Esprit, should I buy one?

[ahg]

Hi,

I am thinking of buying a used Esprit anywhere from 1990 to 1994. I was wondering if it was possible for a student like myself to be able to maintain the car in terms of expenses.

I am buying it from the perspective of being able to depend on it everyday and with the hope of using it until 100,000 miles at least.

Are these cars even able to make it to 100,000 miles? If so, what kinda maintenance cost am I looking at every year?

I am just a student who has been taken aback by the looks of the car.

Any help/input would be appreciated.

thanks,

[Simon350S]

Welcome, have you had a search around the forum yet?

Theres been many of these exact discussions over the years including an engine life poll if IIRC

Take a good look around and if theres any specifics you want to know then post them up

Have fun reading

[ahg]

I searched around but didn't find such poll.

could you provide me the link?

thanks,

[CHANGES]

Hi , Buying an esprit isan adventure, BUT! it can be frought with dangers, this is especially so if you intend on using daily. The one you choose to buy will be very important and may have hidden faults also with age comes fiddley little problems which you must stay on top of , or everything will go south very quickly , They are also not cheap to maintain if done correctly. A lot depends on your disposable income, is it limited as a student ? Using it daily and putting on miles is not a problem with a well sorted and maintained car. some people do, But most have them as a second car, for fun days and special occasions . Being capable of skilled maintenance will save a lot of money and time in the garage. However remember this is a specialist car and undertaking work you are not familiar wilth could be dangerous and end up more expensive than having a pro do it. The choice is yours may you choose wisely :

[Kimbers]

I have to concur with Dave. My love of Lotus's goes back much further than many, but the reality is a little different to the dream. Don't get me wrong, the car is the most satisfying and charismatic car I have ever owned, but you have to be realistic about it.

You can't run an Esprit on a shoestring. Mine cost me £3000 to get right in the first year and was on it's way to owe me another £1000 a year on general maintenance. Lets not forget we are talking about a supercar here.

One of the most common issues we see with new Esprit owners is the lack of maintenance (like mine). Being owned by someone who bought it cheap (and lets face it, where can you buy another supercar, with the Esprits 0-60 from for £10k?), and then ran it on a shoe string.

As for running 100,000 miles, no problem, but lets not forget you are looking at a 16-20 year old car, even a low mileage one will be circa 50k.

The crux of the matter will be whether you get a good one, or a cheap one and whether you can afford the upkeep.

Please don't think I'm trying to put you off because it is, ultimately, one of the best cars ever made and reliable when looked after. But it's better for you to go into a purchase with your eyes open. Finding the right car and using this community can be the most satisfying automotive experience you can have. The Esprit instills a passion in it like no other car for me and though I have moved on to a smaller Lotus I still intend buying another Esprit at some point.

[Bibs]

My Esprit maintenance bills came to £14k last year!

* That did include a full respray and accident damage!

[Rich H]

I'm just about to take the plunge too. The guys on here are excellent and the advice is very sound.

I went to see CarlC on here for a chat and poke about his car, gave me a much better idea what I was looking at and about the potential problems and pitfalls.

Despite his dad's best efforts it didn't put me off!

Personally I don't see much on them that is individually that complex for a DIY mechanic or that hard to fix, it just seems to be extreme access issues for some bits and removing stuff to remove stuff to remove broken stuff on others.

Most of the bits are available still, you have factory support still and a good bunch of enthusisats to help you out - plus it'll do 0-60 in next to no time... What's not to like!

[stevensgk]

AHG, Where are you located. Ability to source parts and find a knowledgable mechanic can be an issue. I echo sentiments expressed earlier. I bought my Esprit 13 years ago with 18.5k miles. Engine rebuild at 50,000 miles ( not because it failed, (just because it was out due to leaky fuel tanks). It has cost me on average including the engine rebuild GBP3000 a year - maintained by a mechanic. Has now done 66k miles.

I also have a 5 year old Elise that I use as a daily driver and once a month on the track. By comparison, maintenance GBP500 a year. If you are on a budget, an Elise is a better option to start with.

Good Luck

[red vtec]

I have a 1988 turbo, and have not had any major expense, Most of the maintence is basic as the technology is old. Had it three years. But I did look at quite a few cars, and have a big fat wad of paperwork with it.

£500 on wheels and tyres (s4 with new tyres second hand, of here)

£200 having rear calipers refurbed (got money off when buying car)

£15 on replacement fog lamps from Lotus sale

£15 set of rear pads.

£15 sport 300 front lip

£30 on leather colour treatment

£5 on gear knob (ebay)

£40 on refurbing rear gear linkage (local bearing shop)

£5 on a new heater panel in Lotus sale

£150 on Hispec calipers, discs, pagid pads and hubs (pre owned, off here)

£70 on set of hubs from Lotus sale (spare set now!)

£10 on dissy cap and rotor

£20 on NGK plugs (off web)

£70 getting the A/C sorted

£10 new set of front springs off here

£10 on electric aerial

+oil and filter.

Due cambelt this year and possible a new rear box and having rear screen surround, cant rails and header trimed in leather (£150)

I have found the few issues I have had have been from previous owners making bodges. Most bits can be cross referenced, Get a manual and parts list and do the work yourself, you really get to know the car then.

.

Chris

Edited July 16, 2010 by red vtec

[ahg]

Thanks for the input guys.

I live in California and I see a lot of listings in the area. Most of these cars have less than 50k miles.

http://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/1782038015.html (not in Cali)

This is perhaps the only cheapest listing I've seen for a 1994 year car. Also, the only listing with around 70k miles.

What are your opinions of this listing?

[Simon350S]

Spent about £100 in the last year, and that's being generous....!

[Malc Holmes]

Get real!

Esprit does 20mpg at best and its going to be used as an every day car. Road Tax £210. Insurance, god knows how much for a student! Its going to parties, its going to be parked in dodgy areas, its going to be the victim of jealousy and petty vandalism, its going to be trashed in no time. Its just about the worst possible choice for a student!

Has nobody considered how the hell a student can afford a sports car of any kind? I had a bus pass, a bike and a Lada for the last 3 months of my 4 years and even that was way beyond my means.

If you love the Esprit you will wait until you an afford to own it without all the risks of student life being thrust upon it. Get a cheap heap and thrash it to bits. Save your Esprit passion until you are in a position to live the dream rather than turn it into a nightmare.

[Simon350S]

Malc. Get real....

Hows he going to fit in with the fraternity?

You just simply have NO idea at all.....

Kimbers paints the porpers picure but realistically we all know he's rich, richer than we can all ever imagine......

Students are the future, let's treat them with exotic kindness xxxx

[Malc Holmes]

OK, I'm an old fart (at 42), but a realist.

Come back after 1 year of Esprit ownership as a student and tell me how its all been fun and games and I will buy you several pints.

Of course if your flush with cash and not a 'typical' student, anything is possible. I'll still buy you a few pints though.

[Bibs]

That car on craigslist in an 88/89 carbed turbo and it looks hideous. It's not a 94 manufactured car, it may have sat unsold for many years but it's certainly a very early Stevens bodied Esprit.

[Günter]

AHG ..what's your background in terms of 'student' -or what type of studies does it mean ?!

Do you have got some sort of 'mechanic-service adjucations' in your past years ?

Ohh, and yes -you can do it , even as an student (as I'm) ...but it will not work if you have to go to an service station or Lotus dealer for every silly thing that goes wrong!

[richardvg]

As a student ,I had a really nice car , not quite a Lotus ( even though i would have loved one .It was just not practical.

Do yourself a favour - buy a Geo Metro , save the money and when you got a job - buy yourself a good one .In the mean time stay on the forum with us , you will learn very quickly what Lotus Esprit is the one for you .

Whatever you do , don't even think of that butchered / hideous looking one on the site - looks as though someone thought those lights look cool - they are gross and i would hate to see what else they got up to with that poor car.

richard

[ahg]

I am not rich by any means. I am just a medical student who won't start getting paid until 2 years from now.

Edited July 17, 2010 by ahg

[Paul C]

I am not rich by any means. I am just a medical student who won't start getting paid until 2 years from now.

Simple question then mate:

Will an unexpected $1000-$2000 garage bill ever be an issue?

These cars are easily capable of that at any time. Even the best esprit in the world with a full history etc can crack it's manifold the next day.

All packed up for a weekend away last month even my Elise went pop and has given me what will be no doubt a four figure bill.

If you have a means to be able to cover stuff like that after buying, and you are cool it may take years to pay off, then go out and buy one.

Truth is, if any of the guys on this thread had the option to be student age again, unattached, at Uni, going through a string of barely nubile girls while getting loaded and driving a supercar?

They would be: 'nah, thats not for me'

Yeah, Like *@*@ they would! (ok, i've met a few that might, but most would go for it).

It takes balls not to plan for a debt free sensible life ten years from now, who knows? you could get run over by a bus or stabbed for the contents of your wallet on your 30th birthday...

...Or, years earlier, popping a firey exhaust at the gates of the prom with a crowd whooping and a cracking girl in the passenger seat.

[simonb]

Buy an enthusiast owned car - it will at best be realistically priced, at worst slightly over market price. A sad realisation that the car is worth what it is worth, rather than what you have thrown at it, will make a well maintained car a good purchase.

a cheap buy might not be cheap over whole ownership period. If you cannot afford to pay full market price, you certainly will not be able to afford to maintain a "dog" (just make sure you dont pay "good car" price for a "dog")

[richardvg]

Paul C - when at uni , no car gets you laid - the guy with the initiative does that;

Dont want to harp on past - always had the girls.......never mind the car !

I still maintain AHG - dont buy what you dont know yet and rather save the tin - make a more informed decision ( technically speaking) .Make this your project /hobby and set target dates but dont go buy as if you were buying a ford or citroen small car.

richard

[Paul C]

Dont want to harp on past - always had the girls.......never mind the car !

Good idea, the past is gone and is confined to things we lament that we 'had'...

This guy is 'right now' and will have the car AND the girls!

Whats great about having one without the other if you can have both?

[Günter]

AHG ...if so, and you're ''only'' a medical student without technical background -forget it !

Medical studies , (especially on higher rated private universitys) are costly ...I guess you have enough to do to pay the bills after your first 5 years in business anyways -so keep it simple and as more as you safe money in the background nowaydays as more you will have later on (think it will even more work with 'costly attractive girls' if you have the *MD*-degree .. )

@Paul:

I don't know how it works ?! - I have the car ..but not the girl

..can build cars, but how the hell does it work with the girls -there must be more secrets within this type of machinery

Edited July 18, 2010 by Günter

[ahg]

Thanks for the responses guys. I think you are right. I am better off putting it off until I can really afford one.

For now I was thinking of settling with a used 1998/1999 BMW M3.

what do you think m3 a good option?

Edited July 19, 2010 by ahg

[DanR]

Before they're legislated out or US fuel costs match the rest of the world's what about some good old US v8 iron, or rather alloy these days. Even one of those US/Aus combos like the Monaro? Your roads and mechanics are virtually set up for them. Cheap to run and the exotic euro stuff will come. When it does you'll have a good comparisons back to those v8's.