TVR Chimaera to Esprit SE?

[anonymous-user]

Apologies for posting this in the Esprit forum and here but the Esprit forum seems a bit quiet!

Hi all,

Currently have a Chimaera but I've been thinking about the possibility of selling it and buying an Esprit SE. I've loved these cars since being a kid as I imagine most of you have!

Few questions though:

1) Would the running costs be roughly the same? (presuming I buy a good one, of course

2) Having not driven one yet has anyone driven both and how do they compare?

3) Is the air con any good? (when it works!)

4) Prices seem a bit all over the place but how much would I expect to spend for a decent car? This one for example seems like a good deal but I could spend up to about 10k:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/611831.htm

Cheers!

[Kylie]

Its a bit quiet because the 4000+ active Esprit owners on forums are either on LEF or Lotus Buzz
Ive never owned a TVR so I cant comment. Search on Lotusespritworld for all other information to get you started.

The Lotus experience is addictive so be warned

[Dodgey_Rog]

I would have to agree with Kylie, there's alot of activity in LEF about these, and at the moment, there are a few lovely examples about at the moment, the one you listed and this red one;

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/537359.htm

But its a few grand more than you want to spend. The one to get is the SE, some believe the purists Esprit is the Chargecooled 4 Pot, much more usable and accessable too. You'll find everything you need to know and stuff you were even afraid to ask on the Lotus Esprit World and Lotus Esprit Turbo, but check out LEF too.

Good luck.

[ESDavey]

I think you will miss the roof-down motoring and the torque of the TVR after a few hours.

In my view, go light weight with an Elise or more power & good looks with a Griffith !!

[anonymous-user]

Cheers for the responses guys, I'll check that forum out!

[britten_mark]

If you try it and find the Esprit experience is for you, buy the newest car you can as they get better put together year upon year. SEs are getting on a bit and mint ones will be rare. If you want to do some mileage personally I would start at the S4 which had power steering, and preferably post 1996 to get better brakes etc.

My mates Chimaera has similar pace to my Esprit in a straight line, I presume mine would be better round the twisties but I'm too chicken to prove it :-)

[Kylie]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qCyglqq_TQk

Well in this movie theres two Esprits and and an Elise taking off making some noise. I think youll find a V8 will satisfy your cravings in the power and noise dept.