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Mark Rigby's 2001

Mark Rigby from Dalgety Bay, Scotland owns a 2001 V8-GT in Pearlescent Black, with a Magnolia interior.

Model:

V8-GT
Year: 2001
Colour: Pearlescent Black
Interior: Magnolia
Driving Style: Normal
Miles per year: 8,000 - 10,000
Owned Since: 2008
Purchase from: Private Sale
Serviced at: Murray Motor Company, Edinburgh
Other Cars: Volvo XC70, Mercedes SLK230, Kawasaki Zephyr 1100
Previous Lotus': See Below
Why an Esprit: I'm old enough to remember the original concept from 1972 and when it was launched in '76 that was it, I knew I had to have one. My itch was scratched in October 2005 when I bought a 1998 V8-GT. I ran it for two and a half years, put over 20k miles on it, before losing it on black ice in January and writing it off. I'm a glutton for punishjment and 4 months on I've got another one.
Upgrades: Factory fitted rear wing, round light conversion, federal exhaust and valence plus the AP brake upgrade.
Problems: None so far.
Info: I took the opportunity at the C service in mid 2013 to do a load of preventative maintenance - new turbos, wastegates, oil pipes, brake discs all round, rear brake upgrade, brake lines, back box and sundry other bits. I also had the wheels and seats re-furbished, going for the Final Edition quilted design.

  

  

 


Previous Esprit: 1998 V8-GT in Titanium, with a black interior

Model:

V8-GT
Year: 1998
Colour: Titanium
Interior: Black
Driving Style: Normal
Miles per year: 8,000 - 10,000
Owned Since: October 2005
Purchase from: Private Sale
Serviced at: Murray Motor Company, Edinburgh
Other Cars: Vauxhall Omega 3.0L MV6 (mine), Vauxhall Agila (hers), Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 (definately mine)
Previous Lotus': None
Why an Esprit: Been a fan since I was 12, when I first saw the Lotus/Ital prototype in a magazine. Resolved to own one since I first saw an S1 when I was 16. Unlike others, it wasn't the Bond movie that got me hooked - I always believed he should drive an Aston Martin. I've been following the Esprit's development studiously (my wife would say fanatically) over the years and after several months of looking/test driving I finally scratched this 30 year itch late last year. I have not been disappointed.
Upgrades: Round light rear panel conversion
Problems: Front wheel camber woefully out when I bought it. New alternator - replaced under (private) warranty. Split nearside oil cooler (corrosion). Replaced the whole circuit. Leaking R/H turbo coolant return pipe. Replaced the whole circuit - all badly corroded. Stone chips - front end respray on the cards this summer.
Info:

 

 

  

  

mark.rigby@uplandconsulting.org

 
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