Cars & Coffee April 7, 2012 photos

Carspotting (Sebring edition)

F1 Outsider is at the race as we speak. This picture courtesy Mrs. F1O.

1990 Lotus Elan review

Over on Hooniverse, there is a discussion about the Isuzu-powered, front wheel drive, Lotus Elan.  Has anyone here had any experience with the car?

Ferrari v. Lotus

From ShantJ.

E's 1990 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE

E was kind enough to share these shots of his red Esprit and his thoughts about the car.

Pros:
1. The intellectual pleasure of driving a 4 cylinder car which, at the time of its launch, went quicker to 100 km/h than a 911 Turbo (6 cylinders), a Ferrari 328/348 (8 cylinders), and a Lamborghini Countach (12 cylinders).
2. Handling.  No hype.  Julia Roberts was right.  It does drive like it's on rails.
3. Looks.  It is stunning from any angle.
4. Value for money.  Where can a normal car guy buy into the supercar league?
5. Bonus: Fiberglass body means no rust!

Cons:
1. Not suited for tall people.
2. On-off nature of turbocharging.
3. Mundane sound and feel at normal speeds.

Carspotting: Lotus Esprit

Saw this engineless Esprit on Sunday.  Thinking about writing it up for Hooniverse.  Aside from our Swiss reader, does anyone else have any first-hand knowledge about this car?  TIA.

Cool German (?) children's book (?) about cars

Found this at a used book sale.

Limousinen: Citroen XM

Traumautos: Ferrari F40

Amerikanische Sportwagen: Chevy Corvette ZR-1

Europasische Sportwagen: Lotus Elan SE

Luxussportwagen: Mercedes 500SEL

Formel I Rennautos: Williams FW14B

Gelandefahrzeuge: Range Rover

Kombifarzeuge: Volvo 960

Carspotting (Long Beach edition): Lotus Europa

When the heck did they move the Spruce Goose to Oregon?