A610 Turbo for sale in next couple of weeks

If it didn't have the damage history and you invested the £1600 in a repaint as well as tidy up the interior ensuring everything was neat, tidy and working, you could be looking at asking £15k but I don't know if there are buyers at that level right now. As a quick sale you'd probably get £13k.

The reality is though that this is a project car and one with damage history so it depends on how much a buyer is bothered by the history. It's not categorised so that helps. The last damaged repaired car I saw went for £8K but prices have moved up since then so maybe you are looking at £7k for this one unpainted.

I don't believe well repaired damage on a classic car should be considered any worse than any other repairs but the reality is it still carries some stigma.

If the repair is good then I think £5k is a bit cheeky, this is after all an a610 but the damage is limiting your market.

[BIG_MVS]

Recorded in 13/03/1995, no Category against it as it was in the early 90's and they did not have that system then, so the good news is it will not be printed on the reg. book, so no need to have it VIC tested. It must have been a lot of damaged for them to write it off at only 2 years old......

Only two owners, current since June 2003.Registered in April 1993

Rare solid red, any more info contact me

Solid Red? Looks metallic to me?

its pearl red and it needs a new coat

Would have to agree. To have any chance of realising a five figure sum, I think a trip to Halifax is a must. It just highlights the crash damage right now. And many people just won't be able to see past that.

yes there seams to be some big money after A610's but lets not kid our selves nobody is willing to pay esprit turbo prices for gta turbo's thier loss

As an Esprit owner but only experience of an non blown V6 GTA I would have to say they are quite different cars, but you know that already. The Esprit is worth more money as its attraction is in the drama that goes with the looks and driving experience. Nobody would say a GTA or A610 isn't an attractive car or indeed doesn't have the pace but bottom line is that it lacks the theatre a little. The Renault is a cracking car and has the extra usability of rear seats and this is probably its downfall. If we look at Ferrari for instance then all the 2 plus 2 cars no matter how good they are, are worth less than their 2 seat counterparts. Imagine the Renault as a two seater and it immediately becomes a proper sportscar. Or imagine a 2 plus 2 Esprit, it just doesn't work the same. Anyone think of a 2 plus2 that is right up there in price? Even Porsche with their extra seats hut the delete button for the rears on their GT3s etc and it's not just a weight thing before anyone mentions that, it just makes the car feel a little more focused.

Trevor.

I don't believe that it's the 4 seats that hold back the value of these cars, after all, a 911 has "rear seats". In fact, I'm not sure why there should be any comparison to an Esprit other than using the acronym of LOTUS standing for lots of trouble, usually serious which could apply to any sophisticated performance car.

The one thing that holds prices back is the same thing that prevented buyers putting their money into them when they were new. And that is the close association with Renault.

Having said that, there is a following even in the UK now. The numbers of cars continue to fall so it is more difficult to buy one. Even harder to find a good one and poor ones can be expensive to restore.

In my eyes there is no equivalent to a GTA or A610. The A610 will always be more sought after even though the GTA has some attractive properties over its younger sister.

I can see a time when I would pay £20k in today's money for an A610.

We are not there yet but these cars are a unique piece of motoring history

Ahh Esprit's. More drama - I would agree (although a yellow A610 is hardly inconspicuous!). The Esprit is more brutal no doubt. The one I have at the moment is a 300BHP 2.2 chargecooled Turbo and the kick when (!!!) the turbo kicks in does take your breath away. It's a great looking car with the Sport 300/350 body kit and the noise is unbelieveable when it gets going (bag of nails on tickover). However, the A610 just feels such a great drive in comparison. The engine is so smooth and torquey, the gearchange sublime (I would never have known they share a UN1 when driving the cars) and you can take a couple of passengers in the Alpine too. I do love the Lotus and it is probably more of a 'supercar' but personally, I'd take the Alp every time for a great drive. I also fit in the Alpine and don't even have the seat all the way back!!

Nice looking Esprit. It can be difficult to summarise and get accross what your opinions of cars are and easy to pick up on one or two things in someones post. I do entirely agree that the Renault is a better every day drive being more comfortable and quieter than the equivelent Esprit. Also couldn't agree more about the gearbox.

Trevor.

Ahh Esprit's. More drama - I would agree (although a yellow A610 is hardly inconspicuous!). The Esprit is more brutal no doubt. The one I have at the moment is a 300BHP 2.2 chargecooled Turbo and the kick when (!!!) the turbo kicks in does take your breath away. It's a great looking car with the Sport 300/350 body kit and the noise is unbelieveable when it gets going (bag of nails on tickover). However, the A610 just feels such a great drive in comparison. The engine is so smooth and torquey, the gearchange sublime (I would never have known they share a UN1 when driving the cars) and you can take a couple of passengers in the Alpine too. I do love the Lotus and it is probably more of a 'supercar' but personally, I'd take the Alp every time for a great drive. I also fit in the Alpine and don't even have the seat all the way back!!

I have to say the Esprit has a sort of Lambo feel to the front end, some of the early body styling is a little kit car-ish for my liking, but certainly a more dramatic looking car. I have to say the later Esprit Turbos really do do it for me

[BIG_MVS]

I'd take the Alp every time for a great drive. I also fit in the Alpine and don't even have the seat all the way back!!

Now from my point of view you have hit the nail on the head right there. I have to admit I have been looking at other alternatives to the Alpine as I have been getting itchy palms for another car. Mainly due to the fact I have just gone through the 2 year ownership barrier which is the longest I have ever owned a car before. I would love a V8 and have looked at both the Marcos Mantis and the Esprit. Main issue is I can't fit in! No-where near The Marcos was the worst and left my dreams shattered. The Esprit I could kind of get in but my knees were around the top of the steering wheel Rubbish! The only other V8 I can think of for reasonable money is the Monaro but it's just too new and has no character.

The Alpine on the other hand has that in spades and I fit comfortably (I'm 6 ft 6 and have a fat gut by the way for those who have never met me) in it. So I'm keeping the old girl and looking forward to one day having an engine bay looking half as good as Mr Folly's

I'd take the Alp every time for a great drive. I also fit in the Alpine and don't even have the seat all the way back!!

Now from my point of view you have hit the nail on the head right there. I have to admit I have been looking at other alternatives to the Alpine as I have been getting itchy palms for another car. Mainly due to the fact I have just gone through the 2 year ownership barrier which is the longest I have ever owned a car before. I would love a V8 and have looked at both the Marcos Mantis and the Esprit. Main issue is I can't fit in! No-where near The Marcos was the worst and left my dreams shattered. The Esprit I could kind of get in but my knees were around the top of the steering wheel Rubbish! The only other V8 I can think of for reasonable money is the Monaro but it's just too new and has no character.

The Alpine on the other hand has that in spades and I fit comfortably (I'm 6 ft 6 and have a fat gut by the way for those who have never met me) in it. So I'm keeping the old girl and looking forward to one day having an engine bay looking half as good as Mr Folly's

If you excuse the terminolgy ......Helmet Bulges like those fitted to the GT40 ..........

6' 6" Jesus big man I never realised you were that tall your build disguises your height well trouble with the Alps tho' I've looked into it.....no bench seat fitment available

si21

The V8 Esprit is also a very expensive beast to keep on the road. I've seen a service bill for more than your A610 cost you to buy! No timing belt changes on the A610 for a start!! Whilst the V8 Esprit can definately be described as a bona fida supercar, it's running costs can reflect that. It also doesn't have that V8 grumble that the best V8's have. As with most Esprit's, it sounds a bit pathetic on tickover. Nothing like the fantastic sound that emenates from my mates 'Vette for instance.

And getting into the Alpine is definately like settling into my favourite armchair. The Esprit would be fine if the peddles were further into the footwell for me. There is a conversion allowing this to be done and you can also change the seat and get it positioned lower which also gets a bit more room. However, I can understand that you would be rather uncomfortable as I do struggle and have a job getting in and out (getting on a bit now, I even have a head full of grey hair).

I'd take the Alp every time for a great drive. I also fit in the Alpine and don't even have the seat all the way back!!

Now from my point of view you have hit the nail on the head right there. I have to admit I have been looking at other alternatives to the Alpine as I have been getting itchy palms for another car. Mainly due to the fact I have just gone through the 2 year ownership barrier which is the longest I have ever owned a car before. I would love a V8 and have looked at both the Marcos Mantis and the Esprit. Main issue is I can't fit in! No-where near The Marcos was the worst and left my dreams shattered. The Esprit I could kind of get in but my knees were around the top of the steering wheel Rubbish! The only other V8 I can think of for reasonable money is the Monaro but it's just too new and has no character.

The Alpine on the other hand has that in spades and I fit comfortably (I'm 6 ft 6 and have a fat gut by the way for those who have never met me) in it. So I'm keeping the old girl and looking forward to one day having an engine bay looking half as good as Mr Folly's

Thought I would just add my comments on this thread as the owner of a late 2001 V8 Esprit and a nice yellow A610.
The cars are very different in the way they drive which is why I like both cars.
After using the A610 I get in my Esprit and my first thought is 'Jesus Christ this thing is fast, plug in and pay attention' thats not saying that the A610 is not quick but the V8 Esprit has a power delivery that is quite frankly mindblowing. I say this as someone who sold a very well sorted 400 bhp RX7 road car that was set up for trackdays to buy an Esprit over a new Nissan GTR ( yes thats right I preffered the looks of the Esprit over the Nissan despite the GTR being such a good road car plus there is too much electronic control in the GTR and anyway as I say traction control is for wimps)
The costs of running an Esprit V8 are rather high and worse if a cheap-skate was the previous owner so like any high performance car they have to be looked after properly or somewhere down the line bills will be big.
The V8 has a flat plane crank which is why it does not have the V8 burble (which to some schools of thought the V8 burble is supposed to be sign of inefficiency)
When I get in the A610 after the Esprit my first thoughts are this is a comfy, nice place to be and the turn of speed is not dissapointing either just nowhere near what the V8 Esprit does. I can see myself keeping the A 610 as the Esprit will catch me out as I get older and slower in my reactions.
I can only conclude that they are both unique lovable cars with soul character whatever it is that sets them apart from hum-drum modern cars. Interestingly enough I bought the A610 in preference to a 2007 BMW M5 V10 because like the GTR you can not fault the performance it just doesn't have that certain something that these cars have.
I would also add that you really need to experience the Esprit V8 at least once in your life. Oh and I think that Alpine must have got first dibs on the best gearboxes over Lotus enough said there I think.

[BIG_MVS]

B1 RMA your back!

Thanks for letting me sit in your stunning Esprit (and it was genuinely stunning) and proving yet again another car is too small for me...

Are you waiting on membership now or not got your form in yet?