Advice sought on selling an Esprit
Discussion
I've been asked to sell a friends Esprit but it's not that simple so I thought I'd ask for your advice.
Long story so I'll try to be short.
He asked me to store it while he moved house and he now has been advised not to drive due to a heart condition.
The car is a 1987 turbo in what I would say is good condition, not perfect, but it does have a misfire which he has been told is due to no compression on number two cylinder.
I've not checked this but as the cam belt has been changed and the engine still runs my gut feeling is that it could be carb related. I say this as I know the garage that told him it had no compression is very high on my list of idiots!
It's SORNed and has no MOT and is in Skegness!
The only faults I know of are the drivers side headlights will need sorting as the backing plate is rusty so won't pass an MOT, the centre console really needs replacing as it's a bit tatty.
I borrowed it last year and drove to Leeds - it drives very well, just as I remember from the two year old one I drove years ago.
So how do I price it?
Long story so I'll try to be short.
He asked me to store it while he moved house and he now has been advised not to drive due to a heart condition.
The car is a 1987 turbo in what I would say is good condition, not perfect, but it does have a misfire which he has been told is due to no compression on number two cylinder.
I've not checked this but as the cam belt has been changed and the engine still runs my gut feeling is that it could be carb related. I say this as I know the garage that told him it had no compression is very high on my list of idiots!
It's SORNed and has no MOT and is in Skegness!
The only faults I know of are the drivers side headlights will need sorting as the backing plate is rusty so won't pass an MOT, the centre console really needs replacing as it's a bit tatty.
I borrowed it last year and drove to Leeds - it drives very well, just as I remember from the two year old one I drove years ago.
So how do I price it?
It's a very hard question to answer as you don't know whether there's compression in No.2 cylinder or not. My advise is that if you want to get as much a s possible for it then get the compression test done on the car. If the garage in question did one then it's not rocket science to see the results. They don't even have to be that acurate just to see if there is a difference between cylinders. If there is a noticable difference then it sound like No.2 cylinder has gone. If this is the case then factor in a £4K rebuild.
As for any other work that needs doing then this will detract from price.
So a very vague price would be from £4K upto £8K.
I bought a running and MOT'd HC turbo last year for £6K. It need a lot of finishing off but nethertheless it had an excellent engine with recent cambelt change and only 40K. It cost me around £1-1.5K to get it upto scratch not including my time. I had the engine pulled out by a garage and manifold taken off to have machined flat (it was a new manifold but was blowing).
not really much of an answer but maybe some photos may help or a local esprit owner take a look and give you their opinion? There's loads of owners on www.thelotusforums.com
Regards,
David Walters
As for any other work that needs doing then this will detract from price.
So a very vague price would be from £4K upto £8K.
I bought a running and MOT'd HC turbo last year for £6K. It need a lot of finishing off but nethertheless it had an excellent engine with recent cambelt change and only 40K. It cost me around £1-1.5K to get it upto scratch not including my time. I had the engine pulled out by a garage and manifold taken off to have machined flat (it was a new manifold but was blowing).
not really much of an answer but maybe some photos may help or a local esprit owner take a look and give you their opinion? There's loads of owners on www.thelotusforums.com
Regards,
David Walters
Hi Again,
I've seen the photos but from your first post assumed it was a late Giugiaro HC turbo. These are worth considerably more than the earlier Stevens Esprit which your friend has. Good ones go for around £8K running FSH, MOT'd etc.
I've been offered a few like this for around the £3K mark. This wasw back when they were only worth £6-7K so they weren't worth buying incase they needed a rebuild. Prices seem to have gone up slightly over the last year.
Sadly, early Steven's were the least desirable of the Esprit, the N/A being the least followed by the carb turbo which your friend has. I am not knocking these particular models as I used to own one myself and loved it. I am just telling you what other punters think.
Fingers crossed that the compression test comes out positive.
David
I've seen the photos but from your first post assumed it was a late Giugiaro HC turbo. These are worth considerably more than the earlier Stevens Esprit which your friend has. Good ones go for around £8K running FSH, MOT'd etc.
I've been offered a few like this for around the £3K mark. This wasw back when they were only worth £6-7K so they weren't worth buying incase they needed a rebuild. Prices seem to have gone up slightly over the last year.
Sadly, early Steven's were the least desirable of the Esprit, the N/A being the least followed by the carb turbo which your friend has. I am not knocking these particular models as I used to own one myself and loved it. I am just telling you what other punters think.
Fingers crossed that the compression test comes out positive.
David
Again, many thanks for your reply David and apologies for calling you Dave last time.
I'm surprised that the earlier cars (the more wedge shaped ones) are worth more than this one, IMHO it is a much nicer shape.
Useful info about the prices - but I'm not going to pass it on to the owner, I know how much he paid for it and has spent on it, and this might not help his heart problem!
When my mate to brings my compression tester back I'll update on the engine situation.
I'm surprised that the earlier cars (the more wedge shaped ones) are worth more than this one, IMHO it is a much nicer shape.
Useful info about the prices - but I'm not going to pass it on to the owner, I know how much he paid for it and has spent on it, and this might not help his heart problem!
When my mate to brings my compression tester back I'll update on the engine situation.
Hi Steve,
I don't mind Dave or David. Most people who know me off here know me as Dave anyway.
I didn't mean to give you depressing news, it could end up quite positive. Esprit prices are rising and some Steven's turbo Esprits go for as much as £12K. They would have to be in perfect condition to get this as you can get excellent SE (chargecooled), very good S4 and early V8's for this type of money. Some may go for the earlier type with less things to go wrong with ECU and electrics maybe?
I got £10500 for mine but this was back in 2004 and it was in excellent condition with FLSH.
Regards,
David
I don't mind Dave or David. Most people who know me off here know me as Dave anyway.
I didn't mean to give you depressing news, it could end up quite positive. Esprit prices are rising and some Steven's turbo Esprits go for as much as £12K. They would have to be in perfect condition to get this as you can get excellent SE (chargecooled), very good S4 and early V8's for this type of money. Some may go for the earlier type with less things to go wrong with ECU and electrics maybe?
I got £10500 for mine but this was back in 2004 and it was in excellent condition with FLSH.
Regards,
David
PS, Here's a link to my old 1990 Esprit back in 2004.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/61560612qXxCQx
David
http://rides.webshots.com/album/61560612qXxCQx
David
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