how bad is it?
Discussion
I was wondering how bad maintence on a lower milage 95 s4s or a 97-98 v8 would be. How much will it cost me a year? I here a lot about problems with Esprits and I dont want to get in over my head. I am capable of doing soom of my own work. And it will be a second car. Or am I better off setteling for an nsx or 911?
I have friends with both nsx and a c4s,the nsx is definitely faster and more refined than the c4s,my S4s is faster than both and gets the most thumbs up for looks.Maintenance will be the same if not more for the c4s.The nsx is mid engined as the esprit with little room to work so they will be about the same.I had a choice between the s4s and the nsx,chose the s4s for its rarity.All 3 cars are belt driven with engines in tight places so none of them will be cheap to maintain unless you do the work yourself.
Well, I have the good fortune to drive both an NSX and an Esprit
http://community.webshots.com/scrpts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=64563134
The NSX is a trouble free exotic that will go endlessly without headache....beautiful exhaust note, fast, responsive, change the timing belt at 75,000 miles...
The Lotus requires more intensive upkeep, and needs consistent fine tuning (very pleasurable) to keep it humming. It is by far the more exotic, and turns heads everywhere....going up through the gears is thrilling...
If I had to choose one over the other it would be no contest whatsoever....LOTUS
http://community.webshots.com/scrpts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=64563134
The NSX is a trouble free exotic that will go endlessly without headache....beautiful exhaust note, fast, responsive, change the timing belt at 75,000 miles...
The Lotus requires more intensive upkeep, and needs consistent fine tuning (very pleasurable) to keep it humming. It is by far the more exotic, and turns heads everywhere....going up through the gears is thrilling...
If I had to choose one over the other it would be no contest whatsoever....LOTUS
bummer, bad link !
try this if you like...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/64563134/64563297qMiKLJ
try this if you like...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/64563134/64563297qMiKLJ
The 4 cyl. is easy to work on and has been around for a while. No suprises to be found with it as many have dealt with well worn and broken engines.
Hobby car people and the do it yourselfer have not had the opportunity to really delve into the V8.
I personally do not know of anyone who has re-built or has personally done major engine work to a V8 at home except for Johan.
The V8 does require some special tools.
Calvin 90 SE
Hobby car people and the do it yourselfer have not had the opportunity to really delve into the V8.
I personally do not know of anyone who has re-built or has personally done major engine work to a V8 at home except for Johan.
The V8 does require some special tools.
Calvin 90 SE
Hey thanks a lot everyone for the info. The archives were also a great source of info. I will be back on in a couple of months when I an ready to make my purchase. I think from what I've learned soo far I will be buying a S4s. I do more stop light racing than I care to admit and it sounds like the 4cyl won't tear up the trany as fast. And should be E-Zer to work on myself. Thanks again to everyone
Well, I'll add my $0.02 here. If you compare the S4s to a V8, they are mechanically very similar except the clutch and engine (brakes on later models go to AP Racing which are superior) and little else. Hence the vast majority of all maintenance is the same.
Having peeked around the insides of the 4-cylinder Esprits and owning a V8, I think the V8 has ample clearance to pretty much do any maintenance below an engine rebuild. Also note that the V8 requires no valve clearance adjustments due to it's hydraulic tappets. I have also found that the standard required maintenance is not difficult to perform at home, you do need a lift however, which is the same in either case.
You do need some special tools for the cambelt adjustments on the V8 (and the 4-clylinder as well) but the ones for the V8 cost more (the Clavis gauge). Luckily in the US, cambelt services are covered by LCU for 10 years or 100K miles. As a result, the V8 can be cheaper to maintain than the older 4-cylinder models if you do the basic servicing yourself.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
Having peeked around the insides of the 4-cylinder Esprits and owning a V8, I think the V8 has ample clearance to pretty much do any maintenance below an engine rebuild. Also note that the V8 requires no valve clearance adjustments due to it's hydraulic tappets. I have also found that the standard required maintenance is not difficult to perform at home, you do need a lift however, which is the same in either case.
You do need some special tools for the cambelt adjustments on the V8 (and the 4-clylinder as well) but the ones for the V8 cost more (the Clavis gauge). Luckily in the US, cambelt services are covered by LCU for 10 years or 100K miles. As a result, the V8 can be cheaper to maintain than the older 4-cylinder models if you do the basic servicing yourself.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
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