Lotus Espirit

[pony]

I saw a late Lotus Espirit in the motorway on Sat looked stunning and is VERY LOW
Love the classic wedge shape
Hardly see any on the roads I have seen more 991s for heck sake
What do people think of Espirits ?

[harry_p]

Never heard of the espirit, but quite like the esprit

Quite like them, but they're pretty common around here.

I'd take an early angular s1 in pearl white please

[darkchild]

Plenty in Norwich but then the Lotus factory is nearby.

If they're good enough for James Bond...

[B7]

I was brought up with Lotus'ssss. 70's shite. Elans, Elan Plus 2's, Europas and a 1981 Elite. All had build quality like a chad valley toy.

I've recently been asked to assist a mate to change all the suspension bushes on his Elise. And the build quality is still the same. Total shite! We've had to skill saw suspension bolts while trying to save the chassis. You can't use heat because the Chassis is bonded (read "glued") together.

Lotus tried in the 80's to get into the super car league but in my experience, just couldn't cut it.

They have built some pretty cars though and Chapman was the king of suspension set ups in my mind. A twin Cam early seventies Europa in JPS livery or Pistachio is still a great looking car with sublime mid engined handling. Was quick as well.

[Jesus325iTouring]

I have good memories of an Esprit, one of the later turbo'd v8 IIRC. I was driving my first 325i and had just overtaken a car (on private roads of course) and was on the naughty side of 100, the car behind me at which point I didn't know was an Esprit as it was at night had stayed up behind me, then it over took, like I was stood still, boy, that thing was quick and to over take at that speed and still make me look like I was standing there was quite impressive. I was owned, properly.

[timmzey]

Edited for privacy

[Gert_8]

Love them! it was the ultimate shape for a sports car during my younger days. 2.0l engines, I think.

[si911t]

Used to be a pearl white one round here, used to see it every day on way to school. One of the nicest looking cars ever. Still remember its reg plate 'N5 SNS'

Never seen one in that colour since

[CarbTuner]

A friend of my father had an Esprit back a while ago...

He had bought it second hand and it was poorly maintained, the bugger went up in flames.

This was because the carbs sit over the exhaust manifold. When the carbs started leaking petrol due to lack of servicing, the bloody thing caught fire and he just drove on since the engine is rear mounted, until someone would gesticulate enough for him to start worrying...

He watched it burn on the side of the road...

He did have it rebuilt I believe, before selling it.

Very good looking cars IMO, and sound nice as well!

Just check that the carbs don't leak!