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[Hedgerley]

After years browsing this forum as a "Guest" I am finally posting as an owner.



>> Edited by Hedgerley on Wednesday 19th October 22:40

[jk1]

Congrats Mark and what a beautiful car. Love the titanium color..Enjoy!

Jim

[abrussich]

Beautful! What year is your new pride and joy by the way?
Love that color. Was considering doing my 89 in that, not to worry, I'm on the other side of a rather large pond so you will still have exclusivity ;-).
Good luck, enjoy the ride.

Al "phonse" B.
89 Esprit turbo

[ErnestM]

Looks like a 1999 or later. Very NICE. Congratulations.

ErnestM

[pauli]

i would say nice motor, but it`s a Lotus and nice just ain`t good enough, Beautiful, wonderful you name it, YOU now own it. Welcome, enjoy the ride of ya life!!!!!

[hedgerley]

Thanks guys, great to be here.

Its a late 1998 V8-GT, with the revised interior. Only 29k on the clock whyen I got it 3 weeks ago and in mint condition, although its now got 31.5k on the clock. I am just back from my first long trip, several days tooling around in the Scottish Highlands (I live in Scotland, work in London). Some of my favourite roads are up there and are a real eye opener in the Esprit. Magnificent. Car didn't miss a beat, nothing fell off, nothing broke.

What I hadn't appreciated was the interest the car generates and the number of conversations I have to engage in. Of course I was one of those "small boys and men of a certain age" for 20 years. Nice to have the keys now though......

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi Mark,
Congrats on your new toy !!! V8-GTs just look great !

Marcus
V8-GT too ;o)
www.PUKesprit.de

[inno]

Awesome color! My car is going to the paint shop.

Congrats...

Pete
90 SE

[toyroom]

Looking at these responses is actually quite moving. If we all acted like this and never did the "Oh it's a Lotus, you expect bits to drop off all the time" bit and took the odd repair bill on the chin, these cars would be as revered as Ferraris (and worth a lot more) The L oads O f T rouble U sually S erious nonsense is simply a product of the "Everybody loves the downtrodden hero" philosophy. Enthusiasm is infectious and the more people who covet these cars, the more they would be worth(not just financially) How often do you see a mid seventies Ferrari 3-0- something going for £30K when it is dynamically, mechanically and arguably, aesthetically inferior to the Esprit ? The only reason for this is image and image is made by those in the circle of enthusiasts.
The purpose of a car like the Esprit is to give pleasure to people in excess of that given by more average cars. This it does in spades. Never a week goes by without my having to take someone out in the car. Even after all these years, there is never a time when I look at the car without smiling. That titanium Esprit is just rolling sculpture ! I empathise with you, by the way. Like many, I am sure, I wanted an Esprit as soon as I saw JB drive off that jetty in his white S1. 23 years I waited ! Got mine in 2000...Well worth the wait !

[toyroom]

Having said that, I would hate to see these cars priced out of the range of most people as I am sure that most Esprits are loved for what they are by people who care rather than worn as an upper middle class fashion accessory like so many Lamborghinis and Ferraris seem to be.

[hedgerley]

Just back from a trip to Tesco which is about a 4 minute drive from my house - I've been out over an hour. Went via my favourite roads here in Fife. The car is perfect. I can't get over the pleasure this thing gives and how it rewards in bucketfuls. The deserted switchbacks help of course. I have to agree with the sentiment toyroom. It is a fantastic car and has exceeded the expectation built up over the last 25 years, the perfect antidote to a crazy week down in London.

It looks like the bedroom painting is going to have to wait, again.........

[toyroom]

Talking of bedrooms, scan down a few pages to the "Dream Car - A Whole New Meaning" thread to view an example of the full manifestation of the obsession that these cars can cause. You will be impressed ! (...probably !)