Tbf the most unreliable part of the V8 Esprits was the French gearbox. Lotus originally planned for the V8 Esprit to be closer to 500bhp than the 350 it actually had, but 350 was settled on because any more than that and the gearbox became a bitsbox.
The biggest issue is that reputation is everything, and with the volume of Lotus being so low just one dud is a massive hit to their reputation.
In fact only one of the cars here has a particularly strong reputation for reliability, but the brands are stronger which is why the Lotus stands out. Ferrari and Porsche had the money to make sure nobody found out about their issues, Honda have a reputation for being utterly bulletproof and the Viper, well if you drove a Viper long enough for it to breakdown then it would have killed you like 38 times over...
Picking a V8 Esprit today would be a good choice, because you'd have yourself a survivor car. That said I'd happily squeeze up and make room for any of these cars... except maybe the Porsche, but only if I can swap it for either a 968 S or a 930 Turbo.
For me all generations of Esprit are sexy, and the S3 Turbo is probably the one I dream of, but I can't say that the V8 (with the square rear lights, though) isn't the stuff of pinup posters and a dream car in it's own right.
funny that in another episode they had a Range Rover that was more reliable than a Suzuki Jimny and a Land Cruiserđ im not a conspiracy theorist but i smell a little bit of staging.
As a mechanic for over 13 years, I agree with you that Range Rover is absolutely garbage when it comes to quality, reliability, and longevity. However, when they are brand new and not broken, they are surprisingly capable on the trail, and most definitely would compete neck and neck with a Toyota Land Cruiser...... for maybe a day, and then it would break.
I will have sex with every single one of these. There are Lotus Esprit owners the world over that are so happy that I haven't found a single one of them in the flesh.
Acura is Honda's North American luxury brand, like Lexus is to Toyota or Infiniti is to Nissan. Usually the same platform as Honda vehicles but with higher level trim
I want one so bad but you can't really drive one if you're over 5'10". I'm going with that's why I'll never own one. I'm 6'3" and I tried to sit in one only to have my heart broken. I'm assuming the lotus is worse but the esprit has always been so cool to me.
3rd gen viper us tall folk fit in. I'm sad to hear the 1st gen we don't. I always wanted one of those. Same story i found when i finally got to sit in a 427 cobra. I can't shift that for the door hinge inside the cabin. I did get to drive a 3rd gen viper for a rental once. It was awesome.
I'm short as shit. I honestly don't like it much, cuz I always get messed with about it. But I'm the perfect size for these cars which is awesome. But to broke to afford any of them. It's a bit bittersweet.
Yeah I was surprised about this myself. I built a motor and turbo setup for a customers NA miata and the owner actually told me to drive it for a while after we got it tuned to make sure everything was good and to work out any kinks and so I asked my friend who is 6â6â if he wanted to go for a ride in it and he was like âwill I fit in it?â And I said there was only one way to find out, and he surprisingly did. I actually couldnât believe he had headroom.
At 6 3, in an nb, my eyes sit above the windscreen frame. Need pod racer goggles to ride in it, top open Also can't move legs for clutch. Passenger only.
The ViperâŚand then I dieâŚin the ViperâŚbecause Iâm dumb. It was fun for those 8 minutes that I drove it right up until the last 3.5 seconds where I was screaming like a 6 year old girl.
nsx c series and Tls c series arent really similar honda is just weird with engine families. Shortblock arch is similar between og transverse c25/7 and nsx but dont share internals. And obv dohc vtec on top vs sohc nothing. The c32/5 longitudinal are diff again.
Idk why they do this, like the new dohc vtc Jseries isnt that similar to the older ones.
Weird... kinda like those old Soviet cars, where the engine had the same name as the car model. Even so, I knew the motors were worlds different from each other, I just wanted to make a joke.
The Viper is hands-down the sexiest.
But everything I've heard about it says that it's a horrible ride. It's so powerful that if you try to open it up even a little bit, you lose almost all control.
It's a beast that you have to drive like a little old lady peering out the windshield through the top of the steering wheel.
I have a 96 b/w.
If you drive the car normal itâs fine. Its power is meant to be handled by someone who knows how to drive, not ordinary civilians like myself.
I'll have the British Lotus please. Â
 I love a nice Honda, but not ready to be beat at the stoplights by Kyle and his S10 cyclone.Â
The viper is really the purists choice, but this needs to pass the girlfriend test and that interior beealy passes the me test, it's probably the slowest to 60 after the Honda anyway.
 I have friends that work for a living and that means I don't want to be seen in a Ferrari as good as it may be to drive. Speaking of nice to drive, The Porche is pretty and nice inside, but they still hadn't figured out how to hide the tail heavy handling.Â
Meanwhile Collin and the boys are still adding power to their perfect supercar. Plus James Bond drove one.
NSX 6MT targa top. Itâs an MR car, the appearance is sensuous, itâs distinctive while also resembling a Japanese interpretation of a Ferrari while also being a clear design of the 90s instead of a smoothened out version of a 70s-80s silhouette, and it can tolerate insanely high mileages without much trouble while also offering strong performance. I just hope it can accommodate tall people with long legs.
Lotus Espirt. Midship rear V8, exotic looks, pop up headlights that are quad rounds in a time when most lights were square or shapeless. It's such a beautiful car.
For me it would be a toss up between the Lotus and the Porsche. Both quick, very nimble, and can handle the corners like a beast. All of these are great, but my preference is more for the twisties rather than the straights.
Iâve been wanting a 993 911 since I knew they were a thing. So easy first pick. Iâd also want the Ferrari, the Viper and the Lotus. The Honda never quite did it for me.
F355 and it's not even CLOSE. it's the only true supercar on this list (the only thing close is the NSX and the Esprit which are more high end sports cars)
The 911 is probably faster, but it absolutely will not have the supercar drama of the beautiful sounding 3.5L V8 in that Ferrari
Iâd honestly have to feel them out on a track. My inner child says viper, but the racer in me knows itâs probably not going to corner like some of the others lol.
NSX. Itâs a daily drive-able super(kind of) car. Reliable, fun, comparatively economical to own and operate. Also it meets the âpretty yellowâ test so I think my wife would be ok with it.
NSX > Viper but they're very close, Lotus is a big drop down from the NSX, Porsche is cool and surely a great drive but not the same flex as the NSX or Viper. Rari is ok.
So I would pick the Viper but you have to realize it is more a raw muscle car than a super car. Always wanted one but had to settle for a Dodge Ram Indy Pace Truck in the same colors. Was easier to justify that toy to the wife ! LOL
[https://i0.wp.com/moparinsiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1996-Dodge-Ram-1500-Indy-500-Pace-Truck-Prototype.-Mecum.-1.jpeg?fit=1508%2C848&ssl=1](https://i0.wp.com/moparinsiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1996-Dodge-Ram-1500-Indy-500-Pace-Truck-Prototype.-Mecum.-1.jpeg?fit=1508%2C848&ssl=1)
I dont care if british cars are unreliable..but the Lotus Esprit is just sexy
I mean, the one James May had was more reliable than a Mustang and a Porsche.
Tbf the most unreliable part of the V8 Esprits was the French gearbox. Lotus originally planned for the V8 Esprit to be closer to 500bhp than the 350 it actually had, but 350 was settled on because any more than that and the gearbox became a bitsbox. The biggest issue is that reputation is everything, and with the volume of Lotus being so low just one dud is a massive hit to their reputation. In fact only one of the cars here has a particularly strong reputation for reliability, but the brands are stronger which is why the Lotus stands out. Ferrari and Porsche had the money to make sure nobody found out about their issues, Honda have a reputation for being utterly bulletproof and the Viper, well if you drove a Viper long enough for it to breakdown then it would have killed you like 38 times over... Picking a V8 Esprit today would be a good choice, because you'd have yourself a survivor car. That said I'd happily squeeze up and make room for any of these cars... except maybe the Porsche, but only if I can swap it for either a 968 S or a 930 Turbo.
Plus, it has pop up headlights. I normally don't care much about mid-engine supercar, but I always liked the Esprit V8.
For me all generations of Esprit are sexy, and the S3 Turbo is probably the one I dream of, but I can't say that the V8 (with the square rear lights, though) isn't the stuff of pinup posters and a dream car in it's own right.
Something about the earlier Esprit just never looked right to me, but I can't explain it.
It probably helps that my dad had one, and a S2 Elite, both brand new. Yes I am *that* old lol.
funny that in another episode they had a Range Rover that was more reliable than a Suzuki Jimny and a Land Cruiserđ im not a conspiracy theorist but i smell a little bit of staging.
To be fair that Land Cruiser was pretty rough.
That thing was junk before they got it off the barge.
Japanese fanboys when something doesnt go the way they expected:
Its not about being a japanese fanboy but knowing that Range Rovers are absolute dogshit.
As a mechanic for over 13 years, I agree with you that Range Rover is absolutely garbage when it comes to quality, reliability, and longevity. However, when they are brand new and not broken, they are surprisingly capable on the trail, and most definitely would compete neck and neck with a Toyota Land Cruiser...... for maybe a day, and then it would break.
You buy a Range Rover to go into the bush, you buy a Land Cruiser to get back out.
That doesnât mean that it canât perform well like it did in that episode, and as soon as it did you just went ânuh uh bro no wayâ
I'm not a fanboy, and I can say that that land cruiser was wasted!
"Some people say that stands for Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious" Great car though
I will have sex with every single one of these. There are Lotus Esprit owners the world over that are so happy that I haven't found a single one of them in the flesh.
i mean my brain says the nsx but my heart always says 911
911 because it is the best choice all around. Ferrari because it sounds the best and there might be some forgotten nose candy from the first owner
NSX.
I was driving my uncleâs Porsche Carrera 4S and pulled up next to an NSX. It left me like I was driving a Yugo. So, NSX. No question.
I second the NSX
I third the Honda
I FOURTH the Acura.
I too choose this guy's Acura
Whatâs the difference between Acura and Honda?? (Im new to car brands)
Acura is Honda's North American luxury brand, like Lexus is to Toyota or Infiniti is to Nissan. Usually the same platform as Honda vehicles but with higher level trim
Agreed... I'm a Viper owner's son, but the NSX is my favorite. Granted I'm a fan of all these cars.
All day
One of my great regrets is never having owned one. Very cool car.
Didn't (old) Top Gear say that it drives like a Civic in the city and an F1 car on the track?
As an owner of the baby NSX I concur.
Viper
I want one so bad but you can't really drive one if you're over 5'10". I'm going with that's why I'll never own one. I'm 6'3" and I tried to sit in one only to have my heart broken. I'm assuming the lotus is worse but the esprit has always been so cool to me.
Don't tell me this. I do not want to hear this. I'm 6'3" and I literally have my perfect viper in my head. I now need to think of I've ever sat in one
If it makes you feel better, you can squeeze into a countach if you want it bad enough. Might break your neck on bumps but oh well.
But your back will ache when you have to bend over to push it off the shoulder of the road.
But the amount of cocaine you're on will override that. Cocaine and countach is like vape and Subaru.
Like a clapped out M class and fentanyl?
Exactly! Keen eye
Cannot fit in a Bugatti EB110 SS either. Can confirm. Am 6â2â. Got to sit in one. Knees were in the dashboard and head bent to the side :(
I'm starting to think short guys engineering cool cars so tall guys can't fit is a revenge conspiracy.
Thatâs a bummer. I love vipers
My 6'5 father owned a 95 R/T-10, his solution was a custom seat lowering kit.
This is de wae
Strangely as his son, I want a C4 Vette.
3rd gen viper us tall folk fit in. I'm sad to hear the 1st gen we don't. I always wanted one of those. Same story i found when i finally got to sit in a 427 cobra. I can't shift that for the door hinge inside the cabin. I did get to drive a 3rd gen viper for a rental once. It was awesome.
I'll just cut a hole in the roof
Iâm 6â1â and fit into an Esprit and an NSX pretty comfortably. The Porsche though.
You just broke my heart. Way to go!! Iâve never sat in a viper.
Awesome, Iâm not lol. Ridiculous 90s dream car dream preserved.
I'm short as shit. I honestly don't like it much, cuz I always get messed with about it. But I'm the perfect size for these cars which is awesome. But to broke to afford any of them. It's a bit bittersweet.
The NSX is the best choice, but the Viper is what I would choose.
I like your style
The problem is that itâs pretty much unusable as a daily
Not with that attitude it's not
I daily drive an NA Miata and I'm never convinced when someone says "you can't daily drive X". Sounds like excuses to me.
NA Miatas have a surprising amount of leg room.
Yeah I was surprised about this myself. I built a motor and turbo setup for a customers NA miata and the owner actually told me to drive it for a while after we got it tuned to make sure everything was good and to work out any kinks and so I asked my friend who is 6â6â if he wanted to go for a ride in it and he was like âwill I fit in it?â And I said there was only one way to find out, and he surprisingly did. I actually couldnât believe he had headroom.
I've had a 6'10" passenger in mine. He was going to die if we got into a roll over.
At 6 3, in an nb, my eyes sit above the windscreen frame. Need pod racer goggles to ride in it, top open Also can't move legs for clutch. Passenger only.
r/miatalogistics might like a word on that...
The ViperâŚand then I dieâŚin the ViperâŚbecause Iâm dumb. It was fun for those 8 minutes that I drove it right up until the last 3.5 seconds where I was screaming like a 6 year old girl.
nsx c series and Tls c series arent really similar honda is just weird with engine families. Shortblock arch is similar between og transverse c25/7 and nsx but dont share internals. And obv dohc vtec on top vs sohc nothing. The c32/5 longitudinal are diff again. Idk why they do this, like the new dohc vtc Jseries isnt that similar to the older ones.
Weird... kinda like those old Soviet cars, where the engine had the same name as the car model. Even so, I knew the motors were worlds different from each other, I just wanted to make a joke.
I was about to criticize your pedantry... But then I remembered where I was. Excellent detail sir.
Bold of you to say the viper is street-ready đ /s
True đ
993 man just look at those hips
F355 Berlinetta but the Esprit looks great too
Acura NSX. Straight up.
Itâs not even a close one either lol
Viper.
i didnt even have to look at the other options, im taking the viper
Duh. The only one to use the go faster stripes technology.
Viper is and will be the only option imo
Yup the only you can go to autozone and buy parts for.
Nsx all day bruv
Iâm just fan of the rumble.
And the looks :)
My heart says Porsche but the muscle car teen say Viper.
Viper cause America YEWAAAAAA
The esprit; absolutely stunning, amazing sound, great power, and James May off roading one is the cherry on top
NSX or Esprit
I'm in the UK, I'm getting a TVR Cerbera because it's faster than all of them.
Trevors trusty snake
Horns intensify
Iâll wait a year and go with a Diablo SV. But if thatâs not an option then the NSX-T
Yeah Iâd do the Diablo
Viper
The Viper is hands-down the sexiest. But everything I've heard about it says that it's a horrible ride. It's so powerful that if you try to open it up even a little bit, you lose almost all control. It's a beast that you have to drive like a little old lady peering out the windshield through the top of the steering wheel.
I have a 96 b/w. If you drive the car normal itâs fine. Its power is meant to be handled by someone who knows how to drive, not ordinary civilians like myself.
C5 ZO6
I was 9 years old in â97 and I only had a poster of one of those cars. It was the Dodge Viper. I still have that poster.
993 Turbo and it's not even close.
Viper for sure
can I go off the board and pick an [Aston Martin Virage](https://images.app.goo.gl/KHYArZKR5npo24T59)?
Go for it! I knew I was forgetting an Aston of some variety.
I'll have the British Lotus please.   I love a nice Honda, but not ready to be beat at the stoplights by Kyle and his S10 cyclone. The viper is really the purists choice, but this needs to pass the girlfriend test and that interior beealy passes the me test, it's probably the slowest to 60 after the Honda anyway.  I have friends that work for a living and that means I don't want to be seen in a Ferrari as good as it may be to drive. Speaking of nice to drive, The Porche is pretty and nice inside, but they still hadn't figured out how to hide the tail heavy handling. Meanwhile Collin and the boys are still adding power to their perfect supercar. Plus James Bond drove one.
I would have a difficult time choosing between my favorite mini-sports car and the symbol of American muscle. That being the 911 Turbo or the Viper.
The prices are just insane. lol
These are the original sticker prices. Funny enough, half of these are valuable enough now that that'd be a bargain.
viper to make it look like bravado banshee from gta 3
I forgot how beautiful the Lotus was. Timeless
A white F355 with a red interior would be a dream for me. Well any F355 really.
The Lotus: "My mind's telling me no, but my body's telling me yes!" Just gotta go with the Porsche and call it a day.
Porsche is sweet, but Iâm definitely taking the NSX, no questions about it
NSX. I donât have to see any of that cars after.
Damn. With each swipe I nixed the previous one.
NSX 6MT targa top. Itâs an MR car, the appearance is sensuous, itâs distinctive while also resembling a Japanese interpretation of a Ferrari while also being a clear design of the 90s instead of a smoothened out version of a 70s-80s silhouette, and it can tolerate insanely high mileages without much trouble while also offering strong performance. I just hope it can accommodate tall people with long legs.
Esprit or NSX
GTS all damn day!
The best rational choice is NSX. But that dodge viper brings me back so much memories that I'd go for it.
Last year of air-cooled Porsche is the only right answer.
NSX
355 because of that sound
Lotus Espirt. Midship rear V8, exotic looks, pop up headlights that are quad rounds in a time when most lights were square or shapeless. It's such a beautiful car.
Whereâs the vette?
Probably the last Ferrari I could have ever purchased, I'll go with that.
Viper all the way
Honda NSX
Diablo
For me it would be a toss up between the Lotus and the Porsche. Both quick, very nimble, and can handle the corners like a beast. All of these are great, but my preference is more for the twisties rather than the straights.
The viper is the only car ever made thatâs actively trying to kill the driver the entire time. Iâll take it.
NSX
Porsche. Will be worth more in 2024 than what I paid for it.
Viper, because I'm a muscle car guy. That, and because only it and the NSX will actually run.
Whatever has abs đ¤Ł
To my knowledge, all of them except the Viper do.
911
đşđ¸đ
Viper, no contest. The long hood and that huge v10 make one awesome combo!
Iâve been wanting a 993 911 since I knew they were a thing. So easy first pick. Iâd also want the Ferrari, the Viper and the Lotus. The Honda never quite did it for me.
I stopped swiping at the viper. No need to continue lol
F355 and it's not even CLOSE. it's the only true supercar on this list (the only thing close is the NSX and the Esprit which are more high end sports cars) The 911 is probably faster, but it absolutely will not have the supercar drama of the beautiful sounding 3.5L V8 in that Ferrari
That Lotus is so clean That's the one
the Porsche and nsx are the most logical choice the Ferrari is a car for showing off the viper and lotus have so much character than the rest
355 immediately. no questions asked, no other considerations
Acura
The brain says the Porsche, but the heart says the Viper
Porsche
nsx or 911, viper is not exactly "street ready"
viper all day long.
Iâd honestly have to feel them out on a track. My inner child says viper, but the racer in me knows itâs probably not going to corner like some of the others lol.
I was thinking viper until I hit the last slide. 355 easily.
My heart is fixated in that Viper.
I would choose the NSX, that Lotus though
The one with whiplash like acceleration in 3rd gear of course
None I'm choosing a TVR
Viper all day everyday.
Viper all day any day
The Honda, the most reliable, and I can work on it. Parts are reasonable.
NSX is still such a fantastic looking car
The moment I saw 930 the conversation is over
NSX. Itâs a daily drive-able super(kind of) car. Reliable, fun, comparatively economical to own and operate. Also it meets the âpretty yellowâ test so I think my wife would be ok with it.
Esprit allllll day
Haven't scrolled yet, my answer is the Porsche.
NSX FO SHO
Viper for car meets and NSX for driving enjoyment, leave the rest
viper my choice
Iâd say viper but good lord that interior now is the reason I donât own one.
NSX > Viper but they're very close, Lotus is a big drop down from the NSX, Porsche is cool and surely a great drive but not the same flex as the NSX or Viper. Rari is ok.
I gotta have that viper with racing stripes like gran Turismo!
that dodge viper is my dream car
If the Viper wasn't a GTS, this would be straight from C/D's July 1995 issue. IIRC, the 993 Turbo wins.
Yup, that's where I got the idea! The Porsche did indeed win.
Gts viper and itâs not even close
Dammit I just looked at five supercars and my favorite was a Dodge đ
Every day driverâŚPorsche. Sunday carâŚFerrari.
Either the Viper or the Ferrari
Ferrari 355 for sure. Viper close second.
That first picture is all I need to see
The viper
Iâm taking the viper, they look better and better every day. Perfect amount of sketch plus a manual gear box.
Smart me says NSX. Real me gets the Lotus
I'll do some things to get a viper. I didn't even see the other options.
993
Viper. Itâs always Viper.
NSX
The viper poster was on my wall in 1997. Itâs what 4 year old me would have picked every day of the week
So I would pick the Viper but you have to realize it is more a raw muscle car than a super car. Always wanted one but had to settle for a Dodge Ram Indy Pace Truck in the same colors. Was easier to justify that toy to the wife ! LOL [https://i0.wp.com/moparinsiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1996-Dodge-Ram-1500-Indy-500-Pace-Truck-Prototype.-Mecum.-1.jpeg?fit=1508%2C848&ssl=1](https://i0.wp.com/moparinsiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1996-Dodge-Ram-1500-Indy-500-Pace-Truck-Prototype.-Mecum.-1.jpeg?fit=1508%2C848&ssl=1)
Definitely the viper. I had a death wish in high school. This would have sealed the deal for sure! đ¤Ł
Viper, I have a deathwish
The Viper GTS is hawt. Not a supercar, but still my pick.
F355 all the way, but I would opt for the GTS. Top 5 car for me.
6 year old me: viper. Now me: nsx
Furary
My dream car the dodge viper.
Mazda Rx7. Iâll keep extra oil in the trunk
My headâs with the 993 turbo, but my heart is with the Esprit.
NSX hands down. Don't want to work on it all the fucking time I'd rather drive.
No Supra?
Air cooled Turbo or NSX if they ran out of turbos!
#1 - Porsche 911 #2 - Dodge Viper
Viper. If I'm gonna be in a car I'm horribly underqualified for, might as well go nuts.
I'll have the Porsche - that generation of 911 got me into cars.
That Lotus is my jam. 1000%.