Ex-Esprit V8 Owner Looking For One Again
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Well, I'm new to this forum but thought I'd relay the story of my Lotus owning experience and see if anyone else had similar difficulties and why I want another one!!
In 1997 my brother bought a Lotus Esprit V8 Azure Blue from London Lotus. It was the first UK car to be delivered to a garage and was their demonstrator for a year before my brother bought it. After 2 difficult years of ownership, including 4 new clutches, 2 new gearboxes and 12 Cats he finally sold it to me at a huge loss before he headed off to Australia.
I had the car for 2 years in total, but for the first year, it had loads of problems, including a new engine because the old one was drinking coolant, another new clutch, new bonnet clips because the old ones kept opening at 140mph and new glass roof clips because they broke too. Anyway, eventually after a huge fight with Lotus and threatening legal and press action I had all of the above work done for free by London Lotus. They were totally sh*t and I had to get a Senior Lotus Inspector from Hethel to watch over the work when they redid the work for the 3rd time to make sure it was done properly.
After the last visit to the garage, the car appeared to run really well for the next 6 months until I sold it on with 6,000 trouble free miles on the new engine in June 2001. It was sold because it was too much trouble at a time when I was trying to get a new company off the ground.
To continue the story, I suffered for a while with my spare Golf GTI 16v (lovely car), until I decided to buy another sports car 6 months later, but much cheaper and more reliable. I currently still have my Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo (3000GT VR-4 equivalent) and although it is not as quick as the Lotus was to accelerate, it has served me extremely well, packing in almost 60,000 trouble free miles at extreme speed.
It has been to Sweden and back and done a healthy 179.05mph confirmed in Germany! So they aren't slow ... just take a little while longer to get there since its carrying 2 tonnes!!
Anyway, point of the post, I'm looking at selling the GTO and buying another Esprit V8. Although I have modded my GTO quite extensively in terms of handling with new suspension and drivetrain mods, I've not altered the power. The feel and drive of the Lotus is unrivalled in my driving experience, and hence I want another. Plus, I'm looking at taking an Esprit V8 with me to Australia when I emmigrate next year and they are a lot cheaper in the UK. So you could almost say it would be an investment!
I'm looking at 2 tomorrow, including my very own old V8 (N733 KPP) which is up for sale again and another in British Racing Green (N842 JNG). Anyone know what's happened to these cars ... history etc. They are both the early 1996 V8s so I know I need to check for the SE retro-fits ... any ideas!?
What should I be looking out for ... do you have a buyers guide with the usual problems and common problems.
Your answers would be most welcome!
Cheers
Andre
P.S. Sulley is because my current car is blue and is a bit of a monster ... James P Sullivan (Monsters Inc.) ... I even have the big fluffy toy to prove it!!
>>> Edited by Sulley on Friday 5th December 19:11
Well, I'm new to this forum but thought I'd relay the story of my Lotus owning experience and see if anyone else had similar difficulties and why I want another one!!
In 1997 my brother bought a Lotus Esprit V8 Azure Blue from London Lotus. It was the first UK car to be delivered to a garage and was their demonstrator for a year before my brother bought it. After 2 difficult years of ownership, including 4 new clutches, 2 new gearboxes and 12 Cats he finally sold it to me at a huge loss before he headed off to Australia.
I had the car for 2 years in total, but for the first year, it had loads of problems, including a new engine because the old one was drinking coolant, another new clutch, new bonnet clips because the old ones kept opening at 140mph and new glass roof clips because they broke too. Anyway, eventually after a huge fight with Lotus and threatening legal and press action I had all of the above work done for free by London Lotus. They were totally sh*t and I had to get a Senior Lotus Inspector from Hethel to watch over the work when they redid the work for the 3rd time to make sure it was done properly.
After the last visit to the garage, the car appeared to run really well for the next 6 months until I sold it on with 6,000 trouble free miles on the new engine in June 2001. It was sold because it was too much trouble at a time when I was trying to get a new company off the ground.
To continue the story, I suffered for a while with my spare Golf GTI 16v (lovely car), until I decided to buy another sports car 6 months later, but much cheaper and more reliable. I currently still have my Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo (3000GT VR-4 equivalent) and although it is not as quick as the Lotus was to accelerate, it has served me extremely well, packing in almost 60,000 trouble free miles at extreme speed.
It has been to Sweden and back and done a healthy 179.05mph confirmed in Germany! So they aren't slow ... just take a little while longer to get there since its carrying 2 tonnes!!
Anyway, point of the post, I'm looking at selling the GTO and buying another Esprit V8. Although I have modded my GTO quite extensively in terms of handling with new suspension and drivetrain mods, I've not altered the power. The feel and drive of the Lotus is unrivalled in my driving experience, and hence I want another. Plus, I'm looking at taking an Esprit V8 with me to Australia when I emmigrate next year and they are a lot cheaper in the UK. So you could almost say it would be an investment!
I'm looking at 2 tomorrow, including my very own old V8 (N733 KPP) which is up for sale again and another in British Racing Green (N842 JNG). Anyone know what's happened to these cars ... history etc. They are both the early 1996 V8s so I know I need to check for the SE retro-fits ... any ideas!?
What should I be looking out for ... do you have a buyers guide with the usual problems and common problems.
Your answers would be most welcome!
Cheers
Andre
P.S. Sulley is because my current car is blue and is a bit of a monster ... James P Sullivan (Monsters Inc.) ... I even have the big fluffy toy to prove it!!
>>> Edited by Sulley on Friday 5th December 19:11
Hi there and welcome.
Some people say that you should stay away from early
V8 as most have problems and Lotus didn't sort out until 97. Really they got their launch date totally wrong IMO.
There is a 97 one with the later facelift dash on Ebay at the mo for about £16K ish.
If you do a search on here for V8's there are a few threads which covered the exact problem areas some of which had something to do with pistons and liners I think.
Cheers,
Dave Walters
Some people say that you should stay away from early
V8 as most have problems and Lotus didn't sort out until 97. Really they got their launch date totally wrong IMO.
There is a 97 one with the later facelift dash on Ebay at the mo for about £16K ish.
If you do a search on here for V8's there are a few threads which covered the exact problem areas some of which had something to do with pistons and liners I think.
Cheers,
Dave Walters
Lotus USA changed around all of the 1997 clutches and fit the new twin plate one in (like the 1998's). I don't know if they did that or not in the UK, so that might be something to look at...
...IIRC ALL of the pre '98 Esprits have had the coolant problem in the 918 fixed. At least in the US, don't know about the UK...
Last but not least - check for cracks on the AWI wheels (if that is the type that these cars have). They where all supposed to have been replaced with a better (non cracking) batch.
I hope you find what you are looking for. I too had a 3000 GT (and two Dodge Stealths before it)- good stepping stone
Cheers
ErnestM
...IIRC ALL of the pre '98 Esprits have had the coolant problem in the 918 fixed. At least in the US, don't know about the UK...
Last but not least - check for cracks on the AWI wheels (if that is the type that these cars have). They where all supposed to have been replaced with a better (non cracking) batch.
I hope you find what you are looking for. I too had a 3000 GT (and two Dodge Stealths before it)- good stepping stone
Cheers
ErnestM
andecorp said:
Where in Aust are you migrating to?
Interesting about the Azure Blue ... it is indeed a most wonderful colour. I'm hoping to migrate to Sydney first, then probably buy some land south of sydney!
I had a look at the motor today and it has a few problems with it.
1. The boost only goes to 0.4 bar (even though it still feels exceedingly quick).
2. One of the original Oz 3 piece wheels is damaged (little dink).
3. It appears to have been to the garage with more coolant problems since it had the new engine ???
4. It wallows on the front end like the suspension needs replacing.
5. The brakes are absolutely shite. That can't be right?
6. The exhaust will need replacing soon ... its now pretty well rusted.
7. Heater doesn't appear to be working
8. Minor - a few deep scratches on the nose
Those were the things I found just from my initial viewing. I haven't had the car up on a ramp or had it inspected yet!!
I'll also be calling the garage and the two people who've owned it since me to find out what they've got to say about it. I'm pretty sure it'll need some money spending on it.
Otherwise, it was really wonderful to be re-united with the old girl again!! My God its a wonderful car!!
Any thoughts on the above points?
Cheers
Andre
>> Edited by Sulley on Saturday 6th December 19:00
Sulley said:
Where in Aust are you migrating to?
Interesting about the Azure Blue ... it is indeed a most wonderful colour. I'm hoping to migrate to Sydney first, then probably buy some land south of sydney!
I had a look at the motor today and it has a few problems with it.
1. The boost only goes to 0.4 bar (even though it still feels exceedingly quick).
2. One of the original Oz 3 piece wheels is damaged (little dink).
3. It appears to have been to the garage with more coolant problems since it had the new engine ???
4. It wallows on the front end like the suspension needs replacing.
5. The brakes are absolutely shite. That can't be right?
6. The exhaust will need replacing soon ... its now pretty well rusted.
7. Heater doesn't appear to be working
8. Minor - a few deep scratches on the nose
Those were the things I found just from my initial viewing. I haven't had the car up on a ramp or had it inspected yet!!
I'll also be calling the garage and the two people who've owned it since me to find out what they've got to say about it. I'm pretty sure it'll need some money spending on it.
Otherwise, it was really wonderful to be re-united with the old girl again!! My God its a wonderful car!!
Any thoughts on the above points?
Cheers
Andre
>> Edited by Sulley on Saturday 6th December 19:00
That looks like a ton of trouble!
Why don't you get a 2003 and bring it here? It's so cheap there compared to here. A brand new 2003 here is A$280,000 - about 100,000pounds sterling.
Also, no new Esprits have been delivered here since 2001, despite tons of them being delivered yearly until then.
So, with a 2003 you will definetely be unique. Plus when you get sick of it, I'll buy it off you
Oh, and make sure it's Azure with Magnolia 
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