Buying

[Le TVR]

Hello all.

Have been lurking here for a while because:

Have been seriously considering a late model V8, probably an SE.

Found quite a lot of useful information so far but I havent seen any comments about the Esprit chassis.
(when buying TVRs its chassis, chassis and chassis in that order...)

Are there any specific issues to look for, or any particular points about maintenance with the chassis?

I'm fairly happy with all forms of auto electrics and electronics as well as composites - well having a TVR you'd need to be so I have no special worries in that area.

[igg]

There was an article in recent autocar mag about buying an Esprit.
They seemed to indicate that the best buy was an Esprit S4 and to avoid the V8. Think they did the article with Paul Matty sportscars, and he didn't seem too keen on the
V8's.

[Le TVR]

I'm aware there were issues with the earlier 918 engines but I thought that most of these were resolved by the time the SE versions arrived?

Preference is still for the V8 but the S4 could be an alternative as these is not really so many here in France....

[igg]

I'll look up the magazine when i get home if you like and give you the actual quote from the Lotus specialist on the V8's.

[wedg1e]

Yes, folk do blether about TVR chassis rather unnecessarily IMHO.

As for the Esprit, mine's 23 years old and has only a few small patches of surface rust. I'm told that the front suspension towers do corrode, but it's only steel plate so probably even easier to repair than a tubular TVR type - access permitting, of course.
There's a couple of tubes alongside the engine that also suffer from the heat of the exhaust manifold, but it's a problem that mostly affects turbo cars.

[cross-eyed-twit]

the chassis are hot dip galvanised so survive very well even with the preiously mentioned manifold area. chassis bolts need looking at every service i would say as they can work a little loose and mine have done this twice at the back. easy fix though.
I spoke to a Lotus engineer about the 918 piston liner problem and he was adamant that it was a product of overheating.
The liner sealant they originally used was sufficient although with the design of the engine, waterways and the fact that there was little room in there (modern performance engine) if there was a heat problem, which could manifest itself in all manner of ways, there was little flex for the absorption of extra heat and the liners suffered thus.
He said the newer sealant was more heat tolerant and would be better able to cope.

As for the S4, I have one, its revvy, tweakable and lots of fun but if you are a V8/torque type person I guess you will prefer the 8 banger.

I am biassed though and enjoy my car immensely. Drove it to work today in the sunshine and it felt great.

[toyroom]

They are ALL brilliant ! They are all potential nightmares, but that's part of what makes them special. If you want predictability, the best type of Esprit to buy would be a Porsche Boxster with factory fitted sterility and boredom... It is said that the S4s was the best Esprit. The most fun Esprit I ever drove was a mint Highwing. It felt much faster than my car which is a V8.
The priorities with a Lotus are quite the opposite to TVR. Almost everything but the chassis has to be suspect. Especially the engine. If you go for a V8, make sure that it has been rebuilt with the new sealant (mine has) or buy the youngest one possible.
By the way, does anybody know what VIN was thew point at which the factory started using the new sealant ? This would helf folk in this guy's position enormously. The last thing he wants is to get a thirty grand car home and find it needs a rebuild costing the thick end of ten grand !

[Le TVR]

Thanks for all the comments.

toyroom said:

Almost everything but the chassis has to be suspect.

That was rather the impression I had got so far after reading various Esprit websites. I was just interested to hear if anyone has had to do anything.

toyroom said:

By the way, does anybody know what VIN was thew point at which the factory started using the new sealant ?

That certainly is a very good point.
Is there a reference/type to check for in the service history? Or even if there is a dated service note from Lotus?

[igreenrover]

I went on a tour of the TVR Factory in the Mid 90's and was amazed to see all the rusting chassis sitting outside before they had even made it onto the line. All of them were starting to go a little, the thought of buying one that had already started on its way put me off buying a TVR then.

My Esprit chassis is 16 years old this year and is rust free even after living in the UK! Zinc will eventually burn off around the manifold but its kept dry and should be fine, well its more the relative heat expansion of the two metals that causes the problem than anything.

[Autocross7]

I brushed that area on my car a bit to get off the grime, then sprayed it with heat reflective paint that can take up to 1600 degree F. The paint is a ceramic based paint and grey, so it looks okay. Keeps out the moisture and helps with any heat issues...

Not one spot of rust however, just a preventative action while I could get to it...
The UK has nothing on Alabama for humidity...


Drive topless!!!
Cameron

[ErnestM]

The only thing that rusts on positively every V8 that I have ever seen is.... the silencer of course. Get it sorted immediately. I chose a stainless steel tubi and have never looked back. The cats are only marginally less rust prone than the silencer so they may need addressing as well. My solution was the stainless hyperflos but there are a few alternatives for silencer and cats available these days.

ErnestM