View Full Version : Considering a Lotus Esprit V8 Twin Turbo.....opinions
All-Or-Nothing
08-07-2008, 07:34 PM
I have always liked the look but really haven't researched them as far as performance and dependability. Does anyone here have any experience with these cars. Anything to help my decision.
Here is a nice pic of one. (Not the one I have been looking at)
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g122/chrselmore/2924661_5_full.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g122/chrselmore/2924661_7_full.jpg
schulrog
08-07-2008, 07:57 PM
get an elise!!
All-Or-Nothing
08-07-2008, 07:58 PM
get an elise!!
Too small plus I love a V8 and turbos too
schulrog
08-07-2008, 08:12 PM
who cares lol that thing drives like a go-kart
This is one thread that frog could provide you with sound advice.
sanhonda22
08-08-2008, 12:24 AM
I have always liked the look but really haven't researched them as far as performance and dependability. Does anyone here have any experience with these cars. Anything to help my decision.
Here is a nice pic of one. (Not the one I have been looking at)
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g122/chrselmore/2924661_5_full.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g122/chrselmore/2924661_7_full.jpg
I think I like the Espirit more than the Elise also.
Leslierc
08-08-2008, 09:38 AM
Good reputation, solid "everyday" exotic!
Lanc3r
08-08-2008, 09:40 AM
This is one thread that frog could provide you with sound advice.
Had to happen eventually. :rofl:
Good reputation, solid "everyday" exotic!
HAHAHAHA
Where did this good reputation come from ? Lotus Exotic ? Maybe in the 80's :rofl:
L.ots
O.f
T.rouble
U.sually
S.erious
As far as British Car manufacturers, Nobel or bust.
Also the Esprit with a spoiler = older model, the last run of them never had spoilers
[edit] Parts
As with many of their cars, Lotus used parts from other cars to cut down development costs. Esprits before 1993 have many British Leyland parts and after 1993 have many GM (Vauxhall, Opel) parts. G Esprits have Citroën gearboxes as found in the Citroën DS and Citroën SM, while S Esprits (With the exception of the 1988 North American Market Esprit SE which still had the Citroën style gearbox) have Renault UN1 gearboxes.[8] The door handles come from Morris Marina / Austin Allegro and were kept until the S4 model in 1994 when instead GM Calibra door handles were used. Early models used a Momo steering wheel, later ones had the same as the Pontiac Trans Am. Until 2002 it had rectangular Toyota rear lights from the 1985 Toyota Trueno/Sprinter and RWD Toyota Corolla Coupé, later replaced with the same round light as the Lotus Elise II. The aerial mount and whip on the S4 and V8 is the same as the GM Calibra and Tigra. The side mirrors are from the Citroën CX. Non SE foglamps from about 1989 are GM Astra mk1. The fan motors come from the Ford Fiesta mk2. The alternator on the V8 models is a standard GM unit also found in the V6 GM Omega or the Lotus / GM Lotus Carlton which also provides many of the interior plastic fittings such as door handles and steering column. The clutch slave cylinder on the 98 onwards models is the same as a series 2A Landrover from Girling as is the master cylinder.[9] The front suspension came from the Opel Ascona. Front GT3 Brake Pads (Brembo) are the same as on a Fiat Coupe turbo or a Peugeot 406 3.0 v6.
bigscore
08-08-2008, 02:20 PM
Forward to the 2:40 mark
An expensive toy but sure looks like fun....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY3spioBm4c&feature=related
phantombmw
08-08-2008, 02:47 PM
I've always loved the Esprit, think it has a timeless design. I would be all for getting it, but realize maintenance on that beast is going to be expensivo.
schulrog
08-08-2008, 03:35 PM
lotus is in the same boat as jaguar... jags and triumph (british manufactured cars) sucked until someone took over. low quality of production and very suceptible to breakdowns
This is one thread that frog could provide you with sound advice.
The Fuzz could start by finding the Lotus Esprit Fact Files on the big ol' WWW.
:thumbup:
The later the model the better. My "98 works like a hose. :D
All-Or-Nothing
08-08-2008, 04:48 PM
The Fuzz could start by finding the Lotus Esprit Fact Files on the big ol' WWW.
:thumbup:
The later the model the better. My "98 works like a hose. :D
Don't know if "like a hose" means good or bad. For what it's worth I'm looking at a 2002 V8 Twin Turbo. It has low miles and basically in showroom condition.
Lucardes
08-08-2008, 05:13 PM
Don't get it in my opinion, too much of a headache maintaining it let a lone a model that is no longer made. People who buy those older model are usually in it to collect it. If you want to use it as the everyday driving thing then get an Elise where parts are easier to get then an older gen lotus where it can be a HUGE headache and cost tons on fixes.
Don't know if "like a hose" means good or bad. For what it's worth I'm looking at a 2002 V8 Twin Turbo. It has low miles and basically in showroom condition.
It's a Texan term that means... "works flawlessly". What could be simply than water running through a hose?
Buy that thang Fuzz. They're beautiful cars and drive very well.
:thumbup:
Don't get it in my opinion, too much of a headache maintaining it let a lone a model that is no longer made. People who buy those older model are usually in it to collect it. If you want to use it as the everyday driving thing then get an Elise where parts are easier to get then an older gen lotus where it can be a HUGE headache and cost tons on fixes.
It's night and day. :rolleyes:
Owned the little Buzzbomb and sold it after almost two years. The thing is a street legal go-kart. Have kept my Esprit. ;)
After having 8 Lotus cars I feeling like I have a decent handle on 'em now.
:D
All-Or-Nothing
08-09-2008, 02:03 PM
Going to drive it today. The guy says he will make a believer out of me. I really love the car but I am on the fence about dependability.
Reminds me of a 1998 F355 spyder my friend has Beautiful car but it's broke every other week. Maybe I'll have better luck.
Going to drive it today. The guy says he will make a believer out of me.
I really love the car but I am on the fence about dependability.
Reminds me of a 1998 F355 spyder my friend has Beautiful car but it's broke every other week. Maybe I'll have better luck.
... but the later Esprits are pretty good on the dependability issue! :thumbup:
Let me know how the test drive goes amigo.
:D
Weird tales about that 355. Three compadres of mine own them and they marvel how well everything has been holding together. :confused:
You drive it and buy it mister?
:confused:
All-Or-Nothing
08-19-2008, 07:34 PM
You drive it and buy it mister?
:confused:
The guy had a lien on the title...............................Idiot
The guy had a lien on the title...............................Idiot
Have a compadre that has a pristine yellow one for sale. 36,000 miles, a 2002 model, and solid as a rock.
:thumbup:
BimmerMan504
08-21-2008, 04:53 AM
That car is nice, go for it.
trueX5
08-21-2008, 04:59 AM
I have always liked them.
Gigabyte71
08-21-2008, 12:38 PM
Wow....:yikes::bow: beautiful car.
ThrottleJock
08-22-2008, 11:08 AM
Ton of fun to drive, they sound great, go like stink and they are a real deal panty-dropper exotic in the eyes of the general public.
Having said that, and especially if you're coming from a Teutonic masterpiece, the build quality is ****, they are not particularly reliable/dependable, and due to the mid-engine configuration (and the fact that it's a Lotus) the maintenance costs can be astronomical in comparison to more plebian rides. As far as Lotus' go, with the exception of the Elise/Exige (with the comparitively bulletproof Toyota motor) the V8TT's are some of the most reliable Lotus' ever built. Still though, do your homework and it'd be worthwhile to call a certified mechanic to get a quote on clutch replacement and intervals. That can be an eye opener on the Esprit's. I learned this when looking at an old 4-cyl turbo S4S about 5yrs ago.
ThrottleJock
08-22-2008, 11:10 AM
Meh, I just read the rest of the thread. I'm a day late and dollar short as usual, haha!
Ton of fun to drive, they sound great, go like stink and they are a real deal panty-dropper exotic in the eyes of the general public.
Having said that, and especially if you're coming from a Teutonic masterpiece, the build quality is ****, they are not particularly reliable/dependable, and due to the mid-engine configuration (and the fact that it's a Lotus) the maintenance costs can be astronomical in comparison to more plebian rides. As far as Lotus' go, with the exception of the Elise/Exige (with the comparitively bulletproof Toyota motor) the V8TT's are some of the most reliable Lotus' ever built. Still though, do your homework and it'd be worthwhile to call a certified mechanic to get a quote on clutch replacement and intervals. That can be an eye opener on the Esprit's. I learned this when looking at an old 4-cyl turbo S4S about 5yrs ago.
Most over the 1997 build year are pretty rock solid.
Screw the 6'er and pick up this classic before they all go away.
:thumbup:
All-Or-Nothing
08-22-2008, 05:16 PM
Been lokking at a pretty nice NSX so I'll keep you posted
Been lokking at a pretty nice NSX so I'll keep you posted
Nicely screwed together though. :thumbup:
The Esprit is much better looking.
How much are you willing to spend?
Do you like yellow?
:D
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