Evora S

[T5SOR]

Having sold my S2000 I’m thinking about getting a Lotus Evora 2+2 manual. I previously wanted an Emira, but the backseat (ish) option appeals to me.

Is there anything I need to watch out for?

I want to go the supercharged route, so I think that is the S model?

If anyone has a yellow one for sale, let me know

[John D.]

Clutch change is engine out so rather expensive.

[blueg33]

Ensure the external A pillar trims are firmly attached they are a common issue and hard to sort, plus the parts may not be available.

Watch out for clunking front suspension as the standard bushes wear quite quickly.

In pre 400 cars watch for the leather at the centre of the dash splitting or splitting at the stitching. Also ensure the passenger airbag cover is flush with the dash top as replacing the clips is a chunk of labour.

If the car has the close ratio gear box be aware that they can be a weak point.

Gearshift can be poor on earlier cars although many were fixed with new design linkage under warranty.

Edited by blueg33 on Sunday 11th October 12:59

[Matty_]

Two yellow SR's for sale on Classifieds! Both at the same dealer so worth a look - however, they're not S/C, they're the NA.

Don't rule out the N/A's though, they're still great, I loved mine with a decent exhaust system, and IMO 290bhp is still plenty for the road, so you can rev them out a bit more without busting through every speed limit in the UK. Edit - see the thread just below this one
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I'll add, get the latest one you can. Lotus continually improved quality as the years went on, and the SR (Sports Racer) is probably the best one to get in the S1 range, depending on budget.

I'd also suggest dropping a wanted advert on the Facebook Evora group - I've posted wanted adverts in the past and got a few messages.

[ziggy328]

Same dealer has a very nice 410 too which is SC. Depends on budget of course.

[meridian]

I wouldn't place too much emphasis on the rear seats, they're pretty much unusable other than for luggage/shopping bags !

[johnymac]

And dwarf amputees!

[blueg33]

johnymac said:

And dwarf amputees!

I took my daughter and her friend to their prom in mine. The friend sat in the back. Did the same for the daughter of a family friend, two of them in the car

[LotusOmega375D]

The rear seats are fine for two pre-teen children. Certainly better than being squeezed up with my brother on the rear parcel shelf of my parents’ old 1968 MG Midget.

[pixelmix]

I've got an 11 and a 13 year old who fit on the back seat but they are probably below average height for age. The 13 year is getting close to the headlining but it works for now. I'm only 5ft 7 so I've got the front seat fairly far forward though. For the last 4 years of ownership, I've been able to use the car a bit more often than I otherwise would though if I didn't have the 2+2, so the back seat has been useful.

I've squeezed adults in the back seat for a half hour trip before which saved a bit of faff when leaving a car at either end of a day out in the hills, so the option of a back seat is handy at times even if it isn't the comfiest thing in the world. It offered lots of space for bags for a week away without the kids too.

My S Sports Racer has done about 85,000 (a previous owner did about 25,000mi one year!) and does about 4,000mi a year with me now.

I went for the S as despite the increased VED, I always feared I'd wish I had an S if I only had an NA. It's not too painful on running costs, particularly if you SORN it for a month or two in winter when the weather is crap. Insurance isn't too bad at all for me.

Edited by pixelmix on Tuesday 20th October 15:42

[Si_man306]

Had my Evora S for 3 years, 30k miles with kids (baby to toddlers). Back seats were used in at least half of journeys. Had zero depreciation over that time and no issues other than peeling lacquer on the headlights (£800 at bell and Colvill) and a squeaky pulley which was changed for £90. Rear tyres were every 6k and expensive due to size/ performance. Note seat bases are easily removed for child car seats (they are held in by velcro and a couple of bolts if I remember). Easily one of the best bang for buck cars I've had.

The gearshift is fine- if it's not, linkages can be adjusted. Ensure the passenger airbag cover is not raised, this is only cosmetic but a dash out job to sort. They do get silly electrical niggles which I used to sort by electrical cleaner on the plugs which would loosen or get wet.

Emira is lovely but for more money you get a little more build/ refinement but they are slightly slower and less sharp than the Evora (it's essentially an Evora in a dress, albeit a lovely one).

[blueg33]

Michelin tyres lasted way longer than the Pirelli’s on my SR

[T5SOR]

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated.

I might have to try one to see what the back seats are like. I remember various trips in the back of a Cerbera many years ago and I’m guessing it’s similar in space.

[Mr E]

My kid is 14.
I looked and figured the rear seats were useful for bags, not people.