I was 14. Walking into the local Five & Dime and there, on the row beneath the Playboy and Penthouse magazines was the February 1994 Sports Car International Edition with a huge front page photo of a yellow Esprit S4 reading: "THE ALL NEW LOTUS ESPRIT S4 TURBO: The LOTUS for Adults." I STILL HAVE IT.
I owned the red S1 at the beginning of the video. I paid 5K for it and spent another 5K during the 3 years I had it . It was great to drive but I never got the cabin heater to work (freezing in the winter) . I notice that the original front spoiler , it was like a blade beneath the bumper, which flexed a lot and did not stop the front end 'feeling light' at speeds 70 + , a full air dam has been fitted, after I sold it , much better and more stable I expect. I got 5K trade in for a 16K , '85 S3 Turbo Esprit . I wish I'd kept it now , I wonder what it's worth ?
For sure. The older esprit with sharp lines was totally distinctive and had a supercar look. The S4 was softer, and in some angles looked Toyota Supra-like
Yes indeed. In 1977 that would have put it in the top 5% of the quickest cars. Saying that the S4 could now be beaten to 60 mph by some of the current diesel BMW's. Carpe Diem, as they say.
The best time that the SE turbo ever got recorded I saw was 4.8 seconds. The best time I ever saw the S4 turbo recording was 4.5 seconds the best time the S4 s turbo that I saw was 4.2 seconds. The thing that I don't understand is how with PS4s chipped it made 330 horsepower 300 stock but a small tweak gave it 330 horsepower and it did not have any faster of a 0-60 time that was not within the average range that the scnes for in the stock S4s we're always getting. And what I really don't understand is how when the Esprit V8 came out even to the very end it's still never had that much faster of a 0 to 60 time the best I ever saw a recorded on a stock B&S free was 4.0 flat but usually the average was four point four. That was just something I don't understand how the hell that happened is the only thing that I can think of is that that transmission is really that bad and not much of an Achilles heel to that car that even with a bigger engine and more horsepower no matter what you the inability to roll through the gears smoothly put all three cars within the same average somewhere in the four-second range.
In 1995 I had the exact same van in the exact same colour as on this video and I was 18 as an apprentice glazier and I could get from Croydon to Swiss Cottage in under an hour on a call out 😉
When I was at Aviano Air Base in the mid 90s my work truck was something exactly like that Astravan, but I swear it was a Fiat. I loved it, it was like a little go-kart.
A few years ago these were an accessible classic, now the prices are getting daft. M100 is the current entry Lotus classic. Even for M100 the S2 version can be quite expensive.
Roger Moore didn't talk very highly of car either. I think I'm one of the bond extras in the movies they said that they wanted him to go touring in the lotus esprit. He said the engine would last or whatever heat
I've got a question. Why are there so many old Top Gear compilation videos on UA-cam? Can you make money doing this? Surely this would be a copyright infringement?
My first Lotus bought new at the dealer was the S4s, 300hp. It was in 1995. I've been buying new Lotus exotics since then. GM owned Lotus for many years starting in the 1980s, and the quality improvement was noteworthy. It is not a mass-produced car - if you're looking for a mass-produced car that you'll see 20 of, on the way to work, a Lotus is not what you're after. A Lotus-developed V8 was added to the Esprit, in 1997. This engine has: - twin turbochargers - flat plane crankshaft - lots of torque It is the engine that the new Corvette owners are hoping will be added in 2023. This type of V8 has been available in the Esprit since 1997.
Lotus designed a flat plane crank v8 for corvette years ago. It didn’t work out because of how much more expensive it was to make and the americas missed the cross plane noise.
@@kentonian Lotus indeed produced engines for the Corvette. I find it interesting that it took decades for GM, after owning Lotus, the maker of one of the best handling sports cars (the Esprit), to come out with a mid-engine version. As we speak, fans of the new Corvette eagerly wait in anticipation of a flat-plane, twin-turbo, overhead cam engine, something available in the Esprit since 1997.
@@449Raphael It was an extremely small production engine - and it was not stress-tested like, say, Toyota or Honda might do for a 150hp engine used in their mass-produced cars. My v8 is 20+ years old now - have not had any failures at all. But a brand-new twin turbo, intercooled, with a flat plane crankshaft - Lotus Engineering did a fine job.
I’m sure I recognise many of those roads around West Berks, West Ilsley etc and the drag race I think might have been filmed at Greenham Common before it was dug up. Can anyone confirm?
Hey! I was thinking the exact same thing, but really different, so not really the same. And I was wondering if anyone was not thinking the same, let alone different! Thanks for that other thing too that hasn't happened yet.
LOTUS = Loosen or tighten up something. I owned at 1973 Europa John Player Special.. at nice Ford block, Cosworth Head, Offenhauser Intake, Del Orto Carbs and 9,000 rpm redline but everything after that was shit. What a shame.
Wow, this brings back some memories! This was from when Top Gear was still actually about cars and not just poorly acted, crappy challenges. Although it's improved a lot with McGuiness, Harris and Flintoff as unlike Clarkson, May and Hommond they are actually genuinely funny guys. Shame that for the last 2 decades Top Gear has gone from a proper car show to a variety show. Top Gear should have remained a MANS show, alas today its just as likely watched by women.
Could not agree more. Having to endure braying Clarkson and his sycophants was torture by the end. I did enjoy them to begin with, but they jumped the shark very quickly.
Err... McGuiness is awful, Flintoff is alright but dumb as a bag of hammers, Harris knows his stuff but isn't exactly charismatic Best line up apart from Clarkson et al was Leblanc, Reid and Harris they made some great episodes
@@SmegulonPrime Joey was great! But I think McGuiness, Flintoff and Harris are genuinely funny. When Clarkson and the other 2 were on it was just the same old.....They shoulda gone a decade or so before they did.
The S4 is absolutely beautiful. Well done Peter Stephens who improved on the original Giugiaro. Gearbox has more notches than Warren Beatie's bed post. 🤣
Peter Stevens did the more boxy shaped x180 / Esprit SE .. The "rounded bumper" styling that was named S4 series, and ended up in the V8 ..the one with oval louvred vents on the tailgate, that style was Julian Thomson and his team mates
i remember years ago working on one and the rams that keep the bonnet up gave out with my hand still in there there was a massive cracking sound and thought id brock my fingers as it shut properly when another mechanic opened the bonnet to get my hand out my fingers were fine the noise was the bonnet cracking all along the edge
Clarkson at his best. A pitty he couldn’t keep those high standards of motoring journalism and wit and thus reduced himself to fooling about in cars and celebrity on the newer format of Top Gar he co hosted with RH and JM
The Astramax was the fastest thing on the road. Had to be in white though for that essential extra 10 miles an hour. Roads with no traffic on them. I am not a Lotus expert at all. Beautiful cars though. Someone I worked with had one. All I recall was it was like laying down in in, like you were in bed. And I am 6 ft 3.
I was offered the same year and colour in part exchange when I was in the motor trader. A Turbo S4 in Norfolk Mustard. Got it underwritten by Paul Matty Sports Cars for £17k. Unfortunately the deal fell out of bed but the chance to drive and appraise it was magic!
In 1990# fifteen-year-old version of me thought this is Ron the most beautiful cars ever made now I look at it and they look like such a piece of garbage that's about to fall apart if it goes over a speed bump.
If you are taller than 5’10 and shoe size over an 8….you will hate it. If your checking account doesn’t have $10k in it at all times, it will become a garage ornament. If you aren’t married and over 40 with no tickets or accidents you might be able to swing the insurance. This car has more going against it than any other car ever made…..but god damn is it gorgeous and when it is actually running without a CEL on or a leaking fuel line into the cab….misaligned linkage,bad roof seal letting rain in, door handle falling off, wiper motor and window motor dead, blown head gasket, blown valve cover gasket, blown turbo……it’s a riot to own and day dream about driving! Sitting in it and making car sounds pretending you are on the autobahn is the best part of owning an esprit. Bottom line is the average person can actually afford one of these as you can still get one in 2022 under $50k…..but having the money to keep it and having actually run is an entirely different challenge which is why nobody buys them.
@@CaymanIslandsCatWalks someone either loves you Vinnie…..or someone really hates you. For $15 it’s either got too many miles and issues or you are about to get the deal of a lifetime.
@@CaymanIslandsCatWalks oh man. I’m 48 now and my kids are adults and moved out. I have the garage space….for me, in my spot, for 15k it would be a fun build. At 50k, I know it has a major service approaching fast but that could be a fun car. Even if you havd to initially put $5k into it…it could be for for you.
I’m well over 6 foot and wear 11.5. Fit just fine. I also have had two, v8 and s4. Both never cost me more than a couple hundred a year to maintain even with major services. They’re actually great cars if you buy one that isn’t a garage queen and gets driven. Cracked 60k miles in both
If hindsight could e bottled , I would as head of British Leyland , have bought Lotus to use as the sports upmarket image and never ever bothered with the TR7 . The Stagg with the Rover lump would have been the flagship and the Jensen would have been the exclusive rop of the entire range .
When you watch these old episodes you really do see how groundbreaking they were at the time. This format hasn't changed much.
This is from about 1995 and there'd been motoring review shows for decades by then.
Nobody does it like Jeremy. In a class by himself.
Groundbreaking? You mean by driving cars and saying what they think?
@@michaelb2388 don't forget being cheeky
This wasn't Clarkson, Hammond, (after the first series) May TG, this was the old TG.
I was 14. Walking into the local Five & Dime and there, on the row beneath the Playboy and Penthouse magazines was the February 1994 Sports Car International Edition with a huge front page photo of a yellow Esprit S4 reading:
"THE ALL NEW LOTUS ESPRIT S4 TURBO: The LOTUS for Adults."
I STILL HAVE IT.
Awesome old school Clarkson review! I love the Lotus Esprit!
I wonder if he could even still FIT in that car?
did you see the fiat x1/9 in the corner ?
it rusts in pis 😁
Great clip! Looks like the Astra van driver is a young Andy Wilman at 3:40.
Definitely
It is....they have been friends since they went to Repton together.
When I was a kid I genuinely thought astramaxs were that quick on seeing this, better times 🙂
Haha me too
That van probably has 50 hp.
It will beat a Model A with a sidevalve 4 cylinder.
10 year old 330d BMW is the new fastest car
I owned the red S1 at the beginning of the video. I paid 5K for it and spent another 5K during the 3 years I had it . It was great to drive but I never got the cabin heater to work (freezing in the winter) .
I notice that the original front spoiler , it was like a blade beneath the bumper, which flexed a lot and did not stop the front end 'feeling light' at speeds 70 + , a full air dam has been fitted, after I sold it , much better and more stable I expect. I got 5K trade in for a 16K , '85 S3 Turbo Esprit . I wish I'd kept it now , I wonder what it's worth ?
It's an S2. The spoiler is much improved item over the S1. Which does seem to catch the side wind.
@@FridgeProductionsLtdS2 rear lights and wheels too
Was that Andy Wilman being the plumber? He's the brains behind the 'new' Top Gear and The Grand Tour.
Was an occasional presenter on the original series as well.
He was involved in old Top Gear too
...and the lingering painful death of Top Gear.
Come on GT7, give us a V8 Esprit.
Wow. His young voice before decades of smoking.
Now Clarkson starts the day with perfectly chilled draft lager. His philosophy is so close to mine.
L818PCL had a valid MOT until 26th March 2022
I miss pop-up headlights.
Call me old fashioned but i personally liked the older lotus with its sharp lines more than the S4...that car had so much more character..
Most modern cars are designed to look the same...
@@artmallory970 I think that may have something to do with aerodynamics...
@@rallymaniac92 That's part of it, they want to ensure conformity...
For sure. The older esprit with sharp lines was totally distinctive and had a supercar look. The S4 was softer, and in some angles looked Toyota Supra-like
The car was fast:
0-60 in 6.8 seconds.
How times have changed !
4.5 right?
Yes indeed. In 1977 that would have put it in the top 5% of the quickest cars.
Saying that the S4 could now be beaten to 60 mph by some of the current diesel BMW's.
Carpe Diem, as they say.
@@CloakedPerv that’s crazy for the time.
The best time that the SE turbo ever got recorded I saw was 4.8 seconds. The best time I ever saw the S4 turbo recording was 4.5 seconds the best time the S4 s turbo that I saw was 4.2 seconds.
The thing that I don't understand is how with PS4s chipped it made 330 horsepower 300 stock but a small tweak gave it 330 horsepower and it did not have any faster of a 0-60 time that was not within the average range that the scnes for in the stock S4s we're always getting. And what I really don't understand is how when the Esprit V8 came out even to the very end it's still never had that much faster of a 0 to 60 time the best I ever saw a recorded on a stock B&S free was 4.0 flat but usually the average was four point four. That was just something I don't understand how the hell that happened is the only thing that I can think of is that that transmission is really that bad and not much of an Achilles heel to that car that even with a bigger engine and more horsepower no matter what you the inability to roll through the gears smoothly put all three cars within the same average somewhere in the four-second range.
The Esprit was once a really nice and effective car, today it's a very desirable classic that still cuts a fine figure...
Back when they reviewed cars, instead of going on BBC funded jollies.
An iconic car.
LOTUS: Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious LOL
"Asstramax" Sounds like a high viscosity lube for sale in the lobby at your local San Francisco bath house.
Back when Clarkson won The Masters
In 1995 I had the exact same van in the exact same colour as on this video and I was 18 as an apprentice glazier and I could get from Croydon to Swiss Cottage in under an hour on a call out 😉
_"Hit a hedgehog in it and it dies...but so do you..."_
So did I fvcking laughing at this
Clarkson was still funny back then.
My dream car. S1, S2 or the S4 V8. I've wanted one since I could walk. But I'm 6ft 5in tall. I can't get through the door 😩
Jeremy Clarkson is also 6 ft 5.
id still rather have this s4, than porsche's s4 from the same era.
When I was at Aviano Air Base in the mid 90s my work truck was something exactly like that Astravan, but I swear it was a Fiat. I loved it, it was like a little go-kart.
It was probably a Fiat Fiorino
@@ventisette. Yes! That was it, thank you. The name comes back to me now that you say it.
The gear box, it needed a better one for sure
Shall we go out in the Astra van tonight has more of a ring to it 😂
A few years ago these were an accessible classic, now the prices are getting daft. M100 is the current entry Lotus classic. Even for M100 the S2 version can be quite expensive.
Great car! 😎
rear lights are from the Toyota AE86
Is that Andy Wilman as the plumber?? hahahaha
Roger Moore didn't talk very highly of car either. I think I'm one of the bond extras in the movies they said that they wanted him to go touring in the lotus esprit. He said the engine would last or whatever heat
The engine cooling when they filmed in Sardinia wasn't good enough. Good old Lotus lol
Gosh it's pretty isn't it?
Willing to bet “Wild One” song made it into the edit from the Pretty Woman film when Richard Gere’s character was driving/lost around Beverly Hills.
Its a S4, not a S4S
Clarkson looks like that sixth former that even first year secondary school kids would slap and get away with it😂😂😂😂
Notches then Warren Beaty headrest, funyy
I want an astrovan.
I've got a question. Why are there so many old Top Gear compilation videos on UA-cam? Can you make money doing this? Surely this would be a copyright infringement?
Recalcitrant. Wow.
My first Lotus bought new at the dealer was the S4s, 300hp. It was in 1995. I've been buying new Lotus exotics since then.
GM owned Lotus for many years starting in the 1980s, and the quality improvement was noteworthy. It is not a mass-produced car - if you're looking for a mass-produced car that you'll see 20 of, on the way to work, a Lotus is not what you're after.
A Lotus-developed V8 was added to the Esprit, in 1997. This engine has:
- twin turbochargers
- flat plane crankshaft
- lots of torque
It is the engine that the new Corvette owners are hoping will be added in 2023. This type of V8 has been available in the Esprit since 1997.
Lotus designed a flat plane crank v8 for corvette years ago. It didn’t work out because of how much more expensive it was to make and the americas missed the cross plane noise.
@@kentonian Lotus indeed produced engines for the Corvette.
I find it interesting that it took decades for GM, after owning Lotus, the maker of one of the best handling sports cars (the Esprit), to come out with a mid-engine version. As we speak, fans of the new Corvette eagerly wait in anticipation of a flat-plane, twin-turbo, overhead cam engine, something available in the Esprit since 1997.
I think the ZR1's engine was designed by Lotus.
The lotus V8 is not a good engine. It had many problems…….
@@449Raphael It was an extremely small production engine - and it was not stress-tested like, say, Toyota or Honda might do for a 150hp engine used in their mass-produced cars.
My v8 is 20+ years old now - have not had any failures at all. But a brand-new twin turbo, intercooled, with a flat plane crankshaft - Lotus Engineering did a fine job.
So surprised Mr. Clarkson fit without slouching.
I’m sure I recognise many of those roads around West Berks, West Ilsley etc and the drag race I think might have been filmed at Greenham Common before it was dug up. Can anyone confirm?
Hey! I was thinking the exact same thing, but really different, so not really the same. And I was wondering if anyone was not thinking the same, let alone different!
Thanks for that other thing too that hasn't happened yet.
Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious… oh how true.
My favorite car ever
No one has the same venomous tongue like clarkston
Had the pretty woman version, sold it recently.
LOTUS = Loosen or tighten up something. I owned at 1973 Europa John Player Special.. at nice Ford block, Cosworth Head, Offenhauser Intake, Del Orto Carbs and 9,000 rpm redline but everything after that was shit. What a shame.
Is this the man from Driven channel?
It’s Coventry’s dream car
One size fits all
Like the nod to Pretty Woman
a better esprit than the the v8
did we need the astra van reference no
Stunning beauty ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Head gasket has left the comment section.
Clarkson is a PoS
The English never got the engines right.
What's wrong with this turbo 4 cylinder?
@@paulhunter123, nothing…..
I have a turbo 4cyl AND a V8.
They are different. And if you don’t know that difference. That’s ok.
Terrifying
Back when cars didn't look like shit.
Makes me cringe watching clarkson with his BBC telephone voice.
LOL :D X)
A very Beautiful car that cqn put new lotus to shame but with some quality issue. The gearbox is the worst bit.
Some things never change, van drivers are still wankers
man the gearboxes in these are shit
Wow, this brings back some memories! This was from when Top Gear was still actually about cars and not just poorly acted, crappy challenges. Although it's improved a lot with McGuiness, Harris and Flintoff as unlike Clarkson, May and Hommond they are actually genuinely funny guys. Shame that for the last 2 decades Top Gear has gone from a proper car show to a variety show. Top Gear should have remained a MANS show, alas today its just as likely watched by women.
Settle down
McGuinness, Harris and Flintoff genuinely funny? Put the cork back on, gobshite.
Could not agree more. Having to endure braying Clarkson and his sycophants was torture by the end. I did enjoy them to begin with, but they jumped the shark very quickly.
Err... McGuiness is awful, Flintoff is alright but dumb as a bag of hammers, Harris knows his stuff but isn't exactly charismatic
Best line up apart from Clarkson et al was Leblanc, Reid and Harris they made some great episodes
@@SmegulonPrime Joey was great! But I think McGuiness, Flintoff and Harris are genuinely funny. When Clarkson and the other 2 were on it was just the same old.....They shoulda gone a decade or so before they did.
The worst car ever built clarkson you talk out of your arse
Clarkson is a joke
Cancel Clarkson
Cancel Clarke- feels good right! Little boy.
Became my favourite car after watching The spy who loved me.
The S4 is absolutely beautiful. Well done Peter Stephens who improved on the original Giugiaro. Gearbox has more notches than Warren Beatie's bed post. 🤣
I love the 'Pretty Woman' soundtrack insertion.
Peter Stevens did the more boxy shaped x180 / Esprit SE ..
The "rounded bumper" styling that was named S4 series, and ended up in the V8 ..the one with oval louvred vents on the tailgate, that style was Julian Thomson and his team mates
She still is. I am the current owner 😁
Beautiful car! I remember looking at it a lot on my Amiga 500 big box! 😁
LOL yep. The LTC trilogy was as close as I ever got to owning one!
i remember years ago working on one and the rams that keep the bonnet up gave out with my hand still in there there was a massive cracking sound and thought id brock my fingers as it shut properly when another mechanic opened the bonnet to get my hand out my fingers were fine the noise was the bonnet cracking all along the edge
that makes a happy driver, and a thoughtful car ;-)
The S4 is one of the best looking cars ever made.
No it really isn't.
@@ngc-fo5te oh dear!
@@caprirosso3 I agree - the original poster is so far off.
Indeed, just beautiful lines.
It's not even nicer than the original.
Clarkson at his best. A pitty he couldn’t keep those high standards of motoring journalism and wit and thus reduced himself to fooling about in cars and celebrity on the newer format of Top Gar he co hosted with RH and JM
Newer format was even better.
Classic Clarkson with his perfect delivery and attitude.
0:40 “It should really have been shot at birth”
The way he gets in that jab and just keeps going cracks me tf up
Childhood (born '72) dream car, even above any of the Ferrari's . One day....I hope ! (with an Elan for company in the garage !)
Such a beautiful car.
The Astramax was the fastest thing on the road. Had to be in white though for that essential extra 10 miles an hour. Roads with no traffic on them. I am not a Lotus expert at all. Beautiful cars though. Someone I worked with had one. All I recall was it was like laying down in in, like you were in bed. And I am 6 ft 3.
I always wanted one after seeing those photos of Brian Ferry with some glamourpuss on his arm going out on a date in his white Esprit.
Who else is on Auto Trader looking for a lotus esprit!
Beautiful
Forgot to mention Richard Greico of 21 Jump Street and its spinoff, Booker, also drove one in the movie, If Looks Could Kill.
I was offered the same year and colour in part exchange when I was in the motor trader. A Turbo S4 in Norfolk Mustard. Got it underwritten by Paul Matty Sports Cars for £17k. Unfortunately the deal fell out of bed but the chance to drive and appraise it was magic!
In 1990# fifteen-year-old version of me thought this is Ron the most beautiful cars ever made now I look at it and they look like such a piece of garbage that's about to fall apart if it goes over a speed bump.
Clarkson sound like Quentin Wilson. That's a very bad thing.
World's fastest slice of cheese!
Andy Wilman as Astraman?
Spy who loved me ~ 007 ~ Roger Moore
at least get the title right!
Andy Wilman lol 😆
Hilarious as always.
starting off a drag race on a wet painted surface is always a great idea.
If you are taller than 5’10 and shoe size over an 8….you will hate it. If your checking account doesn’t have $10k in it at all times, it will become a garage ornament. If you aren’t married and over 40 with no tickets or accidents you might be able to swing the insurance. This car has more going against it than any other car ever made…..but god damn is it gorgeous and when it is actually running without a CEL on or a leaking fuel line into the cab….misaligned linkage,bad roof seal letting rain in, door handle falling off, wiper motor and window motor dead, blown head gasket, blown valve cover gasket, blown turbo……it’s a riot to own and day dream about driving! Sitting in it and making car sounds pretending you are on the autobahn is the best part of owning an esprit. Bottom line is the average person can actually afford one of these as you can still get one in 2022 under $50k…..but having the money to keep it and having actually run is an entirely different challenge which is why nobody buys them.
I been offered one for 15k
@@CaymanIslandsCatWalks someone either loves you Vinnie…..or someone really hates you. For $15 it’s either got too many miles and issues or you are about to get the deal of a lifetime.
@@fortyfour6626 the 2.2 50,000on clock or less.
@@CaymanIslandsCatWalks oh man. I’m 48 now and my kids are adults and moved out. I have the garage space….for me, in my spot, for 15k it would be a fun build. At 50k, I know it has a major service approaching fast but that could be a fun car. Even if you havd to initially put $5k into it…it could be for for you.
I’m well over 6 foot and wear 11.5. Fit just fine. I also have had two, v8 and s4. Both never cost me more than a couple hundred a year to maintain even with major services. They’re actually great cars if you buy one that isn’t a garage queen and gets driven. Cracked 60k miles in both
nice astramax
What a cool camper van it would make here in the US.
If hindsight could e bottled , I would as head of British Leyland , have bought Lotus to use as the sports upmarket image and never ever bothered with the TR7 . The Stagg with the Rover lump would have been the flagship and the Jensen would have been the exclusive rop of the entire range .
Jesus, it's clear that his way of describing things hasn't changed much over the decades!
Love how Lotus copied Ferrari for the logo on the engine in styling
Ferociously recalcitrant……Hark at Clarkson.