Discussion
Mine's fine. Or at least it has been since I did the things to it when I first obtained it last April. Since then it runs, and runs, and runs.
What sorts of things do you have go wrong? Can your wrench it yourself? That latter is key to having one of these things and not breaking the bank.
What sorts of things do you have go wrong? Can your wrench it yourself? That latter is key to having one of these things and not breaking the bank.
unity1 said:
I must be one of the lucky few (Touch wood). If she doesnt start or break down then something is really wrong (touch wood again just to be sure).
I will second that -touch wood, only small niggly electrical probs has happened, well its an old car now so I expect that.
Kev sorry to hear your troubles, hope its fixed soon.
Hmmm Smiles
The day I bvought my esprit my Neighbour(who is used to me bring weird cars home) yelled out his window.
"its british and itll break down tomorrow" and the funny thing was it did!
I think however that generally the cars get poor maintanence from past owners, work is either not done properly or not done at all.
I am hoping that once I get the PIG ( the same neighbours wife used to call my yard the "PIG" pen) fully sorted it will become semi reliable, well thats the hope.
Cheers
Kevin
The day I bvought my esprit my Neighbour(who is used to me bring weird cars home) yelled out his window.
"its british and itll break down tomorrow" and the funny thing was it did!
I think however that generally the cars get poor maintanence from past owners, work is either not done properly or not done at all.
I am hoping that once I get the PIG ( the same neighbours wife used to call my yard the "PIG" pen) fully sorted it will become semi reliable, well thats the hope.
Cheers
Kevin
Hey, there is an old biker saying that goes (sorry Kylie):
If it has tits or wheels, it will give you trouble.
That said, I think that for an exotic, and an English one at that, they are pretty reliable (knock on wood...) As Squelch (who's opinion I regard highly) told me: "Maintenance is a bit more, but a Stevens Esprit is about as reliable as an MR2 turbo," or something to that effect. My car is 15 years old now, and I have had a few little problems, like the speedo, throttle cable, etc., but I can't complain. It is much better than my Europa was. I also don't drive it anywhere near as hard as I did the Europa.
Brief sprint today to 105 on a back road at which point the wife says back it down, as measured on my new digital speedo which I can actually see while I am driving. I'll take some pics.
Dr.Hess
If it has tits or wheels, it will give you trouble.
That said, I think that for an exotic, and an English one at that, they are pretty reliable (knock on wood...) As Squelch (who's opinion I regard highly) told me: "Maintenance is a bit more, but a Stevens Esprit is about as reliable as an MR2 turbo," or something to that effect. My car is 15 years old now, and I have had a few little problems, like the speedo, throttle cable, etc., but I can't complain. It is much better than my Europa was. I also don't drive it anywhere near as hard as I did the Europa.
Brief sprint today to 105 on a back road at which point the wife says back it down, as measured on my new digital speedo which I can actually see while I am driving. I'll take some pics.
Dr.Hess
JK1 said:
Kevin,
Sorry to hear of your ongoing troubles. How many miles on your car and do you know the maintenance history?
Jim
Hi Jim
44,000 Miles, But as far as I can tell minimal Maintenance. There was 12,000 NZD worth of reciepts for the engine and other items when I bought it and whilst the internals seem good, the install was a mess, bolts missing, wrong bolts, hoses rubbing, broken engine mounts etc.
There were receipts for things that werent even there! the previous owner had been suspicious but wasnt sure if he was being ripped. The fellow that had done the reinstall has a bad rep! Still its a solid car and I like it, its just that its not as reliable as a Chevy when it gets leaned on!!!
I just got rid of my Europa S2 (Renault power) and that was worse I can tell you!(As the other contributer stated)A wheel(HUB) even fell off once!!!! Although the handling was brilliant, 2nd best handling car ive ever driven except for a NASCAR. The Esprit does not have the finnese, I suspect a flexi chassis prevents it from being top notch. In saying that its still VERY good!
I will be persistant with it though, as its either that,a C5 Vette or a Holden Monaro for the cruiser car and both of those are bigger and heavier.
Cheers
Kevin
Oh two Kevs here in this post!!!
Well chaps was at a drag racing meet today and at least you don't have to go home and tell the wife you blew up the tranny or destroyed an engine that went up in flames
Was educated today by the people I was with, that many relationships break up cause too much time and money is spent on expensive race cars and not enough time with family or morgage repayments doh!!
So dosen't make the Esprit look too bad at all. There is always an up side to things
Now that black sport 350 thats advertised at the moment
Well chaps was at a drag racing meet today and at least you don't have to go home and tell the wife you blew up the tranny or destroyed an engine that went up in flames
Was educated today by the people I was with, that many relationships break up cause too much time and money is spent on expensive race cars and not enough time with family or morgage repayments doh!! So dosen't make the Esprit look too bad at all. There is always an up side to things
Now that black sport 350 thats advertised at the moment
I do love my esprit, after all its the car I dreamed of for the past 10 years.
I also understand that they are not the most reliable of cars.
Thats why when I got mine I made sure it had a full service history, lots of receipts and low mileage (65,000). Before I had it its had new steering rack, suspension, head gasket, valves etc etc.
Just about everything that could go wrong did, or so I thought.
Since ive had it its needed - thottle cable, cam belt, exhaust manifold (ouch), all gasket, Some wheel bearing carrier thing, exhaust system, airfilter, brake switch, battery, dash and a running fault which makes it barely drivable!
I do love it but Im not sure how many more problems I can take!
I also understand that they are not the most reliable of cars.
Thats why when I got mine I made sure it had a full service history, lots of receipts and low mileage (65,000). Before I had it its had new steering rack, suspension, head gasket, valves etc etc.
Just about everything that could go wrong did, or so I thought.
Since ive had it its needed - thottle cable, cam belt, exhaust manifold (ouch), all gasket, Some wheel bearing carrier thing, exhaust system, airfilter, brake switch, battery, dash and a running fault which makes it barely drivable!
I do love it but Im not sure how many more problems I can take!
Kev - There may be light at the end of the tunnel. My 95 S4 has caused me loads of grief over the last few months - failed lamba sensor, new clutch, head gasket!!, flywheel speed sensor knackered and an idling problem (and have you ever tried to install new front speakers - although that one was my choice!)
But it's now running superbly and has been for a while.
When the sun's out and you look on your drive at that gleaming PIG - then you look at the neighbours old Fiat - and suddenly it's all worth while!!
Gareth
But it's now running superbly and has been for a while.
When the sun's out and you look on your drive at that gleaming PIG - then you look at the neighbours old Fiat - and suddenly it's all worth while!!
Gareth
wipper said:
Kev - There may be light at the end of the tunnel. My 95 S4 has caused me loads of grief over the last few months - failed lamba sensor, new clutch, head gasket!!, flywheel speed sensor knackered and an idling problem (and have you ever tried to install new front speakers - although that one was my choice!)
But it's now running superbly and has been for a while.
When the sun's out and you look on your drive at that gleaming PIG - then you look at the neighbours old Fiat - and suddenly it's all worth while!!
Gareth
Hey thanks Gareth, yes I did the front speakers(Kenwoods) had to take the instruments binnacle off which involves removing the main gauge peice, it was a drama, but looks good now! I took the opportunity to replace the Boost gauge with a VDO one at the same time as the standard one was not accurate or damped and fluttered all over the place.
Currently the car is off the road, the plywood front bumper support had rotted but I agree a drive in the sun will restore a SMILE!
Cheers
Kevin
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