Sport300 vs Sport350

Sport300 vs Sport350

Author
Discussion

Bibs_LEF

Original Poster:

790 posts

212 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
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Have you seen Octane, Feb 2010?

Find out which Esprit from the top of the pile really is king!


Loteuk

219 posts

272 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
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Great write up! The 300 looks awesome in Black biglaugh

mikeS350

190 posts

177 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
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I've gone to the store everyday hoping to see the Feb issue but no luck yet. (I'm currently in US visiting with friends). I would sure love to know the outcome! Can you spill the beans???

Bibs_LEF

Original Poster:

790 posts

212 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
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That would spoil it! BTW the article is written by Adam Towler, ex editor of Pistonheads!

Kylie

4,391 posts

262 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
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Got my copy thanks to Andy. beer Would like to have seen more testing on different circuits and weather conditions though. A good read for any Lotus lover!


Kylie

4,391 posts

262 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
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fesuvious said:
If your comparing the last of the V8's to a 350 to compare to a 300 . nup nil nute nudder not the same fish smile 350 quite different in every respect to the std Esprit v8. yes

mikeS350

190 posts

177 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
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OK, my ADHD can't take this anymore. Would anyone be willing to at least answer the following....was there a clear winner???

Bibs_LEF

Original Poster:

790 posts

212 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
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Yes, yes there was. Well kind of anyway!

biggrin

peter_england99

68 posts

238 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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The problem with the comparison is that Lotus legal team didn't allow them to time the cars on the track. Hence, for me the article was a good read, but as it was reviewing sports cars with a bias towards track work, a review without their actual track time is a bit like comparing two F1 cars on which has the nicer paint job.

For me, as track cars I'd like to know if the lighter/limited slip diff/wider tyres of the S300 is sufficient to make up for the turbo lag and reduced torque and power over most of the rev range in comparison to the S350.

Regards,
Peter.

Kylie

4,391 posts

262 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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mikeS350 said:
OK, my ADHD can't take this anymore.
You really need to get that seen to Mike wink

GKP

15,099 posts

246 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Bibs_LEF said:
Yes, yes there was. Well kind of anyway!

biggrin
Depends who you talk to...


biggrin

Loteuk

219 posts

272 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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Er....the 300 (obviously)!

mikeS350

190 posts

177 months

Saturday 16th January 2010
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Loteuk said:
Er....the 300 (obviously)!
says the Lotus 300 owner!biggrin

Loteuk

219 posts

272 months

Saturday 16th January 2010
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The Pits

4,289 posts

245 months

Thursday 4th February 2010
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While I haven't driven a Sport 300 (sadly), I used to own an Esprit Turbo SE and also a V8-GT.

I did drive a Sport 350 around the nurburgring and was amazed by it. The ride, handling, brakes, seats and somehow even the acceleration were all considerably better than my V8GT. I have never driven a car that was so unfazed by the kerbs at the 'ring. You really could attack the corners and it felt very secure and benign. Beautifully set up. It felt considerably quicker around the than an 240bhp Exige that I also drove on the same day.

The Sport 300 is and will always be a Lotus legend but the Sport 350 is one of the most underrated cars ever. The 2nd hand values of the two cars, especially considering they actually made fewer Sport 350s, are quite out of step with reality.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still love a Sport 300 in the garage but for I'll wager for driving hard the Sport 350 is much more on the pace with modern machinery. As it should be in fairness.

Bibs_LEF

Original Poster:

790 posts

212 months

Thursday 4th February 2010
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I have to agree, the 350 is a hell of a machine and does feel a lot better to drive than a stock V8.

My drive, right now biggrin


Tassa

50 posts

234 months

Friday 5th February 2010
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The Pits said:
While I haven't driven a Sport 300 (sadly), I used to own an Esprit Turbo SE and also a V8-GT.

I did drive a Sport 350 around the nurburgring and was amazed by it. The ride, handling, brakes, seats and somehow even the acceleration were all considerably better than my V8GT. I have never driven a car that was so unfazed by the kerbs at the 'ring. You really could attack the corners and it felt very secure and benign. Beautifully set up. It felt considerably quicker around the than an 240bhp Exige that I also drove on the same day.

The Sport 300 is and will always be a Lotus legend but the Sport 350 is one of the most underrated cars ever. The 2nd hand values of the two cars, especially considering they actually made fewer Sport 350s, are quite out of step with reality.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still love a Sport 300 in the garage but for I'll wager for driving hard the Sport 350 is much more on the pace with modern machinery. As it should be in fairness.
Seeing as it was my 350 The Pits was driving.. I would have to concur with him... not sure I'm so happy that he was "riding the curves"... well at least I got a couple of laps out of his c7 wink

Still, the finest car I have owned... the car was monster fast and handled like a much smaller car too... the drive to the nurburgring was just as impressive on the twistys and had no problems against the exige we went with...

I even had Sabinne Schmitt drive me around in my 350 around the ring and so can say I have seen the car as close to it's limit as can be... no brainer for me, but aren't we arguing over Bollinger and Krug?

The Pits

4,289 posts

245 months

Friday 5th February 2010
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Hi mate,

nice analogy!

where have you been lately? I could have done with you around recently the hun-loving botty boys from the porsche forum have been all over this place recently! The place still whiffs of bratwurst!

Namor

64 posts

214 months

Friday 5th February 2010
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Suggest you check the frankfurters in your own basement before you start throwing around sasuage comments.

Did you ever try ordering a new 911 turbo for yourself? or was it a BMW 3 series? or both!

Tassa - fancy Silverstone GP on 19 March for £159 squids?? get some Scrotus wheels man or one of Ferdinands finest.

Tassa

50 posts

234 months

Monday 8th February 2010
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All good Pits... I did get a waft of Roast Pork on this forum... what the hecks going on?

Rode the bike into work this morning(freezing my nuts off) but could hardly move for the sheer qty of Porkypoos in london ... more common thaan cabbies

Get some indiviuality ffs.

Silverstone a no-go for me I'm afraid