STEALTH (its the future)

[karluk29]

I haven't been a stripe fan either but I thought it would look more gt style.

Tbh the colours inspiration is the mighty reventon.

[nigeninja]

Karl leave it alone mate that's one cool looking esprit you have there mate,to many run of the mill cars on here, and i do include mine in that statement.

[Kimbers]

Karl,

I don't dislike it, it's more true to the original Gt than your previous incarnation. If you lost the silly vent on the front and OMG dare I say it....vomit inducing side exhaust....paint, wing, splitter, stripe...it would be great!

What I love about you is that you take it all in your stride and do your own thing and for that you deserve credit, even if Colin Chapman wants to haunt you and sacrifice your first born!

I don't mind improvements, for example, replacing an exhaust with a Stainless one, better brackets, piping, paint, even like replacing the impellars on chargecoolers with electric jobbies. I just think it's not a car you can make street, cause it's cool already!

But it is better than last time....(for gods sake lose the front psuedo vent).

[karluk29]

Thanx ninja. Appreciated

Thanx mr kimbers. I agree it's better than all the creations. Not sure about painting the wing. You gotta love CF. Mate does want to matt it though which I can't decide on yet. The front vent, well it just makes it look different aswell as the side ones.

As for looking street as such. That's not really the idea. This version I was going for a more hard look and racer inspired. The interior is next though. Only really a colour change and a little seat mod. More of a complete car this time. Feel the lurve. Lol

[cor]

Karl,

do not know about the skirts and side exhaust but the colour is the BEST EVER!!

Cor

[Choppa]

Not that my opinion will matter one iota to you as it's your motor to do with as you please, but for what it's worth I like the colour and I'm sure I'd like the finish if I could see it close up, but I loath the stripe and the duct on the bonnet.

If I were adding in some ducts on the front wings I would have gone for some shark gills rather than the (IMO) poorly executed NACA type duct you've had done. Can't make up my mind about the side exit exhaust(s), I assume there are exits both sides.

From the pictures you've posted it looks like the work's been done to a good standard, what are you plans for the interior? Thinking back to other attempts at customising an Esprit that have been discussed on here your machine is certainly one of the better attempts.

It would be great if you could post some straight on rear end shots so we can see how you've had the rear ducting done,

[paulwendling]

Well, I must say, good job, and not being afraid to experiment, even when you don't know the final outcome is very commendable! Since none of us knows what a custom mod will liik like until it's finished, as it exists nowhere else in the world is a gamble, but only those with the imagination and courage to take it to there will have any satisfaction of creating something new...

I like the wing, rear defusser, and the matte color. I also happen to like the side exhaust. What would finish off the exhaust is if you put a high temp rated material in an oval downwind of it... like the gt racing cars have.... now, if your exhaust was dual, coming out both sides of the car, that would be awesome. The only thing I would have to see in person is the striping, as it's hard to make up my mind just by a picture.... so many times things that look great in person don't translate well to a still photo.

By the way, what is the hood vent for? I too am a fan of vents, but they should have a specific functionality.... I did the same thing to my Esprit, putting in side vents just behind the rear tyres, to go to extra Chargecooler radiators located just above the fuel tanks. In my picture, you can also see that I put ground effects all round the car......love my esprit, and can't walk away from it without walking backwards EVERY time I park I know you will be doing the same thing! And as to the comments, I know what you feel, as I always am getting people saying "Hey! Is that the newest F or L car???" I Love the fact that our Esprits are SO rare, and of a such forward design that they will forever remain timeless and new

All the best,

Paul Wendling

94S4

85TE

Edited August 24, 2010 by xspeedx

[karluk29]

Wow guys long replies.

The bonet duct is just for looks only. So are the sides. These mods have been done for the last four odd years. As for the skirts etc etc they have also been done years and my favorite part of the car as the ground effects all round (love that phrase as it means a different thing in the uk mod scene. It means neons - which ppl may remember I have done aswrll and nitrous which I recommend to anyone) make the car low and sleek unlike the original height which is like a bus lmao. (I suppose lowering it two inches helps aswell)

but this is now the third reincarnation of this car and I feel the best ever. May even go all attention whore and contact a mag or ten as the other version of the car was featured in numerous mags, tv, shows

I like the fact also that the cars are rare (196 gt3s). But I also like the fact that I can stand out from those 196 and be different. I think my car has kept the lotusness still with the lines etc etc and it's not trying to be something else it's just a bit different. With the smoothed on arches and lights don't you think lotus if they had the cash would have done that aswell.

Xspeedx I'm lovin your black beast. In the uk it seems ppl are scared to even look out the box sometimes

[arbell9]

I wouldnt fancy driving without at least the drivers side wing mirror!

NIce job karl, I like it but to be honest the stripe looks like a tacky, no looks real pants and comes across as a cheap ad-on on top of a special piant job. Lose the stripe .

cheers

Alex

[rocket63]

Works for me and I prefer it to the Blue before, even if it is a wrap. I think it enhances the modifications and brings some subtlety that was not present when the car was blue.

[Advantage]

I don't remember the blue colour. The pink was nice, though.

[lotus4s]

Love the matte color...

The other mods don't do it for me though...

[karluk29]

Rocket - it's not a wrap. As there for pretenders lol. And cost twice as much

lots of mixed opinions. All good stuff I think

you can't please everyone all the time and this post and my car proves that. All I know is it stands out in a crowd and also in a crowd of other esprits.

[arbell9]

A turd stands out on a bowling green, doesnt change the fact its a turd.

Not saying your car is a turd btw lol, just pointing out that just because something stands out dont mean its any good.

keeps us lots amused every 12 moths when you reincarnate your esprit into something else.

[nigeninja]

just noticed your in the midlands,are you any where close

[mr.oogieboogie]

karl your inbox is full

[mayevora]

Really did think this was going to look bad. (bad as in bad as opposed to bad as in good)

I've always thought black rims look sh1te and matt paint finishes even sh1ter imo.

Yours however looks bloody awesome! Love it. Don't understand why this is the so called 'stealth' look. It should be called anything but stealth lol. It should be called anti-stealth or something as that will at no time at all do unnoticed.

Think you've changed my mind here. But as others have said, it looks like it's been done to a high standard.

Really like that.

[karluk29]

Mayesprit - your post made my day matey thankyou I'm glad you like it

ninja - just had a look on ya profile. Close....I'm on your snowdome door step sir. Lol. We frequent there quite a bit as I'm near ashby only one junc up the m42.

(I organised two big illegal cruises there back in my car scene heyday down at sainsburys. Over 1000 cars)

Oogie if I could find my inbox on my iPhone I would unfill it lmao

[mike_sekinger]

Hi Karl,

There you go again - another series of improvements. Got to hand it to you - it is better again !

Cheers,

Mike S

[karluk29]

Thanx mike. But yours is still the ultimate on road beast.

[red vtec]

Like the paint, Like the car, don't like the rear diffuser

Are you going to fit a black badge?

[Kimbers]

Just showed MJk your car at his birthday party round his house a few mins ago.....never seen him pull a face like that...I thought I would be blaming you for giving him a heart attack Karl!

Then he sighed and said "To each his own I suppose" shrugged and chugged another beer.

Take it as a compliment and run!

[Jonathan]

I think the paint looks fantastic.

Karl you really need to sort that rear end out though imo. I really like it apart from litterally the last 6 inches everything goes wrong

'02 tail lights never liked them

Spoiler prefered the old one

Defuser sticks out too much, have someones shins off lol

Exhaust no

Keep the defuser but not the side exits - get a cool moulding for the defuser and the exhuast it'd make it look so much better.

You have to integrate the two

How much ahve you spent on this bloody car LOL

Does it have mirrors ? Dont put them stalks on again ffs - put the S2000 ones or or something, it's missing some width. Do that tomorrow.

Grab a photo of the defuser at low level and then we'll discus how this defuser is going to work.

Looks great head on, something about the rear though....I think it could even be the lowering is too far down.

Seriously though - big chunky mirrors, it will make the car look so much better.

I would also have the stripes like racing stripes - I like the contrast.

[karmavore]

'02 tail lights never liked them

Wrong.

Spoiler prefered the old one

Right.

Defuser sticks out too much, have someones shins off lol

Wrong.

Exhaust

Right.

Does it have mirrors ? Dont put them stalks on again ffs - put the S2000 ones or or something, it's missing some width. Do that tomorrow.

Right.

:-)

[karluk29]

Wow options options lol

I would love the s2000 mirrors but can't find any cheap at present so it's f1 for now as I have some

does mjk like the reventon? Just wondered. As thar is stunning but extreme. Or the racing exige which has bits stuck on everywhere.

As for money spent. Alot less I would think than 90% of owners do just buying nuts and bolts and servicing. Reason is I'm very fortunate to have a free mech. Trade parts and a award winning sprayer as a friend so let's say the amount most ppl pay for paint I pat for the whole job. Without these two guys I couldn't do it. That goes for misses monster supra aswell. That thing still kicks the lotus ass all day long. Lmao

Ok I have put bids on s2000 mirrors on fleabay as suggested. Will look better.

See sometimes I do take advice lol. Well misses has been telling me to do that from the start so she is happy now lol