First service done
Discussion
So yesterday I took my i4 (pictures below because I can''t help myself) in for its first service. Bell and Colvill in Surrey. Phil sat me down went through stuff - handed me the keys to a bright shiny yellow manual V6 (of which more later) and off I went. Came back the next day he sat me down again and took me through everything they'd done - a bunch of stuff on warrantee nothing major plus its first service and software update - £470 including VAT. All good.
About the V6 I borrowed for the day. I gotta say after about half an hour I was thinking f'k I need to get me a V6 they sound SO much nicer than mine. This lasted quite a while. I mean - it DOES sound nice. But then it's manual - which actually I didn't mind too much either and my knee (bit busted up - main reason for needing an auto) - was playing nice and I was thinking damn I am going to have to shelve out how many pennies and swap my car. BUT. Definitely not yellow! I am WAY too old for all that attention - my red goes nicely under the radar.
But then on getting mine back I did something I rarely do (forgive me) - I put it in sport mode. I don't know why I don't do it more often - I'm lazy probably or whatever - but I stuck it in sport and manual mode. And - well - OK it does NOT sound like the V6 - but it's not as many million miles off as I thought. In 3rd around 4000rpm it's making a very nice howl. So for now me thinks I'm gonna stick with the i4 and just stick it in sport and manual mode and stop flirting with the idea that a V6 would answer all my prayers.
Here's some pictures because this car is just SO f'g nice to look at:
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/105547/202502056173574?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/105547/202502056176255" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/105547/202502056176255?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/105547/202502056177573" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/105547/202502056177573?resize=720)
About the V6 I borrowed for the day. I gotta say after about half an hour I was thinking f'k I need to get me a V6 they sound SO much nicer than mine. This lasted quite a while. I mean - it DOES sound nice. But then it's manual - which actually I didn't mind too much either and my knee (bit busted up - main reason for needing an auto) - was playing nice and I was thinking damn I am going to have to shelve out how many pennies and swap my car. BUT. Definitely not yellow! I am WAY too old for all that attention - my red goes nicely under the radar.
But then on getting mine back I did something I rarely do (forgive me) - I put it in sport mode. I don't know why I don't do it more often - I'm lazy probably or whatever - but I stuck it in sport and manual mode. And - well - OK it does NOT sound like the V6 - but it's not as many million miles off as I thought. In 3rd around 4000rpm it's making a very nice howl. So for now me thinks I'm gonna stick with the i4 and just stick it in sport and manual mode and stop flirting with the idea that a V6 would answer all my prayers.
Here's some pictures because this car is just SO f'g nice to look at:
jamesgareth said:
Cheer thanks.
I also echo the comments looks so much better with no black pack and silver wheels.The v6 and i4 is an interesting debate. The i4 is possibly a more “lotus” engine. However I have a v6 Exige and it just sounds anti social
Fors and against for both configurations, i4 as a daily is probably the better choice though.
Fantastic pics!
I test drove the V6 manual while I was waiting for my i4 order. My findings were similar to you. I sounds pretty good. Not as good as a V8 but definitely exotic. However, I found the heavy clutch and the clunky shift took too much away for me. In the southeast, traffic is a sad fact of life and with my practical head on, the i4 just makes so much sense. I agree that in sport or track mode, the i4 is plenty loud and whilst it's not quite as sonorous as the V6, it's definitely purposeful. I never got to try the V6 auto which could have been an interesting compromise but for me, the i4 represents a much more modern piece of engineering and the 8 speed DCT is a good match for a car like this.
Did they add the rubber "cups" to the front suspension? I had that done recently as mine had developed some creaking whenever the front shocks were loading up. Apparently, it's a known issue and these are fitted as standard now but mine was an early order so they are doing them under warranty but only on demand (which is a little annoying).
I test drove the V6 manual while I was waiting for my i4 order. My findings were similar to you. I sounds pretty good. Not as good as a V8 but definitely exotic. However, I found the heavy clutch and the clunky shift took too much away for me. In the southeast, traffic is a sad fact of life and with my practical head on, the i4 just makes so much sense. I agree that in sport or track mode, the i4 is plenty loud and whilst it's not quite as sonorous as the V6, it's definitely purposeful. I never got to try the V6 auto which could have been an interesting compromise but for me, the i4 represents a much more modern piece of engineering and the 8 speed DCT is a good match for a car like this.
Did they add the rubber "cups" to the front suspension? I had that done recently as mine had developed some creaking whenever the front shocks were loading up. Apparently, it's a known issue and these are fitted as standard now but mine was an early order so they are doing them under warranty but only on demand (which is a little annoying).
M Daddy said:
Fantastic pics!
I test drove the V6 manual while I was waiting for my i4 order. My findings were similar to you. I sounds pretty good. Not as good as a V8 but definitely exotic. However, I found the heavy clutch and the clunky shift took too much away for me. In the southeast, traffic is a sad fact of life and with my practical head on, the i4 just makes so much sense. I agree that in sport or track mode, the i4 is plenty loud and whilst it's not quite as sonorous as the V6, it's definitely purposeful. I never got to try the V6 auto which could have been an interesting compromise but for me, the i4 represents a much more modern piece of engineering and the 8 speed DCT is a good match for a car like this.
Yes those pics are pretty good huh? Just the right kind of light I think. I test drove the V6 manual while I was waiting for my i4 order. My findings were similar to you. I sounds pretty good. Not as good as a V8 but definitely exotic. However, I found the heavy clutch and the clunky shift took too much away for me. In the southeast, traffic is a sad fact of life and with my practical head on, the i4 just makes so much sense. I agree that in sport or track mode, the i4 is plenty loud and whilst it's not quite as sonorous as the V6, it's definitely purposeful. I never got to try the V6 auto which could have been an interesting compromise but for me, the i4 represents a much more modern piece of engineering and the 8 speed DCT is a good match for a car like this.
I've also wondered what the V6 auto would be like - but like you opted for the i4 without trying it - based on it being older tech and not being too bothered that the sound of the i4 was not quite up to the V6 - but still pretty decent/purposeful (as you say).
M Daddy said:
Did they add the rubber "cups" to the front suspension? I had that done recently as mine had developed some creaking whenever the front shocks were loading up. Apparently, it's a known issue and these are fitted as standard now but mine was an early order so they are doing them under warranty but only on demand (which is a little annoying).
I can't remember if that was one of the things he said they'd done. Thanks - I'll mention it to them and find out.johnymac said:
It's nice to hear from someone who clearly really loves their Emira. I seem to hear a lot of negative comments about Lotus in general, and I like to be reminded every now and then that they make wonderful cars.
I am envious.
Bad news travels faster and louder than good news - thus has it always been. The Emira is a wonderful car no two ways about it. Sure there are issues with some of them maybe some of those issues will in time affect all of them - but like I say if you only focus on the negative then that's the view you end up with. I've had the car for like I say a little over 100 days and it's been a f'g trip owning and driving it. I am envious.
Save your pennies. Good things come to those that wait.....
M Daddy said:
Alas, it seems to be a British trait to hate on our own achievements rather than being proud of them. Lotus are far from perfect but I for one am grateful that companies like Lotus, McLaren, Caterham and Morgan still exist and are making wonderful cars.
Yes. We are very lucky. Standing on the shoulders of giants I think the saying goes....coolchris said:
Looks great in that colour nice to know the service from Bell and colvill was good.You must be local to me as I recognise the local Hambledon village shop.I am in Witley you may have seen me around in a blue Noble.
Chris
Well by some highly improbable chance I don't remember seeing a Noble around here - though there was one at RCM in Wormley being fixed a while back (yours?) - it's not the sort of car I wouldn't remember - proper sports car and all that (and I've lived here a little under ten years now - in Chiddingfold). Yes that's Hambledon village shop (I park there and walk the dog on the common). So far I am very happy with Bell and Colvill - though I do like the lads at RCM and would use them if only so much of the work is on warrantee and that's just not something I can do. I'll keep an eye out for you and if you're parked up I'll stop and say hello.Chris
Gassing Station | Emira | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff