Ever since I first played the (now primitive) the game
Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge on the Amiga, it became my dream car and that dream pretty much followed me right into my teenage years. Unfortunately, Lotus stopped producing it, so I got a Lotus Exige instead, which I still drive. The Esprit still remains a very special car for me - and at some point, I've been close to buying one, either an S4S or the V8. If only they weren't that fragile...
My dream car now days, must be probably some Ferrari - which is quite funny, because I'm not really a Ferrari fan at all. I've grown up liking Lotus, so Ferrari was the brand I disliked most than any other. That's because I liked the Chapman philosophy: Simplify, then add lightness. Sadly, and as a owner of a Lotus for almost 8 years, I am seeing a trend I don't like. The cars are moving away from their original ethos, getting heavier and focusing on the wrong areas. To some degree, this has to do with new laws in regards to road & safety etc - sure - but not all of it. Take the new Exige with the V6. A very solid car, yes, but it's the wrong kind of engine and the weight increase over its predecessor, the car I drive, is nearly 450kg. So while it has 350bhp (compared to the 280bhp I have), the response is laggier and it doesn't shout and scream like mine does. It's become more of a solid car though and the quality improvement is there... but, it's an Exige. It's moving away from the concept that made the cars so brilliant. A bit out of concept, similar like the Evora is, or the Europe before it. Yes, Lotus is small and struggling, but if they devoted half their mind and expertise into making just a single devoted track orientated car that is light, fast and agile - a bit like the original Elise was - I'd bet they could cater to the same niche market that kept them afloat in the mid 90ties. But it seems, they are more concerned in trying to compete with other sportscar brands by going "bigger or more is better"... What a pitty.
Which brings me to Ferrari. As a bit of an anti Ferrari bloke, I have to admit one thing; Their cars are built with passion - a sort of passion that is rarely seen now days, or only once you get into hyper car territory, like perhaps Pagani. If I had a choice to buy any car, I think it'd be a Scuderia. Or the CS before it. Actually, probably any Ferrari if I'm honest. High revving, mental noise, empty interior and stunning looks. And within their class, they are pretty light too.
Maybe some day...
