Gold FFM johnpwalsh 1,302 Posted November 1, 2013 Gold FFM Report Share Posted November 1, 2013 Brian for goods sake don't give me nightmares. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dodge1979 36 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Made me laugh. .I was watching Ashes to Ashes last week (box set love it) one episode has an essex esprit in it. The conversation in the program went like this one copper to another..... Copper1 who do you think drives a car like this? Copper2 poofs. Poofs and show offs. needless to say the other half laughed... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Buddsy 1,552 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Driving my turbo last night round Norwich ring road and a couple of gezzers about 45-50 started should "Lotus" at me. I drive with my window down so was able to give em a thumbs up! Buddsy Quote "Belief is the enemy of knowing" - Crrow777 Link to post Share on other sites
neil e 5 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 I have had three cars vandalized in my time and its a horrible feeling.The first was my Mk1 RS200, it was spotless. I was followed home one night by an old heap of a mk 1. the next morning it hd paint stripper onto the roof and boot. I used to get lots of greif with it other boy racers and old bill. 2 A Opel Monza was broken into and an attempt was made to remove the radio. As this was not possible a Stanley knife was take to every seat and door panel. This was outside my parents house. 3 My Supra Turbo was parked in B&Q and it was just in the wrong spot as mine and three others were badly keyed. On the plus side the insurance paid for a full pukka respray. So when the time came to buy a Esprit I was a bit worried. Not that Im public enemy no1 but not had much luck with cars that are a bit different. Overall though the reaction has been great. Neighbours have been pictured in it and it has been the conservastion at petrol stations many times. I wil admit I am still paranoid where I park it. But it always makes me smile when little boys come running over to look at it. Just as my two do every time its out. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loose Cannon 581 Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Crikey, some tales of woe there Neil (PS I love Monzas too, owned 3) Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM johnpwalsh 1,302 Posted November 4, 2013 Gold FFM Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Slightly different but in he same vein, a few years back a ran a new Renault 19 turbo while I lived on an estate in Aberdeen and every week the thing was broken into, radio, cd's anything that moved was stolen. The strange thing was I also had a Daimler DB 18 of 1955 vintage which you couldn't lock and it was parked in the same car park with the same neds but they never ever touched the Daimler, they would sit in it turn the knobs, switch on the lights etc but if a stranger ever went near it they were the first to chase them off and knock at my door. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil e 5 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Crikey, some tales of woe there Neil (PS I love Monzas too, owned 3) Glad Im not the only one. I owned 2. Both were happy for the front suspension top mounts to rust away! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ajheath 100 Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 I could go on and on, but here is the worst and best. In the NMEG days we had a run out to the Wirral peninsula. My car was parked a few spaces from an R8 when a young family walked along, young boy about 6 went mental for my car running up to it with his mouth open. Mum then proceeded to tell him to come and look at the R8 he had just run past, and not to bother with my car because it was just a kit car!!!!!!!!! Needless to say I educated the family and thanked the boy for his obvious good taste. Best experience was on the way to Le Mans last year when we had stopped for lunch and a chap pulled up behind my car in a Ford GT, then came over to ask if he could take photos of my car, stating that he had always loved Esprits, made my year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Loose Cannon 581 Posted November 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 The wisdom of youth! I love seeing young lads go bananas as it reminds me of my own reaction all those years ago. Perhaps our enthusiasm today stems from trying to relive the vitatlity we had then Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to post Share on other sites
Laurie Cross 15 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 (edited) I finally got my car registered onto Spanish plates so I have been using it quite a bit this week. It is incredible the responses the car gets, I had a guy stop while crossing a zebra crossing in front of the car pullout his phone and take a photo too the annoyance of the cars behind. a couple of days ago while i was stopped at the lights 3 guys walked past and one went "wow look at that Lambo!", When it is parked people tend to walk up to it and look all over it, definitely turns heads. That was in Gibraltar, though in Spain I keep hearing "coche fantastico" so I said to my girlfriend why do I keep hearing that, Coche Fantastico was the name for Knight Rider in Spain so everyone thinks my black Esprit is Kit......... Edited August 3, 2014 by Laurie Cross 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
molemot 521 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 During my early days of ownership, back in the 1980s, I was driving home from work one evening, through the back streets of Molesey. They are a bit narrow near the Bell pub.....I turned left at a tight junction that takes you on to the road where the pub is. Coming the other way up the road was a Rolls Royce Shadow 2. Not much room for us to pass each other....as we eased alongside I looked up at the driver of the Royce and he looked down at me. "Nice car, chum" said Billy Cotton Jr. "Not quite as nice as the ones your Dad used to drive at Brooklands..." I replied...we both chuckled....and went on our respective ways! Quote Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been." - Albert Einstein Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post ChrisJ 1,377 Posted August 3, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Owned the car for two weeks, and I was on the outside lane of dual carriage way - which filtered right after a short distance, wanted to move left, so Indicated. The BMW on my left wouldn't let me in. I sped up, he sped up. I slowed down, he slowed down. I though bugger this, so put my foot down and left him. pulled in blue lights behind me - oh bollocks - motorcycle cop. His first words were (the polite version) "I was being a bit of a sod, as I was staying in your blind spot", to which I replied, "Which one?". He then said that he had seen what the BMW was doing, but really wanted to look at an Esprit- hence the pull. Anyway, he opens the door, and gets in the drivers seat, to the words "It's a bit f**k**g difficult getting in isn't it." (I knew I wasn't getting a ticket at this point). After 10 minutes of looking over the car with no mention of speed, his parting words were, just keep an eye on the speedo in future. Chris 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 4,222 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 I've only had the car a few weeks, but I have had a bloke in what looked to be a Ford Focus come up behind as we approached a roundabout, rev his engine until his dump valve blew. He then pulled up alongside, and did the same. Twat. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to post Share on other sites
Vanya 560 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 It really tickles people's inferiority complex - I have idiots in BMW 1-series' overtake me showing all they got as if it's some kind of demonstration of dominance... Same with Japanese tuners (Evos and Imprezas). Some drivers really feel the need to justify their purchase by "shaming" other motorists via the gas pedal. Quote Vanya Stanisavljevic '91 Esprit SE | '97 XK8 Link to post Share on other sites
Loose Cannon 581 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 On the way home after buying the car I had a recovery truck driver "squeeze" me in the middle lane just for giggles. For a professional driver involved with motor vehicles and safety I was shocked and thought "uh oh, this is what it's going to be like from now on". That was 11 years ago and never noticed any serious attitude since, either that or I've grown a thicker skin! Quote In the garage no-one can hear you scream Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJ 1,377 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Strangest reaction I've ever had. Driving round the M25 (may years ago). I was doing about 70 or so in the inside lane. Ford Cortina mk4 overtakes in the middle lane. Suddenly, the rear passenger door opens, and the passenger sticks his bum out and drops his trousers, This was when the M25 was relatively new and uncrowded. I'd like to see someone try this now Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 4,222 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Strangest reaction I've ever had. Driving round the M25 (may years ago). I was doing about 70 or so in the inside lane. Ford Cortina mk4 overtakes in the middle lane. Suddenly, the rear passenger door opens, and the passenger sticks his bum out and drops his trousers, Yeah, sorry about that Chris, my behaviour has improved since those days. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJ 1,377 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 4,222 Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Actually, I'm not sure whether I'm more impressed with the bare arse, or the fact that the perpetrator managed to open the door against the airflow at such a high speed! Quote Margate Exotics. Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJ 1,377 Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 good point - he (I assume) must have wound down the window (it was 25 years ago!). I minute there was just a car, next I had an arse being pointed at me. Sort of sticks in your mind 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Escape 743 Posted August 6, 2014 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Last weekend I took my Esprit to the open house day at an animal shelter where I do volunteer work. Lots of reactions, ranging from 'is that Ferrari yours?' to technical questions about age and engine and one very nice lady asking for a ride. Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM johnpwalsh 1,302 Posted August 8, 2014 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 As you know picked the S4 up from Oxford the other day and Darren showed us to the nearest filling station, fuelled up the car and the guy at the next pump made the first comment, The blue one looks better than the Yellow, sorry Dazer, but the guy obviously had taste. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Escape 743 Posted August 29, 2014 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) Resurrecting an old thread, ‘cause this is something I do want to share. Yesterday evening I got a visit from our local constable (non-Lotus related). The Esprit was left on the driveway because I would be using it later on. She was very friendly, despite the her task being not too pleasant. After getting my signature, she started to comment about the Esprit. What a lovely car it is… How she would love to drive along… If it hadn’t been for the heavy rain at the time, I would have gladly granted her wish. I should have told her to get back in touch on a nice sunny evening, now that I think about it. Filip Edited August 29, 2014 by Escape 1 Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to post Share on other sites
iainskea 29 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 Ha ha ha, magnificent! All I can think of is 'handcuffs' Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel 265 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 I've never heard a negative comment regarding any of the Esprit's I've owned...... Aside from a young lady announcing very loudly that my S2 "IS THE FUTURE" at a recent car show, the other notable comment came when I had my S4 commemorative: At the time, I lived in a rather dodgy part of Manchester and kept the esprit in storage. One day I'd collected the Esprit and was out at the back of my house giving it a wash, when a group of kids walked past, and one of them shouted over, in the broadest 'Manc Scally' accent you'll ever hear "MATE.... IS THAT A MAZ-DOH???!!!!" I shouted back that it was in fact a Lotus..... but I don't think they had a 'kin clue what I was on about..... partly because I was speaking normally, and partly because they'd probably never heard of a Lotus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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