Sport 350 - maybe....just maybe.....
Discussion
My plan was to get an F355 next year but I'm seriously thinking about getting an esprit in the next month or so. I did think about a Noble or a 328, but have always loved the esprit.
I've arranged a test drive at Nick Whale Sportscars in the Sport 350 they have.
Has anyone dealt with Nick Whale before?
Anything I should be looking out for specifically in the 350?
Is the 350 too hardcore?
Anyone know anything about that particular vehicle?
Thanks.
I've arranged a test drive at Nick Whale Sportscars in the Sport 350 they have.
Has anyone dealt with Nick Whale before?
Anything I should be looking out for specifically in the 350?
Is the 350 too hardcore?
Anyone know anything about that particular vehicle?
Thanks.
I had my GT3 serviced by them, then bought my V8-GT from them - i also use them for all my maintenance. i've had nothing but good experiences with this dealer, although they are not cheap.. 
they are one of the few dealers who know esprits.
That particular car has had an engine rebuild (which is a good thing) to fix leaking liners.
they are one of the few dealers who know esprits.
That particular car has had an engine rebuild (which is a good thing) to fix leaking liners.
Angelis said:
Just got an insurance quote for the 350:
7 years NCB
Car garaged
Social use only
4,000 miles per year
£1607.55
As dave said - try classic line. Lotus Esprit World have a deal with them for additional discount, but you'd have to join the club. £1...
I have same ncb, garaged, tracker, unlimited miles incl class 1 business use, 35 yrs old, clean licence and pay £750 or thereabouts with Direct Line.
My Sport 350 costs £675 with Classic Line.
That's with full NCD ( but they dont use it ), agreed value of £30,000, I'm 35 ( 36 tomorrow, where's my cards ? ) with no points and for 5,000 miles.
I actually think that's a bad deal and most likey will go back to a normal policy next year. Direct line came up with £820 with no mileage limites. I tried increasing the limit to 7,500 a few weeks ago and they would not do it. They best they could offer me was to cancel the existing policy and offer a normal one for about £1600. Erm, that me think - shuve that idea !
That's with full NCD ( but they dont use it ), agreed value of £30,000, I'm 35 ( 36 tomorrow, where's my cards ? ) with no points and for 5,000 miles.
I actually think that's a bad deal and most likey will go back to a normal policy next year. Direct line came up with £820 with no mileage limites. I tried increasing the limit to 7,500 a few weeks ago and they would not do it. They best they could offer me was to cancel the existing policy and offer a normal one for about £1600. Erm, that me think - shuve that idea !
country said:
hi what is the differnce between a sport 350 nd a o3 1/2 esprit?i owned a 98 f355 loved the car ,maintaince is really high.
LEW and EFF have some detail you can look up.
UK sport 350s had hand laid body (lighter), unique suspension, carbon interior parts, unique seats, magnesium wheels, unique ECU, carbon rear spoiler, lower front lip.
The 8 (?) USA cars had stock suspension, seats (although trim was different), no carbon interior, std body, ecu, std suspension but did get the carbon spoiler, mag wheels and lower front lip.
Differences between USA sport 350 and 03: suspension: 03 has adjustable bilsteins, seats: 03 has logo stitched in the headrest, wheels: 350 has magnesios, 03 had oz novas, Exhaust: 350 has stock v8 exhaust, 03 has centre exit with the cheese grater grille. Front lip is same on both cars. 03 has stock v8 wing whereas 350 has carbon wing.
Thats all i can think of...
UK Sport 350s also had AP Racing brakes and blue cam covers instead of red.
Adrian
Sport350
www.adrianmugridge.co.uk
Adrian
Sport350
www.adrianmugridge.co.uk
Just went and had a look at the 350 yesterday morning. Did'nt get to test drive it thougha as I was late for a meeting.
The interior is so much improved over earler esprits and the car had a very nice (for an esprit) gearchange.
However the car lacked...err presence. Maybe because of the silver colour (I'm so sick of silver cars) or maybe because I've always preferred red/yellow esprits. In fact I have red 2002 pic on my pc as screen background.
Anyway the sales chap is going to email me the finance figures and I'll take it from there. Although there is another 350 for sale elsewhere for around £2,500 less, with less miles and only one owner compared to the three owners of the one I saw.
Popped into Paul Matty on the way back and checked out the s4s they had. Heavy gearchange and a terrible terrible gearchange.
So I've decided, I'll go for a post '98 V8.
Now where's that finance quote........
The interior is so much improved over earler esprits and the car had a very nice (for an esprit) gearchange.
However the car lacked...err presence. Maybe because of the silver colour (I'm so sick of silver cars) or maybe because I've always preferred red/yellow esprits. In fact I have red 2002 pic on my pc as screen background.
Anyway the sales chap is going to email me the finance figures and I'll take it from there. Although there is another 350 for sale elsewhere for around £2,500 less, with less miles and only one owner compared to the three owners of the one I saw.
Popped into Paul Matty on the way back and checked out the s4s they had. Heavy gearchange and a terrible terrible gearchange.
So I've decided, I'll go for a post '98 V8.
Now where's that finance quote........
If you want a 350 then you'll struggle to get anything other than a silver one because apart from 2 black ones and two white ones and one blue one ( mine ) all the rest of the 42 were silver ( dont know about the colours of the 8 US cars ).
£30k seems about the going rate ( that's what I paid 6 months ago ) so that one is a shade more than I would expect. It has had the 2002 light conversion which may or may not be a plus depending on your point of view.
£30k seems about the going rate ( that's what I paid 6 months ago ) so that one is a shade more than I would expect. It has had the 2002 light conversion which may or may not be a plus depending on your point of view.
Angelis
Since I got mine it's been on the back of a low loader twice, both with pretty much the smae problem which was a major loss of coolant. This problem happened very early on in me owning it, after that it's been fine.
The coolant loss has been fixed under the dealer's warranty, which was for one year. In general it would appear that warranties do have a lot of exclusions so a lot of the time they wont pay out.
One thing to think about is an engine rebuild. Many people have had engine issues which, once a rebuild has been done, don't seem to reoccur ( I hope ! ). Mine was done not long before I bought it and it did cost several thousand pounds.
I dont think the 350 will have any more or less problems than any later V8. It's basically the same car but with the updated bits and bobs and it is designed for the track so you'd like to think that would maybe help a bit.
On the whole I'd go for a 350 over a V8 just because of the rarity factor but it's going to have to be a silver one cus mine's not for sale !
Since I got mine it's been on the back of a low loader twice, both with pretty much the smae problem which was a major loss of coolant. This problem happened very early on in me owning it, after that it's been fine.
The coolant loss has been fixed under the dealer's warranty, which was for one year. In general it would appear that warranties do have a lot of exclusions so a lot of the time they wont pay out.
One thing to think about is an engine rebuild. Many people have had engine issues which, once a rebuild has been done, don't seem to reoccur ( I hope ! ). Mine was done not long before I bought it and it did cost several thousand pounds.
I dont think the 350 will have any more or less problems than any later V8. It's basically the same car but with the updated bits and bobs and it is designed for the track so you'd like to think that would maybe help a bit.
On the whole I'd go for a 350 over a V8 just because of the rarity factor but it's going to have to be a silver one cus mine's not for sale !
Hi,
I got my Sport 350 from Nick Whale and was very pleased with their general level of service. Haven't used them for a significant amount of work (servicing etc) since then more for geographic reasons more than anything else. My limited involvement didn't give me any reason to not be happy using them in the future though.
Have also used Chis Neil's for a B service, Williams (Bristol) for an A service both of whom I was very pleased with, and also the factory boys for some accident damage / repairs who have been top notch.
In terms of problems of ownership in the 20 months I've had it:
1. Minor coolant leak from a slightly knackered hose.
2. Oil leak from blistered lines to front rads - changed last week at factory without the joint to both front rads shearing (very pleased about that!!)
3. Alternator failure
4. An injector "failure" (replaced under warranty)
5. Sports exhaust fatigue cracks
Other than that it's been totally fine. A £700 warranty would have been worth it for me this year but who knows longer-term.
I can't compare the 350 to anything else to say if you've made the 'right' choice as I've only ever owned 350's. Any Esprit has gotta be a good move though
Andy
'99 S350 #19
I got my Sport 350 from Nick Whale and was very pleased with their general level of service. Haven't used them for a significant amount of work (servicing etc) since then more for geographic reasons more than anything else. My limited involvement didn't give me any reason to not be happy using them in the future though.
Have also used Chis Neil's for a B service, Williams (Bristol) for an A service both of whom I was very pleased with, and also the factory boys for some accident damage / repairs who have been top notch.
In terms of problems of ownership in the 20 months I've had it:
1. Minor coolant leak from a slightly knackered hose.
2. Oil leak from blistered lines to front rads - changed last week at factory without the joint to both front rads shearing (very pleased about that!!)
3. Alternator failure
4. An injector "failure" (replaced under warranty)
5. Sports exhaust fatigue cracks
Other than that it's been totally fine. A £700 warranty would have been worth it for me this year but who knows longer-term.
I can't compare the 350 to anything else to say if you've made the 'right' choice as I've only ever owned 350's. Any Esprit has gotta be a good move though
Andy
'99 S350 #19
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