tested a 1991 Lotus Esprit SE
Discussion
the car's interior, including the truck and the rear compartment, are quite dirty.
the dealer claimed that all the black leather interior is new (redone)
there are invoices that show all the mechanical works being done on the car in the past 2years,
including a major engine/transmission rebuilt in May 2003.
the electronic switch, lights, a/c all work ok.
hower, the a/c switch can turn round and round..(I think it is broken)
the engine sounds ok and the brakes (switched to Brembos) are braking good after 10minutes of driving (not very effective in the beginning, I guess it is a sportscar brakes that only work in high temperature)
the biggest concern, is the 'engine oil' lights come on & off all the time
the dealer who ride the car with me, claimed that it is because the engine has not enough oil
he says that, after the rebuilt of the engine/transmission in May 2003, the engine has no oil leak at all...it is good condition...
and he trys to promote to me (by showing me the invoices) that I am lucky that the last owner did all the work of refurnishing the car.
otherwise, I would have many things to invest....
I can't decide yet....
(majorly because of the car's condition, the engine being rebuilt once...and the engine oil warning light...)
can anyone give me some suggestion...??
I have other cars, I can always wait for a better car to buy in the future..not in a hurry or anything..
thx
>>> Edited by cb1118 on Wednesday 2nd February 11:45
the dealer claimed that all the black leather interior is new (redone)
there are invoices that show all the mechanical works being done on the car in the past 2years,
including a major engine/transmission rebuilt in May 2003.
the electronic switch, lights, a/c all work ok.
hower, the a/c switch can turn round and round..(I think it is broken)
the engine sounds ok and the brakes (switched to Brembos) are braking good after 10minutes of driving (not very effective in the beginning, I guess it is a sportscar brakes that only work in high temperature)
the biggest concern, is the 'engine oil' lights come on & off all the time
the dealer who ride the car with me, claimed that it is because the engine has not enough oil
he says that, after the rebuilt of the engine/transmission in May 2003, the engine has no oil leak at all...it is good condition...
and he trys to promote to me (by showing me the invoices) that I am lucky that the last owner did all the work of refurnishing the car.
otherwise, I would have many things to invest....
I can't decide yet....
(majorly because of the car's condition, the engine being rebuilt once...and the engine oil warning light...)
can anyone give me some suggestion...??
I have other cars, I can always wait for a better car to buy in the future..not in a hurry or anything..
thx
>>> Edited by cb1118 on Wednesday 2nd February 11:45
i cant say much about the car... but if the dealer says that the oil pressure light is coming on because the level is low, AND the moron - knowing the oil level on an exotic car is low- lets you test drive it, I would run as far from that dealer as possible.
from your short descriptoin id run far away. price may be a selling point but I already dont trust the dealer.
from your short descriptoin id run far away. price may be a selling point but I already dont trust the dealer.
Yeah, that is the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time. I sure as h#ll wouldn't buy an Esprit from a person after hearing something like that.
There are much better examples out there, keep looking!
Calvin, you totally made me laugh with your posting!
How goes the Lambo/Lotus search?
Roy
There are much better examples out there, keep looking!
Calvin, you totally made me laugh with your posting!
How goes the Lambo/Lotus search?
Roy
Ok...so the salesman is being a salesman...
And don't put much stock into a 'full rebuild' or maintenance records. The block in my car came from a $14k botched 'full rebuild' puportedly from the local Lotus dealership.
What about the car? How does it feel to you?
Did you happen to look at the oil pressure gauge when the light went on? It could simply be a bad sender unit.
We all know that an Esprit is NOT a good candidate for a 'fix-er-upper'. However, much like it's earlier cousin the MG, this particular one may simply need a few tweaks.
You can use all of these danger signs to your advantage in negotiating if the car is otherwise solid.
BTW how much were they asking for it? location?
And don't put much stock into a 'full rebuild' or maintenance records. The block in my car came from a $14k botched 'full rebuild' puportedly from the local Lotus dealership.
What about the car? How does it feel to you?
Did you happen to look at the oil pressure gauge when the light went on? It could simply be a bad sender unit.
We all know that an Esprit is NOT a good candidate for a 'fix-er-upper'. However, much like it's earlier cousin the MG, this particular one may simply need a few tweaks.
You can use all of these danger signs to your advantage in negotiating if the car is otherwise solid.
BTW how much were they asking for it? location?
oh. I am in Hong Kong
the car is asked for US$16000
but with the condition of the car, I would not buy it.
this particular one only means trouble.
I understand the Esprit requires much work in maintainence, but not to a point like this.
the car does look sexy from the outside, which attracts alot of attention on the road...
the car is asked for US$16000
but with the condition of the car, I would not buy it.
this particular one only means trouble.
I understand the Esprit requires much work in maintainence, but not to a point like this.
the car does look sexy from the outside, which attracts alot of attention on the road...
U$16K is not a bad price for that car (in the US market), but it is definetly a "fixer-upper" as we say over here. The oil light is likely either a bad sender or bad oil pump/bad bearings. There is a relay that turns off the warning light below a certain RPM, as acceptable pressure at idle is below the idiot light's threshold, but it is not acceptable at higher RPM. Given that someone was recently into the motor and it is for sale at a questionable dealer, I would say it was low pressure from the pump or bearings. If you did all your own work, you might come out even versus just buying one that was sorted to start with. The comments from the dealer are obviously fraudulant.
Dr.Hess
Dr.Hess
thx, I have actually went a book store and check on market prices of the 1989-1992 SE model.
the value are listed as;
(1)very good condition = US$16000
(2)average condition = US$12000
**the one I tested is for sure below average condition.
NOTE:I forgot to mention the control for the door mirrors is not working...
also, the paint is "metallic grey" but it is too new to be on a 1991 model
overall, the car seems to be taken apart and reassembled again.....
there was a turbo timer connected but not working, too..
I did offer US$11000 after I test the car, but the dealer insists the car is US$16000, and nothing lower...
anyway, I am sure I can find a better Esprit in the near future
I like the SE model very much.
Not only I prefer the classic 4 cylinder turbo version, but I love the double glass rear, and the small rear spoiler..
too bad, this feature is not available from the 1993 model.
thx for all the comments
the value are listed as;
(1)very good condition = US$16000
(2)average condition = US$12000
**the one I tested is for sure below average condition.
NOTE:I forgot to mention the control for the door mirrors is not working...
also, the paint is "metallic grey" but it is too new to be on a 1991 model
overall, the car seems to be taken apart and reassembled again.....
there was a turbo timer connected but not working, too..
I did offer US$11000 after I test the car, but the dealer insists the car is US$16000, and nothing lower...
anyway, I am sure I can find a better Esprit in the near future
I like the SE model very much.
Not only I prefer the classic 4 cylinder turbo version, but I love the double glass rear, and the small rear spoiler..
too bad, this feature is not available from the 1993 model.
thx for all the comments
did anyone ever pull the dipstick to check the level..
geeze the sensor may be wrong but if the level was low and the dealer knew it ..... sheesh the damage done in a few miles could be the same as 100 000 miles with good oil..
if the car was ok before the drive.. it may not be after... and doing a dip stick test is so easy....
Bruce
geeze the sensor may be wrong but if the level was low and the dealer knew it ..... sheesh the damage done in a few miles could be the same as 100 000 miles with good oil..
if the car was ok before the drive.. it may not be after... and doing a dip stick test is so easy....
Bruce
Eric,
If you want to find out about cars history you could try giving these people a call -> www.hophingmotors.com.hk/lotus.asp
It could well be the same car before it got it's new shinny wheels...
When dealing with Car salesmen in HK, to every answer they give you, think to yourself "why is this bastard lying to me..." Honest HK car dealers can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
My advice is, only listen to the car, not the dealer.
If you want to find out about cars history you could try giving these people a call -> www.hophingmotors.com.hk/lotus.asp
It could well be the same car before it got it's new shinny wheels...
When dealing with Car salesmen in HK, to every answer they give you, think to yourself "why is this bastard lying to me..." Honest HK car dealers can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
My advice is, only listen to the car, not the dealer.
oh..yes this seems to be the same car,
althought the paperwork (invoices) mentioned that the rebuilt is from another shop in TO KWA WAN area
(the web site is in KWUN TONG)
**but it is quite common that few auto shop has related companies in HK. Some for work, some for the finance
the car has 6 owners before...
just go to here, and you can see the car
www.vincentmotors.com.hk
they are selling another yellow 1992 now...
(but the rear engine cover does not look right..)
I don't recall 1992 model has such cover?? anyone can confirm this??
**correction, the double glass rear is changed from 1992 model, not 1993
althought the paperwork (invoices) mentioned that the rebuilt is from another shop in TO KWA WAN area
(the web site is in KWUN TONG)
**but it is quite common that few auto shop has related companies in HK. Some for work, some for the finance
the car has 6 owners before...
just go to here, and you can see the car
www.vincentmotors.com.hk
they are selling another yellow 1992 now...
(but the rear engine cover does not look right..)
I don't recall 1992 model has such cover?? anyone can confirm this??
**correction, the double glass rear is changed from 1992 model, not 1993
The yellow one looks like the NA version to me. The change over to the single glass rear deck occurred with the introduction of the high wing. The rear picture shows the older non-turbo rear deck.
So, Mr V has both the SE and Turbo bit wrong on the listing. It's not the first time he has advertised a non-SE as an SE. Never the less it's the place in HK that seems to have most Esprits in HK.
KK Motors in ToKwaWan has worked on several cars that Vincent has sold. From what I know of them their work should be ok in general.
I'm waiting for Vincent to advertise a Sports 300 as an SE... even if it had 6 owners that would be worth the risk...
So, Mr V has both the SE and Turbo bit wrong on the listing. It's not the first time he has advertised a non-SE as an SE. Never the less it's the place in HK that seems to have most Esprits in HK.
KK Motors in ToKwaWan has worked on several cars that Vincent has sold. From what I know of them their work should be ok in general.
I'm waiting for Vincent to advertise a Sports 300 as an SE... even if it had 6 owners that would be worth the risk...
thx, I am more interested in carcity hong kong (happy valley) to advertise a SE...(now they have a very clean 1996 Esprit V8 Twin Turbo for US$40000, which is a good price for such condition)
and in comparing to previous sold Esprit, this is why I (and someone else) think the recent advertisement of the metallic grey Esprit and the yellow n/a Esprit is not worth the mentioned prices...
**the metallic grey Esprit of Mr. V is really below average condition even it has a recent engine rebuilt..
the interior and the front compartment really look abused...
too much work to put into for the next owner, including the engine, which does not have a blow-off valve or other goodies to add-on..
(obviously, the last owner just drives it as a regular vehicle....no fix unless it is not running)
and in comparing to previous sold Esprit, this is why I (and someone else) think the recent advertisement of the metallic grey Esprit and the yellow n/a Esprit is not worth the mentioned prices...
**the metallic grey Esprit of Mr. V is really below average condition even it has a recent engine rebuilt..
the interior and the front compartment really look abused...
too much work to put into for the next owner, including the engine, which does not have a blow-off valve or other goodies to add-on..
(obviously, the last owner just drives it as a regular vehicle....no fix unless it is not running)
haha, I have found another dealer for Lotus car in HK
www.winfieldmotor.com/INDEX.asp
www.winfieldmotor.com/INDEX.asp
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