Elise to Esprit S4S?
Discussion
I've stumbled across a couple of Esprit's in the PH classifieds (and LEW) that seem fairly affordable and I'm taken by the S4S. I must admit that I am not planning on selling the Elise just yet, but was wondering whether the Esprit could be a possibility in perhaps one year's time 
The question is, will a jump from an Elise to an Esprit be financial suicide?
It would be my daily drive, which would cover approximately 12K miles a year. How much would I need to budget per year for servicing, consumables and general niggles? Are they fairly reliable on a day to day basis? Any common or expensive faults?
Surprisingly the insurance on a S4S is the same as my 111S!
Oz split-rims and surfboard spoiler ... wibble
Cheers!
Chris
The question is, will a jump from an Elise to an Esprit be financial suicide?It would be my daily drive, which would cover approximately 12K miles a year. How much would I need to budget per year for servicing, consumables and general niggles? Are they fairly reliable on a day to day basis? Any common or expensive faults?
Surprisingly the insurance on a S4S is the same as my 111S!
Oz split-rims and surfboard spoiler ... wibble
Cheers!
Chris
Fantastic cars, but they do hail from the era where the 'Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious' moniker was deserved.
I'm not too up on models - is it the V8 version. 'Cos if so, I believe the advice is to run, don't walk, away.
If it's the four cylinder then less issues I believe, though you'd want a turbo, but I'm still not sure it's a daily drive prospect.
Having said all that, I think they're wonderful, and I'd love an S2 or S4 myself.
I'm not too up on models - is it the V8 version. 'Cos if so, I believe the advice is to run, don't walk, away.
If it's the four cylinder then less issues I believe, though you'd want a turbo, but I'm still not sure it's a daily drive prospect.
Having said all that, I think they're wonderful, and I'd love an S2 or S4 myself.
TTwiggy said:
Fantastic cars, but they do hail from the era where the 'Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious' moniker was deserved.
I'm not too up on models - is it the V8 version. 'Cos if so, I believe the advice is to run, don't walk, away.
If it's the four cylinder then less issues I believe, though you'd want a turbo, but I'm still not sure it's a daily drive prospect.
Having said all that, I think they're wonderful, and I'd love an S2 or S4 myself.
Codswallop.I'm not too up on models - is it the V8 version. 'Cos if so, I believe the advice is to run, don't walk, away.
If it's the four cylinder then less issues I believe, though you'd want a turbo, but I'm still not sure it's a daily drive prospect.
Having said all that, I think they're wonderful, and I'd love an S2 or S4 myself.
GKP said:
Codswallop.
care to expand, or are you just along to insult me?I've got a lot of love for Lotus - my Elise was, and will be, the only car I've ever bought new, but pretty much everything I've read about the Esprit (from when I was considering one myself) said to go in very much with your eyes open in terms of running costs.
I'm not telling the OP not to do it, but as a daily driver for 12k miles per year, are you sure it's not going to leave him stranded at some point?
ker!) did a write up on his esprit ownershipDJRC said:
Well Twiggy you might have made your comments more credible if you had known what model the S4S is and what model the V8 is.
You rather shot yourself in the foot.
I read the OP quickly and just saw 'S4'. I missed the second 'S'. Shoot me.You rather shot yourself in the foot.
I'm really very sorry that I tried to offer some advice, unlike the learned beards who just posted to point out my errors without helping the chap in the OP with his question.
Like I said, I've already replied to this thread on another forum and pointed the Op in the direction of a more suitable website. However, coming out with tired old pub cliches doesn't help anyone.
None of my many Esprits (both V8's and 4 pots) have ever been expensive to maintain, they've all been reliable and they've all been daily drivers. But posting stuff like that doesn't get the internet excited, so I hardly ever bother. I just leave it to the armchair experts, most of whom have a mate or knew someone once who spent a gazzllion pounds fixing a sidelight bulb on their Esprit.
None of my many Esprits (both V8's and 4 pots) have ever been expensive to maintain, they've all been reliable and they've all been daily drivers. But posting stuff like that doesn't get the internet excited, so I hardly ever bother. I just leave it to the armchair experts, most of whom have a mate or knew someone once who spent a gazzllion pounds fixing a sidelight bulb on their Esprit.
GKP said:
Like I said, I've already replied to this thread on another forum and pointed the Op in the direction of a more suitable website. However, coming out with tired old pub cliches doesn't help anyone.
None of my many Esprits (both V8's and 4 pots) have ever been expensive to maintain, they've all been reliable and they've all been daily drivers. But posting stuff like that doesn't get the internet excited, so I hardly ever bother. I just leave it to the armchair experts, most of whom have a mate or knew someone once who spent a gazzllion pounds fixing a sidelight bulb on their Esprit.
I was only repeating (with actually rather less drama) what I was told, on this very sight myself, when I was considering one about 2 years ago.None of my many Esprits (both V8's and 4 pots) have ever been expensive to maintain, they've all been reliable and they've all been daily drivers. But posting stuff like that doesn't get the internet excited, so I hardly ever bother. I just leave it to the armchair experts, most of whom have a mate or knew someone once who spent a gazzllion pounds fixing a sidelight bulb on their Esprit.
I only wanted it for a weekend car, not a daily driver, yet the opinion was that I would have less financial pain if I took on the running of a small African state.
It's a shame you weren't around then
I have owned mhy S4s for 8 years now ,its is blistering quick in a really punch you in the back kind of way,and corners as though on rails.
I have had a few niggles and it has cost a fair bit to get it up together,mainly ,manifold,clutch(service item),2nd gear synchro,2 turbos,oil cooler,clutch fork,all discs(service items),ABS pressure switch(2 off),gear linkage rebuild,green dot pulleys,alternator(service item),a/c compressor,starter(service item),battery 2 off,coils leads,2 fuel pumps.a few mods Larini exhaust,chip, injectors.
In 8 years it has had every service when required,and i quite confidently go for a drive and expect to get home rather than on the back of an AA truck,and after 8 years i still have the same feeling for the car as i did when i first bought it,the car looks fresh and will easily hold its own to alot of modern supercars.
Nick
I have had a few niggles and it has cost a fair bit to get it up together,mainly ,manifold,clutch(service item),2nd gear synchro,2 turbos,oil cooler,clutch fork,all discs(service items),ABS pressure switch(2 off),gear linkage rebuild,green dot pulleys,alternator(service item),a/c compressor,starter(service item),battery 2 off,coils leads,2 fuel pumps.a few mods Larini exhaust,chip, injectors.
In 8 years it has had every service when required,and i quite confidently go for a drive and expect to get home rather than on the back of an AA truck,and after 8 years i still have the same feeling for the car as i did when i first bought it,the car looks fresh and will easily hold its own to alot of modern supercars.
Nick
I've had mine too for around that amount of time. Be under no illusion you will have to fix something in the future but they aren't that bad really. Annoyingly, I could fix some stuff but simply can't access it, I need it up on a ramp.
I have spend a fair bit on mine but I would say about half of it was for service items, a little more was for play stuff (upgrades and trackday stuff)
If I totted up the costs just to keep it running it would probably be £1100-£1200 per year, I expect. I've just had a new manifold so a fairly big item but they rust and this one lasted about 70,000 miles.
There's a thriving Esprit community about if you look.
A few points:
-I've had several batteries because they just 'die'. Looking in the Lotus manual, it states a min cranking amps of, I think, 750. The Halfords Calcium recommended in their little book only manages about 620 iirc. No bleeding wonder they kept dieing!! Although Halfords did replace mine several times
I've gone with an Optima red top, something like 950 cranking amps, what a transformation but at a price.
Also I bought a Ctek charger to keep it tip top
-Parts are available but sometimes you have to wait or they have to be made, such as coolant pipes/fuel tanks in aluminium.
-They like open roads, not congestion, gearing is long!
-Can be cramped for the tall, cosy for everyone else. Surprisingly practical with a usable bootspace, comfortable at speed and driver feedback is second to none. wind/tyre noise can become tiresome, I use earplugs!
-Insurance for mine is about £500/year fc with CCI (including 6 track days), tax £215, it always passes its MOT, Geoff sees to it. Last run to East London I got 25/gallon with er, spirited driving. See what I did there?
There's shed loads more but if you buy wisely and get a good indie mechanic it makes ownership a joy and not a worry.
There are a few good ones that would look over the car for you I'm sure.
Mine has done 115,000 miles and I intend to keep it as long as I can. Many admiring looks, always pleasant comments made and if you flash the pop-up headlights women throw their knickers at you!
that last bit might be a bit of a lie
I have spend a fair bit on mine but I would say about half of it was for service items, a little more was for play stuff (upgrades and trackday stuff)
If I totted up the costs just to keep it running it would probably be £1100-£1200 per year, I expect. I've just had a new manifold so a fairly big item but they rust and this one lasted about 70,000 miles.
There's a thriving Esprit community about if you look.
A few points:
-I've had several batteries because they just 'die'. Looking in the Lotus manual, it states a min cranking amps of, I think, 750. The Halfords Calcium recommended in their little book only manages about 620 iirc. No bleeding wonder they kept dieing!! Although Halfords did replace mine several times
I've gone with an Optima red top, something like 950 cranking amps, what a transformation but at a price.
Also I bought a Ctek charger to keep it tip top
-Parts are available but sometimes you have to wait or they have to be made, such as coolant pipes/fuel tanks in aluminium.
-They like open roads, not congestion, gearing is long!
-Can be cramped for the tall, cosy for everyone else. Surprisingly practical with a usable bootspace, comfortable at speed and driver feedback is second to none. wind/tyre noise can become tiresome, I use earplugs!
-Insurance for mine is about £500/year fc with CCI (including 6 track days), tax £215, it always passes its MOT, Geoff sees to it. Last run to East London I got 25/gallon with er, spirited driving. See what I did there?
There's shed loads more but if you buy wisely and get a good indie mechanic it makes ownership a joy and not a worry.
There are a few good ones that would look over the car for you I'm sure.
Mine has done 115,000 miles and I intend to keep it as long as I can. Many admiring looks, always pleasant comments made and if you flash the pop-up headlights women throw their knickers at you!
that last bit might be a bit of a lie
Thanks for the replies - I'm hoping to view my first Esprit either this weekend or next 
Out of interest, are there any common issues or faults with the Esprit and if so, how much are the replacements? Flyingdog, if you don't mind me asking, how much were the turbos? 
From what I've read, it (hopefully) shouldn't cost much more than my Elise to run. Am I right in thinking that a cambelt service is around ~£1K and rears tyres between ~£250-350 each? Are there any other big bills I should take into consideration? Anything else to look out for when viewing a car?
Thanks again - It's much appreciated! Even though it's the same marquee, I feel out of my depth!
Out of interest, are there any common issues or faults with the Esprit and if so, how much are the replacements? Flyingdog, if you don't mind me asking, how much were the turbos? From what I've read, it (hopefully) shouldn't cost much more than my Elise to run. Am I right in thinking that a cambelt service is around ~£1K and rears tyres between ~£250-350 each? Are there any other big bills I should take into consideration? Anything else to look out for when viewing a car?
Thanks again - It's much appreciated! Even though it's the same marquee, I feel out of my depth!
I'm interested in the cars linked below, although I haven't called the owners yet! Even though they are not technically the model I'm after, they are located nearby to where I live and car in the second link looks pretty sorted!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2450449.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1408478.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2450449.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1408478.htm
Recon'd turbo fitted is about £400 iirc. I had 3 go in about 50,000 miles.
Mine were sent to Universal Turbos I think, they looked at the failures of several cars, Nicks, mine and maybe a few others. They noted that the vanes were skimming the inside of the casing, probably from the very slight flex that the shaft displays at high rpm. This caused a blade to ping off, bu66ered turbo!
They clipped back the vanes slightly and since then mine's been very reliable.
Tyres, well depends where you shop to a great extent. If you go to KF/local tyre place you'll spend lots I expect. I tend to look around and if I see a bargain such as in PH classifieds or on ebay I take a chance. Has paid off quite a few times but I am not overly fussy about tyres, only so far as keeping the same ones either side of the front or rear axle. Sizes, I will always keep standard but then I run 295/35/18 and 235/40/17 so they are standard but only for a S350!!!!
...
Mine were sent to Universal Turbos I think, they looked at the failures of several cars, Nicks, mine and maybe a few others. They noted that the vanes were skimming the inside of the casing, probably from the very slight flex that the shaft displays at high rpm. This caused a blade to ping off, bu66ered turbo!
They clipped back the vanes slightly and since then mine's been very reliable.
Tyres, well depends where you shop to a great extent. If you go to KF/local tyre place you'll spend lots I expect. I tend to look around and if I see a bargain such as in PH classifieds or on ebay I take a chance. Has paid off quite a few times but I am not overly fussy about tyres, only so far as keeping the same ones either side of the front or rear axle. Sizes, I will always keep standard but then I run 295/35/18 and 235/40/17 so they are standard but only for a S350!!!!
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