Fab GT3 in the Classifieds

[renmure]

Ok, I guess I am a bit biased but is really is a fantasic example. Only for sale cause I want a Ferrari 355. Not totaly deserting the Lotus fold tho since the 111R and S1 Exige are staying.

Jim

[richardmancunian]

THe 355 will dissapoint you compared to the GT3. Dont let the badge dazzle you.

[renmure]

richardmancunian said:

THe 355 will dissapoint you compared to the GT3. Dont let the badge dazzle you.

Is that from personal experience? This is my 2nd Esprit, never had a 355 so looking forward to the change but genuinely interested in your view.

Jim

[richardmancunian]

I have driven a 355 and it was no quicker than my GT3 at legal speeds.

I now have a V8 which will leave 355s behind no problem. I believe 355s lose their bhp with age whereas most V8s are well above 350 bhp.

I used to aspire to a 355 but I honestly believe the Esprit is a much better car.

OK it does quite have the same kudos re badge but I think it looks and goes a lot better.

Edited by richardmancunian on Tuesday 7th November 23:16

[snuffy]

Having had a GT3 and a V8 and now a Noble there is no contest.

[renmure]

Thanks for the feedback. I really like the GT3, it is very involving to drive, looks great and is a lot of car for the money. Not sure if I feel that I 'aspire' to a Ferrari but I certainly want one and think that the 355 will be fast/flash enough for me.

I have nothing particularly against Nobles and have seen a couple perform really impressively on track. Looks wise they just dont 'do it' for me, I prefer the S1 exige and probably wouldn't have thought to compare the Noble with an Esprit. Thankfully we can all be happy with what we have

Jim

Edited by renmure on Saturday 4th November 20:11

Edited by renmure on Saturday 4th November 20:12

[richardmancunian]

At the end of the day its what makes you excited and puts a smile on your face.

The 355 is a great car with probably the most desireable badge on the bonnet.

If you can afford it then treat yourself!

Plus it sounds a lot better than the Esprit.

Edited by richardmancunian on Saturday 4th November 21:38

[renmure]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Cool.

Did you fit the rear spoiler, twin exit exhaust, rear valance, front spoiler stuff or did you buy it with all that fitted?

Jim

[renmure]

I believe the guy you sold it to was called Chris Sabatelli(sp). He in turn sold it to a guy in Aberdeen. I bought it from him early summer time. It really is a spankingly good car. Only for sale (a) cause SWMBO wont drive it due to heavy clutch and (b) soooo many nice 355s at the moment. Good luck in your Esprit hunt. Hope you get one as nice as the one you sold lol

[armynick]

I have a QUICK SILVER exhaust on my GT3 and no CAT. It is loud and sounds faaaar better than a Ferrari.

Anyway, Ferrari's (although f'ing gorgeous) have an image that goes with older rich men and men with curly mullets.

I find driving around London, my Esprit get's admiring looks of interest everytime I take it out. Maybe it's the noise? Ha

[ferrarispider]

richardmancunian said:

I have driven a 355 and it was no quicker than my GT3 at legal speeds.

I now have a V8 which will leave 355s behind no problem. I believe 355s lose their bhp with age whereas most V8s are well above 350 bhp.

Edited by richardmancunian on Tuesday 7th November 23:16

LOL!! now stop getting carried away dude They dont loose power with age what so ever. My own 355 spider has 46k miles on the clock and is 10 years old and was dynoed three months ago with 328 BHP @ the wheels, with nearly 400@ the crank. So dont beleve every thing ya read on the walls And no GT3 has ever left me behind LOL! I have personaly seen over 180mph from mine no problems, and it pulls like a train.
I love the Lotus Esprit personaly very much indeed. But when you own your first Ferrari there is somthing very special about driving one. They are no better or worse than the Esprit, its what ever floats ya boat thats all.
MB: Here are 3 videos of my spider sparing with a mate of mine in a 993TT, the exhaust of mine is a Capristo, I advise you start with the video on the right first.enjoy.....or maybe not http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n2

Edited by ferrarispider on Sunday 3rd December 13:11

[cross-eyed-twit]

nice ... with a capital N


how noisy is that then? have you had it measured using a soundmeter?

Edited by cross-eyed-twit on Sunday 3rd December 13:17

[britten_mark]

Whatever floats your boat, too right mate. These model-specific forums tend to make people a little partisan to say the least, lets all have a Lambo/Lotus/Ferrari group hug.

I wish ANY Lotus sounded that good. Some journo (might have been Denis Jenkinson or the like) wrote years ago that you appreciate a Ferrari when you see one but you have to drive a Lotus to love it. I can appreciate old Colin's principles, and 4 cylinders is adequate for forward propulsion, but someone should have told him there are emotive needs to satisfy too.

[ferrarispider]

True and good responce dude. You know i would be just as proud to drive a Lotus as a ferrari. I have had and do drive many supercars. But at this stage in my life i love Italian cars and bikes.
I think the Esprit and 355s are very good rivals indeed. But you will never hear me say that my car is faster than "bla, bla, bla" There all good for various reasons.
There is a saying, Indian food is good, Italian food is good, English food is good, all food is good One type of food only would not be good.
If there is ever a Middland Lotus Esprit meet and i was wellcome i would be there for the crack

[renmure]

Well, my 'Fabulous GT3' in the classifieds sold pretty quickly to a nice guy from Norwich. He will be collecting it this comming weekend and I am sure will be more than delighted with it. My 1st Lotus was an s3 Turbo Esprit and I wanted it because it really matched the picture in my head as to what a Supercar looked and sounded like. By the time I bought the GT3 I was onto my 5th Lotus and it still matched my mental picture of a proper Supercar.

I should be collecting my F355 GTB before xmas and again I am sure that it will live up to my mental expectation of a Ferrari. A very loud red Red/Crema Ferrari was the mental picture so I am sure that a red/creama F355 with Tubi exhaust will fit the bill. However, the Esprit will always be a special car and I appreciate that I have been lucky to own one.

Jim

[richardmancunian]

I can only speak from what I have seen for myself.

I think the 355 is a great car and Ferrari a great name. But the rolling road results I have seen for 355s are lower than expected and having driven a 355 it was slower than I expected.

No offense intended its just what I have experienced. I guess other people have just had different expriences with different 355s just as poeple have had different experiences with Esprits.

They are not all the same you know.

Anyway enjoy your 355 it looks great.

Edited by richardmancunian on Friday 8th December 20:07