Discussion
Hi fellows.
I need some help to get answers regarding the Lotus Esprit SE, hope you can help.
I did search both here and on the web. But some questions remains.
Next spring my goal is to get me a Lotus Esprit SE . So now im fishing information.
Coming from amerikan muscular cars this will be a new experince for me.
How is the supply of spare parts to this cars? Will it be a probleme to attain certain spare-parts for ,lets say the next 5-7 years?
How about spare parts for the lotus Four in line engine? Parts like, valves, valve seals,cam shafts, pistons, piston rings etc, gasgets? Is those parts still attainable throue vendors?
Then I also wounder what kind of "reliability mods" you guys recomend making on a stock Esprit.
This car will not be a daily driver, more like a weekend car/track car.
Thanks for your time, and sorry for my bad English.
Anders.
I need some help to get answers regarding the Lotus Esprit SE, hope you can help.
I did search both here and on the web. But some questions remains.
Next spring my goal is to get me a Lotus Esprit SE . So now im fishing information.
Coming from amerikan muscular cars this will be a new experince for me.
How is the supply of spare parts to this cars? Will it be a probleme to attain certain spare-parts for ,lets say the next 5-7 years?
How about spare parts for the lotus Four in line engine? Parts like, valves, valve seals,cam shafts, pistons, piston rings etc, gasgets? Is those parts still attainable throue vendors?
Then I also wounder what kind of "reliability mods" you guys recomend making on a stock Esprit.
This car will not be a daily driver, more like a weekend car/track car.
Thanks for your time, and sorry for my bad English.
Anders.
Hi! Cannot answer everything, but I'll give some of your questions a try...
Parts availability... Generally speaking parts are not hard to get for the Esprit as there are a good number of cross referenced parts you can source from other automobies if needed. There are also a few really goos parts supply houses out there. Here in the States JAE provides most of my parts, but I have also been able to get some parts at NAPA and Advanced Autoparts. I should think that in Sweeden you may be able to get some of the parts I have a hard time getting in the states... as Renault, Citroen, Vauxhall are not sold in the USA.
The tranny has been and remains the weak link of the Esprit. By the time the SE rolled off the line, the Citroen sourced box was gone and replaced with a Renault gear box... neither was exactly the same as the cars they were sourced from as I understand it, and niether is currently made. It should not be an issue, but it is good to know.
Reliability is on par with any American Muscle car. In fact, a buddie here in town (Mobile Alabama) has a 69' Mustang that is in great shape, but like my Esprit, has been parked in the garage for the usual service times. These cars ARE NOT hard to work on, so if you can turn a spanner on a Cobra or a Chevelle, you can turn one on an Esprit.
Hopefully others will be able to chime in info more specific to the SE for you... either way, the Esprit is a Super Car for a Song... I love it - yes, even more than the Ferraris of the same year!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
Parts availability... Generally speaking parts are not hard to get for the Esprit as there are a good number of cross referenced parts you can source from other automobies if needed. There are also a few really goos parts supply houses out there. Here in the States JAE provides most of my parts, but I have also been able to get some parts at NAPA and Advanced Autoparts. I should think that in Sweeden you may be able to get some of the parts I have a hard time getting in the states... as Renault, Citroen, Vauxhall are not sold in the USA.
The tranny has been and remains the weak link of the Esprit. By the time the SE rolled off the line, the Citroen sourced box was gone and replaced with a Renault gear box... neither was exactly the same as the cars they were sourced from as I understand it, and niether is currently made. It should not be an issue, but it is good to know.
Reliability is on par with any American Muscle car. In fact, a buddie here in town (Mobile Alabama) has a 69' Mustang that is in great shape, but like my Esprit, has been parked in the garage for the usual service times. These cars ARE NOT hard to work on, so if you can turn a spanner on a Cobra or a Chevelle, you can turn one on an Esprit.
Hopefully others will be able to chime in info more specific to the SE for you... either way, the Esprit is a Super Car for a Song... I love it - yes, even more than the Ferraris of the same year!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
Yes, as far as I know the tranny parts are still available. You may have to do a bit of searching for some of the big stuff like an actual gear... but syncros, bearings, input shafts, etc... are generally available from parts shops.
I can really only recomend these cars as long as you know what you are getting into - and you seem to have some experience with cars that do not run like a Toyota Camry!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
I can really only recomend these cars as long as you know what you are getting into - and you seem to have some experience with cars that do not run like a Toyota Camry!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
There are plenty of Independent Specialist in the UK who'll ship to Europe. There's also a good stock of 99% of parts. Businesses like SJ, SWLC, PNM, Paul Matty and Esprit Engineering fully support all Esprits and will source parts to keep cars on the road. We have contacts with Lotus and they are also sourcing parts now out of production, so even the factory is helping out.
So I don't think you need to worry too much about parts. Cost of parts, well that's another matter.
Check out www.lotusespritworld.com for all the info you need.
As mention, you need to know what you're letting yourself in for!
So I don't think you need to worry too much about parts. Cost of parts, well that's another matter.
Check out www.lotusespritworld.com for all the info you need.
As mention, you need to know what you're letting yourself in for!
Edited by lotusespritworld on Monday 17th July 14:28
Thanks for the answers. I been on vacation so thats why I didnt answer until now.
I cant say I fully know whats owning a esprit is like, cause I never own one before.
But I do know what its like to own cars that need attention, and maintance.
My other cars where US muscel cars ( corvette,mustang, even a old charger ). And i rebuild the engine on 2 of those, as well as fix the body work, alot of welding. So I can say i know the way around a car pretty much, and I got the tools and experince.
Thats why I ask about the parts, and how you can attain them. To get parts for a chevy V8 you can pretty much just google around and you will find alot of companys that supply it. I guess its diffrent for more "unike" sport car like the lotus.
This will be a weekend/summer car. That will se som track time. Its NOT going to be my daily driver.
Thanks for all the help so far. And sorry for my bad english.
Regards
Anders
I cant say I fully know whats owning a esprit is like, cause I never own one before.
But I do know what its like to own cars that need attention, and maintance.
My other cars where US muscel cars ( corvette,mustang, even a old charger ). And i rebuild the engine on 2 of those, as well as fix the body work, alot of welding. So I can say i know the way around a car pretty much, and I got the tools and experince.
Thats why I ask about the parts, and how you can attain them. To get parts for a chevy V8 you can pretty much just google around and you will find alot of companys that supply it. I guess its diffrent for more "unike" sport car like the lotus.
This will be a weekend/summer car. That will se som track time. Its NOT going to be my daily driver.
Thanks for all the help so far. And sorry for my bad english.
Regards
Anders
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