Richard Hammond Drives The Stunning Lotus Esprit

Join Richard Hammond as he explores a supercar showroom seeing what he can get with £14,000, as he takes the customised Lotus Esprit supercar for a spin. Would you drive this beauty? Tell us below in the comments!
[This clip is from Motor Week: Season 8, Ep. 22, originally aired 05/07/2001. The full episode can be watched here: • Motor Week: Season 8, ... ]
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[@travkatz]

This car is timeless. The sweetest.

[@marcopalomba9463]

The typical "cool" editing from the early 2000s...

[@Burning_Powder_Kicking_Brass]

But it was published in 2017 though...

[@stevenp3176]

Matt Luman Doesn’t change the film date.

[@rct3terminator1000]

*EuroBeat Intensifies*

[@christopherstein2024]

I'll try spinnin! That's a good trick

[@FlintTD]

It's an aesthetic that I can get behind, even if it's not to everyone's tastes.

[@wilburmcbride8096]

I only saw one Lotus Esprit in my Life Time while waiting for the bus. It was a beautiful red Esprit and I will never forget it.

[@gerry5134]

Always loved that model . beautiful looking car

[@hellhound2607]

2020 and i still loving that car,

[@blakeriley6690]

Love this car. Although this is the later S4 stevens design which went away a bit from the folded paper styling of giugiaro which imo was perfection. I have a series 2 over here is the USA and damn, everytime i go out into the garage, I fall in love again!

[@baggierols73]

Lately been watching Richard Hammond on M&M reviews, and you can definitely see the talent that served him so well in presenting TG 👍

[@Jay-ru3mu]

no

[@chops6416]

These aren't £14k anymore. More like triple that price. Not sure how old this video is but TVR went out of business in 2006. That was a hell of a showroom.

[@lukeguilfoyle2425]

Video is from around 99-2000 I believe

[@detective3728]

Hmm, I wonder if you can drive it to Patagonia? Hmm

[@jordanburrill883]

Has always been my dream car. Sounds like I can stop dreaming, very soon!

[@burakgul5508]

Did you manage to buy it after 3 years?

[@caravanstuff2827]

I'd rather have a lotus esprit over a Ferrari any day of the week... especially after seeing James may driving one in south America!!.💕🇬🇧🇺🇦

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

It has that classic supercar look. Wow...!!!

[@brendancarlson1678]

The salesman told him it would cost 2 grand a year for maintenance on a Lotus Esprit Turbo, I love salesmen like that.

[@russellking9762]

only if they worked for me....i wouldn't buy a car off someone who said that...

[@Psiberzerker]

An 80s Esprit isn't what I'd call a "Supercar," but under 15K, it's a lot of fun for your money.

[@jamesavickers5961]

Always wanted one grazie ciao

[@lazerface7746]

retro... i love it!!

[@MisterMotel]

legends say that the car at 0:33 is still waiting to make that turn

[@anthonydavis4829]

Before they had every corner shaved off, they were truly Beautiful.

[@chriswatson7488]

All the way back in 2001. I remember this episode.

[@mr2bmw]

Look at all those NEW MR2's!!!

[@joybanger1018]

I'm getting a 02 v8 can't wait

[@mattbudesa3038]

Joy banger101 Nice! Tell me how you like it man. I'm looking to get one soon as well.

[@Harcix]

Did you get it?

[@777jones]

Enjoy your Crown Vic.

[@DoothBrooth]

I prefer the 98 version with the block lights rather than circles, still a great car though

[@LuziannaBoy]

@BosoxnationI972 how so? Ford owned lotus at that point in time?

[@johanneslebrecht3097]

Look at all these wildly expensive cars! Touch. Touch. Touch touch.

[@jamesalfredstrong8106]

Young Richard Hammond reminds me of the car wash guy from Happiness and Cyanide.

[@sundelight8230]

That lotus is 😍😍

[@TechMetalRules]

Greatest car design of all time.

[@southlondon86]

Anyone know the song that plays right at the start of this video?? It's a classic 90s tune but I can't remember the name!

[@DJBassBoomBottom]

Anyone know the song? Reminds me of the early Gran Turismo soundtrack.

[@TS50ER]

The editor of this video must have been on speed.

[@fuasa4724]

14k for that lotus.... yee wiz times has chanced not its close to 40k

[@christopherstein2024]

Shit

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

I remember when you could get old Elises for 6k. They have all doubled in value over the last 10 years. Some of them are worth more than they cost new when you factor in inflation.

[@mrttripz3236]

Yeah 80s cars are more and more in vogue these days. It's only going to get worse and worse

[@Laco02HomeStudio]

OZ Futurs rims.... just awesome

[@Wilantonjakov]

TVRs are so beautiful

[@jeshkam]

That background dance music screams late 90s or early 00s 😂

[@Menandmotors]

Reminds us of our roots! 😂

[@tonyhaynes9080]

qhat dealer was he using, as they have some nice stuff in stock?

[@StarHorseLover2012]

14 grand ! Even in those days that was a bargain. Now you can multiply that by three or five for the same car.

[@thomasleemullins4372]

I think that is neat. I wonder how much for the 'submarine option'? (James Bond movie).

[@flamingosextet8649]

DO NOT SKIMP ON THE TIMING BELT SCHEDULE. My old mechanic was looking after a 4 cylinder turbo model twenty years ago, and the owners had done just that. The water pump was $700, and the pistons were almost a thousand EACH.... And if the editing drives you nuts in this video, go watch Harry's Garage where he takes an S3 on a 2,000 mile road trip.

[@StarHorseLover2012]

That people can buy a 30-old-classic and skimp on maintenance is beyond me. But it happens. Buyers beware.

[@fenn_fren]

Anyone know the song at 2:06?

[@mantabond]

Can anyone help us with the name of the music track?

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

so many TVRs!

[@BK-qu7mj]

felt like i was watching green wing for the first minute

[@Daehawk]

What year is that car and is it a 4 or 8 cylinder?

[@MrMarkhall1]

They should do s similar model now, the same name,modern supercar and also an mx5 type thing.

[@knightmedia1]

Love the Esprit, TVR's are lovely to look at, but too unreliable, and the Lotus example in that video, although we didn't see much of it, was a great example

[@Chopin1995]

Men&Motors could you write when this video was recorded? And is it from some documentary, TV show or something else? I'm just interested in this kind of stuff.

[@detective3728]

its from a tv-show called men and motors...

[@Chopin1995]

Ahhh :D Thanks!

[@soundseeker63]

Summer 1999.

[@Chopin1995]

Thank you!

[@bojanarezina2352]

the editing on this is so fckn cheesy

[@gonzomuse]

Pretty annoying! Lets wave the camera around and then star wipe to an upside down fast tracking shot.

[@speedsociety9177]

come one, it's from the nineties, they didn't know better ;)

[@ElvenMans]

You mean Brilliant.

[@quattro4468]

Everyobe can critize with a hindsight of 20 fucking years. Genius.

[@bolaoito4]

he things that the dubstep serious tone of now gona last forever.

[@ilham7345]

I thought it was Daniel for a second, lol

[@moimohd]

WooooW

[@colinmathers3672]

Amo le inglesi!! 💣💣💣

[@Razl07]

YEE HAA!!

[@logicn.reasoning9744]

The camerawork/editing where staight abnoxious in the early 2000's .... "keep the camera moving, no matter what"..

[@taekwondotime]

30 years on and I've still never seen one of these cars on the road lol. It's like the "supercar" nobody ever bought. When you consider price and rarity, the fact that I've seen Ferrari's, McLaren's, the highest end Porsche 911's (GT2 Turbos), Acura NSXs, Lamborghini's, Maserati's, and on and on down the list.... but never a Lotus Esprit is kind of strange.

[@Dave-co1cv]

I'm a retired 25-year Florida State Trooper, and I have seen everything you mentioned.....and not one Esprit. For the record, I really like the Esprit.

[@capuchinseven]

The 90s, it buuuuurrrns us!

[@worldofrandometry6912]

Classic car insurance after ten years? That's nice.

[@elcas20012003]

music from hell

[@ryanstarks5236]

Lots of trouble usually serious. Lotus I'd take the risk for that beast it sounds mean.

[@StarHorseLover2012]

Such a stupid phrase. The problem with the British is that they like to denigrate their own brands. That's why virtually none of them have survived.

[@michaelbreckshot6589]

I saw one of these on AUTOTRADER in my town for 25k

[@Stryke607]

Damn ... he has aged a lot in just 12 years. He looks like a young adult here

[@priimadjuud3966]

James has aged more.

[@rab2826]

They have all aged badly.

[@gdawgsuper758]

It’s what happens when u drive at 290mph

[@LuziannaBoy]

@@gdawgsuper758 ...while doing blow off the dash...

[@vercingetorix5708]

He hasn’t aged, he’s just grown a goatee and been in two near fatal accidents.

[@richclean]

like, how many times did you drive on those white lines 🤔

[@MrMarkhall1]

The Esprit and the E type,when 🇬🇧 Britain was cool.

[@Mx64MaxyImpress]

15 years later Some Old Woman drives it to Patagonia with Mustang & 924

[@Ferraridude13]

what is that open wheel lotus at 1:15??

[@Exigence-2007]

Lotus 340R

[@lynx873]

How much the cost 😊

[@annelakey8775]

wow

[@marctimmeh8905]

I have owned half of that Toyota Dealership, both Celica and one of those red MR2 MK3's

[@thomasingersoll2574]

what MODEL YEAR is this car?!....I love the color combination and wheels....VERY VERY KOOL

[@LuziannaBoy]

'97-'02 possibly.

[@conormaguire690]

Ghost in the shell

[@Stumpy77]

This was shot in Northwich - this garage is now a Mazda showroom. (or is that, toilet)

[@danielalexander8588]

He looks tiny in it! Gorgeous car though.

[@RobertMilat]

Mr2 Mr2 Mr2 !!!!

[@peterbrown9662]

Every time I see Hammond driving fast round the country roads I expect him to drive it off the road and turn it over, turning it into a crumpled wreck, as his past track record shows, Like Clarkson wouldn't let him drive a B&Q wheel barrow

[@yangordon2497]

If only they cost that little now.

[@Hello_there_obi]

Who the fuck edited this? Please tell me this was shot in the 90s

[@tyrantrex734]

Calling the Esprit a "supercar" is being very generous. The V8, maybe. Certainly not the 2.2L 4 banger. I suppose in its day (70s through the 90s) it was a "supercar". It did actually out perform the Countach. These days a Ford Focus would wipe the floor with it. It is a beautiful car though and I would love to have one because they are quirky and quite rare to see where I live.

[@RB747domme]

TyrantRex I suppose a car that could do sub 5 seconds nought to 60, and knock on the door of 160, could be considered a supercar in 1989. And with those looks? I know which of the two I'd rather have out of the Lotus and the Ford Focus.

[@user-wo5zi3kp8y]

You take the Focus and I’ll take the Esprit. Meet me at any track in the world.

[@AlexiaVon]

14k, Jesus.....

[@sharinglungs3226]

Still a nice looking car. Sounds like it would be nice to gut the internals for something more reliable and try to keep the exterior intact.

[@billybobjoe198]

There's literally nothing wrong with the 910.

[@bigdog8388]

The 910 is a sweet heart the 918 will beat you up, steal your wallet , drain your bank account and break your heart....you come back for more but eventually you’ll give up......

[@thetoad7367]

I prefer the one that swims

[@drivetestdummies]

Cheesy transitions between the scenes and that background rave. Not missing those times!

[@chrislemaster2695]

AMC DOORHANDELS OUT OF A 1980-1988 AMC EAGLE WAGON 4X4.

[@Paul-mq5yn]

OZ futura the best

[@buffhorses]

Lol did he say 14 grand? no way

[@NoFaithNoPain]

You try getting one for £14k nowadays

[@acalthu]

This has to be at least 10 years old, there are TVRs in the showroom.

[@aviazx1799]

acalthu try 15

[@zakj-b9173]

Aviaz X not 15

[@lotusjaggarage2989]

acalthu its from 2001 so 17

[@cookiesw9270]

he didnt even go underwater

[@ab-jp8mf]

Wants to buy a lotus goes to a tvr dealer

[@suttonsplash14]

sir please dont touch the paint

[@pmrose18]

wonder how many times they had to bang whoever's head in the door to get them to shut during the showroom interview?

[@trentgonzales6246]

When was this made lmaoo

[@jeromekrupp3116]

Lots of Trouble Usually Serious

[@Defender-Guy]

Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious.

[@kungfucow547]

To the reckless fools who buy cars but never take care of them. Far too many of those I'm afraid. Especially in the laziest parts of the world.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

Not since they started using Toyota engines and gearboxes. A modern Lotus is more reliable than an Audi or BMW.

[@rashedqureshi7437]

Awesome car..... But that "music"!!!

[@jensenhealey907efi]

He is crowing about "People can see me!" but he is so damn short in the car that no-one really can see him. Also it's a wonder he didn't crash it based on his record with driving exotic cars.

[@hughchamberlain5018]

I enjoy most of what he's blabbering on about except the 'look at me" comment.

[@guitaraddictsanonymous81]

14k no way even in Euros that sounds too cheap. Did I miss something?

[@ninthundertow]

The year this came out....

[@vollhorst9996]

I remember the times around 2008/2009, when we drove to the UK two times to collect some cars due to the low pound value. Esprits were standing at dealers for around 10k and nobody came to catch them. It's a supercar of the 80s, a dinosaur of the 90s and a quirky rattle box today.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

But now everyone wants classic British sports cars. What used to be un-sellable is now worth loads because no one makes cars like these anymore. Put an Esprit, Elise S1 or S2 up for sale now and people queue up to buy it.

[@vollhorst9996]

That is also true for a bunch of other classic cars of the 60s up to the late 90s or even mid-2ks. Nobody cares for the flaws of these "products" of the past anymore because it's just a window of the past or simply a pleasure to drive. And, unfortunately, for a certain amount of buyers just an investment. But I would estimate that this current market situation is some kind of a hype. Concerning the Elise, as a long-term owner of some of them I have to disagree: At least in Germany where I live, they haven't rise in value during the last year. Even more, they lost in value and are hard to sell in the last two years.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

@@vollhorst9996 In the UK there are dealers on Lotus forums asking for cars to buy because they are selling so fast and are desperate for new stock. They have been going up in value for years now.

[@chrisko2441]

Need for Speed II

[@owenfitzgerald3219]

Feeling up cars, that's NOT dodgy.

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

It must be great to be 5'5" so you can fit in any car. Unfortunately I'm 6'5".

[@blakeriley6690]

I have a series 2 esprit , a delorean and a na miata. If you are above 6"2 , you cant really fit in a miata. any taller than 6 foot and damn idk if you can even fit in the esprit, let alone drive it lol!

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

@@blakeriley6690 Those esprits look very tight inside. Such nice looking cars it's a shame I can never drive one. I tried to drive a viper once too. It was the same. Right now I have a two year old ford mustang. I have long legs and I fit perfectly in that car.

[@blakeriley6690]

@@jusztinnemeti6380 Check out miatas man! Super cheap, find one on the miata turbo forum. Just as fun as an esprit without the expensive upkeep. All esprits are expensive on maintenence, esp the earlier cars. Totally worth it if its your passion, but if you want the feel of one, with the VERY good reliability, nothing beats a turbo miata. Cheers

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

@@blakeriley6690 thanks man. I appreciate the suggestion.

[@Pernection]

Low prices in Britain . try buying a corvette for that price.

[@Rapscallion2009]

Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious Lovely cars, though.

[@pchwang]

They did a challenge and James brought a lotus and was the only person not to have a break down. Was pretty funny.

[@danielcroft7653]

I dragged a lotus Excel out of the hedge it had been sitting in for 10 years and after a new battery and fresh fuel it started.

[@yiabwstetienne7474]

I had a 1967 Elan S3SE from 77 to 86, no major problems, but I did maintain it well. (Myself).

[@fixt100]

pay close attention to how far back his seat is, most regular sized people wont fit in a lotus....

[@Coasterdude02149]

Jay Leno fits in one

[@guava101]

Untrue - I am 6'4" and fit fine

[@zc1369]

Old top gear looks like indian soap opera

[@n0w3lly90]

A Lotus is a bit like an extreme Alfa Romeo: it's unreliable, it'll cost you pain and money owning one, but it is designed to give you orgasmic excitement on the road in between all those breakdowns and expensive services! 😉

[@StarHorseLover2012]

I bet you haven't owned one. My Evora was utterly reliable and solid for the 3 years I owned it. And the fun factor was worth three times the price.