Lotus wanted - but am I doing the right move????
Discussion
Hi all, currently running everyday a TVR chimaera 1995 model 4.0l as an everyday car and whilst being a superbly balanced and awesome powered car its not my ultimate - you guessed it I suppose, its an esprit. My car is worth approx 15K and wanting a GT3 or s4, a few questions come to mind.
a, Are they reliable enough for everyday
b, Do they leak/rattle/knock
c, What price is expected for a 1995 onwards
d, Will a 6 foot 2 guy 13 stone fit in ok
e, any other probs???
I do approx 6K miles per annum
Thanks all
Vinnie
a, Are they reliable enough for everyday
b, Do they leak/rattle/knock
c, What price is expected for a 1995 onwards
d, Will a 6 foot 2 guy 13 stone fit in ok
e, any other probs???
I do approx 6K miles per annum
Thanks all
Vinnie
quote:
a, Are they reliable enough for everyday
b, Do they leak/rattle/knock
c, What price is expected for a 1995 onwards
d, Will a 6 foot 2 guy 13 stone fit in ok
e, any other probs???
I do approx 6K miles per annum
Thanks all
Vinnie
OK, I'll answer them in kind as best I can.
a. Yes, at the mileage you stated (6K). These cars are better off being driven regularly.
b. All cars do this at some point. The Esprits do develop leaks, but like any car, if you keep up on the maintenance you can keep this to a minimum.
c. Dunno, as I'm in the states. Someone else could help you more here.
d. I am 6' 1" and 217 lbs. Fit like a glove. I find the car very comfortable.
e. Yep. Read the www.espritfactfile.com for the laundry list of normal problems associated with Esprits. The upside is that moany of the little things (such as red hose, etc) have probably been done to whatever car you might consider.
Having said all that, the Esprit is fantastic. I wish it could be my daily driver, but I put between 40-45K miles a year on my tires. Wouldn't do that to my Esprit, so I also own a crickety old Dodge Intrepid (with 235K miles on it.) Go ahead, pull the trigger and get one. You'll not regret it!
Mad Mike
Thanks Mad mike, need some good honest answers from guys like yourself. Im shocked at the mileage you have put on the Dodge, I was in florida last year and hired 1 with 30K on the clock which felt like it had enough then! It was knacked. No disrespect to Dodge but we call them insepids over here after our little venture to the US of A. The Esprit......well everytime I talk to people like you I'm slowly justifying selling the TVR. Have you ever driven one?
hi vinny
a - yes i drive my esprit everyday. i had a gt3 before this, also as a daily driver.
b - no leaks, but it does rattle a bit. no more than a tvr would though..
c - prices, look at autotrader.co.uk to get a good idea
d - i'm just under six feet. no problems. suggest you try one out, its the only way! big feet may be more of an issue..
e - gt3 is an excellent first esprit. clutch is heavier than a v8, but not impossible.
Advice:
* lotusespritworld.com has a buying guide - use it.
* always buy the newest/ best maintained car you can.
* drive lots of cars before you make a choice - its very easy to get 'seduced' by the first shiny car you see and be blind to its faults.
* get a warranty if you buy from a dealer.
* if you buy privately, get it checked by someone who knows what they are doing.
* read the espritfactfile.com
if a car looks tatty on the outside, then you can presume that it will have had similar abuse mechanically. also, if the owner does not know answers to simple questions like "when was the cambelt last changed" then this would probably set alarm bells ringing!
finally - whilst your making up your mind, join up on the uk esprit yahoo group. come along to some runs and chat to some owners - its the best way to get all those questions answered.
good luck (and good choice btw!)
rob
98 V8-GT
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEsprit/
a - yes i drive my esprit everyday. i had a gt3 before this, also as a daily driver.
b - no leaks, but it does rattle a bit. no more than a tvr would though..
c - prices, look at autotrader.co.uk to get a good idea
d - i'm just under six feet. no problems. suggest you try one out, its the only way! big feet may be more of an issue..
e - gt3 is an excellent first esprit. clutch is heavier than a v8, but not impossible.
Advice:
* lotusespritworld.com has a buying guide - use it.
* always buy the newest/ best maintained car you can.
* drive lots of cars before you make a choice - its very easy to get 'seduced' by the first shiny car you see and be blind to its faults.
* get a warranty if you buy from a dealer.
* if you buy privately, get it checked by someone who knows what they are doing.
* read the espritfactfile.com
if a car looks tatty on the outside, then you can presume that it will have had similar abuse mechanically. also, if the owner does not know answers to simple questions like "when was the cambelt last changed" then this would probably set alarm bells ringing!
finally - whilst your making up your mind, join up on the uk esprit yahoo group. come along to some runs and chat to some owners - its the best way to get all those questions answered.
good luck (and good choice btw!)
rob
98 V8-GT
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEsprit/
Vinny,
I had my dream pretty much shattered in Rob's V8 yesterday. At 6'3, while sitting in it with the seat fully back, my legs were very cramped and my head touched the ceiling. Rob said that the seats could be lowered, but compared with the Tamora I sat in as well, it is VERY cramped. I'm not sure I could drive very far in it at all.
Oh well, Chimaera it probably is then.....
Marc
I had my dream pretty much shattered in Rob's V8 yesterday. At 6'3, while sitting in it with the seat fully back, my legs were very cramped and my head touched the ceiling. Rob said that the seats could be lowered, but compared with the Tamora I sat in as well, it is VERY cramped. I'm not sure I could drive very far in it at all.
Oh well, Chimaera it probably is then.....
Marc
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