RE: Lotus Esprit Turbo: PH Used Buying Guide

[rastapasta]

https://www.autoscout24.ch/de/d/lotus-esprit-coupe...

'New' one for sale out here in switzerland

[unsprung]

Pat H said:

Apart from the change to the body shape, there was bugger all difference between a late S3 Turbo and a carbed Stephens car. In fact, aside from the introduction of the Renault box, the cars were mechanically identical.

very interesting

[Pat H]

unsprung said:

Pat H said:

Apart from the change to the body shape, there was bugger all difference between a late S3 Turbo and a carbed Stephens car. In fact, aside from the introduction of the Renault box, the cars were mechanically identical.

very interesting

In fact, the US spec Stevens cars even retained the Citroen Maserati transaxle and inboard rear discs for a while.

Renault transaxles brought outboard discs, with easier maintenance, but greater unsprung weight.

[LuS1fer]

Someone mentioned parts bin stuff but I once looked into a 308 or 328 and was aghast at the nasty Fiat stuff in there.

As for being built round the fuel tank, it sparked my mate's description of his Lotus Eclat which he said was almost certainly built around the wiper motor hanging in the factory.

I was always drawn to the Esprit but so many horror stories...too many money pit stories put me off and I bought a Corvette instead.

[Ilovejapcrap]

Pat H said:

like a suitcase full of Lego being thrown at a wall.

Really made me chuckle

[DonkeyApple]

p4cks said:

The Evora is the latter day Esprit in many, many ways.

I’m not sure I see how? I think that the entire problem with the Evora is based wholly on its comprehensive failure to be anything remotely akin to a latter day Esprit. It’s not cool, it’s not aspirational and it’s not beautiful. Under the skin it’s a great car and impressive but as this thread clearly shows, the Esprit was a rough old bird under the skin but it was the skin that made it such an iconic car. As with so many great, inspiring or aspirational cars.

The Evora is not the Maessiah, it’s just a very naughty car.

[p4cks]

DonkeyApple said:

I’m not sure I see how?...

The Evora is not the Maessiah, it’s just a very naughty car.

The build quality, the poor visibility, the parts bin feel and the fact simple jobs are almost impossible to do.

My Dad had a 2.2 Turbo Esprit and it was utter, utter ste and I have an Evora which isn't ste as such but it certainly isn't lost on me that it's flawed in many, many ways.

That still doesn't stop me or many others absolutely loving them both!

[stulotus]

I bought mine new in 1990 and still have her, although I made the mistake of selling her in 2002 when she needed more work than I could then afford. But I bought her back in 2006 and am in the process of mech and cosmetic refurbishment that happily I CAN afford now. Might sell her again now...I'm getting a bit old and lazy and my SL500 ticks almost all the boxes.

[Helicopter123]

DonkeyApple said:

p4cks said:

The Evora is the latter day Esprit in many, many ways.

I’m not sure I see how? I think that the entire problem with the Evora is based wholly on its comprehensive failure to be anything remotely akin to a latter day Esprit. It’s not cool, it’s not aspirational and it’s not beautiful. Under the skin it’s a great car and impressive but as this thread clearly shows, the Esprit was a rough old bird under the skin but it was the skin that made it such an iconic car. As with so many great, inspiring or aspirational cars.

The Evora is not the Maessiah, it’s just a very naughty car.

Evora at the end of its run, and it never really caught the imagination.

They sold 113 in Europe in all of 2017, and only 3 so far this year. Is it even still on sale?

http://carsalesbase.com/european-car-sales-data/lo...

[carinaman]

A dry sumped one with a red leather interior for sale:

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/auctio...

[anonymous-user]

That looks like an "Essex" specification without the blue sponsor paintwork.

Rare? Yes. £100k? Hmmm.

[A1VDY]

carinaman said:

A dry sumped one with a red leather interior for sale:

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/auctio...

That article is slightly wrong, it's Norwich airport not Norfolk Airport and the car was used in 81 at the Lotus factory at Hethel.
I have Colin Chapmans 63 Lotus Cortina. He personally owned it for 4 years..

[LuS1fer]

A1VDY said:

That article is slightly wrong, it's Norwich airport not Norfolk Airport and the car was used in 81 at the Lotus factory at Hethel.
I have Colin Chapmans 63 Lotus Cortina. He personally owned it for 4 years..

How can you own a car impersonally?