Can of worms, which is the best Esprit?

[Hedgerley]

That was the infamous 'Lets see if an Esprit can do 200mph' episode. Naturally they didn't seek expert advice or upgrade it properly, for the benefit of 'entertainment' and of course it broke. The BBC got quite a bit of flack from the Lotus community for that one.

[ILoveMondeo]

Hedgerley said:

That was the infamous 'Lets see if an Esprit can do 200mph' episode. Naturally they didn't seek expert advice or upgrade it properly, for the benefit of 'entertainment' and of course it broke. The BBC got quite a bit of flack from the Lotus community for that one.

It was 5th gear wasn't it? (So channel five getting it in the neck?)

[snuffy]

Hedgerley said:

Any owner will tell the best Esprit is the one he/she actually owns

Spot bk on that man !

I've always said that's what people answer, and so it seems, do you.

[GTRene]

found it, indeed 5th gear>

part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVaYjmAUZig

part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM7NbL9Be0s

Edited by GTRene on Saturday 1st November 15:11

[snuffy]

I've owned 4 Esprits, starting with a S3 NA, then a Turbo, then a GT3 and finished with a Sport 350.

If I was buying an Esprit again (which I wouldn't, but that's a different matter) then I'd buy a V8 or Sport 350. Having had a Sport 350 I can't say I think there's much in it between it and a V8 or V8-GT. But the V8 has all the grunt and it pulls like a train. As I owned each one I thought it was the best one I'd had, because each one was much more modern than the last, and it went faster and was more powerful. So to me, the V8/Sport 350 is the fair superior Esprit. But then it's up to you of course !

[Shave off]

GTRene, I was looking at those two Esprits on the Barry Ely website. He's asking £45,000 for the Azure Blue one, and £30,000 for the Norfolk Mustard one.

[kiseca]

snuffy said:

Hedgerley said:

Any owner will tell the best Esprit is the one he/she actually owns

Spot bk on that man !

I've always said that's what people answer, and so it seems, do you.

Of course they do. Why would they buy the one they think is second best?

[The Pits]

The most desirable Esprits for me are the Essex Turbo, the S4s, Sport 300 and the Sport 350.

There hasn't been an Essex car for sale for years. The S4s is rising in value rapidly and a good Sport 300 will set you back nearly £50k if one ever comes up for sale. Getting hold of a Sport 350 should be slightly easier and they are the pick of the V8s for me and cost £68k new!

Finding well maintained examples of any Esprit is getting increasingly difficult, too many Esprits have been ruined by years of neglect and tasteless mods, seen by many owners as merely a cheap way to get into a exotic looking car.

For me, 'The best' is probably the Sport 350. The most desirable is the Sport 300 and the coolest (by far!) is the Essex Turbo.

[Loteuk]

Sport 300 is (imho) the the one to try (when one comes for sale)
Huge difference in build (body lay up by hand plus a few trick mechanical parts).
Kind of sits on its own receiving special works attention when conceived.
Bottom line is (my opinion) anything after an S4 will amaze!!
Anything before will impress (T3 turbo has the involvement and awesome turbo plenum sounds)

[snuffy]

kiseca said:

snuffy said:

Hedgerley said:

Any owner will tell the best Esprit is the one he/she actually owns

Spot bk on that man !

I've always said that's what people answer, and so it seems, do you.

Of course they do. Why would they buy the one they think is second best?

What people think and what people say are not the same thing. People will always try and justify what they have, even when they really know it's not the best. For example, when I bought an S3, I really wanted a Turbo Stevens shape Esprit but I could not afford one. So I bought an N/A S3 and then justified by choice by saying I liked the old shape better and an N/A was better because it was less likely to break than a turbo. That was a lie of course.

[Espritmania]

Hi,weak moment,thinking of selling my S4 if any one interested??
Had Esprits for 34 years did all the mechanicals Last year ,engine out,rebuilt,new belts,waterpump,fuel tanks ect,ect.Yellow bodywork very presentable but not concourse.comes with two sets of wheels,std and Futuras with
new goodyear tyres.|Will only advertise on the LEW forum only.The reason I might sell is so I can concentrate on my next project ,an S3 n/a Esprit.

Note,you either love or hate the rear spoiler,as you can tell I hate it,but I have it locked up well away from the car.
I have spent a lot of money and time on this car and I am looking for £14995.oo.I drive it whenever I can,but it is soooh hard to get a dry winters day.
Please mail me or phone.Paul Godfrey 07804 267965 if interested,cheers.

[Espritmania]

more photos

[Espritmania]

Can only get one per page New lights and surrounds.

Edited by Espritmania on Thursday 8th January 18:47

[Espritmania]

More

[Espritmania]

New fuel tanks

[Espritmania]

Last one

[Espritmania]

New Project.

[Espritmania]

snuffy said:

kiseca said:

snuffy said:

Hedgerley said:

Any owner will tell the best Esprit is the one he/she actually owns

Spot bk on that man !

I've always said that's what people answer, and so it seems, do you.

Of course they do. Why would they buy the one they think is second best?

What people think and what people say are not the same thing. People will always try and justify what they have, even when they really know it's not the best. For example, when I bought an S3, I really wanted a Turbo Stevens shape Esprit but I could not afford one. So I bought an N/A S3 and then justified by choice by saying I liked the old shape better and an N/A was better because it was less likely to break than a turbo. That was a lie of course.

Had Most in my time ,the most comfy was the S1(not the quietest).
But I think that the S4 with the aid of the power steering is the best so far.

[s4s1995]

I may be a bit biased but we all know that the S4s is the Esprit at its best

Edited by s4s1995 on Sunday 11th January 17:39

[Loteuk]

A car with presence?


I thought it was a special Esprit (imho)