Tusan to Esprit?

[vindaloo]

So what are they like. I am looking to bin the Tuscan and the Esprit is so sexy, looking at spending around £25-28k prob 98/99 V8 SE if I can. Are they as expensive as the TVRS to sevice etc, what are the usally costs/ probs/ insurance like. Also any one Know who the main dealer is for Kent.

Cheers

[rob.ellis]

If you can afford it, a 2000MY gets a few changes that are worthwhile over a 99 car - ecu is upgraded to sport350 spec (although you can do this upgrade to any v8) plus the brembos are ditched and replaced by some excellent AP racing brakes. Big improvement!

Insurance: I pay 700quid ish (33yrs old full no claims, cat 1 alarm and garage).

Maintenance is prob similar to TVRs. All my costs are recorded on my car in my pistonheads profile. I've probably been slightly unlucky with my car however, and i do a higher than average mileage (its my only car). If you take out the 'problems' i had on mine, just the running costs alone for servicing etc aren't bad.

Lotuscars.co.uk has dealer lists.

Also, suggest you join up on the UK Yahoo group for the esprit. Currenly 350ish members.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEsprit/

espritfactfile.com and lotusespritworld are the best places for all faq's and buying guides.

Cheers
Rob
98 V8-GT

[vindaloo]

WOW!!! 4.5K and none of this was under Warrenty????

How come the car has dropped so much in value? Do you have the new interior, as this seems to bump the price up.

Have been looking at the specialist services and they seem to be half the price. What is the general feeling when it comes to these/ resale values.?
I had a BMW conv and the specialist knew more than the f'ing "Main Dealer".

>> Edited by vindaloo on Tuesday 13th August 23:50

[rob.ellis]

The car was out of warranty (by two years), but i did still get a significant contribution from lotus cars.

The values of v8's have dropped quite steeply over the last two years.. which is good news for anyone buying. Mileage makes a big difference too. Yes, mine does have the later interior (all 98s do).

I use a main dealer for the maintenance. If i hadn't then i doubt i would have had any sort of help from lotus when i had my problem.

There are some great independents out there, but most of them are more used to dealing with the 4 cylinder cars than with the v8. Each to his own.

cheers
Rob


>> Edited by rob.ellis on Wednesday 14th August 09:24

[vindaloo]

did you buy from main dealer? if you did was this not covered by it? I just had a quote on insurance, exactly the same as my tuscan. so all go now. Do the v8's get better in 99 or are the same thru out?

[rob.ellis]

quote:
did you buy from main dealer? if you did was this not covered by it? I just had a quote on insurance, exactly the same as my tuscan. so all go now. Do the v8's get better in 99 or are the same thru out?

Yes, bought from a main dealer with a warranty, but my problems occurred after the end of the warranty period (isn't it always the way!).

99 V8s? Do you mean the spec of the car, or the issue with coolant loss that i had? 98 and 99 spec almost identical - only change i can think of offhand is "AWI" wheels (flat spokes) replaced with saturn plus (rounded spokes). I think espritfactfile has all the info.

Good luck with your purchase! I know someone selling a late 98 V8-SE (titanium) - drop me an email off line if you want the guys contact details.
cheers
Rob