Esprit
was featured last year as a kind of old four-cylinder sports car but the Lotus you see here is a very different prospect to that 80s retro fest. Because this is an
Esprit GT3
and anything with 'GT3' in its name gets us rather excited. Apart from maybe that Bentley.
Weight loss included spoiler deletion
Furthermore, who better to do a stripped out special of an already pretty stunning sports car than Lotus? The masters of ride and handling given scope to go one step further. Sounds good, doesn't it? For the GT3 Lotus removed some of the sound deadening, the airbags, the rear spoiler, the air conditioning and stereo over the S4S. The kerb weight was 1,240kg, officially 150kg less than an S4S and identical now to a GT86.
The 2.0-litre turbo made 243hp and 216lb ft which sounds just right. It will probably lack the easy linearity of a modern turbo also but a bit of lag can simply add to the excitement. Indeed the Autocar road test stated the 'laggy delivery is strangely addictive'. Being generous, the testers were less complimentary about the brakes and gearshift. But the Renault-sourced 'box was always an Esprit weak spot, and surely the brakes could be improved with some fluid, disc and pad upgrades? Bed them in on track...
Despite a hot hatch-esque swept capacity, the GT3 didn't want for performance. Aided by mid-engined traction (but possibly held back by that gearbox), it dispatched 60mph in 4.8 seconds and 100 in 12.5. The full road test makes for fascinating if slightly predicatble reading: inspirational handling, questionable build quality, outdated interior but great value.
Well at least it'll be fun once you're driving
The rivals back at the end of 1996 included the TVR Cerbera and
BMW M3
, both appealing to enthusiasts with £40K through very different talents. That a
decent E36
is still well under £10K indicates the value they represent though won't feel quite as intimate as the Lotus. The best Cerberas are available for £20K also, this
late 4.5
especially appealing. You certainly won't want for performance there.
Perhaps the biggest rival for the GT3 as a used buy is in fact another Esprit. Is there not a certain allure to having a V8? Those for sale on PH are costlier than the GT3 (this 2001 GT is £27K) but some will always prefer the bigger, more powerful engine.
But the GT3 does it for us, as close to the Elise's sparseness as the Esprit ever went yet still retaining some usability. And the original Autocar verdict? 'There's no getting away from the fact that this car makes the V8 seem at best a rather expensive and not much swifter alternative to the main chance, and at worst obsolete'. That'll do for us.
LOTUS ESPRIT GT3
Engine: 1,973cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 243@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 216@3,750rpm
MPG: 22.5 (official claimed combined)
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1997
Recorded mileage: 54,000
Price new: £39,450
Yours for: £21,995
See the original advert here.