Have to say something
Discussion
Just got a 1990 Esprit last week after drooling to get an exotic car for 15 years. Have always been a huge Lambo fan but need a wait another few years to fry one of those suckers.
I am thrilled with the Esprit, looks fantastic and attracts some attention. Have been reading all the emails and hints etc in this website. It really helped me understand what I was getting myself into.
I am a bit embarrased to tell my workmates actually, considering it cost less than a upper class family car, it certainly is a lot of exotic for not that much cash.
Looking forward to a few years of fun. Keep up the good work. Have fun.....
jason
I am thrilled with the Esprit, looks fantastic and attracts some attention. Have been reading all the emails and hints etc in this website. It really helped me understand what I was getting myself into.
I am a bit embarrased to tell my workmates actually, considering it cost less than a upper class family car, it certainly is a lot of exotic for not that much cash.
Looking forward to a few years of fun. Keep up the good work. Have fun.....
jason
quote:
I am a bit embarrased to tell my workmates actually, considering it cost less than a upper class family car, it certainly is a lot of exotic for not that much cash.
I work on a contract where most everyone is employed by different companies, but that's transparent as we all work closely together. Since I got the Esprit though, everyone looks at me differently, like somehow my company pays me considerably more than theirs does. I'm pretty much the only one here (among several hundred) who routinely gets asked, "Which company do YOU work for???" Many of those who ask probably make more than I do.
It's kind of funny, a part of owning such a car is the prestige it brings, but I constantly have to shirk it off and let folks know it doesn't cost as much as they think so I don't become a pariah around here
Congrats on your purchase, enjoy it!!!
Mike
Well done Sir!
The classic bangs/buck theory in action!
Saw Roger doing his thing in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' on the box the other night - an original S1 version from '77 and I have to say, still an absolute corker to this day.
Drove a V8 recently and it was mighty impressive: Cerbera-like oomph but with the benefit of being honed by the Chassis-Meisters themselves.
Only negatives were the offset pedals and recalcitrant gear change (from a Renault 25?)
But like you say, still a head turner and fast enough to play in the Big League.
BTW, which model is it?
The classic bangs/buck theory in action!
Saw Roger doing his thing in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' on the box the other night - an original S1 version from '77 and I have to say, still an absolute corker to this day.
Drove a V8 recently and it was mighty impressive: Cerbera-like oomph but with the benefit of being honed by the Chassis-Meisters themselves.
Only negatives were the offset pedals and recalcitrant gear change (from a Renault 25?)
But like you say, still a head turner and fast enough to play in the Big League.
BTW, which model is it?
I have wanted an Esprit since I saw my first one at a local dealership in '76. It only took me 25 years
{ mainly because of the cost } but to drive something as wild as this for what they cost now is a bargin!
I don't drive it for the attention but more for the love. However the attention is unreal! Working on all marques and meeting the owners of those cars, the best thing about owning a Lotus is Loti owners are the greatest group of people!
Robert
'87 Turbo Esprit hci
{ mainly because of the cost } but to drive something as wild as this for what they cost now is a bargin!
I don't drive it for the attention but more for the love. However the attention is unreal! Working on all marques and meeting the owners of those cars, the best thing about owning a Lotus is Loti owners are the greatest group of people!
Robert
'87 Turbo Esprit hci
I bought my S1 last year for $8,500. In Southern California, where I see brand new Porsches at every stoplight costing 10 times that amount, it never fails to turn the heads of the Porsche drivers! Maybe it's because the angular lines on the Esprit are so radically different from the curves on a Porsche? Also, whenever my wife and I go out to dinner, the valet parks the car right up front next to the Porsches and Mercedes that cost much, much more. Personally, I didn't buy the car for the attention, I bought it because I have loved the Esprit since I first saw it in the Bond movie. Therefore, I think I'll have to get the windows tinted because all the stares are starting to bug me...
I have loved lotus since the day my Dad Towed his '77 esprit home. It had no eingine And the electrical was shot. Intstead of puting the old four into it we put in a rotary at 300hp and it was fun. After It we ended up buing an '88 Esprit witch I now own. And after a year and a 6 mounths of rebuilding and instaling new fuel injection I am going to bring it home Tomorrow.
Guy, I was wondering about the rotary installation...
How were you able to mate it to the Citroen transaxle? Was it a 13B dual rotor or a 13G/20B triple rotor? I personally have been entertaining the idea of a rotary for my Esprit... I'm very impressed with the size to HP ratio. Can you also provide details on motor mounts?
A rotary might be shocking to the Lotus purists, but I don't intend to enter the car in any shows...
How were you able to mate it to the Citroen transaxle? Was it a 13B dual rotor or a 13G/20B triple rotor? I personally have been entertaining the idea of a rotary for my Esprit... I'm very impressed with the size to HP ratio. Can you also provide details on motor mounts?
A rotary might be shocking to the Lotus purists, but I don't intend to enter the car in any shows...
Well Like i said me And My Dad put it to gether . I Now That the cross member had to be relocated to make for a wider space for the rotary.
The starter has to be relocated I can not remember were.
The throtile linkage and the Shift linkage has to be redone Because instead of the v block you will have a rotary witch is square. Ther are adaptor plates made to fit the rotary to the Trans.
A company called kennedy Enginering made the Adaptors. The Starter has to be relocated, as well as the motor mounts.
But most of all is cooling rotary's create more heat
we Blew to engines trying to keep it cool.
The front nose had to be modified for a bigger radiator .
The starter has to be relocated I can not remember were.
The throtile linkage and the Shift linkage has to be redone Because instead of the v block you will have a rotary witch is square. Ther are adaptor plates made to fit the rotary to the Trans.
A company called kennedy Enginering made the Adaptors. The Starter has to be relocated, as well as the motor mounts.
But most of all is cooling rotary's create more heat
we Blew to engines trying to keep it cool.
The front nose had to be modified for a bigger radiator .
The valet I've had no problem with. However, the mechanic who smog certified the car convinced me that I should leave it overnight so he could work on it. Apparently, he let all his 19 year old friends test drive it! It cost me a new rear main seal and throw-out bearing. Only Lotus certified mechanics for me from now on...
Window tinting...
I've thought about that... having a black car with dark tinted windows would look great not to mention cutting down the heat,and all of the lookers not seeing you! But the problem with " Quick " tint is that it doesn't last long before it gets bubbles or chewed up from the window going up and down. The stares get tiring, but then again... hey... I'm driving a Lotus and the onlookers are driving a Stupid Urban Vehicle!
Cheers,
Robert
I've thought about that... having a black car with dark tinted windows would look great not to mention cutting down the heat,and all of the lookers not seeing you! But the problem with " Quick " tint is that it doesn't last long before it gets bubbles or chewed up from the window going up and down. The stares get tiring, but then again... hey... I'm driving a Lotus and the onlookers are driving a Stupid Urban Vehicle!
Cheers,
Robert
I have a black S4s with pitch black windows. The S4s's here in Aust have the wheel arches that the V8's have as well as the larger V8 wheels.
You can see pics of it at (I am not the one in the first pic, that's my girl
):
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/andecorp/lst?.dir=/Esprit+S4s
>> Edited by andecorp on Friday 30th August 13:55
You can see pics of it at (I am not the one in the first pic, that's my girl
): http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/andecorp/lst?.dir=/Esprit+S4s
>> Edited by andecorp on Friday 30th August 13:55
Also, my previous Esprit was a white NA also with fully tinted windows.
Here's pics of it:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/andecorp/lst?.dir=/Esprit+NA
>> Edited by andecorp on Friday 30th August 14:03
Here's pics of it:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/andecorp/lst?.dir=/Esprit+NA
>> Edited by andecorp on Friday 30th August 14:03
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