Esprit Owners

Phil Copperwheat's 1999

Phil Copperwheat from Bedford, UK owns a 1999 Sport 350 in White, with a Black leather interior.

Model:

Sport 350

Year:
1999

Colour:
White

Interior:
Black

Driving Style:
Normal

Miles per year: 2,000 - 4,000

Owned Since:
February 2002

Purchase from:
Peter Smith Sportscars

Serviced at:
Orchard Dealership, Northampton

Other Cars:
BMW 325i

Previous Lotus':
1996 S4s (see below)

Why an Esprit:
My Friend (who runs Lotus Esprit World) was looking for an Esprit and I was driving him to look at them. Don't really like the earlier ones, but quite liked the newer shaped Esprit. On a trip without me, he found one I might like. Decided to have a look, went out for a test drive and just had to buy it. Loved every moment in it since. When I got the chance to buy the Best Esprit ever in a limited colour, I couldn't resist.

Upgrades: Sports Exhaust, one-off locking wheel nuts and some stereo stuff. AP 6-pot calipers front, moved 4-pot APs to rear, using brembo caliper as a handbrake. Work done by Mike Haines Racing. TraxSpax Adjustable Suspension. Road Angel.

Problems:
Had some vibration in the front discs. Dealer sorted the problem for £100.

Info:
Am tempted to get a Sport 300 if the right one comes up. Also looked at the 340R for track days.

This is my 2nd Lotus Esprit after owner a Lotus Racing Green 1995 S4S for a year. I traded in my S4S for this 1999 Sport 350. This is one of only two white 350's in the world. Specially comission by the Lotus board of directors for Lotus dealer Peter Smith. All the 350 were released in Silver except for two white ones (both sold by Peter Smith's of Derby) and in Black one, which the director of Lotus currently uses as a company car.

Registared in 1999 this one owner car currently has 11,000 miles on it and has been looked after by Peter Smith of Derby who sold it to the previous owner. A new stereo has been installed by the P.O. and the rear wing has been colour coded by the dealer, as the carbon fibre has a habit of fading and looking corroded (see below).

FRONT SUSPENSION:
Double wishbone, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar. TraxSpax Adjustable Suspension
REAR SUSPENSION:
Upper and lower links, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar. TraxSpax Adjustable Suspension
STEERING
Type: Rack-and-pinion
Turns lock-to-lock: 3.1
Turning circle: 10.6 metres (between kerbs)
BRAKES
Front: 320mm cross-drilled ventilated discs 6-pot AP Calipers
Rear: 320mm cross-drilled ventilated discs 4-pot AP Calipers
Actuation: anti-lock brakes (ABS).

WHEELS AND TYRES
Wheels:      made of forged alloy
Front:          8.5J x 17ins
Rear:           8.5J x 18ins
Front tyres: Pirelli P-Zero 235/40 ZR 17
Rear tyres: Pirelli P-Zero 295/35 ZR 18

ENGINE:

Cylinders: 8 in a vee

Capacity: 3500cc

Max Power: 349bhp at 6500rpm

Max Torque: 295lb ft at 4250 rpm

Power to weight 268bhp per tonne

Torque to weight 227lb ft per tonne

Installation Mid, longitudinal, rear-wheel drive

Construction Aluminium alloy head/block

Bore/stroke 81.0/83.0mm

Valve gear 4 valves per cyl, dohc

Compression ratio 8.0:1

Ignition and fuel Lotus 918 ignition, multi-point injection, twin Garrett T25 turbochargers

My First Esprit

This Lotus Racing Green S4S has mushroom interior with Sports Seats. 1 previous owner with 32,000 miles. I've already had a new rear caliper (see below), new rear discs, new rear pads, new battery, 2 wheels refurbished. What next? I'll tell you next time I get in it.

My Siezed REAR CALIPER

This is my siezed rear Caliper, beyond any help. London Lotus happily (£££££) supplied me with a new one along with new discs and new pads. At least I can stop now

Model:	Sport 350
Year:	1999
Colour:	White
Interior:	Black
Driving Style:	Normal
Miles per year:	2,000 - 4,000
Owned Since:	February 2002
Purchase from:	Peter Smith Sportscars
Serviced at:	Orchard Dealership, Northampton
Other Cars:	BMW 325i
Previous Lotus':	1996 S4s (see below)
Why an Esprit:	My Friend (who runs Lotus Esprit World) was looking for an Esprit and I was driving him to look at them. Don't really like the earlier ones, but quite liked the newer shaped Esprit. On a trip without me, he found one I might like. Decided to have a look, went out for a test drive and just had to buy it. Loved every moment in it since. When I got the chance to buy the Best Esprit ever in a limited colour, I couldn't resist.
Upgrades:	Sports Exhaust, one-off locking wheel nuts and some stereo stuff. AP 6-pot calipers front, moved 4-pot APs to rear, using brembo caliper as a handbrake. Work done by Mike Haines Racing. TraxSpax Adjustable Suspension. Road Angel.
Problems:	Had some vibration in the front discs. Dealer sorted the problem for £100.
Info:	Am tempted to get a Sport 300 if the right one comes up. Also looked at the 340R for track days.

ENGINE:
Cylinders:	8 in a vee
Capacity:	3500cc
Max Power:	349bhp at 6500rpm
Max Torque:	295lb ft at 4250 rpm
Power to weight	268bhp per tonne
Torque to weight	227lb ft per tonne
Installation	Mid, longitudinal, rear-wheel drive
Construction	Aluminium alloy head/block
Bore/stroke	81.0/83.0mm
Valve gear	4 valves per cyl, dohc
Compression ratio	8.0:1
Ignition and fuel	Lotus 918 ignition, multi-point injection, twin Garrett T25 turbochargers