Late 90's to early 2000 Lotus Esprite

stomachmonkey · 05-17-2019, 09:10 AM

Always loved the look of the car.

Thinking of getting one.

Don't know much about daily reliability or maintenance.

Anyone ever own one?

Thoughts?

slow&rusty · 05-17-2019, 10:03 AM

You mean "Esprit" with the Twin Turbo V8 (350hp)? If so that is the hot ticket, in my opinion that is Lotus' high water mark car a far more gorgeous and appealing car than any Elise\Exige\Evora.

It is well known that they are surprisingly reliable and people who own them are truly fantastical about them. Did you see the Top Gear Patagonia challenge?

There are only so many cars I can own and maintain well, but if I had my druthers this Esprit would find a home at the Slow N Rusty garage.

berettafan · 05-17-2019, 10:54 AM

Interior is typical lotus kit car but I think the exterior on those is beautiful. Interesting to hear they are somewhat reliable.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

How big are you? If you are a skinny and limber little guy they are likely a blast. If you are a 6'2" 240 pound lumberjack size, you will likely hate it.

Drive one before you buy one. They are cool cars.

Jon B · 05-17-2019, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

If you are a 6'2" 240 pound lumberjack size, you will likely hate it.

Caution: contemporary references to lumberjacks are usually a cue for The Lumberjack Song...

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Are you drunken, divorced, and penniless? Are you prepared to be?

I seem to recall a thread a few years back with a guy rebuilding one. Super cool car with some super weird quirks.

stomachmonkey · 05-18-2019, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

How big are you? If you are a skinny and limber little guy they are likely a blast. If you are a 6'2" 240 pound lumberjack size, you will likely hate it.

Drive one before you buy one. They are cool cars.

5'8" is what's on my license but father time has chipped a bit of that way so I may have the opposite problem, seeing over the dash. LOL

stomachmonkey · 05-18-2019, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Are you drunken, divorced, and penniless? Are you prepared to be?

I seem to recall a thread a few years back with a guy rebuilding one. Super cool car with some super weird quirks.

Nah, my wife is pretty chill.

I don't count her shoes, she doesn't count my cars.

stomachmonkey · 05-18-2019, 05:11 AM

Found one in Pompano area that may fit the bill.

My brother will swing by today for an in person gut check.

Got my 911 same way.

Found one that was in his neck of the woods, he checked it out then took it to his buddies at Turbo Werks for PPI.

Alansglide · Alansglide's Garage

I owned a 93.5 for 6 years. I mention the half year because a number of changes were made at that point in the interior and a few exterior changes such as the wing shape. Mine was the 4 banger with the turbo and charge cooler which added 50 more hp.

I did get together with other Esprit owners and do a number of runs during my ownership so I'll mention a few things we discovered together. The 4 banger 0-60 time was 4.7 seconds compared to the V8 time of 4.3. As for the handling, the V8 weight destroyed the handling of the car. On runs in the twisties with 5 4bangers and 4 V8's the V8's just could not keep up. We even gave rides to the V8 guys and each one mentioned Their car didn't handle like that. On the other hand the V8 sounds fantastic has an feeling about it that is very special.

Any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Here's the photo of mine. It's on the left.

Forgot to add, the sweet spot in my opinion would be the S4 years . If memory serves that would be 94- 96 or 7. Highest hp ,lightest weight and new interior.

targa911S · 05-18-2019, 06:04 AM

if you need help you can always go to the Lucas website. Here is a link...

Alansglide · Alansglide's Garage

I'll add a few more comments. Repair costs are about the same as Porsche but the hard part is finding a good mechanic to work on them. I know a few if you need help.
Mellow Yellow the nick name of the last Esprit made was owned and driven around LA not sure where it is now. That is a 2004 model.

stomachmonkey · 05-18-2019, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alansglide

I owned a 93.5 for 6 years. I mention the half year because a number of changes were made at that point in the interior and a few exterior changes such as the wing shape. Mine was the 4 banger with the turbo and charge cooler which added 50 more hp.

I did get together with other Esprit owners and do a number of runs during my ownership so I'll mention a few things we discovered together. The 4 banger 0-60 time was 4.7 seconds compared to the V8 time of 4.3. As for the handling, the V8 weight destroyed the handling of the car. On runs in the twisties with 5 4bangers and 4 V8's the V8's just could not keep up. We even gave rides to the V8 guys and each one mentioned Their car didn't handle like that. On the other hand the V8 sounds fantastic has an feeling about it that is very special.

Any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Here's the photo of mine. It's on the left.

Forgot to add, the sweet spot in my opinion would be the S4 years . If memory serves that would be 94- 96 or 7. Highest hp ,lightest weight and new interior.

Thanks for that.

Been mulling the 4 vs the 8 as I tend to like smaller turbo'd motors.

They just feel snappier and a bit more fun.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 06:15 PM

I've been watching these on BaT for some time now... they are going for dirt cheap. The earlier I4s are much prettier cars than the V8s and I imagine more in the original Chapman spirit.