LOTUS Esprit 3.5L V8 Bi-turbo 350hp (1997-1999)

[Patrack]

Hi,
Do you know the quotation price of this car now ?
What is your opinion on the design of this car ?
Do you know his level reliability, what are his weakness ?
In your opinion, in the future the quotation price of this car will be decrease a lot ?

Thanks for your help.

[cnh1990]

I see you are from France. I don't know of European prices but in the USA. Cars from private owner sales range from 38K USD (97) to 48K USD (2000). A lot of book value list it a little higher, but that is reflecting dealer sales mainly as the private sales are not reported in most cases to book value publishers. I have started to research V8 values in the USA of actual confirmed sales figures of what people have actually paid both from a dealer and private sales as when I did right before I purchased my 90 SE a few years ago. Trouble is there are sellers that get really attached and emotional with their Esprit's when selling and tend to over value their cars. It is very natural to do this. The asking price of some cars is very high. These tend to be for sale for a long time, sometimes over a year with no takers at that price. When reality sets in is when the cars move quickly. There are many looking and when a good deal is found you must be prepared to move quickly to close the sale. The design is soild but a bit dated. Even if the car design is bit old it is still one of the quickest cars and it would take an exceptional car and driver to beat an Esprit with average driver skills. The problem areas are the transmission is fragile for USA drivers used to the quick off the line 1/4 mentality. You should be fine as most European drivers drive a bit differently and perhaps a little smoother than some USA drivers. Once they drive it for a while the USA driver get smoother also. It takes a while for some to get out of the American tank theory of 1/4 mi and NASCAR type machines and get with the light,small, nimble handling of the sports machines. You will enjoy yourself with the Esprit. Good luck in your search.
Calvin 90 SE

[Patrack]

The weakness of this car are transmission and clutch.
Is it possible to correct this problem to Lotus dealer.
Can you confirm ?

[cnh1990]

There is little one can do without great expense. There has been more than one person that has turned 2nd gear into a little round wheel by engaging full boost before fully seating 2nd gear. Usually by a person doing a fast hole shot or fast off the line like drag racing. Happens more to people in the USA than Europeans. Oh it is fine, just drive it like a Lotus should be driven instead of USA muscle car and you will be fine. The clutch has been updated and all the 97's were supposed to be all taken care of by the Lotus techs updating the clutch. Drive smooth and clean, the car will perform fine.
Calvin

[u769345]

Have recently bought a '97 MY Esprit and am realising a long held dream. It has to be driven but is very rewarding and a pleasure.
Today I took her down to Beachy Head just for the joy of it and to take a few photos. Since I was by myself I could begin to experiment with heel and toeing as well.
As yet I have not experienced any problems that were due to the car. Average fuel consumption seems to hover around 22mpg but I have managed to squeeze about 33mpg out of here during a frugal motorway cruise.
From the research I did before buying it really does seem that if she is looked after, visits the doctors (the Bell & Colvill surgery) regularly and has the routine treatments/any ailments attended to, she will be reliable.
I do try and treat her with kid gloves but for me part of the joy of ownership comes in the cleaning, polishing and looking at of her!
Kind regards,
u769

[Patrack]

Hi u769,
I have any questions on your car. What is the frequency time (in time or mileage) for changing belts and how much is the cost for changing it ?
What is the during life of clutch in miles for normal use and what is the cost for changing it ?
With your experience, what is the yearly average cost for this car without insurance, tyres and fuel for 3000 miles by year ?
Thanks
Patrick

[rob.ellis]

Patrack said: Hi u769,
I have any questions on your car. What is the frequency time (in time or mileage) for changing belts and how much is the cost for changing it ?
What is the during life of clutch in miles for normal use and what is the cost for changing it ?
With your experience, what is the yearly average cost for this car without insurance, tyres and fuel for 3000 miles by year ?
Thanks
Patrick

Patrick - all my running costs for my v8-gt are in my profile. I've run this car as my daily transport for the last 22 months. Don't panic when you look at my running costs - if you are only doing 3000 miles per year then your costs will be WAY lower than this!!

Cambelts need changing every 24k miles, and costs about £700 or so. Belts on a v8 can be changed with the engine in the car, provided the right tools are used. How long a clutch lasts will vary on how the car has been driven. Worst case maybe 20k miles, best case maybe 40k. The twin plate clutch itself costs about £800. Labour to fit it can vary between zero(you fit it yourself) or up to about £400 if you get a main dealer to do it for you.

I get between 12 and 18k miles out of a set of tyres - fronts are the worst believe it or not, due to the extreme negative camber that the v8 runs - it causes then to wear on the inner edge so they require replacing long before all the tread is worn off - they just get bald on the inner edge.

Hope that helps.

cheers
Rob

[Patrack]

Rob,
Thanks for your answer. I think that you live in Great Britain ?
After any information taken beside Lotus Club of France, in France there are not more 15 Lotus V8 3.5L. In this case it is very difficult to have informations. Do you know the reliability reputation of this car and his weakness ? In your advice, is it a good investment ?
Regards,
Patrick.

[rob.ellis]

Patrack said: Rob,
Thanks for your answer. I think that you live in Great Britain ?
After any information taken beside Lotus Club of France, in France there are not more 15 Lotus V8 3.5L. In this case it is very difficult to have informations. Do you know the reliability reputation of this car and his weakness ? In your advice, is it a good investment ?
Regards,
Patrick.

Hi Patrick - yes, i'm in the UK.
Weaknesses of the v8? Well, there are several cars i know of (including my own) that have had leaking pistonliners, although i have heard that this only affects early cars but i'm not sure if this is correct. Also, the gearbox will not last if the driver is 'abusive'. If you do lots of dragrace/standing starts then you'll probably mash your 2nd gear synchro. Treat it sensibly, and it will be fine. If at all possible, buy a car with a warranty.

If the car is so rare in france, you could consider buying elsewhere in europe (germany for instance) or maybe even in the uk. An early v8 sells here for about 30k Euro.

A v8 esprit is not a cheap car to run, but a similar age lamborghini or ferrari would probably be more. If you want cheap motoring, buy a diesel golf

I'm not sure if your last comment got a bit confused in the translation - the esprit isn't an "investment" as it won't ever go UP in value. As long as you realise that running any supercar will cost you money, you'll get a huge HUGE amount of enjoyment out of an esprit.

Good luck with your search.

Cheers
Rob



>> Edited by rob.ellis on Thursday 2nd January 17:43

[Thom]

rob.ellis said: I'm not sure if your last comment got a bit confused in the translation - the esprit isn't an "investment" as it won't ever go UP in value.

Having lived in France for quite a long time, I think he meant "will I lose a lot of money or not too much?"

Not sure 100%...They are very difficult people to understand!