Salvage V8 how much work to repair?
Discussion
Does anyone hv rough idea for repair costs / work involved ,as I'm thinking project.
www.qualitysalvage.net/ViewCarPics.asp?CarID=345
www.qualitysalvage.net/ViewCarPics.asp?CarID=345
Looks like he slid sideways into a curb and cracked the hubs off. The car probably has slid a little on it body, tranny, etc. for a short bit. It is by far one of the least damaged of the wrecked Esprit's I have seen just by looking at the pic's. It will need to be seen up close for concealed damage. These salvage people in the USA are not so honest and claim easy fixes. I do not know how they are in the UK. I do know of someone with an Esprit that had similar damage. At a shop they fixed it for 15K in USD.
It will be much cheaper if you do it yourself. 5K or there abouts. Also depends on if the wheels can be fixed.
Calvin
It will be much cheaper if you do it yourself. 5K or there abouts. Also depends on if the wheels can be fixed.
Calvin
Does anyone hv rough idea for repair costs / work involved ,as I'm thinking project.
www.qualitysalvage.net/ViewCarPics.asp?CarID=345
D,
There is absolutely no way to determine the amount of work or estimate the costs involved from the few pics and brief descrption.
The body work would seem pretty straightforward providing there is no loss of intergrity to surrounding panels, but again, the pics are woefully inadequate to make any real determination.
As far as the 'suspension' work, this could be relatively minor consisting of merely putting it all back together to extremely intensive involving the tires, wheels, brakes, exhaust system, mounting points, frame, subframe, tranny, possibly even the engine if the tranny and subsequently the crank were involved in any way. It's unusual for a catastrophic suspension event not to affect some, if not all of these areas.
I'm not trying to discourage you, but there just isn't enough information, visual or descrptive, to make any kind of informed estimate. I would suggest visiting the car and taking additional pics or bringing an informed person along as a resource. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Tuesday 4th February 16:50
Couple of things to consider:
1. What kind of impact breaks BOTH hubs away clean from the car.
2. Where else was the force transmitted to? I can look at that car and 100% suspect chassis damage. If its minor it can be pulled straight but if its major you will need a new chassis.
3. Your are spending alot of money for a car with basically no service history. It would be a shame to find out this car was rolled off a cliff becuase the engine had problems and the owner couldn't afford to fix it (it does happen)
All that said you could get lucky with the car and even more lucky finding the parts. I am currently rebuilding a 95 S4 that will cost me about $20k when completed.. not bad considering similar cars are selling for $35k to $40k.
1. What kind of impact breaks BOTH hubs away clean from the car.
2. Where else was the force transmitted to? I can look at that car and 100% suspect chassis damage. If its minor it can be pulled straight but if its major you will need a new chassis.
3. Your are spending alot of money for a car with basically no service history. It would be a shame to find out this car was rolled off a cliff becuase the engine had problems and the owner couldn't afford to fix it (it does happen)
All that said you could get lucky with the car and even more lucky finding the parts. I am currently rebuilding a 95 S4 that will cost me about $20k when completed.. not bad considering similar cars are selling for $35k to $40k.
In looking at the pics, I'm thinking the car was simply dropped vertically from a pretty tall height and landed flat on pavement. Possibly shipping damage. Being heavier in the rear explains the extensive damage to the lower body parts and the rear hubs snapping off. A moving accident resulting in this would be quite improbable... the rest of the body is virtually markless. Also look the right front wheel, a clearly defined flat spot from the impact of being dropped. I would also suspect the engine sump is destroyed as could be the block itself. The same can probably be said for the gearbox. Also note that the front hood support is snapped from the hood itself. I'd say it might make a nice parts car.
On another note, it has same interior as my 2000 V8 only my exterior is black metallic and LHD. Notice the door inserts, this is what my US spec car has.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
On another note, it has same interior as my 2000 V8 only my exterior is black metallic and LHD. Notice the door inserts, this is what my US spec car has.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
Lateral impact on the wheels from a slide into a curb will snap the hubs off. If one over corrects with the power on (full turbo boost) it will then take the car into the other curb snapping off the other hub. The car will then slide on the tranny case and the folded over wheels. I have seen the results of such an accident by a owner that had the car less than maybe a month???. The car was owned by Keen Young and the accident happend a short time after he sold the car and the new owner was driving in a group with some very experienced drivers and very fast Esprit's (Sanj and a friend). The car was never the same after that. I have seen worse cars comeback after a wreak.
Calvin
Calvin
Thanks for the advice, I'm going to send a lotus mechanic to check the vehicle out I think. Mind you for the same money I'll pick up a low mileage 93 SE which is needs little work done and all can be done in home garage. (plus hv all manuals etc from last esprit)And the SE did look great in "Pretty Woman" last night on the telly.
I remeber seeing the photos of the car over a week ago I think there is quite a bit of front suspension damage to be taken into account too as the wheels point in a different directions.
On a different subject.
A friend of mine owns a Coach Works he repaired a then then 6month old Y reg Esprit V8GT about 18mths ago the car had been kirbed severed the osr hub carrier put a hole in the door and lost a wheel arch spat. It was repaired with a new door and all Lotus parts I believe the salvage yard owner who had itrepaired still has the car for sale it only had 1200miles on the clock Titanium with black leather a fab car when repaired. see it at www.arobinsonautocentre.co.uk
On a different subject.
A friend of mine owns a Coach Works he repaired a then then 6month old Y reg Esprit V8GT about 18mths ago the car had been kirbed severed the osr hub carrier put a hole in the door and lost a wheel arch spat. It was repaired with a new door and all Lotus parts I believe the salvage yard owner who had itrepaired still has the car for sale it only had 1200miles on the clock Titanium with black leather a fab car when repaired. see it at www.arobinsonautocentre.co.uk
I missed that last night but on a more serious note, I was considering this car when I did a search on the Autotrader. It is very tempting at the price and looks the part, but you have to consider that a lot of traders and repairers would have seen this car prior to it being advertised. If was a viable project, it would have been snapped up by a trader. These people are always on the look out for a damaged repairable. My instinct is that there is major damage but Iam not a mechanic. A more practical route would be as you suggested and buy the 93SE. Iam just saying that because I would be jealous if you did buy the V8. Did you notice the interior? The seats are quite worn don't you think?
Another option would be to keep monitoring the car, make a ridiculous offer to begin with and see it if comes down! If it does and you get it for a lot less, it was meant to be. If someone else buys it, you weren't meant to have it.
I did that with mine, wasn't fussed with the colour initially and the interior was pants. Waited and waited until I got the price down by £1300! Now I love the colour.
Hope this helps make your decision
Another option would be to keep monitoring the car, make a ridiculous offer to begin with and see it if comes down! If it does and you get it for a lot less, it was meant to be. If someone else buys it, you weren't meant to have it.
I did that with mine, wasn't fussed with the colour initially and the interior was pants. Waited and waited until I got the price down by £1300! Now I love the colour.
Hope this helps make your decision
ErnestM said: Question - I thought all UK V8's came with that wonderful momo steering wheel? Anyone?
ErnestM
All uk esprits from 98 on came with the momo wheel as standard, however the airbag wheel was available as an option.
As it cost a lot of money (£1500?) is grey rather than black and generally is of mediocre quality not many uk esprits had this fitted.
I've only seen one or two..
Does anyone hv rough idea for repair costs / work involved ,as I'm thinking project.
www.qualitysalvage.net/ViewCarPics.asp?CarID=345
I'd say steer clear. Insurance companies don't write off cars (hence sell for salvage) unless they have to. There is probably a lot more damage than is visible in the photos.
The wheels still have drive shafts attached so there is almost certainly transmission damage. The force needed to smash both wheels off may have bent the chassis.
Regarding how the accident happened, i'd guess that the recent cold whether here in the uk coupled with the fact that the rear tyres look pretty well 'used' may have had something to do with it..!
IMO its not worth the money. They want nearly 14k for it. I've seen 97 esprits for sale in autorader recently for as low as 18k. There is no way you'd get this back on the road for less than 4k, so it makes no financial sense.
I would have to disagree with you Rob on the "insurance companies dont write off cars for nothing" comment.
What is a write off and what is not is a grey area and open to the whim of the insurance assesser on the day of inspection. A good friend in the buisness is often amazed at the cars the insurance companies write off with very little damage. I do agree about this particular Esprit, it needs to be much cheaper to take account for the unseen damage.
What is a write off and what is not is a grey area and open to the whim of the insurance assesser on the day of inspection. A good friend in the buisness is often amazed at the cars the insurance companies write off with very little damage. I do agree about this particular Esprit, it needs to be much cheaper to take account for the unseen damage.
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