Is there old Esprit owner here?
Discussion
Hello,
Need opinion of ex-esprit and current Elise owners.
I got a 1988 Esprit, love it, first Lotus, excellent state, bla, bla
........BUT I am more and more thinking about buying an Elise. Member of the Local Lotus Club, I know very well the models.
The question is to keep or not the Esprit
. To maintain it in perfect working order, I spend a lot of money on my first sport car (the one I always dream about) 
. So both emotionnally and financially, I would like to keep it. But I have seen a few ex owners who almost never drive their Esprit as soon as they have the Elise (more fun 
, more reliable,...)
To keep the Esprit only for the fact of having it , makes no sense to me because it needs to be driven and closely maintain in perfect state. I don't want to let it alone in the garage. I plan to take the Elise for everday traffic and keep the Esprit for journeys with my wife, dinners
, ... Make it sense?????? 
Ben
"It is amazing how mens'dreams are moving with time."
Need opinion of ex-esprit and current Elise owners.
I got a 1988 Esprit, love it, first Lotus, excellent state, bla, bla
........BUT I am more and more thinking about buying an Elise. Member of the Local Lotus Club, I know very well the models. The question is to keep or not the Esprit
. To maintain it in perfect working order, I spend a lot of money on my first sport car (the one I always dream about) . So both emotionnally and financially, I would like to keep it. But I have seen a few ex owners who almost never drive their Esprit as soon as they have the Elise (more fun , more reliable,...) To keep the Esprit only for the fact of having it , makes no sense to me because it needs to be driven and closely maintain in perfect state. I don't want to let it alone in the garage. I plan to take the Elise for everday traffic and keep the Esprit for journeys with my wife, dinners
, ... Make it sense?????? Ben
"It is amazing how mens'dreams are moving with time."
Wrong! 
Keep the Esprit and sell the V70. Easy.
Seriously if you love the Esprit and there is no need to sell it immediately then hang on.
The Elise and Esprit are different animals and each will provide you smiles per mile unobtainable elsewhere.
You can then be in the enviable position of having to choose which car to take out. If I had the space/ money I'd keep both as well.
Regards, Neil
PS. How often do you use/ need the estate if not often sell the v70 and hire a van as necessary.
Keep the Esprit and sell the V70. Easy.
Seriously if you love the Esprit and there is no need to sell it immediately then hang on.
The Elise and Esprit are different animals and each will provide you smiles per mile unobtainable elsewhere.
You can then be in the enviable position of having to choose which car to take out. If I had the space/ money I'd keep both as well.
Regards, Neil
PS. How often do you use/ need the estate if not often sell the v70 and hire a van as necessary.
Hi sounds like your heart is still with the Esprit to me. I think that if you sell it and move on to an Elise you would miss it very much, esp for those appearance nights where the Esprit stands out. Not saying that the Elise doesn't as its equally impressive, but the Esprit is bigger and seems to always get more attention. If I had the space an Exige would certainly be high on my list, but not to replace the Esprit.
Good luck am sure you will make the right decision.
Good luck am sure you will make the right decision.
I had a 1989 Turbo SE, red, tan leather... Sports exhaust, Performance Chip... fastest car I've ever owned 0-100mph!
Cornered beautifully on the freeway at over 100mph. However, on a very windy, twisting mountain roads, the elise kills it (and just about anything else) the esprit is basically double the weight of an S1 elise..
I bought a 111s and have to say, it maintains higher corner speeds in all corners, but never feels as though its "carving" the corner the way the esprit did (i think this because of centripetal force, and force=massxacceleration, so the heavier esprit feels,and is owing to the higher force, cornering "harder"- ie cheeks sag owing to the G's... *LOL*- umm only a alittle...
in honesty, I love the pornstar, 70's glam impact of my esprit (miss it for that reason) but everything I liked about the driving feel in the steering is amplified in the elise....
You will enjoy backroad blitz driving more in an elise- your passenger will enjoy a fast cross country trip in the esprit far more- they are different animals- one a GT, the other a race car..
Cornered beautifully on the freeway at over 100mph. However, on a very windy, twisting mountain roads, the elise kills it (and just about anything else) the esprit is basically double the weight of an S1 elise..
I bought a 111s and have to say, it maintains higher corner speeds in all corners, but never feels as though its "carving" the corner the way the esprit did (i think this because of centripetal force, and force=massxacceleration, so the heavier esprit feels,and is owing to the higher force, cornering "harder"- ie cheeks sag owing to the G's... *LOL*- umm only a alittle...
in honesty, I love the pornstar, 70's glam impact of my esprit (miss it for that reason) but everything I liked about the driving feel in the steering is amplified in the elise....
You will enjoy backroad blitz driving more in an elise- your passenger will enjoy a fast cross country trip in the esprit far more- they are different animals- one a GT, the other a race car..
I also had an 89 Esprit Turbo Se - but mine was pacific blue (or med blue - some sea or other I think)....lovely car......
to be fair I cant easily compaer as I have other extreme toys for when the elise isnt specia enouhg, but to be hones I have enjoyed the elise FAR mroe than the esprit for the simple reason I am never worried about it in the same way.
Within the first few months of esprit ownership it neded a new exhaust manifold, water pump, front discs....and at some point replacement master and slave brake cylinders and a new front bumper (800 quid unpainted!!!!!!!!!!!!!) The elise, in 3 years, has required 2 rear tyres and 1 set of brake pads.
Im not worried about getting it wrong and binning it...cos even if I do its more affordable. I dont worry about people damaging it...and im not terrified when I get caught in torrential rain as I was in the esprit.
just my thoughts really. I loved the esprit and at some point may get a newer one.....but teh elise is mroe fun more of the time.
Night
to be fair I cant easily compaer as I have other extreme toys for when the elise isnt specia enouhg, but to be hones I have enjoyed the elise FAR mroe than the esprit for the simple reason I am never worried about it in the same way.
Within the first few months of esprit ownership it neded a new exhaust manifold, water pump, front discs....and at some point replacement master and slave brake cylinders and a new front bumper (800 quid unpainted!!!!!!!!!!!!!) The elise, in 3 years, has required 2 rear tyres and 1 set of brake pads.
Im not worried about getting it wrong and binning it...cos even if I do its more affordable. I dont worry about people damaging it...and im not terrified when I get caught in torrential rain as I was in the esprit.
just my thoughts really. I loved the esprit and at some point may get a newer one.....but teh elise is mroe fun more of the time.
Night
I can understand where you're coming from - I've kept my Esprit S3 NA - in fact, my Elise matches it perfectly for colour scheme (Lotus Racing Green with tan leather) - neither Lotus is my daily drive (mainly use a Jaguar XJ8 or a Jeep Cherokee Sport for wintery weather).
I use the Lotus' at weekends mostly, occasionally the Elise to & from work - the Elise is easier to live with, no doubt - it's newer, more reliable and easier to drive - but of all my cars the Esprit gives me the most reward when I do drive it - throwing an Esprit through twisty bends means you really have to be at one with the car - the Elise almost does it for you, and is a lot more forgiving.
If garage space is the deciding factor, and you therefore have to choose between one or the other (i.e. both is not an option), personally I'd choose the Esprit. But it all depends on what you want from the car. If you want a car that will start first time after being left for 4 months, get an Elise - but if you want a car that will need ongoing TLC every alternate weekend, keep the Esprit.
Whichever you go with, make the choice and don't look back - let's face it, both are terrific drivers cars.
Jonathan 85S3NA
I use the Lotus' at weekends mostly, occasionally the Elise to & from work - the Elise is easier to live with, no doubt - it's newer, more reliable and easier to drive - but of all my cars the Esprit gives me the most reward when I do drive it - throwing an Esprit through twisty bends means you really have to be at one with the car - the Elise almost does it for you, and is a lot more forgiving.
If garage space is the deciding factor, and you therefore have to choose between one or the other (i.e. both is not an option), personally I'd choose the Esprit. But it all depends on what you want from the car. If you want a car that will start first time after being left for 4 months, get an Elise - but if you want a car that will need ongoing TLC every alternate weekend, keep the Esprit.
Whichever you go with, make the choice and don't look back - let's face it, both are terrific drivers cars.
Jonathan 85S3NA
I want to thank all of you for your answers.
I will keep the Esprit (Too much love and real supercar) and wait to find a garage near my office to buy an Elise.
In fact, in town I do not feel any pleasure with the Esprit and I almost fear to damage it (jam, steal,no nice streets or corners,...)
As some of you mentionned, the elise is certainly more easy to live everyday.
Thanks again, really appreciate your effort
Have a nice day
Ben
I will keep the Esprit (Too much love and real supercar) and wait to find a garage near my office to buy an Elise.
In fact, in town I do not feel any pleasure with the Esprit and I almost fear to damage it (jam, steal,no nice streets or corners,...)
As some of you mentionned, the elise is certainly more easy to live everyday.
Thanks again, really appreciate your effort
Have a nice day
Ben
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