Lotus Esprit V8 Review, Test Drive, and Comparison to Lamborghini Diablo
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- Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024
- I bought a Lotus Esprit V8 twin turbo earlier this year. I was not sure exactly what to expect with this car, because they are so rare. A lot of people complain about them, and some people love them. After driving the car for the first time I fell in love with the car. It is beautiful, fast, fun to drive, and extremely unique.
The car is Azure blue, has the 3.5 liter Lotus V8 with twin turbos, and a Renault 5 speed manual transmission. The car was modified before I bought it with an after market exhaust and reflashed computer. It is faster than a stock V8 Esprit and sounds great, even if it is a bit loud.
My sister thought I was crazy for buying this car, even though it was only $38,000. After she saw it in person and drove it, she loved it. She even drove it to a car show this summer instead of her R8 V10 plus.
I also have a Lamborghini Diablo that I compare this car too. They are completely different cars, but both extremely fun and unique. The Diablo is Monterey blue and a 1999 Alpine Edition. You can see the video I did on the Diablo here: • 1999 Lamborghini Diabl...
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You can see the follow-up video to owning the Lamborghini five years later: • Owning a Lamborghini D...
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When I was a teenager, this was the car of my dreams! Great video!
The v8 is igniting 2 cylinders at a time, that's why it sounds like a big r4 right? Well... Lotus style. But definetly an acceleration monster. I am driving an Esprit Turbo SE for 17 years now. With bigger turbo etc. and it is just amazing. Even on track. Most of the time I have the oldest car but am the one with the most fun... Great video, thanks!
This has been my dream car for years. Thanks so much for your review. Maybe one of these days . . .
Good luck!
What a fantastic pair of cars. I am looking to get a Diablo at the moment. They are currently good value. Really enjoyed the video, thanks!
Thank you! I love the Diablo
You sir, have definitely good taste on cars.
Thank you!
@@investfourmore I think the same. I'm very proud of you.
I had a Yellow 2000 Lotus Esprit. Absolutely loved that car! It was quirky with the transmission. You basically had to let off the gas completely going from 1st to 2nd or it would grind itself to death. I would purchase another for nostalgia but would love a better transmission in it.
Definitely quirky!
Beautiful car, my favorite car of all time. Been in love with the Esprit since I was 8 years old lol. Hope to own one one day. You ever need anyone to babysit it or even wash it, count me in lol. Enjoy that beautiful machine.
Right on!
Wish Lotus would bring this back, their current cars are too small.
I know, this is one of the only lotus cars I like.
The evora is good sized though
I tried to get into an elise, had to get the roof off to get in, not practical !
The new Evora GT is a true winner. It has lots of room as well
@@georgeapplegate2091
I agree with you, although I don't think practicality was their M.O.
Great video. Both of those cars are my dream cars. Never seen a Esprit in person and only saw a Diablo a few times at car shows. I'll probably never own either. You seem humble and grateful to have these cars, I like that. Best of luck with them. Enjoy them for all of us that can't.
Esprits are fantastic in person and not that expensive.
I was driven in a tuned Espirit, V8 twin turbo by a guy who had a formula 3 license. He drove really fast on the streets. Also hit 255 in a Ferrari f430 this summer. Only supercars I've been in.
One of prettiest supercars made 20 years ago. Lotus understood lightweight cars are easier to make handle and go fast. Upgrade to 500hp and don't abuse trans and you own a serious beautiful car.
Nice video. The later esprit v8s sound much better 2002+. Great comp to a diablo and for the money which one is undervalued? no question its the Lotus. for $38K and azure blue is perfect. clearly well maintained.
Mine has an after market exhaust as well. Thank you!
Thanks for posting a great video of this really beautiful car. That Azure blue is gorgeous and suits it so well. I fell in love with a Maserati Granturismo in a similar colour (Blu Mediterraneo).
I live a few miles from where they built the Esprit, at Hethel in Norfolk, so Lotus has been part of my life since I was a kid.
The Steven's facelift Esprit hasn't really aged much and has got that timeless look about it. Certainly a good investment.
I think a blue V8 like yours is going to have to go on my list of cars to own. I am impressed by how good the cream interior looks, for a 20 year old car.
Thanks! I love it
Enjoyed your video - I used to own a nearly identical ‘98 V8 (same wheels , color etc) - drove it all over the UK and Europe for a few years and had a blast but didn’t take enough pics and videos back then. Now married with the minivan so thanks for reminding me of the good times !
Nice!!
Mark, I've been watching your videos as I'm considering becoming an agent, but I'm also a gearhead. Excellent taste in rides, my guy!
Thank you!
Growing up as a kid in the 90's, both of these cars were on posters in my bedroom wall at one point.. I have to say that I actually prefer the exhaust note on my 2003 VW GTI w/ a 2.8L 24v VR6. Granted, it has a K&N CAI and 2.5" Magnaflow Catback Exhaust which help it breathe quite a bit better than it did in it's bone stock configuration, but still... It's a 6 cylinder and I actually prefer it to the Esprit's exhaust note.. Now, the sound of the turbo's spooling up and all that is definitely an exciting sound to hear when one is behind the wheel of a boosted car that I don't get in my GTI... But pure exhaust note vs pure exhaust note, I'll take my 2.8L 24v VR6 GTI w/ 2.5" Magnaflow Catback ANY DAY!!! At any rate, those are both some GORGEOUS RIDES my guy!!! Cheers!! **BEFORE ANYONE FEELS COMPELLED TO DISAGREE WITH ME, I URGE YOU TO AT LEAST WATCH A COUPLE VIDS OF GTI'S OF AN IDENTICAL MAKE/MODEL AS MINE WITH THE SAME EXHAUST SET UP THAT I HAVE ON YT BEFORE EXPLAINING WHY YOU THINK IM NUTS**
I’ve been looking at Lotus since 1999. I may still grab one! Great color!
thanks!
NICE!!! Great review, Mark!!!👍👍👍☺☺☺
Thank you
Wow that lotus looks totally epic
Especially in that awesome colour
ThankS!!
Lotus hands down all the days of the week. Been in a red one, tuned and it was fast.
Super fast!
My two all time favorite cars and in my favorite color on both. Good job man!
Thanks!
You have a lotus now? I just found your RUclips I bought your building rental empire over a year ago and you only had the Lambo then congrats bro! Can't wait to see more progress 😎😎😎
I have a few more too!
You have exquisite taste.
Love your choice of cars. They are my favorites.
Please make more.
Thanks! I have a lot more content on investfourmore instagram
Love those Nissan 300ZX headlights on the Diablo. Great video. Thank you for creating and posting.
Jeff Sloane thank you
The shifter arm is way long for a super car, I'd replace with a short throw.
That was the style back then. I actually like it long on the Diablo. The Esprit could be shorter but I don't mind it
A few similarities and a lot of major differences and unique qualities. I dig the hell out of both! Nice little collection, sir
The understanding of Lotus in F1 and the cars......... Mega car man ;)
Hi Mark, great tour of the cars. I have an Elise S1 myself (18 years tomorrow! azure blue too). I've been for a ride in an Esprit straight four, a V8 and the sport 350 v8 with the 500bhp chip you mentioned, one thing I have to say about them all including my Elise, and the Elan M100 in fact is they all have I the Lotus DNA in the handling. You can feel it going around roundabouts and bends, nothing compares. :-)
FYI, I think your steering wheel is probably an Elise S2 wheel. Looks identical.
Thank you! I love the handling and light weight, even though it is lighter than the 4 cyl cars.
For me it's just mind-boggling why someone would de-tune an engine by as much as 150hp, especially on a supercar where the whole point is to go fast!?
I would love to see a bench test on a "chipped" Lotus Esprit, because I almost can't believe it to be true...
My buddy has a stock V8 twin turbo, We need to get together and see the difference between his and mine. The reasons they did that was the Renault transmission was not quite strong enough to handle 500 HP and if it broke they would have a ton of warranty expenses. From what I hear if you do not abuse it, it should handle more than 350 with no problem.
3milio0o It was simply because Lotus were still using the same gear box that wasn't strong enough to support 500bhp, and probably didn't have enough money to put into development a stronger gearbox in the Lotus engineering part of the company during that time. Since then third parties have developed some gear box mods and that's why some people have decided to up the power output themselves. A friend of mine who did that chip upgrade to his Sport 350 did a lot of other mods with oil coolers, intercoolers etc from memory so it was no small task in his case to have a strong engine. My friends car is on Lotus Esprit World, not sure if any detail about the build is on there, I can't remember all the detail but I do remember standing in the engine bay when the engine was out :-) and after it was complete how it was still pulling hard at 155mph. It's a mad mad car. www.lotusespritworld.com/EModels/350.html
I wish I knew all the mods done to mine, but I got no info from the dealer. We just knew the exhaust was custom and the chip was done for sure. It pulls like crazy. I have not had it up to 155, but I imagine it keeps going until it runs out of gears.
Absolute dream car of mine
Interesting comparison - the Lamborghini looks incredible but the Lotus is all about what's underneath and what you can drive legally and think of the price difference
Yes, huge price difference! But I bought the Diablo in 2013 which made it a nice investment
Mark Ferguson - InvestFourMore you're lucky with both - nice cars thanks for sharing 👍
Love your cars and color choices
thanks!
This video was excellent. Congrats on your success. Wishing you more success...and more sports cars...in the future! I'm in the market for an Esprit V8 now. Just waiting for the right one to come along, preferrably in dark red with Magnolia interior.
Thank you and good luck!
Great video! I don't know how it came up and I clicked on it but i'm glad I watched it :)
Thank you!
me too, Chris. the RUclipsrists must be reading our minds...or maybe they’re just really pro at YouTubing
sidenote from Esprit V8 owner ..the secon OBD compliant connector for 'cabin use' is under RH side dashboard ..you need to get with your head under there into the foowell .. and the 10Pin (GM style) diagnostic link for the other vehicle systems is also there.
Thank you!
My favourite car of ALL time!! nice one!
thanks!
Perfect garage. My favourite two cars. I bet you're waiting for the EVO V.
thanks!
I hope you still own the both of these cars. The value now😳😳
Thanks for sharing this, ironically I am currently looking at an Esprit or R8 v10 plus in gen 2 spec.. I know they are very different cars.... but the soul of older cars attracts me..
Nice, my sister has a r8 v10 plus. It is faster than crap but I like my Esprit better. It has much more personality.
@@investfourmore agreed that has always been a german car short coming, reliable efficient, but lacking in personality..
Two of my all time favorite cars Lotus Esprit and 928!
Me too!
This Lotus is so beautiful and looks so much fun to drive!
Cool stuff man. Thanks for sharing. What's the redline on that engine?
There is no redline on the RPM gauge which is weird. But I believe it is 7200 and I did hit the rev limiter once
Both these cars have appreciated significantly.
The diablo more!
Both awesome cars! love the review. Dam that lotus is quick!
Thank you! and yes it is
Mark, I have the same model Esprit, colour, & year - good choice! I agree with Loopie2000, keeping the front end from stone chips is a full-time job! Enjoy, enjoy! The Diablo is very nice too.
Thank you! I love the color and very cool you have the same one!
Great video! Beautiful cars. Beautiful colors too.... Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
There should be a wind deflector for when you drive without the roof. 😳🇬🇧🏴🤠
i always thought that was hinged
thank you for this vid. I'm a new Yorker and seen both these cars one or both if I remember correctly were the same colors as these at the New York auto show in Manhattan back around 1998. So I related to your vid
Very cool!
I’m no expert by any stretch however I was told by a ‘lotus guy’ that the 350 detuned hp is as a result of the thin cylinder walls in this design. It seems to make more sense to me than the Renault gearbox as this could have been replaced with another unit. Apparently you can safely tune up the 4 cylinder 2.2 lotus engines however to tune the V8 is to run the risk of detonating the engine.
Nope. To save the transaxle from going bang. Ring and pinion is worst, then the first motion shaft is weak. In restricted form for racing the stock block is good for 550 HP. (GT-1)
My V8 Esprit is intercooled with raised boost. I dont use full throttle in 1st gear. It just spins the tires anyway.
Such a great review! Excellent choice in vehicles
Thanks!
is it just me or does the lotus 11:09 actually sound deeper and better than the diablo 12:01?
In person, the Diablo sounds much better. The Lotus is louder, but not as deep. I don't think my phone microphone quite picks up all the sounds. ;)
I think it's mostly the fact that the Lotus sounds extremely aggressive where as the Diablo sounds very mellow.
Best colors on a couple of my favorite cars.
I agree and thank you
Great looking Lotus! The piping on the seats looks way more purple than the paint does... at least on video, anyway.
Yeah, it does in person as well
Fantastic review! Very cool and unique car made for an interesting video. Great job.
Thank you!
The Diablo is by far a better looking and special machine. And that color. Holy shit. So nice.
Thank you!
Very very beautiful car
james palmer thank you
Love the Azure Blue
Thank you!
Glenns Car Collection Azure is blue
Wow, you have the first two of my favorite cars...
I love them!
I really enjoyed this video! Thanks for doing it. Gorgeous cars! I’m also in RE but not to your level… yet. I am, however, on a huge quest to find the right Esprit after recently falling in love with them (strictly from online dating so far, no personal encounters. Lol). Seems the consensus is that they are great sports cars! Do you still have yours? Maybe you could look me up and DM me the guy by you who works on them. Maybe he’d have a lead on one? Thanks
Yes I still do! The guy who works on them is victor with high mountain classics in fort collins
My favorite Automobile..Hands Down..
Sweet
This is my dream car and its kinda an obscure one to have. It stood out to me when it came out. Im 35 so when this car came out it was everything to me and still is. And as much as im educated on them I ALWAYS repeatedly forget that its a midengine! Lol soon as you popped the hood i was like oh shit. It never fails. Timeless car. 🖤 your lucky brotha. Honestly.
Good luck to you.I own a Nissan GTR R35 and a Esprit S4.They are totally different but make me smile, alot.👍👍👍👍👍
Nice
Dude if i would own the Lotus, i would sleep one week in that car! :)
the Esprit is a beautiful car
Thanks!
I thought I was the only one who loved Lotus Esprit and Porsche 928/968
now way
Esprit update!
Cool cars man. I recognize that road near 34. That was a trip lol
Thank you!
That car was a bargain, great investment and fun! Congratulations
hi Mark. that’s TOO COOL to have similar colors of two extremely rare vehicles together in your garage. how much, if any, did that play a factor in your decision to purchase the Esprit? thanks for creating & posting this vid. are you out around Boulder?
That is pretty much the only reason I bought the Esprit. I was not really looking for one, but that color came up on Ebay and I had not seen one for sale in that color for two years.
Dude,
Get that JC wWhitney exhaust off that car, and get a monza or bassini tuned exhaust and give that car its class back. Did the old owner have a single or double wide mobile home.?
He trashed that cars integrity.
Glad you bought it. Used to have a 77 turbo espirt. Bit finicky, but super fun when it was running
Love the color combo!!! Looks like we have a similar collection
Thank you!
I always thought it was strange(at least for me)that Lotus named the car "Esprit"instead of The Culprit!...and the Diablo..baby!..that's the definition of 90s Lambo factory output!..goodness gracious..it was bold at the time,no bullshit...Ferrucio would be proud, but I do like the Esprit's tone better when running tho,that's just me of course.
Hard to hear what they sound like over video. The v12 is much deeper
Looooove the Diablo. Stunner.
Thank you!
I like to have fun on that exact road xD 37 is fun with that downhill by radio tower road
11:00 he fires them up. Nice sounds.
Well done! Very nice review..
Loved it!
Excellent video, Lotus fan from way back when. Also love the lawn mowing in the background. Just wondering, do you have the issues with cylinder liners that Lotus had with their V8s?
Thank you! i have not had any problems with the engine. The tranny had to be rebuilt though
I can't believe your mechanic stole your spare tire. One of his Esprits was probably missing one. LOL, just kidding. He's working on mine at the moment and I hope to have it back in a couple of weeks.
Haha, I need to ask him about it. I was shooting a video and looked in there and I was thinking wow there is a lot more space in there than I remember!
Mark, both are spectacular!!
Informative. Great coverage!
Thank you!
Only 5 mins in and loving the review already, strange to see both european supercars over with you, even more rare is the esprit - its a very small company in the Uk so would have thought it were less lilely to be picked up by an American. Both cars are beautiful, esprit wins for colour, lambo wins for pure supercarness'.. You've done well for yourself sir ! You didnt feaure the 928!??!!
Thanks! I love them both. there is a guy close to me with 17 Lotus' haha, not a 2017, but 17 cars
@@investfourmore now that's keen.!!!
I think it's so cool that u just used ur phone to do the review, everything looks really good, nice job
Thank you! I know a phone is not perfect, but I am not a professional at this either!
Mark Ferguson - InvestFourMore yeah it's cool tho, doing it like that makes u seem more real & sincere
You should look up the old Lotus Esprit GT1 race car from 1996 was a beast 550bhp bit it did suffer alot from retirements I wonder if any engineering firms that have made a custom gearbox for a esprit that is stronger then the Renault 5 gearbox
Some guys claim to make stronger parts for it
The glass roof should have a bag and it fits into the front boot
good to know!
Love that Lotus ~ did you have to dig deep online to find it? I'm in the market for one but I'm getting shiite search results.
No, i had a few cars on my list and that one popped up. Mostly luck!
Real Nice Mark!... And the blue is magnificent!... :D
8:11 looks like a 1990's cover of European Car Magazine
You realize the Lotus Gear knob (shifter) is from the BL parts bin....Probably off an Austin Montego. ;)
Great car!
thank you!
ha, not true for the later Lotus cars. GM bought Lotus in 1986 and by 1989 all BL parts were replaced by GM stock, apart from the door handles which remained BL units until 1993. However some exterior fittings stayed with the Esprit came from Toyota (lights) and Citroen (door mirrors). The last Lotus to carry majority BL parts was the Excel (not sold in the US) until it went out of production in 1992. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Excel
Beautiful cars....speaking from Europe (Italy!!!),I can tell you, you can call the color of your esprt as 'blue Bugatti '...cause in 97/98 lotus and Bugatti had a small relationship...and that's the reason why lotus paint that color!...I use to have exactly the same esprit and color as yours,but the S4s version...2 litre turbo...little bit easier to own(I have to be careful with my small money 😅!).....about the Diablo, is a Ferruccio Lamborghini car.....nothing else to say (AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).....thank for your pretty video, and any time you "rush" in Italy, you'll be kindly welcome!!!!!!!!!ciao Mark..I'm Marco!
Two SUPER badass cars🤟🏾
Love the Esprit and I think a much cleaner looking car than the Diablo. The Azure blue is probably the nicest yet rarest color for the Lotus and it wears it well. Enjoy!
Thank you
What a freaking beauty 😍😍😍
Thanks!
I know the Diablo is more valuable (I assume) but as an Englishman I would take the lotus any day. Plus is nice to have a sick car that is iconic to enthusiasts but lesser known to the average person.
When you are driving the lotus you can definitely hear the flat plane v8 sound. Sounds like an inline 4.
Um dos carros mais lindos e fantásticos dos anos 90, estaria na minha coleção de todos os tempos! Um Sonho!
Love your cars man , enjoy them 👍😍
Thank you! and I do
Nice choice!
Thank you
So do you still have the Esprit? How has life been with it if you still do?
So the lotus is a manual? And nice review btw👍
Yes and thank you!
Loved the Esprit V8. Its to bad they used Renault transmission which i think they should have went with a ZF manual. Still a beautiful car after all these years.
Thank you and I agree!
Mark, I just bought an Esprit V8, do you know the aftermarket exhaust fabricator? Love the car!
I have no idea! it was like that when I got it. Congrats!
Better still I noticed a porsche 928 in the background awesome car
1986 5 speed