Nellie

Thanks Steve, I don't have the EVAP system on my car so one less issue 😊 The handbrake cable might be a good call, thanks. Fully prepared for the nuts and bolts fun as already stripped the suspension some years back and had immense fun! 😤 Thanks Mike, I have the service manual so should be good on that front. Just found Pancho's video the other day on his engine rebuild and saw the IMS upgrade so will likely do that, just got to get the jig made locally 😊 Will check the clutch, I should really reface the flywheel as well thinking about it 🤔 Turbo's are good as were refurbished and uprated the year before I stopped using the car in anger so hoping they have held up well Thanks for confirming the fuses to remove 👍 Cheers All Nellie

Hi Everyone, A little while since I have posted on my Esprit as its sat in storage for a few years whilst I wasted money on racing 🤣 I am re-commissioning the car and have a few jobs around the engine so am planning to remove it. The plan is to address the following: Full engine out clean of engine bay and engine itself Replace the turbo oil cooling lines Full service and timing belt change (inc all new pulley bearings and water pump) Remove cams, clean and check all tappet buckets Address 3 broken exhaust studs Replace the exhaust heat shields - cracked Ceramic coat the exhaust headers Refix oil dipstick tube (Bolt sheared somehow in head cover Lower oil seals - I have a leak from somewhere Will endoscope all the bores Remove sump and check strainer fixings and maybe inspect big ends (or replace them) Remove the fuel tanks and check condition and refurbish them Replace fuel lines (20 years old now) New Engine and Gearbox mounts On top of this I am considering uprating the gearbox to the single piece primary shaft (undecided at the moment) The engine is strong and has not lost any coolant other than a recent leak developed on the aluminium pipe in the front N/S of car which is weeping (Will also replace) So my query or advice I am after from the expertise in the forum: Is there anything else worth checking/replacing whilst the engine is out? I want to compression test the engine before I remove it to check compression - Which relays do I remove to stop the fueling when cranking the engine? Can I remove the big ends without having to remove the full crank? Is it worth removing the injectors and getting them cleaned/checked? Thanks in advance 😊 Nellie

Only the Esprit lives in the garage, the Emira is a daily for me and currently not garaging it. The Esprit fits thru the garage door with no issues, not sure on the Emira as not tried it. Chose a similar colour as I like metallic red cars, most of my cards have been this colour 😎 I think it is the angle and the fact it had started raining again when I took the picture. The Esprit Ruby Red is slightly lighter in colour than the Magma Red so that might also play a part in the image.

Well the sun was shining when I started cleaning them but here is a side by side of the Esprit in Ruby Red and the Magma Emira. I was surprised at how much lower the Esprit is against the Emira.

My Magma lady, the sun was out so had to stop and capture her beauty 🤣 Every journey seems to take longer than before, cannot think why 😏 Nellie

Hi Bibs, It just feels so balanced and easy to drive 🙂. The cabin is so much better put together than other Lotus I have been in and a significant step up in build quality than the Esprit I still have, comfort is amazing the seats are so comfortable. The steering is weighted perfectly and with the touring spec suspension handles the bumps (More Potholes than bumps) in its stride, working under the 4K rev limit I cannot talk for outright performance at the moment but even with this limit it still gives a grin - Hope to do Lotus trackday at Silverstone in May so will talk more after that about its performance. Having modern tech and dash gives a nice user experience, the KEF stereo is awesome (Albeit I prefer listening to the Exhaust in Sport mode) and both Android Auto and Apple Carplay are available, being an Android phone user it gives me Google Maps which I prefer over most OEM Sat Nav's for accuracy and ease of use. About the only downside I can see at the moment is the lack of storage so touring will require some planning on bag sizes and contents, more on the wife's side than mine 😜 Lastly it just looks gorgeous no matter which angle you view it from, and when you are out and about it gets so much attention Annoyingly the Shell garage today asked if it was a Ferrari 👿 🤣 Hi Jon, I took the Gap insurance provided via Lotus which was £499 for 3 years Nellie

Well its been a long time coming - deposit made on 8th July 2021 However I picked up my Magma Red FE from Lotus Silverstone on 31st March. Spec is: Touring Chassis Goodyears Lower Black Pack Privacy Glass Scorpian Tracker Black Leather Interior and Steering Wheel Extra: Front Xpel PPF fitted by LCS ahead of collection, took Maint Plan, Paint and Gap Insurance Had to pick it up in the rain but hey ho, its a daily driver anyway so I expect it will see worse in the years to come, now running up the first 1000 miles. Have managed 130 so far locally running out the family in it. Will post some more detailed pictures when the weather improves.

Placed my deposit on 8th July 21, not as a result of Goodwood but more because I dithered and then went for it. Just done check out so waiting on delivery date. Magma red to go with my Ruby Red Esprit V8.

Well I received the priority showroom tour email, disappointed that Lotus Silverstone were not one of the dealers, however have booked a later date with them on 2nd November to see the car Not bothered about have to pay another deposit if this is the process, as long as the promised configurator and prices are released beforehand. Frustrating to have to wait so long to see the car in the flesh having paid a deposit, this is versus the Porsche experience for the GT4 which is also pulling at me! however I want a Lotus to keep the Esprit company in the garage 🤣

Been a while since I posted, but I am another satisfied customer Had been with Hagerty for 10 years with an ever increasing premium, today made the shift to AIB and got a 40% reduction on my renewal with slightly better coverage as well 😀 Really please with that and how easy it was to deal with them Nellie

Hi everyone, Has been a while since I have posed on here As per title really, have done a search of the forum but cannot find anything relating to usage Has anyone fitted a 6 speed box to their V8, if so how have they found it in use Looking at the layout and the fact its straight cut does anyone know if it possible to automate its sequential operation via a powered solenoid? I ask this because on my race bike this type of gearing can be shifted flat open throttle via a momentary cut in the ignition and there are kits for bikes to add a powered solenoid for push button flat gear shift Would be an interesting conversion to carry out on the V8 Any feedback on the box would be interesting Will be dropping GTO an email to see what they say also Nellie

Great post this one, Dave, pretty please lots of photo's when you take the body off, will be good to see where the fixings are as thinking of restoring my chassis in the next couple of years Nellie

Hi All, After over 18 months with my car off the road I am nearing the goal of my '99 GT being back on the road. Unfortunately the last hurdle was to get a 'B' service and the cam belts changed as it has not been serviced for 2 years whilst not in use. I have enquired at the new Lotus Silverstone only to be told they do not service Esprits!!! Can anyone recommend a good Lotus garage/specialist near Milton Keynes that supports the V8 Esprit. Thanks to all in advance Nellie

Looks like an intersting engine combo for an esprit, and supercharged to boot!! Can't wait to see how this project progresses. Nellie

I have only managed the grand total of 112 miles in 2009 . Spent most of the year on axle stands as I refreshed the rear end chassis of the car and its still on them as I now carry out the front!!! Still will get a good full years use this year with a nice load of mods done!! Nellie