We look at a lot of cheap, terrible cars on here, and once in a while I like to mix things up on Fridays and show you some non-terrible cars that are also not cheap. Today is not one of those days. Today’s cars are not cheap, but in their current state, they are absolutely terrible.
Yesterday we looked at two terrible convertibles: the wrong Mustang, and an orphaned Renault. To my absolute surprise and delight, the Renault seems to have eked out a narrow victory, despite being more expensive and decidedly more obscure. I love this site. Buncha car weirdos, all of you, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I, of course, prefer the Renault as well. I have nothing against Mustang convertibles, but if I was going to get an Essex-powered automatic one, I’d look for a newer SN95 and get fuel injection and a little more refinement. I’ve never actually seen an Alliance convertible in person before, I don’t think, but I have driven a few hardtop Alliances and Encores over the years, and I like them a lot. And if all the convertibles really were 1.7 liters, as some commenters said, then that’s even better.
The name of this feature, “Shitbox Showdown,” wasn’t my idea. I’m pretty sure it was Jason. I’m totally in favor of it; I like alliteration, and cuss words. But I do find it funny that every once in a while, I get a comment saying that the cars I’m featuring are not in fact shitboxes; they’re too nice for that term. Or that a car can’t be considered a shitbox if it’s above a certain price. Originally there was a price cutoff, but that fell by the wayside early on. The fact is, shitboxery knows no price limit. Dreadful cars sell for ridiculous prices all the time, and nice cars can fall into disrepair at the hands of careless owners. The nicest and most expensive Hyundai Excel in the world is still, by anyone’s definition, a shitbox. And as we have seen before, so is a Bentley that has been sitting in a field for a decade. Can a shitbox cost fifty grand or more? Of course. Let’s look at a couple.
1977 Lotus Esprit S1 – $65,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Odometer reading: 36,000 miles
Operational status: Mostly restored, but needs reassembly
Show of hands: Who else fell in love with a car as a kid based not on the actual car, but a toy of it? I had a lot of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars as a kid, but one of my favorites was the “Royal Flash” Lotus Esprit, with the giant Union Jack on it. I wore the paint off that thing playing with it, and I have been a fan of the Lotus Esprit ever since. I don’t have a Royal Flash in my current collection, but I do have a few other Esprit toys and model kits. This one is kind of like a model kit, only much bigger – and much more expensive.
The Esprit, like other Lotus models both before and after, is built on a central backbone chassis with a fiberglass body dropped on top. It’s mid-engined, with Lotus’s own twin-cam four mounted longitudinally ahead of the rear axle, driving the rear wheels through a Citroën-sourced five-speed transaxle. The original Esprit engine displaced 2.0 liters, but this one has a larger 2.2-liter version from a later Esprit. It has been fully rebuilt, and is ready to go – as soon as the rest of the car is.
All of the mechanical parts are ready to go, in fact, except for the brakes. Apparently, Honda brakes are a recommended upgrade for early Esprits, and the seller has started the conversion but has not finished it. You’ll have to source a few bits and pieces to complete the system. But the seller sounds like they’re willing to provide advice and support to help you get it all back together.
The body is ready to be reinstalled on the chassis, with new seals and weatherstripping. The seats have been redone and are ready to go back in as well. The carpet and headliner need to be installed, but it sounds like they’re included. Obviously, there is a ton of work yet to do, but considering the amount of work that has already been done, this actually sounds like a decent deal for the right person.
1991 Acura NSX – $50,000
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0-liter DOHC V6, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 72,000 miles
Operational status: “Can be driven,” but…
The Acura NSX surprised everyone when it came out. Honda had made some fun cars, but this mid-engined Ferrari fighter was on a whole new level. It looks like that, and it goes that fast, and it’s as reliable as a Civic? Yes, please. I honestly hadn’t thought much about the NSX in a while when I saw this car for sale, and I was surprised to see one in such rough shape. I assumed they were all pampered prized possessions.
This NSX has a rebuilt title from an accident, and from the sounds of it, it wasn’t quite repaired right. The seller says the right front wheel “sits back a little” in its opening, indicating some bent suspension parts or an improperly-repaired unibody. The seller says it’s drivable, but do you really want to drive a high-powered, mid-engined, rare sports car with wonky alignment? Best get it checked out by someone who knows what they’re doing.
The interior is partially disassembled, and the seller says they have “most of the parts.” That’s not great to hear; some of the switchgear is probably shared with other Honda and Acura models, but I’m sure all the interior trim is unique, and probably not easy to come by. Where did the missing pieces go, I wonder?
The photos in this ad are terrible; the car is in a garage and we can’t get a decent look at it. If it is drivable, why not back it out of the garage and take some photos in the sunlight so we can see it? You’re asking fifty grand for a car, and this is the best view you can give us? I’ll never understand it.
These are out of reach for most of us, of course, but they are bargains compared to really nice examples. So let’s just imagine you could afford one, and you have a nice well-stocked garage to work on it. Which looks like a better project to you?
I’d go for the Lotus. I always liked the NSX but the Esprit is just…more. The Lotus would also be a more fun project. The NSX is probably easier to get in shape, however.
I’d be inclined to go NSX with the MAJOR caveat that it be looked at by a reputable body shop to see exactly what is up with the front end. If it’s bent bolt-on parts, no problem. If the unibody is bent; nope, hard pass.
I don’t really see the NSX’s overall condition as a bad thing, in that it’s rough enough to where you could drive the hell out of it and enjoy having an NSX without worrying about depreciating a nice example.
Also, the seller is asking about half of the going price on BaT and C&B. Assuming the front alignment is fixable with bolt-on parts (I can’t stress that enough), that feels like an appropriate hit for the condition and branded title. Also, in case it wasn’t clear by the drive the hell out of it part, I’d run this car into the ground and the resale price would be my son’s problem after I”m gone.
I feel like the chances of the NSX being only bolt-on parts needed is significantly less than zero. I suspect those have already been bolted on, and it’s still farked because the aluminum(?) tub bent.
You likely aren’t wrong. There just isn’t much about the listing that gives me faith any repairs were made by anyone using anything approaching their whole ass and that makes me thing it’s worth a look.
If the tub’s bent, walk away; if it’s a bent control arm, incorrect part (say for a different spec, or model year NSX), or misassembled it could be worth picking up for the price if you wanted an NSX you could guiltlessly run into the ground.
I am very JDM-coded. I want the NSX way more than I want a four-cylinder Esprit.
But I don’t like the NSX enough to get the front suffrage completely replaced by a body shop. I guess Lotus Kit it is.
….maybe I can be devious and put a Honda V6 in the back instead. Gotta be plenty of cheap Odysseys, right? The thing’s already apart, perfect time for a swap. And if possible, keep the stock drive train on the shelf to either sell to someone who needs it or keep to reverse the swap when sold. We Have NSX At Home.
Salvage title. Stop right there. Some insurance companies won’t insure a salvage titled car. If we’re talking about a track only car, fine. I’ll take the Lotus, it has more history.
People always say this, but I never had the slightest issue with insuring salvage title cars – owned several over the years. All that happens is because it’s worth less, it’s easier to total it again. And of course, they charge you just as much as for a pristine example.
At least you know what you are getting into with the Lotus, even if the price is sky high.
Crazy to think I looked at a decent 90s one in red for $25k’ish, in the 2000s.
Esprit, no question. I’ve built kit cars so that’s actually not an unreasonable prospect, and the S1 is the cleanest and closest to the designer’s idea. Don’t get me wrong, the NSX would be cool too, but I wouldn’t be able to pass up the lotus.
I could fix the NSX with a tree and a chain.
I’m guessing it was already tried.. and that’s the problem.
But yeah, there’s many farmers around here that fix salvage title cars with frame damage with a backhoe and a tractor.
Which can work for a steel subframe, but for an Aluminum one you are asking for some cracks.
I’d rather have a S3 Esprit, but this one has lots of nice new shiny bits, it’s basically a brand new car. $65k feels right AFTER its all assembled (and perhaps steep), but a couple hundred hours of work negates that. The pictures show some pretty good work.
Now the NSX is in the same boat in regards to time, except its beat to shit, has acknowledged poor repairs and who knows what else. Even without the poor repair, this car is rough.
These are both awful awful buys at their price points, but at least with the Esprit you’re likely to get a decent car to enjoy out of it at the end, vs a black hole of despair and doubt with the NSX.
That’s the perfect way to buy an Esprit. No hidden sins, at least none that you don’t commit yourself.
Normally an early Esprit is an expensive wedge of old British Ford parts that may make some noise but usually just rots into the earth. This one has a lot of the big stuff done, and you can put it together better than Nigel and Roger did while the British car industry was burning down and Margie Thatcher was putting her boot on everyone’s neck with help from Ronnie Ray-gun.
An excellent synopsis of how a certain political ideology destroyed industry and jobs.
Problem is you can buy a nice already complete one for less than this. And one of the much, much better later ones at that.
True. But, internet play money!
I’d go for the Lotus, but I wonder why the seller is giving up on its restoration when it’s in the home stretch?
The ad just says “personal reasons.” Could be anything.
Ran out of money is the most common problem. The high asking price is likely to try to pay off the HELOC.
Here I was thinking I couldn’t afford either of these cars, and Hoser68 had to remind me of the existence of the HELOC. In that case, NSX? I think the seats recline further when I have to sleep in it.
Truth. You can sleep in your car but your house isn’t much fun to drive.
The right call is neither.
The second best call is the Esprit, because it seems like you might be able to build it into an actual car without too many headaches.
My call is the NSX, because I am a foolish man who sees NSX and ignores the blinding red siren lights of the salvage title and totaled frame.
The Esprit is a much better “kit car” than the Porch from yesterday and will likely be less expensive. You’ll have to buy your own shoes, but at least they’ll fit and you won’t look like a clown.
The NSX having been totaled basically hands this to the Esprit for me. I can’t trust that the NSX will ever drive like it should after finishing reassembly and the branded title guarantees you will lose a lot of money on it
I would normally not give an expensive and also disassembled car a second look, but I can see the value here with the Esprit. If the seller has what you need to get it back together you’ll get a hell of a car. Eventually. Unless you also give up on the project.
Screw it. I voted for the Esprit but should have said neither. You can get a damn good car for $65-$50,000 and not have to put it together yourself.
Lotus for me.
In a case like this, you’re buying the owner as much as the car.
For the Lotus, you’ve got a seller who seems to know what they’re doing, but needs to move on and is willing to answer questions to assist the new owner in getting the car back together.
For Acura, you’ve got a seller who took the car apart, lost some of the pieces, then seems to have run out of skill and put it back together half-assedly to try to unload it. Plus, it’s got a salvage title.
Nailed it! I love both of these cars (in principle), but between these two examples it’s an easy decision.
The Lotus for sure. The NSX just has too many questions and with the salvage title would be a nightmare to license and insure for what it would likely be worth if it was done right, which as noted was not. The only downside to the Lotus is that it isn’t white so I can’t pretend to be James Bond
Agree with TheDrunkenWrench, if that NSX didn’t have a chassis issue, then NSX. I’m going Lotus as well, because I’ve always wanted an Esprit. Always wanted a NSX as well, and remember my old boss’ boss in the late 90s daily drove one to work.
How hard (and how much) it would be to insure a salvage-titled supercar?
We can avoid the “I wouldn’t pay that for either” comments. We get it, I don’t think any of us would.
But choice between the two? I would go Lotus. Always thought they were neat, REALLY came close to buying an Elise until I drove it. Way too many factors that would add up to not wanting to drive it. (Yet I still consider it occasionally.)
The Esprit is a different car, you don’t exactly see them anymore (maybe for a reason). If I had to fix either up, I’d go that route. (And the wheel sitting back too far on the NSX? No thanks.)
Damn, a twisted chassis is the ONLY thing that would stop me from buying that NSX. Especially at that price point.
I’m STILL kicking myself for not finding the 30k to pick up an NSX that was offered to my back around 2010.
“Willing to provide advice and support?” Hahahahahaha
“Wheel sits back a little?” Hahahahahaha!
The Lotus frame and engine would look cooler sitting in my garage for the next 40 years waiting for assembly than the rough Acura would.
This is clearly a case of “If I had the money…”
Lotus all day. And If I had even more money, the NSX too because damn it, it’s gorgeous. And in the supercar context of being the knife at the gunfight, the NSX’s particular knife is a damned lightsaber. It isn’t the quickest car on the track but when it adheres to the road like a codependent octopus, what speed you build in the straights, you keep through the turns. This one sounds like all it wants to do at the moment is turn, however, so that will obviously need some time.
But the Lotus, speaking of codependence, is a wanty creature. They want your time, they want your money and most especially they want your attention. Except someone has already poured a lot of attention into this one and what’s left? The FUN part! Putting it all back together after the fixing is done, hell YES that sounds like a blast.
If I had the money, Lotus. Then NSX if I don’t need my kidneys. Yes to both but Lotus first.
We had a 914 my dad bought new. It was a lesson in never meeting your heroes.
A few years ago, I was thinking about buying a boxster. My dad said “I made the mistake of buying a middle engine Porsche, so you don’t have to…”
That being said, I’d take a mostly complete Lotus over a janky NSX, but a Nice NSX over a Nice Lotus…
I’ve been thinking about dropping $60k on a 2 door manual Bronco Badlands, which goes directly against my usual consideration for fuel efficiency. Maybe I should just drop $65k on a Lotus and live out my Bond, James Bond fantasies; minus the explosive car alarm.
As an aside, I’ve gotten a bad case of the “wants” on the Bronco. I’m waiting for the reasoning portion of my brain to kick in so I don’t make a stupid decision.
Do it!
You’re not helping.
Hard no on both but if not my money then the lotus.
Tough call this morning. Fortunately (for my fake internet money), I know an outstanding body shop that has a specialist in frame straightening. Always wanted an NSX, so that’s my call today.