[91MR2]

Kylie, you are a cool chick...any girl that's owned 2 Esprits is alright in my book...

As far as the debate here...I own an S4 and love it to death. I've been in and driven many Esprits, over 10 at least, both 4's and V8's and I can honestly say they are all simply stupendous. I'd love a V8, but that's prob. bec. I've owned a 4 for so long, and the grass is always greener on the other side. On the flipside, I wouldn't trade my Esprit for the world, and am totally content and thrilled with it each and every day.

Ultimately, I'd love a V8 to park next to my S4...have my veritable pick of the litter...

 

[propracer]

Kylie,
I agree. I have driven many Esprit's and I love my current V-8 for it's long range comfortable high speed driving envelope. ...passing at 100mph requires no downshifting! I now own an 8 for long haul, and I am looking for a 4 cyl. for the crazy hill climbs on Saturday morning when I am on a coffee high...

 

[propracer]

Kylie,
I agree. I have driven many Esprit's and I love my current V-8 for it's long range comfortable high speed driving envelope. ...passing at 100mph requires no downshifting! I now own an 8 for long haul, and I am looking for a 4 cyl. for the crazy hill climbs on Saturday morning when I am on a coffee high...

Oh, forgot to mention that I am on the list to receive one of the 2012's Esprit's no matter what the power plant (V-10 or V-8 twin turbo). I like surprises and I know for a fact that is is a stunning automobile ( I am not going to elaborate on this, so please do not ask.)

 

[Sport350]

Kylie, you are a cool chick...any girl that's owned 2 Esprits is alright in my book...


Ultimately, I'd love a V8 to park next to my S4...have my veritable pick of the litter...

:wave:

 

[91MR2]

Kylie, come stateside for a visit, you got a place to stay and a place to park that Esprit, right next to mine in my garage...

 

[Feffman]

I've owned a few of each and loved them all (well love/hate with the 1980 S2). The 4-cylinders are MUCH easier to work on which is key if you turn your own wrenches but the sound of my 1999 V8 (high flow cats and no muffler) when it started and under acceleration was stunning.

Feff

 

[Sport350]

Kylie, come stateside for a visit, you got a place to stay and a place to park that Esprit, right next to mine in my garage...

Ohh nice garage :up: Yeah My car would look tidy in there

 

[ransackman]

Another image, this was off to Canada(?, I think).

03/08/2009 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[E5PR1T]

Is that your car?

Another image, this was off to Canada(?, I think).

03/08/2009 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[gregte]

I have owned an 87,89,90SE,94S4 and currently own an 02 V8. I have put MANY MANY miles on all of them and can tell you that with every year newer they got better. Buy the latest model car you can afford.

 

[ransackman]

Is that your car?

Nah, it was there when I took my car for service. Seemed really cool so I took pictures.

 

[djacobs]

Those are definately some beautiful pictures! Talk about a dream come true, 1000km on empty roads, in that! I never knew that the Giugiaro's were that lightweight, either. Thats the nicest looking G-car Ive seen, I might have to look further into those. As someone mentioned earlier, I thought Id point out that of the 11 Esprits on ebay right now, 9 are V8's. Interesting.

 

[djacobs]

So long over due, but heres some Esprit data I found from 1993 - With handling being tested

 

[HowardRoark]

I agree with gregte. I have owned an 89SE and now I own a 99 Esprit V8.

I choose the V8.

I love the power of the V8, the power steering, the updated interior, the wide tires, the no electrical problems, the SMOOTH shifting (especially in 2nd gear), the modern door handles (no mousetrap), the factory alarm and locking, the OBDII, the sturdy and FAST headlight and window motors, the non-bouncy very accurate gauges, the straight alignment and the awesome modern look. The only thing I miss is the glove compartment!

cheers, Matt

 

[jtrealty]

IMHO the V-8 is the culmination of the Esprit line to date being the final evolutionary model. In many ways it is an improvement over previous iterations of Esprit. It DOES take more driving skill than the 4 cyl in *some* respects. It does have a better ABS system which can make a good driver look better. The 4 cyl and the V-8 both are more car than the "ordinary" street driver can handle. Both require the driver to improve their driving skills or risk getting "bitten" by the car. The V-8 IS a heavier driving car but that is at least partially made up by it's wider, torquier power band. The clutch pedal is heavier because of the twin-plate clutch. I am comparing cars in stock trim. Obviously once you start modding a car it becomes difficult to compare to others generally. In the V-8's you get the great styling of the 4 cyl and the power of the V-8!
David Teitelbaum

 

[TheRedMenace]

V8 is in a diff league than a mildly modded I4. Ask TheRedMenace what his take is on this.

I think we need a rematch. The manifold studs on my #1 exhaust port had fallen out, as well as the gasket (remember the unholy racket it was making? Turns out it's a common problem for 4cyl Esprits). I fixed it - which was a nightmare - but now that it holds boost on the big end things are substantially different.

From the factory the 4 cylinder car was faster 0-60 than the V8. The V8 just didn't run out of power over 100 like the 4 bangers did. Also the 4 cylinder is less expensive to modify (4 injectors, 1 turbo VS 8 & 2) and the clutch is $1400 to replace rather than $4k.

My car is finally sorted out and is representative of what it should be. Anyone wanna go to Irwindale some night and take a few passes?

 

[TheRedMenace]

So long over due, but heres some Esprit data I found from 1993 - With handling being tested

0-60 on the 93 should be high 4's. On those cars there was a safety built into the ecu preventing full boost on normal launches. You had to rev the car to 5000rpm (if I recall correctly) and hold it there for one second. Then the ecu would give you full tilt performance for a launch. I'll see if I can find a link to a reputable source to verify.

 

[gmendoza]

I think we need a rematch. The manifold studs on my #1 exhaust port had fallen out, as well as the gasket (remember the unholy racket it was making? Turns out it's a common problem for 4cyl Esprits). I fixed it - which was a nightmare - but now that it holds boost on the big end things are substantially different.

From the factory the 4 cylinder car was faster 0-60 than the V8. The V8 just didn't run out of power over 100 like the 4 bangers did. Also the 4 cylinder is less expensive to modify (4 injectors, 1 turbo VS 8 & 2) and the clutch is $1400 to replace rather than $4k.

My car is finally sorted out and is representative of what it should be. Anyone wanna go to Irwindale some night and take a few passes?

Why 1/8 mi only? Why not do at least the full 1/4 at Fontana?

... and everyone knows the Esprit is not the greatest drag car. The reason why the 4 cyl has the same, or faster as you claim, 0-60 is because they both make about the same power in 1st gear stock. The V8's have alot of boost restrictions. Now by taking off those restriction, you'll just just smoke the tires in a V8 while the 4 cyl makes just enough power to get the car moving quickly.

Also, a lose manifold stud will not make up for the instant bus-lengths my car put on yours last time. The only way you'll have a chance is if you up the boost at least 5-6psi.

Just say when and where.

 

[s4s]

Interesting, that looks like 25th anniversary #87, which was totaled in So Cal.

Another image, this was off to Canada(?, I think).

03/08/2009 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[wa6rxm]

91 MR2: To heck with your car - I like your GARAGE (only kidding - the silver Esprit is a beauty, too).

I have owned a number of mid engine cars, which I generally prefer to front or rear engine ones, e.g. '85 Turbo Esprit, NSX, Porche Boxter, and an MR-2.

Among all of these, my favorite car is the one I presently own - a 1991 T/E SE.

I test drove a V-8. Didn't handle like the lighter I4's, in fact I found it a little cumbersome, and as another poster has said, even a little scary - so much power there...I could easily see myself getting into trouble in that car...at least I can COUNT on turbo lag in my car, but the twin turbo didn't have any, or maybe just a little...I prefer driving the I4's.

The Acura NSX was interesting - designed by a committee and very BORING. It did everything fairly well, but NO SOUL. Even (as I understood it) the EXHAUST NOTE was the subject of much tweaking my the engineers who designed the car...

Plus the fact that if you stay out of the turbo, they can closely approach the gas milage of a Prius. I got 34 MPG on a recent trip from San Francisco of about 350 miles, and that wasn't ALL freeway, either.

I like the LOOKS of the early SE's the best, too. The spoiler, though probably not particularly effective except possibly at VERY high speeds, is the best LOOKING one, IMHO.

My car is almost stock - only mods are the "straight" air intake mod, and a MagnaFlow one into two exhaust (Camaro/Firebird one) which comes out thru a V8 style rear valance w/ two slash cut stainless tailpipes. A little LOUD, but I like it.