RE: Lotus Esprit V8 Turbo: PH Carpool

[RKi]

Love these too. I'm sure i can recall reading an article a few years ago where a specialist said he wouldn't work on turbos though, because the gearboes were never strong enough?

[HeMightBeBanned]

RKi said:

Love these too. I'm sure i can recall reading an article a few years ago where a specialist said he wouldn't work on turbos though, because the gearboes were never strong enough?

More likely just the V8s than the 4-pot turbos. The early V8s were beset with engine problems but they did improve and I think the later gearboxes were beefed up a little too.

[RKi]

Ah that sounds about right.

[urquattroGus]

I remember reading Autocar in something like 1996.

The Esprit out dragged the 355 comfortably in terms of performance figures I seem to remember.

[Lowtimer]

It was very quick for its day, and that was the the engine fairly strongly reined in, so as not to exceed the torque capacity of the gearbox (which was the weak point in more than one way).

[Moospeed]

Vee12V said:

Strange question, but has anybody removed the TT setup from that engine? With that flat plane crank it has to sound even better!

Worth asking... having spent a while listening to a few on youtube a few years back (when I was having dirty thoughts about these myself) I just wasn't feeling the love for the engine noise.

For instance when compared with the 355 (not my idea, just seems to have popped up in this chat) it really does sound quite uninspiring. How come flat-planes sound so different?

[Hedgerley]

Worth picking up the new issue of Octane - first and last production Esprit's compared/driven at Brooklands. Great front cover picture. These really are rare - 10,675 in 28 years production and still turns heads 12 years since they stopped making them.

Had mine over 6 years now, prior to that another for 3 years. Can't imagine ever getting rid of it, except for a Final edition....;-)

[Neil_M]

Awesome car, thanks for doing the write up.

A shape that makes grown men weak at the knees.

Would love to experience one of these for real.

Any one with real driving experiences of these? Brutal, aggressive, heavy, nimble?!?!

[Huskyman]

Moospeed said:

Vee12V said:

Strange question, but has anybody removed the TT setup from that engine? With that flat plane crank it has to sound even better!

Worth asking... having spent a while listening to a few on youtube a few years back (when I was having dirty thoughts about these myself) I just wasn't feeling the love for the engine noise.

For instance when compared with the 355 (not my idea, just seems to have popped up in this chat) it really does sound quite uninspiring. How come flat-planes sound so different?

The clue is in the name. The traditional V8 has a cross-plane crank with the first and the last of the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees to one-another, whereas the second and third crank-pins are at 90 degrees with respect to one-another. This gives the cross plane shape of the crank, and the traditional V8 burble as some power-pulses are 90 degrees apart and others are 180 degrees apart. With the flat plane crank the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees with respect to one-another, just like a four cylinder engine, because in essence a flat plane crank v8 is basically two synchronised four cylinder engines.

[chelme]

Huskyman said:

Moospeed said:

Vee12V said:

Strange question, but has anybody removed the TT setup from that engine? With that flat plane crank it has to sound even better!

Worth asking... having spent a while listening to a few on youtube a few years back (when I was having dirty thoughts about these myself) I just wasn't feeling the love for the engine noise.

For instance when compared with the 355 (not my idea, just seems to have popped up in this chat) it really does sound quite uninspiring. How come flat-planes sound so different?

The clue is in the name. The traditional V8 has a cross-plane crank with the first and the last of the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees to one-another, whereas the second and third crank-pins are at 90 degrees with respect to one-another. This gives the cross plane shape of the crank, and the traditional V8 burble as some power-pulses are 90 degrees apart and others are 180 degrees apart. With the flat plane crank the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees with respect to one-another, just like a four cylinder engine, because in essence a flat plane crank v8 is basically two synchronised four cylinder engines.

Nice car and great write up. I remember reading about the Lotus, never seemed to do so well in comparos if I recall correctly. Any one have any links to these reviews, would be good to have another look : - )

As for the sound, apparently, you can make a cross-plane V8 sound like a flat plane using a trick exhausts systems which manipulate the sound from the pulses...

[Chris Y]

I was at the Lotus Festival at Brands yesterday. Quite a few Esprits there plus a few for sale. Cheapest was 12k. Tempting.

[pistolpedro]

great cover

[_Neal_]

Moospeed said:

Worth asking... having spent a while listening to a few on youtube a few years back (when I was having dirty thoughts about these myself) I just wasn't feeling the love for the engine noise.

For instance when compared with the 355 (not my idea, just seems to have popped up in this chat) it really does sound quite uninspiring. How come flat-planes sound so different?

Both the Lotus and the 355 have flat-plane crank V8s don't they? Suspect it's the turbos on the Esprit muffling the sound, although it still probably wouldn't howl like a high-revving Ferrari V8.

ETA - I do love Esprits - a car I keep coming back and looking at.

[BIRMA]

Huskyman said:

Moospeed said:

Vee12V said:

Strange question, but has anybody removed the TT setup from that engine? With that flat plane crank it has to sound even better!

Worth asking... having spent a while listening to a few on youtube a few years back (when I was having dirty thoughts about these myself) I just wasn't feeling the love for the engine noise.

For instance when compared with the 355 (not my idea, just seems to have popped up in this chat) it really does sound quite uninspiring. How come flat-planes sound so different?

The clue is in the name. The traditional V8 has a cross-plane crank with the first and the last of the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees to one-another, whereas the second and third crank-pins are at 90 degrees with respect to one-another. This gives the cross plane shape of the crank, and the traditional V8 burble as some power-pulses are 90 degrees apart and others are 180 degrees apart. With the flat plane crank the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees with respect to one-another, just like a four cylinder engine, because in essence a flat plane crank v8 is basically two synchronised four cylinder engines.

Glad you pointed that out because I was about to say you get no typical V8 sound from the V8 Esprit because of the flat plane crank.
Having been a long term Lotus owner (I had the Roman Purple Twin Cam Europa that was off the Motor Show in 1973) I obviously had to own the V8 Esprit. If only the mechanical parts were as good as it looks but without a shadow of doubt they are not.
I was less than impressed with the so called experts who work on these cars and considering the standard of construction of the components you are in for a less than happy experience unless you have really deep pockets. Still I really enjoyed mine and all things considered it was probably the last Lotus I'll ever own, but you never know.

[Countersteer]

Still my Dream car. If I couldn't afford this then I'd look at an S4. It's like the motoring equivalent of the MILF!

[Moospeed]

Huskyman said:

The clue is in the name. The traditional V8 has a cross-plane crank with the first and the last of the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees to one-another, whereas the second and third crank-pins are at 90 degrees with respect to one-another. This gives the cross plane shape of the crank, and the traditional V8 burble as some power-pulses are 90 degrees apart and others are 180 degrees apart. With the flat plane crank the four crank-pins are at 180 degrees with respect to one-another, just like a four cylinder engine, because in essence a flat plane crank v8 is basically two synchronised four cylinder engines.

Yes, I knew that cheers, it's why I was also picking on the 355. They both are flat planes but the prancing donkey version just sounds awesome on song in comparison.

As Neal says, maybe it's the turbos in the way.

[Impasse]

Moospeed said:

Yes, I knew that cheers, it's why I was also picking on the 355. They both are flat planes but the prancing donkey version just sounds awesome on song in comparison.

As Neal says, maybe it's the turbos in the way.

A pair of sports cats and appropriate muffler make the car yowl through the rev range. It's not a sound that gets leather jacketed, sunglass wearing Tiffosi hot, but it's a real high-tech engineering noise a world away from the standard subdued noise.
The later cars with the round lights and central exhaust exit had the factory sports silencer which made a much more ear pleasing note.

I took a de-catted, straight-through-pipe equipped V8 GT to France back in 1999. It could be heard over a mile away by the guys following behind - who were on motorbikes and obviously wearing crash helmets...

[snuffy]

Lowtimer said:

Nice car.
As it is the age it is, VED for it is only £230 though, so not sure how that line got in.

Yes, I wondered that as well.

[snuffy]

If I want to make it sound very loud the remove the back box and fit straight pipes to the cats. The whole world turns its head when you rev it ! (Well, that's what O did with my Sport 350).

[Fuelbrother DC]

For those being unsure about the sound of these babies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD4fM6-hPX4

At the time I bought my Esprit, the V8 was seemingly too scary for me (cost-wise, potentially). So I went for the S4, which shares nearly the same shape (S4s even more so with the wheel-arches found on the V8), has (with some really easy tweaks) easily over 300hp and should be less demanding for the obviously undersized gearbox (torque!).

Anyhow, the V8 has far more bragging rights (if needed ) and is a proper supercar, no doubt. And if something goes wrong, your wallet should match your ambitions. The S4 is financially less demanding and the "safer bet" for the faint-hearted, I'd think. Esprits are great cars, but be aware of the consequences owning them. You will need some spare cash for their niggles and don't forget they're now at least 12 years old, my S4 being even over 20 now.

At the time I considered buying a sportscar, I considered the obvious choices: Porsche, BMW, etc. Being German, it would have been the simplest and most convenient buy. But after test driving a 997, Boxster RS60 (great car, btw) and a Z4 Coupe the dreadful feeling of being slightly unimpressed(!) came up. The first moment I saw the Esprit (and boy, I was scared to make this choice), I fell in love. Such a road presence, power, sharp & nimble handling (even compared to modern alternatives!) and real supercar looks make them completely stand out of the crowd. Added to this, they offer a degree of exclusivity you simply can't match this side of 30.000 Euro. After 5 years of ownership I am still in love with the car and give it all the care it needs. It's a keeper! Wouldn't be sure about that with the Porsche, had I bought one.

If somebody fancies an Esprit: Do it.

Just my 5p