Well recently I've started to get the itch for a change from the Zed - I've had it for over 3 years. This always happens with me and cars, and 3 years has been a good innings.

 

I've always had a hankering for a Lotus Esprit but their prices were beyond me. From time to time when I thought I'd go for it - I was then worried about the maintenance costs!

 

So the other week I was discussing with my wife that with all the cars we had, the Zed,(mine) the Supra (hers) and the Nissan pick-up, there wasn't a family type car between us - something we occasionally need. Add to this we don't use the Zed or Supra for everyday use. Also the wife was intending to spend around 6K in modding her Supra.

 

So I came up with the bright idea let's sell the Supra and Zed and taking into account the 6K she wanted to put into her Supra, we should end up with quite a good sum to buy a Esprit and a decent family car.

 

So rather than have two great cars in the garage - we'd have one - the Esprit plus a family car!

 

Well she agreed!!! So I'm starting to do my research on Esprit. I'm looking at either an S4, S4s or a well sorted V8 (my favorite). So you never know my Zed may be up for sale in the next 6 months.

 

Thought I'd share that with you.

 

Geoff.

Think i know where your coming from,me too,but thats as far as i get,just thinking,could be the winter months ,not using it much etc etc,but yesterday did 100 mile round trip and realy had some fun,there sooooooooooooo bloody great to drive,sometimes you forget how good they are,and now with spring and summer approaching,tops off,shows,meets etc all thoughts of change diminish :slap: ;)

Tony

Yeh I know Tony when I drive the Zed I love it but I've always wanted an Esprit and now have a way of doing it - so we'll see. I'm awaiting some test drives at the moment so I'll have a clearer picture after I've tried some.

A few years ago I did test a V8 it stalled at a roundabout and refused to restart - they later claimed that the battery was flat so I only got a 5 min drive in it. It was damn powerful.

Geoff.

My mate test drove a new Esprit V8 TT and I was with him. It was nice, but bit of an old shape and that V8 has no rumble whatsoever.......something to do with the cams IIRC.

 

How about a Porsche?

James - there nice the Porches but there are so many on the road!

I love the shape of the Esprit especially the later V8's.

Geoff.

My 2 pence ;)

 

I love Lotus Esprit and is one of my favourate Sports car. I sat in a GT3 when I went to Santa Pod, and I was very disappointed in the inside of it. It just reeked of Vauxhall. The window switches where off our old Carlton, the indicator are the same ones of Novas as was the light switch.

The seat didnt move either. :(

It really ruined it for me.

I still love them, they look great but after that I would not get one any more.

 

However the V8 would be nice. :D

 

I have spoken to Phil at C&S Woods about them a few times and every time I can see him cringe and told Im better off with my Z.

 

Also who is going to pay for the most of it? I can understand sharing a family car because its used as a tool to get from A to B, but sports cars is a different matter. To me a sports car is something personal. My Z is my toy and hobby (That could be an idea for a shop ;)) and its not something that is shared well.

 

What ever you do all the best to you, but I would stick with the Z. Or swap with your wife a bit ;)

Geoff,

i love the esprit V8's too,

awesome looks and awesome interiors,

dont see hardly any at all , dunno how many are around?

Let us know what the test drives go like :-)

My 2 pence ;)

 

IHowever the V8 would be nice. :D

 

Also who is going to pay for the most of it? I can understand sharing a family car because its used as a tool to get from A to B, but sports cars is a different matter. To me a sports car is something personal. My Z is my toy and hobby (That could be an idea for a shop ;)) and its not something that is shared well.

 

What ever you do all the best to you, but I would stick with the Z. Or swap with your wife a bit ;)

 

My wife's not into swapping!!!! lol.

I know what you mean - I actually doubt she'll drive it that much. But in terms of paying for it - it'll come out of the sale of the Supra + ZX, kind of joint funds. Whenever we go out even in the her Supra she always asks me to drive!!!

Geoff.

Just did a quick quote for a Esprit V8 on the Tesco. net. How much????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£436.80!!!!

Cheaper than my Zed import and with a value of an Esprit 3 times more!!!

Geoff.

Sell her Supra, get the £6k she was going to spend on it and spend it all on your Z

What spend 16K on the Zed???? Stu, stu, stu.

Geoff.

If you have £16k plus yours, I dont think you can get a V8 Lotus and family car I dont think.

 

Put it one way. You are getting rid of 2 quite pratical car for 1 that is totally impratical.

If you have £16k plus yours, I dont think you can get a V8 Lotus and family car I dont think.

Put it one way. You are getting rid of 2 quite pratical car for 1 that is totally impratical.

 

Sale of supra + zed = approx. 17K, + 6k (that she was going to put into her supra = 23k

 

You can pick up a V8 for around 18K-19K - so 4-5K on family car.

 

The Supra can hardly take rear passengers. Our boys are big guys!!!

Geoff.

Whats the maintenance going to cost on that Lotus? I worked with a guy that had a used S4 then a new GT in the 97 - 99 time frame. Once on the way out of London after a meeting he got it up to 155 on the M40 (possibly M1). It was a nice car, but not really practical, it was making expensive trips to the dealer all the time and he lost about 50% of its value the first year using it as a daily driver. Fun car, more comfortable than a F355 but both are beyond my budget.

 

As for the GT3 comments, a GT3 is a track car. Its designed for a racing class not street driving. A standard 996 or 996 Turbo would have a much nicer finish and creature comforts. I believe most if not all GT3 leave Stuttgart without paint, only the white body moldings and perhaps some primer.

This the kind of thing you're after:

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=17420&s=11

 

They have some good Lotus forums on Pistonheads, might be a good place to ask some poinant questions. ;)

 

Good luck m8, after having had Elises I quite fancy another Lotus, mayle an Esprit next. Do remember that there is potentially a new Esprit on it's way, and I'm not sure how that will effect the residuals of the currant shaped varieties, might be worth considering.

 

Tim

yellow lotus esprit s4 turbo

best looking car ever made

 

steve

Saw a blue one on Sunday, Folkestone/Hythe area, looked the dogs dangglies!

Still like my Z though.

Good luck with whatever. (cars!)

Arthur

Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious

...I'm not sure how that will effect the residuals of the currant shaped varieties, might be worth considering.

 

Tim

 

don't worry, i heard that only the raisin-shaped models will be affected.

 

sorry tim, couldn't resist :)

Firstly mike

Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious

:xxx:

Hi Geoff I understand exactally where you are comming from I was lucky enough for a short period to own both an esprit and my zed. Now the zed was quick probably a resonable match for the esprit in a straight line however the esprit blows it away in road handaling it is just fantastic and as a result i sold the zed and now just have the esprit. As with the Zed there are gooduns and dogs out there so be carefull the haven for everything esprit is esprit haven As for your choices if you are set on a V8 then go for a late one but im affraid you can still be looking at 20k+ for a good one the engine note through the standard box aint that good but there are some fantastic aftermarket boxes with a great sound!! The S4s is a verry sorted model and wouldnt see you far wrong with a goodun One guy on the forum that we are setting up at the mo has had his 6yrs and not one problem If you want any more advice feel free to ask and i wish you all the best which ever way you decide to go.

 

Glyn

1986 G Esprit Turbo

Geoff, this is a girl I know boyfriend's website, you might like it!

 

http://www.unity1.co.uk/Lotus/index.html

Bugger me James his name is steve and he is the guy who is behind the forum hes doing a blinding job so far and is verry helpfull!!

Bugger me James his name is steve and he is the guy who is behind the forum hes doing a blinding job so far and is verry helpfull!!

 

You lost me there mate!?

Sorry mate was rushing a bit :nelson: let me try and make myself a little clearer The girl you knows boy friend Is Steve I mentioned that there is a forum similar to this being developed for the esprit and it is kinda his babby and it is also he I believe that has had no probs for 6yrs!!

Ah! So you now this guy Steve? I don't actually know his girlfriend but my mate does, he works with her. It all seemed a bit confusing to mention the connection......my mates friends, boyfriend etc....

Geoff - sounds like a great plan! I've always thought life is too short not to get the toys you want when you can afford them and er... sometimes when you can't. I'd be tempted to spend quite a few months trying various Lotuses (Lotusi?) as your initial budget doesn’t seem to leave a lot of "Ahh bug*er money" for when a wheel falls off.