Hello from Cambridgeshire!

[Mad Zero]

Hi! Just thought I'd say hello to all you lucky Lotus owners and get the embarrassing 'standing up in front of the class' introduction bit over with!

At 41yrs old I now fall into the category of 'to old to care ..just buy one!' because I'm fed up with dreaming! I've been a Lotus enthusiast most of my life because as a child our neighbour drove nothing else but Lotus cars, and I've been an Esprit enthusiast since watching The Spy Who Loved Me at the cinema whenever that came out. Over the years I've bought stacks of Lotus books (including most of the factory manuals) so I can speak fluent Lotus, but I've never actually owned one. My cousin has a 328GTB (you think Lotus' are troublesome?!) and his mate has an Esprit Turbo - this is the only Esprit I've driven for any length of time and I thought it was fantastic ..once I'd got used to the silly amount of BHP on offer.

My plan right now is to sell my beach buggy business, my CB900FA bike and Ford 4000 tractor(!) projects, and buy a rough/broken non-turbo S3 Esprit to renovate. If I wait long enough to be able to 'afford' a decent one it'll never happen so this way at least I get to look at it in my workshop every day and sit in it making 'vroom vroom' noises when the mood takes me.

Right well that's me - I look forward to meeting some of you guys and nosing around some cars that actually have their own motive power to spur me on with my shed! Lol!

Cheers, Buzz.

(Cambridgeshire, UK)

[iainskea]

Welcome Buzz - great to have you on the forum.

'sit in it making 'vroom vroom' noises' - as you say - lucky you didn't embarrass yourself

I always wanted a beach buggy - and one of those girls from the 70's in a bikini with a bottle of coke. The image has probaly changed now.

Iain

[USAndretti42]

Welcome to the forum, Buzz.

I think it may be cheaper to buy a good car that doesn't need renovation. These cars can cost a lot to fix up from a wreck. Several owners have spent more on restoring their car than they did to buy it in the first place.

Check out this thread on the costs of restoring

I'm not trying to put you off but I don't want you to get into something and regret it later. Decent cars can be bought pretty cheaply compared to other cars of similar performance so think carefully and research this site and Lotus Esprit World

[Simon350S]

Welcome to the forum.....

As said buying completed could be the cheapest option.... but renovation is so much more fun!!!!

Simon

[Bibs]

Welcome to the forum Buzz. Stick around and we'll help all we can and listen to the wisdom of these guys!

Good luck in your plans

[matk]

Welcome, S3 normally aspirated isn't that expensive you know, my vote too for buying a good runner.

[chats371l]

Hi Buzz

I am nearly as new as you to the forum and also to Esprit ownership as you having owned my GT3 for a total of 10 days officially. Also just as a thought (thought I do not know how much you are wanting to spend) if you are after a Giugiaro shaped Esprit that is a Non-Turbo then PNM Engineering Ltd (A Lotus Specialist on Lotus Esprit World contacts) they are selling this

Quote:-

1981 Lotus Esprit S2.2 ( Calypso Red )

Rare model S2 with 2.2-litre engine fitted, one of around 80 made. Galvanised chassis. Full respray. 6,000 miles since full engine rebuild, lots of history. Almost completed, for sale @ .............

[BC007]

Welcome Buzz,

Where abouts are you in Cambridgeshire?

[esprit350]

welcome buzz, hope you find the car soon

[cbclotus]

Welcome buzz ,great cars all of them .mike . s3

[Mad Zero]

Wow! What a welcome! Thanks guys - much appreciated.

Thanks to for the advice chappies, I know all too well the cost of working on these things - really I do! Unfortunately I'll not have enough to buy a decent roadworthy S3 and cannot justify a large outlay on one anyway (it's a toy right?) so I'll be going the 'steath' route and spending loads of money but in very small chunks - as long as I don't expect to realise a profit if/when I sell it, and I go into it with my eyes wide open I shouldn't be disappointed! Obviously I won't waste my time completely by buying anything too far gone though - I'll be looking for one that's just been un-loved or stored - the condition of the interior will be one of the major deciding factors as this would be the most difficult area for me to deal with myself.

There are a few other things in my favour (and don't think I don't appriciate your advice because it's all spot on guys!) - I have a fairly fully equiped workshop, a few connections at a local engine reconditioning firm and the ability to build engines. I'm also well versed in GRP due to my involvement with the buggies. The paint will cost me plenty though ...but at least I'll be expecting it to.

chats371l: Yes it has to be a non-turbo S3 but thanks anyway.

BC007: I live in Fordham.

iainskea: You don't pretend you're 007 in yours then...? What a waste!

Thanks again for the warm welcome people!

[BC007]

Hi Buzz,

I live in Milton, just outside Cambridge.

If you need any help or advice especially with a pre-purchase inspection it's worth contacting Gerald Turner in Newmarket (01638 661144). He's just down the road from you and a Lotus specialist with many years of experience. I know some other members on this forum use him and always comes highly recommended.

Brendan

[Mad Zero]

Hi Buzz,

I live in Milton, just outside Cambridge.

If you need any help or advice especially with a pre-purchase inspection it's worth contacting Gerald Turner in Newmarket (01638 661144). He's just down the road from you and a Lotus specialist with many years of experience. I know some other members on this forum use him and always comes highly recommended.

Brendan

Really? I never realised I was near a Lotus guy - I'll check it out VERY soon! Oh and next time I'm driving my bus through Milton I'll try not to clip your Esprit!

Incidentally, is anyone interested in a pilot scheme I have where for a very reasonable sum I can arrange to have Stagecoach busses not hit your cars? ....racket? ..what racket?

[BC007]

I bought my esprit from a lovely girl in Fordham about two years ago. Talk about small world!

So you must be one of the guys blocking up the High Street from time to time!

Brendan

Edited January 31, 2007 by BC007

[ansellb]

Welcome to the forum, Buzz!

I considered buying an Esprit with a tatty interior - but only until I got a quote from Lotus for a re-trim:

[Loose Cannon]

I'll be going the 'steath' route and spending loads of money but in very small chunks

I think that's called a loan.......just go get a good runner and enjoy it before you piss yourself off

Click me

[WayneB]

Good Luck with the car search Buzz

The Esprits are much better looking than any beach buggy!

But quite a bit more involving to work on.

[Fred Basset]

I can only to the comments about Gerald Turner, he's looked after my cars for 10 years now and is second to none.

We also have an active Club Lotus branch meeting near Peterborough on the first Wednesday of each month.

Regards

Fred

[Mad Zero]

WayneB: ..yes but I don't drive them just sell them lol! 'Wheeler Dealers' (boring Discovery Home & Leisure programme) built one up a couple of years ago - they're still showing it now if you're interested!

britten_mark: I hate you! I clicked on that damned 'click me' link, instantly fell in love with that S3 (it's in my bloody favourite colour too!), walked into the kitchen and asked the missus if I can borrow

[andydclements]

Hi and welcome to the forum, the one biggest piece of advice I can give is........

No matter how much experience you have with cars (believe me I had decades) take an expert along with you to a viewing or get them to go first. Preferably not the other way round. You'll have seen the car, decided it's perfect and no matter how many warnings anybody gives youll want it.

I've been lucky with the S3 (which isn't for sale yet as it has things I want to do first but feel free to look at it if you'r near Norwich to bench-mark others that are out there), lucky-ish with the Turbo I had seen the car before the seller had bought it so I knew the state it had been in and could understand just how much work had already been done.

I had a close one financially with the Excel, I managed to part-ex it for the Turbo at approx the cost of buying and getting it runnning & looking reasonable.

I wasn't lucky with the Europa. I thought buying something in good running order was a great idea, I subsequently found those minor issues were just as much work as a complete basket case and it will cost/ have cost many

[Mad Zero]

You'll have seen the car, decided it's perfect and no matter how many warnings anybody gives youll want it.

Have we met? That is SO me buying a car!

I'm kinda getting the feeling some of you guys have seen the newbie Esprit owner thing happen before then lol! Right, well I'd better re-think my strategy a bit then and maybe see if I can get myself into a position where I can spend more on a better car - maybe one that just needs the odd little finishing touch here and there?

Dear Mr Bank Manager, I wanted to buy a cheap car to work on as a project but these bigger boys at school have bullied me into....

[Mad Zero]

I can only to the comments about Gerald Turner, he's looked after my cars for 10 years now and is second to none.

Gerald gets my vote/trust/respect/money too Fred - I popped in to ask if he knew of any local S3 owners (I live 10mins from GST Performance) and was there ages while he took time out to talk me through a few key S3 Esprit buying points - it must've been my lucky day because there were two S3's sitting there (Turbo and n/a) so he could actually show me things on the car(s).

As well as taking my details so he could "ask around" on my behalf he gave me permission to ring him anytime, even out of hours, for advice should I be looking at a car for sale somewhere - TOP MAN!

[Fred Basset]

Gerald gets my vote/trust/respect/money too Fred - I popped in to ask if he knew of any local S3 owners (I live 10mins from GST Performance) and was there ages while he took time out to talk me through a few key S3 Esprit buying points - it must've been my lucky day because there were two S3's sitting there (Turbo and n/a) so he could actually show me things on the car(s).

As well as taking my details so he could "ask around" on my behalf he gave me permission to ring him anytime, even out of hours, for advice should I be looking at a car for sale somewhere - TOP MAN!

Told you . To be honest if it wasn't for him I would not have a Lotus, much as I love the cars I did not enjoy dealing with my local dealer (now departed).

We have a meeting next Wednesday near Peterborough, you'll be more than welcome. PM me for details.

Regards

Fred

Edited February 27, 2007 by Fred Basset

[sandwer]

Hi Buzz,

I live in Milton, just outside Cambridge.

If you need any help or advice especially with a pre-purchase inspection it's worth contacting Gerald Turner in Newmarket (01638 661144). He's just down the road from you and a Lotus specialist with many years of experience. I know some other members on this forum use him and always comes highly recommended.

Brendan

Hear hear - Gerald built my engine and serviced it for the PO in the days when Daytune was a name worthy of respect. His say so was the reason I bought it, and you'll rarely find anyone who knows more than him.

Rich