If you read through the reviews on LEW, you find somewhat the same thing. The British motoring press love to rip on their own, and spare no absurdity in finding fault. How they look past the superb balance and kick in the seat power, and harp on rear visibility, entry and exit, tiny niggles. Oh, and they tend to overlook the price as well.
Ferrari? No thanks. The Ferrari breaks constantly, is ridiculously difficult to service, and costs a fortune for parts. The Esprit breaks every once in a while, is somewhat difficult to service, and more often than not, your local GM or Toyota dealer has the part you need. The Ferrari also has a pretentious element that is blessedly absent in the Esprit.
And I like the wood dash, it's such a lovely British touch. One gets the feeling that if the UK ever builds a spaceship, it will have leather seats and a wood dash.
All the same, I do find Clarkson very amusing. Even if he is even older than the Esprit, has a wardrobe more suited to common labor than exotic cars, and desperately needs the attention of a hair stylist and weight reduction clinic. Oh, that's fun.
