Which is more expensive to run? 4 vs. 8

[Riddlemr2]

I can offer only anecdotal evidence having been a member of a Lotus club in South Florida with both V8 and SE/S4 Esprits. In my experience, I found myself complaining that my fuel tanks had to be replaced or my ABS was faulty which worked out to a few thousand here and there, while the V8 guys were having transmissions reworked or unknown electronic gremlins fixed for double and triple that. I also noticed that V8 owners have more money to spend than us poor 4-cylinder folks, and they more often choose to exercise that privilege

[kyliesmith.com]

I dont think people can measure this properly unless you have had each car for say up to 50,000miles each and compared notes. Saying a car has never let you down in two years and perhaps replaced the odd tyre is not representative IMO. Also everyone has their own flavour in looking after their cars. Some people have the attitude if it aint broke dont fix it. And others are perfectionists replacing partially worn parts and keeping car mint generally, hence more money thrown at it. How you drive the car is also a factor, tracks days or Sunday drives etc.

Long term I am thinking the V8.

Bigger more expensive tyres, more fuel consumption, more oil, recore of radiator more frequent than 4 pot for optimun cooling. 4 more cylinders to maintain, another turbo to look after. I would have thought this to be a no brainer, but interesting all the same.

[iainskea]

57 votes in, it's still neck and neck with the V8 slightly ahead by 86% heh heh heh

Iain

[wiseraven]

I haven't voted because frankly, I just don't know. I guess that the V8 can be cheaper, due to its newness, but then when things do go wrong, they tend to be more expensive. The 4 pots have to work harder to achieve the same performance, but they seem to thrive on it. If there was a "swings & roundabouts" option, I think I'd have voted for that!

As far as 4 pot owners modding more than V8's, I'd always assumed this was because the extra torque of the V8, coupled with the increased weight, took the gearbox pretty much to the limit of its reliability. There's no point modding your engine if you're worried about trashing your gearbox. Maybe if Bibs could sort out a huge discount on those sexy Hewland transaxles, there'd be a lot more V8 modding.

Phil

[Autocross7]

Sorry, based on vote criteria... I'm out. all the things I could say were said.

Just the same, I'll bet a V8 Lotus is a bit more friendly than a V8 Ferrari on cost! Hehehe....

Not that it is relevent.

Cameron

[iainskea]

There is most likely a good reason for this, but I note that there has been 60 votes, broken into 32 (V8) and 5 (4 pot). Does that add up?

This is how Thatcher got voted in...booo!

Iain

[CNH]

I have had this discussion with several people. I had to opportunity to chat at length with many 4 cyl owners. Some even became V8 owners, I knew an SE owner who traded to a 2000 V8 then went back to an S4s. We all had the same feeling about the V8's, That the 4 cyl's are more of a hobbyist/carguy's Esprit as they are much easier to work on than the V8 so will be much less expensive to many of us. Once some one asked us how long it took to take Jim Mcfadden's drive train out and I think with a couple of guys it took us about 4 hours. Not sure how long a V8 engine and tranny drop would take but it looks like very tight quarters. I have not yet been present during a down to the frame V8 Esprit disassembly or rebuild but it looks a bit more difficult than a 4 cyl. But as the V8 prices continue to drop in the USA they come into reach of a different type of buyer, the hobbyist that works on their own cars. Currently there are more V8 owners that send it out for service at a shop than DIY. I had been blessed to belong to a local Lotus club that many on the turbo list regard as many of the 4 cyl technical resources. I probably spent about $1500 or less in many years of SE ownership although the work done on the car was quite extensive and some of the parts were custom made like the Dave Cammack rear adjustable suspension links. I would hate to think how much it would have cost me if I had to send it out to a shop for upkeep and repair. I only know a few people who work on their own V8's. As the V8 prices drop to the low $30K more of the hobby guys will jump in. A lot of these cars are in the 30-40K miles and some are 8-10 yrs old. I look forward to chatting to the new generation of the V8 Esprit Guru's to enlighten rest of us.

As I said I have not really come across a large number skilled V8 hobbyist as opposed to the numerous 4 cyl hobbyist. So it would make sense in our area that the 4 cyl is the least expensive as opposed to the V8. A lot of people in the USA who pay 60-70K USD for a car is not really concerned about the cost of service and probably would not want to or have the inclination to work on their own car. Jim and I used to refer to people as wrenchers or waxers and others who don't even bother wash or wax their cars but have it detailed by shop. These people pay a top dollar for work done at the shop as opposed to those of us who are economy minded and opt for a 4 cyl. If I were better off financially I probably would have a V8 and not care so much what I spent on maintenece and repair to spend more time driving the car. But then again there is the theraputic value and piece of mind of working on car that is not the daily driver. It is a good hobby and I hope to get another Lotus soon that I can get my hands dirty with. This weekend I had to replace a cracked flywheel in my 1994 Tracer (what you call a Ford Escort) it was not nearly as enjoyable or relaxing as working on former SE.

[armynick]

I agree with the following:

1.The GT3s are older and parts wear out.

2. The GT3 probably do have more mods done to them, something that the V8s maybe don't need.

I've spent over

[CNH]

I've spent over

[Simon350S]

I've voted 8cyl as thats what I've got on me drive and they are proving very expensive to put right.....!!!

If you count whats in the dining room I've got 16 cylinders and 2 cars so thats 2 x V8's.....

crap....!!!!!

Simon