MatraSport Forum

I guess, some of Murena owners like me, also have very nice feelings about the Lotus Esprit. I also know of some Esprit owners "grew up" in a Murena. But how different are they?
Of course the price tag and the running costs are 2 - 4 times higher, is it then worth the money?

I have recently bought myself a '85 Turbo Esprit, and after 700 km I will dare the comparison.

The Turbo Esprit is due to the power difference A LOT quicker in terms of acceleration. That said, as I am also the lucky owner of a Lotus Excel with the normal aspirated motor, an Esprit S3 will only accelerate marginal better than a Murena S. 1:1

The steering is a bit lighter in the Murena probadly due to the smaller tires, but just as responsive. 1:1

The Esprit is faster on a twisted road, the grip is better, it is better balanced. More like a racing car. 0:1

The comfort is better in the Esprit, less noise, better absorbing. 0:1

Visibility. In the Esprit the car ends at the windscreen, and 3/4 rear is non existent. You have to guess the corners. 1:0

Brakes: I normal use, you will not feel the difference, but on a track day, the Murena will soon fade. 0:1

Quality: Well no of these will pull out trees, but the Esprit has more nice details to comply with "La dolce Vita". No visible plastic surfaces - all covered in leather. 0:1

Technical. The Esprit is far more complex and at a higher level. 0:1

Serviceability: The Murena is the winner here. I have ovned my Murena for 13 years, and I have service costs of a level of a Toyota. I can do most of it with simple tools and my bare hands. The Esprit will in many cases require a specialist (where are they?). 1:0

Attraction: Here in Denmark the Esprit is an UFO. You are defenetly turning more heads. 0:1 (If you do not prefer this, just switch the scooring)

Design: I will leave this to you.....

Verdict: The Murena (S) is a very good car, which gives you 80% of an Esprit at a 1/3 costs. If mid engine is a demand, you could not spend your money in a better way.
If you also want some exhibioniostic exotic apperance, the Esprit is only 1/3 price of a Ferrari 308.

I decided to realize a 33 year old dream - bought the Esprit on eBay and collected it this weekend. I would estimate, that the prizes are at the bottom now, with Lotus being much more involved in motorsports in the future - take a look on the internet and go for it. Btw. has anyone knowledge of a vacant Bond girl - preferably from the later moviies?

The Murena stays as my daily driver.

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anyone knowledge of a vacant Bond girl - preferably from the later movies?
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I prefer them from the older movies, they are more my age ;)

I liked the Esprit to, but I remembered the English chap I talked with about 10 years ago.
He was pretty negative about the brand.
Doesn't Lotus stand for Lots Of Trouble Usealy Serious?

Also the price for a Murena was much lower.
I think it has more to offer for budget classic driving, and has as much fun.
You don't want a Lotus engine going down, because then youre realy f*cked, where the Murena parts are better priced.
However, i wish you all the best with the Esprit.
Like the Murena it's becoming a collecters item.

I like that: Murena as daily drive and Lotus Esprit for a sunny Sunday :D
Congratulation!
Hans

PS For the Bond babes I prefer those from the newer movies because thay are NOT my age!

And pictures?  ;)

One friend of mine had an Esprit 2,2 when I had silver 2,2 Murena, we made this  ;)

(http://michaltalbot.sweb.cz//P1010007.JPG)

(http://michaltalbot.sweb.cz//P1010005.JPG)

(http://michaltalbot.sweb.cz//P1010014.JPG)

Actually - on the middle picture - you can see one of the genialities from Giogiaro's hand. The line in side panels. On the Murena and on later Stevens Esprits, the line is in the middle of the panels, but on the Esprit S2 it is placed 2/3 up, which gives much more dynamics in the apperance. This is definately an italian job. This "trick" is also used by many Gandini/Bertone designs like the Uracco and Khamsin.
I belive, that a Murena would have benefited this approach too.

On the middle picture, looking from behind the Lotus. Even with this perspective the Lotus looks a good bit lower than the Murena.  Does anyone have the measure?

Murena 1220 mm
Esprit 1120 mm

Difference 0,0001 km :D

Yeah, but that difference will allow the Esprit to slip under the booms at parking garrages without paying. The Murena cannot. >:(

I think the Murena looks much more like a "real" car, than that mark of Esprit.
To me this esprit looks like a Kit-car.

I'm guessing but the esprit was proberbly more money than the murena which would account for some of the refinement differences and let's face it, I'm sure if you bolted a turbo unit to the murena I'm sure it would give it more kick to keep with the Esprit.
I see the Murena as a true entry level sposts car. I think when comaring other cars to the murena I would say the monte carlo was most comparable, maybe x19 or mr2 but most the these came either before or after the murena, I can't think of many cars like murena that came out at the same time. Compare the build quality of the murena and the alpine 310 and for an "entry level sports car"it's far better made, it's just a shame that they never put that nice v6 in the back of the murena.... This would have been a great car!

Congrats on the Esprit! I'd love to see some photos - or the car itself, perhaps?

I have one thing to add to your comparison, which is that the Murena is a social car. No other sports car (apart from the Bagheera and one other car) has three seats, which allows you (as it was originally intended!) to take both your wife and your mistress with you in the car (wife in the rightmost seat, of course).

We who aren't real frenchmen can't even think of doing such a thing of course, but I enjoy giving rides to my sons' friends. Having both my son, and the friend aboard so much more fun for everyone than giving the friend a ride alone would be!

Cheers,
Anders  8)

Yes Anders, You hit the point! Last week-end we were invited to my uncle and we went with Murena - me, Natalie and Maria. Natalie is just 4 months old and it was very funny how she was in the middle of us - looking to me, looking to Maria, to me, to Maria, to me... like at some tennis match :D :D :D

My demands for a car is:
Mid engine, low, wide, edge design, lightweight, 4 disc brakes, no rust and repairable at home. This leaves me with...

Murena and
....Esprit

(Elise does not completely comply with "repairable at home" and "edge design") - I might change opinion later;-)

I used to have a Fiat x1/9 - hence the demand for a rust free car.