No posts? Easy fix.

What's the only thing better than a turbocharged Esprit?

 

A turbocharged Elise.

 

One day I will be different from everyone else and get an Esprit. I just think they are absolutely stunning.

 

I love the Esprit. Superb handling, awesome V8 that's easy to pull more power out of, huge AP stoppers if you get one of the later years, etc. Only issue is with the gearbox, but there are lots of aftermarket gearsets available these days to fix that.

 

Me too, mmy good friend with an e36 m3 has been deciding between a '00 Esprit in blue with the bbs rims, a 993 2S in speed yellow, or a NSX.

It quite the predicament. although I have been in a 95 Esprit, and the cabin was slightly cramped.

 

I just realized I know next to nothing about them. I assume the later the better, but how much of a headache are they to own? Does the engine need lifting at service and stuff like that? Would I kill it if I put 10K miles on it a year?

 

Good year, and best color ever.

The later cars with the revised dash are considerably less claustrophobic.

 

2000+ are the best years. They had about all the gremlins worked out of them by then. Some of the earlier V8's had cylinder liner issues, though a lot of them got fixed under warranty.

10K is fine. They need a belt service every 30K, which can be done from the bottom with the engine in the car, and they can really benefit from a better aluminum radiator, but other than that it's just routine maintenance.

The black one above is pushing 35K.

The only thing to be gentle with is the 1-2 shift on the stock gearbox. If you get one of the beefier gearsets, you can flog it all you like.

 

how do they do with tuning? could you have a TT built motor pushing 500+?

 

Sure. Bigger turbos, intercoolers, and the red race ECU (available from various tuners in Germany) will get you there pretty quick.

Here's one pulling on a Gallardo:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ye-mUK_S_SU