Just drove a rare LOTUS ESPIRIT!!

Head on

Rear

View from my SVX, right before I left home this morning....

Originally posted by nordique14
Lucky bugger. I've loved that car since I was a teenager. It has the 4-cyl turbo back then. Of course I would never be able to fit into it, but I still love them anyway.

Matt

It is TINY inside!! I'm 5' 10" 215 lbs and I felt VERY squeezed sitting in it! You almost have to be some sort of circus performer to contort your body enough to get in! The car is barely higher than my waist!




Dave

[GreenMarine]

Originally posted by red95svx
It's a "World Challenge" model, #13 of only 20 ever made!!

And look at that... It's sitting outside!!! If I had one of those I'd build a garage just for it!!

Originally posted by GreenMarineSVX


And look at that... It's sitting outside!!! If I had one of those I'd build a garage just for it!!

Wish I had a garage


I'm sure it's "real" home is a garage.




Dave

[Chiketkd]

That's one sweet looking car from any angle! Your brother's boss is the coolest to let him drive it...

It does look like the turbo'd 4cyl model on closer inspection, but even those were plenty quick!

-Chike

Check this out:




http://www.utahlotusmuseum.com/id210.htm




Apparently it's a Lotus Esprit Turbo X180R, 2,800 lbs, 285-300 HP, street legal racer, factory roll cage, racing brakes....

I think I'll take it for a spin tonight and make some riced-out Honda driver cry



Dave

[Chiketkd]

Wow! That's one ride that comes ready-to-dance straight from the factory!

The Honda ricer would be crying from the time you pull up next to him at the line!

-Chike

[svxcess]

I remember driving my forst turbo esprit. I climbed into it and settled for my most comfortable fit, which at 6'2" is with the seat back against the firewall. The first thing I noticed was that it had a very thick steering wheel which from my seating position blocked the view of the speedometer from 30-80 mph.

The salesman said "don't worry, you'll get used to it and soon you will be able to tell your speed by the sound of the engine"

Can't you see my excuse to the police when they stop me? "Sorry, officer, I didn't know I was going that fast because my ears were stopped up"

Seriously, it was a very fast and responsive car with incredible braking.

I later sat in a Lamborghini Diablo roadster at the same dealer. No front end to speak of and acres of machinery behind you; sort of like the astromauts in the gemini capsule atop the saturn V... definitely overkill.

When i asked him the price, he said "$225,000... of course that's negotiable"

[GreenMarine]

That's really cool I don't think I'd be driving the car though... I'd probably park it and just stare at it all day long How many miles/kilometers were on it??

[Chiketkd]

A great Esprit website to check out is: Esprit Fact File

In the 'articles' section they have a Road & Track test of a '94 Esprit S4 which had the turbo'd 4 cyl engine and made 264hp - 36 less than the World Challenge SE model:

"LOTUS ESPRIT S4
Price - est $72,000
Body/seats - coupe/2
engine and output: 2.2-liter turbocharged dohc 16V inline-4, 264 bhp
Layout - mid engine/rear drive
Length (in.)/weight (lb.) - 170.5/2850
Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg - 17/27
Safety features: Airbag - D, std/P, na
ABS - std
Subtle changes define the latest iteration of this exotic road car, developed far beyond Colin Chapman's stark Giugiaro-styled theme. Braking is enhanced by the fitting of oversize Brembo discs. A badge replaces the Lotus script on the rear deck. Within, the upholstery gets piping and the stereo gets upgraded.

Reference - First Drive: 2/94

Feature: 4/94
==========================
MAKE & MODEL: Lotus Esprit S4S
ISSUE: 7-95
BASE PRICE: $75,995
PRICE AS TESTED: $81,578
ENGINE TYPE: I-4t
HORSEPOWER: 300
0-60 MPH, SEC.: 4.7
1/4 MILE, SEC.: 13.3
TOP SPEED, MPH: 165
BRAKING FROM 60 MPH, FT.: 136
BRAKING FROM 80 MPH, FT.: 242
SKIDPAD, G: 0.91
SLALOM, MPH: 61.7
FUEL MILEAGE, MPG: 19.8 "

I can only begin to imagine how much faster the World Chalelnge model is! A lighter curb weight and more power always increases the fun factor!

-Chike

[manofmayo]

I want one.


Now if I can find a loan......