Evora - nice bit of kit

Evora - nice bit of kit

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iwilson

Original Poster:

246 posts

288 months

Tuesday 7th July 2009
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Back from a six week break in Europe. Timed the trip to ensure I could catch up with some old mates at a big race meet at Snetterton. One of those mates is Paul Golding the organiser of the highly successful Elise Trophy race series and the Lotus Cup Europe series. The safely car for the weekend was an Evora supplied by Lotus. A quick word with Paul and the next thing you know he's on the blower to race control telling them the safety car would be going out for a couple of laps between races with me as a passenger.

Impressions - looks much better in the flesh particularly in darker colours (the safety car was white but there were a couple floating around in darker colours). The rear end is still not quite there imho. Interior - uncluttered and doesn't look like a parts bin special, real seats OK for kids but that's about it. Luggage space, small but no problem if you have a washing machine at the other end.

Driving - breathtaking, unbelievable levels of grip and I'm coming from 12 years of Elise ownership. I was stunned at the effortless ability of the Evora to tackle the circuit at trackday speeds without so much as a squeak from the tires - the driver was an old mate of mine and is no Micheal Schumacker but he was made to look very good in the Evora. The ride was soft compared to an Elise yet cornering didn't seem to be compromised. The engine pulled like a train and made the right noises for a car of its class. Does a BMW M3 represent better value - on paper absolutely, but better value only enters the equation for the masses to whom a car is a only a method of delivering them from A to B.

So in summary, massively impressed with the driving experience, they got the front right but the rear end needs more work. Is Porsche worried, probably not. Will they sell - yes, but not to as wide an audience as they hoped. This is a car for those who appreciate the experience of driving rather than showing their status in life aka the majority of 911 and Ferrari owners (present company excluded).





Esprit

6,370 posts

288 months

Tuesday 7th July 2009
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Lovely pics/report Ian, glad to have you back. Whenever you're up town ways, I've got some stuff for you smile

Kylie

4,391 posts

262 months

Wednesday 8th July 2009
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That is amazing you lucky lucky sod. Apparently this car must be viewed in the flesh and cant wait to view myself. Agree about the rear end, I never really liked it from day one, so its interesting you say that.
Your son is just the cutest wee man I bet all the ladies over there were going gaga over him hahaha!!! What are you like sitting there having a cigar and beer with junior hehe!

Fraster

1,267 posts

245 months

Wednesday 8th July 2009
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Apple juice of course! -looks like you got some nice weather too.