SE or not SE, that is the question
Discussion
I have an 88 Esprit Turbo, the title says it is an SE, is has a rear spoiler and glass like an SE, it has SE wheels but it has no chargecooler, just a regular turbo.
Has someone put all of these extras on there or was there some cars put out like this?
It was made in 3/88.
Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts.
Thanks,
AZ88Turbo
>>> Edited by AZ88Turbo on Monday 7th April 19:40
Has someone put all of these extras on there or was there some cars put out like this?
It was made in 3/88.
Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts.
Thanks,
AZ88Turbo
>>> Edited by AZ88Turbo on Monday 7th April 19:40
Bad news, it's not an SE. The SE debuted here in the 1989 1/2 model year. The SE stands for Special Equipment...and that refers basically to the chargecooler.
I grabbed this from the www.espritfactfile.com
"SE's were introduced in May 1989. Check the date on the manufacture plate on the driver doorsill, it will also say if it is an SE. If the car you're checking out is anything like mine, the exterior SE badges (on the quarter windows) may have been removed. But there are still visual cues to help you determine if a car you see in a parking lot or driving by is indeed an SE:
Side skirts are parallel to body, not scalloped or "pinched-in" at mid-door
Front air dam is more "square-ish" and has 5 openings; the outermost openings are for the twin oil coolers, which non-SE's do not have.
An air duct on each side of the air dam, ahead of the front wheels (oil cooler exhausts).
All SE's have a rear wing (spoiler) of some kind. The wing on '93MY is slightly larger than other years. Most non-SE's (except commemorative editions, or aftermarket) do not have rear wings.
Wider and larger wheels: Front 215/50ZR15 on 7inch wheels. Rear 245/50ZR16 on 8.5inch wheels
And, of course, a big red rectangular box atop the engine that says "Lotus Chargecooler". "
Fellow listers, please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
However, since you just bought this, you might have reason to go back to the PO and discuss a price adjustment...if I'm not mistaken the price difference in a SE and non-SE is fairly noticeable.
Edited to add: One more thing, the difference between the SE and the non-SE is roughly 50 horsepower...that's a big leap.
On a more positive note, your car looks great. I really love the white ones...
Mad Mike
>> Edited by madmike on Monday 7th April 20:49
I grabbed this from the www.espritfactfile.com
"SE's were introduced in May 1989. Check the date on the manufacture plate on the driver doorsill, it will also say if it is an SE. If the car you're checking out is anything like mine, the exterior SE badges (on the quarter windows) may have been removed. But there are still visual cues to help you determine if a car you see in a parking lot or driving by is indeed an SE:
Side skirts are parallel to body, not scalloped or "pinched-in" at mid-door
Front air dam is more "square-ish" and has 5 openings; the outermost openings are for the twin oil coolers, which non-SE's do not have.
An air duct on each side of the air dam, ahead of the front wheels (oil cooler exhausts).
All SE's have a rear wing (spoiler) of some kind. The wing on '93MY is slightly larger than other years. Most non-SE's (except commemorative editions, or aftermarket) do not have rear wings.
Wider and larger wheels: Front 215/50ZR15 on 7inch wheels. Rear 245/50ZR16 on 8.5inch wheels
And, of course, a big red rectangular box atop the engine that says "Lotus Chargecooler". "
Fellow listers, please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
However, since you just bought this, you might have reason to go back to the PO and discuss a price adjustment...if I'm not mistaken the price difference in a SE and non-SE is fairly noticeable.
Edited to add: One more thing, the difference between the SE and the non-SE is roughly 50 horsepower...that's a big leap.
On a more positive note, your car looks great. I really love the white ones...
Mad Mike
>> Edited by madmike on Monday 7th April 20:49
I took another look at the rear aerofoil. It is not the SE one. It is slightly taller with the struts further apart to the edges of the boot lid, and it has creased edges before the bent down ends.
I have only seen that on the special edition in the States of I think '88, but the one I saw had no glass back!?
Shortly after they did a similar one for the UK without the dished rear wheels, and the normal SE spoiler and glass back lid. IIRC, the wheels were painted white on both markets... curious.
Regards,
Nicholas (in danger of becoming an anorak
)
I have only seen that on the special edition in the States of I think '88, but the one I saw had no glass back!?
Shortly after they did a similar one for the UK without the dished rear wheels, and the normal SE spoiler and glass back lid. IIRC, the wheels were painted white on both markets... curious.
Regards,
Nicholas (in danger of becoming an anorak
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