Lotus Esprit GT3

[dctvr]

I've recently sold my TVR Griffith 500 and have been considering purchasing a GT3. Can anyone shed some light on their reliability and any other issues I should be aware of before purchasing?

[adrianmugridge]

Have a look at my site, www.adrianmugridge.co.uk

It details repairs, breakdowns, costs etc for my 97 GT3

Adrian

[rob.e]

GT3 = excellent car. Probabably the best handling esprit and best chance of trouble-free esprit motoring.

Lots of info on lotus esprit world and esprit fact file. Interior and other changes for 98 model year.

Plenty of knowledge and upgrades available if you want more power. PUK esprit racing etc. plus free ware scan tool (freescan) to allow you to plug your laptop in to the ecu for fault finding etc.

Drive several before you make a decision. The esprit does not take well to abuse or when people skimp on maintenance, so hold out for a good one.

Air con is i would suggest an essential option, but most have this anyway. Pay less if you buy one without 'cos you'll probably have more difficulty moving it on.

Join the yahoo group:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEsprit/

cheers
Rob

[Lotusacbc]

There is one thing I never understood about the Gt3, I hear over and over again how it is the best Esprit in a reliability sense. How? Isnt it all the same.

[rob.e]

Lotusacbc said:

There is one thing I never understood about the Gt3, I hear over and over again how it is the best Esprit in a reliability sense. How? Isnt it all the same.

The esprit has had continual development over a very long period. It follows then that the latest model to be produced is going to have the best chance of being reliable. The GT3 also got a lot of the mods that were developed for the launch of the v8 models from the 98 model on e.g. wiper linkage.

Also, as its only producing 240bhp there is less stress on many of the components than say, an S4s or V8. Remember all of these cars use the same renault gearbox - its right on the limit with the v8's 296 lbf torque, whereas its much more likely to last longer when its only having to handle the lower torque (216 lb f) outputs of the GT3's 2.0 litre engine.

[karluk29]

i bought my GT3 3 months ago, and its great, i do have a break proplem and i fried the turbo last week, i suggest get a dump valve fitted when you buy it, this has been suggest by the place reconing my turbo, i have had some seals go aswell, nothing major. the problem with mine is it has only done 8k miles in 6 years and has stood alot, this is why the seals are perished

its a great car though, when you get used to driving it, i find the turbo lag annoying, there is nothing there really untill turbo comes in. interior is gorgeous, alot of ppl i notice upgrade to the gt3 look, thats one of the reasons i bought it, its very sporty but so comfortable, and all the extras ac/em/ew/6 stack alpine/leather/alcantara/momo/alloy gearknob, fantastic car and nearly as fast as all the others

in fact if the tweak the engine, there would be less strain and you would be able to see off the v8 boys

BUY ONE