Lotus Esprit as daily driver?
Discussion
yellowtang said:
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 like your style! 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...........
Looking forward to an update.
Currently sat in Belfast Int Airport awaiting our flight to Liverpool.
I've been to see the blue car this morning - a very nice, straight and original car (interior re-trim) but having put it up on a ramp, it has a engine oil leak, fibreglass rad shield broken, front shocks needed, car still on original fuel tanks and the ABS light is coming on intermittently. Also needs C service. Considering all of that, I've decided to head to PMS near Liverpool to check their car (yellow one) out. The owner of the garage (blue car) is however a brilliant chap, picked us up at the airport and even though I didn't buy his car, he helped me find a flight to Liverpool and he got one of his chaps to drive us back to the airport. Top man Kenny!
Andy is joking that this road trip is more planes, trains and automobiles so far!
Updates will follow...........
I've been to see the blue car this morning - a very nice, straight and original car (interior re-trim) but having put it up on a ramp, it has a engine oil leak, fibreglass rad shield broken, front shocks needed, car still on original fuel tanks and the ABS light is coming on intermittently. Also needs C service. Considering all of that, I've decided to head to PMS near Liverpool to check their car (yellow one) out. The owner of the garage (blue car) is however a brilliant chap, picked us up at the airport and even though I didn't buy his car, he helped me find a flight to Liverpool and he got one of his chaps to drive us back to the airport. Top man Kenny!
Andy is joking that this road trip is more planes, trains and automobiles so far!
Updates will follow...........
Currently sat in the Adelphi Hotel (what a s
thole) plotting tomorrow's movements.
Off to PMS 1st thing to view the yellow car, if it's a good one and a deal can be agreed, then we will head across to Bangor (via Drew Pritchards) and do the A470 all the way down to South Wales and back to Bath.
PMS do also have a white car with the charge cooled engine up at £20k - a bit more than I wanted to spend really.....
thole) plotting tomorrow's movements. Off to PMS 1st thing to view the yellow car, if it's a good one and a deal can be agreed, then we will head across to Bangor (via Drew Pritchards) and do the A470 all the way down to South Wales and back to Bath.
PMS do also have a white car with the charge cooled engine up at £20k - a bit more than I wanted to spend really.....
Apologies for the delay in updating this thread! I have been down with a sinus infection and ruptured eardrums!
Ok, basically I'm going to have to hand this one to the naysayers I'm afraid. I'm eating humble pie as I type.....
The yellow car at PMS didn't live up to my (probably too high) expectations. Firstly, the car wasn't always yellow (I knew that before looking at it) but prior to PMS owing it, it had a respray from green to Norfolk Mustard - however, I could see green paint all over the place. Call me fussy, but to my mind, if you are going to change the colour, then a quick blow over is not the correct way to do it. Either do it properly or retain the original colour.
Secondly, despite being told to avoid a car with the ABS light issue at all costs - once again I found myself looking at a car with the ruddy ABS light staying on! Also, the brakes were dangerously bad on this car. After the test drive, the guys did say that there was a problem with the brake master cyclinder and this was causing the poor braking/possibly the reason for the ABS light as well....
Another irritation with the car was that the passenger electric window didn't work and nor did either of the cigarette lighter sockets. A car without air-con really needs the windows working!
I've reached the conclusion that while it is possible to buy an Esprit for £15k, it's likely that you'd be looking a car with issues. With me not being mechanically minded and also bearing in mind my daily driver requirement, it just isn't going to work.
A later V8 car would, from the few that I looked at, probably be a better bet. I'd have to spend £30k plus to get one though!
A very disappointing end to the dream, but at least I actually had a good stab at it
Ok, basically I'm going to have to hand this one to the naysayers I'm afraid. I'm eating humble pie as I type.....
The yellow car at PMS didn't live up to my (probably too high) expectations. Firstly, the car wasn't always yellow (I knew that before looking at it) but prior to PMS owing it, it had a respray from green to Norfolk Mustard - however, I could see green paint all over the place. Call me fussy, but to my mind, if you are going to change the colour, then a quick blow over is not the correct way to do it. Either do it properly or retain the original colour.
Secondly, despite being told to avoid a car with the ABS light issue at all costs - once again I found myself looking at a car with the ruddy ABS light staying on! Also, the brakes were dangerously bad on this car. After the test drive, the guys did say that there was a problem with the brake master cyclinder and this was causing the poor braking/possibly the reason for the ABS light as well....
Another irritation with the car was that the passenger electric window didn't work and nor did either of the cigarette lighter sockets. A car without air-con really needs the windows working!
I've reached the conclusion that while it is possible to buy an Esprit for £15k, it's likely that you'd be looking a car with issues. With me not being mechanically minded and also bearing in mind my daily driver requirement, it just isn't going to work.
A later V8 car would, from the few that I looked at, probably be a better bet. I'd have to spend £30k plus to get one though!
A very disappointing end to the dream, but at least I actually had a good stab at it
I know it has been a while since this topic was alive, but I just came across it by accident.
As a daily esprit driver I can add some insights.
Only buy a fully serviced and maintained car... mine has now done over 105000. I put about 10k on it last year, having a documented service history from an enthusiast previous owner has saved me a lot of pain.
Things that broke over the past three years are ;
Needed new oil coolers and hoses
Drivers electric window motor
Trim went MIA from drivers wing mirror
Glove box lock has failed
New clutch
Repairs to bolster
The nose paint looks like acne... but I drive it and commute in it daily...
Rear lower spoiler has gone loose after I enthusiastically glided through a puddle...
Dead battery
Broken rear mirror
Only the battery issue left me stranded..
The clutch gave up but I made it to bell and colville in 2nd.. and it had warned me for 6 months....
Driving everyday... it does not like sitting in traffic... heavy clutch and short gears means that bumper to bumper is hard work
But when you can it cruises perfectly at the limit.... while constantly reminding you it isn't even started yet...it gets fast, very fast. Once the turbo gets spinning the tach leaps to the red line
I have a 4 pot but economy is pretty poor
Van drivers love it and let you in... porsche gts drivers try and kill themselves proving they can drive faster...
Even with working aircon it gets warm....
I park with sunroof open in the summer...
Rear vision is .... none. But it's no more difficult to park than an estate... but the doors are long making elegant exits difficult
Toll booth's are designed for SUVS. .. just a nightmare. .. they put concrete bollards in the approach now so you have to climb out the window to pay !
My dog loves it... getting in and out is easy... even non car people love it...
But most importantly. Driving one every day is awesome. .. I actually look foward to the commute. .. oh... and the sound is intoxicating.
As a daily esprit driver I can add some insights.
Only buy a fully serviced and maintained car... mine has now done over 105000. I put about 10k on it last year, having a documented service history from an enthusiast previous owner has saved me a lot of pain.
Things that broke over the past three years are ;
Needed new oil coolers and hoses
Drivers electric window motor
Trim went MIA from drivers wing mirror
Glove box lock has failed
New clutch
Repairs to bolster
The nose paint looks like acne... but I drive it and commute in it daily...
Rear lower spoiler has gone loose after I enthusiastically glided through a puddle...
Dead battery
Broken rear mirror
Only the battery issue left me stranded..
The clutch gave up but I made it to bell and colville in 2nd.. and it had warned me for 6 months....
Driving everyday... it does not like sitting in traffic... heavy clutch and short gears means that bumper to bumper is hard work
But when you can it cruises perfectly at the limit.... while constantly reminding you it isn't even started yet...it gets fast, very fast. Once the turbo gets spinning the tach leaps to the red line
I have a 4 pot but economy is pretty poor
Van drivers love it and let you in... porsche gts drivers try and kill themselves proving they can drive faster...
Even with working aircon it gets warm....
I park with sunroof open in the summer...
Rear vision is .... none. But it's no more difficult to park than an estate... but the doors are long making elegant exits difficult
Toll booth's are designed for SUVS. .. just a nightmare. .. they put concrete bollards in the approach now so you have to climb out the window to pay !
My dog loves it... getting in and out is easy... even non car people love it...
But most importantly. Driving one every day is awesome. .. I actually look foward to the commute. .. oh... and the sound is intoxicating.
ziggy328 said:
and you can't see sod all.
Yes u can. U get a great view of the dash reflected onto the inside of the wind screen every time the sun shines. It was my dream car back in the mid 90s and I was very close to buying one. Remember driving all the way down from Central Scotland to Chris Neil's in Cheshire with the necessary funds in my current account ready to transfer with a view buy.
One test drive later I was back up the road disappointed and Lotusless.
Next day I bought a new Mazda MX5 Mk1 which wasn't out long st the time.
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