V8 or GT3 or Elise 2

[Tony G]

Hi all, I currently have about £30K to spend on a dream car. I ideally would like a Lambo but am seriously and realistically considering an esprit V8. However I realise that V8s are very unreliable as the engine components can not cope with the 350BHP. Should I however still get one and just take out some sort of warranty. Sould I instead get a slightly slower GT3. Are GT3s reliable? Should I instead go for a new elise mark II as this is probably the more sensible option considering the price. (I however really want a car with supercar status). Any views and information appreciated. Thanks

[juddy]

HI tony, I have a S4 esprit very good not to many problems!! There are alot of people out on the web who know alot of thing about the car and can save you time and money running it,S4s has more power and bigger wheels if I had to buy one again I would go for it,stay away from V8 to bigger bills,GT3 is ok new dash like V8 but down on power 240bhp not good S4s 280bhp S4 267bhp. hope this helps.

[rob.ellis]

Tony - i ran a GT3 for a year then traded up to a V8-GT. No problems with reliability on either car. An esprit will cost you more to maintain that a 'regular' car however, and you need to budget accordingly. Whatever you go for, get the latest car you can. All esprits from '98 on get improved dash, brakes, clutch (on v8). A GT3 is an excellent introduction to driving esprits, 240 bhp is way quick in that car, cos it's very light. 0-60 in 4.8 etc. If i'd gone from my fiat coupe straight to a v8 i'd have probably killed myself. the v8 is massively quick!! check out www.espritfactfile.com and join the two e-groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/turboesprit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKLotusEspritTurbo Lots of useful information and plenty of owners willing to share information and help you with any questions - plus organise trips out etc.. :-) Whatever you get, a warranty is always a good idea - i've never had to use mine, but its good to know its there. Regarding reliability of the V8: there were some issues with early v8 engines, and several were replaced under warranty. lotus cars is well aware of the problem, but would expect all cars fixed now. As i said, get the latest car you can. Esprit V8 transmission however is only just capable of handling 350bhp/295lbft hence if some owners try repeated tyre burning starts inevitably something will break. Simple rule if you drive a V8, don't give it max in first! any questions either post or mail me direct. Rob '98 V8 ps if you do go for a v8, the 2001 spec cars all get the sport 350 ecu and brake upgrade, but you can mod these bits yourself on early cars too.

[Nightmare]

ditto everything that Rob says definitely dont think you should start at a V8 if it is your first 'proper' sports car Elise 2 is a much better built car than the Esprit though...and my first service cost 55 quid! (I never got a bill of less than 400 for the Esprit) if you get a GT3 (great car) I would definitely get one with new interior. Remember that whatever Esprit you buy it WILL depreciate like a bastard...even the older ones still do...haggle VERY hard over price as well... Night p.s. for info...I worked out what my Diablo cost to run last year...it did about 4500 miles and cost about 6 grand......(and that isnt including depreciation!)

[rob.ellis]

nightmare: were you at supercar sunday in your diablo? several great cars there including awesome orange GT.

[Nightmare]

Dom, Ive heard that too...they usually only last around 12K miles too...but I tihnk Im quite mechanically sympathetic (hmm!) and so far mine is fine at about 24 K...not looking forward to replacing if I have to. Hopefully Canto will come first! Rob..afraid not...made it the last couple of years but was at GP this year instead....shame that they crossed cos SS is always really interesting. Night

[Bjwoods]

If you want a V8. How about a TVR Griff 500. Used prices have fallen recently. And with £30k. you could get a virtually new car with less than a few k miles on it. Griff 500's are pretty reliable,320 bhp not very stressed engine, plus light weight car. (my one is 3 years old, previous 4.3 for 5 years)and I have never had a problem with reliability (one duff fan sensor, had to override, is it) as good or better than lotus. (though would not inlude tuscans/cerberas in that statement) convertible Looks good seat 2 comfortably and luggage 0-60 4.1s 0-100 10.1s In gear times, as fast or better than majority of other 'supercars'. Maxes out at 165, but it is a convertible/geared for that. Same size as MX5, bit shorter/bit wider,only weighs 1 tonne. Trying driving a 'supercar' down a country rode fast - far too big/wide I do about 6k miles a year, standard sevice annual, will average out at about £600 Insurance renewal £560 - 30, full no claims-garaged - valued £28k ish from a dealer. Don't want to start what's best Lotus/TVR debate. Just a happy griffith 500 owner Soon to be a classic (rising/static values eventually, as manufacture is due to cease, after the last exit edition 100 cars. Plus, as they get crashed, less around :-) ) My old griff 4.3 - now 9 years old (lowish mileage, would still get over £20K - new was £28K) Personally i think for 30K this would be a more useable.reliable car than a v8 lotus. i.e. esprit, too wide/too fragile/not a convertible/will probably depreciate more. Thoughts I'd still like a diablo,(as well) but 60K min? - B Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 16:33 Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 16:38 Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 16:42

[Nightmare]

sounds like a good idea to me - as said before the Esprit does depreciate like a bastard to about mid twenties before the fall starts to slow....whats mpg like on a Griff? I would guess that its partly about look (lots of similarity between diablo/esprit and even elise 2) Tiv very different.....but very very nice looking. [Diablo] Mines an older one...which is a shame cos the New 6.0 is as far advanced from mine as my elise is from the Esprit I had - totally differnt build quality and feel to the car...though to be fair the one Ive got has been totally faultless - more so than anything else Ive ever owned which is just bizarre. gets much less use of course. Dom - do you want mine when I replace?! Night

[Bjwoods]

Mpg - depends how you drive!!!!! I tend to average mid 20's, about 28 if cruising on motorway. Performance wise a Griff 500 will pXXX on most supercars (especially in gear times), that cost twice as much new. Check the power to weight ratios to get an idea. www.evo.co.uk. For some reason, the griff figures are in the sportscar section only, not the supercar section (possibly because max is below 170) but - compare power/weight and 0 -60, shame no 0-100. and then price!!!! Griff 500 320 BHP/tonne Ferrari 360 292bhp/tonne Ferrari 550 287bhp/tonne DB7 Vantage 221bhp/tonne V8 Vantage 281bhp/tonne Diablo's 340 - 360 ish bhp/tonne Esprit V8 265bhp/tonne 911 Turbo 276bhp/tonne F40 441/bhp/tonne Of the above, the porsche turbo would be my second choice over a griff 500, on real roads. As 4 wheel drive, reasonable size, but, expensive, 911 shape quite common, image A TVR 4.5 V8 cerbera (evo figures are wrong) Will get to nearly 200 mph. 0-60 < 4 seconds 0-100 < 9 seconds !!!! New £48K used 2 -3 years old low miles, a good 4.5 could be had for £35-40. Reliability, probably about the same proposition as that v8 esprit, but neither my personal choice. With both Lotus/TVR, if you treat the car well, service properly, it should be fine. Some people just trash cars they own. I know one dealer, describing horror story porsche, tvr, diablo owners/trade in cars condition. Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 17:03 Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 17:07 Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 17:13 Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 17:19

[Bjwoods]

I'd be interested where you've heard unreliability problems with the 500 engine, as speaking to a number of dealers/owners/track days/this web site, I'v not come across any major issues, especialy one built in the last 2 - 3 years. Speed Six engine however, in the tuscan, and the Speed Six cerbera's, lot's of horror stories on this web site, similar/worse than the esprit v8 horror stories. B Edited by Bjwoods on Friday 3rd August 18:02

[dbw]

Tony G - I have had an Esprit V8 since new in '99 and if you look elsewhere in this site you will see the serious aggro I have had with it. - However (and I am now scrabbling around for somethng wooden to touch!) nothing has gone wrong for a few months. So maybe you will have a trouble free time with one a couple of years old. Definately, definately buy a warranty - the V8 warranty is about 1500 GBP and it is worth having. If anything goes wrong its not cheap. Lotus are pretty crap at customer service also, although the recent shake up may have helped. Just make sure you check: Accessive rattles - could be the bolts securing the bodywiork to the chassis - deep kind of rattle. Engine - the dealer will tell you that any excessive tappet noise is "just how its set up" - b******s get it checked out. ( More than likely needs new lifters - big bucks) Had three sports exhausts - if there is a high rasp after revveing - get them to replace it - the end pipes are falling off. Check tyre wear on the front - most have been set up for high performance driving - this wears the tyres out fast. You may want to change it if you are not driving everywhere at 100 MPH. If you can deal with all that then the Esprit is "off the scale". If your plan is to get a car that everybody looks at - goes super quick - people pull over for you in the fast lane - and hotel doormen make a parking space for you right outside, then the Esprit does the trick. Hope it helps. Hate it - lurv it!