Does the 1990's Lotus Esprit look dated?
Discussion
james280779 said:
Mine is a 1988 with a piddly 215 bhp.
It goes like stink, even today not alot will keep up. 0-60 in about 5.3 but the most impressive is there is very little drop in the acceleration at higher speeds. She runs out of steam about 130 ish but thats more than you will ever need on the road. Handles beautifully and drives so well. At the time of release in '88 she was quicker than the Ferrari 348 available at the time and was often compared to that.
The later chargecooled cars 2.2 are the pick. They are almost as fast as the v8's but with far less maintenence costs. Because they are cheap to buy - dont be fooled. they are still a supercar to run!
I get positive comments almost everytime I drive it. The chav's love it too unfortunately (as they keep telling me)
This is mine- 25 years old now!!
My car is also 25 years old and in its day was often road tested against the Espirit. IMO the Espirit is probably more timeless in style than mine, the GTA is probably more retro and certainly more "marmite". From the comments I get, some people hate the GTA but more seem to like itIt goes like stink, even today not alot will keep up. 0-60 in about 5.3 but the most impressive is there is very little drop in the acceleration at higher speeds. She runs out of steam about 130 ish but thats more than you will ever need on the road. Handles beautifully and drives so well. At the time of release in '88 she was quicker than the Ferrari 348 available at the time and was often compared to that.
The later chargecooled cars 2.2 are the pick. They are almost as fast as the v8's but with far less maintenence costs. Because they are cheap to buy - dont be fooled. they are still a supercar to run!
I get positive comments almost everytime I drive it. The chav's love it too unfortunately (as they keep telling me)
This is mine- 25 years old now!!
Edited by james280779 on Friday 5th July 00:55
But both are cool.
OP - seriously, if you like the Espirit, don’t worry about what other people think, buy it for the car it is, drive it, enjoy it. It will hold its value, you will be able to re-sell it. Just don't expect a 20 year old supercar to be cheap to run.
300bhp/ton said:
1. It looks great - period
2. Who really is vane enough to give a flying toss what other think and if it looks dated or not??
3. It looks great.
1) Agreed, it's still a fantastic looking car.2. Who really is vane enough to give a flying toss what other think and if it looks dated or not??
3. It looks great.
2) The vast number of white base spec Audis and BMWs etc. suggests quite a lot of people see a car as a fashion accessory, to be bought in the latest "must have" colour.
3) Goto 1)
Blown2CV said:
i'll just leave this here
I find it incredible to think that design is circa 1975.
The last of the line 1995 era cars do have a few tell tale features that are a bit out dated, pop ups, orange indicators and stick on arch extensions but are still very tasty.
carinaman said:
James, is there a thread on the Avenger?
blueg33, great GTA images.
not per se, its my fathers project (one of them). I posted a while back about him trying to sell it, he ended up selling the other one instead so still has this one. I think he has his eye on something else at the moment but never know with him.blueg33, great GTA images.
I dont think he has even driven it in six months.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
aka_kerrly said:
Sensational! Add a bond girl and job done.
I find it incredible to think that design is circa 1975.
The last of the line 1995 era cars do have a few tell tale features that are a bit out dated, pop ups, orange indicators and stick on arch extensions but are still very tasty.
The pop up lights are one of my fave features!!I find it incredible to think that design is circa 1975.
The last of the line 1995 era cars do have a few tell tale features that are a bit out dated, pop ups, orange indicators and stick on arch extensions but are still very tasty.
As for the orange indicators- various companies around do clear replacements so its an easy swap.
Whilst I've never been fond of the 1970s Esprits, mine was a 1997 V8
And I still think it looks cool to this day, some 8 years after I sold it.
The interior however was a disaster, I was unlucky enough to have the old style (square dash) interior, the later style round dash was much nicer.
And I still think it looks cool to this day, some 8 years after I sold it.
The interior however was a disaster, I was unlucky enough to have the old style (square dash) interior, the later style round dash was much nicer.
blueg33 said:
My car is also 25 years old and in its day was often road tested against the Espirit. IMO the Espirit is probably more timeless in style than mine, the GTA is probably more retro and certainly more "marmite". From the comments I get, some people hate the GTA but more seem to like it
But both are cool.
OP - seriously, if you like the Espirit, don’t worry about what other people think, buy it for the car it is, drive it, enjoy it. It will hold its value, you will be able to re-sell it. Just don't expect a 20 year old supercar to be cheap to run.
Not sure how the Renault got into this thread but both the Esprit and the GTA are undervalued for what they are. We are very lucky to live in a period when you can find examples of both for not a lot of money and still enjoy them to their full. Yes, at this age there are crusty ones, yes they show their age both aesthetically and technically but who cares. They are still both stunning cars. If I could only own one then I'd go for the GTA as that in my eyes it is the more special and exotic. Then again if I could only own one, I'd go for the A610. There was a stunning yellow one at last years NEC classic that made you think - wow!But both are cool.
OP - seriously, if you like the Espirit, don’t worry about what other people think, buy it for the car it is, drive it, enjoy it. It will hold its value, you will be able to re-sell it. Just don't expect a 20 year old supercar to be cheap to run.
Pistom said:
Not sure how the Renault got into this thread but both the Esprit and the GTA are undervalued for what they are. We are very lucky to live in a period when you can find examples of both for not a lot of money and still enjoy them to their full. Yes, at this age there are crusty ones, yes they show their age both aesthetically and technically but who cares. They are still both stunning cars. If I could only own one then I'd go for the GTA as that in my eyes it is the more special and exotic. Then again if I could only own one, I'd go for the A610. There was a stunning yellow one at last years NEC classic that made you think - wow!
Renault got into the thread as a comparison, Its same period as the Espirit but IMO looks more dated.I like both, but the Espirit wouldnt fit through my garage door. I use the GTA frequently it is very enjoyable to drive.
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