Discussion
Just my opinion
Lotus has got significantly better in recent time. I think overall they are much the same. Both struggle to achieve reliability when faced with the need for ever more HP per CC. Fit and finish build quality I think goes to Lotus whereas comfort and design usability goes to TVR. The Elise stands alone in the Lotus camp as being fairly reliable, exception being the head gasket issue. Other Lotus including the Exige are not so good. TVR of course have the S6 issue and throughout the range handling requires more from the driver. Comparisons are difficult because TVR don't make anything with a little 4 pot engine. Comparing TVR to a Lotus V8 I think TVR are significantly more reliable and far easier to work on.
Lotus has got significantly better in recent time. I think overall they are much the same. Both struggle to achieve reliability when faced with the need for ever more HP per CC. Fit and finish build quality I think goes to Lotus whereas comfort and design usability goes to TVR. The Elise stands alone in the Lotus camp as being fairly reliable, exception being the head gasket issue. Other Lotus including the Exige are not so good. TVR of course have the S6 issue and throughout the range handling requires more from the driver. Comparisons are difficult because TVR don't make anything with a little 4 pot engine. Comparing TVR to a Lotus V8 I think TVR are significantly more reliable and far easier to work on.
tvrbob said:
Just my opinion
Lotus has got significantly better in recent time. I think overall they are much the same. Both struggle to achieve reliability when faced with the need for ever more HP per CC. Fit and finish build quality I think goes to Lotus whereas comfort and design usability goes to TVR. The Elise stands alone in the Lotus camp as being fairly reliable, exception being the head gasket issue. Other Lotus including the Exige are not so good. TVR of course have the S6 issue and throughout the range handling requires more from the driver. Comparisons are difficult because TVR don't make anything with a little 4 pot engine. Comparing TVR to a Lotus V8 I think TVR are significantly more reliable and far easier to work on.
The Elise is a bad example really as to be fair it isnt really a Lotus in the true sense.. it is a Proton apart from the badge, and is streets ahead of the Esprit in its finish and build quality/reliability, which still has bits of Leyland Daf parts on it!! Im suprised you think the finish on a Lotus is better than TVR, from what Ive seen inside yours and Byffs car and more so on Bombs car the finish is beautiful, and has a very prestige look and feel to it, whereas the Esprit really is shocking in the cabin, up until the interior was revised in 1997/1998 by Proton I asume? Do they still own Lotus?
I have seen some of the older Loti.. Elite, Ecel, Esprit S2 etc.. at shows and compared to say a TVR Wedge the finish is poor, Although I absoloutley adore the shape and lines of the Esprit Im finding it difficult now to buy a 3rd Esprit knowing what exactly holds them together.. blue tack and super glue I think 
, Ive had two Esprits and two BMW M3's in the last two years, and not really been totally convinced by any of them.. Im about 80% convinced Im going to get a Cerbera, but just need to know that THIS will be the car to keep, and I will be happy with it
, Ive had two Esprits and two BMW M3's in the last two years, and not really been totally convinced by any of them.. Im about 80% convinced Im going to get a Cerbera, but just need to know that THIS will be the car to keep, and I will be happy with it Remember also that the Elise has next to nothing inside, hence less to come loose and rattle.
Running costs I'm pretty sure are less on an Elise compared to say a Chim or Cerb. you have to remember that your S4 was a GM car and GM were not so keen to furnish Lotus with heaps of cash during the 90's slump so products suffered. Later Esprits with the facelift, the GT3 for example, were much better for fit and finish and are considered more robust. I'm excluding the V8 models though, they are different animals and have the chance of becoming really expensive if they go pop.
Forget proton having any influence on the S1 Elise, it was pretty much designed and ready to roll 2 years before it hit our roads and proton were still sorting out GM's mess. I'm not the best person to comment on running costs as I spent a small fortune on mine (just to make it faster than Bob's!) but had I left it standard-ish it would have cost me very little during my 2 years of ownership.
Are you thinking about an Elise mate?
Running costs I'm pretty sure are less on an Elise compared to say a Chim or Cerb. you have to remember that your S4 was a GM car and GM were not so keen to furnish Lotus with heaps of cash during the 90's slump so products suffered. Later Esprits with the facelift, the GT3 for example, were much better for fit and finish and are considered more robust. I'm excluding the V8 models though, they are different animals and have the chance of becoming really expensive if they go pop.
Forget proton having any influence on the S1 Elise, it was pretty much designed and ready to roll 2 years before it hit our roads and proton were still sorting out GM's mess. I'm not the best person to comment on running costs as I spent a small fortune on mine (just to make it faster than Bob's!) but had I left it standard-ish it would have cost me very little during my 2 years of ownership.
Are you thinking about an Elise mate?
No Paul Im not a big fan of the Elise sorry..
, Although some of the Exige's look good I would never consider buying one, The only Lotus I would buy now is a GT3 with the revised interior, you got that spot on , a V8 is madness, and will bankrupt you, I want something that makes old ladies and kids scream and jump over hedges when Im driving along the road.. , Something with that "presence" on the road, a cerb gives me all these things and a back seat for the boys too
, Although some of the Exige's look good I would never consider buying one, The only Lotus I would buy now is a GT3 with the revised interior, you got that spot on , a V8 is madness, and will bankrupt you, I want something that makes old ladies and kids scream and jump over hedges when Im driving along the road.. , Something with that "presence" on the road, a cerb gives me all these things and a back seat for the boys too You're going to have to just give yourself a slap and buy one. You are so tempted, then bottle out at the last minute and buy another Esprit (or dare I mention it, M3?)
I know I've offered before, but you seriously need to have a ride out in the Cerbera (I know it's the one that floats your boat). I'll tell you every fault, niggle, upgrade and flaw to be aware of that would take hours of typing to explain, but two minutes to point out and show you. I'll then take you out for a spin and you can witness old ladies leaping into bushes and small children being startled and bursting into tears.
I know my car is supposed to be for sale, but serioulsy, I think my wife has realised I'm just pulling her leg and she's stuck with it. Saying that, if you wanted to buy mine, I would sell it, but I'm not going to twist your arm and you can be rest assured that your getting sound advice either way. I just like showing people the raw savageness of the Cerb and how it can make your ear drums bleed when sending it into warp drive at 6000 rpm.
Come to the dark side..........
I know I've offered before, but you seriously need to have a ride out in the Cerbera (I know it's the one that floats your boat). I'll tell you every fault, niggle, upgrade and flaw to be aware of that would take hours of typing to explain, but two minutes to point out and show you. I'll then take you out for a spin and you can witness old ladies leaping into bushes and small children being startled and bursting into tears.
I know my car is supposed to be for sale, but serioulsy, I think my wife has realised I'm just pulling her leg and she's stuck with it. Saying that, if you wanted to buy mine, I would sell it, but I'm not going to twist your arm and you can be rest assured that your getting sound advice either way. I just like showing people the raw savageness of the Cerb and how it can make your ear drums bleed when sending it into warp drive at 6000 rpm.
Come to the dark side..........
I'm free tonight and tomorrow night, why put it off?
I'm off to Eurodisney after that, so will miss the weekend also. We could meet up at Seaburn, Whitburn, South Shields, Boldon, Sunderland, even my house if you want. PM me - you know it makes sense - it'll either kill all ideas of TVR'ness or stimulate you into taking the plunge.
I'm off to Eurodisney after that, so will miss the weekend also. We could meet up at Seaburn, Whitburn, South Shields, Boldon, Sunderland, even my house if you want. PM me - you know it makes sense - it'll either kill all ideas of TVR'ness or stimulate you into taking the plunge.
Thats something I forgot to ask.. Do thet leak? Ive heard conflicting reports, My first Esprit which was the older model was watertight, but the S4 used to let it in all over.How are Tivs, Would a prospected seller think it unreasonable for me to put a hose pipe over their P&J and test for leaks?
I don't know about the convertible models, but the hard tops are pretty soak proof. I noticed on my last one that if I parked it in the drive nose up, I had no trouble, but nose down and it leaked through into the boot. Both of them however have been leak proof in the cabin, the only exception being jet washes - directly against the side windows and you'll get soaked.
I took mine to one of those hand wash places the other day and despite their use of a jet wash, there was only a tiny trickle of water got in. Mind you, previous to me using it, I warned them if they used the jet directly against the windows or close to the paintwork and they would have to prise the jet wash out of there arse - sideways!
I took mine to one of those hand wash places the other day and despite their use of a jet wash, there was only a tiny trickle of water got in. Mind you, previous to me using it, I warned them if they used the jet directly against the windows or close to the paintwork and they would have to prise the jet wash out of there arse - sideways!
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