Lancia 037 is a four banger, they are worth many times the original sticker price. Imo it's the build quality, durability and the reliability that's keeps the values down.
I'm going to say something that I know will be controversial, but I actually want the owners to argue against me and show me that I'm wrong. First let me say that I have always loved the Esprit. Very exotic looking car, sounds great, and now that I've driven some, the do handle fantastically and move pretty well. And, I had always heard of the Lotus reputation for poor build quality, but I didn't think much of it, because, well, just look at the cars! However, now that I spend all of my days surrounded by exotics, and see the cars up close, and talk to the mechanics who work on them, I have a very strong opinion on the Esprit. And that is, it's really a piece of junk. It really does feel like a kit car. The fit and finish is just terrible. And, they seem to have ridiculous mechanical problems that seem inherent to the design. I just can't believe that this car really seemed like a valid option to its contemporary competitors. So, owners, I'm looking forward to you telling me how I have a completely incorrect opinion, but more importantly, how and why I am wrong. I _want_ to like the Esprit!
Great thread. I've been looking for a new "project" and a turbo may be it. The tail of the V8 cars never looked right to me. A mid 80's car would fit right in with the 80's F & L cars in the stable. Of the 4's what years are the best?
Micheal. For most part I think you are correct. Many of the inherited design issues weren't there fault but just poach off other cars and adapted to there cars... They just last the resources to do things properly during the esprit era. Triumph uprights for instance a god awful solution to the front ends over the Opels. Lotus have made wonderful light weight sports cars....that's what they should have stuck with. The Elise was a wonderful car to fit the bill. The Evora a is going the wrong direction. imho I always thought the S1 and maybe s3 turbos were as upmarketed as they could have gone. Making it faster with a v8 wasn't solution since the chassis was already a limp noodle in the S3 chassis which was a reinforced S1-s2 backbone. the lighter Elise chassis is 6x stronger torsionally! Thought did cross my mind finding a Toyota front end esprit chassis (late s3) capped with a S1 body and Powered with a S2000/boxer transaxle sleeper. But I'm in the process of getting rid of cars.
When I drive my Esprit the car gets far more admiring stares than the 328. Not only is the shape stunning but the leather interior is wonderful. My wife commented that it looks like its made by Prada. Judging by a recent Goodwood auction the 328 toolkit and jack kit are together worth more than the Esprit! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Years were 1979-1982 , I used to browse around Ferrari of Los Gatos almost daily, as I lived downtown, and loved their inventory. One car in particular caught my eye...a s1 esprit in navy blue. Just looked so cool, amongst some really exotic and expensive cars. Love 'em. I almost bought one - a red one, very clean for under $20k from a Canadian FChatter last year. No room or money, lol.
I am afraid you are not incorrect, they are a pain in the but, but if you can turn a wrench and like working on cars they are reasonable to fix, I do 99 percent of my own work. As stated before next to the Countach, the G bodied esprit is one of the most amazing cars to see in the flesh. Driving in traffic the roof line of the car barely reaches the doors of most cars, its flat wide stance is breathtaking. They are incredibly rare as most are trashed or not running, other than mine I have NEVER seen a G Bodied Esprit randomly on the road. At car shows there is always a sea of red ferraris but rarely an Esprit. I encourage anyone who wants a project to grab one, they are cheap and can be restored fairly easily unless you have to hire the work out as it wont be worth it.
I do all my own work on the 328 and Esprit and the Esprit is by far the more difficult car to work on. Changing the cam belt on an Esprit, especially one with A/C is the closest to impossible you will ever get without actually being impossible. Its easier with 2 people, one under the car and one lying on top of the engine. The other major problem are the aluminium inserts they used for affixing panels. These always corrode and the screw seizes and turns the whole insert. Early Turbo cars are prone to cracked exhaust manifolds and sticking wastegates and replacement involves engine out and the parts are expensive. So yes they are difficult but not impossible. One thing is definite, you absolutely need to have a reasonable skill level and knowledge of electrics and enjoy a challenge. If not, Esprit ownership will not be fun.
I agree. I think the Elise/Exige are exactly "on brand" for Lotus, and the kind of cars that only Lotus could build. It's almost like after years of wandering in the woods, trying to be another Ferrari or Porsche, they finally channeled the spirit of Colin Chapman and did what he would have done.
I've owned a total of 6 Esprits over the years. Probably put around 200,000km on all of them combined. I currently own 3 Diablos (4 over the years). I've owned quite a number of Ferraris too. I've never had an Esprit leave me on the side of the road. All the other exotics have. Ferraris also like to barbeque themselves. This is the caveat though - all the Esprits I've owned have either been one owner cars or I bought them new. Maintenance was ALWAYS up to date and nothing was ever skimped on and preventative maintenance was always carried out. I've always had unlimited funds to look after my cars and all of them have been maintained the same (mechanically and cosmetically) and yet the Esprit's were the only ones to never falter. People forget that maintenance and parts for the Esprit are as expensive as any Ferrari, so they require the same level of financial commitment. Also, all my Esprits were GM era cars. This is one of the two Esprits I still own. I bought it new. It's a Euro spec S4s, one of only 30 built in 1996. National Concours Champion and twice State Concours Champion. Absolutely faultlessly performing car, and it's not a garage queen either - it's done multiple rallies, track days and Cannonball Runs. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
As reliable as any GM. I ran this Euro spec black S4s as my DD for 60,000km (40k miles) without a single issue. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The big negative besides being expensive to maintain, is its not a lot space even in exotic car terms. Even in my mid 20's 5 11" and 150lbs, slim in shape, I was cramped in the Esprit's. The V8 cars only a little better. Friends son was the General Manager of Gentry Lane Toronto's Lotus dealer and at the time Lamborghini as well. The Countach and Diablo was a much better fit. My brother who is 6 1" and over 250lbs couldn't fit at all in the Lotus, even at 20 years old. Handles extremely well, does an awesome 0to60 time for the era, but only a handful can drive it in comfort.
I am a 5'11 280lb bodybuilder with 62" shoulders (around measurement). I fit perfectly fine and I am most comfortable in the Esprit. Ferraris have always given me bad backs and I could never get comfy in one (Mondial, 355, 348, 458). Diablos are fine apart from the flat bottom cars (early 91-93 and 6.0's) - I can hardly fit in them. Here's a scan of an old photo from 12 years ago. Myself in black (280lbs) and my mate in singlet (just shy of 300lbs). Both of us together in the Esprit would not even touch shoulders. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes. Everything was improved, component quality, body shutlines much better, all the cheap vacuum-formed black plastic bits were gone. The later cars are great cars but there is something about the Guigaro cars which makes them really special despite the defects.
But the Esprit was absolutely a Chapman car. It was his baby. He saw the original Guigaro design and decided he had to have it. His team of engineers told him it would be impossible to productionise such a design which was intended as a one-off concept car but he told them to just get on with it.
Try it in a 4cyl. You wont fit. Did say the V8 is better. Still has the least room in exotic cars I have actually driven. Its actually a lot like the 80's Rolls Royce's, they have a cult following, but its not big enough to really lift prices.
I don't know the models but they are the redesigned latter cars that are bigger. The earlier cars are a lot smaller.
True, the S1 was very much a Chapman car, but IIRC the V8 version weighed about 1,000 lbs more than the Elise. One thousand pounds. That's like strapping a Super Seven to the roof of the Elise...
