just lit up and accelerated right up to an undisclosed top end.

Got into fifth at christ knows what speed but it was still pulling away! I was too scared to look to be honest to see how fast we were doing.

The thing stopped just as quick due to the enormous brakes.

The Cerb is an absolute missile! and it wasn't even the big balls version!

BUT

I prefer the 450SE. Once you wound the Cerb up it started to sound nice popping and banging away due to it having no cats and you got to a ridiculous speed in no time at all but it didn't feel like it. You go 100mph in a Wedge and you know it, wind pissing in every seal, engine screaming, riding on a tidal wave of noise - glorious.

The Cerb on the other hand although a true TVR weapon is much more akin to an extremely fast Mondeo! nice though.

ps. and the lid don't come off.

MikeyB

Edited by mikeb on Saturday 22 July 17:42

[silverback mike]

I think wedg1e sums it up for me perfectly.

And my roof has stayed put since the 'episode'

[thegriff]

On a nice warm day you got the roof down listening to that wonderful v8 soundtrack,you WILL miss it!