Iminent purchase worries
Discussion
I'm about to buy an Esprit Turbo over the net without seeing it the flesh.Car is at the top of scotland and I'm way down south.Thing is, car is being sold as '90 car but some of the bits (e.g. 2 spoke steering wheel, horizontal slotted rear valence)are from much earlier cars.Q1)Can an Guigaro Esprit be rebodied as a Stevens? and Q2)The car I am looking at is very distinctive because it has Red and Yellow (rhubarb and custard)connoly hide throughout - does anyone know about this car please?.........A wary buyer.
G and S cars are basically the same, just different bodies. the 1987 Stevens shaped Turbo and NA are the same machnically as the G shaped Turbo Esprit and S3. New bodywork and a new gearbox are the main changes between the S and G's. So it could be rebodied. But I can't see why! To expensive, unless using two wreaked cars.
I wouldn't buy any Esprit without seeing it. They'd have to be giving it away (and I do mean CHEAP!) for me to buy it without seeing it. I would make a weekend of it the go and have a look.
Can't you find one just a little bit closer?
Do you have any photos and more information. Can't really help much more without it.
Check out my website for more information on models. And read my buying guide section (if you haven't already). It will help.
www.lotusespritworld.com
kato
Lotus Esprit World
I wouldn't buy any Esprit without seeing it. They'd have to be giving it away (and I do mean CHEAP!) for me to buy it without seeing it. I would make a weekend of it the go and have a look.
Can't you find one just a little bit closer?
Do you have any photos and more information. Can't really help much more without it.
Check out my website for more information on models. And read my buying guide section (if you haven't already). It will help.
www.lotusespritworld.com
kato
Lotus Esprit World
Thanks for response Kato.The problem I have is that I am two weeks into a new job - hardly the right time to be disapearing off to Scotland for a couple of days to buy a car.I have had several mid resolution pictures via email and the car looks gorgeous (18" OZ wheels and S4 rear engine lid with loop type spoiler - all in Lotus yellow).Apparently the vendor has bills to the value of £10k for rebuild carried out 6k miles ago.(enough to put an old car in new clothes perhaps).My info is restricted as the vendor works away so communication is through 3rd party.The price I am paying (£11k for cash) seems a pretty good deal - though guidance from those in the know is always welcome! I have been going through the Autotrader a lot but haven't spotted anything for that sort of money nearer to home (my own personal preference being the 'Stevens' shape turbo - though I have observed a market trend upwards for Guigaro cars!).
Because the car is in a remote spot and is a bit of an 'oddball'I did wonder if I might get a 'I know that car' type response.Perhaps I should also put here that I have £11k ready cash to spend on an Esprit Turbo so if anyone out there is selling let me know.An SE model would be nice!!!
Because the car is in a remote spot and is a bit of an 'oddball'I did wonder if I might get a 'I know that car' type response.Perhaps I should also put here that I have £11k ready cash to spend on an Esprit Turbo so if anyone out there is selling let me know.An SE model would be nice!!!
I saw this ad in the Autotrader website recently:
LOTUS ESPRIT SE 2dr Coupe Year:1989 Price: £11,500
Pacific Blue. Reluctant sale. Full SE spec. Serviced by main Lotus dealers and recognised Lotus specialists (eg Paul Matty). Recently serviced. Call for more details. 72000 miles. £11500 or.
Tel: 01252 684850 or 07815 150081
Email: boonie256@hotmail.com
It's down South, and around your price.
Regards,
Nicholas
LOTUS ESPRIT SE 2dr Coupe Year:1989 Price: £11,500
Pacific Blue. Reluctant sale. Full SE spec. Serviced by main Lotus dealers and recognised Lotus specialists (eg Paul Matty). Recently serviced. Call for more details. 72000 miles. £11500 or.
Tel: 01252 684850 or 07815 150081
Email: boonie256@hotmail.com
It's down South, and around your price.
Regards,
Nicholas
katolotus said: G and S cars are basically the same, just different bodies. the 1987 Stevens shaped Turbo and NA are the same machnically as the G shaped Turbo Esprit and S3. New bodywork and a new gearbox are the main changes between the S and G's. So it could be rebodied. But I can't see why! To expensive, unless using two wreaked cars.
I wouldn't buy any Esprit without seeing it. They'd have to be giving it away (and I do mean CHEAP!) for me to buy it without seeing it. I would make a weekend of it the go and have a look.
Can't you find one just a little bit closer?
Do you have any photos and more information. Can't really help much more without it.
Check out my website for more information on models. And read my buying guide section (if you haven't already). It will help.
www.lotusespritworld.com
kato
Lotus Esprit World
kato,
Just a point, the '88 and early '89 Stevens bodied Esprit (non-SE) had the same Citroen C-35 gearbox as the '85-'87 'G' models. The renault tranny was introduced with the SE model. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What if the engine knocks?
What if there's no synchro on second gear?
What if the VIN plate is held on with Sellotape?
It could be that the car is the best Esprit on the planet. Or the worst.
At the very least get an AA inspection.
I wouldn't buy a used car without inspecting it first. I'm not even sure that I would buy an Esprit unless it had at least some warranty or guarantee unless I knew the vendor very well.
Good luck.
Pat 87 TurboHC.
What if the engine knocks?
What if there's no synchro on second gear?
What if the VIN plate is held on with Sellotape?
It could be that the car is the best Esprit on the planet. Or the worst.
At the very least get an AA inspection.
I wouldn't buy a used car without inspecting it first. I'm not even sure that I would buy an Esprit unless it had at least some warranty or guarantee unless I knew the vendor very well.
Good luck.
Pat 87 TurboHC.
Thank you for your comments.With regard to the Esprit Turbo SE I have now contacted the vendor and shall be viewing the car within the next few days.After reading through some of the other threads I have now woken up to the fact that, probably because of the Esprit's looks, it is definitely a car where the head MUST rule the heart.I will let you know how it goes.Many thanks.
powercam said:
With regard to the Esprit Turbo SE I have now contacted the vendor and shall be viewing the car within the next few days.
Okay, but before you do you might want to look at this gentleman's site.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/planet42/
It features a very similar car and gives some good insights into what it's like to buy one that wasn't well looked after. May give you a heads up on what to look for.
Plus, get a download of the PDF reciept and checklist on Lotus Esprit World:
www.lotusespritworld.com/buying.html
Invaluable to the Esprit novice
Regards,
Nicholas
I'm about to buy an Esprit Turbo over the net without seeing it the flesh.Car is at the top of scotland and I'm way down south.Thing is, car is being sold as '90 car but some of the bits (e.g. 2 spoke steering wheel, horizontal slotted rear valence)are from much earlier cars.Q1)Can an Guigaro Esprit be rebodied as a Stevens? and Q2)The car I am looking at is very distinctive because it has Red and Yellow (rhubarb and custard)connoly hide throughout - does anyone know about this car please?.........A wary buyer.
Hi,
I've just bought my 1990 Turbo in Dec 2002. which was manufactured in Sept 1990. It has a two spoke steering wheel and a slatted rear valance which are normal as far as i'm concerned. You can see pics of mine my profile. You must go and see it really if you don't want to throw your money away. With regards to the interior you could always redye it if you don't like the colour to say black. I redyed mine but didn't change the colour.
E-mail me and let me know your budget. I got mine at a good price I think. Don't rush into buying one at dealer prices just yet. Silly question, have you done a nationwide search on Autotrader?
Last question, where abouts in the UK are you?
Cheers,
Dave Walters
Hey is this car you were first looking at?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2407668764
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2407668764
lotusguy said:
katolotus said: G and S cars are basically the same, just different bodies. the 1987 Stevens shaped Turbo and NA are the same machnically as the G shaped Turbo Esprit and S3. New bodywork and a new gearbox are the main changes between the S and G's. So it could be rebodied. But I can't see why! To expensive, unless using two wreaked cars.
I wouldn't buy any Esprit without seeing it. They'd have to be giving it away (and I do mean CHEAP!) for me to buy it without seeing it. I would make a weekend of it the go and have a look.
Can't you find one just a little bit closer?
Do you have any photos and more information. Can't really help much more without it.
Check out my website for more information on models. And read my buying guide section (if you haven't already). It will help.
www.lotusespritworld.com
kato
Lotus Esprit World
kato,
Just a point, the '88 and early '89 Stevens bodied Esprit (non-SE) had the same Citroen C-35 gearbox as the '85-'87 'G' models. The renault tranny was introduced with the SE model. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
Jim the renault tranny was introduced on non SE 89's too, as per my car. Perhaps mine was done last half of 89 with new gearbox?
Cheers
Kylie
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