JayEmm's Lotus Diary: An Icon, Driven - The Esprit V8 (UHD)

Today I got to meet one of my motoring heroes - the Lotus Esprit V8. With my 400 making me smile everywhere I go, and memory of the Ferrari 355 fresh in my mind - how will the Esprit stack up?

[@69bock69]

really happy this car was not a let down. always loved them

[@chinchy111]

Fun and beautiful car. But the engine is very unreliable. The piston heads crack easily. And the engine horsepower had to be turned down because the transmission was too weak. It was supposed to have 500hp. But 350 is still nice

[@chinchy111]

Nice r32. Test drove a lightning red r32 years ago and tried buying it but it didnt work out

[@kb9072]

Twice this week I've found an old video from JayEmm that I hadn't watched. It's like finding a fiver in an old jacket..

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Blimey this is one of the oldest too

[@machohogan]

Crazy car. When I was a youngster (born in 76). The Epsrit, 308, 911 and Countach were cars I lusted over.

[@SoCalFreelance]

That is a pristine example of an Esprit for sure. Exactly what I would want if purchasing one.

[@longtailgt]

One of my earliest childhood dream cars! And a favourite of mine from Need for Speed II. Glad to see it doesn't disappoint even 25 years later and people have actually started appreciating it for what it is.

[@augustortiz]

Jay we need a revisit of this car.

[@davekennedy6315]

Always loved these beautiful cars! Would still happily own one today no problem. So tiny and purposeful, with that mad twin turbo V8. Very, very cool!

[@monzarace]

While I would agree, that the V8 Esprit is softer than any other Esprit, which is surely harder, I's also say that the gearchange in the very last model years of the Esprit V8 is surely better than earlier ones. 2002-2004 is more slick and clicks better into gear.One must remember, that the V8 Esprit were also made for the US market, and they have long straight roads and like plush soft rides. Even the seats were wider with less side support for the V8 Esprits as the drivers tend to be a bit wider too.The heavier weight and the very low boost the turbos run with, makes for a very different ride, than the 4 cyl. Esprits, which in reality is just as fast and eats curves even better.The steering geometry is also made slower on the v8 Esprits, compared to the 4 cyl. Esprits. But all the feeling of the road and steering input plus a wonderfull chassis is always there in the Esprit.THe sound of the silencers on the Esprits are very dampened, so it could be sold on all markets. It strangles the very nice sound of the Esprit V8 engine, which is made for speed, and good torque, not sound.You make a god point on the interrior. All that you need when driving, is right there where it should be, and there is never a need to look around and search for anything that you need to operate, while driving fast. It's simple and good looking inside. Which can hardly be said about many of it's competitors from the same age (1976-2004), so nothing disturbs you when driving the Esprit. Oh, and take a look at the Testarossa and it's interrior and acceleration times... I won't even comment on the 911 cars.Honestly, I'd take the Esprit over any 308,328,348,355 any day. It's faster, drives miles better in turns, steers better and looks better. Plus it's much more rare. It's the better car.Remember where most automobile makers get their knowledge of driving and handleing from: Lotus.The Esprit is a real gem in the automobile sportscar history.Thanks for the video.Redfox.

[@noobybadgerFTW]

A good exhaust makes these things one of my absolute favourite sounding cars.

[@noobybadgerFTW]

They sound good anyway, just the volume.

[@gregoryjohnson9733]

This model was my favorite British car. In Racing Green w/ tan interior.

[@weallfollowmanutd]

Funny thing was, this was faster than a 355. The 0-60 was and the 0-100mph

[@ventisette.]

You would be mad to buy an Esprit over a 355 these days

[@weallfollowmanutd]

@@ventisette. The 355 holds its value but is a nightmare to run. The F1 gearbox goes after 30k miles and costs nearly 20k to repair.

[@BRAINFxck10]

@@weallfollowmanutdyou don’t repair the F1 you swap it with a manual for the same cost while adding value to the car the conversion pays for itself and all the small maintenance stuff can be done in your garage

[@BRAINFxck10]

Well yea Turbo vs N/A and the Lotus is a couple hundred pounds lighter.

[@phillipneal9289]

Another excellent piece Esprit for me every time. Keep up the good work

[@KEITHTARA]

Totally agree about the bought in components, including switch gear. It's a simple decision, spend the budget on the chassis and running gear, or spend it on developing switch gear

[@SmokingGunnII]

Thank you for this very cool video. A fan of lotus !!

[@masbeer]

I would have liked to have seen more views of the Esprit, but the commentary was the best and most informative of any I've seen on youtube. Well done!

[@seancain7305]

Nice one! Best yet JayEmm

[@davekennedy6315]

Jay's head is nigh on poking out the sunroof haha!

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Another quality review. Very enjoyable that! Delighted to see the Lotus get such a good appraisal, still a stunning looking car!

[@WhiteMouse77]

This car has incredible project potential to be upgraded and tuned into dream machine! In USA there is club of guys who rebuild Fieros into similar concept of car swapping GM V8 LS engines in the back creating incredible custom fun cars where only original body with lowered roof remains and everything else is on suit....

[@beefsuprem0241]

Always loved the look of this car as a kid in 90s

[@AlexGrayTheCarCollector]

Yes, the Evora is a great car - I used to own one for a number of years - but personally, I prefer the Esprit. It is more of an experience to drive.

[@petergouldbourn2312]

Great video

[@dutchmeikuh8822]

Thanks for sharing James ! Hope the Lotus diaries will continue with lots of episodes to follow. For what I've wondered the last few months, Lotus was very 'helpfull' to put their knowledge into a lot of other cars not being sold as pure Lotuses. Lotus Ford Cortina, Sunbeam Lotus, Lotus Omega as you've mentioned and for example the Isuzu Piazza too. But the last decade it's relatively quiet on that format? Why? And what if they 'do' another daily customer car, what should it be? My take, because of their influence with Geely, I think they have to do something with Polestar, a small coupe/GT ish car, maybe with Volvo 1800 inspiring lines.. or, outside the Geely group, the Hyundai Veloster would be a good candidate I think to add some lightness to it. Wonder if you could do something with this. Best regards, Meike

[@BenJamin-rt7ui]

the v8 Esprit is one of the best proportioned cars ever built. timeless classic. What a shame they kept with the Renault gearbox. Bad move. Money no object, could you replaced it and unleash the full HP of the engine? Great vids btw.

[@sarahdell4042]

Years ago, you could purchase upgraded internals for the gearbox. Those sources have dried up these days. Although a few have changed the gearbox to a completely different unit. The main reason I sold my Esprit was the gearbox, you simply cannot drive it fast around a track without dealing with issues from that horrid Reanult boat anchor of a gearbox!

[@sarahdell4042]

LotusLambo I've also owned a manual Gallardo, you're insane if you think the Esprit transmission feels better. Something is wildly wrong with the Lambo if that's truly the case.

[@sarahdell4042]

***** Same gearbox, this guy is blowing smoke.

[@sarahdell4042]

LotusLambo Because a V10 powered vehicle, that is actually reliable isn't considered "real" sounds good.

[@sarahdell4042]

LotusLambo Ha. Can't argue that is was mass produced.

[@TeamAtterz]

You get a pssst from the blow off valve, not the wastegate :). Nice VLog as always though, i always enjoy them so thank you for taking the time to do them. The Evora is lovely and the Esprit is but a dream for me!

[@TeamAtterz]

No worries! Great video as always, very informative.

[@wilburwright2244]

Not so sure about the blow off valve. I have an Esprit SE MY90, that makes a wooshing sound when I let up the throttle to change gears. There is no blow off valve fitted.

[@TeamAtterz]

There will be a relief valve of some sort fitted to vent the boost pressure back in to the inlet as the throttle plate closes. It prevents pressurised air attempting to stall the compressor when the throttle plate closes, this prevents damage apparently. I would be surprised if Lotus hadn't fitted one to these cars.

[@1183newman]

The esprit turbo HC is the esprit to get, only 300 made and probably the best iteration of the esprit.

[@hypaspazz]

OK, you have now driven the Esprit. Many would say it is the best Lotus ever built. Given the context of when this was built, would you say that the car is better than the recent Lotus models? BTW, it sounds beautiful regardless of the "quietness" that they tried to achieve.

[@roverwaters3875]

this a true supercar

[@SerialDriver]

The decision of developing a new engine from scratch, was to develop a modular base that could be change and sold as 4 pots, v6... to others brands

[@chesspiece81]

There's a place here in America that swaps LS V8s and Boxster S transmissions in these. Top Gear had a blue one on that was gorgeous. I'd love to get either an aftermarket LS block with a 4.065" bore or 4.125" bore and the 4.8 3.268" stroke. With some CNC LS3 or LS7 heads with really lightweight valvetrain and solid roller camshaft. A pair of 58mm to 64mm turbos mounted off the manifolds and very easily make 600-700hp while weighing less. It would very easily Rev to 7500-8500 rpm while having near instant boost response with an extremely linear and effortless powerband.

[@pgtmr2713]

I'd rather have a V8 Esprit than a Countach or Testarossa. The new Esprit looks like a meh before it's even out.

[@gaz5663]

Need to see more of the car

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Yes, I agree. This video was one of the first I did and later ones have a lot more angles

[@gaz5663]

Good info though

[@Number27]

Nice video Jay, wonder how this compares to mine.. quite different in some ways I would expect, thoiugh ultimately the base design is pretty much the same.

[@philipcooper8297]

The V8 so smooth it doesn't even run like an V8.

[@martinboulden4388]

Really interesting watching this video in 5/23 at how relaxed and happy you are ! You seem more James Martin and a lot less Jeremy Clarkson ? Just an observation.

[@sarahdell4042]

They sound amazing, once you change the exhaust. Along with the horrid gearbox, the car doesn't have intercoolers... I dearly miss my Esprit, but these things cost a fair but of money to keep on the road.

[@sarahdell4042]

Forgot to add, excellent review.

[@69bock69]

very handsome car

[@shadowsystemproject]

i love the old lotus esprit v8 i hope you get to drive the lotus esprit 350 sport from 1999 i hope lotus thin about re doing the esprit with a modern design and stronger engine and gearbox. The old lotus esprit GT1 race from 1996 car was so cool and competitive but fragile sadly

[@threezerol944t]

God I love the Esprit..I'm scared to death to one one tho..

[@american4890]

My question is how or what did McClaren F1 do to overtake the esprit 🤙🙏

[@megatafiq8741]

How is the evora?

[@julianadams2206]

Such an awesome looking car. Just a shame that the engine doesn’t sound a bit more musical.

[@nnoddy8161]

Does Lotus still have the rights to that engine? Someone should have kept building it.

[@watchingitallhere]

Sunroof. Hellyea.

[@american4890]

Was it handling or horsepower

[@phil955i]

Hate flat plane V8s. Can't beat the sound of a cross plane

[@williamegler8771]

WOW... I am impressed it ran long enough to complete a video!

[@monsterp1970]

Great review James, nice to listen to. What a pity they didn't release the 2013 Esprit like they promised. What happened?!?

[@monsterp1970]

I heard of money issues in Malaysia... The last one I saw was launched at the Paris Motor Show I think, due to sell in 2013... 3 years on nothing.... but I'm still saving some pennies! haha :-)

[@marcushull12]

I always annoys me when people say that about British cars parts bin ,no one ever mentions that Lamborghini Countach and Diablo used very old BL indicator stalks and later models might just burst into flames .

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Diablo stalks are from a Morris Ital!

[@TheNobleLoyalist]

My personal opinion may very well be skewed, being that I was born in the 80s, so my set of unobtainable dream cars i.e., bedroom poster cars, consisted of the usual teenage boys line up; Ferrari F40/F348/F355, Lamborghini Countach/Diablo, Porsche 911 SlantNose/968/944, and in my late teens/early 20's; Bugatti EB110/Jaguar XJ220/McLaren F1. (Very Funny Quick Story: I think I was about 15 years old at most and had just purchased a copy of Motor Trend or Car & Driver and was in the car with my mother driving, I waa reading an article about the Bugatti EB110, and the EB110 they were photographing was black instead of their usual Bugatti blue, and all of a sudden in some distance behind us I notice a low slung black sports car that I could have swore was a Black EB110!!!! What an amazing coincidence I thought as my heart was pumping!! I told my mother to slow down some and as it got closer I waa convinced still, it was an EB110 especially due to the front headlight covers... well, my my surprise and embarrassment, it turned out to be a 90s 300zx!!! LOL) That being said, even though I was into the usual boys trio dream car line up, i.e, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, I was never obsessed and consigned to one particular model of that trio. And thats because my dream car never came to be from that trio. Instead it came to be a Lotus Esprit. I was 13 years old, again in the car with my mother on the way to the grocery store, and there was a privately owned exotic car garage which we had to pass and I always enjoyed passing it as I always got to see the usual Porsches and Ferrari 328s and 348s, Porsche Carreras and 944s and such, even a mint Lamborghini Miura, BUT this particular day as we drove past the garage my eyes caught a glimpse of something in the back of the gated lot, and I remember vividly the magnificent white color and how impossibly FLAT the front of the car was, super low slung. When we got to the grocery store I begged my mom to grab my friends and bike over to the garage. Both my best friends lived next to the grocery store and the exotic garage was half a mile at most away. We biked over and the owner was super cool and let us in to look at it. While my friends were in awe stuck on the Ferraris, I marched straight to this white wedge. The owner told me all about it. It was a 1990 Esprit SE turbo. And from that day, I had found MY dream car. And I was obsessed ever since.

[@paulelverstone8677]

My dream car. Still...

[@caravanstuff2827]

Lotus car's aren't about straight line speed...their about handling , their a bargain if you're looking for a super car that's got F1 pedigree at a affordable price...fast forward a couple of years from then to top gears south American tour and the appealing hammering James may gave the red lotus and it proves that these car's are built and engineered better than a Ferrari... I'm definitely getting this color and wheel combination when I win the lottery!!.🤣🤣❤️🇬🇧

[@MegaRockstar48]

Can you do a video on lotus depreciation

[@JayEmmOnCars]

The problem with videos like that is they go out of date very quickly, and only ever apply to a certain territory

[@tryfreeforexsignalstoday]

I was a little disappointed concerning the Lotus Esprit when I found out it was slower car than my Corvette. I still very much LOVE the Esprit.

[@tryfreeforexsignalstoday]

***** The C6 LS2 engine. 2006.. it is posted on my channel Aaron Truth TV

[@tryfreeforexsignalstoday]

***** Lotus Esprit.. my DREAM. I see you go trid of it for a ..less exotic looking Evora. I say that because the Evora is too straight like a pencil.. I REALLY tried to like it.. I have seen many of them.. But for me it is seriously lacking something. Lacking that peculiar look I see in some of the most coveted sports cars. The Elise is a timeless design. I give them credit on that one. But Lotus lately has gone "plain" looking and not as eye catching as it used to be.

[@tryfreeforexsignalstoday]

***** Sorry to put it that way.. I have to be honest with you. I HOPE that the next car you get would be something I can go crazy over. But congrats on new purchase.

[@tryfreeforexsignalstoday]

***** I have seen many.. I live near NYC.. Trust me they are out here.. lol.

[@tryfreeforexsignalstoday]

***** Dealership brought some new ones to the car show this summer.. still was not impressed. The interior is nice but I like cars that have low wide stances. Like Viper, Diablo, Esprit, Vette and such.

[@Tracertme]

People forget that Ferrari's are only fast Fiats with Fiat plastics and in older cars "switch gear" ...

[@angusnz7910]

Can I apply for your job ? 😜

[@JB-F10-M5]

😋

[@nikolabozinovski2041]

I would give a arm and a leg for this car..yes i wouldn't be able to drive it...but thats probably for the better *coughing* lotus reliability *coughing*

[@acalthu]

why does it sound like a van?

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

You speak so much faster on your older videos...🗣⏳...⌛...🤣

[@aclmotorsport4420]

Peugeot 205 buttons

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Yep

[@energymc22]

Elise mk1 also used them

[@gomachanLovely]

右ハンドルヽ(^。^)ノ

[@angi733]

The 4 banger version sound better.

[@tris7]

That was a proper car. Shame they’re making hideous kit cars now.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

The current range is much better assembled, although the Esprit did have some lovely materials

[@hartoz]

That car sound absolutely terrible. I have hear Morris Minors that sound better than that.

[@leetronix]

You do not have a clue about what your talking about I am afraid. And why are you talking with the Sun Roof open!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

1. Educate me. 2. It was a Sunny day. 3. It was two years ago. If you want a more up to date and informed opinion of an Esprit see my much more recent video

[@stanleymasterson1135]

Jay needs a little more education on engines. The reason the V8 sound isn't there is due almost entirely to the flat plane crank. It eliminates the classic rumble you would normally get. The turbos and emissions have very little to do with it