1987 Lotus Esprit problems
The Lotus Esprit is a sports car built by Lotus Cars from 1976 to 2004 at their Hethel, England factory. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Together with the Lotus Elise / Exige, it is one of Lotus' most long-lived models.
The Esprit was among the first of the (near) straight-lined, hard-edge creased, and sometimes wedge-shaped, polygonal "folded paper" designs of the prolific, and highly successful Italian industrial and automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Esprit's backbone chassis was later adapted to carry the body of the DeLorean car, another low-bodied, Giugiaro-drawn, sharp-creased, wedge-shaped sportscar design. In 1978, the first updates led to the series 2 and 2.2 L (134 cu in) engined Esprit S2.2, made until the 1982–1988 Series 3 and Turbo Esprit models, that used a 1980 Giugiaro designed aerodynamic and aesthetic restyling package.
The Lotus Esprit however, lived on through the 1990s, and into the 2000s. It received its first significant restyling by designer Peter Stevens, who also did styling on the McLaren F1. Stevens gave the Esprit overall softer lines and shapes, but the car did not get a new series number – it is instead often just called the 'Stevens Esprit', or by its project number, the X180, made from 1988 to 1994.
In 1994, an official Series 4 Esprit, drawn by designer Julian Thomson, had a further rounded shape, especially the bumper sections and lower body of the car. Styling-wise, this became the most long-lived Esprit (1994–2004), only receiving its last changes, by Russell Carr in 2002.
Over the years, the performance of the Esprit's 4-cylinder engine was increased from around 150 PS (148 hp; 110 kW) and just under 200 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft) of torque, to double those power figures, mainly through greater inlet and exhaust flow, and strong turbo-charging. And from 1996, a new 3.5 L (214 cu in) V8 twin-turbo engine was added, offering 355 PS (350 hp; 261 kW). Contrary to a long list of low-volume British (sports) cars, with the 3.5 l Rover V8 engine, the Esprit received a Lotus in-house designed V8. Top speed rose from some 214 km/h (133 mph) in 1976, to over 280 km/h (174 mph) for the V8, twenty years later.
After a 28-year production run, the Esprit was one of the last cars made with pop-up headlights, together with the 5th generation Chevrolet Corvette.
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Common 1987 Lotus Esprit problems
The Lotus Esprit Turbo, produced between 1987 and 1991, is known for its distinctive design and performance capabilities. However, like any car, it has its share of common problems that owners have reported over the years.
- Brakes: The Esprit's brakes can cause problems, especially if the car is not used regularly. This can lead to issues such as sticking calipers, particularly in pre-1987 Turbo Esprits. After 1987, Lotus switched to Toyota calipers, which improved the situation. The inboard discs at the rear of the Turbo Esprit were also moved outboard, making access to the brake discs easier. Handbrakes can also seize due to lack of use.
- Cooling: The cooling system of the Esprit can be a concern, especially in cars that are not driven regularly. The temperature gauge should ideally sit between 80 and 90 degrees Celsius. Fans should cut in at about 100 degrees when stationary to prevent overheating. Aluminium coolant pipes running the length of the car can rot through, especially at the exposed front end.
- Gearbox: The Esprit uses a Renault Uni1-16 gearbox, which is strong but parts are becoming scarce. Water ingress is a common problem, causing bearings to fail due to water collecting on the engine cover and running off directly into the breather. Oil leaks, particularly from the back, are also common.
- Driveshaft Oil Seals: As Esprits aren't used much, the driveshaft oil seals often dry out, causing oil leaks. However, the seals aren't expensive to buy and are relatively straightforward to replace.
- Chassis: Lotus has never been renowned for having a long-lasting chassis, but the rot worries of the Lotus Esprit S1 and S2 were silenced in 1981 with the adoption of a galvanised chassis for the Lotus Esprit.
- Interior: The interior of the Esprit is a futuristic place to be, but the trim doesn't wear well. Bad earths are a common problem, and the leather needs feeding with a leather oil once a year to prevent it from cracking. Tan coloured leather interiors often show cracks and dirt and will need retrimming.
- Engine: The Esprit's engine can suffer from niggling problems, even though the chassis is galvanized. Air-conditioning systems can cause issues, and the engine can overheat if not properly maintained.
These problems, while common, do not necessarily mean that the Lotus Esprit Turbo is a problematic car. With regular servicing and prompt attention to mechanical issues, the Esprit can be a reliable and enjoyable car to own and drive.
What was the top speed of a 1987 Lotus Esprit?
In 2.2 liter turbocharged form, the Esprit produced 210bhp and was good for a top speed of 148mph, 0-60 mph attainable in just 6.1 seconds. Hand built in limited numbers; the Esprit remains one of the most iconic and popular thoroughbred sports cars ever produced.
How much is a 1988 Lotus Esprit worth?
The Lotus Esprit 1988 prices range from $20,350 for the basic trim level Coupe Esprit Turbo to $30,580. The Lotus Esprit 1988 comes in Coupe. The Lotus Esprit 1988 is available in Premium Unleaded Petrol. Engine sizes and transmissions vary from the Coupe 2.2L 5 SP Manual to the Coupe 2.2L 5SP Manual.
Are Lotus Esprit rare?
Esprits have always been produced in low numbers, making them rare on the roads. The Lotus Esprit first went on sale in 1976 badged as the S1 with a 2-litre, 4 cylinder, 156bhp, mid-mounted engine.
What happened to the Lotus Esprit?
Final redesign and end of production
Few, if any, mechanical changes were made to the car. After a 28-year production run, the last Esprit rolled off the production line on February 20, 2004, and was shipped to Chicago. A total of 10,675 Esprits were produced.
1987 Lotus Esprit car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lotus Esprit problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Lotus Esprit vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Lotus Esprit complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Lotus Esprit.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: SCCFC20A5KH
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: THE FITINGS ON FUEL TANKS, BEHIND DRIVER, RUST AND LEAK FUEL AROUND THE MOTOR. THE SMELL OF FUEL IS VERY STRONG.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1987 Lotus Esprit problems:
1998 Lotus Esprit V8 - Dangers??? | The Lotus Cars Community
Jan 14, 2006 ... Any common problems with this car? I've been trying to get into a Lotus for years, have found one that will probably work well for me ...
Mark Blanchard's 1987 Lotus Esprit Turbo X180
(Rusted fuel tanks are a common problem on Esprit's, due to water leaking through dissintegrated seals on the rear windows. The tanks are protected with ...
Wastegate Question for '87 Esprit Turbo | The Lotus Cars Community
Feb 11, 2013 ... ... common problem. What's a cost effective solution to fix? I can get the car pretty cheap but I don't have any idea what it will run to fix ...
Lotus Esprit (1987-2004) buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look ...
Jan 18, 2019 ... Oil leaks are common on 'four', while V8 issues range from heat damage to cylinder liner seal failure and blown pistons. Turbos get very hot ...
1987 Turbo Esprit HCPI overheating | The Lotus Cars Community
Nov 23, 2012 ... These cars are known to suffer thermostat problems, just ask brother Carbuff how many he's been through. There are two different operating temp ...
Other years of Lotus Esprit
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