questions, questions, questions...

[melw]

Hi all, I've been doing a little homework here and wondered if anyone has any thoughts on the regarding a few early Stephens car issues?

Firstly what's the deal with carb cars compared to the later injection models? Also how important is PAS? It's not something I'd ever have condsidered vital but my local specialist reckons it's a must have for town driving, and they're 'proper' old school Lotus guys so I was surprised!

Last but not least... is the N/A worth considering? Obviously the turbo's got the edge in power but on the traffic sodden south circular that's probably not much of an issue!

Thanks in advance!

Mel

[CNH]

Hi all, I've been doing a little homework here and wondered if anyone has any thoughts on  the  regarding a few early Stephens car issues?

Firstly what's the deal with carb cars compared to the later injection models? Also how important is PAS? It's not something I'd ever have condsidered vital but my local specialist reckons it's a must have for town driving, and they're 'proper' old school Lotus guys so I  was surprised!

Last but not least... is the N/A worth considering? Obviously the turbo's got the edge in power but on the traffic sodden south circular that's probably not much of an issue!

Thanks in advance!

Mel

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would say it's not the carbs that is the issue to me it is the engine mamagement. I rather have Delco injection and ECU. makes life so much easier. Not to mention more power and the ability to change setting by chip swap. The old way it is a hassle of rejetting and such. a lot of hassle and not as dynamic in differing circumstances.

Calvin

[Paul C]

Read some of these too

http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/roadtests.html

[Dan]

The NA is often overlooked because of its lack of supercar power - these day's you're not going to spank everything else on the road with 175bhp and 0-60 in 6.5 seconds... but then it depends on what you want the car for, and where you're going to use it. It's still an Esprit so has the traffic-stopping looks, and it still has the gorgeous handling and roadholding, just not the absolute thrust of its forced-induction brethren... oh, and it still has the love/hate gearchange of all Esprits

The twin Dell'Orto carbs are very sophisticated, and whilst they will never be as flexible or accurate as the later injection/engine management systems, they are effective at what they do. That said, they do drift out of tune with use, but then

[melw]

Thanks once again for your thoughts, I wasn't aware there were so many varients within the first few years of the S4. As ever it's well worth doing the research.

Regarding the N/A option, I'd always prefered the look of the N/A S3, it's so pure compared to the turbo and probably my fav of all the Espirts, however living with it is probably another matter! I wouldn't discount the S4 N/A though, I guess the idea of a less stressed package all round holds a certain appeal.

As for PAS? It certainly never bothered me with the Elise! Parking is a breeze, the thing's so agile and so small! That said you can't have everything so it's back to the roadtests.........

Cheers!

Edited June 5, 2005 by melw

[Paul C]

Thanks once again  for your thoughts, I  wasn't aware there were so  many varients within the first few years of the S4. As ever it's well worth doing the research.

Regarding the N/A  option, I'd always prefered the look of the N/A S3, it's so  pure compared to the turbo and probably my  fav of all the Espirts, however living with it is probably another matter!  I  wouldn't discount the S4 N/A though, I  guess the idea of a less stressed package all round holds a certain appeal.

Forgive me, but...

I think you are making the common mistake of thinking the new shape change as

being the S4. This is 100% understandable as lotus made the S3 and then for some

inane reason made five variants (N/A, Turbo, S, SE and S300) of the 'new' shape

BEFORE making the S4!

See models here: http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/models.html

I had a N/A S3 prior to this Esprit, and they are ace. In truth, foibles aside

there really is no good or bad Esprit. Each car was something the year it came

out, only a few decades later when parts longevity and values come into play

do we consider certain models easier to live with. And the N/A S3 is

[melw]

Forgive me, but...

I think you are making the common mistake of thinking the new shape change as

being the S4. This is 100% understandable as lotus made the S3 and then for some

inane reason made five variants (N/A, Turbo, S, SE and S300) of the 'new' shape

BEFORE making the S4!

Your absolutely right, I never did quite have a handle on all those names and as for the X180? Even 'The Lotus Book' is confusing! The Guigiaros were far easier to keep track of.... hmmm, S3 not 'that' bad news eh?

[CNH]

Being an American I prefer the Esprit's from the GM years. It has been the most trouble free Lotus I have ever owned.

They appear reliable and easy to service if one can say that about a Lotus.

Either way you go the internet and forums such as these are great. It really sucked in 70's and 80's when the Lotus broke down and all one had was a workshop manual and an address/phone number in the UK (I was living in Hawaii at the time and parts took 3 weeks to get there).

I'm sure the USA Elise drivetrain is pretty solid considering it is a Toyota.

Calvin