| Author |
Message |
martin j weiner,M.D. (Mw575)
Member
Username: Mw575
Post Number: 935
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 5:21 pm: | |
Had a '76 Esprit-had a range of 30 mi before it overheated.Hated it and sold it 3 mo after buying it new.So never went back to the hot flame again.However I do know the recent ones have been improved significantly."Once burned-------" |
"The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member
Username: Mlemus
Post Number: 4580
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 3:12 pm: | |
Before getting my first Ferrari, I shopped for an Espirt.
I called Atlanta and found the Customer Service outstanding. You could talk to the president if you wanted to. They let you walk around the service and parts bay.
I learned that...
1. They will lend car specific tools to the DIY guys.
2. They often repaired items no longer under warranty for free.
3. the Lotus guys are very loyal, more so then Ferrari.
4. They are fairly cheap to work on compared to Ferrari.
My heart goes to Ferrari, but the wallet wanted a lotus.
Matt |
Tom RM (Tgitom)
Junior Member
Username: Tgitom
Post Number: 110
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 10:28 am: | |
Reliability is similiar to any other exotic, its not any worse and just needs to be kept up and still is not as expensive maintaining as a ferrari or Lambo. There are always a lemon in a group of cars, that news spreads like wildfire. Lotus is still a great looking fun fast car. Of course it has a few shortcomings but i would take one in a second! MSRP for new ones now is actually about 90 grand, but of course 03 is the last year for this current interation of esprits. Hopefully lotus will bring back a newly revised one in a few years....... |
Sean F (Agracer)
Junior Member
Username: Agracer
Post Number: 122
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 3:58 pm: | |
The Esprit is very reliable if you service the car like you're supposed to. Just like Ferrari's can be.
Only with a Ferrari, if you skip a service for a few months or 1000 miles, you'll be OK. ON a Lotus you'll just cost yourself money when the belts break!
This is why the reputation is so bad. People see them for $20K and think HEY, why not. Then they think they can drive them like Toyotas and just put in gas and oil or don't have the money to really take care of them. |
jake diamond (Rampante)
Junior Member
Username: Rampante
Post Number: 112
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 3:23 pm: | |
We've been through some of this before, unfortunately Lotus has been too long plagued by it's build quality during the 1960's and 1970's; take it from me they are relatively bullet-proof now. But alas, the Esprit has reached the end of it's rope (sniff,sniff).
Jake |
Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member
Username: Timn88
Post Number: 2981
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 3:14 pm: | |
the later ones, especially the V8's are more reliable than the early 90's and 80's ones. the weak point is the halfshafts and trannys. GM ownership of the company is responsible for this, and also that ugly GM airbag steering wheel. Im not too sure about servicing them though. Billy has a sport350 that is one of the fastest cars ive ever been in and i dont think its given him any problems. He did have a 6spd tranny put in and some other work done, so someone in the NE must service them. |
Ron Vallejo (Ron328)
Junior Member
Username: Ron328
Post Number: 127
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 3:09 pm: | |
Dave,
I said, "I may be wrong..." bec. I wasn't sure...hence my inquiry.
So, would a 2000-2001 456 & 550 prices parallel the depreciation of a similar year Lotus Esprit? (I haven't done my homework, so I don't know yet).
Cheers,
Ron
|
Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member
Username: Maranelloman
Post Number: 1472
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 2:15 pm: | |
Ferraris don't depreciate this drastically? LOL! Have you checked used 550 & 456 prices lately?? |
Kal (Suprakal)
New member
Username: Suprakal
Post Number: 19
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 1:06 pm: | |
I think the 1980's styling REALLY needs updating. While I have to honostly say (Ever since pretty woman) there is a gushy warm place in my heart for the lotus Esprit, for some people the styling is getting a bit dry. I have to admit tho that the mid engine sharp lined cheese wedge styling just does something for me that I can't explain. But yea not sure why they depreciate worse then just about everything I mean i've seen low milage V8 TT's go for the 40's...on ebay that is just NUTS! I wouldn't mind paying $15-20K for one of the early 90 4 banger turbos just to have it. Yum.
|
Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member
Username: Stickanddice
Post Number: 393
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 12:30 pm: | |
They have an awful reputation for reliability. The car simply does not hold up well at all.
Cheers |
Ron Vallejo (Ron328)
Junior Member
Username: Ron328
Post Number: 125
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 12:27 pm: | |
Absolutely one of the most beautiful exoticars
around. My observation is their price depreciate a lot even those which are a few years old, ie., 2000-2001 model with under 10K miles can be had for around $50-60K? I understand they sold for at least 75k brand new. I may be wrong but Ferraris don't depreciate drastically like this. Is there any particular reason? |