Evora Owners- How you getting on?

Evora Owners- How you getting on?

Author
Discussion

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Morning all,

How are you all getting on with your Evora's?

I'm hoping to test drive one this week if I can find the time.. Any advice?

I've previous owned an Exige, but found it slightly too impractical at the time, so hoping this will fit the bill!

Any opinions would be great smile

Sumshi

277 posts

179 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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Rule one - make sure you have your funding in place before you test drive.
The first impressions you have of the car are correct - you will know immediately if it is for you. I have a S1 111s and had an S1 Exige which needed to be sold so I could buy the Evora.
May well have a problem deciding the spec , I suspect this will be a money issue.
Make sure you chose a dark interior. Colour is an individual choice with this car looking good in lots of colours whereas in my opinion the Elise has a limited amount of colours.
Visit the factory if you can, it will help on the specs and also the colour choice as there is nothing like seeing the car/ colour combo.
I have done almost 6k - I have a smile on my face everytime I jump in.
Went for the Pistonheads tour last weekend to the factory in the Evora - everyone was enthustastic about the car and pleased that I was pleased!
I am based in Newbury if you want a face to face chat

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Tuesday 11th May 2010
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Sumshi, thanks for that!

I'm pretty sure I'd pick Persian, or Orange.

Any other positives and negatives to look out for?

How does it compare to the exige?

Sumshi

277 posts

179 months

Wednesday 12th May 2010
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Missed out a vital point - must have the close ratio box, and sports mode if possible.
The Exige was raw and loud without refinement and needed to be fettled and driven with thought ( Ground clearance for example )where as the Evora is a get in and go retaining the lovely turn in and long legged performance.
Just go drive it and see what I mean !

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
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Driving one today, along with a SC Elise.. Will report back!

Chris_S

142 posts

291 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
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I've got an SC and it is noticeably faster than the Evora. However, the Evora is a much more grown up car that still has the core Lotus values (amazing steering, brake feel etc). It amazingly drives just like an Elise. I don't quite know how Lotus have pulled this off with a heavier car and with power steering. Lotus have a magic touch! I find the Evora very tempting especially as I have a baby on the way (back seats).

Enjoy your test drives. Let us know what you think.

Chris_S

142 posts

291 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
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BTW Sumshi,

I drove an Evora with a Lotus sports exhaust. If you don't have one, get one! It's great! Proper sports car V6 noise when you get the revs up but not intrusive when cruising. The perfect combo (not like the rubbish stage 1 & stage 2 for the Elise/Exige). It's a must have!!!!!!!!!!!

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Friday 14th May 2010
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Well I drove one today, 9 miles on the clock, so still pretty tight, but WHAT A CAR!

First of all I'm looking to get back into a sportscar of some sort after buying a Range Rover. Have recently driven a few different cars but discarded all of them for various reasons.

Much better than I was expecting. The overall package is just superb. I'd go as far as saying this is the best car I've ever driven.

Here's my opinion -

Looks - Outside looks much better in the metal than in pictures, and actually appears to be quite big . Still has the Lotus look to it though. Loved all the little touches like the headlights, and roof depress.

Inside - I was expecting this to be like an Exige but a bit more leather, although its actually very very un-lotus like. The door shuts with a nice clunk, and the interior seems well put together. Recaro's are very comfy and supportive. Found a few of the buttons in strange places, but I'm comparing it to my Range Rover which is very well laid out.

Ride - WOW. It seems very happy just cruising about, and can be quite docile, but once moving the feel is superb. Its been a while since I owned an exige but don't remember it being this good! The power steering is just perfect IMO. The weight and feedback just inspires so much confidence. Its very impressive the way it goes from relaxed and civilised, to one of the best handling cars I've driven. Well done Lotus.

Power - This one was obviously brand new, so didn't give it much throttle, but we went out in another with a sports exhaust, and it certainly didn't feel slow. Its not as quick as my old TVR or Gallardo, but I'm quite sure I could drive the Evora quicker point to point, purely due to the balance. Nice and torquey aswell, although its quite difficult to tell on a relatively short drive. The CR box is a must apparently. Its certainly not slow. The only reason it may feel slow is the chassis is so good. The sports exhaust sounded great aswell!

Negatives - Few for me, the rear seats are very small. I wouldn't fit (6'1), but I'd imagine they are a must have option. The boot could have been slightly bigger for me, as its supposed to be a GT car. The price may seem a bit high, but when compared to a top spec exige (high 40's) it seems well priced. I also am slightly put off by the lack of units that have sold.

Overall - Loved it. Its not perfect, but no car is IMO. Its compromised slightly, but I think I could put up with the few negatives. I spec'd a car up when I was there, then came home to discuss with the wife to be and sleep on it.

Chris_S

142 posts

291 months

Friday 14th May 2010
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Range Rover?

Buy the Evora!!!!!!!!!!!!!

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
Chris_S said:
Range Rover?

Buy the Evora!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont ask.. I thought I would be sensible for a while!

Just placed a deposit for one smile

Sumshi

277 posts

179 months

Friday 14th May 2010
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Predictible

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Friday 14th May 2010
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Sumshi said:
Predictible
What is!?

beady

21 posts

185 months

Saturday 15th May 2010
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glad you enjoyed it.
i had an elise 111s for 3 yrs and got an early evora last October - about 4000m now.
Bought the launch edition so has every extra on it.

Sport option is absulute must - it really should be standard.

I also got mine with the close ratio box - brilliant but loses mpg.
Essentially 1st & 2nd are the same but 3-6 are closer so that 6th in the sports box is same as 5th in standard.
i can just get 30mpg on motorway at circa 80 but i understand from others that the standard box gives high 30's

Have just had the sports exhaust fitted - again an absolute must - no performance increase but the noise is a million times better. Shameful that it cannot be specified from new - has to be an aftermarket extra (so keep £800 back for this)

Quality is holding up very well.
A few small niggles- all sorted out brillliantly by my dealer - thankfullu no 'real' problems.

Main issue is that the tyres offer no protection to the wheels - so kerbing the wheels is very easy.
I have done both my rears and paid a fotune to get them refurbished - be careful when parking.

The parking sensors are also very helpful as the rear view is rubbish - parking would be a nightmare without them.
The rear view camera is also very helpful but this can only be specced with the ICE upgrade which makes it expensive if you do not want the ICE.

The radio reception is rubbish- i find it incredible that they cannot make a radio work well just because the car is plastic...

Overall ownership experience is fantastic.
Handling the same as an elise/exige, but all wrapped up as a proper car.
and all with rarity value - turns heads everywhere.

Enjoy
smile











justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Saturday 15th May 2010
quotequote all
Beady - Good to see another owner enjoying it.

Totally agree about the exhaust, but didn't notice a huge difference in the sports pack/button, maybe due to it being brand new the one I drove. I ticked the box anyways.

I've spec'd Tech pack, Sport pack, CR box, Sport exhaust, Xenons and coloured handles.
biggrin

Edited by justin220 on Saturday 15th May 17:41

Sumshi

277 posts

179 months

Saturday 15th May 2010
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You were sold after the test drive - as for thinking about it overnight !!!!
Might be worth enquiring how many the dealer has sold and the highest milage they have seen to get a feel about the the dealers experience in resolving any issues.
I have a launch edition car from new with 6k. Perhaps needing new tyres front and rear at 9k ?? Wear on the inside of both front tyres , which I assume is the way the suspension and handling are set.

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Sunday 16th May 2010
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I think they have sold 22 so far, only one needing tyres after 6k, but its done a lot of trackdays

chapmancolin

54 posts

257 months

Tuesday 18th May 2010
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Chris_S said:
BTW Sumshi,

I drove an Evora with a Lotus sports exhaust. If you don't have one, get one! It's great! Proper sports car V6 noise when you get the revs up but not intrusive when cruising. The perfect combo (not like the rubbish stage 1 & stage 2 for the Elise/Exige). It's a must have!!!!!!!!!!!
Is that the Titanium one from the sport pack, or another Lotus part for aftermarket fitting ?

Chris_S

142 posts

291 months

Wednesday 19th May 2010
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chapmancolin said:
Chris_S said:
BTW Sumshi,

I drove an Evora with a Lotus sports exhaust. If you don't have one, get one! It's great! Proper sports car V6 noise when you get the revs up but not intrusive when cruising. The perfect combo (not like the rubbish stage 1 & stage 2 for the Elise/Exige). It's a must have!!!!!!!!!!!
Is that the Titanium one from the sport pack, or another Lotus part for aftermarket fitting ?
I believe it's just called sports exhaust for Evora and not included in the sports pack. It's about £800.

squirejo

800 posts

250 months

Wednesday 19th May 2010
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{http://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/LotusShop/Details.asp?SearchString=evora&Id=LOTAC05504}

should be the standard item to be honest

justin220

Original Poster:

5,452 posts

211 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
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Chris_S said:
chapmancolin said:
Chris_S said:
BTW Sumshi,

I drove an Evora with a Lotus sports exhaust. If you don't have one, get one! It's great! Proper sports car V6 noise when you get the revs up but not intrusive when cruising. The perfect combo (not like the rubbish stage 1 & stage 2 for the Elise/Exige). It's a must have!!!!!!!!!!!
Is that the Titanium one from the sport pack, or another Lotus part for aftermarket fitting ?
I believe it's just called sports exhaust for Evora and not included in the sports pack. It's about £800.
Yeah thats right. It can't be added on the spec sheet due to emmission reasons.