Esprit 350 Sport
Discussion
Lotus Esprit lovers. I am starting to get interested in a 350 sport. I am aware there are only a few around, and of those some have been altered.
I have been searching to read stories and reviews. Has anyone some recent stories of your enjoyment of the car, so I can start to do that thing which we all do when thinking about seeking out a new p&j. Current ride is 348tb; previous owmership record is suitably eclectic and iconic.
I have been searching to read stories and reviews. Has anyone some recent stories of your enjoyment of the car, so I can start to do that thing which we all do when thinking about seeking out a new p&j. Current ride is 348tb; previous owmership record is suitably eclectic and iconic.
I was fortunate to drive a Sport 350 around the Nurburgring a few years ago. It remains the most composed and capable car over the curbs there I have ever driven. I used to own a V8GT and was amazed how much better the 350 was to drive. The seats are way more supportive, the carbon details really lift the interior and it felt significantly faster than my V8GT. But the ride was no worse at all, possibly even better while cornering limits were increased and roll reduced. I'm still not sure how they did it but the lighter magnesium wheels must have played their part! The brakes were immense.
The gearbox in that particular example was knackered which was the only fly in the ointment. Generally the gearbox is the least impressive feature for V8 esprits generally, they are a bit rubbery and vague at best. I also drove an Exige 240 the same day for comparison and the Esprit just felt effortlessly quicker around the nurburgring. Sport 350's are very under-rated, they are the V8 Esprit I'd go for without hesitation. But finding a good example won't be easy. Good luck!
The gearbox in that particular example was knackered which was the only fly in the ointment. Generally the gearbox is the least impressive feature for V8 esprits generally, they are a bit rubbery and vague at best. I also drove an Exige 240 the same day for comparison and the Esprit just felt effortlessly quicker around the nurburgring. Sport 350's are very under-rated, they are the V8 Esprit I'd go for without hesitation. But finding a good example won't be easy. Good luck!
I have never forgotten that afternoon back in 2006 when I stepped out of the F360 that I had just tested and jumped into a Sport 350. 30 minutes later I stopped thinking about a buying a Ferrari.
Finding a Sport 350, or any V8 especially a good one will take time. However, I preferred the look of the final V8 model but somehow keeping the Sport 350 dynamics. The differences are subtle but important if you want to do what I did:
Springs and shocks are different, ARBs are much thicker. Brakes are the same. The most noticeable change comes from the ECU in the Sport 350 which is only torque limited in 1st (compared to the V8 which is limited to and extent in all gears except 5th). I was lucky to find a final V8 with magnesium wheels too.
The end result feels like a Sport 350 but has the look of a final edition V8. It is seriously fast and dynamically so well balanced. Just don't rush the gearbox.
Finding a Sport 350, or any V8 especially a good one will take time. However, I preferred the look of the final V8 model but somehow keeping the Sport 350 dynamics. The differences are subtle but important if you want to do what I did:
Springs and shocks are different, ARBs are much thicker. Brakes are the same. The most noticeable change comes from the ECU in the Sport 350 which is only torque limited in 1st (compared to the V8 which is limited to and extent in all gears except 5th). I was lucky to find a final V8 with magnesium wheels too.
The end result feels like a Sport 350 but has the look of a final edition V8. It is seriously fast and dynamically so well balanced. Just don't rush the gearbox.
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