RE: Lotus Esprit GT3 | Spotted
Discussion
Loose Cannon ,
£5000 for the last service is a large amount.
Can you detail exactly WHAT was done at this service ?
WHEN exactly was this service done ?
The belts and tensioners need 2or3 yearly servicing don’t they.
Finally, WHO did the servicing ?
£5000 is a large amount for routine servicing , on car worth £32,000
Was this dealer overcharging , or is this the sort of routine expense expected with an Esprit ?
Your advert says that the car was a good one, and did not need restoration.
It would be good to get a detailed account of the cars service and ownershiphistory
You also mention an ongoing list of maintainable issues, expected of any classic car.
WHAT items are on this list. ? Immediately needed , needed soon , and needed in the medium term ?
£5000 for the last service is a large amount.
Can you detail exactly WHAT was done at this service ?
WHEN exactly was this service done ?
The belts and tensioners need 2or3 yearly servicing don’t they.
Finally, WHO did the servicing ?
£5000 is a large amount for routine servicing , on car worth £32,000
Was this dealer overcharging , or is this the sort of routine expense expected with an Esprit ?
Your advert says that the car was a good one, and did not need restoration.
It would be good to get a detailed account of the cars service and ownershiphistory
You also mention an ongoing list of maintainable issues, expected of any classic car.
WHAT items are on this list. ? Immediately needed , needed soon , and needed in the medium term ?
smurfcar said:
Loose Cannon ,
£5000 for the last service is a large amount.
Can you detail exactly WHAT was done at this service ?
The advert says £1200 for the petrol tanks and £1200 on a new exhaust manifold, so that's half way to £5000 to start will. A major service on a GT3 was £1000 (assuming nothing other than the service needs doing) when I owned one some 15+ years ago so that will be more now. Add in a few bits and bobs and £5000 is not unreasonable.£5000 for the last service is a large amount.
Can you detail exactly WHAT was done at this service ?
Thank you snuffy , and I know that this is a forum , but I want to hear from the vendor , if I am to part with £32k .
£5k needs details , also WHEN and WHICH specialist did the work , so I call up and confirm , and also find out what has not been done , and what expenses to expect shortly .
As an esprit owner snuffy , could you tell me in detail , what sort of expenses to expect , and what reliability problems to expect please . I know that they are now classic cars in age .
£5k needs details , also WHEN and WHICH specialist did the work , so I call up and confirm , and also find out what has not been done , and what expenses to expect shortly .
As an esprit owner snuffy , could you tell me in detail , what sort of expenses to expect , and what reliability problems to expect please . I know that they are now classic cars in age .
smurfcar said:
Thank you snuffy , and I know that this is a forum , but I want to hear from the vendor , if I am to part with £32k .
£5k needs details , also WHEN and WHICH specialist did the work , so I call up and confirm , and also find out what has not been done , and what expenses to expect shortly .
As an esprit owner snuffy , could you tell me in detail , what sort of expenses to expect , and what reliability problems to expect please . I know that they are now classic cars in age .
Perhaps asking with a modicum of politeness might help?£5k needs details , also WHEN and WHICH specialist did the work , so I call up and confirm , and also find out what has not been done , and what expenses to expect shortly .
As an esprit owner snuffy , could you tell me in detail , what sort of expenses to expect , and what reliability problems to expect please . I know that they are now classic cars in age .
smurfcar said:
As an esprit owner snuffy , could you tell me in detail , what sort of expenses to expect , and what reliability problems to expect please . I know that they are now classic cars in age .
I shall try and recall from memory what I spent on my GT3 (bear in mind I owned mine from about 21 to 15 year ago). And it went from 5000 to 69000 miles in 6 years.Servicing goes A, B, A, C (I think that's right) and that's every 6 months or 6,000 miles (which ever is the sooner). I maintained that schedule but that was when it was a nearly new car, so I'd image most cars (any type, not just Lotus), that are 20+ years old and very low mileage would most likely not keep that up.
Costs were A about £250, B about £450 and C about £1000 (that was main dealer prices, 15 years ago).
I changed the clutch at about 60,000 miles (it's first one from new), about £1000 as I recall. The turbo blew up was about £1000 for a new one (that's very unlucky for that to happen. I know someone a few ago had had exactly the same thing happen on his Mondeo turbo and it cost him more to repair so it can happen on anything).
I think it had 2 sets of tyres and maybe two sets of pads, but not discs (unlike modern cars that seem to chew them very quickly now that they have become a consumable part like pads). I had the exhaust replaced (made at a specialist).
I don't know if that helps, but I'd say my running cost were pretty typical for a GT3.
Another way to look at it is this: You should look at the price to but it at the time, and adjust for inflation. So it was £40k in 1997, which is about £71k today. So it's really a £70k car with £70k running costs for a car that's 20 years old.
I think you'll struggle to find one as good as this one.
smurfcar said:
Loose Cannon ,
£5000 for the last service is a large amount.
Can you detail exactly WHAT was done at this service ?
WHEN exactly was this service done ?
The belts and tensioners need 2or3 yearly servicing don’t they.
Finally, WHO did the servicing ?
£5000 is a large amount for routine servicing , on car worth £32,000
Was this dealer overcharging , or is this the sort of routine expense expected with an Esprit ?
Your advert says that the car was a good one, and did not need restoration.
It would be good to get a detailed account of the cars service and ownershiphistory
You also mention an ongoing list of maintainable issues, expected of any classic car.
WHAT items are on this list. ? Immediately needed , needed soon , and needed in the medium term ?
If you're serious, why not respond to his ad and give him a ring?£5000 for the last service is a large amount.
Can you detail exactly WHAT was done at this service ?
WHEN exactly was this service done ?
The belts and tensioners need 2or3 yearly servicing don’t they.
Finally, WHO did the servicing ?
£5000 is a large amount for routine servicing , on car worth £32,000
Was this dealer overcharging , or is this the sort of routine expense expected with an Esprit ?
Your advert says that the car was a good one, and did not need restoration.
It would be good to get a detailed account of the cars service and ownershiphistory
You also mention an ongoing list of maintainable issues, expected of any classic car.
WHAT items are on this list. ? Immediately needed , needed soon , and needed in the medium term ?
I don't normally reply to this sort of thing, but I have to say this kind of questioning really p***ed me off when selling my Elise, and no doubt will do again when I sell my Evora. Consider me triggered.
If you're not seriously considering buying it, don't ask endless time wasting questions. I got utterly sick of people who came just to drive an (any) Elise, and were using me in place of visiting a dealer or paying for a trackday experience. Endless questions about when washer x was last replaced or why a 20yo 80k mile car had imperfect paint from people with no intention at all of ever actually owning a hand built sports car. Wasting hours of my time instead of spending time researching themselves.
Snuffy ... really good information , can only get that from an owner , very valuable , thank you
Giveitfish... very stupid post .
Read what vendor says in his post : he is there to give any and all info about his and any esprit .
If my questions are answered on this forum , other buyers won’t have to pm him to repeatedly ask the same questions.... all sensible questions when spending money .
I couldn’t care less about your difficulties selling an Elise , and I am not forcing you to read my post .
I am replying to vendors offer that he is there to be a source of information , during the sale of his car
Your post is of no value , and a waste of time
Giveitfish... very stupid post .
Read what vendor says in his post : he is there to give any and all info about his and any esprit .
If my questions are answered on this forum , other buyers won’t have to pm him to repeatedly ask the same questions.... all sensible questions when spending money .
I couldn’t care less about your difficulties selling an Elise , and I am not forcing you to read my post .
I am replying to vendors offer that he is there to be a source of information , during the sale of his car
Your post is of no value , and a waste of time
Despite the vehicle being featured in "Spotted", I don't really think this is the correct place for corresponding with an owner with regards to potentially buying a car. Personally I would use the orthodox channels and phone / e-mail him directly for more exact details. I am sure the vendor will be happy to answer your questions.
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