RS4 in the garage already - what's next? Viper GTS or Lotus Esprit?

[Escargot]

If you've considered the Elise/Exige and they are a bit too cramped, you may want to consider the Lotus Evora which is the new Lotus 2+2. They come to the US in the spring, but I got a chance to test drive one yesterday (in the snow no less) and it was a blast.

It definitely doesn't have the straight line power of some of the other cars you mentioned, but it's worth thinking about if that's not your main consideration. Size-wise it's a pretty big step up from the Exige, think Boxter-size, and there are a lot more features than I've seen in other modern Lotuses. The pics don't really do it justice, this thing was so cool....

[qttroking]

R8

this.

/thread.

[Hassmeister]

Go Porsche FTW.

[monty2982]

Go Porsche FTW.

x2. Tell you what, if you cant make up your mind, ship some money my way so I can have what I want.

[charlatan]

I am with some of the others...I would be looking at what Porsche I could snag for that price. Plenty of options. With $50k in the bank, I would save up a bit longer and really snag something exotic.

Between Viper and Lotus...hard one. Lotus for looks, Viper for performance?

[Shnab]

I say porsche 996 Turbo. Its AWD very easy to mod and well its FUCKING PORSCHE nuff said.

I agree that the 997 is a much prettier car then the 996 mostly because of the front clip. but you can pick up a 996 for well under 50k and then do a tech art front clip and take it from there.

That would definately be the way to go in my eyes. you had the RS4 Power wise I dont feel the Espirit will live up to your standards in the long run all though the porsche will without a doubt

And the porsche is much easier to mod. ECU flashes, exhausts, big turbo kits. I went on a rally and there was a 996 with a tech art kit pushing like 800whp and I saw at a local meet a few months ago one pushing around 1000WHP so yes they are great in the power department and still has the presitge because its a porsche

END RANT

[Kev]

And the porsche is much easier to mod. ECU flashes, exhausts, big turbo kits

The Porsche or Lotus easily get trounced in ease of modability by the Viper. The amount of companies, tuners, and products available for the Viper is unrivaled. Nothing like 900 reliable ponies on a stock block.

Power outputs are limitless.

[calvin1.8t]

So I already have an Audi RS4 but I'm itching for something with 2 seats - something which is a bit more of a "super car".

I've thought about either an early 2000's Viper GTS or a 2004 Lotus Esprit Twin Turbo (last year made).

I've been researching for a while...the Lotus is more exclusive but also more maintenance.

Chime in and let me know what you think...

the esprit is worth the maintenance. the the 04 esprits value are going to go up so much especially the turbo one. in ten years i bet theyll be selling for like 80k. not alot of people have that car either.

[KPC1.8TQuat]

You can get a Ferrari 360 for 50k.... Out of those two listed I'd buy the Viper.

I would really like some evidence of this...

[GQ//s4]

I would really like some evidence of this...

Result of a 2 min search.

Buddy had one lined up for a friend of mine for 50k with 11k on it until he switched directions for a new M5

[ultrasporty]

for that range it doesnt seem like a Porsche has enough oomph or sex appeal for your taste , although the competence is certainly there. I have had experience with the Esprit, albeit a 94 4 cylinder big turbo , Nickel and dime city, stay away unles you're extremely patient and have a savings account and a good british mechanic.

I reccommend a 355 ferrari, no other sound like it and sexy as anything, although up keep will be expensive too . aww screw it I dont know what I was trying to say here .....................

[Alkivar]

maintenance is a bitch on a ferarri...

plan $1/mile on repairs.

[colt45]

if you get the Lotus expect it to be in the shop more then in your garage.

go for a Z06. best bang for the buck.

[Alkivar]

if you get the Lotus expect it to be in the shop more then in your garage.

go for a Z06. best bang for the buck.

lol... the lotus is using a toyota motor... most reliable things on the planet.

[Saracen]

how about a Noble?

[FuriouS]

No American crap

[SilverBullets]

lol... the lotus is using a toyota motor... most reliable things on the planet.

They are still very unreliable cars... Especially when used as track cars

[Kevin2772]

I call BS. Yearly maintenance on a Diablo is no worse than on a B5 S4. Its also not that difficult to do the work yourself and there is a TON of online DIYs for common issues.

Insurance will be slightly higher, but unless you are an idiot street racer its not as bad as you think. Not to mention, this doesnt sound like a daily driver and lower miles usually causes lower insurance rates.

This might be the dumbest post Ive ever seen. He is COMPLETELY right. Id love to watch you buy a 75G 97' diablo. For one, you'd spend a good 50G's just to get it running right. Sure you can work on it yourself, but do you think the parts for a 97 diablo grow on trees. Statements like this would get you LAUGHED right off Lambopower. They advise people against this CONSTANTLY!!

As my choice, I like the Espirit. Ive been looking for an 02 or 03 lately myself but they arent easy to come by. As for the Viper, those things are a blast to drive but they are VERY rough around the edges. The 996 Turbo is also a great choice because they take to mods very nicely and arent that bad maintainance wise. No matter what you buy, maintaining is alwasy relative to what they cost new, not what they cost used!

[Quattro_2.7tt]

If you've considered the Elise/Exige and they are a bit too cramped, you may want to consider the Lotus Evora which is the new Lotus 2+2. They come to the US in the spring, but I got a chance to test drive one yesterday (in the snow no less) and it was a blast.

It definitely doesn't have the straight line power of some of the other cars you mentioned, but it's worth thinking about if that's not your main consideration. Size-wise it's a pretty big step up from the Exige, think Boxter-size, and there are a lot more features than I've seen in other modern Lotuses. The pics don't really do it justice, this thing was so cool....

wow thats funny, that exact car came into my work in december at some point when they were testing it out. How'd it drive? I just got to sit in it and take a good look at it, got a few pics of it.


To keep on topic, I would go with the Esprit V8 TT they are very cool cars, there is one sitting in my work, its bright yellow, very eye catching!

[belinko]

I'm surprised this car hasn't been mentioned yet. The Noble M12, powered by a 2.7 twin turbo V6 supplied by Audi, driven by an AWD system. Most exotic and blazingly fast car for the dollar amount. Did I mention the modding potential.



Or my other personal option would be this fire breathing track monster, corvette, viper, ferrari, lambo, porsche, buggati, etc. killing machine. Yeah it doesn't look like a super car, but the only thing faster costs a cool mill (Pagani Zonda). Caterham 7 = the original lotus, RWD, 1000lb weight, powered by what ever you want, but primarily toyota and ford motors, but you could put in just about any 4 banger including or a V8, a Turbo Sti Motor, Honda S2000 or an ear piercing 13000 rpm Hayabusa engine. The power to weight ratio can bee anywhere 300 - 1000hp per ton .

Reference: Bugati Veyron power to weight ration is 530hp per ton

[beemercer]

lol... the lotus is using a toyota motor... most reliable things on the planet.

Not the Esprit, that's a Renault V8. My next door neighbor had one, insanely fast and fun, but you have to pull the motor out to get the back spark plugs, maintenance is a bitch on the Esprit's.

As far as the Elise's and Exige's, which use the Yota motor, they are great until they are supercharged. I've heard two first hand accounts of the issues with the S versions.


I vote ZO6, relatively cheap and easy to mod and repair. Even a stock one is ridiculously fast, but a cammed/sheet metal intake/C6R heads one is a beast.