Calling Esprit v8 owners

I've owned a 94 S4 for about 4 years. I love the lightness of the car and the midrange power it has on the road. But do admit that driving it around town it lacks the low end torque you'd probably get in the V8. Not sure it's enough to ever want to make me move up to a Esprit V8 based on (perceived) reliability issues with the V8's...my 4 cylinder has been trouble free.

I just picked up a 1990 348 this spring and the cars are very different. The interior of the 348 seems to have much more room but feels a fair bit less comfortable and in a way more formal. The Esprit interior is much more confined but for me that a good thing as you feel as though the car is wrapped around you.

The 348 compared to the S4 on the road feels heavier more planted and overall just more "solid". That being said, the esprit handles the road at speed (normal highway)better than the 348 and just sort of "gobbles up" vast distances of road where as the 348 doesn't seem to have the same gracefullness of the esprit as it cruises down the road.

I'm glad I own both cars, each one has just a little something different than the other to keep things interesting.

 

I had a S4S, then upgraded to a V8, first year in the US,

Aside from the cramped cabin, some kit car bits and pieces, and crappy Renault transmissions, they were a blast to drive and I never had any issues. In my opinion the V8 while slightly less power than the F355 is very comparable in performance. I would get a 1998 or newer, that was the year they changed the interior to a more modern and functional look.

The V8 is much cheaper to maintain and modify than a Ferrari but again the transmission is the weak point. There is a whole world of crossed matched parts from Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan and Bosch.

Not sure what your issues were with the 360, for me it was a leap and bound in every aspect (except price) over the Lotus V8. If it were me, I would reconsider a well cared for 360 and if your maintenance budget is of concern, walk away from the 355, run away from the 348 and sprint from the TR. I had a 550, great car no issues other than usual interior decay over time.

Good luck,

MB

 

I own these two. Yellow I bought new. Red I spent $80k on making it brand new in 2008.

The Esprit runs rings around the 348 in every aspect - comfort, features, handling, speed, acceleration and so on.

The 348 is a tractor. Very agricultural to drive, but extremely enjoyable. I love slamming the gears through the metal gate, especially 3rd to 4th. Uncomfortable seats, crap air con and everything else compared to the Esprit.

348 is very reliable and maintenance is very cheap in Ferrari land. The engine is very unstressed and lasts for ever.

Esprit is bullet proof - mostly GM parts. And the transmission is perfectly fine if you know how to drive with mechanical sympathy. I have quite a few mods on mine and it can do 0-62mph in 4sec and I did a top speed of 193mph, all GPS confirmed.
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The esprit v8 is not without issues. Cylinder liner issues, gearbox failures, air leaks and burnt starter motors to name but a few.

 

I have had or currently have all of the cars you mentioned. I just sold my 550 recently so I will not discuss that one vs. the others. I have a 1990 348ts, a 1990 Testarossa, and a 1998 Esprit. I enjoy driving all of them for various reasons, but the Esprit will out perform the other two by a long shot. That is partially due to the fact that the engine was rebuilt about 1000 miles ago, the internals were all upgraded, and a 450 HP chip was installed and calibrated. The physical appearance was also altered to look like a 2003, and that thing just rocks. It handles better than the other two and is more comfortable to drive. I love my f cars (I also have a f430 & aCalifornia), but if I want to get into something that feels light, agile, and just fun to drive I will hop into the Esprit. Let her warm up good, spool up those turbos and let 'er rip. Bang for the buck it is hard to beat a twin turbo V8 Esprit.