Fellippe wrote,
> Compare 308 and esprit S2 please.
Opinions are like what?!!! Euwww. Well, I'll share mine anyway.
Appearance: Both cars look exotic. The 308 is 'flowing fluid' while the Esprit is all 'choppy angles'. The 308 looks to be for high speed atmospheric use while the Esprit is for use in deep space only. Oooo, poetic license!
Style: Arguably, the style of both cars is dated. That said, the 308's lines are now considered 'evergreen', like so many of today's retro designs. The 'folded paper' motif of the Esprit is firmly rooted in the '70s. I like that era so much so that I would even own a TR7 or X1/9 - but I don't (yet)!!!
Sound: the 308 sounds like the smoothly running precision machine that it is, and at all speeds. Mine has more of a 'howl' at full song, thanks to four Weber 40DCNFs and a larger single port exhaust. It also 'whistles' a bit under hard acceleration, thanks to the single spot-welded-on chrome exhaust tip.
The Esprit has half as many cylinders but only a third less displacement; e.g. bigger pistons, since both cars have shorter strokes. The Esprit sounds raw and very similar to the Lotus F1 car sound upon which its 907 engine is based. The cars sound entirely different but both are very satisfying.
Performance: Both cars are impressive, for their age. The 907 feels to have more low end torque but I believe that may be illusion. The Esprit is a very light plastic car with a strong, low (engine) speed exhaust note. That makes it feel like it jumps into action quicker, and perhaps it does, a bit. However, as soon as the 308's engine passes about 3000rpm, the beast comes alive (as you well know).
The 308 really satesfies as the pointer passes 90mph. It seems to just get comfortable at that speed. And 4500rpm at cruise, sure sounds good too! I have no measure of the Esprit at highway-plus speed. I haven't owned it that long. But I expect it to feel a bit freightening; 'flighty' if you will. Both cars will, of course, try to kill you, right from the outset!
Handling/braking: Both cars feel really good; excellent in fact. The 308 feels more 'planted', probably because its heavier. The Esprit feels like it can be easily thrown in any direction, again probably because its lighter. And even given the Esprit's lower mass, the 308 has better brakes. I can't testify about repeated breaking or fade, but both cars have larger rotors and calipers (for their day).
Feel: I prefer the feel of the 308 over the Esprit but again, the cars are very different. The 308 flows. From the driver's seat, the lines of the front fenders flow through the windshield and down the armrests. Same with the hood and dash, if less obvious. It is a car that flows together in every way. The Esprit's interior feels more cockpit like. Where the 308's interior is an extension of the exterior style, the Esprit's high console and rectangular instrument pod offer more of the 'space ship' feel...not that I have piloted that many space ships.
The 308's footwell is narrow but nothing like as narrow as the Esprit's. In addition to the footwell being narrow, the pedals are close together with pedal pads only a little over an inch wide! I wear a US size 9 shoe, which is none too large, but I can't drive the Esprit in anything but my skinny Puma driving shoes, or no shoes ar all. Otherwise, my shoe catches on the brake pedal when coming off the throttle or hits the dead pedal before fully disengaging the clutch. However, in the right shoes, the floor dance feels quite natural.
Maintenance/service: The 308 is a dream to service! Cam belts or clutch changed in just a few hours, sitting comfortably on the floor. Yea, that front bank is a pain but unless one is doing valves, its not a problem. The Esprit is also mid-engine with absolutely every nut, bolt and dodad just out of reach! Its the most frustrating car I have ever serviced. Well, perhaps it ties with the Testarossa. The only issue with the TR is that it goes together in only one sequence. Put one part on in the wrong order and things have to come back apart...but that's another story.
Cost: The Esprit is cheap, and parts for the Esprit are cheap. No, not MG or Triumph cheap, but far more affordable than Ferrari parts. Aside: I just rebuilt the entire cooling system on my Triumph TR3b, including water pump, thermostat, all hoses and clamps. Cost: $150 I've paid more than that for a Ferrari gasket!
Its good that the Esprit parts are relatively inexpensive since the car holds no real commercial value. Otherwise, one would be upside-down in the car very quickly. And that could happen very easily if one didn't do one's own mechanical work. Then again, we are not the community that buys cars as investments. Why else would I own a Bitutbo E?!
Average asking price for a nice Esprit S2 is about $16k. Add about $60k to that number for a similar condition 308.
What didn't I address? Uhhh, same 14" wheel sizes and poor rubber choice issues. 308s rust. Fiberglass doesn't - but it does shatter. Parts are available for both cars. Like the desirable dry sump 308s, the JPS Esprits are more valuable. Both cars are the start of a new era for their makers. Lotus later went with forced induction to increase power. Ferrari increased displacement. Both switched to fuel injection (after about 1979).
And finally, My words compare my two cars only: A '78 Lotus Esprit S2, converted to use the Europen specification Dellorto carbs and no cats. And a '79 dry sump 308GTB with four Webers and single free flowing exhaust, with no cats.
Any of that interesting, FG?
-rick
aol.com)