Back to Black: 1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo
Say hello to trouble. This 1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo is located in Hixson, Tennessee, and is advertised here on eBay. $24,900 takes it home, though this isn’t the kind of car you’d introduce to your mother.
Twelve years after its debut at the 1975 Paris Motor Show, the Lotus Esprit had moved through anywhere from three to five different iterations depending on how you count the Turbo Esprits. Yet for all the incremental improvements to the car over the course of more than a decade, the aggressive faceted angularity of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s mid-Seventies design had remained a constant when it came to Lotus’ flagship street car. A bold vision of the future when “Play That Funky Music” was climbing the charts, the release of Appetite for Destruction saw the Esprit in need of a refresh. Enter Peter Stevens, who would eventually work on many of the most striking cars of the late Eighties and Nineties– including, of course, the McLaren F1.
Stevens softened the lines of the Esprit, and, taking advantage of new materials and manufacturing methods, expertly threaded the needle of updating the car while ensuring that it could never be taken for anything other than a Lotus Esprit. Better yet, the engine and suspension delivered on the promises made by the beautiful lines. The engine remained the venerable Type 910, but with turbo and Bosch fuel injection it made 215 horsepower and 220 lb.ft. of torque, giving the lightweight car a top speed of over 150 mph and a zero to sixty time of under five-and-a-half seconds. The seller says that the turbo on this one has been reworked to perform even better.
This Esprit runs and drives, and though there are a variety of minor issues, there’s really nothing mentioned in the listing that one might not reasonably expect from a 34 year-old exotic car. So why do I say “trouble?” You are absolutely going to get pulled over in this car. Maybe the first day you have it. Heck, probably in the first half hour. You’re going to feel that boost kick you in your lower back and then you’re going to want to feel it again. And again. And just after you glance down at the malfunctioning speedometer, right after it occurs to you that you should definitely slow down, the state trooper sitting in the median just ahead is going to look at his radar gun and let out a long whistle. Oh, I think the price of this car is just the first of many associated expenses. But then, there are some things in life that are worth a little extra drama.
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Comments
Underrated for decades because of many ” little things” add up, theit pricing is starting to reflect the positive attributes.
This one is very attractive to me right now….
Can you daily one of these? I’m looking for an interesting daily driver.
Sure, as long as you can work from home when it won’t run.
That might be a little harsh! I’m pretty sure as long as you have a “chase vehicle” that’s appropriately stocked with parts and a mechanic that specializes in all things Lotus it will make a great daily!
When I was younger I maintained two daily drivers so that I would always have one to get me to work when the other was acting up. I’m pretty well over that arrangement.
Yes. Very docile, very fast when you want it.
THE BODY LOOKS LIKE A cAMARO LOL
I did use my 89 for a daily driver for about 5 years. They are great in the snow, and rain and I got in the mid 20’s for fuel milage. There was only one time that the car failed and it was only a sensor in the fuel injection system. That can happen to any car. The fix was not expensive and I was back to driving it again in a couple of days.
With some exceptions most of the electrical and mechanical parts are from other mass production cars and are still available. Some suspension, transmission and engine parts are also available but heart stoppingly expensive. The air conditioning is OK the heating is excellent and the comfort is amazing if you fit and that is a critical problem. I am 5′-9″ tall and the seat are back as far as they can go. It fits me perfectly even though I have broad shoulders. If you are taller lets say over 6′ I do not think that this is a car for you. Also it will keep you flexible when you have to get in and out.
This is not the fastest car anymore but it is still considered quick but it is even more striking when seen in person. The new super cars with huge engines, vents all over the place, wings and winglets seem to be jumping up and down saying LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME. This car comes across as elegant, restrained. Every line has a purpose and every line comes to a proper end. It is seldom that I hit a 4 way stop that at least one person does not have a phone or camera out taking shots of it. Expect to get lots of comments if you purchase it.
In addition look in the mirror and see if you like how you look when smiling because you are going to be doing that a lot.
Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious. I want it so bad….
They were a nice looking car in their day but I would relate the word trouble way more to your wallet trying to keep it running than speeding.
The wing on this one is not standard but has been added later. The worst part of owning one of these is finding some one with long enough arms to clean that rear window. I think you would be shocked at how many bags of groceries you can put into the trunk and passengers seat.
As for the LOTUS quotes of lots of trouble usually serious. I have had LOTUS cars for almost 50 years now and find them to be extremely reliable. The problem is with many of the owners that purchase them just for their looks and have not idea of how or why they need to be kept up as they do.
These are very high stressed cars with many components that are also high stressed. THEY NEED TO BE MAINTAINED more than a normal car. The electrical which are a huge problem on most English cars are not a problem on this one. There is one SERIOUS problem that the new owner should address as soon as is possible and that is to remove the engine and both gas tanks. Replace the tanks with aluminum or stainless steel which are available. Lotus put a foam rubber pad below the tanks to reduce vibration and noise with half filled tanks and that foam adsorbed water and would rust. Best to assume that needs to be done now or in the near future to be safe.
Mine are on order.
Esprits never get old looking to me. Never owned one, but have owned 4 Lotus cars and they get the fluids moving in away I can’t explain unless you drive one. Never had any reliability issues, but fit and finish was always an issue. If this was closer to me I’d be a serious buyer.
Gone.
It’s a fine car if you never have to back up.
Took one for a test drive in the rain. Wipers are on the opposite stalk. So after signaling, I turned them on and the fuse blew. Pulled over on a busy rush hour street because I couldn’t see in the rain.
Obviously didn’t buy it.
Looks like it was a great deal.
My numbered, signed, limited-edition poster of this car still sits on my office wall 30 years after it was the dream car meant to inspire my then girlfriend to be the best real estate sale person ever. It didn’t happen, but thanks for the awesome collectible, Lotus.
However, the poster is still calling, lulling me into thinking that a 6’1” driver could comfortably daily drive one. Now I’m in California, it’s more practical than it was in England and I want it so badly. However, I don’t really want a divorce, so the dream will have to wait another few years….
Be careful, that comment could be used as evidence!
I don’t know much about lotus but I agree with the fact some engines are high maintenance but give alot in returns. I’ve run raced and maintained air cooled VW’S all my life and heard so many guys say what junk they are and wont start and run bad etc etc because they dont know old school engines like that need constant regular but easy maintenance adjust the valves set the points check the timing and the fuel air mixture on the carb . The more hp and the harder the engine works the more maintaining is really important that’s the real joy when you get it set up perfectly and get to take it out and enjoy the added performance