Which Lotus Esprit Should You Buy?

[@neildonaldsonlotusexcelresto]

Very informative and well put together video Stuart.

[@SportsandGT]

Thanks Neil

[@christopherdawes4414]

A very useful and informative introduction to the Espirit. Thank you.

[@SportsandGT]

Thanks Christopher.

[@patrickrenaut2754]

Nice work👍

[@SportsandGT]

Thank you very much

[@michaeljordan6008]

Splendid video, incredibly informative and well thought out. Thank you.

[@SportsandGT]

Thank you very much

[@floatingonairandwater]

Great round up, thanks. I’ve been an Esprit owner for >30 years, had 5 of them following an initial Excel SE entry to Lotus ownership. My Esprits were SE, S4 V8, V8 GT and my current V8 SE that I’ve had for almost a quarter of a century. Despite having done hundreds of thousands of miles in them collectively, and using them as daily’s back in the 1990s and early 2000s, every time i get in mine today it still feels special and an adventure even before i start it. I’ve never had a pre-Stevens car though and it’s on my bucket list to drive an “early wedge”.

[@SportsandGT]

Thank you. I imagine the later cars are much better to drive - it is usually the way - but I’m a sucker for Giugiaro’s styling.

[@m.e.345]

Thanks.. I guess after the S2.2, Lotus engineers felt that a bit more ventilation was required in the engine compartment with the enlarged engine.

[@SportsandGT]

Wow - thank you very, very much - too kind!

[@RzogL]

I promised myself I'd own one someday, back in 2000 when a white S1 was on the cover of a classic car magazine and round-belly N/A Giugiaro cars were worth less than £10k and X180s less than £15k. Prices skyrocketed in the early 2010s. The S1 still looks the best and S2/2.2 cars with the early bumpers are not far behind, and the X180 is nice too, but my preferred variant is the S3, which is more refined and has the revised suspension and chassis of the Turbo. I quite liked the looks of the blue one with the body coloured bumpers that featured in Wheeler Dealers back when they were still cheap. Even now they're not entirely out of reach, and with some improvements they can be made faster than the Turbos, so the dream remains alive. But these days I sometimes wonder if my 1st gen Boxster S isn't a more complete driver's car anyway.

[@SportsandGT]

I also like the first-gen Boxsters - and for around £5k why not get one of those as well? When I drove one I found you need to keep the revs up for it to deliver.

[@moparmuscles]

Great vid as always, Stuart. Merry christmas from Norway !

[@SportsandGT]

Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too!

[@MrMightyytau]

Great insight, thank you

[@SportsandGT]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@MrAndrewChung]

thank you

[@SportsandGT]

You’re welcome. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@zTheBigFishz]

My first sports car was a TR-7 coupe purchased used in 1979. About 40yrs later, I bought a 308GT4...sold it after a few years. Now I own an X1/9 with a Honda K20 in the back. In the late 90's, I had a Jensen GT for a few years. Has basically the same motor as the Esprit.

[@SportsandGT]

With your evident love for wedge-shaped cars and knowledge of the Lotus 900 series engine, it’s clearly about time you got an esprit! 👍🏻

[@getnotesonlife]

Thank you. Excellent!

[@SportsandGT]

Thank you for watching.

[@gar4132]

I love Esprits and hope to join the owner's club one day.. surely the one to own, if you're lucky enough to find one is the Sport 300

[@SportsandGT]

Ah yes another has mentioned my omission. There were only 50 so very hard to find.

[@frioglobal]

@@SportsandGTin fact 64 of them were made

[@gvybin]

Esprit S2.2 long time owner here. I would recommend it over the S2 just because of the fully galvanised chassis. Also the NA 2.2 engine is way more lively because of the extra torque, without the extra weight of the new, improved, but also heavier S3/turbo esprit chassis. If you can find one of the 88 made, that is. I am a fan of the GT3 esprit, because it is so basic. A V8 GT1 must be the ultimate esprit, although for me, an esprit is a 4 cilinder. Love your content...

[@SportsandGT]

Thank you. Yes, I did think the S2.2 would be the best of both worlds but not so many around. In an ideal world, I’d probably have a pre-facelift turbo esprit.

[@gvybin]

@@SportsandGT Agree, I also like their bold look. The ducktale, slats, frontspoiler,sideskirts are so 80ties yet all a sportcar of that era should have to be wild. Teenage poster car. Black with gold striping/Turbo esprit lettering please, with a creme leather interior. Oh and if possible : white good year lettering on the sidewall of the tires. That 'll do, thank you. They were great

[@Gavin-oq5tt]

Great video. I have always thought “one day” and mused over what model I would get. Despite your very good video, I still don’t know! Still, it gives me something to think about when I go to classic car shows. 😂

[@SportsandGT]

Thank you. I think the first decision is whether you want the wedge - in which case it’s one of the Giugiaro models up to 1987. If you prefer the (slightly) more modern looking ones do you want lots of aero kit or not and do you want 4-pot or V8? After that what do you want to pay?

[@ThePedroDB]

I daily drove my Esprit 3 for a couple of years in the late 80's. It was "A" registered like yours but in Lotus Yellow with a Black & Grey cloth interior. Similar to the brochure car of the day. I always thought the Espsrit 3 was the sweet spot for mechanical simplicity and reasonable running costs. I've owned a few cool cars in my time but if I could have one all over again, I'd opt for a 'time capsule' example of my Esprit 3

[@SportsandGT]

I agree (obviously) although I wish mine was in a sweet spot again! 😂

[@hughmann1908]

When I was 16 a neighbour had a first year Esprit, I would see it every day walking to school. I loved the wedge and size, wondering how they could make such a cool small car. I new nothing about fibreglass 😊

[@SportsandGT]

For me it was an S3 I could see from the bus on the way to school.

[@LittleGar95]

My father once owned a blue lotus Essex back when I was younger. Used to leak in the rain 😂

[@SportsandGT]

Yes, despite the “submarine” film role, earlier Esprits aren’t always watertight.

[@TheGreatSnafoo]

I'd be in a quandary because I like em both. The Jaguar XKE and Lotus Esprit are two of my top ten cars of all time.

[@SportsandGT]

Choices, choices! 😂

[@robertjoyce4553]

one of each!

[@SportsandGT]

Haha - why not?

[@motorfab7014]

The first and the last

[@SportsandGT]

Not a bad idea. I did a video of one of the last UK V8s a year or so back.

[@Joey4420]

I would choose my 2002 V8 Esprit every time. The sound of the exhaust alone is worth the price of entry.

[@SportsandGT]

I did a video on the last of the V8s a few years ago - yes, awesome cars.

[@steve291274]

Great video.......👍 Love the shot in the video half way through when you mention the Stevens cars and you show 2 whites ones. The one towards the left in the advert for sale at £29995 in Great Dunmow is my old car. I sold it to them back in 2004 and did a part ex for a Black S4 and they gave £5500 towards the S4 which was £16500. I still cant believe over 20 years later theyve still got it. I khow theyve never sold it but just keot putting the price up throughout the year's. It started out at £10995 when they first got it off me..... Oh and those rear wheels are from a federal turbo car and although their Lotus OZ wheels they dont fit within the arches, I bought them, tried them on and hated the look as i just keot thinking of the Ford Anglia in the Hamlet advert from the 80s..😂 so i took them off but put them with sale. Would love another Esprit but it would mean parting with my early Evora which I've had for 9 years now but maybe one I'll own both... Thats the dream anyway....👍

[@SportsandGT]

Nice to see you’re still into Lotus though. I’ve only driven an Evora briefly but it was a GT410 (I think). Went rather well once you hit a certain rpm.

[@zeeekdog]

I just an '84 Turbo S3. I need to tune it so it's safe and "somewhat reliable" to drive, but I can't wait to get behind the wheel and enjoy the lotus experience. Unfortunately my mechanic and I found an oil saturated rag stuffed under the back engine/transmission area. I have some work to do so i can figure out what's leaking.

[@SportsandGT]

Nice choice though. Put a clean rag there to see how much it’s leaking by. Most of them weep slightly from somewhere.

[@Nowheremt]

All of them.

[@SportsandGT]

Absolutely - why choose?

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

Very interesting. I’ve unfortunately inherited a beautiful Lotus Esprit Turbo 1988 model from my dear departed Dad. Any advice on specialist places to advertise it as don’t want to put it on standard car selling sites as will get too many tyre kickers and boy racers.

[@SportsandGT]

I’d say www.carandclassic.com - you can list for free with a limited amount of photos I think. Worth also posting into Lotus Esprit Facebook groups - just make sure you engage with the admins so they don’t think you’re a scammer. Sadly lots of those posting “too good to be true” sales.

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

@ Thank you.

[@SportsandGT]

@LurgsHowToGuides you’re welcome

[@jackthehatphoto]

Great video Stuart 🙂. Noticed you said the Essex had a 2.0 litre engine at 4:29. I'm fairly certain they are 2.2.

[@SportsandGT]

Mea culpa - you are right of course. Thank you.

[@jackthehatphoto]

@@SportsandGT No probs. You did a far better job than I would have done anyway :-)

[@daveglover6115]

I didn't get further than an Excel - still a great car in many respects...

[@SportsandGT]

Lots of similarity with the Excel - they’re probably a good buy now. I did a video on one a while back.

[@terminalreset7659]

The one that goes underwater, of course!

[@SportsandGT]

For sure!

[@moriwaki1105]

Essex any day for me...but Mouse Skin interior please 😊

[@SportsandGT]

Mouse skin? Is that another name for Marcasite?

[@moriwaki1105]

​​Yes...here up North...also get Monkey's Blood on your Cornet 😊​@@SportsandGT

[@dailydrivenlotus2994]

No mention of the Sport 300 - perhaps the most desirable Esprit of all. Please comment where it falls on your list. BTW I own #29.

[@SportsandGT]

Ah yes - Europe only, inspired by the race version of the X180 coming just before the S4 I think. One sold at auction earlier this year for £60k but so few about, you’re truly lucky to own one.

[@frioglobal]

#25 here 😊

[@ericwright8498]

Very informative thanks for posting. Out of interest do you know how much the S3 NA sold for back when they were new?

[@SportsandGT]

Around £13,500 when first sold I believe. Obviously went up in subsequent years and was at £20,500 by the time it was replaced.

[@hemlock68]

Esprit cause of the designer , has all the pre curser markings of the lambo gallardo in 2003 , front on you can see it

[@SportsandGT]

Hadn’t realised Gallardo was by Italdesign - albeit Giorgetto’s son Fabrizio Giugiaro.

[@hemlock68]

He created the lambo carla in 1996 the " idea " of the gallardo was born.

[@m.e.345]

Why did the Lotus engineers outfit the Esprit S3 with those unique air scoops/ducts behind the rear quarter windows? Why were they not supplied with the Turbo versions? ..do the Turbo versions have a window beneath those black louvers?

[@SportsandGT]

The turbo esprit has those air ducts too. They also have intakes in the side skirts. There is no glass under the louvred hatch, just the engine cover I believe.

[@m.e.345]

@@SportsandGT From Harry's Garage, he seems to indicate that there is a window underneath the slats of the Turbo. Apparently, the glass drains water away from the engine cover beneath, but still allows heat from the engine to vent through the hatch. He says "it's all slightly bizarre in here". 🙂

[@brianmort]

Try a Lotus Elan Sprint drop head its the jewel in the Chapman crown

[@SportsandGT]

If I can fit in one I’ll give it a go. Although I prefer the lines of the +2

[@slagrebi740]

Bugger me a beautiful example of the guigaro wouldn't crack 10k in the late nineties.

[@SportsandGT]

I know, even ten years ago you could still get an S3 for four figures.

[@BoxxArt]

Original Series 1 all the way... Unfortunately I can't live with lotus engines/unreliability. It would have to have an engine swap (runs away) 😮

[@SportsandGT]

Many would say the same. In reality the engine is pretty reliable if well maintained but my carbs seem to self-adjust regularly!

[@Omegaman1969]

I have a 77 S1 here in the U.K. I might sell if someone wants one 😄😄

[@SportsandGT]

There’ll always be a strong demand for the S1 - whether it’s a project or a show winner or anywhere in between.

[@goattactac8790]

I have S3. Nice and interesting car but poor build quality.

[@SportsandGT]

Ah yes, there is that… part of the charm?

[@timchikun]

dont need a car ❤

[@SportsandGT]

Nobody “needs” a Lotus Esprit! 😂

[@stevem7868-y4l]

Ive owned a lotus 7, an Elan 2+2 and a series 1 Esprit, and would never buy another piece of lotus crap , designed by talent, built by village idiots, LOTUS stands for Lots of trouble usually serious !

[@SportsandGT]

Ah if I had £1 for every time I’ve heard that acronym. Thanks for commenting.

[@bigislandvip5540]

None.. Buy a Cayman.

[@SportsandGT]

The Cayman is a nice car for sure.

[@Heartofaloin]

This is one of those car's that look nice on a poster and that's all. It's just a miss mash of different car's parts put together poorly. Very unreliable and nothing that special. LOTUS. LOTS OF TROUBLE USUALLY SERIOUS

[@SportsandGT]

Ah if I had £1 for every time I’d heard that one. To each his own. Merry Christmas!