Why a 23 Year Old Just Bought a 1979 Lotus Esprit S2
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- In today's video, thanks to Callum Robinson of CR Classics, I drive a 1979 Lotus Esprit S2. By far the oldest Esprit I have ever experienced, this car bridges the gap between the iconic S1 and the much faster Turbo. Being more durable than the S1, but easier to run than a Turbo, the S2 should be highly sought after, but in fact can be had for a fraction of the price of an S1. Is it still a good buy?
#Lotus #Esprit
Want to see your car on the channel? Email me on talk@jayemm.com
************************************************************************
Looking to buy a new or used car? HOLMESDALE FINANCE can help!
My channel partner Holmesdale Finance specialises in finance solution for new and used prestige, sports and performance cars - including MODERN CLASSIC policies and many more. You might be surprised at what they can do, so speak to them to find out more. Their website is www.holmesdalefinance.co.uk/
***********************************************************************
Looking for a new stereo or multi channel system for your home?
Speak to James Dean at DB Hifi for the best deal on the best equipment around.
www.dbhifi.co.uk
***********************************************************************************
Want More JayEmm? Become a channel member for access to exclusive content!
/ @jayemmoncars - Авто та транспорт
You know you're driving a late 70s car when you see an ashtray built into the door sills, located closer to the driver than the handbrake lever
My eagle eye spotted the red pipe at 1.09mins in. The pipe that runs from the front to back from master to slave cylinder for the clutch. These expand and you lose pressure then get crunchy gear changes or on very hot days horribly cannot get it into gear. Really terrible from Lotus. They even fitted these in early Elise’s. Obvious mod is to bin it for a nice steel braided one from PNM or SJs….Very worth while mod. The owner will instantly see a difference.
This was a fault which found is way across to DeLorean, in which a Stainless braided line has been the fix long before the Esprit went out of production.
The Esprit S2 is quite civilised in regular traffic. The Dellortos make the engine well behaved across the rev range.
Power is more like 160bhp in UK trim but torque is quite good.
Routine maintenance items are cheap as they come off common models.
I have had mine 17 years and not had the motor out yet.
I drove an S1 in the 1979 Cannonball it was a great little car a blast on the twisty roads . Yes it could have used a little more horsepower but the added lightness more than compensated. I loved watching the guys in their Corvettes scare themselves silly trying to keep up with me on the back roads.
I drove these;in period (along with TVRs, Porsches, Jensens, Fiats & Reliant Scimitar GTEs working for Charles Follett in Berkeley Square). The Esprit was easily my favourite. It gave me the feeling that the steering was so good you could still change direction even with 4 wheels off the ground... a particular humped back bridge informed that feeling 😊
I road test one that upon spotting a desired turn off on a back road, applying moderate braking..it just wouldnt turn at all, until I released the brake! _ Never found out if this particular one had wild geometry set up, or it was an included trait
@@davidstuart4915 Sounds like a gremlin to me. They certainly weren't designed that way..😂
@@davidstuart4915
I own a 1980 S2.2 What you describe is by no means it's normal behaviour. They are a blast on quick backroads and they are very difficult to unsettle. I mean , You can easily throw them from left to right.
@@gvybin thanks for feedback - this was moderately late braking, possibly with moderate road camber - turned to go left and the steering loaded up so much it fully resisted turning left - - i had to remove the brake - normal steering resumed - I presume the geometry must have been well out then (not noticeable when not braking) cheers D
Ahhh, my oldest brother’s mate had one, 25 years ago. Treated it like absolute shit, usually spent all week in our shed fixin it for the weekend. Eventually ended up in the scrapheap, then he bought an alfasud…. Both cars i’m sure cost him the price of a house.
Yourbrother clearly had masachistic tendencies owning those two cars.
I agree about the comfort those big profile tyres give it a superb ride quality but it's still a sharp handling machine. I have a JPS and love it. The attention and reaction it gets for a now 40 a year old sports car makes you smile. The Giugiaro shape is an outstanding design.
Just looking at it and spit runs out of my mouth. What a delicious car! Congratulations to the 23 Year Old.
70s gold, 70s velour covering the interior. A great looking thing. Not quite as pretty as the S1, but not many modern cars as striking.
The S1 is worth more, because it is the James Bond car.
The subtle changes that the S2 got , are for many espritfans, what makes the S2 stylewise the most pretty one.
f.e. It got the beautiful italian speedline alloys instead of the somewhat "vulgar" wolfrace wheels, that also were on less exclusive cars of its era. Those speedlines were Chapmans choise. The wheels were slightly wider and the stance looked just better
f.e It got a subtle but far better integrated front spoiler then the "glued on" slab of the S1.
But it still was very close to the original "silver car " that Giugiaro designed ( just like the S1 ) with its delicate front and rearbumber, unlike the Turbo esprit and S3's wrap arounds.
So so so cool back in the day. Back then people were proud of British cars. My dad had Granada, Rover, Escort Mk1 RS Mexico. By the 90s he got a BMW, then over to Lexus when BMW lost reliability. Please get that white esprit. Love the wedge design from the Esprit and Countach.
What a lad ! Get some skis on the roof and get to the ski jump - Roger Moore style.
Fantastic shape, looks like it's speeding just sitting still.
Also looks like it was built in a shed on weekends.
Love the built in a shed on the weekend. I could imagine someone building it with a bit of fibre glass kit.
It basically was built in a shed at weekends.
Was bidding on a 79 JPS yesterday, but missed out. Still on the hunt for an esprit of my own.
Great video and really good to see these era Esprits in good shape and getting the coverage they deserve.
Just got my hands on a last gen V8 turbo version. Definitely got the wedge shape softened but perfected aesthetically by then and the interior is actually pretty modern in look and feel and useable. Blinking heck… it’s quick 😳
Awesome looking car. Thanks for showcasing some of these older cars. Keep up the good work.
Well done Callum. Love the spec, enjoy this stunner mate 🙂
Just bought one.. can’t drive it without the sunroof up and my slimmest shoes on 🤪 lovely car
Thanks for doing these videos with British classics. As an Aussie I will never see many of the vehicles you come across, but I will live the experience through you. Great work.
Sublime.
I love the color, the interior is superb and makes one travel back in time.
This little 2.0l sounds quite good too, and that's a welcome bonus for sure !
One of my dream cars, thanks for featuring one.
This car looks so good. Amazingly cool. The color and interior are also a pure joy to behold.
I love it so much, I wouldn't car too much about how it drive...
Draylon-esque fabrics everywhere! Love it!
These looked and still today look so sensational. Especially in S1/S2-form, the esprit has a very pure and timeless shape. And then, when you open the door, you're instantly thrown back into Roger Moore's James Bond-era. The Rover SD1-taillights also remind you of that era. Somehow, I love the combination of all those things.
It was always the Allegro/Marina door handles that did it for me ;-)
Thanks J, amazing shape of these, great looking cars!
We loved the old esprit, let’s face it they are all pretty cool particularly the S1, 2s and 3s. Great video as always.
Love it have one back than same car same years! Life time experience back than and still have a place in my heart, Love the vintage Esprit
Always liked these, I am old enough to remember when they came out in the mid seventies.
That is really brave buying a Lotus Esprit at age 23. When I was 23 (in 1999) I had a 1995 Nissan Primera 1.6 LX.
The insurance companies would not insure me at 24 for a S3 Esprit but they would insure me for an Excel so I bought one of those instead. My first ever Lotus.
Interior looks absolutely gorgeous !!
That's the most amazing interior ever, would that be velour ? It just brings me back to my childhood, my dad used to have corderoy trousers that colour ☺️ you are a lucky lucky man to be able to drive these cars 👍😊
The interior material called marcasite. Some Esprit owners have nicknamed it ‘mouse fur’
Definitely a bucket list car. Wonderful things.
Love these cars. I remember trying to convince my old man to buy one when they first came out.
Had an S3 for 32 years.
Just perfect.
Especially in gold.
A lovely turn of phrase: "like a hand across the surface of the road"
Great video as always Jay. My Dad had your dream Esprit Turbo, only difference when he got it the previous owner had colour coded the bumpers and wheels white with the holes in the BBS alloys matching red, it was the eighties and it was awesome! Created a stir wherever he went. He had to spend quite a lot on it when he first got it, but after sorting it it was pretty reliable. He used it as a daily driver doing some pretty big miles and for the most part it was pretty reliable.
Lotus have always had a reputation for unreliability and its simply not true. If you keep on top of servicing and pre emptive maintenance they are not as bad as people make out.
Car of my dreams when I was a young lad in the late 70s, but who doesn't have a soft spot for a Lotus Esprit.
Cheerio chap! Great short review.
this Esprit looks better than all new Lotus cars
it looks better than all new cars never mind lotus"s😅
I saw this very car at Shelley Walsh earlier this year. Lovely 👍🏻
wow that's a great Lotus ! BIG cheers !!!
The Esprit is one of my all time favourite cars. Definitely on my bucket list to drive one if not own one. Just as you James, a white Turbo S3 with the red decals and black bumpers is my favourite.
Going back in time, reminds me of my youth. Great.
Love this car and it’s colour. So Retro and I like Retro!!
A very pretty car from any angle. A really nice colour. Can't think why they are so expensive to maintain. Wouldn't have rust problems. Great presentation. Shame about the traffic.
i bloody love these especially the S1
Love your Lotus content.
Would love to see a follow up on this car, or a similar spec S2, and hope for better road conditions. I feel like the one thing that makes a Lotus a Lotus couldn't be displayed here. Nonetheless, still a great video!
It's a great time warp! These cars really handle well!
I loved my '88 Turbo Esprit as a daily driver for 2 years. Luckily, I had problems during that time. I always said it would go around a flag pole at high speed !! BTW; mine was identical to the Red over Saddle leather just like Sharon Stone drove in the movie when she stated "It handles like it's on rails".
What a Dude - and its gold ! So cool.
Thats is the best looking, with the gold paint, Esprit in my book. My dream would be dropping a moder n Toyota V6 in it so I could daily drive with less worry and a bit more HP. Great video!
I really like this - in all of its '70s glory!
The interior is glorious.
Soup Classic Motoring channel has been painstakingly restoring a badly mistreated S2 from the central spine outwards, and it's mesmerizing, he has a great sense of humor and amazing cinematography, but it has been taking sooo looong.... Can't rush perfection, I guess.
I agree on all points, wish he could step up progress rate
Giorgetto Giugiaro's brilliant design has certainly stood the test of time.
Still one of my favourite looking cars of all time. The later Stephens design never really did it for me.
@@cliveyboyb5770 same here love the lines of the giugaro
Alwyays loved the Esprit. …that dash and interior…. My Gran had a sofa like that.
Beautiful car which is ageing so well.
Beige velour. Pop-up headlights. I’m sold.
Saw this at the Morgan Astrally Aspirated Meet last week, took my eye immediately! Bloody lovely car 😰
Nice car , love that velour, better than cheap plastic, 😁👍
Thats colour is incredible
So cool in that colour!
James, I'm unsure how possible this would be, but I'd love to see you review a toyota chaser tourer V (the jzx100 model) for your jdm legends series
stunning looking car
At 20 bought a used S2 Europa best handling car ever! Also have owned a S1 Esprit and currently a 87 Turbo Esprit for 11 years. Maintenance on the Europa And Esprit not bad at all. The Esprit handles well but is more a GT car. 5 Lotuses over 50 years, great cars.
Dream car in stunning condition.
So VERY Roger Moore! Love it. What a stunning looking machine. as 70's as a plastic pineapple ice cooler! Iconic.
An absolute beauty!!!! 😎
I 💚 the Giugiaro design so much. The other 007 car.
Driven a later model that’s faster but power or not that particular car looks beautiful, the interior is period and really stunning, the loose fitting switches are a bit of a shame that does comes with the territory though, overall love it lucky 23 year old ! Also I’m 6ft 2 and fitted in the car I drove 🙂
Excellent rear lights.
26! Wedge heaven. You need mirrors to do the timing belt in situ
Beautiful car!!
LOVE the Esprit !! However running costs...hmm....the first generation Turbo, was my dream car when I was 13 years old and saw For Your Eyes Only at the cinema...love Harry Metcalfs trip to Cortina to revisit FYEO location in hos white Esprit Turbo. Great S2 and video.
Oh my days......... that is epic.
I still remember Popular Mechanics verdict: "It feels more like a kit car.. than a kit car." 😄
Gotta admit though.. it was one hell of a good-looking kit car.
That is a nice color for the Esprit.
Beautiful. I want one.
That gold is absolutely dazzling
That's a beautiful car.
had one about 40 years ago, not fast but sooo low and wide it was fantastic round bends it was like driving on railway lines.
About 5 inch ground clearance from memory. So low sometimes having to climb up onto the kerb or not being able to open the door properly as the kerb was particularly high. Happy memories.
James, I think quite a few people hanker after an S3 Turbo in white with red lettering. You’ll need to be quick if you spot a good one for sale.
Love these things. Thought for a moment you'd bought it as your classic car lol
Draylon paradise. So cool.
Nice shirt - just needs a Springbok! 😉
Ooh this is gorgeous.
The early ones look the best
1979 Lotus: " Feels almost early 80's " - I spit my coffee....wondering what month?????. Beautiful design that has passed the test of time.
It was designed in 1971...
Profile is quite similar to a 70's Ferrari GT4. I had an Elan Sprint in the late 70's which nearly bankrupted me, but what a joy when it worked!
The Elan is still the benchmark for how a small sportscar should handle.
I love mine. Ive not received as much love in any of my classic cars as my s3 esprit
I remember when these were actually affordable in the US, and now the prices drove up to 50k average. As the saying goes, "I should've bought it when I saw it!"
9:09 great story!
Thats a lovely looking example. I hope you'll forgive me, but when I first glanced at the notification and, until I clicked on it and it opened up, I though you were in a 308...which, in gold, seemed really odd!!!
Still looks awesome 👍🇦🇺
A celebration .....Lotus is still making cars 👍
the cars they make now are more like fighter jets
Investing money in cars like this is far more sensible than putting money in the bank gaining mediocre interest. You get the enjoyment of the car plus when or if you come to sell, you will probably sell it for more than your initial purchase price. Very good review thanks.
These cars are remarkable becasue of how light they are for their size
I've always liked Esprit. I see one most days that breaks my heart, as it's sat on a Truro driveway decaying and has been for a few years now. I've left notes (as have many I'm sure) but the owner clearly doesn't want to sell I assume. Shame, as it seems like such a waste.
Red S3? Such a shame. If you look back on streetview, you can see it goes up on ramps & then just left.