308 vs. Lotus Esprit Turbo

My first magazine (Car) with a 308 in it was this very same thing with the Lotus back in June or July of 81. I was 13 then and I still have it now.

Can't wait to see this one. Thanks

 

Lotus is a faster car and looks great. I would think 308 is more reliable and better built. Let's see what the article says. I have the 308 but would not mind having a well-sorted Esprit Turbo.

 

Wow, you were born in 68.........Damn you're still young! Most my cars are older than you

 

It's mind-boggling to read that some other cars are actually considered to be "more reliable" than the Ferrari !!! However, in this case, I do believe the Lotus is the worse of the two evils.

 

If you check some of the Lotus websites (it might be lotus world) there is a section with old magazine articles often comparing 308s and 328 to Esprits. I haven't read any comparisions between 308s and Esprits in a long time, but there was a comparison between a 328GTB and the redesigned 1988 Esprit and the Ferrari seemed to be the overall winner of the comparison.

Best regards,
Dino

 

I too thought the Ferrari was a high maintenance car, but a few weeks ago when my Diesel Dodge pickup and Jeep Wrangler were down, I drove the Ferrari trouble free for a week!

 

I hope a week isn't some kind of record for you!

 

Oh yes, my Europa is completely reliable between breakdowns! My car is SO simple compared to the Esprit and 308, yet it had a lot of teething pains and still has issues come up. The relative complexity of the Esprit would make it even worse if it's not made with better parts.

I'm sure ANY Ferrari is more reliable than my car and probably the Esprit as well. That being said, the Esprit is quicker, faster and handles better than the 308. The Ferrai looks better, sounds better is probably more reliable and has more panache. Track people would want the Lotus, street drivers the 308. I'd take the 308 myself. Just my two cents of course...

Ken

 

Heck yea, I usually only drive it once a month!

 

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/roadtests.html

There's an especially good passage in one of the Autocar articles with the 308, Porsche 944 and Lotus Esprit:

And yet from the moment the Ferrari engine fired into life, there was only one car in it for us. The 308 is a classic; an enduring piece of engineering - the others time will pass by. Next year, perhaps, there will be an even better 944 Turbo; one day a different Esprit. But, though there is already a 328, that doesn't diminish the thrill of the 308.

I think that kind of says it.

 

In 2002, I started looking for my next project car, and the Lotus Esprit was on the potential list. I can't handle any degree of rust, so I looked for cars primarily from the Southwest. Every one I looked at had a trashed interior. Not just cracked, but every panel was twisted into a pretzel. Dashboards, consoles, door panels. These pieces were beyond repair, and I can't imagine what it would cost for new parts. I eventually bought a Pantera.

A friend also decided to buy an Esprit. He flew to California twice to look. Neither car would start. -Steve

 

An Esprit was on my short list of cars and I spent a lot of time lurking on the Lotus sites gathering information just as I did here before I bought the GT4.
From what I saw the Lotus is slightly less reliable and maybe not as well put together - better quality on the Ferrari, especially on the interior. Finding an Esprit with an interior that didn't look tired is rare, and the driver's seat in virtually every car looked deflated. But Lotus is a small company and thus they "steal" a lot of their parts from other cars. In the case of the transaxle this can be a problem, but for the most part it is a blessing. Tail lights, switches, and on and on are from mainstream cars and can be found cheap. No $400 distributor caps on a Lotus, for instance.

And although they are relatively close in price today (308 vs. Esprit), remember in comparisons that the Ferrari was at least twice as expensive, the Esprit has always been sort of a performance bargain, priced sort of between the 8 cylinder Ferraris and the Corvette.

An Esprit is still on my short list of cars to own someday.

 

I must admit i have a soft spot for the Esprit, i have had around 10, all Giugaros Turbos, S2's and a couple of S1s one of which i still have and i would still have a Turbo had i not smashed it up last year. I used them all every day and can honestly say they were no trouble at all. Ill buy another Turbo if i see the right car, a good usable car especially in the UKs climate! But nothing beats the romance and magic of driving a Ferrari!
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Wow - that Euro 308 GTS in yellow is one classic ride.

 

I found my '84 Esprit to be a true joy to drive, and the lines on the car are almost as sexy as a 308. The winner for best engine sound goes to Ferrari, for sure.

However, a good example can be had for about 1/2 the price of a 308 QV, maintenance costs were much lower that the '83 QV I owned, and you'll turn just as many heads. In hindsight, I'm a bit upset I sold her. She went to a collector in Denmark.

Photos for those interested:

http://jaketrading.tripod.com/LotusEsprit/

 

Nice looking yellow Esprit! It does fit in with the other Italian cars because of its Italian design body. In terms of exterior appearance, a 308GT4 vs Esprit comparison is warranted, to compliment the Urracco vs 308GT4 thread that was up a while ago. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132790

 

Nice collection of motors. You can only be the chap I met at the Ace Café the other day. Really nice looking Esprit, star of the show I thought (black 308 notwithstanding). See you at the next do.

As for the 308 vs Esprit article, not wishing to spoil the read for anyone but there's a 'clear winner' at the end. I think they're both great.

 

Great looking Esprit. Ever since I saw that white Esprit in The Spy Who Love Me, I've loved the looks of the S1 Esprit. It was a shame that in order to get the added power of the Turbo the cars came with all the tacked on looking spoilers and ground effects. The original shape is really fantastic.

Best regards,
Dino

 

I love Esprits but I know they are small inside even by Ferrari standards. I am sure my large frame (6'1) would be way cramped as I am "gravity challenged" (A.K.A.) FAT. They are good value, especially the 1989 and on cars. The early cars are my favorites but can I live with 160HP? As far as looks go, only a handfull of sports cars (including the one below) look better.
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I'll take my 308 for its classic beauty. It is like Jackie Bissett, Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs all wrapped up in one tight, sexy package that never ages. The Lotus is very nice and incredibly quick for having such a small motor, but I find the lines a little more harsh than the 308's blended shape.

Having said this, a later model Esprit packing a V8, done in British Racing Green/Tan interior is a very pretty sight that is difficult not to stare at

Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada

 

ok, i have an 89 lotus esprit turbo se , and have had 4 Ferrari 308's so far. 1 308 GTS, 2 308 Gtb's , and a 308 GT4, all carb cars.

the short form of my opinion of these cars is as follows:

the 308's are classic, and i mean that in a good/bad way. comparing a 70's 308 to a an 89 SE Esprit is just not fair, the lotus is WAY easier to drive in traffic, and have fun while getting there. the pedals in the lotus are a bit too close together, but you get used to that. the rear visibility in both cars is ok, with the lotus having better mirrors on both sides of the car you can actually see out of.
the passenger side mirror, it the 308 even has one, is almost useless.

The lotus ( mine anyway) get around 28 miles per gallon. carb 308.... around 13 MPG in my experience.
the a/c works well in the lotus, the roof comes off or pops up to "vent", and it matches the cars body perfectly, instead of looking like a t top after thought on a camaro or trans am, like the 308GTS. ( i dislike open top cars, so my opinion is biased) a/c in carb 308's is a joke, and costs $$$$ to upgrade and make work well, and then you still have to worry about a 308 overheating in slow 5:00 pm traffic. the lotus does not care.

the 308 is a "fun" classic to run around in, the lotus you can actually drive to work, and run errands in. people freak and take pics of it, but i have yet had anyone harm the car, or express any ill feelings. the Ferrari's get weird negative vibes sometimes, and i wont drive them anymore in certain areas around here, much less leave one alone in public.

i must add i am selling my esprit to buy a QV 308 GTB, when / if i can find one. i simply want another 308, after my latest Lamborghini Jalpa nightmare.

my ebay auction: ($17,500 takes the lotus.)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250266756639&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:MT:31


i would think a later 308, when compared with a Esprit of the same year, would be a very close call. the lotus has a "loose" feel to it, like an older 70's vette, bt i would not say it feel like a " kit car" as some have said.

best thing to do would be to have one of each, but i think the lotus with its endless supply of GM / Toyota parts, is the cheaper and more usable car.
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I have an 1986 328 GTB and a 1896 Esprit Turbo HCi. Both great but very different cars. The Esprit is definitely faster in the straights and corners much better than a 308 ( comparing to a friends 77 euro 308) and would give the 328 a good run for the money beating it out in the turns. The fit and finish is good in both but very different with the 328 being rather spartan with fine leather work and very firm compared to the Esprit that is soft and borders on luxury. Headroom is better in the Esprit that the 328 and but the 328 beats it out on leg room. Overall both are equally reliable but the Esprit is easier and far less expensive to repair and maintain. Sound wise, well there is nothing that sounds like a Ferrari. Looks, I would have to give the 328 the edge but not by much...they are very different cars. Rust problems are far less in the Esprit given the body is fiberglass and both cars by 1986 had rust proofing. Electrical in the 328 I find more reliable. The 328 never drains a battery weekend to weekend but if I forget to put the maintainer on the Esprit its dead within a week's time. The Brits continue to hold the record for electrical gremlins. But I must say that getting to the electrics of the Esprit is generally easier. The Esprit is around 1/3 the purchase price of a 328 today. On a price / performance comparison I think the Esprit wins hands down and retains the title, "a poor man's Ferrari". But if you can afford either and only want one then I have to bow to my emotional side and go with the Ferrari hands down! If you have have both, even better. And if you can't afford the Ferrari you can't go wrong with the Esprit. But, just as with a Ferrari, research the different models and years and they all have their strengths and weaknesses AND buy the best car you can afford.

ps: The biggest thing I miss on the Lotus side is not having a strong web chat / support network as with Ferrari...there are sites but they just aren't very active or good like FerrariChat.Com!
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great post !