Discussion
Thanks for everyones kind words, I'll try and address how I came to own it and answer the questions.
I went to the IOM last year with my other half on an organised road trip for 6 nights, staying at one hotel. With the lack of luggage space in the Noble M400 we sent a suitcase across seperately via Parcelforce (which worked really well), and the car was simply epic all trip,it was literally made for those roads. I was still as much in love with it as I was when I bought it 18 years previously.... however... we enjoyed the trip so much we decided we wanted to do more of them, maybe hotel hopping every couple of nights, and the suitcase scenario wouldn't be practical for that and unfortunately nor would the car. So, as I was approaching 60, I decided it was now or never to sell the Noble, splash some rainy day money and look for something just a bit more practical, but with driver involvement at the fore-front still. Ferrari's and Lambo's don't really appeal ( or I don't fit), I tried a GT4 which left me cold unless it was at 10 tenths's, and a 550 bhp Litchfield Carrera T manual with trick suspension that covered the ground brilliantly but again I was still a bit of the.."well it would do" mindset " . Macca's had always been on my radar, the new and old GT I didn't fit in, and they left me flat noise wise and I didn't fit in any of the Spiders either,so within budget that only left a 12C or 650S Coupe. At this point I was getting frustrated, and even considered a restored Honda CRX two of which I'd owned in the late 80's early 90's, just to fill the void as the Noble was sold within a day.Then it hit me, that I still really wanted a manual in my life, as my daily MG ZT-T and XJ weekend barge were both Auto's. So... I moved on to the Emira, drove a few,and thought once it was out of warranty I could make it "my car", with Tillets,Nitrons and something from Komotec. I put a deposit on a 23 plate and after 6 weeks of waiting for the paint to be sorted I gave up and got my deposit back, and also realised that in it's present state, it's in fact a rather unresolved car. I'd driven a couple of 410 Sport / GT410 Sport's some time back and always thought they were a hugely under the radar car. I had AT on alert for new adverts and one popped up and amongst the rather generic advert listing like "blue", "alloys" etc,was the word "Komotec"( with nothing else about the kit listed). Within two hours I was in front of it, it was a great colour,low ownership, full Lotus history and after a drive it was obvious it had the full blown 475 Komotec kit.I did some homework spoke to Hangar 111, Seriously Lotus and Williams Bristol to build up a picture of who'd done what,found out it was a money no object history car, traced the owner through a forum ( who has been brilliant) and 48 hours later I was giving a deposit to the dealer, who was a bit gobsmacked by the amount of interest shown!
I've done about 250 miles now on various roads, and I'm really starting to gel with it.The steering is simply like an extension of my arms, the ride is excellent, (prob similar to a GTO-3R rather than a M400), it has all the bits for road trips I'd want like cruise etc, and nothing I don't.The noise is wonderful,there's real shove after 4.5K rpm up to 7K and the note becomes more of a hard edged screaming race car. It's not as quick as my M400 (which was running circa 455-460BHP but weighed a fair bit less), but I'm happy to trade that for it being more useable, and in reality the low down linear power delivery is deceptive, so there may be not loads in it in the real world.
Touch wood, there hasn't been any negatives so far,(other than the dealer could have prepped it much better), I'm getting a couple of repairs done to the carbon bits by Reverie (it also has one of their very expensive lip spoilers), and when it gets detailed a couple of bits of PPF renewed.Ideally I'd prob' like to sit a bit lower, but I've got used to it and it's much better than the Emira position ( it's got the Sparcos so no alternative bracket), and maybe somewhere to put my elbows.. but that's it.
I'm very happy, and the fact I had money back rather than adding to the M400 value means I can go mad on my patio!
I went to the IOM last year with my other half on an organised road trip for 6 nights, staying at one hotel. With the lack of luggage space in the Noble M400 we sent a suitcase across seperately via Parcelforce (which worked really well), and the car was simply epic all trip,it was literally made for those roads. I was still as much in love with it as I was when I bought it 18 years previously.... however... we enjoyed the trip so much we decided we wanted to do more of them, maybe hotel hopping every couple of nights, and the suitcase scenario wouldn't be practical for that and unfortunately nor would the car. So, as I was approaching 60, I decided it was now or never to sell the Noble, splash some rainy day money and look for something just a bit more practical, but with driver involvement at the fore-front still. Ferrari's and Lambo's don't really appeal ( or I don't fit), I tried a GT4 which left me cold unless it was at 10 tenths's, and a 550 bhp Litchfield Carrera T manual with trick suspension that covered the ground brilliantly but again I was still a bit of the.."well it would do" mindset " . Macca's had always been on my radar, the new and old GT I didn't fit in, and they left me flat noise wise and I didn't fit in any of the Spiders either,so within budget that only left a 12C or 650S Coupe. At this point I was getting frustrated, and even considered a restored Honda CRX two of which I'd owned in the late 80's early 90's, just to fill the void as the Noble was sold within a day.Then it hit me, that I still really wanted a manual in my life, as my daily MG ZT-T and XJ weekend barge were both Auto's. So... I moved on to the Emira, drove a few,and thought once it was out of warranty I could make it "my car", with Tillets,Nitrons and something from Komotec. I put a deposit on a 23 plate and after 6 weeks of waiting for the paint to be sorted I gave up and got my deposit back, and also realised that in it's present state, it's in fact a rather unresolved car. I'd driven a couple of 410 Sport / GT410 Sport's some time back and always thought they were a hugely under the radar car. I had AT on alert for new adverts and one popped up and amongst the rather generic advert listing like "blue", "alloys" etc,was the word "Komotec"( with nothing else about the kit listed). Within two hours I was in front of it, it was a great colour,low ownership, full Lotus history and after a drive it was obvious it had the full blown 475 Komotec kit.I did some homework spoke to Hangar 111, Seriously Lotus and Williams Bristol to build up a picture of who'd done what,found out it was a money no object history car, traced the owner through a forum ( who has been brilliant) and 48 hours later I was giving a deposit to the dealer, who was a bit gobsmacked by the amount of interest shown!
I've done about 250 miles now on various roads, and I'm really starting to gel with it.The steering is simply like an extension of my arms, the ride is excellent, (prob similar to a GTO-3R rather than a M400), it has all the bits for road trips I'd want like cruise etc, and nothing I don't.The noise is wonderful,there's real shove after 4.5K rpm up to 7K and the note becomes more of a hard edged screaming race car. It's not as quick as my M400 (which was running circa 455-460BHP but weighed a fair bit less), but I'm happy to trade that for it being more useable, and in reality the low down linear power delivery is deceptive, so there may be not loads in it in the real world.
Touch wood, there hasn't been any negatives so far,(other than the dealer could have prepped it much better), I'm getting a couple of repairs done to the carbon bits by Reverie (it also has one of their very expensive lip spoilers), and when it gets detailed a couple of bits of PPF renewed.Ideally I'd prob' like to sit a bit lower, but I've got used to it and it's much better than the Emira position ( it's got the Sparcos so no alternative bracket), and maybe somewhere to put my elbows.. but that's it.
I'm very happy, and the fact I had money back rather than adding to the M400 value means I can go mad on my patio!
Edited by sjc on Friday 8th August 14:26
PH Essex brekkie meet at the weekend,and a few more miles put on.The map in “Race” is super aggressive,throttle response is hair trigger quick,so I’m thinking maybe Komotec set that up via software?
In no time at all,I feel like I’ve got three cars in one,a great riding,quiet tourer in normal mode,a B road blaster in Sport, and an angry snarling race car in Race.
Incredible that these are so far under the radar.
In no time at all,I feel like I’ve got three cars in one,a great riding,quiet tourer in normal mode,a B road blaster in Sport, and an angry snarling race car in Race.
Incredible that these are so far under the radar.
Agreed, under the radar is s good description. Someone posted about options for GT Car under £50k in "car buying", I suggested the Evora but he didn't reply and his shortlist now seems to be A45s and M4s and he is complaining about steering feel....
(Edit - ive just seen you quoted me!)
Car show this weekend, 3 Evoras surrounded by a sea of 911s and F Types. No one knows what an Evora is. None of the social media photos has one of our cars in but plenty of F types and 911s (yawn...).
It's like their brains can't compute something that they don't know, therefore they ignore it either as a possible purchase or just a nice photo. Tell me this isn't a credible alternative to a F Type?
(Edit - ive just seen you quoted me!)
Car show this weekend, 3 Evoras surrounded by a sea of 911s and F Types. No one knows what an Evora is. None of the social media photos has one of our cars in but plenty of F types and 911s (yawn...).
It's like their brains can't compute something that they don't know, therefore they ignore it either as a possible purchase or just a nice photo. Tell me this isn't a credible alternative to a F Type?
Edited by TVRBRZ on Monday 11th August 11:17
So another great car meet at the weekend,some cracking stuff there and bumped into my Europa owning mate which was nice.
The Evora’s dual role ability is really impressing me. However a couple of things put a slight damper on things, namely the high gearing which means not much gear changing on fun B roads, and I’d still like a bit more shove, or certainly for it to come in slightly earlier. The fact that the last 2k revs of the 7k available it’s still pulling hard is a novelty,but not really practical for our roads with the gearing (there’s a KT low ratio gear set available but it’s bloody expensive !)and maybe because of the linear delivery ( albeit with a big step at 4.5k) it doesn’t really feel circa 1280k /475 bhp quick.
My previous M400 was running circa 450 bhp but lighter at circa 1080 and I’d suggest it was a fair bit quicker,and dare I say it a lot more useable with twin turbos. I think at the next service due in January at either Seriously Lotus or Hangar 111 I might get them to check it’s got the latest Komotec map and also have them dyno it. Everyone I took out in the M400 had a WTF type moment,(even I did still after 18 years !),and I’ve not heard that yet in the Evora. In fairness to it, it also is likely one of those cars that you look in your rear view mirror to see how far you’ve travelled and then realise how quick you must have gone .. if that makes sense.
The Evora’s dual role ability is really impressing me. However a couple of things put a slight damper on things, namely the high gearing which means not much gear changing on fun B roads, and I’d still like a bit more shove, or certainly for it to come in slightly earlier. The fact that the last 2k revs of the 7k available it’s still pulling hard is a novelty,but not really practical for our roads with the gearing (there’s a KT low ratio gear set available but it’s bloody expensive !)and maybe because of the linear delivery ( albeit with a big step at 4.5k) it doesn’t really feel circa 1280k /475 bhp quick.
My previous M400 was running circa 450 bhp but lighter at circa 1080 and I’d suggest it was a fair bit quicker,and dare I say it a lot more useable with twin turbos. I think at the next service due in January at either Seriously Lotus or Hangar 111 I might get them to check it’s got the latest Komotec map and also have them dyno it. Everyone I took out in the M400 had a WTF type moment,(even I did still after 18 years !),and I’ve not heard that yet in the Evora. In fairness to it, it also is likely one of those cars that you look in your rear view mirror to see how far you’ve travelled and then realise how quick you must have gone .. if that makes sense.
I know exactly what you are talking about re the shove etc and you are right it is partly due to the gear ratio`s, but also look at the torque figures for the standard car and the various Komotec upgrades, it does go up but not by a great deal. The reason for this is the gearbox is limited with it`s torque capacity... but I do like the idea of the lower ratio kit and I do not know if this includes some stronger components... I know there is a kit out there for this.
I`ve had several Evora`s of most types and remember doing a track day a several years ago in my old standard S, catching up with a Noble M10/12 or similar, who was pushing it as span of the track infront of me... I`ve always loved the idea of the Noble but it did put me off a bit. Anyhow I current have a McLaren, but at some point will move back to an Evora because they are brilliant cars and with a lower gear ratio set will be way more fun... with the linkage set up correctly too.
I`ve had several Evora`s of most types and remember doing a track day a several years ago in my old standard S, catching up with a Noble M10/12 or similar, who was pushing it as span of the track infront of me... I`ve always loved the idea of the Noble but it did put me off a bit. Anyhow I current have a McLaren, but at some point will move back to an Evora because they are brilliant cars and with a lower gear ratio set will be way more fun... with the linkage set up correctly too.
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