Driving a 1983 Lotus Turbo Esprit and it broke down...TWICE ! |4K

What is you favourite James Bond Car ? I got to drive mine, the Lotus Esprit Turbo S3, and it broke down twice ! I have always thought the Esprit was one of the coolest sports cars of the 80's and 90's and it's status as an icon was confirmed when it appeared in not one but two James Bond films.
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Video Contents
00:00 - Introduction
01:03 - My favourite Bond car
02:22 - The history of the Esprit
05:02 - Pop-up Headlights
05:49 - Tiny wheels !
06:38 - The engine
07:42 - Interior and getting in it !
11:17 - Driving the Esprit
14:05 - You can drive this car !
16:19 - Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious !
19:01 - Driving Dynamics
24:25 - Oops !
#PetrolPed #Automotive #LotusEsprit

[@markfullbrook7364]

PETER!!!! PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE. MORE CARS OF THIS ERA TOOK ME RIGHT BACK TO MY TEENS FANTASTIC!!!!

[@PetrolPed]

Will do 👍

[@bobolulu7615]

I have 3 Lotus, 89 Esprit SE Turbo, 82 S3 Esprit and a 76 Elite. Had them for 18 years and never once been stranded or had issues.

[@Wacky_Races]

With you. The Esprit is my favourite. The S3 is stunning.

[@wildcat1065]

Used to have an S3 normally aspirated in Essex blue. It was wonderful when it was going, but in my few months of ownership I hardly did a single journey without some sort of issue. Gear lever came off in my hand reversing once , cracked manifold, cooling fan failures, clutch slipping, etc etc. Your experience brought it all back. Happy days!

[@EVguru]

It's a Turbo Esprit, a Type 82, not an S3 - Type 85, which is the normally aspirated version. I'm in the process of putting a modified 1981 S3 back on the road. The previous owner put a 3.0 24V Busso in the back. I drive an Excel too.

[@dangreasley7934]

What an amazing iconic car... Brilliant, We've forgotten how unrelaible and low tech old cars were. But what a character car and a labour of love. Awesome LOTUS. Lots of Trouble, Usually Serious.... Love it

[@user-dw4sf7jr3h]

Rumour has it that to get the Esprit in the Bond films 'someone' parked an S1 outside the doors at Pinewood studios and the producers saw it and said they had to have it. If its not true its a fine story!

[@stevenbennett3922]

Amazing design and definitely iconic but also built down to a price. Lotus. Bless'em.

[@waltersobchak1719]

Yep. Gotta love them Morris Marina door handles!

[@S-T-E-V-E]

I love these Lotus Esprit's, they are so timeless! In my opinion they are as good looking as the Italian Wedge the Countach!

[@Jake.Warren]

Fond memories of playing Turbo Esprit on the ZX Spectrum in the 80s…….fantastic game!

[@PetrolPed]

Great computer 👌

[@Grant.G.Simpson]

i still have my 128k up the loft somewhere with joystick that plugs into the power pack that plugs into the back of the computer @@PetrolPed

[@davidlloyd-cx3er]

I've owned an Esprit,Elan Sprint,Europa and an Elise for my sins all are great drivers cars . They need to be maintained properly and if they are they take some beating for pure fun at not daft speeds.

[@PetrolPed]

Cool cars 👍

[@timothyrogstad5577]

Well said sir and every one is as uniquely beautiful. Ferrari...pah. lol

[@cephasmakuzva]

Extremely special you got to experience this beast even for however short a period. Very cool. Tim is doing great things with RGN Classics.

[@PetrolPed]

Couldn't agree more!

[@jimestall413]

Owner has a good sense of humour.

[@PetrolPed]

He sure does 👍

[@mattwale-yo7hc]

Beautiful car,my favourite in the Essex Petroleum colours

[@waltersobchak1719]

Those Essex Esprit Turbos are quite rare and unbelievably expensive when they come up for sale - you’re unlikely to find one for less than £100,000! Good choice though👍

[@Hoddle10]

Fantastic car, I can remember when there was a Lotus garage in Braintree in Essex, called Bridge Motors that sold these new and 2nd hand, was always going their to look at the cars and wishing at 20 that I could afford one, I think they were about 15k new at the time!

[@johnbillyard1837]

Brilliant, had as bigger smile on my face watching the video as you had driving the Lotus. Looking forward to the next one….. Real blast from the past.

[@ar6985]

Great Video !! I had a 1973 JPS Europa once and it NEVER broke down...I was always amazed that it fired right up and everything worked on it because the build quality was so so....anyway it was a blast to drive and the handling was amazing.

[@daleskidmore1685]

I love the Esprit. There was one on display back in the early '80s in Victoria train station in JPS livery as a raffle prize. I was smitten and went around like a love sick teenager for days. A few years ago I had a customer come round and discovered on seeing him off that he was in an S1. He let me sit in it. As a 6ft plus guy, I suffered cramming myself in; I still love them, but from the outside only.

[@AussiePom]

Did you know that Roger Moore considered buying a Lotus Esprit but Lotus would only give him a 2 pound discount so he didn't buy one. They actually used two Lotus Esprit's in For Your Eyes only the other one being a white one which got blown up when someone (the stuntman Bob Simmons) tried to break the window with the gun butt. Apparently when the film was shown in America the audience cheered because at that time in New York many people were getting their cars stolen and they wished their cars would explode when someone tried to break into them. We first saw the reddish Lotus Esprit Turbo in Q's workshop when Bond quips to him "Oh I see you managed to get the Lotus back together again". For me For Your Eyes Only will always be the best Bond film, great locations, great action together with a glorious musical score by Bill Conti.

[@PetrolPed]

No way 😳😂

[@rayborg7378]

This car looks so nice , it just has not dated at all.That JPS inspired livery is an eye catching one.40 years on still fondly remember that great Swede the one and only Ronnie Petterson.

[@jasonshaw1628]

A classic taking me back to my childhood. Thanks Pete & Tim for the nostalgia & have a good weekend 👍

[@timofthomas]

My favourite car to draw pre-1982 was the TR7 - another wedge shaped pop up headlighted British car - when they were working they were my dream car (shame most died of rust - I've not seen one in about 20 years now)

[@markwood5073]

Love this video, bought back memories of my Esprit Turbo. Had the same issue when changing gear meant hitting your knuckles on the radio. You develop a different grip on the gear lever after doing that a few times!

[@user-pd4hm8bh8e]

I brought one brand new in 83 ,red with tan, cost £18.125. from the London Sports Car Center on the Edgeware Rd. Can't remember it having any issues amazingly ! Had a lot of fun with it, great car in its day.............

[@S-T-E-V-E]

My first car was a 12yo A Reg Ford Orion and it had certain eccentricities you needed to perform to keeping it running i.e. in the winter you had to pull out the choke at junctions to stop it stalling and finding reverse was like picking a Lock! But I remember when I got a newer car I missed those eccentricities as it added character!

[@thecentralscrutinizer1758]

I'm with you. I was born in 1965 and I still remember the impact the white Bond Esprit made upon me. It was like seeing alien technology. It made the Aston Martins look like twin tub washing machines in comparison. I never liked the later evolutions of the Esprit though. Curving those razor sharp lines was like painting glasses and a moustache on the Mona Lisa. Some things must never be tampered with.

[@Chris-mh3vf]

Gotta love a Morris marina door handle

[@udosteinhauser5661]

Great fun to watch that video, PP. Bring up the others from the 80s, what a great time that was.

[@PetrolPed]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@honda4185]

Doorhandle was used by Peugeot in their 505 to..slick design and great feel to open with it. That car looks amazing!!

[@watchcommander2012]

What a lovely classic car. I love the Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger but my favourite bond film car is the white Toyota 2000GT Roadster from you only live twice.

[@PetrolPed]

Oh yes 🙌

[@robsmith1a]

A friend had one in 1985(red with gold BBS wheels) and it broke down all of the time (usually serious of course). It had hardly done any miles then. It did look very striking it has to be said.

[@Tristanbirdyt]

Fantastic video very enjoyable thank you so much my favourite ever bond car is Quantum Malice, Aston Martin DBS

[@weira1816]

My favourite bond car too. Loved the colour and the skis on the back!

[@darrenlucas2768]

Interesting fact....so I'm told, the car used on the film The Spy Who Loved Me, had part of it's seat trim changed in colour as when it got pulled out of the water( by hidden chain) after the iconic submarine scene the standard tartan on the headrests didn't contrast well on the car with the sea, such was the attention to detail. It was re- trimmed to tone it down slightly......the rest is history.

[@PetrolPed]

Nice 👌

[@vista1456786]

1.DB5 2.DB10 3.Esprit (spy who loved me) 4.Vanquish S and XKR 5.Esprit turbo (for your eyes only) 6.Vantage V8 I think that's the name (timothy darlton 's bond car) 7.The Jaquar that accompanied the DB10 8.Z8 9.750 (or was it 40? Pierce bronsnon 7 series)

[@nigelhaines7900]

What a car my all time favourite thanks for showing us

[@std882]

The Esprit Turbo (white with red stripes) is my favorite of all simply because it was my first dream car.

[@matthewbannister3473]

Haha, I’m a few years younger than you Ped but my parents had a Mini City when I was growing up which we used to keep a peg in, to use on the choke. Incidentally, the later MPi Mini has a similar fuel cut off switch under the bonnet - a lesson learned with my own first car… Great video as always and what a great set up your friend has. I, like many other comments, might also have dived into the classifieds after watching! Hope you, Mrs P and the pups are all well

[@michaelstaunton1632]

Enjoying the mixture of content keep up the good work 👍👍👍

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks, will do!

[@DL-ls5sy]

Thank you ! marvelous car ! I have a Sunbeam Lotus with the four cylinder but no turbo. I like very much this car and the choke system..so clever !

[@PetrolPed]

Glad you like it!

[@evo8dave]

Great video....I lost one of the rear boxes off my 1983 Lotus Excel years ago! I noticed the engine noise change a bit, but didn't think to much of it at the time lol When I got back home like you I noticed it missing...I went back to roughly where I thought I may have lost it and found it...and had it welded back on lol

[@PetrolPed]

That’s what Tim did 😂

[@briangriffiths114]

Always liked that colour scheme, which was replicated by some other manufacturers over the years in more mundane cars.

[@trev8591]

Fantastic, Pete! I'm pretty sure Tim's collection will be pretty much my dream garage.

[@PetrolPed]

Mine too!

[@alasdairwilson4806]

Fantastic car.Always liked them Thank you for this one.Can't wait to see what else you get to drive.

[@PetrolPed]

More to come!

[@alij100100]

Great video, brought me back to my childhood memories of a poster I had of this lotus model on my bedroom wall. I bet the guy in the mini had a good time following you guys too. 😎 amazing car.

[@B1bthinkin]

Great video. I remember those days too, where every drive was an adventure, and I never left the toolbox at home. 🙂

[@PetrolPed]

Same here!

[@plbingham]

always for me - the White S1 Esprit,.... simple, stunning and perfect. Not overly keen on the additional spoilers and kit on the S3 - BUT,.. still lovely though

[@funkyfurballs1078]

Way more reliable than my '67 Europa!

[@gordonmackenzie4512]

Drove the Esprit Turbo S4 once, and only once. It was fabulously fast and very yellow. Late 90s and my Boss bought one as a toy.

[@henryhol8538]

The Lotus Esprit is brilliant. Like you (and many of us who grew up around the same time) I was underwhelmed when I first saw the Aston Martin DB5 in a Bond Film. Of course I have grown to like it since then.

[@adamwest9004]

Great video Pete.. love the car!!

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks 👍

[@greggmay9649]

Great vid Pete! Love an S3 Esprit, either this colour scheme or the Copperfire of the Bond car. Definitely on my list... Then, imagine my surprise to see that they live about 300 yards from us and I've never seen the car before at all! Small world!

[@PetrolPed]

Right on!

[@stephenwilliams6540]

Brilliant video. Tim is pure class 👍

[@PetrolPed]

Sure is 👍

[@richardraybould6928]

Stunning. Dream car!

[@inrtime]

Lucky man. Looked absolutely great when it was new and with my 1970 eyes, looks just as good today. Roger Moore was not a fan however. Saw him in 2012 when he was doing the "In conversation/evening with..." thing in various theatres talking about his life. Cars came up, and whilst he liked the Volvo P1800, his experience of the Lotus was similar to yours. He found them difficult to get in and out of, cramped and when the Director shouted 'Action" would invariably start billowing steam and over heat. Great man, great car, great review 👍

[@arthurdunga345]

lovely old car that i always wanted one

[@christophermatthias3327]

What a car this is the aqua transformer one in James Bond those underwater shots are gorgeous keep it up PP

[@insigniatek3775]

Brilliant 😂 but looks so much like a kit car. I also loved the “what does Lotus stand for”. I loved the Esprit back in the day and not just because of Bond. I loved the fact that so much performance was squeezed out of a 4 pot 2.2! I had a 1988 Toyota Supra with pop up headlights and absolutely loved them (practical as well as they stayed clean during the day), the 3 litre straight six might have had something to do with it as well, and the fact it had Toyota’s typical reliability. Manual choke - how times have changed! Also, how many young drivers will have ever heard of points or a rotor arm. Those were the days! 😂😊

[@AnonymousAndy2]

My favourite Bond car was the white submarine version. Just love it.

[@terryjones6504]

I had a JPS Elan +2 back in the day. Kept it for 3 months, changing into 3rd the gear stick came off in your hand. In the end I could refit it with one hand whilst still driving.

[@PetrolPed]

Skills 👌😂

[@terryjones6504]

@@PetrolPed Yeah, 40 years later I converted the Elise that had blue lights and sirens. ( Still got it 😂 ). Enjoy the industry Peter, the happy memories will last forever and the stories get funnier the more you tell them, ask the wife 😂😂.

[@andrewnorris5415]

The Lotus engine was already tuned and gave quite a lot of power for its displacement. Hence the light boost. Lotus also has a tradition of gradually increasing the power in models to get more sales. The Renault gearbox limited the power, the SE was really pushing it.

[@seanmorgan4099]

It was always a dream car for me - they say never meet your hero’s but I got to drive one once. And it did not disappoint at all ! I was on a private test drive and the owner told me to give it some stick as “easy to slide it around”! I took it very carefully but gave it a boot in a straight line and was certainly quick - but no quicker than the Cooper S I bought instead. I don’t regret not buying it - would have been great to own but the repairs costs would be a constant I fear

[@03Esprit]

What a stunning vehicle I love it so special more pleased on any esprit 👍😍

[@PetrolPed]

Glad you like it!

[@jonathancollard3710]

I had one of the last Esprit’s , the V8 Gt. It’s absolutely gorgeous to look at but sadly I didn’t drive it enough so sold it last spring. A real pity Lotus just didn’t get the mechanical build quality up as they could have sold many many more, although the glass fibre / resin bodywork always was excellent.

[@awalk5177]

Lotus need to be properly maintained and tuned. This looks like a very nice example. Problems are only serious if they are neglected. Esprit also featured in Pretty Woman movie.

[@klackon1]

In 1982 I had cause to drive a few miles in a brand new JPS Lotus Esprit. I had always lusted after the Esprit, as it looked so gorgeous: but after driving it those few miles I was content with just admiring it from afar. Though quite exhilarating to drive, it was just not practical or that pleasant for an every day drive.

[@magpie6648]

I used to joke that the door handles on my Allegro estate where from the Lotus Esprit.... LOL...

[@PetrolPed]

😂😂😂

[@martinhibbert1428]

Great vid one of your best for sometime, more classics please.

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks, will do!

[@vestelmobile5255]

Perfect design..modern face..comfortable model 👏👌

[@PetrolPed]

Thank you so much 😀

[@colinspark8712]

Brilliant! Very amusing.

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@ginggur17]

Hello PP. loved these as a kid. Sod’s Law that it would misbehave on film. I still have my toy in the loft.

[@andym1908]

Great stuff Peter . I'm a similar age to you love Bond and Lotus of this period . My mate had a Turbo in the early 90s . Had nothing but trouble with it .

[@PetrolPed]

😂😂😂

[@wynnjones6662]

Great video Ped, more please. Did struggle to hear you both speaking when travelling in the car 👍

[@PetrolPed]

Sorry about that 😬

[@markmcdonald115]

I’m a 100 percent with you on the Lotus but I was more interested in the Yamaha XT 500 when I was young 🏍️

[@PetrolPed]

Fair enough!

[@cinqiwc]

Wow, awesome video. What a cool car ❤

[@PetrolPed]

Thank you 🤗

[@Defender90Reviews]

Loved this. Particularly fact as you say, driving these vintage (in my case slightly later classic Impreza) driving them up to 60 on twisty roads is best thing of all time…

[@PetrolPed]

Yep 👍

[@michaelteret4763]

My dream car!

[@edwowen]

So cool. Really want one of these at some point.

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@scotiajinker8392]

This was my favourite super car when I was a teenager especially in this livery.

[@PetrolPed]

Mine too 👍

[@paulredding5864]

Looks great and I hv similar tyres on the Quattro, its all part of the suspension for ride comfort ☺️

[@PetrolPed]

Right on!

[@danielsmall4363]

My favourite James bond film is moonraker brilliant film love jaws in the movie

[@philipparkes5682]

Hi Ped Enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Can I request some more “Classic Car” videos if you have the time and vacant space in your programming schedule. On a personal note the 60 profile tyres do not look out of place.😉 I do recall that minor stoppages was par for the course and usually sorted without a call to the breakdown services.🤭

[@keithwaller4545]

Lucky enough to own a S3 turbo loved did did buy cheap and spend time on it . Fab lovely to drive really comfy when in. With sunroof out like a targa top. Fast enough not to expensive to run. Different too, no ferrari or porsche snobby stuff. All ways a thumbs. But theY need using regular so all ok skool electrics work. Make sure coolant hoses and fuel pipes replaced . Carbs all serviced will be fine. Oh old steel fuel tanks can rust and block fuel system.

[@ianfranks3571]

Definitely more like this please Ped!

[@PetrolPed]

That’s the plan 👍

[@SWR112]

Met a Lotus drivers club at a hotel in the highlands. The Cars look great, they were still waiting on two to arrive because they had broken down and you could see the ones in the Car park were cherished and look after but the quality was shocking. It took them twice to shut anything, bits tapped back on you name it. But to me that’s all part of it, yes thy are built cheaply but looks so great on the road.

[@jase6370]

fabulous thing, although a little unfair to criticise a 40 year old car for faults ! still think they are one of the best styled mid engine cars.

[@SJW82]

Ahhhhh the blaukrumpt radio, I remember them from when I was kid. I wanted to build a stereo with it on a sheet of plywood with 4 6’9’s and a enclosed Sub….bare in mind I wasn’t older enough to drive back then 😂

[@PetrolPed]

Blue Spot 😜😂

[@andyburns6496]

What a great wheel and tyre combination. They look so good. Bring back proper high profile tyres. Your cars suspension will thank you.

[@lewis72]

The Esprit soldiered on until 2003. The Lotus test driver was Roger Becker, who's sadly no longer with us.

[@nickrendell4300]

have been a passenger in a lotus, you sit very low to the ground. great experience going out in one. definitely one of the all time favourite bond cars.great video.

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@matthewjenkins1161]

4:30 Those are Rover SD1 rear lights I believe?

[@cotswoldphotographers]

Brilliant, Tim is a legend 😀

[@PetrolPed]

He sure is 👍

[@gtsussex3467]

Always loved the Esprit, for much the same reason as anyone else our age. Never pushed the button and stuck with Elise/Exige options. Not so worried about the driving dynamics now - accept it’s a 40yr old car and it’s a much about owning it. It’s a toss up between one of those or a 308! That’s a good bit of road, the Battle Road. Have a right old giggle on that most days. Surface is awful (and usually covered in crap) but some cracking sections.

[@colinmcleod4190]

Real classic car experience.

[@alansheard553]

JPS Lotus for me was Ronnie Peterson & Mario Andretti. Watched them win at Brands Hatch British GP in 1978. Favourite Lotus, Europa Twin Cam.

[@PetrolPed]

Ronnie Peterson. What a legend 👍

[@MegaRetr]

Hey awesome video actually owner has a good sense of humour 😅😅😅

[@PetrolPed]

He sure does 👍

[@thezanzibarbarian5729]

Go back to the mid/late '60's, and I had a _"Corgi Toys James Bond DB5"_ from the Goldfinger movie. Loved it to pieces and played with it to death 8-))... _God knows where it is now!?_ 8-((... But I also had a model the Lotus Europa too. And I loved that little car too. Hence, for me, the Esprit can't be my favourite Lotus. Even though they are cracking cars.

[@landhopper4296]

Car Magazine, November 1981, Mel Nichols and Roger Cook take the Esprit Turbo to Glasgow through the Yorkshire Dales….one of the greatest drive stories ever.

[@drew699]

Yes. Great & evocative review. It’s clear the Espirit was a fabulous & v quick car back in the day. Ped didnt even floor it by the look s of it!

[@kreppaeppl1447]

thanks for the nice video ! ...the side trims ( waste line trim) on the car are gone , but that looks good .

[@PetrolPed]

Well spotted. I did talk about that but removed it from the edit as I need to reduce the length of the video.

[@kreppaeppl1447]

😀@@PetrolPed

[@jackthehatphoto]

I have exactly the same car (same JPS colours too) and it has been thoroughly reliable. They really need to be maintained by a Lotus specialist annually which is surprisingly affordable. They are reliable cars when looked after properly.

[@PetrolPed]

Nice 👌