What To Buy - Se Or S4?

[88milesPerHour]

Hello from a Newbie!

I'm getting very close to being able to purchase my first Esprit. Woo Hoo!

I think a typical SE just about fits my current budget however is it worth hanging on and saving the extra cash to get an S4??

I believe the S4 would win on reliability and has the advantage of power steering. Is my research accurate? Are there any other pros or cons?

The other thing I need to check out is insurance. Any suggestions on this also?

Help and advice welcomed.

[Katie]

Hello,

Can't answer your questions specifically. I would just say that we had an S4 and it was beautiful, loved it to bits. I personally could not have imagined driving it without the power steering......but I'm not as strong as a bloke so maybe not having power steering won't bother you!

Just meant to say about insurance......we use Footman James for our Esprit. We found them on here as a recommendation quite some time ago. Proved to be very good.

Oh and welcome to the forum Biscuit

[cbclotus]

Hi Biscuit welcome also .good luck in your search ,either would do me LOL cheers mike s3

[chandrab]

I have a 1991 SE and don't find the manual steering bad at all - I'm no arnold schwarzenegger.

As far as reliability is concerned, I've had no problem at all...I don't think any of the 89+ Esprits (with GM electronics) have many reliability issues.

I've got an S4S chip installed...honestly, the car is so fast that I can't tell the difference between SE and S4 chip.

The 93.5+ Esprits have some improvements over an SE: better window switches (lol), dashboard, wider cockpit, bigger brakes and power steering.

SE's and S4 are 90% the same car in IMHO.

I think it comes down to looks...I personally prefer the look of the SE over the S4S.

-Chandra

91SE

[Loteuk]

There is a massive difference in the way the s4 steers to the Se. Not a lot in performance difference.

I think the s4 is a little watered down against the Se in looks but if there's a S4s that meets your budget then consider it.

Insurance with the specialists is cheap.

[Bibs]

Welcome to LEF Duncan - You're looking to buy at a good time, Esprit's are very cheap for what you are getting at the moment. Make sure you read up as much as you can on here and feel free to ask as many questions as you like.

Personally I prefer the look of the SE but of course it's up to you. You'll not be disappointed whichever you go for

[mayevora]

See separate thread on Insurance prices as well. Dependant on age and claims history, shouldn't be too high especially if put on a limited millage policy.

Welcome to the forum

[s4simon]

I'm not biased at all - NOT

Read this review from the LEW site and decide for yourself.

On the insurance thing - I use to be with FJ when I lived in London. Fully comp and agreed value use to cost me 198 pounds. But this varies with location and driver.

[wiseraven]

Hi Duncan, welcome to the forum.

SE or S4? Five months ago, I was making exactly the same choice. If you haven't already done so, check out the LEW models pages. They were an invaluable guide for me. Amongst other reasons, I chose an SE because it doesn't have PAS, ABS or airbags, but these may be the very same reasons why someone else would choose an S4. Choosing a car like the Esprit is much more of a personal decision than for your typical daily drive. It's a car to love and cherish, not just something that does a job.

There's no reason for the SE to be less reliable than the S4, on the contrary - without PAS, ABS or airbags, there's less to go wrong. Much more important than the model, age or mileage, is how well the car has been cared for - i.e. what is its service history (and perhaps more important, who did the work).

Come along to some of the meets and have a good look round the cars and ask as many questions as you like. We're a friendly bunch and you're sure of a warm welcome. When you spot a car you're interested in, post a message here and chances are there'll be someone near who'd be happy to come along to help you check it out. If you post details of the car, there's also a fair chance that someone here will know it and be able to fill in some of its history.

Happy hunting,

Phil

[rocket63]

Hi Duncan, welcome to the forum.

SE or S4? Five months ago, I was making exactly the same choice. If you haven't already done so, check out the LEW models pages. They were an invaluable guide for me. Amongst other reasons, I chose an SE because it doesn't have PAS, ABS or airbags, but these may be the very same reasons why someone else would choose an S4. Choosing a car like the Esprit is much more of a personal decision than for your typical daily drive. It's a car to love and cherish, not just something that does a job.

There's no reason for the SE to be less reliable than the S4, on the contrary - without PAS, ABS or airbags, there's less to go wrong. Much more important than the model, age or mileage, is how well the car has been cared for - i.e. what is its service history (and perhaps more important, who did the work).

Come along to some of the meets and have a good look round the cars and ask as many questions as you like. We're a friendly bunch and you're sure of a warm welcome. When you spot a car you're interested in, post a message here and chances are there'll be someone near who'd be happy to come along to help you check it out. If you post details of the car, there's also a fair chance that someone here will know it and be able to fill in some of its history.

Happy hunting,

Phil

No airbags on a UK Spec S4.

[russellbosier]

I bought an 89SE as it was the best example of any Esprit I could get for my budget at the time, which probably is more important than deciding on a particular model. No power steering is not a problem when driving, and no ABS is a very good thing judging by reports of the early ABS system. Simpler car should mean less to go wrong. I have had no problems at all.

The SE and early S4 brakes arent great, and worth upgrading. I have just done the cheapest upgrade, turbogroove front disks, green pads all round, and braided brake lines fitted and the difference even without being bedded in is a great improvement. I found S4 wheels made the SE slightly firmer than stock, S4s chip is an amazing improvement over stock in both power and smoothness, and decat and sports exhaust is great for more low down torque. Also a pre 92 SE will pass an MOT test without a CAT fitted. And the icing on the cake is I still only pay

[superdavelotus]

Go for the most expensive one you can afford. If you like both then go for the S4. I've owned a 90 turbo, 95 S4, 96 S4s and now a V8 GT. The S4 feels better put together and benefits from GM electrics etc. Power steering makes parking easier too.

Even down to door shuts etc, the S4 feels more solid. It also has a wider tunner as from the later highwings 93 onwards. Post 95 S4 has Brembo brakes but these are harder to find.

It's a funny thing regarding the Stevens model, when I bought mine, after while I wish that I'd saved up more to buy an S4 or later. But when you look back further to an S3, S2 or S1, the story is different. I regard these as more of a classic and purist's car. I know a few owners who have gone in this direction for their pleasures. Built quality gets worse but this is all forgotten because of the wedge shape design and heritage.

[SE Owner :-D]

Personally I prefer the look of the SE but of course it's up to you. You'll not be disappointed whichever you go for

Never a truer word said.

I have an 1989 SE it's a minter from what i've ever seen. Well looked after and my daily drive for over a year and has plenty of 'mods' with many more to come.

I agree with superdave too in that you want the most expensive/best you can afford at the time.

Throw away any preconceptions you have and buy one today - you won't regret it...

FJ on the insurance front too is also the way forward.

Welcome and maybe if you want to look at one let someone on here know i'm sure we can oblige.

Regards,

Rog

[Jonathan]

Has to be the best one you can afford, a good SE will be a lot less pain than a dogged S4.

S-Fours (not S4s) imo are best when they are the later ones with Brembo brakes and stuff - they came in about a year after the model's release (1994 M reg usually).

I would decide on a budget - save

[esprit350]

love my S4 had a choice of a cheaper but lower mileage turbo ( not se) 20k on clock stunning looking car but the S4 won me over even with 80k on clock drove better and felt much better inside switches etc and cost a bit more money as well

[88milesPerHour]

This is all great advice, thanks to everyone for their input. Time to start shopping...

[bzguy]

This is all great advice, thanks to everyone for their input. Time to start shopping...

Just quickly my opinion ...

I've had an 1990 SE for about a year, never regretted it for a second, enjoyed every millisecond of it, even when I had some problems !

Couple of weeks ago I had a 'chance-in-a-lifetime' opportunity to sell my SE and add a little extra to get an S4.

My experience :

- S4 is much more 'smooth', in several ways, especially the with power steering (this way my 1m58 and 45 kg girlfriend can drive it as well).

- S4 feels more 'solid', more modern in all ways

- SE on the other hand is more 'extreme', more 'drastic'

I prefer the S4, but that's only my opinion.

Whatever choice you make, you'll enjoy every second of it, trust me !

Just drive an SE and an S4 and feel the difference ...

Good luck shopping ! If you've found one, please let us know