2002 Lotus Esprit Review
Price Estimate: $6,405 - $8,665





+5
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Sharp steering, blinding acceleration, people on the street think it's twice as expensive as it really is.
Cons
- Dated chassis, minimal outward visibility, cramped cockpit, resale value drops like a stone.
What’s new
The Esprit enters this year unchanged.
Edmunds says
The hyper Esprit is not as easy to live with as an Acura NSX or Porsche 911, but it's not as common, either.
For sale near Conway, SC
Vehicle overview
Lotus Esprit. Most Americans know what it is, though this is probably due more to its brief appearance in "The Spy Who Loved Me" than any sort of advertising or automotive reviews. It's amazing what happens to a car's awareness factor when you equip it with rockets and a submarine periscope.
One of the more evergreen cars around, its basic shape and chassis design have been around since the Esprit debuted in 1975. For the majority of its life, a four-cylinder engine took up residence amidships. Obviously, a four banger isn't exactly synonymous with supercar performance, so Lotus finally managed to replace it with a twin-turbo V8 in 1997.
This all-aluminum 3.5-liter V8 generates 350 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 295 foot-pounds of torque. And while the engine doesn't sound nearly as exotic as a Ferrari's V8 (the turbos and flat-plane crankshaft conspire to keep the engine note rather dull), the V8 does provide ample forward thrust. Acceleration from zero-to-60 mph takes less than 5 seconds.
The Esprit V8 is one of the best-handling cars sold in America. Driven at eighth-tenths, the car is a lot of fun. But if you have to hustle it at ten-tenths, it becomes somewhat unsettled. The Esprit's aging chassis and suspension design are the culprits. Newer cars like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Ferrari 360 Modena and Porsche 911 all offer similar or better levels of performance while still managing to provide a more refined ride on city streets.
Another problem with the Esprit V8 is its interior. Drivers over 6-feet tall will feel claustrophobic once inside. The narrow seats can be comfortable for long durations, but the narrow footwells leave little room for the driver's left leg. Outward visibility is particularly bad, and the rearview and outside mirrors are virtually useless.
Discriminating pedestrians will go berserk when they spot an Esprit V8, and they often guess at a sticker price twice reality. In fact, pricing is in line with other top performance cars such as the NSX and Dodge Viper. The only options available are a sunroof and custom paint.
With so few Esprit V8s on the road, exclusivity is a guarantee. And it is unquestionably the fastest model in the car's long history. If you are looking for speed and a Lotus badge, this is the car to get. But if practicality and reliability are important considerations for you, we would recommend the Corvette Z06 or Porsche 911 Turbo.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in South Carolina
$267/mo for Esprit V8
Esprit V8
vs
$153/mo
Avg. Compact Car
See Edmunds pricing data
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Lotus Esprit Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
over 3 yrs ownership
4.75 out of 5 starstim hayden, 12/24/2007
2002 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
I have driven it daily for over 3 yrs and has been extremely reliable. I am so use to people making double takes when they see it on the road that it feels strange on the rare occasion when it does not occur. The performance is way beyond what I can explore and the exhaust note with the center exit U.S. exhaust is phenomenal and sounds only like exotic european cars can. The interior is … very intimate and memorable and feels very nice once settled in. I think the exterior is one of the most beautiful, exotic shapes to date and still looks modern after all these years. I have owned Porsches and Ferraris and this is the most satisfying car yet. Don't be scared to take the plunge and get one.
'02 Esprit
4.75 out of 5 starstim hayden, 04/27/2004
2002 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
Bought it 2 weeks ago. Have owned a
Boxster, 911, Ferrari 308 Quattrovalve
and a Testarossa and I go out to the
garage at night just to look at this
one more than the others. The
interior is gourgeous in tan and the
wheels are the most beautiful I have
ever seen. The twin turbo
acceleration is the best I've ever
driven and the exhaust is pleasantly
loud. Major … service is maybe $1200
and was $5000 on the Testarossa. Other
accessories and parts much more
reasonable also. I am using as
everyday driver and I fully expect it
to be reliable.
Esprit V8 is a winner
4.75 out of 5 starsDirk989, 06/17/2003
2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
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.
An Owner's Review: 2003 Lotus Esprit V8
4.5 out of 5 starsOwner of 2003 Esprit, 08/28/2003
2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2dr Coupe (3.5L 8cyl Turbo 5M)
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.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2002 Lotus Esprit, so we've included reviews for other years of the Esprit since its last redesign.
2002 Esprit Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $89,825 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 16 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $267/month |
Seating | 2 seats |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 2 years / unlimited miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Esprit include:
- Alarm
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