many thanks to Keith Barnes

[bigsi]

many many thanks to member Kieth Barnes for taking time out Saturday to check over an s3 esprit turbo for me over in Norwich.

Kieth spent quite some time checking the car over for me as I'm in south wales, he checked everywhere and under everything, the guy selling it was shocked when Keith got his overalls out and some mats and got to work!

Keith found some issues with the car but nothing that cannot be sorted.

these are the main points.

1: cracked windscreen , however the guy selling is now having a new screen fitted by a specialist it will take two days to be doe as it needs to be jigged in and held still, so thats one thing out of the way.

2: oil leak onto one of the struts or wishbones, I'm not too sure where but its nothing major according to Keith.

3: some spider cracks in the fiberglass, again nothing that cant be sorted out.

4: needs a few hours compounding and polishing/buffing and the interior needs a clean and a feed.

5: some wobble between 40-50 through the steering but this could be balance-tracking so a trip to a 4 wheel laser alignment will cure that.

so all in all not bad and not perfect

my biggest concern now is fitments.

as I'm am about 6ft 4" i will have to fix the seat to the floor or replace with a thin profile seat also i would have to skew the pedal arms and possibly get a boss for the steering wheel , yet I'm still not sure i will fit in there.

are there any other members here that are about the same size that fit in this model of esprit? I'm worrying about going there to get the car only to find out i will never fit even after the modifications, i need to be sure in my head that i will be OK.

so if anyone here can help or put my mind at rest i will be joining this community shortly! and looking forward to my first lotus meeting.

my plan is over the winter to strip the car down and clean it up powder coat all the parts replace bushings etc and then re-fit ready for the new year.

once again i have to thank Keith Barnes for his time and effort in making sure i get a good first esprit, it shows that this club has a good membership and an excellent knowledge base.

thank you again Keith it was most appreciated.

Simon

Edited August 7, 2006 by bigsi

[Tentenths]

Sounds very encouraging Simon

Why not bring yourself and your new car along to the Factory meet on 8th/9th October? It'll be a great opportunity to meet loads of ppl on here (inc. Keith), gain more knowledge about Esprits, as well as see your car's 'birthplace'. Should prove to be a truly memorable couple of days

James

Edit - Have you seen this thread?

Edited August 7, 2006 by Tentenths

[Bibs]

*Moved to motoring - The newbie section is for introductions*

[Loose Cannon]

Sounds like you need to see the car yourself first before making ANY commitment. Dismissing things like the wheel wobble is a recipe for disaster; yep it could be a missing balance weight, OR you could spend hundreds fruitlessly chasing a solution (as one owner had on some other Esprit forum I chanced upon last night)

[bramble111s]

Keith is great! Ive seen him in his overalls also, well done that man!

[bigsi]

with reguards to the height issue i guess the only way to show you is to put a picture of me next to my current car.

im standing beside my fairlady z32 short wheelbase tt manual as you can see im quite a bit bigger than her!

so you can understand my concern about fitting into the s3 g car, even after modifying it

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Simon himself is in South Wales (Cardiff area iirc)

Why not ask him REALLLLLLY nicely if he will let you try his car on for size?!

[bigsi]

Simon himself is in South Wales (Cardiff area iirc)

Why not ask him REALLLLLLY nicely if he will let you try his car on for size?!

thanks for the heads up i will pm him a msg with my number.

[Kimbers]

with reguards to the height issue i guess the only way to show you is to put a picture of me next to my current car.

im standing beside my fairlady z32 short wheelbase tt manual as you can see im quite a bit bigger than her!

so you can understand my concern about fitting into the s3 g car, even after modifying it

Simon,

My dad was 6ft 6in when the Esprit first came out and he had his first in 1989 after they bolted the seat to the floor. Believe me you will fit in, he was about 20 stone at the time (he's still 17 now and still fits in).

[Simon350S]

Cheers Mr Fish

All sorted, have made contact and Bigsi who will be popping around later this week to check it out.

For now this is my latest size increasing formula. Whatch think guys??

p.s. they are not bolted in yet so both original and elise seats can be compared for size and fit!!!

Simon

[bigsi]

many thanks simon, looking forward to popping over, gonna have a look for seats like that on ebay, i may find some, i hope!

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Looking very cool there Racey I've been tempted by the same dark forces myself in the past!!

[karluk29]

"off topic" LOVE YA FAIRLADY, its stunning

misses has a veilside supra, so see alot of 300's at jap shows, always love them