My New 1997 silver v8 esprit
Discussion
Just thought i'd share my recent experience of purchasing my new v8.
Always wanted one so when i had enough to buy one & pay the 3k insurance. (points dont make prizes do they!)
Anyway found a lovely example advertised on piston heads, had it checked & a week later took it home!
I had never driven a v8, only my dads S2 which was years ago & a different motor really.
Got grips with it fairly quickly but never really realised what a beast they are.
So as you can imagine i'm nervous as hell thinking its bound to break down or something, with sweaty palms watching the temp gauge all the way back(an art i learnt from my dads S2!) i realised i needed fuel.
So i pulled into the garage,filled up & paid.
Got back in & it started,hooray! went to release the handbrake & it was all floppy!!! I nearly shit myself, there i was at fuel pump at night with my back wheels locked on & what i thought was snapped hand brake cables!
After much much panic i rang the guy i'd bought it off & told him of the problem...................Oh now i know!! So you lift it right up, then click it! i cant tell you how good it felt when the back wheels were free & might i add it started up! I'm gradually easing up with the worry i started with & its in now for new driveshaft seals & a full service, I just love it, it cost me 19k & i have nothing left in the bank & i know you just throw money at them but all's forgiven when i look at it!anyway somenone post a reply as this is my first time on, cheers people
>> Edited by stals v8 on Sunday 15th May 22:19
>> Edited by stals v8 on Sunday 15th May 22:20
Always wanted one so when i had enough to buy one & pay the 3k insurance. (points dont make prizes do they!)
Anyway found a lovely example advertised on piston heads, had it checked & a week later took it home!
I had never driven a v8, only my dads S2 which was years ago & a different motor really.
Got grips with it fairly quickly but never really realised what a beast they are.
So as you can imagine i'm nervous as hell thinking its bound to break down or something, with sweaty palms watching the temp gauge all the way back(an art i learnt from my dads S2!) i realised i needed fuel.
So i pulled into the garage,filled up & paid.
Got back in & it started,hooray! went to release the handbrake & it was all floppy!!! I nearly shit myself, there i was at fuel pump at night with my back wheels locked on & what i thought was snapped hand brake cables!
After much much panic i rang the guy i'd bought it off & told him of the problem...................Oh now i know!! So you lift it right up, then click it! i cant tell you how good it felt when the back wheels were free & might i add it started up! I'm gradually easing up with the worry i started with & its in now for new driveshaft seals & a full service, I just love it, it cost me 19k & i have nothing left in the bank & i know you just throw money at them but all's forgiven when i look at it!anyway somenone post a reply as this is my first time on, cheers people
>> Edited by stals v8 on Sunday 15th May 22:19
>> Edited by stals v8 on Sunday 15th May 22:20
Yeah i will get some pics on when i get it back, meanwhile its still advertised on the for sale section on p.heads..........Silver v8 with black leather,red piping & red carpets.
Its desperate for a valet aswell!
Just ordered the clear lenses & new lotus centre caps on my way to minting it up slowley but surely!
Any pics of yours posted on this site for me to have a look at mate,any mods?
Its desperate for a valet aswell!
Just ordered the clear lenses & new lotus centre caps on my way to minting it up slowley but surely!
Any pics of yours posted on this site for me to have a look at mate,any mods?
Cheers for the pics & spec cross eyed!
Thats a serious machine you have there, the mods area awesome.
& the new rims set it off perfectly, did you take it to donnington this year?
We decided not to go this time around but i will be there next time.
You mentioned tracking yours, have you done it before?, i fancy a few laps in mine to.-one, avoid the feds & two just to get to grips with those back wheels when they light up so easily, especially when exiting a roundabout with a squirt of gas.
Although it seems quite catchable but dont get me wrong, the twitch from the rear still shits me up!
That roundabout drama you had, was that a drop of boost comming in causing the spin or just a lairy day in the wet?
Thats a serious machine you have there, the mods area awesome.
& the new rims set it off perfectly, did you take it to donnington this year?
We decided not to go this time around but i will be there next time.
You mentioned tracking yours, have you done it before?, i fancy a few laps in mine to.-one, avoid the feds & two just to get to grips with those back wheels when they light up so easily, especially when exiting a roundabout with a squirt of gas.
Although it seems quite catchable but dont get me wrong, the twitch from the rear still shits me up!
That roundabout drama you had, was that a drop of boost comming in causing the spin or just a lairy day in the wet?
Hi Kylie,
Stals, the car has been in for a few minor fixes (I've yet to get the bill so am still fairly calm!)
Anyway, the back end will twitch in the dry and spin round very quickly in the wet, my incident was in the wet... SILLY BOY!!! I should have known not to push it as it seems ALL the accidents happen when coming off a roundabout, little bit of boost comes on and lo, its on a wet road!!!
I would exercise extreme caution when driving in the wet, I use the term 'drive like you are driving Miss Daisy' and you can't go wrong.
Yes I tracked the car, Bedford Autodrome about 8 weeks ago, awesome fun and humbling as you are overtaken by Exiges etc who are more experienced ;-)
That was partly why the car was in for fixes, chassis bolts in the boot sheared due to my little turny-roundy antics ;-)
When tracking the Esprit you will find that Emerson Fittipaldi's remarks of driving the car are SO true. These babies really needed an LSD fitted as the inside tyre will spin preventing you from putting down all that lovely POWER
and may cause you to spin. Other than that they handle beautifully and go like stink 
and bring out the 
in you but if tracked after instruction are so much better provided you try to reign yourself in a bit.
Stals, the car has been in for a few minor fixes (I've yet to get the bill so am still fairly calm!)
Anyway, the back end will twitch in the dry and spin round very quickly in the wet, my incident was in the wet... SILLY BOY!!! I should have known not to push it as it seems ALL the accidents happen when coming off a roundabout, little bit of boost comes on and lo, its on a wet road!!!
I would exercise extreme caution when driving in the wet, I use the term 'drive like you are driving Miss Daisy' and you can't go wrong.
Yes I tracked the car, Bedford Autodrome about 8 weeks ago, awesome fun and humbling as you are overtaken by Exiges etc who are more experienced ;-)
That was partly why the car was in for fixes, chassis bolts in the boot sheared due to my little turny-roundy antics ;-)
When tracking the Esprit you will find that Emerson Fittipaldi's remarks of driving the car are SO true. These babies really needed an LSD fitted as the inside tyre will spin preventing you from putting down all that lovely POWER
and may cause you to spin. Other than that they handle beautifully and go like stink and bring out the in you but if tracked after instruction are so much better provided you try to reign yourself in a bit. 
Message understood!
Cant afford any incidents so i'l try & keep it off the wet stuff.
The only doubt i have re; track days are as you say things ripping past you at lightning speed but i spose every one been in that position for the first time.
If i get it back in time i may take it to the next track day at castle coombe.
what else did fittipaldi say then?
I have a video of top gear where jk takes a sport 350 round the track with tiff needell & he bleached the inside rear powering out of a corner, looked good but i spose thats down to the lack of lsd.
I'm still at that stage of being worried that something will go wrong as my old man says, an esprit will keep you poor boy!!
But i have no regrets, it was a toss up between an esprit or an r32, I realise i made the right choice as the latter is a hot hatch that costs to much & needs to join fat club!
Cant afford any incidents so i'l try & keep it off the wet stuff.
The only doubt i have re; track days are as you say things ripping past you at lightning speed but i spose every one been in that position for the first time.
If i get it back in time i may take it to the next track day at castle coombe.
what else did fittipaldi say then?
I have a video of top gear where jk takes a sport 350 round the track with tiff needell & he bleached the inside rear powering out of a corner, looked good but i spose thats down to the lack of lsd.
I'm still at that stage of being worried that something will go wrong as my old man says, an esprit will keep you poor boy!!
But i have no regrets, it was a toss up between an esprit or an r32, I realise i made the right choice as the latter is a hot hatch that costs to much & needs to join fat club!
Cross-eyed-twit said:
Anyway, the back end will twitch in the dry and spin round very quickly in the wet, my incident was in the wet... SILLY BOY!!! I should have known not to push it as it seems ALL the accidents happen when coming off a roundabout, little bit of boost comes on and lo, its on a wet road!!!
I would exercise extreme caution when driving in the wet, I use the term 'drive like you are driving Miss Daisy' and you can't go wrong.
Dom,
please dont ask how I lost my pristine S4s many months ago ..... sigh.
You may imagine ... a wet spot on the Autobahn when I was about to accelerate heavily ...... wooooooooooooshhhhhhhh ... banggggggggg
( Marcus (www.PUKesprit.de)
stals v8 said:
Message understood!
I have a video of top gear where jk takes a sport 350 round the track with tiff needell & he bleached the inside rear powering out of a corner, looked good but i spose thats down to the lack of lsd.
I remember that show..! Any chance you can send a copy to Kato (lotusespritworld) so he can host it on the site? - would love to get a copy of if..
Looking forward to the pics. A v8 in silver is a great choice..
Rob
98 V8-GT (silver)
Yeah no probs.
not sure how to contact the fella who runs the site, bit new to all this computer lark but if could contact him i'l gladly send a copy on so he can post it on the site.
The 350 aint hangin about in the 5 minute slice of high speed driving so when i get it to him...enjoy!
As soon as i get my one back i'l post some pics!!
not sure how to contact the fella who runs the site, bit new to all this computer lark but if could contact him i'l gladly send a copy on so he can post it on the site.
The 350 aint hangin about in the 5 minute slice of high speed driving so when i get it to him...enjoy!
As soon as i get my one back i'l post some pics!!
ErnestM said:
Hi Kylie...
We've missed you of late? Let me guess, either too busy driving or too busy working on the Esprit?
ErnestM
Hi there, yeah moved house which kept me away from the computer for a while. Had to change emails too as the new area would not host our broadband connection.
Black beauty is still looking shiny as ever. Might post some pics of her in her new home. Nice to see you all care
K
Yeah Bill baserk, behave with that kind-a chat infront of ladys.
Anyway i only wasnt gonna take it so your old lancia looked like the bell of the ball!!
Now i am taking the esprit cos someones got to tow your integrale back home from clacketts lane services if it makes it that far!!!! Ha!!
Anyway i only wasnt gonna take it so your old lancia looked like the bell of the ball!!
Now i am taking the esprit cos someones got to tow your integrale back home from clacketts lane services if it makes it that far!!!! Ha!!
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