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Used 2001 Lotus Esprit Consumer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
5 reviews

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4.5 out of 5 stars

An Owner's Review: 2003 Lotus Esprit V8

Owner of 2003 Esprit, 08/28/2003
2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Frightening fast car, difficult to drive slow. Don't mean b/c u "want" to drive it fast, I mean b/c IT wants to drive fast. The gas pedal is either on or off, as is clutch. Brakes similar, risk a face plant if not careful to go gentle on pedal. Not easy to drive, but has its rewards. Downsides: (there are several), forget about getting it if you are shy, everyone WILL react to it, sometimes positively, sometimes not. This leads to things that weigh on your mind. As in, can I just park this car anywhere?(ans: no). Do I need to plan my trips? (ans: yes). The car nose is unbeleivably low. Remember this is not a Porsche911, it is a supercar.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Esprit V8 is a winner

Dirk989, 06/17/2003
2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

While not a well know marque, Lotus has produced one of the top supercars in the world. Handling has been described as the greatest ever. I don't disagree. Performance is unbelievable, especially with a few reasonably priced mods. This car will glue you to your seat and handle curves at speeds previously reserved for video games. The styling is not as outrageous as otherrs, but this is a car that looks much better in person than in print. Beautiful, exotic, good fuel mileage, unbelievable performance and handling for a fair price. The only flaw is that the interior, while very well made, is that of a typical British car - small and tight.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

Purple lotus

icccceeeee, 03/10/2006
2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This is my 2nd Esprit, I LOVE these cars, a blast to drive and own ... but you have to WANT to drive them. They are not for the meek or shy. Maintenance is a must but is not close to other exotic cars.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

My 2 Mid Life Crises

i own 2, 08/20/2003
2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

only problem is the high amount of maintainence that a lotus needs but if you can afford to buy a decent esprit than you can afford to keep it on the road

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4 out of 5 stars

Don't fear meeting your childhood heros

Esprit4Me, 06/21/2025
2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

The only regret I have, is I wish I'd have bought an Esprit sooner. Nearly five years into ownership of my '98 V8 tt, and the car never fails to put a smile on my face. Be prepared to be the most popular person at the gas station, coffee shop, stoplight or wherever you take it. People are naturally drawn to the Esprit and are always eager to learn and chat about it. Parts are readily available and the car is as easy to maintain as a Ford, Chevy or Dodge of its era. Cam Belt service is OK every eight years as long as you upgrade to Gates Blue Racing belts from JAE. Cam Belt service can be done, engine-in, by anyone with the proper tools and ability to do so. A KNOWLEDGEABLE shop will charge you 8-10 hours plus parts if you don't feel comfortable wrenching on it yourself. Front tires are getting a little tougher to find as 235/45 R17 is becoming an uncommon size. Excellent performance at stock levels. With sport cats and K&Ns (clean/oil them every year) most V8s will put down about 375 to the wheels on a dyno, running stock boost. If you're still reading this, what are you waiting for? YOLO! Steve (Esprit4Me on the forums)

Safety
3 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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