Harry's Garage - YouTube
Discussion
DonkeyApple said:
The correct crate engine to go into the Emira is the AMG i4. Because that engine and other high power i4s exist there is no reason at all for Lotus to still be doing anything with the Toyota V6.
That engine is powerful and modern, but from what I can remember from Harry's test drive, devoid of any character. There's also a question of cooling as I'm suspecting it's one of the reasons I4s are still not being delivered to customers. paralla said:
I firmly believe that the engine in a sports car is central to its appeal.
Seems to me like the 3.5 V6 got the job done but lacked any sort of drama, theatre, personality, fizz, or whatever else that endears a car to its owner.
The 2GR-FE 3.5 was developed in 2005 and just wasn’t special enough for the Emira.
I like the GR engine in my Lexus, but that's a £2k shed not an aspiring supercar. The i4 alternative in the Emira might be cleverer or more modern but I don't even want an i4 engine in my daily driver let alone a special car.Seems to me like the 3.5 V6 got the job done but lacked any sort of drama, theatre, personality, fizz, or whatever else that endears a car to its owner.
The 2GR-FE 3.5 was developed in 2005 and just wasn’t special enough for the Emira.
Interesting to see the V6 taking criticism on here today…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYGanifXsk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYGanifXsk
Truckosaurus said:
I like the GR engine in my Lexus, but that's a £2k shed not an aspiring supercar. The i4 alternative in the Emira might be cleverer or more modern but I don't even want an i4 engine in my daily driver let alone a special car.
Agreed. Modern, low revving turbocharged 4s generally sound crap and lack drama. Couldn't get excited by a 4C, Alpine or the 4 banger in this. Wouldn't buy a C63 or M135 now, either. Funny because in my head I really liked the high revving jap engines, K Series in Caterhams and the unforgettable induction bark from a BDA.
Guess it's the way the NVH has been so successfully removed from these modern engines that there's no character left.
Forester1965 said:
Truckosaurus said:
I like the GR engine in my Lexus, but that's a £2k shed not an aspiring supercar. The i4 alternative in the Emira might be cleverer or more modern but I don't even want an i4 engine in my daily driver let alone a special car.
Agreed. Modern, low revving turbocharged 4s generally sound crap and lack drama. Couldn't get excited by a 4C, Alpine or the 4 banger in this. Wouldn't buy a C63 or M135 now, either. Funny because in my head I really liked the high revving jap engines, K Series in Caterhams and the unforgettable induction bark from a BDA.
Guess it's the way the NVH has been so successfully removed from these modern engines that there's no character left.
The 4C and Alpine especially....and who can forget Porsche's crack at it... all great engines statistically, but nothing memorable, emotional or really desirable when using them...
ArgonautX said:
DonkeyApple said:
The correct crate engine to go into the Emira is the AMG i4. Because that engine and other high power i4s exist there is no reason at all for Lotus to still be doing anything with the Toyota V6.
That engine is powerful and modern, but from what I can remember from Harry's test drive, devoid of any character. There's also a question of cooling as I'm suspecting it's one of the reasons I4s are still not being delivered to customers. paralla said:
The answer in a mid engine compact coupe is a bespoke flat 6 or 120 degree V6 but they don’t have the resources for either.
It isn't necessarily. The biggest problem with Evora/Emira platform is the engine orientation/placement and the associated manual gearbox, which limits both revs and power on the 2GR. A longitudinal engine would solve both issues, with the added benefit of lower CoG and better cooling. ArgonautX said:
It isn't necessarily. The biggest problem with Evora/Emira platform is the engine orientation/placement and the associated manual gearbox, which limits both revs and power on the 2GR. A longitudinal engine would solve both issues, with the added benefit of lower CoG and better cooling.
Why would cooling improve?Quickmoose said:
Forester1965 said:
Truckosaurus said:
I like the GR engine in my Lexus, but that's a £2k shed not an aspiring supercar. The i4 alternative in the Emira might be cleverer or more modern but I don't even want an i4 engine in my daily driver let alone a special car.
Agreed. Modern, low revving turbocharged 4s generally sound crap and lack drama. Couldn't get excited by a 4C, Alpine or the 4 banger in this. Wouldn't buy a C63 or M135 now, either. Funny because in my head I really liked the high revving jap engines, K Series in Caterhams and the unforgettable induction bark from a BDA.
Guess it's the way the NVH has been so successfully removed from these modern engines that there's no character left.
The 4C and Alpine especially....and who can forget Porsche's crack at it... all great engines statistically, but nothing memorable, emotional or really desirable when using them...
They're a good 400kg lighter than either the boxster or Emira.
I can forgive them having a 4 cylinder for that reason.
I think you can get away with an i4 engine in a small lightweight sports car (MX5, Elise, A110, etc) but it just seems wrong in something more exotic.
The Porsche 718 gets a pass for at least being a flat-4.
I'd be more accepting of a 3-cylinder as that would sound better (back to the Lotus/Geely connections, the 1.5 petrol 3-cyl in my Mother's Volvo seems nice).
The Porsche 718 gets a pass for at least being a flat-4.
I'd be more accepting of a 3-cylinder as that would sound better (back to the Lotus/Geely connections, the 1.5 petrol 3-cyl in my Mother's Volvo seems nice).
PRO5T said:
I think Harry's purchase just shows he's more like one of us than we realise...
"I'm not really using this two seater expensive sports car, maybe I should sell it and but another two seater sports car that's twice as expensive and see if I use that one a bit more!".
I get rhe impression he's more than happy to spend his money, just not on depreciation. "I'm not really using this two seater expensive sports car, maybe I should sell it and but another two seater sports car that's twice as expensive and see if I use that one a bit more!".
sisu said:
If anyone wants the Car Magazine long term test of Harry's car when it was new, here is the link. https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/long-ter...
It is worth noting that current and ex car journalists who bemoan optional extras on press cars they test. Reading them out like a Protestant reading a sermon, scoffing at why someone would buy a car with this specification. Whilst you could understand the motivation for buying a car they tested in period without the extras later on in its life. As we all love a bargain.
Buying Ex UK Press cars in a sea of used cars does seem a bit rich.
Has it been resprayed then? Maybe Harry did mention that. It is worth noting that current and ex car journalists who bemoan optional extras on press cars they test. Reading them out like a Protestant reading a sermon, scoffing at why someone would buy a car with this specification. Whilst you could understand the motivation for buying a car they tested in period without the extras later on in its life. As we all love a bargain.
Buying Ex UK Press cars in a sea of used cars does seem a bit rich.
Edited by sisu on Tuesday 25th June 06:59
Assume that was done in house otherwise I'd be deeply suspicious.
Given that they're owned by Geely alongside Volvo, it's a shame they never tried to do anything with the Volvo V8, which was designed for compact transverse installation. That could have made a more interesting proposition and maybe justified the higher prices Lotus wanted to charge.
thegreenhell said:
Given that they're owned by Geely alongside Volvo, it's a shame they never tried to do anything with the Volvo V8, which was designed for compact transverse installation. That could have made a more interesting proposition and maybe justified the higher prices Lotus wanted to charge.
The V8 only had 315 hp and was only ever available with an automatic gearbox. It would also require the car to be much wider if installed transversely. Noble M600 used that engine with a pair of turbochargers, but mounted it longitudinally as it should be mounted on a mid engined car. The 2GR really was and still is a great engine. It just needs a more durable gearbox to shine(both in FI or naturally aspirated versions)
Dunbar871 said:
Interesting to see the V6 taking criticism on here today…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYGanifXsk
Great video- love the bit where he pulls away from the village, the sound in my view is better than some V8s/V12s !https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYGanifXsk
Think the V6 criticism here is some kind of throwback to the 80s where more cylinders rule, I know the demographic here is quite old. Nowadays I'd celebrate anything existing >4 .
ChocolateFrog said:
Atleast the Alpine and 4C are genuinely light.
They're a good 400kg lighter than either the boxster or Emira.
I can forgive them having a 4 cylinder for that reason.
The A110 is the car you buy if you want to add lightness.They're a good 400kg lighter than either the boxster or Emira.
I can forgive them having a 4 cylinder for that reason.
The Boxster is possibly the car if you want refinement in that class of car.
I'm not sure where the Emira sits. I certainly got the excitement of the new car rollout and I'm not sure why I didn't sign up for one when first announced but I certainly do get why HM has moved on from it so quickly. Even if it is onto something second hand which promises shall we say - a degree of unintended ownership experience.
I'm looking forward to his future videos even though in honesty, I would have probably identified more with his exploits in the Emira.
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff