Ground Clearance
Discussion
As a lifelong lover of Lotus cars, I am seriously considering purchasing an Esprit. However, I need advice.
My problem/question is as follows: With the low ground clearance, has anyone ever broken the front valance ? With only 3.1" of clearance, I know to use a great deal of "discretion", but in normal driving conditions on normal roads (in the U.S., southern U.S. at that), but I need to know if anyone has had this problem.
(If I broke the valance on a $90,000 Lotus,I'm afraid I would cry like a little girl !!! (And I'm 41 years old HA HA)
Please be patient with me. I'm a new member and this is my first post
My problem/question is as follows: With the low ground clearance, has anyone ever broken the front valance ? With only 3.1" of clearance, I know to use a great deal of "discretion", but in normal driving conditions on normal roads (in the U.S., southern U.S. at that), but I need to know if anyone has had this problem.
(If I broke the valance on a $90,000 Lotus,I'm afraid I would cry like a little girl !!! (And I'm 41 years old HA HA)
Please be patient with me. I'm a new member and this is my first post
Ditto Ed's comments. In normal driving its no problem, i've never grounded an esprit on the road in 40,000 miles. Steep driveways and carparks you will sometimes touch the front, but the lip is designed to take it, so you don't actually do any damage. Diagonal approach is usually best BTW 
As a lifelong lover of Lotus cars, I am seriously considering purchasing an Esprit. However, I need advice.
My problem/question is as follows: With the low ground clearance, has anyone ever broken the front valance ? With only 3.1" of clearance, I know to use a great deal of "discretion", but in normal driving conditions on normal roads (in the U.S., southern U.S. at that), but I need to know if anyone has had this problem.
(If I broke the valance on a $90,000 Lotus,I'm afraid I would cry like a little girl !!! (And I'm 41 years old HA HA)
Please be patient with me. I'm a new member and this is my first post
My '89 never hit any gutters. But when I bought my S4s, I cracked the front valance after 4 days. Got it fixed and learned to drive it differently - taking great care about road conditions, angle of ascent of driveways, etc. Never put a scratch on it since and it's been years.
Good question because I ask myself this all the time. Being from Mississippi you've got dead possums, skunks, armadillos, dogs, etc in the road. Hard to avoid hitting them sometimes. Deer are a big problem at night. They like committing suicide with cars. I don't drive the Lotus at night on a highway.
I also have a 2002 Firebird and one night I ran over a large dead dog. I just knew I ripped something from underneath the car but fortunately I didn't.
To avoid Curbs and things like that you just have to get the feel of driving the car and approach at an angle. You'll get used to it and it will become second nature.
I see you are from Tennessee. Maybe we could get together sometime. I'm from Starkville home of Mississippi State University.
Have fun!!
louis
I also have a 2002 Firebird and one night I ran over a large dead dog. I just knew I ripped something from underneath the car but fortunately I didn't.
To avoid Curbs and things like that you just have to get the feel of driving the car and approach at an angle. You'll get used to it and it will become second nature.
I see you are from Tennessee. Maybe we could get together sometime. I'm from Starkville home of Mississippi State University.
Have fun!!
louis
Skerd said: It is 4.1" of ground clearance, not 3.1". Unless you are talking about the new, lower front spoiler anniversary ones currently being made. If you do need to replace the two black plastic pieces they are $ 556.
What the hell. WHy does it cost $556!?! Everything in this world is way overpriced. Its a black piece of plastic for damn sake!
On my 2000 V8, ground clearance at the front valence is 5.0 inches.... measured it many times before I bought a lift. Clearance on the lift was 4.75 inches for drive-over. The lift lives under the Esprit... drive in/out all the time without trouble.... unless someone else is in the car, then it's a problem!
Regards, KM
2000 V8
Regards, KM
2000 V8
The previous owner of my Esprit cracked the valance on a speed hump which there are an increasing amount of in the U.K. I have only really had clearance problems on steep drives and sometimes in multi story car parks, but not anything to worry about and I wouldn't let it affect your decision to buy one because they are an amazing car.
Where in TN? I'm in Nashville and only know of one other Lotus in the area.
Not sure how to post a picture on this site, but I hope the link will work.
[url] http://community.webshots.com/album/50564457Wdorqk [/url]
Jeff
'99 V8 Titanium
Not sure how to post a picture on this site, but I hope the link will work.
[url] http://community.webshots.com/album/50564457Wdorqk [/url]
Jeff
'99 V8 Titanium
My driveway is up a hill and I just have to take it slow and approach from an angle. Ditto backing it out.
I occasionaly have to slow down at some intersections where the roads are 'domed', and potholes aren't fun. All speed bumps must be taken slowly and from an angle. High ones require that my passenger (if any) disembark.
But like the previous person said, it certainly handles any obstacle. Do NOT think the car is rendered impractical. It simply isn't that bad.
>> Edited by 99whiteV8 on Monday 8th August 00:32
I occasionaly have to slow down at some intersections where the roads are 'domed', and potholes aren't fun. All speed bumps must be taken slowly and from an angle. High ones require that my passenger (if any) disembark.
But like the previous person said, it certainly handles any obstacle. Do NOT think the car is rendered impractical. It simply isn't that bad.
>> Edited by 99whiteV8 on Monday 8th August 00:32
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