Esprit owners age

[Toua]

Just wanna know how long until I can BUY one! you now how restless us young ones are.. the girls just love us in bed you know! heheh.. jk

[slade]

Esprit's aren't quite like cigarettes or booze. They won't card as long as you have the money

anyways... 20. You're quite right about the girls loving us young guys in bed. I long for the days when I was 5 when logically they would have to have loved me about 4 times as much

slade

[Cliff]

the girls just love us in bed you know!  heheh.. jk

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

JK, GIRLS ... wait until you find a woman in your bed. You won't know WHAT to do.. hahaha.

[Paul C]

Ok, i'm in the winning 31-35 (and a LOT of the owners i know are too)...

But would be fair to state that most of us, including myself had Esprits since

our mid to late twenties though. so you don't have to be nudging your mid thirties!

[lrg_machine]

Ok, i'm in the winning 31-35 (and a LOT of the owners i know are too)...

But would be fair to state that most of us, including myself had Esprits since

our mid to late twenties though. so you don't have to be nudging your mid thirties!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's probably a better poll,

What age did you get your first Lotus?

So although I'm an old git now, I've had Lotuses for 15 years

[Jonathan]

Toua, I saved for 5 years to get my first Esprit when I was 26. If you're dead serious about the Esprit, and no other car can sway you from it, until you own one use the down time you have to get to know the car more.

I know its difficult, there are limited numbers in the UK net alone the US and other places in the world. I take it you've found the local clubs (if any) ?

The other thing I would do is look for cars that are advertised and phone up - explain you can't afford to buy the car but would appreciate the time if you could go and see it regardless.....90% of all Esprit / exotic car owners wont have a problem with this because tbh it's part and parcel of the reason why they bought the car in the 1st place (to be fussed over) - go and look and ask to passenger in the car as well....again if you show enough courtesy and enthusiasm you should find people will be more than happy to help you in your quest.

Looking for a rare exotic is a stressful time (done it twice now and I have the blood pressure to prove it !) so I think most people will completely understand your frustration......you gotta remember saving for one is just the 1st step, then you have to find one you like in good repair - you gotta mentally prepare for a potential long haul.

The other way is to work your way up by one of these reliable Japanese sporty cars or another Lotus (if I could have done it all again I'd have bought an MR2 before my 1st Esprit) so whilst your saving you wont miss out on the fun, but only you can make that judgement.

I do wish you the best of luck, I really understand what you feel cus I have been there but it sounds like this really is a patience game....try and fill the down time in with as much fun as you can - you could always come fly over for the next oxford meet !

Edited August 28, 2005 by Jonathan

[jimmybondi]

Ok, i'm in the winning 31-35 (and a LOT of the owners i know are too)...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry Paul,

just changed the cards

Got my first Lotus (Excel SE) nine years ago at the age of 26, my (first) Esprit 3 years ago...

[S2S2S2]

Got my first lotus when I was 9, but then it was a model, 31 for the first one, 32 for the second, 350 next year

[Mikes2esprit1979]

I got my s2 Esprit when i was 28 ,Im now 32 .

I see you missed the 1day old to 6 months age group on the voting list.

Im rebuilding the car for my son hes 6 weeks old at the moment. Are there any other owners younger than this out there?

[Jussi]

Got my Esprit last year when I was 31 and now I am

[twowheels]

Just wanna know how long until I can BUY one!  you now how restless us young ones are.. the girls just love us in bed you know!  heheh.. jk

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

if you can afford a new civic or $17-22k you should be able to with some looking find a decent 1985-1987 turbo esprit, but the insurance for an early 20's someone might be very high!

brian

several years agi i cecked insurance rates on motorcycles for a hayabusa- for a mid 40 driver with 1 ticket in 3 years insurance would have been $1900 per year (i didn't get a hayabusa) same 1 ticket scenario for a 25 yo male would have been get this $6400 per year- 65% the cost of a new one...

[Toua]

Toua, I saved for 5 years to get my first Esprit when I was 26.  If you're dead serious about the Esprit, and no other car can sway you from it, until you own one use the down time you have to get to know the car more.

I know its difficult, there are limited numbers in the UK net alone the US and other places in the world.  I take it you've found the local clubs (if any) ?

The other thing I would do is look for cars that are advertised and phone up - explain you can't afford to buy the car but would appreciate the time if you could go and see it regardless.....90% of all Esprit / exotic car owners wont have a problem with this because tbh it's part and parcel of the reason why they bought the car in the 1st place (to be fussed over) - go and look and ask to passenger in the car as well....again if you show enough courtesy and enthusiasm you should find people will be more than happy to help you in your quest.

Looking for a rare exotic is a stressful time (done it twice now and I have the blood pressure to prove it !) so I think most people will completely understand your frustration......you gotta remember saving for one is just the 1st step, then you have to find one you like in good repair - you gotta mentally prepare for a potential long haul.

The other way is to work your way up by one of these reliable Japanese sporty cars or another Lotus (if I could have done it all again I'd have bought an MR2 before my 1st Esprit) so whilst your saving you wont miss out on the fun, but only you can make that judgement.

I do wish you the best of luck, I really understand what you feel cus I have been there but it sounds like this really is a patience game....try and fill the down time in with as much fun as you can - you could always come fly over for the next oxford meet ! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the closeses dealer is in chicago.. i've been there a couple of times just driving around the lot slowly looking at all the lotus cars..and lamborghinis.. i still love the esprit and would not buy another sports car! i need to muster up some courage and go talk to the dealers.. i mean come on .. 350hp at 6500 rpms.. 295lbs of torque at 4200 rpms.. i just wanna slam on the gas and go all out... this thing got to have great handling plus a lot of traction because of its mid-engine design.. the tires are big so i really dont have to worry about grip.. i only have to worry about my driving skills..

maybe i should look around for the closest club.. i think the closes is in MN i think or Chicago.. dont really know..

[Toua]

if you can afford a new civic or $17-22k you should be able to with some looking find a decent 1985-1987 turbo esprit, but the insurance for an early 20's someone might be very high!

brian

several years agi i cecked insurance rates on motorcycles for a hayabusa- for a mid 40 driver with 1 ticket in 3 years insurance would have been $1900 per year (i didn't get a hayabusa) same 1 ticket scenario for a 25 yo male would have been get this $6400 per year- 65% the cost of a new one...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

my civic 92 hatchback VX with 110,000 miles cost me $2000.. so it was a nice bargain. my lovely college car..

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Yes you WILL still have to worry about traction!

Floor that in first or second and the wheels will still scrub and you will snake off up the road... If your wheels aren't *completely* straight you will pirrouhette and crash the car before you've even started.

Underestimate *ANY* Esprit at your own peril

<---- You've been warned

[Jonathan]

These cars don't have infinite grip (esp in the wet or even damp / bad road surfaces) - a few people including me will testify to that. I dunno what your driving ability is but before you jump into a supercar like this you can't be thinking you wanna slam on the gas and not worry about grip.......believe me you'll end up in a mess very quickly esp in a V8.

Remember you dont have traction control, stability control, limited slip dif etc on an Esprit, but what you have in plentyful supply is an agressive turbo on the pre-V8 cars and a monstous engine that can lay down huge amounts of torque in the V8 cars. Just done a hundred or so miles in my GT3 this weekend and the turbo kick is pretty considerable even at 1/2 throttle - don't underestimate them.

My V8 ding was on a straight dry road at 40mph, I put the throttle down in 3rd and the engine span the wheels without a problem skewing the car 90 degrees to the road quicker than I could even take my foot off again.....check the wreaked pics on LEW as well, proof these cars CAN go nuts easily if you're not concerntrating or you hit a wrong patch in the road - they do have great grip but only in the right conditions, it is a car to be respected. I drove my V8 like a fanny in comparison to others on here, and it can still happen with 1 slip of the mind or a bad road surface etc.

I tell you this cus you're obviously obsessed with the car (like most of us, right) - believe me you don't wanna go through what I went through with your first car, I'd wish that upon no-one, took me months to get over.

Try and get yourself some experience with RWD and losing the back end, track/airfield day or something. Making the leap from a normal FWD hatch to a supercar is a big big jump. Any biker worth their money will also tell you the same thing about working up to it, it's not always practical because of the rarity of the car.

The Esprit is always bumped up as the be all and end all of handling, grip and so forth which is often misleading (we all know the Elsie is better hehe) - it is only exceptional in the right hands.

Dont over look the NA, my 1st Esprit ride was in Bib's Black NA and due to driving skill that car can keep up with the turbos (SE / S4s) we were running with on the twisties and turnys.

Hope that doesn't read badly & I'm not trying to be a scare monger or a kill joy at all (I'm quite the opposite) - I only post it because if my bad (actually, terrible) experience can benefit others to not making the same mistake then it's worth sharing - I know people who have suffered similar will echo my thoughts.

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

Try and get yourself some experience with RWD and losing the back end, track/airfield day or something. Making the leap from a normal FWD hatch to a supercar is a big big jump. Any biker worth their money will also tell you the same thing about working up to it, it's not always practical because of the rarity of the car.

I'm almost the same age as you toua and I only got my liscense on the 2nd April this year. I immediately started driving my Rear Wheel Drive, mid-engined Toyota MR2 mk1 T-Bar (consider it a baby esprit NA, 'cause it almost is!).

I nearly crashed it four times, one time was VERY VERY close, and could have been VERY nasty 4 OR 5 car pile up on the M25 at about 85mph. It's hard to explain, I've also had driving experiences in 4x4s, saloons, estate cars, front-engined sportscars, a van, you name it! But there's something about these mid-engined ones which makes the back-end kick out, and it's bloody scary when it happens the first time. You have to learn how to correct it, and how to watch out for it coming on.

After just three months of solo driving experience in this July (I did cover almost 12000 miles in that time all over the country.) I went up to what I've got now. The SE. I've done 5000miles on that and so far I've only had two near-misses.

It does scare me, it scares me a lot at times, because you can't see a lot out of the Lotus wing mirrors which makes everything that little bit harder. Furthermore as people say you have this phenomenal amount of turbo boost in high revs that can literally throw you out of your seat. You're low to the ground, you can see less, things come at you very quick. It's like learning to drive all over again.

On my maiden voyage I drove up the M1 like a Grandpa on a Sunday, and everything was fine. Then that same afternoon I came back down south like a b<>atch on heat and I nearly lost the back end coming off a roundabout.

It is a FAST Car, but it's also a LETHAL one in novice hands. Hopefully I'll never have to learn the hard way. And with a bit of luck nor will you.

SAVE UP & GO FOR IT!

Edited August 29, 2005 by EspritMiltonKeynes

[mr50bmg]

...

But there's something about these mid-engined ones which makes the back-end kick out, and it's bloody scary when it happens the first time. You have to learn how to correct it, and how to watch out for it coming on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's not so much being mid-engine, but rather the low polar moment of inertia in the Esprit. Let's compare the Porsche 944 and the Lotus Esprit. The 944 is a front-engine car with it's transaxle towards the rear. This gives it a very nice front-to-rear weight distribution of 50.7 f / 49.3 r. It has a high polar moment of inertia because the weight is concentrated at each end of the car. The V8 Esprit, being mid-engine, has a weight distribution of 42.5 f / 57.5 r. More importantly, it has a low polar moment of inertia because the weight is concentrated not at the ends, but towards the center (actually, slight rear of center).

What does this mean?

Imagine a metal rod sitting atop a pole, with sliding weights on each end of the rod. If the weights are at the end of the rod, it has a high polar moment of inertia. It will take more force to start it spinning and it will also take more force to stop the spin. If you move both weights towards the center of rod, it will be easier to spin and also easier to stop.

So, cars like the 944 will be harder to spin - but also harder to catch if they do spin. Cars like the Esprit are easier to spin, but also easier to catch - which is why skilled drivers like them, as they have fun doing that.

The earlier 911's, of course, are hardest of all to catch when the tail comes around.

-Dave

[slade]

Before my Esprit I drove a 55 Chevy with a 5.7 Liter V8 and skinny rear tires (allowing me experience on what it means to have the rear tires break loose) and a 98 Camaro V6 (A piece of crap, but rear wheel drive)

The Lotus is COMPLETELY different from anything I've ever driven. Even my dad's Corvettes. I'll testify that the Esprit does have more grip than other cars. But when it loses it, IT F*CKING LOSES IT. And suddenly.

It's just... such a different experience. Everything from the way it steers, the characteristics through the revs, the way it gets traction... there's just nothing like it. Which is, of course, why you want one

But yeah... get a few rear wheel drive cars first. I honestly wish I had an MR2 before I got the lotus. I had to learn a lot of things the hard way... Thankfully I never broke it or died. (Came close though... first time on a rainy road)

slade

[Jussi]

I have also driven some rear drive cars but Esrit is a way different!

I moved my Esprit last autumn to my garage and it was snowing and ice. It was quite tricky to keep the car on the road on that conditions. Rear loose all the time it was scary and fun

[Dreamerdgh]

well i'm 40 now, but I bought my first Lotus Esprit when I was 21? It was between the car at 1250 a month or a house, I bought the car like an financial idiot. Car now worth 10k max, house worth 200-500k. S while I respect your love for cars, don't follow my footsteps.

[Bibs]

Got my first lotus when I was 9, but then it was a model, 31 for the first one, 32 for the second, 350 next year

Hi Marc

I got my Esprit at 27, had it 4 years

[Guest chinaboy]

me, too at the 31-35 range.

I guess it's because most people were in their 'teen-age' when the world has Lotus Esprit, Lamborghini Countach, and Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Porsche 959.

that era really got all the excitment in definition of Supercars.

now that everyone is in the mid-30s, most probably have a good income to be able to catch up with some childhood dream....just my 2cents

[Guest chinaboy]

Just wanna know how long until I can BUY one!  you now how restless us young ones are.. the girls just love us in bed you know!  heheh.. jk

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hmm..the girl part is not quite right to the new generation.

now in Asia, woman does not get hook by a man with a nice ride.

woman only cares about what the man will be spending on her.. (not on his rides)

so be careful if you are thinking about picking up girls in downtown Seoul, South Korea.

the rule is "whoever has the thickest wallet wins"

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

"whoever has the thickest wallet wins"

Better get myself a Rhinocerous hide wallet then!

(Fill it with scottish

Edited August 30, 2005 by EspritMiltonKeynes

[EspritMiltonKeynes]

It's not so much being mid-engine, but rather the low polar moment of inertia in the Esprit.  Let's compare the Porsche 944 and the Lotus Esprit. The 944 is a front-engine car with it's transaxle towards the rear.  This gives it a very nice front-to-rear weight distribution of 50.7 f / 49.3 r.  It has a high polar moment of inertia because the weight is concentrated at each end of the car.  The V8 Esprit, being mid-engine, has a weight distribution of 42.5 f / 57.5 r.  More importantly,  it has a low polar moment of inertia because the weight is concentrated not at the ends, but towards the center (actually, slight rear of center).

What does this mean?

Imagine a metal rod sitting atop a pole, with sliding weights on each end of the rod.  If the weights are at the end of the rod, it has a high polar moment of inertia.  It will take more force to start it spinning and it will also take more force to stop the spin.  If you move both weights towards the center of rod, it will be easier to spin and also easier to stop.

So, cars like the 944 will be harder to spin - but also harder to catch if they do spin.  Cars like the Esprit are easier to spin, but also easier to catch - which is why skilled drivers like them, as they have fun doing that.

The earlier 911's, of course, are hardest of all to catch when the tail comes around.

-Dave

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Dave, That it very useful stuff, Explains a lot...

Hahaha... this will sort the sheep from the goats.

Takes me WAY BACK to when I was doing GCSE Physics all those eons ago in the early noughties....

Who feels old now....