The Lotus Esprit was launched back in 1976 as a two-door sports car with a rear mid-engine layout. Designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Esprit was in production for nearly three decades till 2004. Despite its long production run, only 10,675 units of the car were ever produced, making it a highly valued sports car for collectors. The Esprit became more popular after getting featured two times in a couple of James Bond movies. The iconic white Esprit that was converted into a personal submarine for one of Bond films, codenamed Wet Nellie, was bought by billionaire Elon Musk in 2013. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the points you must know before buying a used Esprit.
- Check for any faults in the bodywork
- Check the cooling system
- Check the engine’s 6,000-mile service record
- Check for white turbo smoke
- Check the chassis for rust
- Check if the electric mirrors work correctly
- Check for steering rack leaks
- Check the pop-up headlamp mechanism
- Check the power window motors
- Check the interior
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10. Check for any faults in the bodywork
Like a few other sports cars from that era, the Lotus Esprit also has a fiberglass body. While it is lightweight and doesn’t have the chance of rusting, they are easily damaged. Fixing them requires some hefty prices along with difficulties as well. Do check for any faults in the bodywork of the used example.
9. Check the cooling system
The engine cooling system of the Esprit is known to throw a snag or two at times. The mid-engine layout of the Esprit meant that the cooling system including the fans was under stress almost every time. And the efficiency of the cooling system drops quicker than average.
8. Check the engine’s 6,000-mile service record
Make sure to check the 6,000-mile service record of the example while buying. Also, ensure that the car has been serviced by authorized dealers or an expert individual since the motor requires precise torque settings as well as general settings.
7. Check for white turbo smoke
While taking a test drive of a turbo model, check extensively for white turbo smoke. If the vehicle has been sitting for too long, chances are that the turbo wastegate would be seized. As such, driving harshly can result in over-boosting the motor.
6. Check the chassis for rust
While going for a model earlier than 1981, do check for rust on the chassis. Galvanization was offered from 1981 onward and non-galvanized chassis are prone to rust over time. Lift the car and check for it thoroughly.
5. Check if the electric mirrors work correctly
The Lotus Esprit features electronically adjustable ORVMs. While the motors are durable, they tend to fail at times without any specific reason. And sourcing a replacement might be harder than usual.
4. Check for steering rack leaks
Both the power-steering and normal steering-equipped models of the Esprit have an issue with steering rack leakage. Due to the leakage, the steering system might fail while driving or it can be extremely hard to steer the vehicle. Do check for any leakage in the system.
3. Check the pop-up headlamp mechanism
The pop-up headlamps are one of the prime attractions of the Esprit, and we still cannot get over them. However, the system requires some extra motors to operate and motors do go bad with time. While inspecting, check if the mechanism works flawlessly. If not, either there might be a problem of water clogging within the motors or they would need replacement.
2. Check the power window motors
The power window-equipped models of the Esprit are known to face failures with the power window motors. If the motor fails, finding an original one might prove quite hard. And the motors aren’t cheap either.
1. Check the interior
This goes without saying that the interior of the Esprit requires good scrutiny. With that, you might spot any bad surfaces or worn-out leather bits that might need trimming or refurbishing.
