Discussion
Right, had test drive a couple of hours ago....meaning to for a long time...and I am not quite sure how I feel about the car?
Ride/handling/steering.....absolutely superb. Car was very comfortable and refined. It was the supercharged version with a close ration gearbox and was certainly a quick car, but like many modern cars because they are so refined, its not until you look at the speedo you realise how fast you are travelling....so in some ways a bit dull.
I have not come away thinging that is what I really want....but it may just come down to two things. First the noise, or lack of, even with the sport button operated (2011 car), and the second was the poor gearchange. This for me was really dissappointing. I am normally mechanically very sympathetic and can normally cope, but this kept on crunching on the synchromesh. It was a bit better when not on sport mode. I know there was a factory upgrade with the gearshift, but cannot remember when it came in, but the current set up cannot be good for the long term reliability of the gearbox? Does the upgrade transform it or is it still flawed?
I guess the noise issue can be tranformed with a different back box?
I really like the car and would swap my Focus RS and Elise for it...but not if the above cannot be resolved?
Ride/handling/steering.....absolutely superb. Car was very comfortable and refined. It was the supercharged version with a close ration gearbox and was certainly a quick car, but like many modern cars because they are so refined, its not until you look at the speedo you realise how fast you are travelling....so in some ways a bit dull.
I have not come away thinging that is what I really want....but it may just come down to two things. First the noise, or lack of, even with the sport button operated (2011 car), and the second was the poor gearchange. This for me was really dissappointing. I am normally mechanically very sympathetic and can normally cope, but this kept on crunching on the synchromesh. It was a bit better when not on sport mode. I know there was a factory upgrade with the gearshift, but cannot remember when it came in, but the current set up cannot be good for the long term reliability of the gearbox? Does the upgrade transform it or is it still flawed?
I guess the noise issue can be tranformed with a different back box?
I really like the car and would swap my Focus RS and Elise for it...but not if the above cannot be resolved?
When I test drove a 2010 Evora S manual, the gears were seriously 'orrible and I mean horrible. They made the T5 gearbox on my Sagaris (before I ripped it out and rebuilt it from scratch) feel simply blessed by comparison.
There was a linkage change in later models that - apparently - made a lot of difference. I just got the IPS version instead
There was a linkage change in later models that - apparently - made a lot of difference. I just got the IPS version instead
The gear change can be improved with new cables. Mine has never been that bad but I got the new cables put in and it made a big difference.
I presume your comparing the sense of speed to the Elise? As I drove the Focus RS and found it as you described, dull with no sensation of speed. However in the Evora I think it feels faster than its going.
Sound wise, the Sport button on a 2011 won't change the sound. Its 2012 onwards that does that.
Does it have a sports exhaust? IMO, that, along with a decat is a must.
I presume your comparing the sense of speed to the Elise? As I drove the Focus RS and found it as you described, dull with no sensation of speed. However in the Evora I think it feels faster than its going.
Sound wise, the Sport button on a 2011 won't change the sound. Its 2012 onwards that does that.
Does it have a sports exhaust? IMO, that, along with a decat is a must.
http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Evora_model_history_milest...
"Evora S (Supercharged) new features for base Evora (Non-USA): December 2010
Exhaust system: incorporates an exhaust silencer flap operated by an integrally mounted vacuum by-pass valve."
"Evora S (Supercharged) new features for base Evora (Non-USA): December 2010
Exhaust system: incorporates an exhaust silencer flap operated by an integrally mounted vacuum by-pass valve."
Just to clarify, the 2011 S did have an exhaust valve which improved the sound a bit, but the MY12 car`s exhause was a little louder to start with so when the sport button was depressed and the valve operated, the sound was even better.
As for the gearing, it seemed to have massive flexibility as opposed to a nice shove in the back (my RS does have a nice shove in the back in the lower gears, and has even more shove when chipped up to 340hp spec (!), but you are right, as with most of these cars you get to silly speeds easily, without the true impression of speed, which when hurtling towards a corner is not good!). I had a go in a Noble recently and there was no doubt that the load pedal had been pressed...the only drawbacks being no storage space, and a pretty rubbish interior. It also felt wide which can be a problem on small roads.
The Evora which just as wide probably, felt quite nimble. Rear/rear 3/4 visibility is a bit of a disaster though.
When I first bought my Elise, having swapped from a well set up MX5 I wondered at first if I had done the right thing, but now I am familar with the car, it is leagues ahead when it comes to pure controllability....I expect the Evora will grow on me in time. The MX5 Mk3 when set up properly, is a better everyday sports car though.
So S or non S. Obviously the S costs more, and has more performance, but how much more performance in the real world, given that it weighs quite a bit more? I think I read somewhere that there are some straightforward mods that can be done to the non S car to get it up to around 300hp, which given less weight etc, plus less weight must benifit the handling and braking??
What I really want is the Lotus handling, but with at least 400bhp/tonne...but I guess no such car exists, although Justin you say the Audi R8 may be such a car?
As for the gearing, it seemed to have massive flexibility as opposed to a nice shove in the back (my RS does have a nice shove in the back in the lower gears, and has even more shove when chipped up to 340hp spec (!), but you are right, as with most of these cars you get to silly speeds easily, without the true impression of speed, which when hurtling towards a corner is not good!). I had a go in a Noble recently and there was no doubt that the load pedal had been pressed...the only drawbacks being no storage space, and a pretty rubbish interior. It also felt wide which can be a problem on small roads.
The Evora which just as wide probably, felt quite nimble. Rear/rear 3/4 visibility is a bit of a disaster though.
When I first bought my Elise, having swapped from a well set up MX5 I wondered at first if I had done the right thing, but now I am familar with the car, it is leagues ahead when it comes to pure controllability....I expect the Evora will grow on me in time. The MX5 Mk3 when set up properly, is a better everyday sports car though.
So S or non S. Obviously the S costs more, and has more performance, but how much more performance in the real world, given that it weighs quite a bit more? I think I read somewhere that there are some straightforward mods that can be done to the non S car to get it up to around 300hp, which given less weight etc, plus less weight must benifit the handling and braking??
What I really want is the Lotus handling, but with at least 400bhp/tonne...but I guess no such car exists, although Justin you say the Audi R8 may be such a car?
Mine is a 2011 car upgraded to the 2012 cables. It is much, much better, the actual shifter feel is quite precise.
However it can sometimes baulk near max rpm if you try and force it into gear too quickly, particularly if it's heat soaked, although if you drive it sympathetically it's no problem.
However it can sometimes baulk near max rpm if you try and force it into gear too quickly, particularly if it's heat soaked, although if you drive it sympathetically it's no problem.
CTE said:
Hi Wookie, were these fitted as a warranty upgrade?...if not what did it cost?
Do you work for Lotus??..given your location and occupation..
Thanks
Given my location and occupation, that would be a fair assumption!!Do you work for Lotus??..given your location and occupation..
Thanks
It wasn't a warranty job, I made it a condition of purchase as the shift was particularly poor on my car before (I drove it regularly before it was defleeted).
Best thing to do is discuss it with your dealer, as I have no idea if there's a policy for warranty claims or not. I do know that it's not a particularly easy job though!
CTE said:
I too am a Norfolk man and my missus does work for Lotus, but on the purchasing side.
I see you have had a 997 Porsche...brave move to a Lotus, or do you think it is that good?
Actually I didn't own the Porsche, I won the use of it for a year after winning a Porsche championship!!I see you have had a 997 Porsche...brave move to a Lotus, or do you think it is that good?
As it happened I had the option to buy a 997 for similar money, albeit older and higher mileage, but after a year with the Porsche and spending a lot of time with Evoras it wasn't a particularly difficult decision.
I love Porsches but the ride, handling and steering of the car I had was well overrated IMHO, it looked fairly plain and without that those two aspects was just a less than practical, ordinary car. Granted it was still more practical than the Evora (not particularly difficult) and it was a nicer place to sit, but then so is a Golf GTi and it'd be a damn sight cheaper to buy and run. The only serious thing that would draw me back is the powertrain, which was spectacularly good in the Porsche.
The Evora can be a bit frustrating as an every day car at times (like when you want to park in a tight space or load it up with luggage for a race weekend), but nothing major has gone wrong with it, everything works well on it and life is far more interesting than it would be with a Porsche!
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