The Esprit now has an Italian "friend" in the stable..... - LotusTalk

Huskerbill · 06-09-2009, 12:58 PM

Thought you guys would want to see it. I will be taking side by side shots of them together this weekend when I have time.

BUELL XB12R · 06-09-2009, 01:20 PM

You lucky lucky Bastard!

Tpup · 06-09-2009, 02:26 PM

94? Nice, I had a blue one.

Roy

PhlypSide · 06-09-2009, 02:36 PM

Sorry Murcie fans, but this is my favorite newer Lambo

Nice!

Hello Kitty · 06-09-2009, 04:11 PM

are the wheels gold or silver, i cant tell

want really really want

Huskerbill · 06-09-2009, 06:26 PM

'91

Chrome Wheels

Thanks!!

I am LOVING this car!!

Spudboy · 06-09-2009, 07:17 PM

Wow, so all the big money is in garlic I guess!

Congrats.

Demonized · 06-09-2009, 07:18 PM

Beautiful, outright my favorite looking Bull.

Aedo · 06-09-2009, 07:21 PM

Congrats!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUELL XB12R

You lucky lucky Bastard!

As soon as I saw the pic I thought that exact phrase

sleepe · 06-09-2009, 07:30 PM

damn!!, how does its sound?
-Robert

Minnis · 06-09-2009, 07:45 PM

492 hp sweet

gospeedv8 · 06-10-2009, 12:39 AM

Yeah, thats one of my all-time-favorites.
lucky, lucky Boy

Congrats

BUELL XB12R · 06-10-2009, 08:14 AM

91 That's one of the good ones, it's still RWD!

Charlie Lunsford · 06-10-2009, 09:57 AM

x10

my favorite Italian, she's beautiful

Wimbledon · 06-10-2009, 12:38 PM

Congrats!

Phantom · 06-10-2009, 12:42 PM

How does it compare to your Lotus?

ggelise · 06-10-2009, 05:28 PM

"Wow, so all the big money is in garlic I guess!

Congrats."

That's hilarious...the garlic smell in Gilroy is incredibly strong. Like everything else, I think China is the garlic capital now.

Awesome car!

The_Bishop · 06-10-2009, 05:57 PM

Geesh...they're putting "lambo doors" on everything now....oh...wait..

Congrats!

BTW, how is the maintenance on these cars? Do they have similar schedules to other Italian exotics? Sorry, I really know nothing about them.

- Allen.

Huskerbill · 06-14-2009, 09:06 AM

To answer the questions...........

The car feels WAY more raw than the Esprit. Doesn't feel as "nimble" at all. Doesn't feel as "quick" either.

However, it feels like an older race car. I imagine it feels a lot like Nascar would in comparison to driving ALMS. A ton of HP and deceptive handling with a helluva lot of sound and raw power.

You know as much as the Esprit feels a lot more responsive, I was taking a corner in the Diablo a few days ago that didn't feel like I was going as fast as the Esprit. I was thinking, "Yeah, I am going to have to watch my speed a bit until I get used to the car.". I looked down at the speedo and I was actually going 10mph FASTER than I normally do in the Esprit. I did a double take and was like "What the??" I attribute it to the car just being lower and wider than the Esprit. That alone makes for better cornering (usually).

The sound is pure aggression. It really sounds a lot like a big block muscle car with a bit of "Euro" sound at higher RPM. After all, it is a 5.7L motor so you get that big sound but it is 12 Cylinders which makes for pretty small
"per cylinder displacement", hence the Italian sound.

As far as the attention goes, it doesn't even compare. The Esprit got a lot of attention (even in the Bay area). Last year in Monterey, I had more people coming up to the Esprit than my friends in their 360s and 430s. People were coming up saying "Oh, an Esprit!!! You NEVER see these around!!"

However, this has been that x 10.......

Last week, for example, I was in the left lane waiting to make a turn and was the 4th car in line in the lane. The right lane had a green light and the cars were going past. Suddenly a car stops right next to me and I look over. It is a 20 something year old girl all alone stopped in traffic with the window rolled down taking pictures and smiling from ear to ear. Cars were 5 deep stopped behind her and she didn't even care. That is what driving this thing has been like.

Maintenance is NOTHING compared to the joke that is "every 3 year" belt changes on a Ferrari. Been there, done that. Sick of it. It is not cheap when you want to do something with the motor because you have to pull it EVERY time, which automatically costs money. Clutch at the dealership is everyone's biggest spend. That can cost $12k. I happen to have the #1 Lamborghini service place in the country right here in Gilroy.

gregte · 06-14-2009, 06:25 PM

Huskerbill, We have the same taste! I have a 94 Diablo VT parked next to the Esprit in my garage. I agree with a lot of your comparison. What kind of exhaust does you Diablo Have? Mine has a Larini and the car sounds absolutely insane. In some ways the Esprit is more fun to drive, but it is a toy compared to the Lambo, The Lambo is a machine...pure. Have fun with yours!

Greg

06-09-2009, 12:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Huskerbill Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Gilroy, CA Posts: 102	The Esprit now has an Italian "friend" in the stable..... Thought you guys would want to see it. I will be taking side by side shots of them together this weekend when I have time. Attached Images

06-09-2009, 01:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
BUELL XB12R No, it's not Italian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hobbs NM Posts: 494 Images: 1	You lucky lucky Bastard! __________________ 2005 Elise Saffron yellow, Touring, LSS, SS, Hard Top 2004 Buell XB12R 2004 RX-8 2002 Z06 (Sold) 2002 Boxster S (Sold)

06-09-2009, 07:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Spudboy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,496	Wow, so all the big money is in garlic I guess! Congrats. __________________ '05 Elise, Nightfall/Touring (1TON 1G) '94 BMW 325iS '67 Austin Healey 3000

06-09-2009, 07:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Demonized NOT ßANNED! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,538	Beautiful, outright my favorite looking Bull. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Katana Supercharger, LSS Wheels, 2Bular exhaust & cat, rear panel delete, Cup Airbox, Volt / Oil temp gauge, Ohlins double adjustable coilovers, Dual Oil Coolers, S111 RTD Brace, Moroso Oil Pan, MicroMirror, S111 "V-Force" Harness bar, Manly Engine Mounts, Odyssey PC680 & RLS Bracket, Saikou Michi OCC, CF Scoops, CF Bootlid, CF Front Lip.

06-09-2009, 07:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
sleepe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE Posts: 1,040	damn!!, how does its sound? -Robert __________________ Elise'06ST:[size="1"]RAC/r888-Ultradiscs-Larini 8"-Braille-Saikou Michi-Nitron sportpro-RTVbrace-widened undertrays-VF2-manly's inserts-engine damper

06-09-2009, 02:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tpup Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 334	94? Nice, I had a blue one. Roy

06-09-2009, 04:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hello Kitty Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 554	are the wheels gold or silver, i cant tell want really really want

06-09-2009, 06:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Huskerbill Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Gilroy, CA Posts: 102	'91 Chrome Wheels Thanks!! I am LOVING this car!!

06-09-2009, 07:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
Minnis '010 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vegas/Phila. Posts: 755 Images: 1	492 hp sweet

06-10-2009, 12:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
gospeedv8 Just add lightness ... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hohenems Posts: 156	Yeah, thats one of my all-time-favorites. lucky, lucky Boy Congrats __________________ `69 Lotus Type 61FF, `77 Lotus Elite 504, `92 Lotus Esprit SE, `93 Lotus Esprit SE, `93 Lotus Type 110, `96 Lotus Esprit V8, `97 Lotus Elise, `98 Lotus Elise, ...

06-10-2009, 08:14 AM	#13 (permalink)
BUELL XB12R No, it's not Italian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hobbs NM Posts: 494 Images: 1	91 That's one of the good ones, it's still RWD! __________________ 2005 Elise Saffron yellow, Touring, LSS, SS, Hard Top 2004 Buell XB12R 2004 RX-8 2002 Z06 (Sold) 2002 Boxster S (Sold)

06-10-2009, 09:57 AM	#14 (permalink)
Charlie Lunsford Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 346	x10 my favorite Italian, she's beautiful __________________ Charlie Emotion Motorsports (512)818-0083 clunsford578@gmail.com formally of Lotus of Austin (yes all 3 of them!)

06-10-2009, 12:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
Wimbledon Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 213	Congrats!

06-10-2009, 12:42 PM	#16 (permalink)
Phantom Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 849 Images: 1	How does it compare to your Lotus? __________________ Grab Life by the Wheel

06-10-2009, 05:28 PM	#17 (permalink)
ggelise Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 193	"Wow, so all the big money is in garlic I guess! Congrats." That's hilarious...the garlic smell in Gilroy is incredibly strong. Like everything else, I think China is the garlic capital now. Awesome car!

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06-10-2009, 05:57 PM	#18 (permalink)
The_Bishop POWR2W8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 468 Images: 1	Geesh...they're putting "lambo doors" on everything now....oh...wait.. Congrats! BTW, how is the maintenance on these cars? Do they have similar schedules to other Italian exotics? Sorry, I really know nothing about them. - Allen. __________________ S/N:34090 Mag. Blue/Biscuit, Touring, HT, 5000K HIDs, PPE/Larini SE.

06-14-2009, 09:06 AM	#19 (permalink)
Huskerbill Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Gilroy, CA Posts: 102	To answer the questions........... The car feels WAY more raw than the Esprit. Doesn't feel as "nimble" at all. Doesn't feel as "quick" either. However, it feels like an older race car. I imagine it feels a lot like Nascar would in comparison to driving ALMS. A ton of HP and deceptive handling with a helluva lot of sound and raw power. You know as much as the Esprit feels a lot more responsive, I was taking a corner in the Diablo a few days ago that didn't feel like I was going as fast as the Esprit. I was thinking, "Yeah, I am going to have to watch my speed a bit until I get used to the car.". I looked down at the speedo and I was actually going 10mph FASTER than I normally do in the Esprit. I did a double take and was like "What the??" I attribute it to the car just being lower and wider than the Esprit. That alone makes for better cornering (usually). The sound is pure aggression. It really sounds a lot like a big block muscle car with a bit of "Euro" sound at higher RPM. After all, it is a 5.7L motor so you get that big sound but it is 12 Cylinders which makes for pretty small "per cylinder displacement", hence the Italian sound. As far as the attention goes, it doesn't even compare. The Esprit got a lot of attention (even in the Bay area). Last year in Monterey, I had more people coming up to the Esprit than my friends in their 360s and 430s. People were coming up saying "Oh, an Esprit!!! You NEVER see these around!!" However, this has been that x 10....... Last week, for example, I was in the left lane waiting to make a turn and was the 4th car in line in the lane. The right lane had a green light and the cars were going past. Suddenly a car stops right next to me and I look over. It is a 20 something year old girl all alone stopped in traffic with the window rolled down taking pictures and smiling from ear to ear. Cars were 5 deep stopped behind her and she didn't even care. That is what driving this thing has been like. Maintenance is NOTHING compared to the joke that is "every 3 year" belt changes on a Ferrari. Been there, done that. Sick of it. It is not cheap when you want to do something with the motor because you have to pull it EVERY time, which automatically costs money. Clutch at the dealership is everyone's biggest spend. That can cost $12k. I happen to have the #1 Lamborghini service place in the country right here in Gilroy.

06-14-2009, 06:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
gregte Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 45	Huskerbill, We have the same taste! I have a 94 Diablo VT parked next to the Esprit in my garage. I agree with a lot of your comparison. What kind of exhaust does you Diablo Have? Mine has a Larini and the car sounds absolutely insane. In some ways the Esprit is more fun to drive, but it is a toy compared to the Lambo, The Lambo is a machine...pure. Have fun with yours! Greg