Woman Driving Esprits?
Discussion
Just wondered on how many of you share your Lottie's with your misses's/girlfriends. I actually found it cheaper to have insurance with my girlfriend added than I did with out. I suspect they think that if she is in the car she will be saying "Slow Down" more, thus cheaper insurance.
I let my girl friend drive her, as our other car is a 4 seater Volvo and we have two kids, so when she disappers for the weekend and I have the kids I must have the Volvo, so I insited she has the Lotus, to my surprise she welcomed the idea. For some reason I though she would hate the idea, as she hated driving the M3. When she returned after the first time I questioned her on her experience, she said it was just a car (Mistake Number 1
), She said she like that everyone stared at her, being 25 6ft blonde (please trust me, if I really have too I will do the pics) driving an Esprit, I supose you would look. I thought it was awsome she did enjoy the experience even if it was for girlie reasons, eg being looked at rather than enjoying the drive.
Cheers
I let my girl friend drive her, as our other car is a 4 seater Volvo and we have two kids, so when she disappers for the weekend and I have the kids I must have the Volvo, so I insited she has the Lotus, to my surprise she welcomed the idea. For some reason I though she would hate the idea, as she hated driving the M3. When she returned after the first time I questioned her on her experience, she said it was just a car (Mistake Number 1
), She said she like that everyone stared at her, being 25 6ft blonde (please trust me, if I really have too I will do the pics) driving an Esprit, I supose you would look. I thought it was awsome she did enjoy the experience even if it was for girlie reasons, eg being looked at rather than enjoying the drive. Cheers
My wife won't go near the driver's seat. I think she is afraid of it. Or maybe just the repercussions if anything goes wrong 
She drives the S-type and even borrows my X-type ("because it has some giddyup"), but I have not convinced her to take the Esprit out for a spin yet.
I must say that she looks quite marvelous in the passenger's seat though
ErnestM
She drives the S-type and even borrows my X-type ("because it has some giddyup"), but I have not convinced her to take the Esprit out for a spin yet.
I must say that she looks quite marvelous in the passenger's seat though
ErnestM
I share mine with myself thanks 
Infact I very rarely let him drive it. I somehow have become very protective of it, its not like me to behave like this, but this car has made me this way, silly really. I like to be seen in mine and makes me giggle when people do a double take to see its a girl behind the wheel, its a feel good thing and great conversation starter where ever I go.
I think more girls should get in them, just to share the great experience's I have had, but from a female point of view they can be hard to park in narrow spaces, gear changes not exactly user friendly, seeing out the rear a bit hard if the wing is in the wrong place and where does the grocery and general shopping spree items go if your friend is beside you? You can only fit so much in. Its a super car after all, not made to be practical.
Anyway good to see other peoples views on this.
Cheers
Kylie
>> Edited by kylie on Friday 12th December 03:04
Infact I very rarely let him drive it. I somehow have become very protective of it, its not like me to behave like this, but this car has made me this way, silly really. I like to be seen in mine and makes me giggle when people do a double take to see its a girl behind the wheel, its a feel good thing and great conversation starter where ever I go. I think more girls should get in them, just to share the great experience's I have had, but from a female point of view they can be hard to park in narrow spaces, gear changes not exactly user friendly, seeing out the rear a bit hard if the wing is in the wrong place and where does the grocery and general shopping spree items go if your friend is beside you? You can only fit so much in. Its a super car after all, not made to be practical.
Anyway good to see other peoples views on this.
Cheers
Kylie
>> Edited by kylie on Friday 12th December 03:04
Hi,
After 6 years of owning our Esprit, I finally insisted that lotusgirl take a test drive.
We live along a long, winding, lightly travelled road which runs the bank of the Mississippi River here in Minneapolis. Anyway, lotusgirl got into the driver's seat, a far cry from her Lincoln Continental.
She put the car in first gear, signalled, and pulled away from the curb, then shifted into second gear around 30mph, pulled back over to the curb and proudly announced "That was fun..!"
She hasn't driven the Esprit since, although she's a real trooper and has been my co-pilot at triple digit speeds many more times than I can count. Happy Motoring!...Jim'85TE
After 6 years of owning our Esprit, I finally insisted that lotusgirl take a test drive.
We live along a long, winding, lightly travelled road which runs the bank of the Mississippi River here in Minneapolis. Anyway, lotusgirl got into the driver's seat, a far cry from her Lincoln Continental.
She put the car in first gear, signalled, and pulled away from the curb, then shifted into second gear around 30mph, pulled back over to the curb and proudly announced "That was fun..!"
She hasn't driven the Esprit since, although she's a real trooper and has been my co-pilot at triple digit speeds many more times than I can count. Happy Motoring!...Jim'85TE
the cars nice but shes better! 
MY better half never drove mine, despite me trying to get her to.
She kept saying " I know how much you love this car and even if it wasn't my fault, if something happened while I was driving it I'd feel aweful"
I think Esprit owners are very fanatical about their cars, whether you are male or female - the Esprit is not just another car. It's that certain something that makes us live with them come rain or shine. And I think our respective partners pick up on that, and even though I wouldn't have cared if she'd have done anything, I think she probably had the impression I would boil her cat on the stove in the middle of the night if she did!!
....besides I don't know how to cook.....
JC
She kept saying " I know how much you love this car and even if it wasn't my fault, if something happened while I was driving it I'd feel aweful"
I think Esprit owners are very fanatical about their cars, whether you are male or female - the Esprit is not just another car. It's that certain something that makes us live with them come rain or shine. And I think our respective partners pick up on that, and even though I wouldn't have cared if she'd have done anything, I think she probably had the impression I would boil her cat on the stove in the middle of the night if she did!!
....besides I don't know how to cook..... JC
Try to convince my wife aswell, but she is afraid of something happening, because she knows how I like the car and how rare are the good exemples.
I was expecting she would try because she like to drive fast but with the quick feeling of speed in the esprit I would expect her to stay below 100 mph.
Will try again this summer.......
Ben
I was expecting she would try because she like to drive fast but with the quick feeling of speed in the esprit I would expect her to stay below 100 mph.
Will try again this summer.......
Ben
My Elan is used regularly by both myself and my other half (Big D).
I am allowed to drive the 340R but only when accompanied by him and the Elise is very nearly finished and soon I'll have use of that too - unaccompanied I trust!
I am a teeny little bit protective of the Elan, somehow she just doesn't seem as robust or chuckable as either the 340 or the Elise, but then she is an old lady now!
I am allowed to drive the 340R but only when accompanied by him and the Elise is very nearly finished and soon I'll have use of that too - unaccompanied I trust!
I am a teeny little bit protective of the Elan, somehow she just doesn't seem as robust or chuckable as either the 340 or the Elise, but then she is an old lady now!
My bint says she can't think of anything she'd rather not do than drive my Esprit. No power steering, heavy (for her) clutch, poor visibility. Fine by me, she can stick to her Puegoet 106. I dread to think what she'd be like trying to reverse the Lotus (Of course I have complete faith in her....)
(Of course I have complete faith in her....)
mustard said:
Your just being over protective.... mechanically tougher than the Elise or the 340R the Isuzu engines a tough little bugger! go give her a good spanking!
I'm told the same thing by Big D who (unfairly in my view) thinks I give it too much welly in the 340R simply because it isn't mine.
The Elan does feel very planted and I have every confidence, but I'm saving the real welly for when the Elise is finished and we get it out on the track!
and as this is the Esprit forum...I drove my dad's (now sadly sold) Esprit S4 twice....both times with white knuckles, a thumping heart and sweating with fear!
Well, I'm so glad to hear that its not just a GUYS's car (as if any car had those qualities).
I've been considering one for quite a while now. Yet...the thought in the back of my mind is that its too showy...that people look at the car all the time. I had a Audi TT; one of the first in New England. I was constantly asked about it, and stared at.
I think the Esprit is even more conspicuous (now at least), is it not? I'm sort of afraid that it would invite the wacko element.
Makenna
I've been considering one for quite a while now. Yet...the thought in the back of my mind is that its too showy...that people look at the car all the time. I had a Audi TT; one of the first in New England. I was constantly asked about it, and stared at.
I think the Esprit is even more conspicuous (now at least), is it not? I'm sort of afraid that it would invite the wacko element.
Makenna
the wacko element? all Lotus drivers ARE wacko - in the nicest possible way of course!
The Esprit will get looks wherever it goes - it's been in a James Bond film therefore it's a icon of motoring!
I always find people who approach me in the Lotus are either previous/current owners themselves or just genuinely interested in a "wow, what's that"? sort of way.
For some reason Lotus cars don't tend to bring out the "flash b*stard" comments quite so much as other sports cars and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that they are true drivers cars that do away with a lot of unecessary flash and glitz.
In my opinion anyway!
The Esprit will get looks wherever it goes - it's been in a James Bond film therefore it's a icon of motoring!
I always find people who approach me in the Lotus are either previous/current owners themselves or just genuinely interested in a "wow, what's that"? sort of way.
For some reason Lotus cars don't tend to bring out the "flash b*stard" comments quite so much as other sports cars and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that they are true drivers cars that do away with a lot of unecessary flash and glitz.
In my opinion anyway!
Tried to insure her on mine last time,but she had not been driving long enough and they say no. Should be able to let her have a go this year though,i want to.
The Esprit stops a LOT of money getting to the table,i SO want her to understand (before i get an SE!).
Does scare me a little,the Esprit has so many moving parts,and i've seen the mess she can make with just a cooker...
I Love Her to bits Though,(and the girlfriend).
PAUL C
The Esprit stops a LOT of money getting to the table,i SO want her to understand (before i get an SE!).
Does scare me a little,the Esprit has so many moving parts,and i've seen the mess she can make with just a cooker...
I Love Her to bits Though,(and the girlfriend).
PAUL C
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