Thursday 10th July 2014

Lotus Esprit GT3: Spotted

That lightweight sub-£40K sports car we're all hankering after now? Lotus was doing it 15 years ago

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Yes, the 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road test makes for fascinating if slightly predicatble reading: inspirational handling, questionable build quality, outdated interior but great value.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.

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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.

[Source: EspritWorld]

[Richard-G]

how am i supposed to re live the opening scene from pretty woman if i cant have go west playing on the missing stereo. Big thumbs down!

in all seriousness, at that price its a bargain, they will only go one way in value, its not like they cost an absolute fortune to keep running either.

[dlockhart]

this is the one you should go for IMHO

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

[V8 FOU]

The V8 is the better car. More power c 385bhp and much more torque.
Gearbox? Easy to replace the horrible joints on the 'box with better quality rose joints.

Both fab cars. should be on everyones bucket list.

Oh, the dashboard and interior is far better on the later cars....

[smilo996]

Interesting how Twin Turbo V8's are the new engine. It seems they were back in 1999 as well.

Both great though I hope Lotus get someone from Pagani and TVR to design and build the next Esprit interior.....

[Richard-G]

dlockhart said:

this is the one you should go for IMHO

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

you cant lose out with either!

[gashead1105]

dlockhart said:

this is the one you should go for IMHO

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

+1. Seriously tempting...

[aarondbs]

I had almost forgotten how much I like the Esprit. The V8 GT in the classifieds I really like.

[British Beef]

V8 FOU said:

The V8 is the better car. More power c 385bhp and much more torque.
Gearbox? Easy to replace the horrible joints on the 'box with better quality rose joints.

Both fab cars. should be on everyones bucket list.

Oh, the dashboard and interior is far better on the later cars....

The weakness is 1st and 2nd gear synchros during fast shifting and the overhung 5th gear can let go at full beans.

The engine is designed for 500+ hp, but downrated to 350hp because of the inherent gearbox weakness. Much less of an issue for the 240hp and lighter GT3 than for the V8.

I wasnt aware the rose joints were a weakenss.

[lestiq]

am I missing something.

"anything with 'GT3' in its name gets us rather excited. Apart from maybe that Bentley."

the brand new already race winning V8 Bentley race car?
that sounds like this? Not exciting? what?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leugJeknPrs

[V8 FOU]

British Beef said:

I wasnt aware the rose joints were a weakenss.

I bought the better ones from the original supplier to Lotus. They told me the ones that Lotus wanted cost about £3 each, the "proper" ones recommended by the supplier, which I used. were £28 each.. Says a lot.

Upgraded gearboxes are available, 6 speed too.....

[dlockhart]

lestiq said:

am I missing something.

"anything with 'GT3' in its name gets us rather excited. Apart from maybe that Bentley."

the brand new already race winning V8 Bentley race car?
that sounds like this? Not exciting? what?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leugJeknPrs

the road going version you can buy is still 2 tonnes so hardly nimble or focused

[Slb89]

would definitely have in my dream garage. fantastic british motor cars.

[Dave Hedgehog]

stonking cars, and then there is the james bond link from my youth, but seeing the dodgy wiring behind the dash in wheeler stealers kinda put me off them

[rob.e]

lovely car - really miss mine.


Its worth pointing out though that the V8 that the contemporary road testers are referring to is the original plush V8 (later called the V8-SE) with comfy seats lots of kit. The later V8 in "GT" spec is essentially the same as the minimalist GT3 but with the 350bhp v8TT.

I had both a GT3 then a V8-GT. Loved them both but the V8 in GT spec is the one i'd buy again in a heartbeat... add Sport350 spec AP brakes, bilsteins, magnesio wheels and you have a fantastic machine: as much fun in the twisties as a GT3, big torque for a gt blast across europe, and enough performance to go 170+ at vmax.


vmax3 by lotus-gt, on Flickr

[vtecyo]

A wealthy friend of my parents took me out in his Esprit Chargecooler as a small boy. It was brand new at the time I think. It's been one of my favourites ever since.

[Imafreeman]

Wasn't the gearbox a Citroen unit, not a Renault unit?

[rob.e]

Imafreeman said:

Wasn't the gearbox a Citroen unit, not a Renault unit?

Renault.

[lestiq]

dlockhart said:

lestiq said:

am I missing something.

"anything with 'GT3' in its name gets us rather excited. Apart from maybe that Bentley."

the brand new already race winning V8 Bentley race car?
that sounds like this? Not exciting? what?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leugJeknPrs

the road going version you can buy is still 2 tonnes so hardly nimble or focused

ah.. that makes more sense, don't I feel like a billy now. lol

[Impasse]

rob.e said:

Imafreeman said:

Wasn't the gearbox a Citroen unit, not a Renault unit?

Renault.

Citroen sourced box for the early cars, so both correct!

[Jawaman]

ALWAYS wanted one of these.

Why did Lotus never manage to make the jump to Porsche / Ferrari levels of brand prestige?