Discussion
wedg1e said:
The Esprit has an MOT. Let the fun begin... 
Ian
Good feeling, eh.
. The 160 BHP NA has good torque from relatively low down, in fact I much prefer it to the later HC engine.
Not as torquey as the wedge of course, but then that doesn't rev eagerly and smoothly to 7000 RPM.
Paul.
Looking good then! 
Anyone been tempted by this?
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=23563&s=11
Or know where theres a decent engine at a reasonable price?
Very tempting if you can source an engine!
Anyone been tempted by this?
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=23563&s=11
Or know where theres a decent engine at a reasonable price?
Very tempting if you can source an engine!
B16 RFF said:
Good feeling, eh.
The 160 BHP NA has good torque from relatively low down, in fact I much prefer it to the later HC engine.
Not as torquey as the wedge of course, but then that doesn't rev eagerly and smoothly to 7000 RPM.
Paul.
You might be surprised. I find the supposed torque-monster RV8 is actually quite slow to wind up, though it will go to 6250+. I have my rev limiter set to 6000, mostly because I've had to rebuild this engine once due to the antics of previous owners.
6000rpm in top should equate to 160mph, but of course it won't pull that far, and I feel that >6000rpm through the gears on the public road is just plain daft. For a trackday you could always turn the limiter up
Of the two, the Esprit is happier to pull away at idle. The TVR requires a sensitive clutch foot and will die on the sloping section of my drive, whereas the Esprit simply chugs up it. Instant throttle response is better on the Esprit, too.
From my brief drives today I can say that further suspension work is needed: very crashy ride which I don't think is correct. Mind you the last owner fitted height-adjustable dampers at the rear and they're wound up stiffer than me with nude pics of Tina O'brien....
The throttle pedal is a pain in the knee, the clutch is a pain in the hip. I'm used to the straight-legged position of the TVR, I suppose.
Gearshift is still heavy but seems to be improving with use. Jumps out of reverse (is this common?). Steering wheel seems to be mounted too high up, but I guess entry and exit is hard enough without the wheel in the way as well
Not being critical of the Esprit per se, just my reactions in comparison to the TVR. Don't forget it's 4 years since I bought a car!
Ian
Tanked-up and off to bed
Yes, I remember stalling a 350i a couple of times when I first drove it. Now the Griff is a different story.......
As for jumping out of reverse, it may just be a matter of adjusting the cable/rod. It will be obvious which does what when you look at it.
When I first got my S3, it wouldn't go into reverse when I tried to back out of my garage. Panic !!
A quick adjustment to the (apparently new) cable soon sorted it.
God, I really would like another Esprit. I fancy a nice early Stevens turbo in Calypso Red. The wife would never allow it without selling the Griff first.
Anyway, looking forward to the next installment of the saga.
Paul.
As for jumping out of reverse, it may just be a matter of adjusting the cable/rod. It will be obvious which does what when you look at it.
When I first got my S3, it wouldn't go into reverse when I tried to back out of my garage. Panic !!
A quick adjustment to the (apparently new) cable soon sorted it.
God, I really would like another Esprit. I fancy a nice early Stevens turbo in Calypso Red. The wife would never allow it without selling the Griff first.
Anyway, looking forward to the next installment of the saga.
Paul.
kylie said:
The Esprit has an MOT. Let the fun begin...
Ian
Nice one Ian, did you burn a bit of rubber off those tyres?? You can't help wanting to when you drive these things. Everyone else on the road just seems to drive sooo slow!!
Alas no, the timing belt has oil on it so I don't want to go any distance or thrash it until I sort that. I just wanted to feel like I was making some progress with the car; I've had it almost 4 months and at least now I can legally use it on the road! Now I'll be able to find more things wrong with it....
In compensation, Julie and I went out for a ride in the TVR and tore up the laws of the land in that
There was a guy in a Peugeot 306 cabrio who evidently had something to prove to his woman, because he was determined to get past. I didn't bother changing down and it was only because I'm not enough of a twat to pull out in front of people that did eventually allow him past, when I got stuck behind another car. I'm fairly sure I could have eaten him if I'd been trying a little harder
Still, it gives him something to brag about in the pub... Needless to say, today is a glorious driving day up here in the northeast, but I've got a garden to tidy...
Ian
wedg1e said:
wedg1e said:
The Esprit has an MOT. Let the fun begin...
Ian
Nice one Ian, did you burn a bit of rubber off those tyres?? You can't help wanting to when you drive these things. Everyone else on the road just seems to drive sooo slow!!
Alas no, the timing belt has oil on it so I don't want to go any distance or thrash it until I sort that. I just wanted to feel like I was making some progress with the car; I've had it almost 4 months and at least now I can legally use it on the road! Now I'll be able to find more things wrong with it....
In compensation, Julie and I went out for a ride in the TVR and tore up the laws of the land in that
There was a guy in a Peugeot 306 cabrio who evidently had something to prove to his woman, because he was determined to get past. I didn't bother changing down and it was only because I'm not enough of a twat to pull out in front of people that did eventually allow him past, when I got stuck behind another car. I'm fairly sure I could have eaten him if I'd been trying a little harder
Needless to say, today is a glorious driving day up here in the northeast, but I've got a garden to tidy...
Ian
When something like that happens to me, my wife always says something like "he must have a tiny todger".
Paul.
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