S1 S2 and S3 Esprits.
Discussion
Well, i am new to the lotus forum, but need a litte advise.
I am looking to purchase either any of the above (ideally S1 or S2) as a classic second car to be used for shows/sunday driving etc. Firstly, there is a rather nice yellow S1 in the classifides. What do you think it would be worth as it says 'offers'. I am looking to spend betweel 7k and 9k. I suspect that it may be out of my price range!
Secondly, is there anywhere in east anglia that would have a few examples to look at at once to get an idea of condition, and what to look for. I dont really want a to have have to restore, but quite enjoy a bit of fiddling with the spanners.
Any pointers or links to people in the know.
Also, are there any companies that will insure on a daily or weekly basis, as i dont really want to have to pay for a years insurance for odd days of the year when it would get driven.
Many thanks, James.
I am looking to purchase either any of the above (ideally S1 or S2) as a classic second car to be used for shows/sunday driving etc. Firstly, there is a rather nice yellow S1 in the classifides. What do you think it would be worth as it says 'offers'. I am looking to spend betweel 7k and 9k. I suspect that it may be out of my price range!
Secondly, is there anywhere in east anglia that would have a few examples to look at at once to get an idea of condition, and what to look for. I dont really want a to have have to restore, but quite enjoy a bit of fiddling with the spanners.
Any pointers or links to people in the know.
Also, are there any companies that will insure on a daily or weekly basis, as i dont really want to have to pay for a years insurance for odd days of the year when it would get driven.
Many thanks, James.
Although S1 to S3 look very similar all S3s had the galvanised turbo chassis and the whole car was better developed than S1/S2. My suggestion if you're on a budget would be to buy the best S3 you can stretch to, preferably with no turbo and no air con' so there's less to go wrong. Older Esprits can be cheap to buy but a tatty car is tricky and pricey to sort out. A more expensive car in better condition is likely to work out cheaper over time. Good luck!
£7-£9K will buy quite a lot of Esprit, especially older ones!
Well... let's just say the sellers might ask that, but whether the car is 'worth' it is up to you.
I've seen Esprits in boxes go for £1500, rolling cars with no engine go for £500.
Mine was £2200 without hearing it run!
but I did buy it as a project.
Lots of them go via Ebay; there was even a San Tropez convertible on there a couple of days back.
I'd say go for a non-turbo S3 as well; for that sort of money you could even score a Stevens model (87-on) but if you're set on the original wedge then you need to weigh the pros and cons of the Giugiaro cars.
Most of the evolution of the S1-3 was concerned with overheating and chassis mods, so if you prefer the cleanest lines then it has to be an S1 (no wrap-round bumpers or intake 'ears' behind the windows) - but some parts are REALLY hard to find now.
If you go for an S2, then you may as well go for an S2.2 with the bigger engine and galvanised chassis... in which case you're 90% of the way to buying an S3 anyway!
Also, if you're not used to typical British small-volume car maker's production standards and methods of assembly, it may surprise you just how agricultural (read: crap) Esprits really are. Not in the driving (although there are issues there as well!) but when you find bits of dowel, pipe clips, self-tappers and plywood in what was a bloody expensive car, you begin to think that Handy Andy has been at it... but they really were built that way.
I'd already had TVRs so I was used to it, but somehow I wasn't expecting it with the Lotus.
However, you're already thinking about an Esprit, which means you'll probably end up with one, most people do
Well... let's just say the sellers might ask that, but whether the car is 'worth' it is up to you.
I've seen Esprits in boxes go for £1500, rolling cars with no engine go for £500.
Mine was £2200 without hearing it run!
but I did buy it as a project. Lots of them go via Ebay; there was even a San Tropez convertible on there a couple of days back.
I'd say go for a non-turbo S3 as well; for that sort of money you could even score a Stevens model (87-on) but if you're set on the original wedge then you need to weigh the pros and cons of the Giugiaro cars.
Most of the evolution of the S1-3 was concerned with overheating and chassis mods, so if you prefer the cleanest lines then it has to be an S1 (no wrap-round bumpers or intake 'ears' behind the windows) - but some parts are REALLY hard to find now.
If you go for an S2, then you may as well go for an S2.2 with the bigger engine and galvanised chassis... in which case you're 90% of the way to buying an S3 anyway!
Also, if you're not used to typical British small-volume car maker's production standards and methods of assembly, it may surprise you just how agricultural (read: crap) Esprits really are. Not in the driving (although there are issues there as well!) but when you find bits of dowel, pipe clips, self-tappers and plywood in what was a bloody expensive car, you begin to think that Handy Andy has been at it... but they really were built that way.
I'd already had TVRs so I was used to it, but somehow I wasn't expecting it with the Lotus.
However, you're already thinking about an Esprit, which means you'll probably end up with one, most people do
check out www.lotusespritworld.co.uk loads of info for 7 to 9 k you should be able to get a good car, the s3 is probably the pick of the n/a cars but you could also buy a turbo with your budget, most important thing is once you found a car you like get it inspected by a good lotus garage
The Esprit wasn't fully developed when it was introduced and many of the bugs were addressed through the years. The older the car, the more issues it had. Many have been addressed by now, either back in the day by Service Bulletins or by previous owners fixes.
The S2 was introduced specifically to address a number of S1 problem areas. Probably the most significant was the S1's small radiator and marginal cooling capacity. That may not be a big issue in the UK's moderate climate, but in hotter parts of the world an S1 can be a problem.
The S3 is clearly the best of the breed in terms of being a reliable, well developed car.
Buy the newest and best sorted Esprit that you can afford, then spend your time driving it instead of working on it. Unless of course you like wrenching. Then an older Esprit will provide you with much more opportunity.
Good Luck,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North (LOON)
The S2 was introduced specifically to address a number of S1 problem areas. Probably the most significant was the S1's small radiator and marginal cooling capacity. That may not be a big issue in the UK's moderate climate, but in hotter parts of the world an S1 can be a problem.
The S3 is clearly the best of the breed in terms of being a reliable, well developed car.
Buy the newest and best sorted Esprit that you can afford, then spend your time driving it instead of working on it. Unless of course you like wrenching. Then an older Esprit will provide you with much more opportunity.
Good Luck,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North (LOON)
Hi Rossy,
I have recently Inherited a Lotus Esprit, Series 1 (1976) and am looking to sell. Its all original spec, no modifications, 1973cc, 2 owners from new, ROADWORTHY, taxed & Mot'd until May 2006. If your interested, just mail me and i will send pics.(Slaw721033127@aol.com)
Thanks.
I have recently Inherited a Lotus Esprit, Series 1 (1976) and am looking to sell. Its all original spec, no modifications, 1973cc, 2 owners from new, ROADWORTHY, taxed & Mot'd until May 2006. If your interested, just mail me and i will send pics.(Slaw721033127@aol.com)
Thanks.
SarahLaw said:
Hi Rossy,
I have recently Inherited a Lotus Esprit, Series 1 (1976) and am looking to sell. Its all original spec, no modifications, 1973cc, 2 owners from new, ROADWORTHY, taxed & Mot'd until May 2006. If your interested, just mail me and i will send pics.(Slaw721033127@aol.com)
Thanks.
Well get out there and drive it then! Haven't you seen Pretty Woman...?
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