gt3 vs other esprits---advice please

gt3 vs other esprits---advice please

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Discussion

carspath

Original Poster:

839 posts

182 months

Monday 7th February 2011
quotequote all
please could you tell me your personal experiences / understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the esprit gt3 versus the other 4 pot esprits

is the turbo-lag particularly bad?
how does it compare in terms of reliability?
what are the running costs like ?
how often does it need a major cam-belt service?
what else should i be asking you that i have missed out!?

thank-you

Bibs_LEF

790 posts

212 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
is the turbo-lag particularly bad? - No, no worse than any turbocharged car, you learn to drive around it depending on what you're up to but it's an easy car to drive around in.
how does it compare in terms of reliability? - Very reliable, it wasn't the first of those engines that Lotus built!
what are the running costs like ? - For a supercar, very reasonable.
how often does it need a major cam-belt service? - They would last 100,000 miles no doubt but for engine preservation reasons, every 2 years or at 24,000 if it comes sooner, no longer than 2 years though. An independent will do this for £250-£300 or thereabouts, it's not hard work.
what else should i be asking you that i have missed out!? - Nothing more or less than any other car really, the GT3 was well sorted at Lotus had been making Esprits for some time. Just remember, it's not as fast as mine.

Pat H

8,058 posts

261 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
Bibs_LEF said:
how often does it need a major cam-belt service? - They would last 100,000 miles no doubt but for engine preservation reasons, every 2 years or at 24,000 if it comes sooner, no longer than 2 years though.
I reckon that 2 years is being unduly cautious.

Unless you are racking up the miles, then three years shouldn't be a problem.

Mine was last changed almost 4 years ago and will be done before the car is used again.



Bibs_LEF

790 posts

212 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
If I wait 3 years and it snaps, bending my valves and knackering the pistons, are you ok for the bill?

I'll stick to Lotus's recommendation, as per my post above! £250 for a cambelt change vs £5k for a new engine...

It's a precaution, all maintenance ideally should be done as a precaution but risk/reward on a cambelt doesn't stack up. I don't have to drop the oil 3 times a year and renew but I do, it's better for the engine. I'd not feel comfortable driving my car with the potential for a mishap that I could have prevented, it's not expensive.