What is your opinion of the Panoz Esperante?

[Random Variable]

If the gauge cluster were where it should be, I would really like it.

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Why?

 

[ElFenix]

less to move around for localization?

the exterior is really nice, the interior is nice, except for that one bit. :disgust:

 

[Viper GTS]

Centralized clusters seem to be the way things are going, many new vehicles have that.

Saw one in Beaverton during the summer, gorgeous car.

Viper GTS

 

[Zenmervolt]

Personally, I like the AIV better. Probably just because I think it looks kind of like a Lotus/Caterham 7. Someday I would love to own a 7. Amazing little cars.

ZV

 

[Tominator]

If you sat in the car, and placed both hands on the wheel you'd know why the cluster is where it is. These cars are the size of a Miata or smaller. The guages would be hard to see.
In many forms of racing you have a co-driver. He spends much of his time watching the guages as the driver rarely takes his eyes from the road. Maybe that's the real reason???

 

[ElFenix]

is this a complete panoz design from the ground up or are they remodeling a car, or whose engine are they using?

 

[Que-TiP]

4.6L 4V Ford engine
Same as in the 2001 Cobra (320 Horse)

as a matter of fact, the cluster is from the cobra too, It may have something to do with the PATS security system. Engine won't work without the cluster?

-Alex

 

[Que-TiP]

I also just noticed the HVAC controls are form the mustang too..and crusie control buttons....nice integration though.

 

[Muadib]

I'll take one off your hands, Vespasian.

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is this a complete panoz design from the ground up or are they remodeling a car, or whose engine are they using?

The engine is a hand-built version of Ford's all-aluminum 4.6-liter DOHC V8. Rated at 320 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, this V8 maintains a smooth, flat power curve right on through to the redline. It's not as torque-rich down low as most eight-cylinders, but coupled with the Esperante's lightweight chassis it provides more than ample thrust at any speed.

The transmission is a five-speed manual topped with one of the sturdiest, most precise shifters we've had our hands on in a long time. One editor likened it to the bolt action of a well-oiled rifle, a sentiment that rang true every time we snapped off another tire-chirping shift. The clutch is more subtle in its action, with a smooth progressive feel and an absence of heft that belies the fact that it never falters when it comes to laying down the power.

Since the company's inception, Panoz has been a dedicated proponent of aluminum construction for its ability to provide the stiffness of steel with less weight. The Esperante's aluminum body is made using a process known as superplastic forming that was originally developed for the aerospace industry. Underneath, an all-aluminum spaceframe serves as the car's backbone while a carbon-fiber substructure connects the body to the frame.

With a curb weight of 3,279 pounds, the Esperante is comparatively svelte next to Mercedes' SL and Jaguar's XK, both of which tip the scales at over 4,000 pounds. This no doubt contributes to the Esperante's more visceral feel on the road and quicker numbers at the track. The all-aluminum structure also manages to retain a suitable level of rigidity despite its roofless configuration. Cowl shake is minimal, and aggressive driving that would leave the XK floundering does little to tweak the Esperante's rock-solid framework.

A fully independent, double-wishbone suspension provides the connection between the chassis and the road along with coil over shocks and four-wheel disc brakes. Aided by our test car's optional 18-inch wheels and tires and perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the Esperante exhibited tenacious grip and an easily manageable feel at the limit. Body roll was nearly imperceptible and midcorner bumps were handled without a hiccup.

 

[BigSmooth]

I like it, very nice looks and it's pretty quick.

However, because of the limited production, it's just too expensive IMO. The base price is $90K and Edmund's as-tested price is over $108K. At that price point, it's running with the big boys - it's treading on 911 Turbo and SL55 territory. There's no way I'm taking a Panoz over those cars, rarity be damned.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I think the Esperante is a charming car, and a true gentlemen's roadster. I can't embrace the centrally-mounted instruments, though - IMO this is done solely to cut costs, and it is bad on a Toyota Echo and intolerable on a $90,000 car. I feel the same way about the BMW Z8, which retails for $120K and sells for much more on the private market.

 

[dmcowen674]

The pics of the cars are at Chateau Elan Resort & Winery, I can almost walk there from my subdivision here in Chestnut Mountain Georgia about 80 miles Northeast of Atlanta. The cars are hand made one by one just down the road not far from here too and they have a Race track here called Road Atlanta. It is right across the street from a Nascar sanctioned short track, Lanier Speedway.

 

[Maetryx]

Maybe it's so it is easy to put the steering wheel on either side.

 

[Noirish]

everything is good except for the price tag.

 

[Random Variable]

bump