Anyone else on this forum has Lotus Esprit ?

slay

Member
Messages
409
I am officially obsessed with older cars I think !
Bought a 1994 UK spec Toyota Supra back in December last year, and my man math convinced myself to buy a Lotus Esprit S4S (see a few photos attached)... Given the low interest rate environment, uncertain economic outlook, there really is no benefit of having cash in any saving account !! So, what did I do? I convinced my wife that it is better for me to buy a classic car - investment and enjoyment all rolled into one, and she agreed with my man math logic !

The trouble is that I now have to find a reliable car storage facility to store both my Supra and my Esprit S4S...

Anyone else done anything as impulsive? Well, I have always loved the wedge look of the Esprit, such a British icon.

Has anyone here got an Esprit in addition to you Maserati and Ferrari collection?
 

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Andyk

Member
Messages
61,039
I had a G plate Eprit Turbo and drove it everyday back in 1995 and it was fabulous. It had 96k on the clock and never let me down in 2 years. The S4S is regarded as one of the best Esprit and underrated as the V8 is the one most go for. Stunning car still. Enjoy....
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Was my dream car was going to buy one before the TVR but was utterly disappointed when I took one for a test drive.
 

slay

Member
Messages
409
Well, I wanted an Esprit just for the way the car looks... hopefully the S4S should be fine given the glowing reviews from various motoring journalist. Was actually going to get a V8 (listed on eBay) but someone bought it without any inspection??? (Either very brave or really knows the car), but decided that it was too much of a risk given many people on lotus forum had similar issues with the engine and resulted in 15k rebuild cost. So, given that I already have the best sounding V8 on this planet... thought S4S was the way to go, especially when I found out that there wer only 64 RHD made for UK.
 

slay

Member
Messages
409
I had a G plate Eprit Turbo and drove it everyday back in 1995 and it was fabulous. It had 96k on the clock and never let me down in 2 years. The S4S is regarded as one of the best Esprit and underrated as the V8 is the one most go for. Stunning car still. Enjoy....
Do you still have it? If not, how long did you have it for?
 

slay

Member
Messages
409
Was my dream car was going to buy one before the TVR but was utterly disappointed when I took one for a test drive.
Well, hard to beat a TVR on driving experience... what model did you drive and what was disappointing ? Performance? Handling ?
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
That’s why I wanted one too. It was a yellow S4S I drove.

I really hope it was just a duffer. clutch was ridiculously heavy, gear change was terrible, I was terribly disappointed.

I really should have gone and drove another but bought the Tuscan which I really didn’t like!
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
My dad wanted a V8 Esprit while I had my Elise, but convinced him a S4s was a better and more reliable buy.
He bought it around 2005 and sold it to my brother in law around 2012, who still has it. Although all that time it has just sat in a lockup, unused.
While my Dad had it, it was to be honest a money pit.
Cracked exhaust manifolds, new turbo, delaminated flywheel, steering rack, ac failure, dampers, gauges falling out of instrument cluster, abs wheel sensors....
He did offer it to me, but I passed and bought the Maserati!
 

Lavazza

Member
Messages
1,060
I always liked the Esprit, but watching Harry's Garage moved my interest to another level.
I've had a few relatively impulsive purchases, including an S2 Land Rover and a Fulvia. But the bigger value stuff is a bit more problematic, reliant on sales first (hate selling cars).
 

Lavazza

Member
Messages
1,060
My dad wanted a V8 Esprit while I had my Elise, but convinced him a S4s was a better and more reliable buy.
He bought it around 2005 and sold it to my brother in law around 2012, who still has it. Although all that time it has just sat in a lockup, unused.
While my Dad had it, it was to be honest a money pit.
Cracked exhaust manifolds, new turbo, delaminated flywheel, steering rack, ac failure, dampers, gauges falling out of instrument cluster, abs wheel sensors....
He did offer it to me, but I passed and bought the Maserati!
I don't think Lotus are any worse than Maserati in general, and usually much simpler. I guess they're like a lot of cars, keep on top of maintenance and they're fine, but neglected maintenance ends up costing.
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
I am officially obsessed with older cars I think !
Bought a 1994 UK spec Toyota Supra back in December last year, and my man math convinced myself to buy a Lotus Esprit S4S (see a few photos attached)... Given the low interest rate environment, uncertain economic outlook, there really is no benefit of having cash in any saving account !! So, what did I do? I convinced my wife that it is better for me to buy a classic car - investment and enjoyment all rolled into one, and she agreed with my man math logic !

The trouble is that I now have to find a reliable car storage facility to store both my Supra and my Esprit S4S...

Anyone else done anything as impulsive? Well, I have always loved the wedge look of the Esprit, such a British icon.

Has anyone here got an Esprit in addition to you Maserati and Ferrari collection?
My mate has an orange gt3 and an Evora another has white Europa Se (as seen in my avatar). They swear by them.
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Not an esprit but Elise - funnily enough had an interesting Lotus moment today! First thinking is faulty fuel pump.....

75643
 

tundra verde

Junior Member
Messages
30
Had 2 lotus excels way back and never had any issues. Also had TVR Tuscan and wasn't the car that last owner said it was,nothing but issues with it.....
 

Rwc13

Member
Messages
1,668
I have been lucky enough to have owned S1, S2, S3Turbo, SE Turbo and V8 Esprits. With regular maintenance they were always totally reliable. They were all very special, but the V8 I owned twice, it was wonderful, and I still regret selling it. Would love another if only I could manage the clutch.
 

slay

Member
Messages
409
Wow, you are lucky to have owned all these Esprites, good to know as they must have been special enough for you to have owned all these iterations of Esprites. It was an impulsive buy for me, but hey you only live once. This one I bought was owned by a lotus enthusiast for 17.5 years, very very well looked after, so hopefully I will be able to continue the tradition and look after the car for years to come. As a matter of fact, buying these cars (including our beloved Maserati’s) from forum members have to be one of the better ways to find a well cared for example.
 

Rwc13

Member
Messages
1,668
Have you found a good local Lotus Indie? I was lucky enough to find one in Hazel Grove just 5 miles from where I lived at the time run by a guy who turned out to be the father of one of my work team. He was brilliant and reasonably priced. And I presume SJ Sportcars still operate in Devon to supply original and pattern parts for all the Esprits. I completely restored my S1 and S2JPS with the help of these guys.

I keep thinking about buying another just to own one even if I might drive it very little. We will see. They are an even rarer thing here in Portugal
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
My mate has an orange gt3 and an Evora another has white Europa Se (as seen in my avatar). They swear at them.

Fixed that for you ;)

Seriously though, I must have read the Esprit Sport 300 review in Performance Car 100 times. Peter Stevens did a bang up job on the Esprit.
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
Fixed that for you ;)

Seriously though, I must have read the Esprit Sport 300 review in Performance Car 100 times. Peter Stevens did a bang up job on the Esprit.
Thanks Zep!! Thats taking the moderator role to a new level. They swear at them too for sure.
 
Messages
308
Hi Stan,

Hope all is well with you...

Congrats on the purchase of the S4S!!!

Assume from the pictures you posted, you got it from Paul Clugston in Kent...

As you know, my Lotus fascination is huge!!

I had a S2 JPS and it was great even though I wish I could have balanced carbs myself! I only got rid as I got a north of £50k offer for it I could not refuse..

My father in law has had a mustard yellow S4 and they are awesome cars...

Yes, you must be prepared for sh*t to go wrong but the upside is a wonderful ownership and driving experience...

I have been looking for an Orange GT3 for some time.. I always wanted one after I read the John Barker GT3 launch article in Performance Car magazine in 1996 (still have the Mag)..

Re impulse purchases, yes I have made quite a few but as you know, I am lucky to have the space to store them!!

Hope the Strad is keeping well.

Stu