Would you buy a Panoz Esperante?

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
10/27/2014 at 10:18 • Filed to: Panzo Esperante

Let's say you have 100k to spend on a car and that is how much an Esperante costs (I have no clue how much it actually costs this is hypothetical). Would you buy this one of a kind vehicle over the comparable Corvette, Porsche, Jaguar, Aston Martin? While I like the Esperante I have a hard time justifying the car over the comparable competition. I love that it is an American sports car and the pure racing history etc. I just have a hard time justifying the looks. Might be childish to say but at 100k I would want my car to be perfect. It would be a cool 3rd or 4th car however. And the personalized touch in the build process is very cool.

By the way watch Jay Leno's video if you haven't this week it is pretty good!

DISCUSSION (37)

RazoE > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:19

I would love them if they didn't share so many parts with the Mustang...

My citroen won't start > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:20

Never in a million years

JR1 > RazoE
10/27/2014 at 10:21

Well you can get an LS engine in the mix as well

JR1 > My citroen won't start
10/27/2014 at 10:21

Why is that?

Party_in_the_USA > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:21

Panoz*

JR1 > Party_in_the_USA
10/27/2014 at 10:23

Opps Monday Morning fuck up

My citroen won't start > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:27

It has no appeal, it looks fugly and isn't all that exciting, I'b buy a Noble or Ascari.

RazoE > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:29

I meant interior parts. Gauges/hvac/door panels. These are not the epitome of car design...

Leon711 > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:30

if you squint there is some LaFerrari and 599 in there.

Lafezza in the ends of the front bumper, 599 in the headlights.

JR1 > My citroen won't start
10/27/2014 at 10:37

See I forgot about the Noble/Rossion that is indeed a far better option at a similar price.

JR1 > Leon711
10/27/2014 at 10:37

The tail is pure 360 and I always loved the 360 tail

JR1 > RazoE
10/27/2014 at 10:38

See I like the interior so I am going to have to disagree. I think it looks simple and therefore elegant I am sick of 100 different buttons on modern cars

Sn210 > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:39

I would, but not for 100k!

I'd say yes at $40k, if I had $40k...

http://m.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

JR1 > Sn210
10/27/2014 at 10:45

At 40k it seems like a far more attractive option

Rock Bottom > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:45

10/10: WOULD DRAGON.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:55

Nope. Probably wouldn't even consider it .

The Transporter > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:55

This car isn't targeted at people who have only $100k to spend on just one sports car, those people get a Porsche. This is a car for someone who needs a "cheap" sports car to kick around in when their Veyron, P1, and La Ferrari are all in the shop.

Tohru > JR1
10/27/2014 at 10:57

An Esperante Classic new is around $100k. The one in this video is the higher-trim Esperante Spyder, which starts at $179k.

However, like always, you get more when you buy used. A current search of used vehicles for sale finds Esperantes between $26,500 (2004 GTLM hardtop with 143k miles) to $59,995 (2005 Classic convertible with 3,596 miles).

The problem with an Esperante Classic, however, is the interior. They reused much of the original Mustang dashboard (btw, the floorpan and firewall are Mustang), and it doesn't look very good.

Kinja'd!!!

http://jalopnik.com/for-28-400-pan…

RazoE > JR1
10/27/2014 at 11:34

yeah, but not when they're taken straight out of a fox-body Mustang.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/27/2014 at 11:56

Seems to be the general view point on Oppo

JR1 > The Transporter
10/27/2014 at 11:57

Like I said it would be a cool 3rd or 4th car but certainly not a first choice.

JR1 > Tohru
10/27/2014 at 11:58

It isn't as pretty as the current interior but it would likely turn heads and still have a cool factor to it

JR1 > RazoE
10/27/2014 at 12:01

What interior are you looking at?

RazoE > JR1
10/27/2014 at 12:27

The Esperante:

Kinja'd!!!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/27/2014 at 13:14

My biggest issue is the fact that is is really, really ugly. I would never spend 100k on an emotional purchase if I find it hideous to look at. Apart from that, there is nothing about it that is particularly better than any conventional competitor.

wildstallions > JR1
10/27/2014 at 13:20

Yeah, seems to me everyone is mentioning the old car's interior and components. From what I read, there is a lot that's all new, specifically the interior. And it's not Mustang powertrain any more. The video says you can get the Coyote or the LS-A engine mated to the Tremec. Guess my POV is it's hand built and not on every street corner. As for Noble, can you even get in the U.S., and where do you get it serviced?

JR1 > RazoE
10/27/2014 at 14:43

The new interior looks better

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/27/2014 at 14:45

I know that is the biggest problem. I do like the lack of gizmos on the car however, like a back to basic interior. No buttons and a good ol' manual

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/27/2014 at 14:46

For 100k, I get some creature comforts. If I wanted a stripped-out roadster, there are better ones for less. This has the styling, numbers, price tag, and style of a cruiser/sportscar, so it needs some toys.

JR1 > wildstallions
10/27/2014 at 14:46

I think the new interior is very nice and it would be cool to not see one everywhere like say a Corvette or a 911.

You have to get a Rossion and probably at a Ford dealer? 3.0 V6 inside.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/27/2014 at 14:48

You are right in the current market people want toys. The purist in me disagrees but no one ever cars about the purist

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/27/2014 at 14:51

Nothing wormhole with a purist sports car. But there are better ones for your 100k.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/27/2014 at 14:55

True statement. A real purist would just get an old school sports car or a Porsche 911 GT3

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/27/2014 at 15:01

Also, my phone just autocorrected "wrong" to "wormhole", a word I have never, ever used. What.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/27/2014 at 15:09

See technology is bad we all need to be driving these:

Kinja'd!!!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
10/27/2014 at 15:19

Or these:

Kinja'd!!!

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/27/2014 at 15:22

My peasant allowance would never allow me to afford such a baroness