European Practicality...

[charlescrawley]

Hi all,

I'm seriously looking into buying a Lotus Esprit V8 in the UK and taking it with me to the continent, where I am currently living.
The main thing that I am obviously worried about is the practicality of doing this, especially servicing. I found one garage just a few miles away from me in Luxembourg who seem to have people who have experience with the marque. (www.ggo.lu/pages/presentation.asp?m=8&lang=eng) and I have sent them an email asking what experience they do have. There are also a couple of places in Saarbruken and Mannheim, neither of which are too far and I haven't started looking at Belgium or France yet.
Does anyone have any advice to give me? Am I being unrealistic about this? I am fully aware that although the cars cost minimal amounts for what they are, that servicing and general running costs are high, but this isn't an issue for me.

Thanks,

Charles

[rob.e]

Hi Charles. Servicing and general running costs aren't really that high (but that really depends on what you're comparing it to) but if it goes wrong it can be expensive to fix. All my costs are in my profile (read the disclaimer first )

Lotus cars web site lists these European Dealers/Service centres:

AUSTRIA

DENZEL AG
Parkring 12
1010 Wien
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

BELGIUM

OOSTENDE

LOTUS THIERRY VERHIEST (Service Only)
Ed. Vlietinckstraat 2a
8400 Oostende
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
www.lotus-verhiest.com


ANTWERPEN

FRÉDÉRIC KONINCKX MOTORS bvba
Onze Lieve Vrouwstraat 10
2600 Berchem Antwerpen
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: Frédéric Koninckx
E-mail:[e-mail]

GENT

ALVAN MOTORS NV
Industriepark Gent-West 5A
Drongen
B–9031 Gent
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: Alain Vandriessche

LIEGE

LECLER & FILS
Rue de l’Yser 65
B–4430 Liège
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: Frédéric Lecler

Email: [e-mail]

CYPRUS

NICOSIA

MOTOTREND LTD
P.O. BOX 21326
CY 1506 Nicosia
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact: Marios Peleties

Email: [e-mail]

DENMARK

COPENHAGEN

LOTUS AUTOMOBILIER DANMARK
Postboks 2630
Bryggervangen 39
DK-2100 Copenhagen
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: Mr Erling Lindener
www.lotus-cars.dk

FRANCE

LILLE

VERBAERE SPORT AUTOMOBILES
8, Rue du Luyot
Z.I.B 59113 Seclin
Lille
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]



CANNES

AUTO PALACE SA
Z.I Les Tourrade- RN 7
06210 Mandelieu
Tel: [phone]
Fax[phone]

ST ETIENNE

TECHNIQUES LOISIRS AUTO
57 blvd Jules Janin
42000 St Etienne
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: B. Greilsamer

Email: [e-mail]

TARBES

MARCASSUS AUTOMOBILES
22 ave Aristide Briand
65000 Tarbes
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: J Marcassus

Email: [e-mail]

GERMANY

LAHR/SCHWARZWALD

AUTOHAUS SCHILLINGER GmbH
Geroldsecker Vorstadt 12-20
77933 Lahr/Schwarzwald
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Herr Fritz Schillinger
ASP: Herr Peter Janson
www.autohaus-schillinger.de

MANNHEIM

SCHMITT & UMHEY GmbH
Viehhofstr. 6-20
68165 Mannheim
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
ASP: Herr Ernst Walz

SCHMITT & UMHEY GmbH
Auf dem Sand 75–77
68309-MA-Käfertal
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


MUNICH

AUTO-KÖNIG MÜNCHEN (Service Only)
Gutenbergstr. 11
85646 Anzing
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.auto-koenig.de / [e-mail]

MÜNSTER-NIENBERGE

BRANDES & DSCHÜDOW GmbH
Altenberger Str. 34
48161 Münster-Nienberge
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact: Lutz Weinschenk / Herr Reimchen

Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.brandes-dschuedow.de



SAARBRÜCKEN

AUTOHAUS SPRAU GmbH (Service Only)
Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 23
66130 Saarbrücken
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]


WIESBADEN

AUTOHAUS HAESE
Anna-Birle Str. 7
55252 MZ-Kastel
Wiesbaden
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Herr Patrick Haese
www.lotus-haese.de / [e-mail]

FRANKFURT

RED MOTORSPORT GmbH
Selbecker Str. 18
42579 Heiligenhaus
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
ASP: Martin Roos
www.red-motorsport.de / [e-mail]

GREECE

ATHENS

TRIDENT CARS LTD
Trident House
Aristotelous & Dekeleias Ave
Aharne
Athens
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: Mr George Lymberakis

Email: [e-mail]

PIREAEUS

TRIDENT CARS LTD
H Trikoupe 141 & Eginis 40
N Erithrea
Pireaeus
14571
Athens
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: Mr George Lymberakis

ITALY


BARI

EMMETI S.r.l.
Via Francesco Crispi 190
70123 Bari (Indirizzo Autosalone)
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact: Mr G Tattoli

BERGAMO

MYTHOS S.r.l
Via Lallio 37/c
24044 Dalmine
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact: Dario Margutti

S.LAZZARO

MORINI MOTORS s.r.l.
Via Emilia, 295
40068 San Lazzaro di Savena (BO)
ITALY
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact: Sergio Morini

ESTE (PD)

CONCESSIONARA TRIVELLATO
Via Padana Inferiore 11/d
35042 Este (PD)
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact: Mr G Trivellato
e-mail: [e-mail]

FIRENZE

BETTINI AUTOMOBILI s.r.l
Via Empoli 4
50142 Firenze
Tel: [phone]
Fax [phone]
Contact: Gino Bettini


MILANO

ASTROCAR S.a.s.
Via Arena 35
20100 Milano
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Contact: C Ceccarelli

PERUGIA

AUTOELIT s.r.l
Via Soriano n.69
06100 S.Andrea delle Fratte (PG)
Tel: [phone]
Fax[phone]
Contact: Sig.Lucaroni

TREVISO

EUROMOTOR s.r.l
Via G. Felissent 20
31050 Villorba (TV)
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
contact: sig.Fabio Tiozzo

MODENA

AMENDOLA CAR POINT (Service Only)
Via Staffette Partigiane 47/A
41100 Modena
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


ROMA

DEAPA MOTORS S.A.S (Service Only)
Via Prenestina Nuova KM 0.100
00132 Roma
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

GENOVA

AUDISIO E BENVENUTO RACING (Service Only)
Via Sanpierdarena 160
16149 Genova
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

BERGAMO

PB RACING (Service Only)
Via Provinciale 44
24040 Lallio
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

CATANIA

ENGLISH CARS & CO. Srl
Corso Italia 113
95129 Catania
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

MERANO

AUTOIMPEX DI KRONAUER
Via Leopardi 69/71
39012 Merano
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

VERONA

AUTOCOMMIS EXPERT Srl
Via Torbido 11/b
37133 Verona
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

ROMA

EUROWAGEN ITALIA Srl
Via Valsavaranche 69/71
00141 Roma
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EUROWAGEN ITALIA Srl
S.S Cassia Km. 85,400
01100 Viterbo
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EUROWAGEN ITALIA Srl (Service Only)
Via Montaione 50
00139 Roma
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

TORINO

STARCAR Srl
Corso Trieste 140
10024 Moncalieri
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

LUXEMBOURG

GARAGE OLIVIER ORIGER
Zone Industrielle
L-3813 Schifflange/Foetz
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

NETHERLANDS

SPORTSCARS VAN DER KOOI B.V.
Kwinkweerd 10d
7241 CW
Lochem
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Mr Willem J Van der Kooi
Email: [e-mail]

SWEDEN

MALMO

NYA WENDELS BIL & MOTOR AB
Dalaslingan 1
23132 Trelleborg
Sweden

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Principal: Mr Jan Inge Theander

SWITZERLAND

GARAGE ULTRA SA (Service Only)
Rue Malagny 30
CH-1196 Gland
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
M. Jean-Pierre Trachsel
www.lotuscar.ch
www.lotuscars.ch

KUSNACHT

GARAGE H PFENNINGER
Seestr. 115/117
CH-8700 Küsnacht
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Herr Heini Pfenninger
[e-mail]
www.lotusautos.ch
www.lotuscars.ch

BERN

AUTOCENTER UETTLIGEN AG
Ortschwabenstr. 2
CH-3043 Uettligen
Tel: [phone]
Fax:[phone]
www.nemeth.ch

SCHOTZ

KUMSCHICK SPORTS CARS AG
Luzernerstr. 57
CH-6247 Schötz
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Herr Fredy Kumschick
www.kumschick.com
www.lotuscars.ch

ST. GALLEN

LOTUS WEST AG
Piccardstrasse 1
CH-9015 St. Gallen
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.lotuscars.ch

BIRMENSDORF

SCHAFFNER RACING (Service Only)
Industriestr. 2
CH-8903 Birmensdorf
Tel: + 41 17 37 28 00
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Check out:

www.lotuscars.co.uk/template.cfm?name=lotcarsdealerloc


Also, try mailing the guys at www.ramspott-brandt.de/ and Marcus at PUKesprit.de may help you out.

Cheers
Rob

[charlescrawley]

Rob,

Thanks for your reply. I had actually seen the list on the Lotus Cars web page and was in fact where I found the Lotus garage in Luxembourg (Grand Garage Olivier Origer, Schifflange). I actually just received a reply to my email from them and apparently they have been servicing Lotus Cars since 1985, so they may well be good enough, although I will definitely try to get hold of a third party recommendation of them. (Anyone?)
Reading your car profile is certainly eyebrow raising (and I did read the disclaimer!), but as I should only be using my Esprit for fun, Le Mans and the odd trip back to Blighty, my mileage will not be anything like yours!
I'd briefly browsed the PUKEsprit site, but not in depth as it did seem much more aimed at upgrades, so something for a later date! (That's your Esprit running up and down with the upgraded exhausts, isn't it? )
Ramspott und Brandt look excellent, although a fair distance away for emergencies! There are also garages listed in Saarbrucken, which is fairly near as well.
What has been amazing has been finding how many places that there are here on the continent that do deal with Lotus cars, once you start looking...
Anyway, I'm feeling a lot happier now about things and the icing on the cake would be to get a good recommendation for the Luxembourg garage.

Thanks again!

Charles

>> Edited by charlescrawley on Tuesday 17th February 15:02

[vws]

Hi Charles,
My first 96 V8 came from Origer in Luxembourg, it's a big Toyota/Lexus's garage and a small Lotus one. It was in 1999, their Lotus mechanics had an accident and Olivier Origer told me to go to Lecler & fils (liège).
I'm pleased of their service but i think it's better in Germany. (more Esprit)

Cheers,

John.

[charlescrawley]

vws said:

Hi Charles, My first 96 V8 came from Origer in Luxembourg, it's a big Toyota/Lexus's garage and a small Lotus one. It was in 1999, their Lotus mechanics had an accident and Olivier Origer told me to go to Lecler & fils (liège). I'm pleased of their service but i think it's better in Germany. (more Esprit) Cheers, John.

Thanks John, but what do you mean by "their Lotus mechanics had an accident"?? They didn't crash your car or something did they??
Are you saying that you definitely *wouldn't* recommend Origer Garage?

Cheers,

Charles

[vws]

charlescrawley said:

Thanks John, but what do you mean by "their Lotus mechanics had an accident"?? They didn't crash your car or something did they?? Are you saying that you definitely *wouldn't* recommend Origer Garage? Charles

Hi Charles,

No, i wouldn't say something like that because it was in 1999 and i hope they have find a new Lotus Specialist now.(and Mr origer is a very nice guy )
By the way, it is more a Toyota's garage than a Lotus one. (like FRÉDÉRIC KONINCKX MOTORS in Antwerpen)
About the mechanics, it was not an driving accident, he had health's problems, he maybe tried to carry an engine alone and...

p-s: Sorry for my english, i do my best

Happy motoring

John.

[charlescrawley]

vws said:

No, i wouldn't say something like that because it was in 1999 and i hope they have find a new Lotus Specialist now.(and Mr origer is a very nice guy ) By the way, it is more a Toyota's garage than a Lotus one. (like FRÉDÉRIC KONINCKX MOTORS in Antwerpen) About the mechanics, it was not an driving accident, he had health's problems, he maybe tried to carry an engine alone and... p-s: Sorry for my english, i do my best Happy motoring John.

Ahh, sorry... It was perfectly clear really, I just misread your meaning. I think what I will do is use them for emergencies and go further afield for proper servicing etc.

Cheers,

Charles