Living with an Evora
Discussion
Hello everyone....
I had almost settled on getting a new M5 - the sensible "super car" as it were - when a change in my domestic circumstances made me stop and reconsider. I no longer definitely need the space and spouse-approved looks/comfort of a saloon car. So I'm reconsidering my options. I will need a 2+2 set-up at the least but no longer need to be too concerned about having lots of space as 75% of the time it will be me and the road and 20% of the time me and my infant son.
The Evora has always been on my list of must-own cars for it's sheer looks and performance. The costs of ownership are not a problem, but I wonder what it is really like to live with as a daily driver. I'm concerned about the reliability, the relatively short (9,000) mile service intervals, the ambiance within the cabin, and the space constraints.
For me, it would be used for commuting 2-3 days per week (c. 30-35 miles each way along busy London roads for 10-15 miles and then fast and free flowing A roads), for pleasure most weekends and long motorway journeys as required to visit friends and family dotted around the country (or where possible via some A roads). I'll probably rack up 15-20,000 miles a year.
While the M5 is still in contention, it seems churlish not to take advantage of a time in my life when I can be selfish. So the Evora is on my list as is 997.2.
Opinions on practicality, reliability and general usability of the Evora as a daily driver are appreciated.
I do not use mine on a daily basis genrally, but have done a 10 day touring holiday in all conditions, aswell as other weekend trips and can only say it is a very comfortable place to be....it is turbine like smooth. It will not have the same level of refinement, or all the electronic gizmos that an M5 will, but it is a completely different animal. Some of the earlier cars had some quality control related issues, as with most new products (even Japanese) so if the budget is not an issue then go for as new as you can (new even)....and judging by your mixed driving, and IPS variant might be best.
I have never driven a modern Porsche, but those on this forum who have seem to say the Evora shows them all the way. Don`t expect the straight line performance to beat the M5 though...that`s one quick barge! My Evora S is about neck and neck with an M3 Beemer...slightly quicker in some occasions, and definatley quicker and more nimble when it comes to corners.
You have got to drive one a little way before you really appreciate what a fantastic car it is to drive.
I have never driven a modern Porsche, but those on this forum who have seem to say the Evora shows them all the way. Don`t expect the straight line performance to beat the M5 though...that`s one quick barge! My Evora S is about neck and neck with an M3 Beemer...slightly quicker in some occasions, and definatley quicker and more nimble when it comes to corners.
You have got to drive one a little way before you really appreciate what a fantastic car it is to drive.
As a past owner of 2 911's I can give you a 911/Evora comparison if it helps.
Firstly, the Evora is quieter and more comfortable at the wheel, the 911 like most fast German cars (and this will include the M5) is too firm on the set up and in my view unsuitable for our roads. The Evora by comparison rides like a limo even on the 19/20" wheels. I took it on a long drive recently and the wife actually fell asleep in the pasenger seat - not done that before in the 911
If you're buying new don't bother with the value for money/depreciation exercise because a used 911 will make more sense all day. You have to remember you're buying a hand built car produced in small numbers out of what are (by comparison to the Porsche empire) a bunch of sheds in Norfolk. The fact that Lotus have produced a car that's compared to the 911 is in my view a miracle in itself
Build quality is obviously not up to Porsche but it's not bad, I notice more design/finishing faults than poor quality. They've been making the 911 for 50 years so you'd expect everything to be thought out, the Evora is still a baby and if they keep making it I'm sure they'll get there but at the moment (amongst other things) I find the ergonomics frustrating, getting in and out over the high door cills a pain and the boot area doesn't look finished. I've only had the car about 6 months but had no reliability problems.
I have an IPS which is great for 'normal' driving but the sport setting doesn't really work for me. It gives you a load of revs on down shifts which is fine but when you're breaking hard and then need to back off you sometimes find you're fighting against the engine and you have to keep flicking in and out of sport mode. I'm sure it works great on a track but If I buy again I would probably go for the manual. I certainly wouldn't bother with the IPS in a normally aspirated.
Hope that's of some use!
Firstly, the Evora is quieter and more comfortable at the wheel, the 911 like most fast German cars (and this will include the M5) is too firm on the set up and in my view unsuitable for our roads. The Evora by comparison rides like a limo even on the 19/20" wheels. I took it on a long drive recently and the wife actually fell asleep in the pasenger seat - not done that before in the 911
If you're buying new don't bother with the value for money/depreciation exercise because a used 911 will make more sense all day. You have to remember you're buying a hand built car produced in small numbers out of what are (by comparison to the Porsche empire) a bunch of sheds in Norfolk. The fact that Lotus have produced a car that's compared to the 911 is in my view a miracle in itself
Build quality is obviously not up to Porsche but it's not bad, I notice more design/finishing faults than poor quality. They've been making the 911 for 50 years so you'd expect everything to be thought out, the Evora is still a baby and if they keep making it I'm sure they'll get there but at the moment (amongst other things) I find the ergonomics frustrating, getting in and out over the high door cills a pain and the boot area doesn't look finished. I've only had the car about 6 months but had no reliability problems.
I have an IPS which is great for 'normal' driving but the sport setting doesn't really work for me. It gives you a load of revs on down shifts which is fine but when you're breaking hard and then need to back off you sometimes find you're fighting against the engine and you have to keep flicking in and out of sport mode. I'm sure it works great on a track but If I buy again I would probably go for the manual. I certainly wouldn't bother with the IPS in a normally aspirated.
Hope that's of some use!
XTR2Turbo said:
As far as sports cars go evora is very useable as a daily car but that of course brings limitations compared to saloon such as boot ease of access etc
Coming from a BMW the worst negative will be the quality of the audio / sat NAC / Bluetooth etc if that is important to you
That's the worse one, yes. Other niggles depend on what year the car is. I have a list of stuff to do to mine as soon as it is out of warranty and I can get to work on it properly.Coming from a BMW the worst negative will be the quality of the audio / sat NAC / Bluetooth etc if that is important to you
I use mine every day, mixture of motorway and cross country and good both. Ride will be miles better than BMW. Just upgraded the ICE so sound system is very good now for not much cash.
Getting in and out will be a function of how long you are in the leg and how flexible you are.
Always seems a shame to me to have a great car and not use it every day.
C43
Getting in and out will be a function of how long you are in the leg and how flexible you are.
Always seems a shame to me to have a great car and not use it every day.
C43
Mine is an everyday car, but not my only one. I would be quite happy to have it as an only car if I did not need a family car and regularly need to leave a car overnight in city centre car parks when on business.
To be honest the only real niggle, and it is just a niggle, is getting in and out in tight parking spaces.
To be honest the only real niggle, and it is just a niggle, is getting in and out in tight parking spaces.
I'd definately go with the IPS gearbox. The reality for normal driving is lots of queues, motorways, stop start traffic. It's rare I use mine I manual mode. However, when making 'excellent progress' the paddles in sport mode are excellent. I am glad I didn't buy a manual (I drove both types and afte 5 mins in the IPS I though "I'm having one of these!")
Justin, having drive and 2010 and a 2012, I can't say the cost to change is worthwhile IMO. It.s probably 2% different, 98% the same.
Justin, having drive and 2010 and a 2012, I can't say the cost to change is worthwhile IMO. It.s probably 2% different, 98% the same.
Thanks for the responses. I've seen quite a few nice examples online but it's been a while since I've test driven an Evora. Last time it was a N/A manual which I found tricky to shift smoothly at low speeds - am I alone here? I also felt the interior cabin quality appeared poor but I hear it's improved in later models.
A sad question, but does anybody have experience of using child seats in the back?
A sad question, but does anybody have experience of using child seats in the back?
Hi MadProfessor (any link to lee scratch BTW).
I got a manual. To start with struggled with the gearchange but to tell the truth now I am so used to it the gears just slot into place. However I always heel and toe which probably helps.
Have not had child seats in back but have had children between 7 and 12 in the back easy.
cheers
C43
I got a manual. To start with struggled with the gearchange but to tell the truth now I am so used to it the gears just slot into place. However I always heel and toe which probably helps.
Have not had child seats in back but have had children between 7 and 12 in the back easy.
cheers
C43
MadProfessor said:
Thanks for the responses. I've seen quite a few nice examples online but it's been a while since I've test driven an Evora. Last time it was a N/A manual which I found tricky to shift smoothly at low speeds - am I alone here? I also felt the interior cabin quality appeared poor but I hear it's improved in later models.
A sad question, but does anybody have experience of using child seats in the back?
Regarding the interior, it was not so much the build quality that improved, it was the quality of materials. On MY12 cars they've pretty much covered everying in leather. I just looks a lot nicer. People are very impressed when they look in mine although the whole car has a big 'wow' factor anyway.A sad question, but does anybody have experience of using child seats in the back?
I've had a kid in the back of mine in a booster seat and I can't see why a child seat won't fit although access wold be a bit of a PITA.
Frimley111R said:
Regarding the interior, it was not so much the build quality that improved, it was the quality of materials. On MY12 cars they've pretty much covered everying in leather. I just looks a lot nicer. People are very impressed when they look in mine although the whole car has a big 'wow' factor anyway.
I've had a kid in the back of mine in a booster seat and I can't see why a child seat won't fit although access wold be a bit of a PITA.
Thanks - So was MY12 the change over to the higher quality materials? I've had a kid in the back of mine in a booster seat and I can't see why a child seat won't fit although access wold be a bit of a PITA.
MadProfessor said:
Frimley111R said:
Regarding the interior, it was not so much the build quality that improved, it was the quality of materials. On MY12 cars they've pretty much covered everying in leather. I just looks a lot nicer. People are very impressed when they look in mine although the whole car has a big 'wow' factor anyway.
I've had a kid in the back of mine in a booster seat and I can't see why a child seat won't fit although access wold be a bit of a PITA.
Thanks - So was MY12 the change over to the higher quality materials? I've had a kid in the back of mine in a booster seat and I can't see why a child seat won't fit although access wold be a bit of a PITA.
The clutch on the manual 'box is rather heavy, so could be tiresome if you do a lot of city or start/stop/traffic driving.
But the IPS is also flawed. So it depends on your situation.
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