People's reaction to the Esprit - what's yours?

[Jacques 944]

zNooooo, now you have tzold our Little zecret to ze public. Fraulein Markrel iz preparing a new zhipment of ze modified enginez whizh iz vatercooled. Very zpezial, only 176.000 zauzend made, codenamed 99zix, 99zeven and boxzter, and of courze a zecret one ztoo.

And if it is not a zecret any more, we will have a new zecret method of polouting ze public, so zhey cannot drive ze nazty britizh lotuz carz, ezpezially ze Epritz. Witz more gazoline and diezel than advertized, also mit viel Mehr smutz.

[Giniw 288]

[hedgerley 440]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread with a novel experience I've just had. Parked up at my local garage after filling up, to make a phone call. The passenger door suddenly opens and crouched there is a traffic cop. Somewhat surprised I asked if I could help him. No says he, he's just stopped by to admire the Esprit as he's always been a fan but never seen one up close! There followed a barrage of questions about the engine, the performance, the mileage, the costs, how much was the insurance, how many miles do I do etc etc. He was genuinely interested and he absolutely loved the car. We had a right old blether. He then hung about whilst i started her up and drove off.

A nice thing to happen - but I do wonder what the other customers thought he was telling me...... 

[ChrisJ 1,475]

I had an almost identical experience back in 1987 - 2 weeks after I had bought my Esprit when a motorcycle cop pulled me over for "speeding" in the centre of Croydon. It was just an excuse to look over and sit in the car 

I knew I was ok when he said "Christ it's a bit f**king tight in here isn't it" when he sat in the drivers seat after only taking his helmet off. Spent 30 minutes chatting, looking over the car and then sent me on my way.

[Steven162 109]

Nelson road in Great Yarmouth yesterday evening, I drove past a group of people and heard a woman say "what the fuck is that?"

[Barrykearley 6,867]

Just now, Steven162 said:

 heard a woman say "what the fuck is that?"

I’ve heard my missus say that more than once 

[Andyww 1,278]

26 minutes ago, ChrisJ said:

I had an almost identical experience back in 1987 - 2 weeks after I had bought my Esprit when a motorcycle cop pulled me over for "speeding" in the centre of Croydon. It was just an excuse to look over and sit in the car 

 

When I owned my first Esprit in 1984 I used to drive it to work in the City daily, and once got pulled over on Upper Thames St.

The cop told me I had "been going a bit fast" and then we discussed the car for a while. He asked me where I was going and I said home to Wimbledon, and he offered the advice:

"If you really want to floor it, go down the A3 and when you get past the Hook underpass there is a straight section and you can just cane it, we generally leave that area alone"

Somehow I cant see that being said these days! Also the police do patrol that section now, there is even a raised police parking spot.

[Steven162 109]

1 hour ago, Barrykearley said:

I’ve heard my missus say that more than once 

I've heard her say that too

[Barrykearley 6,867]

Sorry - she was fairly loud about the expression when the first Esprit turned up

[GTK 647]

59 minutes ago, Andyww said:

The cop ...offered the advice: "If you really want to floor it, go down the A3..."

Perfect anecdote to get you a pass if you get pulled for flooring it down there now Andy. 

[GTK 647]

Got one! An aunt and uncle were in a cab from the airport the other day, coming back in for Christmas. When they were on the motorway a Maserati came past. The cabbie goes...

"There you are now, a poor man's Lotus". 

[TimSportsTourer 10]

That's bloody classic! Lots has been said (most of it on this thread!), but that's just bloody classic! Love it. That's what I drive now – a Maserati, but for someone with money. I'm going to be telling that one for weeks…

[Mark Blanchard 1,647]

Almost every time I take my Esprit out these days I get people talking to me about it, saying it looks awesome.   Just had another car nut saying "what a great looking car, 4 pot isn't it" and taking photos.  This has only started happening in the last year or so. 10-15 years ago people either turn their noses up at it or were indifferent.  Very happy the Esprit is finally getting appreciated

 

[Loose Cannon 582]

On 13/01/2018 at 14:21, Mark Blanchard said:

10-15 years ago people either turn their noses up at it or were indifferent.  Very happy the Esprit is finally getting appreciated

 

My daughter's 20 year old boyfriend is in absolute awe of the Esprit despite him having a nearly new performance car of his own. There seems to be a small but significant band of younger enthusiasts who still prefer a more analogue approach to sports cars.

[Escape 776]

Strictly speaking not a 'peoples reaction', but still want to share: I took my Esprit to a meeting for work today. When finding my way through the parking garage, I suddenly heard a car alarm, but there was no one to be seen. Apparently the exhaust rumble of the Esprit was enough to trigger the alarm. I was taking it very easy, but had noticed the good acoustics.

[Giniw 288]

(What is your exhaust?)

 

[Escape 776]

The exhaust on my Esprit is a custom job. It was salvaged from my previous red SE and fitted to my current silver one when a flange on the standard exhaust started leaking. I think it was made in Germany by a previous owner, about 70mm diameter, only a small muffler and an empty cat.

[Jeanvm 105]

Filip you are a bad boy.

The last times I drove around I got quite wild reactions of BMW M's & Merc AMG guys who think I should be go crazy with them. But I'm a calm boy who enjoys driving with the old-timer on the B-roads.

[C8RKH 6,262]

2 hours ago, Escape said:

I think it was made in Germany 

So it's a stage 1 only then?

 

[GTK 647]

[Jacques 944]

?

[GTK 647]

This is a sign the times.

 

[gvy 379]

Magnus Walker goes Lotus?????

This man is a real and true Porsche addict....and he goes Lotus. I will be very interested to see what he will make of the heritage of Colin Chapman and the design of Giugiaro. Fact is, he will restyle the car. That is what he does with 911's . His work is kinda interesting. 

 

[GTK 647]

He wants YOU! Geert 

[Bibs 11,171]

He wants a haircut