Photo: User:BillWeiss, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Roadster américain artisanal à carrosserie et châssis en aluminium collés et boulonnés, construit à 234 exemplaires de 2000 à 2007 (Jalopnik), avec le V8 4.6 Ford de 305 ch et de nombreuses pièces de Ford Mustang, courantes et peu chères selon Jalopnik. Les retours de fiabilité sont très rares : un propriétaire la juge mécaniquement fiable mais signale des bruits de caisse et des vis à resserrer régulièrement. Achat de passionné, à faire inspecter par un spécialiste.
- Reliability
- 5.0/5
- Euro NCAP
- Rating not found
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: GT 4.6 V8 305 manuelle.
GT 4.6 V8 305 manuelle
✓ RecommendedPetrol · Manual · 305 hp · Crit'Air 3
V8 Ford Modular 4.6 de 305 ch à 5 800 tr/min, boîte manuelle Tremec à 5 rapports, propulsion (Wikipedia, Cars.com). Moteur et boîte viennent de la Ford Mustang Cobra (Jalopnik). La version de base s'est ensuite appelée GT.
GT 4.6 V8 305 automatique
Petrol · Automatic · 305 hp · Crit'Air 3
Même V8 de 305 ch avec la boîte automatique à 4 rapports proposée en option (Wikipedia, Cars.com).
Market prices
Price unknown: not enough online listings for a reliable estimate. Compare several listings before negotiating.
Importing this model
Prices abroad
Not enough listings collected yet in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy or the United Kingdom for this model.
You are importing the car to:
Import penalty (malus) in France
- The CO₂ malus follows the scale of the year the vehicle was first registered, in France or abroad (WLTP or NEDC scale depending on its registration certificate).
- For an imported used car, it is reduced by a flat-rate discount based on its age in months (scheme in force since 1 March 2025). The weight malus also applies on first registration in France.
- Production ended in 2007: a car first registered before 1 January 2015 has no malus.
Source: BOFiP (French tax doctrine), CO₂ and weight malus · CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
Paperwork and procedures
- Importing a used car from another EU country: the step-by-step process
- Importing a car from an EU country: all the documents to gather
- Carte grise for an imported car: cost, taxes and the official simulator
- CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
- Importing a used car from outside the European Union: the steps
Importing and registering in Belgium: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in Switzerland: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing a car into Switzerland: customs, tax and registration
Importing and registering in Luxembourg: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in the United Kingdom: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Check an imported car's history
HistoVec only covers the vehicle's life in France. For a car coming from abroad, a VIN-based report helps spot inconsistent mileage or a reported accident.
Check the car's history: 20% off → (new tab)Partner link
Known faults
Note: some faults below are cited by a single source only. They are still to be confirmed and the reliability score is only indicative.
Bruits de caisse et visserie à resserrer
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingUn propriétaire cité par Kelley Blue Book juge la voiture très fiable mécaniquement mais signale des bruits de caisse, un habitacle bruyant et une visserie à resserrer régulièrement sur cette voiture assemblée à la main ; un second avis trouve aussi le bruit gênant. Retour d'un seul site, sur deux avis seulement, à confirmer.
Single source so far: to be confirmed.
- Versions
- GT 4.6 V8 305 manuelle, GT 4.6 V8 305 automatique
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Panoz Esperante”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Inspection checklist
Panoz Esperante I — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Faire inspecter la structure en aluminium collée et boulonnée (cinq modules) et la carrosserie aluminium : chocs et réparations.
- Écouter les bruits de caisse sur route dégradée et vérifier le serrage de la visserie.
- Contrôler l'état de la capote et de la lunette arrière en plastique, qui jaunit (Jalopnik).
- Faire vérifier le V8 4.6 et la boîte par un atelier connaissant la Ford Mustang Cobra, dont ils dérivent.
- Sur une voiture longtemps stockée, faire contrôler pneus, freins et fluides avant de rouler.
Questions to ask the seller
- La voiture a-t-elle longtemps été stockée sans rouler ?
- Avez-vous les factures d'entretien, et où la voiture a-t-elle été entretenue ?
- La structure ou la carrosserie aluminium ont-elles été réparées après un choc ?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jaguar XK
II · 2006–2014
- Price
- €20,000 – €34,900
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol
Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0
Chevrolet Corvette
C7 · 2014–2019
- Price
- €63,000 – €86,900
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol
Photo: Navigator84, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ford Mustang
VI · 2015–2023
- Price
- €30,950 – €47,990
- Reliability
- not rated
- Fuel types
- Petrol
Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC0
Nissan 350Z
Z33 · 2003–2009
- Price
- €12,990 – €18,245
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Panoz Esperante I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Quel moteur équipe la Panoz Esperante ?
Un V8 Ford Modular 4.6 de 305 ch, avec boîte manuelle 5 rapports Tremec ou automatique 4 rapports (Wikipedia, Cars.com). La GTLM reçoit un 4.6 à compresseur de 420 ch selon Wikipedia.
Les pièces de la Panoz Esperante sont-elles difficiles à trouver ?
Moteur, boîte, instrumentation, sièges, commandes et airbags viennent de la Ford Mustang SN95 : Jalopnik juge ces pièces assez courantes et peu chères. La carrosserie et le châssis aluminium sont en revanche spécifiques à Panoz.
Combien de Panoz Esperante ont été construites ?
234 exemplaires de 2000 à 2007 selon Jalopnik, ce qui la rend très rare.
Found a listing?
Soon, we will analyse your Panoz Esperante listing: price, mileage, watch points.
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