2010 Lotus Elise vs. 2000 Lotus Esprit

[@SuperVtec1]

Well I got the 2000 Lotus esprit V8 and man its an awesome car.

[@yungflyguy91]

Lotus Esprit was and forever will be my dream car since I was 8, so I'd choose the Esprit.

[@glynharper]

3rdiiICapitol My dream car too. I chose an Esprit 20 years ago.. and still have it!

[@zahemi914]

Me too since For Your Eyes Only... Just crazy over it

[@safrselfdefense]

Same

[@321Banditos]

since the classic james bond movies esprit ftw

[@robertkane8187]

Bought a Norfolk Mustard Esprit s4 when I was 28 yrs old, just turned 50 last April and still have it 22 years later, still love it!

[@n8bolton]

Before I even watch this, Esprit; It's a connoisseur's kind of car. People will look at it and wonder what it is. Even some car guys would scratch their heads. It's one of those sexy wedge cars. Ya just can't go wrong.

[@riverkelly7747]

n8bolton you said it man

[@russellhowry4137]

Definitely the Esprit. Love the styling and the S4S is one of my favorite cars of all time.

[@ROCKO633]

I`m old school, Always loved the Esprit.

[@watchingitallhere]

My dick would not fit in the Elise... gotta go with Espirit.

[@ROCKO633]

Yeah love the Esprit, The V8 is cool of course, but in the early 90`s the 4 cyl.Turbo was pretty damn impressive too

[@christopherwalker6056]

ROCKO633 Yeah I prefer the f cyl Esprit s4s

[@lightsurfer5721]

Spirit =garbage Elise=great car because of Toyota reliability

[@BlacksheepLSX]

You dont even know how to spell the car correctly, but you're going to comment on it like you know anything about it.

[@smokemagnet]

The Esprit. It just looks timeless beautiful...

[@camraid9]

You can't beat the wedge shape... Cars aren't as aesthetic as they were in the 80's and 90's.

[@Dangerous_Dave_]

60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's

[@Raio_Verusia]

40's-90's lol

[@TheSmokingTire]

@BazzyBurn it's the same as a Celica GT-S, but you wouldn't know it if you drive the Lotus. It is retuned with a whole different exhasust and engine management, and sounds great, and revs to 8,000 rpm.

[@vuthaannabelleariella5346]

2019 I’m still dreaming for a Esprit

[@yarko_on_the_go]

I've driven both and bought the Elise (with sport & track pack, lsd etc.) Absolutely awesome car. There's nothing else out there like it.

[@pmapilotmooney]

The Esprit is a true GT (grand touring) car, comfortable and fun to drive (I have had 2). The Elise is a fun to drive car, not great for long distances, the true descendant of the Europa which was a great car.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@kingk212 very different cars. If you want a daily driver, the Cayman is the best option, although I've only driven the 'S' model and the GTR that Farnbacher built, but obviously the Cayman is more expensive and has more features. Ironically, the owner of the two Lotus's in this video ALSO has a Cayman S.

[@jonkvh]

Excellent comparison. I'm an Esprit man... can't help it.

[@shaneduncan2996]

i have watched most of your new one takes and other reviews and this old one blows all of them out of the water. great well rounded review that is informative and not biased.

[@chechodallas]

Think of the Elise as a road legal Go Kart with fascinating acceleration speed and handle, with the looks of a Ferrari, Lambo, Hennessy :) got lots of attention and racing challenges, I got an Elise with a dishwasher engine bullet proof (for the haters) and I like it so much.

[@audiwankenobi361]

I most certainly missed this version of you Matt.....I just watched the newest video you produced of this car 1/19/2018 and this video is much much better.....I think the sound quality is even better.

[@argkatt9040]

I like the concept of the Elise better. Lightweight, minimalistic drivers car. But the look of the Esprite, my god! (I'm not even religious)

[@ryvoltz]

I'd have both! The heavyweight performance and looks of the Esprit are simply awesome. On the other hand, the ultra-light Elise is the proof that you don't need a million hp to go like a Porsche. Can't decide! Love both! =D~~

[@almirlimaj4354]

Esprit, all the way. :) Even though it's not a very reliable car, I believe it's still worth the money. It just has a lot of character, and uniqueness. They're also very rare.

[@JimLeeds]

Mine is pretty damn reliable TBH. Maintain it well, upgrade the stuff that wasn't so good in the day and it's great

[@wdtiger]

Great video Matt! I grew up in Ventura and used to live in Ojai, i know those roads well! Fun to watch any show and be able to say "hey! I've been there!". I'm not a fan of the relatively low power the Esprit puts out, but for the chassis, it's pretty good, plus i love light cars. For my money, i'd have to go with the Esprit.

[@neilbooc4514]

HANDS down!!! Esprit ! weapon of choice .... and that 500hp yeah ...change that transmission and you'll be ready to take on Porsche or Ferrari !!!

[@albietbeck]

Neil Booc That's the trouble, it was the only one that fit.

[@Len_M.]

Definitely. First thing I think bout when you say Lotus. This was always a car I wanted.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@sspope I was definitely complaining about the lack of space in the Exige. That car literally injured me. After driving it for 3 days, my neck was so jacked up I had to go to a chiropractor three times a week for a month to fix it. The Elise is definitely more comfortable, with its more forgiving suspension and lack of a roof, allowing me to sit up straight.

[@tecktonik4u]

Definitely the esprit you gotta love dat car!

[@iburiedpaul9544]

Bought an Elise 2 years ago.. love it everyday

[@GethinJames]

You were so less critical in your old vids. LOL so ghetto - you had the camera man sitting in the trunk of that Audi or VW. Dude laying in the middle of the road for the picture - nope won't edit that out. Ha!

[@darrenraphael]

Ikr, he gave zero fucks.

[@crowe9385]

The dude kicking open the hatch lmao

[@pierredaher9590]

U r da best when it comes to talk about cars the way you comment is captivating it s a quite remarkable journalism with a very different approach to the auto world pls continue by choosing smart topics like this one ,Bravo

[@massivepost7107]

Esprit All the way baby!!! I bought a 99 V8 (I am the 5th owner) and after sorting out other people's stupidity with the car..I would say that it is pretty reliable...I have never broken down in it...Drove from Phoenix to LA in 105 Degree desert and no issues....ALSO no one will ever pull up next to me in the same car! BTW..My car has 435 HP with Charge Coolers installed...Lotus Hi Torque ECU...You can say goodbye to F355's in the rearview mirror!

[@neilcoo]

+Massive Post How did you upgrade the transmission to handle 435hp? The reason they went with the crappy renault tranny is that nothing else even close to handling 300hp would fit in the space.

[@SheRocksDoc]

+neilcoo I think almost everyone who had gone the route I did decided to wait until the tranny broke before paying the almost 10K to upgrade it..So no drag racing...easy shift from 1 to 2 start to accel and then get to 3 and hammer it! Its just not a drag racing type of car..also I would not want to exceed 435hp. There is no rhyme or reason as to who will break their transmission..higher HP or not.....some people who are hard on their cars never break theirs and some people who always baby them are the ones whose break..so no telling..that is why Ill drive it until there is a problem and save my money for the upgrade if when I need it.

[@lightsurfer5721]

Really, spirit and reliability do not belong in the same sentence.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@boarderboi7 yes, it probably would. didn't have an Evora to work with, though. we're working on that.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

The weakness is the French gearbox. Always the way :P

[@TheSmokingTire]

@tinleo333 good call. after checking my sources, it's actually the unrestricted 500hp Lotus engine that makes more horsepower per liter than anything else, not the restricted engine that actually made it into the production car.

[@bluenose6668]

esprit, it has got classic style to it

[@TheSmokingTire]

@coolerdude44 You CAN fit in the Elise, as long as the roof is off and you don't mind looking over the windshield.

[@harlemkiid149]

The Esprit has 350hp and is less than 3,000 pounds lol that's insane. Cars like the M3 or 370z Nismo have similar power but weigh almost 300-500 pounds more. I'd take the Elise simply because it's so light which now days is practically extinct. Plus the Elise looks Exotic and is very low to the ground. Storage space, Comfort, Practicality are all foreign to the Elise but if you have that F1 itch,it's the perfect car.

[@MrReman23]

The Lotus Elise has been my favorite car ever since I was very small. My dad bought me a poster to hang in my room when I was only just 5. I loved looking at it. It's been my dream ever since to own the car and pretty soon I will have enough money to buy one :D

[@Gorilla_Jones]

2000 wasn't the last year for the Esprit. C'mon man. One of my fav cars ever.

[@dh1474]

2000 was the last year with the original lights before their supply ran out from Toyota and they fitted those horrible round lights..

[@TheSmokingTire]

@rnieves1977 they have only been legally registered in about 25 states so far, so I don't really count them yet, but i suppose, yes they are.

[@jared101502]

Esprit for me of course.

[@MsWintermute]

I own a 1995 Lotus Esprit V8 and I absolutely adore the car. Not only fast in almost any condition but also very, very comfortable for longer stretches. The V8 version was released in 1996 but mine happens to be the last pre-production car with, among other details, a different anti-locking break system from Siemens which is actually better than the one the ended up putting in for production. I do believe the breakes are different as well. I would also like to say THANKS for a great vid!

[@ThomasFerrugia]

Isn't the Evora a better car to pit against the Esprit?

[@CurvyRoadsAreBetter]

the Evora didnt come out till late 0209 as a’10 model. hard to know exactly when this was shot but if published originaly in April 2010 it was likely shot well before an Evora was avail.

[@astronmr20]

Matt and team, Great stuff. It's hard to find honest, fun auto journalism these days that caters to purists without being too "fanboy." Bravo!

[@ThePwnij]

7:24 VVT-i just kicked in, yo!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@bottomlayer The lotus revs to 8k, an extra 1,200 RPM or so above those other cars, so if you shift at redline, the engine will stay on cam.

[@MoparTechWill]

my dad has owned a esprit for the better part of 15 years he bought it new from in 2000 1 of 2 lotus dealers in Massachusetts and it is that one 350 HP 2000 model lotus best part its mine when i turn 16 i'm 15 now

[@MichaelWBush]

Awesome! You're very lucky, be sure to drive safely, and have a lot fun, and enjoyment. One question I have is if you could tell us about the maintenance history of the Esprit. I'm glad your Dad kept that classic running for 15 years, good on him.

[@fuknames2123]

you are one lucky kid. Be sure that you thank your dad for buying such a beautiful car. Also what does he drive now that he's giving you something so priceless.

[@MoparTechWill]

Leroy Butts ive had the car now for a little over 4 months i absulutly love it as of now my father drives a tundra as his daily with a turbo brz as his fun car and a mgb that we are working on doing a rb25 swap in to as our project car

[@MoparTechWill]

***** surprisingly the esprit has only been in for routine oil changes and services the only the that has needed replacement was the glove box hinge

[@Lotusespritdriver]

+William Chemini Then ,in that case be sure to let us all know when the T-belt lets go!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@DemoFly as we said in the video, the engine is easily capable of 500hp, but it has to be de-tuned because of the weak gearbox from Renault.

[@Eriks85Rx7]

Lotus Esprit!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@arjay031 no, it's up in Ojai

[@barbelmeister]

I've had an Esprit and currently have an Elise. Elise wins!

[@HaVoK1023]

God I love that road he does the test on....I go camping up that road several times a year and there's nothing better than going thru some twisties before a weekend camping in the woods!

[@NorthernPerformanceGroup]

Yes but the esprit is better looking

[@MichaelWBush]

Italian designer :)

[@sobatman696]

I've been wanting an esprit since i was a kid

[@NorthernPerformanceGroup]

I would get the esprit I think it looks better it sounds better and it is a v8 twin turbo

[@MrBongsandpipes]

Lol, Elise would win in a race every time.

[@momododobird]

^^^the esprit

[@xdmasson]

@TheSmokingTire Pretty sure the elise uses the matching toyota gearbox too! I think it also uses 2 different cams. One is designed to use less fuel and then the engine management computer swaps it over to the power cam when you hit 6000 RPM. You can really hear the switch in the video.

[@phantom5573]

My neighbor has an Elise. It looks like a cheap go-cart. Embarrassing to drive in traffic as it so small and plastic looking and SLOW. The Esprit is like a refined Countach. Esprit all the way!!!!!!!!

[@tomhertz1614]

It's really not close. A supercar vs a go cart

[@Rlyeh_The_Dead]

Wut? The Esprit and Elise are similar power to weight. If you feel like the Else is "SLOW" then you'd have to feel like the Esprit is as well.

[@Coasterdude02149]

My thoughts exactly

[@simontolstopyatenko7931]

The Esprit looks cooler but the Elise is the best car ever. Its essentially a go-cart.

[@davidusminimus]

I'll take the elise and put a f20c in there hehe.

[@Mageinrs]

same thing i was thinking lol. that or you could get a k20/k24 to work. I've seen k20's in Mr2's so I could defiantly see one going into a lotus

[@davidusminimus]

I want to put a renesis in a nb miata so bad. I need $$ tho :(

[@superjervis]

davidusminimus ummm,the f20c is rwd engine,that's not going to work lol

[@TassieLorenzo]

davidusminimus * K20A ;) But tune it up and it's basically the same engine anyway.

[@davidusminimus]

Or I can just put a evo motor and call it a day.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@SDSakuragi they rattle and shake when they are new. side effect of the lack of insulation.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@cba1067950 *The Touring package for the Elise includes a radio. It's not very good, but it's there, and works.

[@Marcustx23]

I considered buying the Esprit that Matt is driving in this video. It only had 16K miles on it when it was sold last month (to John). I currently drive a twin turbo BMW. Going from that to the Esprit was difficult for me. Took me about a month to finally decide I was going to pass. This Esprit is beautiful, though. The previous owner, Jake, was a great owner. Babied it and took very good care of it. I think I might test drive the Elise. Looks like a go cart. Thanks for the video, Matt.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@colenbrak The esprit was in production from 1971 through 2004. Towards the end of that period, Lotus was nearly bankrupt. The fact that they still built cars that good even while in such a horrible financial state is amazing.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@JonOW98118 you've got the Evora now, which is sort of in between....

[@TheSmokingTire]

@daltonklinkenberg yes, we've been talking to them about testing it when they bring the car over from the UK.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@DetailDream yes. I think 97% of the "unintended acceleration" problem is a "retarded driver" problem and not the fault of the car. The 3% left that is the car's problem can be avoided by knowing how to shut off your car properly in an emergency. Either way, the Elise has this awesome feature, it's a third pedal on the left, that can disconnect the engine from the transmission any time you want!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@brannyK051 there are actually a few places that I'm integral to the plot of the show, but they all got edited out.

[@exo6desmo8]

these esprits looks so damn good!!!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@doug1bite as I said, the engine can make 500 no problem, it's the transmission that can't hold it.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@brannyK051 I don't plan on doing any more "how to" videos unless someone has a good topic for us to cover. I really didn't like Tracy from team lexus at all, she's got a real attitude on her, but besides that, everyone was pretty cool.

[@2006chunming]

The Espirit without question..forsure!

[@gt46c]

Once again the Farah brings us the 'joy' of watching a proper test drive. The Elise for me.

[@DONNYBOYY28]

I have to say this show has gone from average to outstanding very quickly!!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@aznboi892 Lotus was nearly bankrupt by the end of the Esprit's production run. The fact that it was built at all is something of a miracle.

[@appl2noe]

I think my favorite part was at 2:19 when the camera man used his foot to open the rear hatch door! That's why I look forward to your weekly videos! Awesome!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@mrjost55 You definitely do, you just have to go an hour or so north of NYC. I used to drive them all the time with New York Motor Club.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@candamo I can, but it's not comfortable at all. I had an Exige for a few days at the old show, and I needed a chiropractor for a month after that.

[@K03sport]

Love it! Love it! Love it! This episode and the Audi S4/RS4 were fantastic. Me personally, I will never own an Elise, Espirit, S4 or RS4, but I don't care. I still like seeing these cars driven and then to have them compares as a then and now is too cool for words. Since I lived through the 80s, I would have to put my vote in for the Espirit. I loved the car on N4S and it will always be a head turner. Sure, the Elise is cool too, but wedgy, pop up lights win with me this time. Thanks TST.

[@jrapocalypse]

Always dreamed of an esprit period and i shall have one next to my 2001 ls1 camaro SS.

[@DaBluedude100]

good review Matt. im really diggin the return to the proper 10 min vid.

[@DocRobotKey]

Excellent Vid! Good to see this type of Video where new and old are compared from the same Manufacturer! Well Done and Keep them coming!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@mcorwin129 I certainly wouldn't call it a "new Esprit," more like an evolution of the Elise formula for people who want a daily driver. In other words, I'd say it's a damn good call by Lotus. I really look forward to getting my hands on one at some point soon.

[@mivisionbroadcast]

I have a 2008 Lotus Elise.... and I love it... But god I wish I had that Esprit as well. It is one of the most beautiful sports cars ever designed

[@TheSmokingTire]

@flowremix I love that shot kicking open the hatch, that's funny as hell. We were out there with some friends who are still photographers, and they got some great shots of the cars too. Definitely not a closed road, but we only saw about 4 cars all day long.

[@gtrman9706]

Sold my Esprit and bought a GTR R35. Nothing can beat it for performance and price. A supercar daily driver.Love it !Even better than my 911 Turbo.

[@Ekaterate]

Love your works a lot, guys! You've really improved since the first videos.

[@johnquest8115]

I am Matt's size so, my choice would be the Esprit. I love that car...

[@ghentlummis9572]

I made the decision and bought a 2000 Esprit. I've owned sports cars before, including a Shelby Cobra replica, 1990 Porsche Carrera 2, and C5 Corvette, all of which I've loved. But this car is something special: truly a street legal race car (in terms of construction-not tuning).

[@TheSmokingTire]

@cjhenks There are many decisions that a manufacturer would make before choosing one engine over another. In the case of high-revving 4-bangers, both the Honda engine and Toyota engine are good calls, but I'm speculating that Toyota made them a better offer on the engines than Honda did.

[@primaltone]

Hands down Elise. One of my co-workers had an Esprit for a short time, but he proved what many of us thought: while you may be able to purchase a used 'exotic', you might not be able to afford to keep it running. I'd love to pick up an Elise some day. I don't think you could get a much more pure driving experience.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@MagnoliaSupreme you want that engine, for sure. unless you found one with a blown motor in it or something, you want that engine. I think there are some Porsche-style transaxles that work with the Esprit though

[@Shooftheg]

I have an Elise, and will testify, it truly is an awesome car, on and off the track!

[@SillyPuddy2012]

California is definitely a car lover's playground. A friend and I had a ball in those mountains, and that was in his 451 Smart cabriolet, top down of course... The Esprit for me, and an Elan 1600 on the side for when I want to travel light!

[@sagasky]

Esprit, I have always loved that style, thought it was a gorgeous car.

[@Ray62_145]

I've always been a traditionalist, and as beautiful and streamlined as the Esprit is, I would still go for the Elise, with such a awesome chorus like that coming from the exhaust, who needs a stereo in the car!!

[@TheSmokingTire]

@ZeroFLM we only upload the video once, and it's the same regardless of what country you're in. you couldn't just add french for your country, it would have to be there for everyone, and i doubt our non-french fans would like that. Thanks for the offer though.

[@lotusboyuk]

hi matt i have watched your shows from day 1 of G49, but i was dreading this episode as soon as i saw the title. im a lotus esprit GT3 (heavily modded) owner and thought how can you even start to compare the 2 cars as the esprit is a luxo supercar and the elise is a track car. but i have to say you hit the nail on the head with everything and it was a very very good episode. only one little thing i have had mine for 6-7 years and it has NEVER gone wrong,

[@codydyck]

Great review, I love both cars. I like hassle free driving though so I'll take the Elise and not be stuck on the side of the road.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@kaunghtut It's not like Renault is out of business, I'm sure replacement parts are available for those cars, they are probably just very expensive.

[@stevenjackson8226]

Nice job. Thanks. Agree with the comments from the Esprit fans. I like the Esprit, too. There is variation in the Esprit range. Some were better sorted driver's/performance cars than others, some less so. I have long developed the preference for lightweight. Matt talks about this - making a car lighter makes it quicker everywhere. Making a car lighter improves every performance aspect; changing weight is the only thing that can do this. I had a '67 Elan and my track car is a '70 Europa prepared as a track/race-only car. 1300lbs, 225hp, 160lb, 8,000 rpm alloy Renault engine, 38" high at the top of the roof, all spherical bearings in the suspension = a very quick track car. SCCA GT2 road race car, D-Modified SCCA autocross car. Great track car. Not a road car at all.

[@DtRockstar1]

I'd have to go with the Esprit. I loved that car as a kid and it's very nostalgic when I see it. The Elise is definitely the better build quality of the two, but I think the Esprit is just so much cooler. It's a bummer about the transmission being so bad.

[@jackallen6261]

Yep, Esprit, I just love the look! Awesome car!!

[@RamboLambo002]

The Elise is a great little car... a car that inspired a generation of cars (Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220, Alfa 4C, etc...) But the Esprit is a legend on its own... a car that gave many reasons to love Roger Moore as a James Bond, and a car that has a lot of F1 and GT racing heritage...Actually it shouldn't be called a car... it's a work of art... an Icon...

[@TheSmokingTire]

@highflyer4 Lotus's are just small cars in general. 6'3" is pushing it for both cars, you can do an elise, but driving with the roof on will be uncomfortable. Esprit, yeah, but with the glass popped up, Exige, no way.