Striking looks; Huge Power

Reliability; Comfort; Terrible engine note; Stiff gear operation and ride.....

I first notice the Esprit V8 in a show room in HK and it was red in color. I immediately fell in love with it, call the dealer, test drove it briefly and traded my BMW 325I convertible for a yellow one. The one I've got was one of the earlier model with the older rear spoiler and interior. The day it arrives I was awe by its super super looks and I must say that it is certainly one of the most awesome design on the road, even today.

Yet as time went by problem started to surface....mirror falling off, inproper turbo boost level, squeaks and rattle. And I started to notice (a little late isn't it?) the horrible engine noise, which sounded so much worse than many four cylinders.... horrible ride which can break your backbones on bumper road, it is much more harder compare to the Nsx and 355. And that lousy gear change...which having driven the Nsx my god the gear shift was just light years ahead of the V8.

Yes the car is quick, no question about that, I fixed the turbo boost with a manuel boost control, certainly inappropriate for an European Exotic Car but thats the only solution my mechanics can come up with. With the usual stock 0.5bar the car has so much power that I blew off modified WRX with ease. However I certain have reserve on the Lotus reputation on its super handling. The previous 4 cylinder Esprit was reputed to have one of the most natural handling, yet the V8 can oversteer in shape slow corner, at moderate speed. That surprises me because at some of my favorate mountainous route the V8 would step out of its tail at some seemingly slow speed. I figure the setup was more idea on high speed wide corner other than shape small hairpin. I know many of you might think that I must be cracy of cause a high power sportscar would easily oversteer at such shape corner. But let me tell you I wasn't driving near at a speed which many of you would consider it....fast!

For the same money I would buy a Porsche carrera, or even a used 355. Lotus....I am sorry, after two years of ownership I traded for a M.Benz S320L. May be a used 355 later. But no more Lotus in by life, ever......

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Nsx, Supra Turbo(??? same league) Ferrari F355, All belongs to friends and driven for comparison.....

rust is not a worry, handling is almost an orgasmic experience. The car moves as you wish. Makes you become an amateur mechanic. It is an exotic car, and you will be the "only" one around. I have been driving esprits for the past 16 years, and only crossed with other lotuses twice!!

interior trimming deteriorate quickly, You have to learn to work with it, since there are no shops around. I have learned one thing..if I use it every day, it will keep the mechanics away. The less usage, the more problems appear. It is a moody car when not used frequently. recommend to have the parts and service manuals, will save a lot of time and money.
Stress marks will come along the body rear end clip, no big deal.

It is a very good looking car, and good performer. Never has let me stranded. 53,000 miles, and no problems. The air conditioning is super,
and the regular maintenance is low cost. If you take care of the car, and NOT ABUSE the car, It should last many years, remember..glass, fibre, aluminum and galvanized steel.

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Had 1978 S1,1979 S2, 1986S3-turbo. This is the best model of all. Better handling than previous models, but less complicated than latter models.

The 81 and 82 models are the one's to have the engine noise is aggressive to say the least, before the exshaust emmission controls dampened them down from 83 onwards. Handling is supberb, and the price was brilliant for such a classic super car. Acceleration is very impressive, and the shape totally awsome.

Weaknesses you are going to get a few with a car like this, but the strenghts out list them.

This is my 2nd Lotus, my first 1 being a standard 86' non turbo. I find the earlier Lotus models more appealing then the softer styled series 4. The engine noise is far more aggressive then later models, and the styling has more impact from a personal point. I have never had a problem with either car, but the more aggressive '82 Turbo' is far more appealing.

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I have had a TVR, but that car was not in the same league as the Lotus.

Speed, handling, looks, envy from boy-racers...

The clutch master cylinder failed.

The dash trim peeled away from under the windscreen.

It was a sensational experience in all respects of driving performance, as you'd expect from one of the world's leading experts in chassis and handling design. The trusty "old" Lotus four-pot power-plant provided eye-watering acceleration and top-speed. Though I have to admit I never did manage to test the claimed 163mph on the UK roads (came close, though - Name & Address withheld!!).

I decided not to spend the extra £20k on the V8 engine, as even with "only" 250bhp on tap the very respectable power-to-weight ratio meant the car's limits were way beyond mine!

I also loved the sexy low-slung look of the car. It's a real head-turner despite the fact that Guigaro penned the design around 1980 and it's still largely unchanged (notwithstanding the odd spoiler that has come and gone). Not many other manufacturers can sell new cars shaped 20 years ago!

Don't believe all you read about these cars being impractical, either. It was equally flexible on the daily commute to the office, long-haul fishing trips (2 adults and a weeks-worth of equipment carried with ease!), or on fun-run thrashes through Mid-Wales.

All in all, I was quite prepared to overlook the couple of things that went wrong, especially as the dealer service on both warranty repairs was impeccable.

It's a great pity to see Lotus struggling at the moment, with Elise sales nose-diving and the M250 project being binned. Their ability to produce raw driving-pleasure machines is the stuff of legends, and only my subsequent acquisition of a thoroughbred supercar tore me away from the marque...

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Ferrari F355 GTS; beats the Lotus hands-down in all respects.