The sport exhaust is loud. The windows are rolled up, but the resonance under acceleration invades the cabin from seemingly all around. Under full throttle it is like a song, so welcome, so sweet, so right. Under lighter pedal, however, it is the jackhammer outside of your office window, or the loud party guest who won't leave.
The headlights flutter over the brick streets as hazy streetlights and willowy outlines of trees pass overhead in the darkness, silent above the echoing howl of the engine. This is standard S1 fare: The perfection of the experience is spoiled by the fluttering lights, resonances (exacerbated by this car's exhaust), and, in this car's case, a few squeaks and rattles.
But that's okay. Some people call it "character", and say that all exotic cars have it. For me it is a reminder that this is no ordinary car, and to make something so light and agile, you have to give up a little in the area of teutonic bank vault feel.
Turning on to I-4, the fluttering and creaking are quickly forgotten -- 60 mph comes quickly as the S1 rips through its first two gears. It seems to tear through third with equal alacrity, and suddenly all of the other cars are quickly falling behind. Oops, a little fast. This one moves out nicely.
I settle into fifth, and the S1 charges ahead, firm, comfortable, and surefooted. I smile and relax. Aaahhh, it is indeed a Lotus. As the streetlights and tail lights blur past me, I am in control, and every sensation is just so . . . right.
We arrive at our hotel all too soon. As we pull up to the entrance, people stop and look. I understand; It is hard not to. I climb out and walk toward the entrance, but stop to admire the car, just as the others have done. The dark blue lacquer is subtle and sleek in the radiance of the lobby's glass doors. The lights shining down from the canopy dance across the car's low, pointed form, searching for subtleties of Giugiaro's design that are normally lost in the brighter colors.
I walk back to the car. Patty has the camera in her bag. I ask her to take a picture. This was our first night with 454H. We were borrowing it tonight. The next morning, a bank check and a hand shake later, it would be ours.
The key slipped crisply into the ignition. Choke lever up, two pumps of the accelerator pedal, a twist of the key, and the 16-valve Lotus engine rumbled to life behind my shoulder, wheezing through the super-rich mixture from the chokes.
The Pektron chime buzzed from somewhere under the dashboard, reminding me to fasten my seat belt. No need, as I always do.
In the darkness of the Esprit's small cabin, I am overcome by the aroma of the leather. I pause a moment; I could sit here and take it in for hours.
A flick of a switch floods the interior with golden light. Brown and creme leather surrounds me, while the slender chrome border trim glimmers quietly. A look around, and everything is in place. The S1 interior, which I am so familiar with, looks especially inviting in these colors.
Another switch raises the lights, and the instrument panel glows a soft green. A check of the gauges: oil pressure is good and the temperature needle is beginning to creep out of its resting position. I slowly lower the choke lever, and the engine settles to a lopey but ready idle.
Tony's Lotus Page will soon be updated. 155H and 260H will return, along with the full story on 454H. Stay tuned . . . .
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Cheers,
Tony
