TOP GEAR NOW

[tuscansix]

and you can watch the STIG trash the TVR T350C by the looks of things.

Well 1m 29s for a lap, of a near production model so there should be some pretty happy people on here now.

>>> Edited by tuscansix on Sunday 29th December 21:08

[clanger]

Yep the TVR looks a half decent car, 1min 30 so you could drive it on the road is still excellent. Was most impressed with the Esprit tho' - still looks the dogs b******s after 25 years and 1 min 32 is v v quick for a pure road car - shame production is due to end.

[Simonelite501]

With the gearbox/trans axle being so old and unobtainable, you would have thought that the guys at Hethel would have come up with an alternative by now, that is of course assuming that they actually wanted to. I cannot belive that they looked in the stores and said we'll be running out of them soon so we'll just finish production of the last British Supercar.

[daydreamer]

Not quite Simon, try here www.ultimasports.co.uk/

Do understand though - the Esprit made a very good case for itself tonight. Why don't they sell more???

[clanger]

Simon
Apparently the Esprit engine has been strangled for years because the gearbox couldn't take any more power and hence was the limiting factor - if only -ahhh.. Good ol' Lotus foresight at work again?? Prog got me lusting after another Esprit tho'...

[JonRB]

Bugger, I forgot it was on. Other things on my mind at the moment at all that.

Looks like I missed something.

[tuffer]

Picked up a copy of CCC today and it came with a free Quaife Catalogue, seems they make a replacement gearbox for the Esprit thats good for 500bhp, cost is a little prohibitive though at about £6k

[funkyboogalooo]

tuffer said: Picked up a copy of CCC today and it came with a free Quaife Catalogue, seems they make a replacement gearbox for the Esprit thats good for 500bhp, cost is a little prohibitive though at about £6k

Right then, i'm no mathematician, or business guru but this is how I see it. They are stopping producing the Esprit because the car from which they originally got the gearbox is discontinued and gearboxes are running out. They say that they cant develop one because it would cost millions and not be viable for business.
So simple as it may seem why dont they, have a deal with the people you mentioned, put the price of the car up (justified because its a better car and still damn cheap in comparison to the prancing etc) and hence carry on production.
Then you still have a fine car, made better. Gearbox people have continued new build and upgrade business and everyones happy. except me cos I cant afford one.
Is that too simple or am I missing something here?

[tuffer]

Thats about the way I saw it to....perhaps they want to free up some production capacity to cope with the huge demand for the M250......or perhaps not!!!

[clanger]

I understand that the V8 Esprit by simple ECU upgrade can churn out 450bhp no prob but exstg gearbox cant reliably take more than 380bhp - apparantly by signing waiver Lotus will give said upgrade for £750. Quaife gearbox as I understand is only suitable for track use, but as you say I am sure an alternative could be made. All thru its life Esprit has been underdeveloped - what could have been???

[Child0fthecorn]

The Quaife gearbox is a 6 speed straight cut box, and its made more for the track than the road, and the price is a bit prohibitive too....

I'm not sure where you saw the price as £6K, according to....
www.cars.u-net.com/lotus/quaifeesp.htm
the price is £10,545 for the box plus £440 for the bell housing and £1139 for the gear change linkage so its a VERY expensive option....