Is this car worth it?

[BeHeMOTH]

I've always wanted a Lotus but don't want to spend 30K or more for a car, just to drive on weekends and such.

I'm talking about this car and I'm not to worried about something being faster.

CAR pic

 

[DannyLove]

Is this car worth it?

It could be, i dunno. If you want to buy it, go ahead and don't mind us AT idiots

danny~!

 

[BeHeMOTH]

I was just wondering if anyone else owned 1 of knew someone who did. I've only seen 2 in my life and that was in the 80's.

 

[MrBond]

That seems VERY cheap for a Lotus. I would definatly not buy it sight unseen.

Lotus kit car repicas were (and may still be) very popular. They were built on a Pontiac Fiero frame that was lengthend You could tell by looking at the frame itself on the car, you'll have to crawl under it. Besides, crawling under the car should be par for any vehicle you're purchasing. I never wear good clothes to a used car examination

 

[GasX]

The car is beatiful and fast and apparently pretty cheap.

The catch?

$1000 tune ups to start...

 

[geno]

30k? That's used Viper country baby!!

 

[MrBond]

Ok, did some research at weblotus.com.

The Esprit Turbo was only made from 1987 to 1992. The 1995 model was the Esprit s4. The Turbo, cost 31,000 pounds (~$44,000 today) new. There isnt a price listed for the S4. If thats a Turbo, it isn't a 1995. You could check the VIN, and I'd advise that.

I thought the lotus' were much more then that. Oh well, I guess you learn something new every day

 

[SuperGroove]

CAR magazine actualy did a report on the prospects of buying a used Lotus. It was sort of a comparo between a used Acura NSX. Anyways, the bottom line was that it was a FANTASTIC car, but it required too much maintenence. The Acura NSX was deemed more reliable, but with an all aluminum body, it would be worthless buying one in poor condition (i.e, body damage).

Cool car if you can get one. Even better if you can afford the $1G+ tuneups. At the time, the Lotus Espirit had the highest output for a production 4-cylinder car.

 

[BeHeMOTH]

I was just wondering if anyone else owned 1 of knew someone who did. I've only seen 2 in my life and that was in the 80's.

I'm really looking at a 91 but the 95 was in my range.

 

[atom]

Just a note: The esprit has been turbo for over a decade. 1995 most definitely had a turbo option. It had 264 HP from a 4 banger since I believe 1989 or 1990.

A lot of car magazines gripe with the Lotus in the early 90's was with the turbo 4 banger engine that "didn't feel right in an exotic", according to them. I believe in 96 or 97 they changed from a turbo 4 banger to a twin turbo V8.

 

[BeHeMOTH]

yea now they have a twin turbo v-8 but they also cost 60K I could handle the 4 banger around here.

 

[Emulex]

they still have a 4 banger! I saw one driving around, I think its called the elyse or something, looks more like a convertible miata, but 10x better. Didn't appear to be all that fast though.. it was brand new with some dealer plates, i saw it about 30 miles north of atlanta.

 

[Dunbar]

Don't buy it just because it's a "Lotus." Those cars were way overdue for an update at that point (and probably still are.) The turbo 4 cars were like a 20 year old design and use a 2.2L Chrysler engine. They had to put an airbag in them so they stuck a Bonneville steering wheel. I know they didn't sell worth a damn and listed at like $70k. I would highly recommend a 90-91 NSX, a much better car in every respect.