Esprit vs ????
Discussion
We know are cars are quick but ever asked your self how quick?
What do other owners feel when compare to other sports cars / super cars? are you quicker and have better handling than lets say a TVR,355,M3,Boxster S or Carrera.
This is not a poll on comfort or build quality but on handling and speed.
I'm just interested to know.
Rgds
Dictys
What do other owners feel when compare to other sports cars / super cars? are you quicker and have better handling than lets say a TVR,355,M3,Boxster S or Carrera.
This is not a poll on comfort or build quality but on handling and speed.
I'm just interested to know.
Rgds
Dictys
I've driven a friend's M3 (actually it was his wife's). It left me curious as to what the fuss was about. It was the convertible, but still had no excitement for me. I drove it around the perimiter (285) in Atlanta, so it was "at speed". Nothing (compared to the rush I get with the Esprit).
ErnestM
ErnestM
I followed one of these £70,000, 300bhp monsters the other day.
I really had to give it some to keep up through the gears, but keep up I did.
On the bends I was conscious that I didn't have the benefits of ESP, ASC, or traction control and was consequently a little more circumspect than the Merc driver, so the limiting factor was me, rather than the Lotus.
In terms of outright performance and cornering ability there wasn't much in it.
My Esprit is 16 years older than the Merc, cost less than £15,000 and has a meagre 215bhp.
For £15,000 I can't think of a better performance car, though the Lotus is certainly not without its faults...
Sorces of rattles on my car are (were) the sunroof glass squeeking with the attachments. Very annoying and right by my right ear! Cure was to fit the CF roof which did rattle a little but after adjustment is silent. Next is the 6cd autochanger. Its got the noisiest cd carrier I have heard, constantly squeeking. Cure is to sell it or chuck it into the Thames which is how I feel after a long drive. Next is the speedo which has decided to read 30mph even at the lights and constantly clicks. As I'm using the car for work I can't really take it out to send it off for repair as the mileage will not be recorded. I'm just a lazy bu66er. Other than that, the car is quiet. The cf roof makes a HUGE difference to the reduction of cabin noise though.
Dom
Dom
dictys said:
We know are cars are quick but ever asked your self how quick?
What do other owners feel when compare to other sports cars / super cars? are you quicker and have better handling than lets say a TVR,355,M3,Boxster S or Carrera.
This is not a poll on comfort or build quality but on handling and speed.
I'm just interested to know.
Rgds
Dictys
I have to say ( as a 911 man myself..) that a good V8 Esprit is one of the maddest and fastest things I have ever driven. Faster than any Ferrari 355/ 360/ 550 etc.
You'd need an Enzo to beat it.
The in gear grunt from 30-70, 70 - 160 plus has to be seen to be believed..
As for the handling, again the Esprit handles much better than a Porsche or a Ferrari. The Key thing I reckon is the suspension, which is supple and absorbs the bumps in the road which a 355, for example , gets very loose over because it is too hard riding.
Simple fact is the handling and performance of the V8 is still about the best there is. If only Lotus could hurry up with a new version !!
And I don't even own one ! ( actually... why is that I ask myself...?? )
Hi all,
I borrowed a Ferrari 355 Spider for a few days, whilst on my honeymoon in Italy recently.
After living with it for a few days, I can honestly say there is NO comparison in either Speed or handling, with my Sport350.
That is to say, the Esprit both outhandles it and outperforms it in every respect.
Believe it or not, the Esprit is even built better!!!
Having said that, it is gorgeous to look at, and made a sound that the Esprit dreams of making, but I'd still take my S350 as a driver's car any day...
Regards,
James W
'99 S350
I borrowed a Ferrari 355 Spider for a few days, whilst on my honeymoon in Italy recently.
After living with it for a few days, I can honestly say there is NO comparison in either Speed or handling, with my Sport350.
That is to say, the Esprit both outhandles it and outperforms it in every respect.
Believe it or not, the Esprit is even built better!!!
Having said that, it is gorgeous to look at, and made a sound that the Esprit dreams of making, but I'd still take my S350 as a driver's car any day...
Regards,
James W
'99 S350
jameswuk said:
Hi all,
I borrowed a Ferrari 355 Spider for a few days, whilst on my honeymoon in Italy recently.
After living with it for a few days, I can honestly say there is NO comparison in either Speed or handling, with my Sport350.
That is to say, the Esprit both outhandles it and outperforms it in every respect.
Believe it or not, the Esprit is even built better!!!
Having said that, it is gorgeous to look at, and made a sound that the Esprit dreams of making, but I'd still take my S350 as a driver's car any day...
Regards,
James W
'99 S350
The F355 is one helluva nice vehicle thats for sure. The Esprit lines definately second to the F355. Thats really cool to know that the Esprit is getting a better view than the almighty Ferrari. But wheny uo say built better, how do you mean?
I've never driven an Esprit -- though I think I'd like to own one -- but I have spent 24hours with a 355 Spider. I must say, I'd be pleasantly surprised, very surprised, if any aspect of the Lotus topped that of the Ferrari, save the handling. Especially in Quality. And even more especially in the speed department compared to a 4 cylinder
Luke.
Luke.
My old Car&Driver test from '95 had the S4s slightly quicker than a 355 but top speed was about 10mph less. 1/4 mile trap speed was lower too. No way it's faster on a roadcourse given equal drivers.
As much as I love my S4s, if I could rationalize it, I'd buy a '95 F355B but there's just too much potential for financial hari kari with an F car.
>> Edited by MikeyRide on Friday 17th October 21:35
As much as I love my S4s, if I could rationalize it, I'd buy a '95 F355B but there's just too much potential for financial hari kari with an F car.
>> Edited by MikeyRide on Friday 17th October 21:35
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