Lotus Esprit as daily driver?
Discussion
My Dad had an '86 Turbo, the only real issue beyond regular Esprit servicing we had over a number of years ownership was a replacement clutch, but then this was a wear item. It did two trips to classic Le Mans and a trip including(gentle) laps to the 'Ring. Fuel was fine, comfy, a nice car to drive.
It was replaced a few years later (via a motorhome..) by an '89 Porsche 930 Turbo, this did let us down in France with its dodgy electrics.
As such I'd say they don't quite live up to their Lots of trouble usually serious moniker.
Enjoy your purchase when you get it!
It was replaced a few years later (via a motorhome..) by an '89 Porsche 930 Turbo, this did let us down in France with its dodgy electrics.
As such I'd say they don't quite live up to their Lots of trouble usually serious moniker.
Enjoy your purchase when you get it!
I ran a supercar as a daily driver (89 xpack v8 vantage) for a while.
Despite being monumentally expensive on fuel, tyres and servicing, it was very very reliable. Once you shake out the issues and get on top of everything, theres no reason why it should be a problem
But....
and a big but
once you start using a supercar for going to Tescos, I found that the specialness started wearing off quite quickly. Trips were not heroic and to be treasured. They were just trips.
If you are happy with that, then fine. But you really cant drink champagne every meal.
Despite being monumentally expensive on fuel, tyres and servicing, it was very very reliable. Once you shake out the issues and get on top of everything, theres no reason why it should be a problem
But....
and a big but
once you start using a supercar for going to Tescos, I found that the specialness started wearing off quite quickly. Trips were not heroic and to be treasured. They were just trips.
If you are happy with that, then fine. But you really cant drink champagne every meal.
jhoneyball said:
once you start using a supercar for going to Tescos, I found that the specialness started wearing off quite quickly. Trips were not heroic and to be treasured. They were just trips.
But surely going shopping in a wedge shaped supercar is more fun than a Focus even if you get used to it..
swisstoni said:
OP - it seems you would be silly not to. 
No idea of your personal circs but if kids are ever likely to appear on the scene you know what's going to go out the window first don't you?
Not quite my friend - we have a 1year son and hopefully about to adopt a child this time round No idea of your personal circs but if kids are ever likely to appear on the scene you know what's going to go out the window first don't you?
I am looking at replacing my wife's current Z4 with a Subaru Estate though - running the XKR and Z4 as parents has been great fun though!
The Lotus forums is really the only place you need for Esprit stuff plus maybe a bit on Lotus esprit world for specs etc. You could do it with the right car but may be a bit tiring after time. If you cant do your own work on it the bills could rack up. You need one that's been used not a garage queen. The lower spec cars have less to go wrong and if your in the south east you will just sit in the same traffic jam in a slow or a quick one.
Back in the mid 90's, I ran a 1978 eclat 521 as my daily car. I did 22000 miles in two years, with few real issues.
Occasionally it would exhibit fuel starvation symptoms on left-handed bends, but owing to the sporadic nature of the fault, I never got to the bottom of it.
It was great. The car had a vacuum system, consisting of a compressor and miles of small-bore plastic tubing, which operated the pop-up lights; overnight, a leak in the pipes somewhere caused one light to partially raise, giving the appearance of a quizzically arched eyebrow. And that's why I called it Roger.
Occasionally it would exhibit fuel starvation symptoms on left-handed bends, but owing to the sporadic nature of the fault, I never got to the bottom of it.
It was great. The car had a vacuum system, consisting of a compressor and miles of small-bore plastic tubing, which operated the pop-up lights; overnight, a leak in the pipes somewhere caused one light to partially raise, giving the appearance of a quizzically arched eyebrow. And that's why I called it Roger.
Lovely car - definitely get one but don't let it be your only car
1) because you'll kick yourself when the lower mileage version is twice the price and you spent the majority of the miles sat at 70mph or going to Tesco
2) because it should be used to have fun in - to be a refuge from the mundane.
Get one but buy a panda 100 too
1) because you'll kick yourself when the lower mileage version is twice the price and you spent the majority of the miles sat at 70mph or going to Tesco
2) because it should be used to have fun in - to be a refuge from the mundane.
Get one but buy a panda 100 too
Do it! I had the exact same thought a year and a half ago but I chickened out and bought a 996 instead.... And Esprit's have climbed in value enough since then to be just out of my reach for now, so now have slight regrets that I didn't take the plunge For me it doesn't matter which incarnation it is , any of them would do , just obviously it's a car you buy with eyes wide open and do your research
And Esprit's have climbed in value enough since then to be just out of my reach for now, so now have slight regrets that I didn't take the plunge For me it doesn't matter which incarnation it is , any of them would do , just obviously it's a car you buy with eyes wide open and do your researcholliete said:
Lovely car - definitely get one but don't let it be your only car
1) because you'll kick yourself when the lower mileage version is twice the price and you spent the majority of the miles sat at 70mph or going to Tesco
2) because it should be used to have fun in - to be a refuge from the mundane.
Get one but buy a panda 100 too
Whilst I see your point, I would rather have the extra time in the car than the extra few quid and I wouldn't invite the mundane in in the first place! My own car is noisy, awkward to get in and out of, juicy, looks great, sounds awesome and makes every journey an event. Regular use also means I keep on top of servicing and everything is as it should be. I'm 2 years in and just as smitten as I was the day I flew to Ireland to collect it and drive it home. 1) because you'll kick yourself when the lower mileage version is twice the price and you spent the majority of the miles sat at 70mph or going to Tesco
2) because it should be used to have fun in - to be a refuge from the mundane.
Get one but buy a panda 100 too
I bought my Esprit S4 about 18 months ago and it's been great. I only do about 2500 miles a year, and only at weekends, but it runs and drives perfectly every time I retrieve it from the garage. I would say to definitely go for it, mine was bought for around your budget and is both mint and low mileage. It is a little awkward to drive compared to my other cars, but every drive is a wonderful experience.
[quote=e21Mark
I'm 2 years in and just as smitten as I was the day I flew to Ireland to collect it and drive it home.
[/quote]
Interestingly, I'm looking at 91 Blue Turbo for sale at dealer North of Belfast - wondering if it'd be worth the risk!
Flying to Belfast and driving home maybe with a mate accompanying me sounds like a *potentially great road trip
I'm 2 years in and just as smitten as I was the day I flew to Ireland to collect it and drive it home.
[/quote]
Interestingly, I'm looking at 91 Blue Turbo for sale at dealer North of Belfast - wondering if it'd be worth the risk!
Flying to Belfast and driving home maybe with a mate accompanying me sounds like a *potentially great road trip
- might have to upgrade my RAC cover as I'm not sure it cover Northern Ireland!
Excel SE's are utterly lovely. I had one of the last ones, a Celebration model -- but mine was in red, not the usual Lotus Carlton black/green paint. I think they made three in that spec.
Sublime handling. Quick enough. Very comfortable. Ate its wheels -- usually had one per service, cos they buckled on the relatively unsupported inners. Hated being left. But it was a daily driver, and I did large mileage in it.
Edit: I see Paul, who i sold it to, sold it recently: http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&...
Sublime handling. Quick enough. Very comfortable. Ate its wheels -- usually had one per service, cos they buckled on the relatively unsupported inners. Hated being left. But it was a daily driver, and I did large mileage in it.
Edit: I see Paul, who i sold it to, sold it recently: http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&...
yellowtang said:
Hi Ben
I remember your Excel - what do you have now?
I would need to clear the garage but in theory, yes it can be garaged.
A Diesel Toyota hatchback I remember your Excel - what do you have now?
I would need to clear the garage but in theory, yes it can be garaged.
(and a Honda Fireblade)Id echo what someone earlier said. It may well be doable running something like this daily. But its really takes the specialness out of all the other drives.
Im much wiser than i was when i bought my Excel. Although fun and relatively cheap to run, Id never run a car like that daily again, with the only exception being if i had £3k to chuck at modernising it.
My heater was ineffective, I felt mildly guilty stacking up miles at sedate speeds just to go shopping, i worried regularly that id tear through the rather aged seat fabric getting in and out for short journeys. The windows leaked rather alot (i think new frames would have solved it). And i sometimes worried that someone would pinch it (parked on the road).
I think havign a garage would have corrected some of those issues but journeys rarely felt special, going shoping in the excel felt little different to going shopping in an early vauxhall corsa
Well, I'm flying to Belfast in the morning! My mate Andy is coming too - he thinks I'm bonkers but likes to support my daft ideas! My wife just laughed. A lot.
I've somewhat optimistically booked one way tickets, but I do have a back up plan if this car is no good. If it is ok and a deal is done, then we plan to do a road trip down through the west coast of Ireland, stop overnight somewhere and then catch the ferry to Fishguard on Thursday.
I may need to upgrade my RAC cover...........
I've somewhat optimistically booked one way tickets, but I do have a back up plan if this car is no good. If it is ok and a deal is done, then we plan to do a road trip down through the west coast of Ireland, stop overnight somewhere and then catch the ferry to Fishguard on Thursday.
I may need to upgrade my RAC cover...........
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