Lotus Esprit V8 vrs Ferrari F355 vrs Viper GTS

I was just curious to know what you think is the better looking supercar out of those 3?

I would list them as follows:

Lotus
Viper
Ferrari

----------
- Lotus -
For The Few Who Know The Difference

I'd say the F355 is number one, Lotus second, and Viper third. the Viper is just too plain looking for me (comparatively), and Pininfarina's style will always win in comparison.



----------
"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

Apart from styling, more towards performance, my choices are still the same. Reason being: Ferrari wins with it's exhaust note, killer handling, and that trick F-1 paddle shifting. Lotus beats the Viper because of it's handling. Although the Viper has a distinct power edge, some tweaking with the turbo system in the Lotus will make up for that quickly. 500 hp in a car that light, and with that wicked handling....mmmmmmmmmm<homer drool>

The Viper would hammer both, the Lotus has beaten the F355 but not by much a margin. And to add more into your tweaking the turbos on an Esprit, these people have:

http://members.home.net/shokwave/performance.htm

On a '98 Esprit V8. I emailed the guy and he said that he got 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and around 450bhp on it after doing the modifications he specified on his site. Very interesting!

----------
- Lotus -
For The Few Who Know The Difference

The Viper would kill when it comes to acceleration, but that's not all that matters when it comes to driving. The Viper has a disadvantage in handling and breaking. Thus, on a twisty course, like the Nurburgring, it won't be able to use it's speed advantage.

Hey guys,
what about Nissan Skyline GT-R?
It's the best looking and it set the world record for Nurburgring. It's the first car to break the 9 minute barrier with 8 min 53 secs or something like that.

I have no proof of this, and I don't know where I saw this, but that Skyline time got taken back. It turned out that it wasn't stock, like it was supposed to be. It had some pretty major modifications to it. I agree though, it's a fast fast car, and would be a blast to take there.

----------
"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

are u sure?
It happened like in '97 I think
I even have a book to prove it.

The one you speak of happened in '95, so it couldn't have been. It set a time of 7:59! However it was later found out that the speed limiter was disabled, the boost was turned up, and the suspension and 4wd system were modified. So, in actuality, it wasn't stock.
here's a list of times...
http://www.born-free.net/nordschleife.html


----------
"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

Edited by: enzo@af

oh, click on nordschlife.

----------
"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

oh, I was off..
I'm holding the book in my hands:
7:59 Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 in year 1995.
You're exactly right!

Autocar Magazine took one out later on and got an 8:16 (?) run.

----------
"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

If the GT-R got 7:59(or 8:16), I wonder what the 400R would get :}

I wish I remembered where, but I think I've seen a time for one once. Maybe not, though. It would probably count as a production car, too.

----------
"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

Did you guys know that R34 GT-R holds the record now?

I searched the web and found this :

An R34 is definitely quicker across a track than an R33, and why not, with better suspension, more torque and considerably improved aerodynamics. Japanese road tests have suggested a sweeter, more adjustable handling balance. The R34 has already run the famous Nurburgring at 7'52, eight seconds quicker than the best standard R33 can do. Although the road car has only just been released, an N1 production class racer was unveiled at the same time, and a wild looking GT-Class racer, with all carbon bodywork, and huge boxed flares has already been seen undergoing testing in Japan.

this is a quote taken from this page: http://www.agma.btinternet.co.uk/heritage/heritage-r34.htm
it's the last paragraph.

It feels so AWESOME since GT-R is my favorite car!

Wonderful improvement from it's last time, but it still has a ways to go to catch up with that Gemballa.

----------
"Ferrari isn't a car, it's a lifestyle"
-Enzo Ferrari.

I would rate them as follows:
Lotus
Viper
Ferrari
About the Nurburgring, what about the Mosler Raptor, or the new MT900 (especially with a Lingenfelter vette engine.) In the states, they are production cars (the company is run by a near billionaire, Warren Mosler, and he doesn't care that his company loses money, he likes making bitchin cars). IT has won the one lap of America several times (beating modified skylines(!)) I think at the Nurburgring, it would be less than 8 minutes. What do you guys think?

Yeah, all of Mosler's cars could kick some arse there. Did you read the article in C&D?

Yup, I ahve subscribed to C&D for 4 years. Enzo, what do you subscribe to/read? I think many car nuts like myself would like to know, as you obviously have a great deal of knowledge. I also subscribe to R&T, MT and Automobile.

Well, I have never had a car mag subscription. I almost got one to SCC, but I soon got disinterested...they became too much like Super street, basing a lot of their articles on cool looking cars, rather than performance oriented rides.

I like Automobile magazine a lot. I think they have some good articles, but Cogito Ergo Zoom is my favorite. C&D, R&T and MT are all great too, but they all seem to be from the same source...I think they share everything and then just write three articles, and make three covers.

Right now I'm living in the dorms, so if I got a subscription I would have to worry about getting it redirected when I move out. I plan on getting an Automobile subscription, and probably Road and Track next year.

Oh, Sports Car international is AWESOME!

the viper is the best looking of the bunch......

My choice has to be:
Esprit
Ferrari
Viper <---too common:o

The viper is the best, but I like the Ferrari too. It is a more styleish car then the viper.

lotus esprit!!!!!!! sweet

Has anyone driven all three.. the 2003 viper on performance .. overall
the lotus and F355 are a te in styling though i think the lotus can handle the
Ferrari.

I've raced a lotus espirit on a autocross course.. Steeda's test course.. '' the use it for the steeda Q and trying to figure how to beat the Rx7tt in the cold..

and the Firehawk with out the Nos just the Stroker man handled the Lotus.. it was fun a fun race the firehawks are built with a !le suspension and mine was further modified.. so amybe it wasn't so fair but his boost was set at about 9-10 over stock.

The Dodge Viper GTS would beat both of them without a doubt.

http://www.fantasycars.com/derek/cars/lotus.html

http://www.fantasycars.com/derek/cars/f355_f1.html

http://www.fantasycars.com/derek/cars/gts.html

:sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun:

If you want to compare speeds of different sportscars consider this page http://www.fastestlaps.com