1977 Esprit S1 -driving experiences?

[david hasselhoff]

like i said its merely marginal with variance of how the components are tacked on to the plastic... the mechanical issues are the same.

i think britman hit the nail on the head... go for a well keep car rather than detailed differences of the S1 and S2 .

my cars battery is in the same position of a S2. its big hassle to unbolt the terminals and remove due to the dark confines being tuck in the corner. so if the battery gets wet in a S1, is that a problem?

switching from one lousy x19 rear lamp for another lousier rover lamp dosent make a big difference imo. Besides the S1 didnt come with rover lamps im afraid, the S2 did . i think the carello or altissimo rear lamps of the S1 are better quality.

late S1 had blade front spoilers but then again. No real downforce in both cars. I recall reading aero numbers off of a esprit book “ Lotus Esprit, The Story So Far, by William Taylor” quoted from the factory. I believe the difference is but a few pounds in lift. the rear ears on S2 will create drag and wind noise? I don’t think it’s a big issue either way.

i have the smiths gauges on my car also. its mounted on some flimsy blow molded styrene plastic and the misalign warning indicators as on the S2 cars. i much prefer the single veglias unit with integrated warning indicators along with alu side panels on the S1 whether they work better or not. I would agree its easier to replace a single malfunctioning gauge rather than sending in the whole S1 unit in.

S1 S2 and S3 wiring along with the price of darkness components could be improve drastically in all the early esprits. I would rather i once got my car running with a paper clip in place of a lucas relay.

your right about the headlamps. i have the 2 motor version however they still bob up and down like the 1 motor version.

ive sat in both types of seats. I recall it differently... S1 seat flatter with less foam. S2seats slightly more cushy with taller side bolster to hold you in a little better. anyhow i would take both seat over my "gathered" leather Lazy Boy look of the S3 witch is supposedly more comfortable than both.

I always thought the S2 were a bit more refined and screwed together better but it maybe just imagined.

bottom motor pan? you mean oil pan?

I believe my S3 is a much improved car over the 2 early G-body cars. but just for the record the S2 is my favorite (cant get over how gorgeous the deep dish speedlines are) of all the esprits and a S1 is a close 2nd. Seems like the once unloved S1 are selling better now than the S2 possibly due to the bond factor?.

respectfully

dh

[Britman]

People that buy an S1 buy it because of the purity of shape and the fact that it is as close to both Giugiaro's and Chapman's vision as was possible in a production car. Personally I've read people having more issues with the V8's than they have with S1's. Most S1's have issues because they have been neglected. An S1 is the type of car that if you drive it for 3 or 4 hours you need to spend 15 minutes in the garage afterwards checking that things are all nice and tight and you have no leaks. An S1 was engineered just like a race car and so it needs constant attention for it to perform well. If you don't have the time or the knowledge to devote to the keeping up with maintaining the car I suggest that an S1 is not the car to buy. Buy an S3 which is far more owner friendly but not the original vision. For me playing and tweaking with the my S1 is all part of the deal. I'm not a guy that just wants to turn a key and drive it. I like to understand how it works. Plus owning 1 of about 370 left hand drive cars in the entire world. An S1 has such simple mechanics and is as close to a road going F1 car that Lotus ever produced. Just look at the rear suspension - it's pure F1 of the time. IMPO a car of any historical significance it is always the 1st and last models that seem to be the ones that generate the most interest and are most collectable. Although from what I understand the S4s is well sort after due to the fact it is considered the most mechanically reliable 4 cylinder Esprit made.

[DeanG]

I have heard that the driving experience of an Esprit S1 or S2 is closer to that of a Europa than a later Esprit. Just hearsay of course.