Buying an Evora
Discussion
I'm looking at buying an evora and would appreciate a bit of advice. Previous cars have been elise 111R, exige S and most recently a TVR sagaris. All were used as daily drivers (about 12k miles a year)
Firstly the running costs, what sort of mpg are people getting? and also realistic servicing intervals/costs. i.e things like clutch lifespan and replacement costs
what are the weak points of the car? Every car has them! Typical insurance?
I really appreciate any help and advice as I'm really excited to get back into a lotus after a couple of years without one.
Firstly the running costs, what sort of mpg are people getting? and also realistic servicing intervals/costs. i.e things like clutch lifespan and replacement costs
what are the weak points of the car? Every car has them! Typical insurance?
I really appreciate any help and advice as I'm really excited to get back into a lotus after a couple of years without one.
Hopefully I can help. I have an NA Evora, but used to own an Exige and T350
The Evora is cheap to run IMO apart from tyres. Servicing was £350 once a year, MPG is about 25 (30 on a run). Tyres I was quoted £450 each for the rears from Lotus, but found them almost half price online.
Clutch I'd imagine should last a LONG time, no reason why it should need changed regularly. I've not heard of any being changed through mileage yet.
Are you buying new? If you are, expect a few minor niggles, if you are buying used, then most of these should be sorted under warranty.
Insurance I have found to be more expensive than almost any other car out there, and I'm not sure why.
I can insure a 458 or Murci for less than my Evora!
The Evora is cheap to run IMO apart from tyres. Servicing was £350 once a year, MPG is about 25 (30 on a run). Tyres I was quoted £450 each for the rears from Lotus, but found them almost half price online.
Clutch I'd imagine should last a LONG time, no reason why it should need changed regularly. I've not heard of any being changed through mileage yet.
Are you buying new? If you are, expect a few minor niggles, if you are buying used, then most of these should be sorted under warranty.
Insurance I have found to be more expensive than almost any other car out there, and I'm not sure why.
I can insure a 458 or Murci for less than my Evora!
Edited by justin220 on Thursday 16th February 21:27
I've made a start at putting together a buyers guide for them - http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Evora_Buyers_Guide - but it's very basic at the moment so I'm sure some of the owners can offer more insight.
I've not heard of clutches being a high wear item, but it does sound if they do need replacing it could be quite expensive - had heard talk of an engine out job and £5k.
I've not heard of clutches being a high wear item, but it does sound if they do need replacing it could be quite expensive - had heard talk of an engine out job and £5k.
I too have a NA Evora. Takes time to warm up during which fuel economy is poor, but once going after 5 or 6 miles rises and rises. I am able to get 33mpg on my 30 mile motorway run to work, but once tickled it and got 35.6mpg. If I drive normally and do a bit of overtaking it comes in at 29mpg. I have noticed idling for even a few minutes saps fuel economy, so avoid heavy traffic. Get a service thrown in by the dealer when purchasing, then it is every 9000 miles after that. I have had a traction control warning light issue that was down to a loose sensor, now rectified by dealer in Leeds who has bowed to my every whim. Cruise control can be a little temperamental. Ask about the recall on the door locks and if they have been done as this is a 4 hour job. Best bit of advice....buy off a dealer who will happily sort any issue you have while under warranty. Also...make sure you can handle all the attention you will get on the road, high street, while parked, at home on the drive etc....kids will wave, women will stare, angry dads in mpvs will try and keep up with you!
I still have my Sagaris and have had my Evora for about a month, but due to business trips only been able to drive it for two weeks.
And yes, sorry, I am biased towards TVRs, I fully admit it
- Insurance is more expensive than Sagaris - not sure why as the Sag is more expensive and more powerful
- It drives well, although I haven't pushed it
- A lot quiter than the Sag, too quiet perhaps. May look at adding a sports exhaust of some kind to it
- Get about 26-30 mpg out of it
- Interior is good, not exceptional, but good
- The alpine oem radio/satnav is... rough
- Has a good range of acceleration, very steady and punchy when you need it
- Handles speed bumps well and corners
- Service costs look reasonable
- Build quality is quite good, although the interior does have a few things that I will need to do on it I think
- Reversing is a pain. Get the camera installed at the back
And yes, sorry, I am biased towards TVRs, I fully admit it
Edited by alex_gray255 on Thursday 16th February 23:57
I loved my sagaris but it proved to be too much of a handful for daily use - especially in the snow(there's a little patch of oil on my drive where it lived 
) the exige was remarkably good in winter....I drove the evora on release, but was tempted by the exige scura but plumped for the sagaris instead. I plan on buying second hand from a dealer for peace of mind. Also got really inflated insurance quotes almost double the ridiculously rare and powerful sagaris, can't really see why.
) the exige was remarkably good in winter....I drove the evora on release, but was tempted by the exige scura but plumped for the sagaris instead. I plan on buying second hand from a dealer for peace of mind. Also got really inflated insurance quotes almost double the ridiculously rare and powerful sagaris, can't really see why. justin220 said:
I can insure a 458 or Murci for less than my Evora!
I found the same with Elises also. 25% more expensive to insure than the lambo - even with a limit of 5000 miles.Edited by justin220 on Thursday 16th February 21:27
I did hear that the problem is that the alloy chassis can't be repaired if a wishbone mount is damaged in an accident and also the front rear clams are quite easily damaged in even a fairly minor bump. Hence insurance claims tend to be higher than normal.
I have not seen hard facts - this just what others have told me.
Thinking of getting an Evora also, so following this thread with interest.
XTR2Turbo said:
I found the same with Elises also. 25% more expensive to insure than the lambo - even with a limit of 5000 miles.
I did hear that the problem is that the alloy chassis can't be repaired if a wishbone mount is damaged in an accident and also the front rear clams are quite easily damaged in even a fairly minor bump. Hence insurance claims tend to be higher than normal.
The Evora should be a but less prone to these issues, unlike the Elise chassis the VVA chassis system uses a front subframe as well as a rear one, so if you bend a suspension mount you should be able to replace the subframe rather than having to scrap the tub. Front subframe is listed as being around £1600 on De Roure, but they don't have a price for the rear one.I did hear that the problem is that the alloy chassis can't be repaired if a wishbone mount is damaged in an accident and also the front rear clams are quite easily damaged in even a fairly minor bump. Hence insurance claims tend to be higher than normal.
Likewise the Evora does have front and rear bumpers, albeit presumably still in fibreglass so perhaps a bit more prone to needing replacement than GRP ones? Even so for minor accidents you shouldn't always need to replace the main clamshells.
Hi Justin
As requested...
Pics of the Sagaris...
Pics of the Evora... Not brilliant ones as the roads this week are crap, the light today is crap as well and
I didn't have time to give it a full wash before it started to rain... But hey ho...
When I get a chance, I'm going to do some little cosmetic enhancements and get a sports exhaust fitted,
but that's for later on in the year. As this one is my daily driver, that sort of stuff sits a bit down on the priority
list.
As requested...
Pics of the Sagaris...
Pics of the Evora... Not brilliant ones as the roads this week are crap, the light today is crap as well and
I didn't have time to give it a full wash before it started to rain... But hey ho...
When I get a chance, I'm going to do some little cosmetic enhancements and get a sports exhaust fitted,
but that's for later on in the year. As this one is my daily driver, that sort of stuff sits a bit down on the priority
list.
Edited by alex_gray255 on Saturday 18th February 12:44
Edited by alex_gray255 on Saturday 18th February 12:45
Thanks Alex, absolutely love the Sagaris. I very nearly changed my T350 for one at one point, but wanted something a bit more different. Must admit I prefer the T350 rear end.
My old one.. I wonder where it is now...
Great two car set up you have though! The Sag makes the Evora look very tame..
My old one.. I wonder where it is now...
Great two car set up you have though! The Sag makes the Evora look very tame..
Aaaaaargh! Making me miss my sagaris so much! Awesome combo of a TVR and evora, always found that my sagaris had the brutality and presence that my exige s lacked.
Want to get a bit more usability in my daily drive though, so I think the evora will be perfect for me. What's it like with an aftermarket exhaust on? I don't expect it to sound like the sag (which always sounded better that any fezza, porker or aston imo) but would like it to sound a little fruitier than I does. The stage 2 exhaust on the exige made a world of difference.
Want to get a bit more usability in my daily drive though, so I think the evora will be perfect for me. What's it like with an aftermarket exhaust on? I don't expect it to sound like the sag (which always sounded better that any fezza, porker or aston imo) but would like it to sound a little fruitier than I does. The stage 2 exhaust on the exige made a world of difference.
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