Evora In The Wet

Evora In The Wet

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Discussion

bennyboysvuk

Original Poster:

3,491 posts

247 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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At some point, I'll be replacing my M135i with something with more feedback and that's generally more fun to drive. The M135i is quite quick, but it's very nannying and has turbo-lag, which I've come to detest.

I've owned a Z4M Roadster in the past and loved it, but I need something with four seats, hence I'm looking at the Evora.

My question is for those who have tracked it in the wet. The Z4 MR was hilarious in the wet, it would spin up and get very sideways all very controllably and sometimes at quite high speeds. e.g. it was spinning the wheels in third at around 80-90mph, which meant I had to be quite careful in how I applied the throttle. It was all great fun.

I'm hoping that the Evora might be similar. Is the lack of a LSD a problem once it starts sliding or does it tend to slide quite gracefully and one of a piece? I'm comparing apples with oranges here, I know, but I find that the electronic differential brake in the M135i means that the car can spin one wheel, then the opposite wheel, then the other wheel again multiple times when accelerating hard in the wet, which feels very unrefined and mid-corner it doesn't feel very satisfying either.

Thanks.

CTE

1,488 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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My Experience of the Evora in the wet running the original Corsa tyres is that it is very controllable and forgiving and unbelievably quick with it. Best try it on a track first though. Also depends upon your driving style, but it can be made to understeer, oversteer, or just remain neutral...the balance and set up is spot on.

delta0

2,334 posts

105 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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You may not find the rear seats useable in the Evora. For kids but not adults, they will be very cramped. Depending on your height the rear seats may even not be useable by kids.

bennyboysvuk

Original Poster:

3,491 posts

247 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
Thank you for the feedback. It sounds like it is absolutely neutral then and can comfortably be made to do whatever I like (understeer, oversteer).

With regard to four seats. So long as it can fit my wife and son in, I'm happy. He'll be four or five by the time I can change the M135i, so although he'll not likely be able to sit behind me (all 6ft3in) he should be able to sit behind my wife I would think.

gavsdavs

1,203 posts

125 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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I havent' driven an evora, but the weighting of a z4m/m135i is FR, evora is MR.

MR cars will give more rear grip until you go past the grip limits, then it'll not be like an FR car.

FR cars will let the rears come free more easily and are less dramatic when they do let go.

This comes from what I know about my car, whilst not in the class of the Evora is MR layout and can turn itself around if you stab at the brakes/throttle, and be quick to do it.

delta0

2,334 posts

105 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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You should be ok. About 5'2" is the cutoff for the back. Above that they have to sit leaning across the seat. I had the misfortune of being in the back of a colleagues TT 10 years ago and had to sit leaning, was not comfortable! I expect your height means there will be no legroom at all immediately behind you.

alicrozier

549 posts

236 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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Yep, you'll find more traction and higher limits but more sensitive to inputs.
Although very satisfying to balance you have to first manage the front end grip and more difficult to control big angles.

C43

666 posts

197 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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wet grip at the rear very tyre wear dependant. When the rears are new ish the balance is very neutral and the car can be drifted quite easily (better than any other mid engine car I have driven). When the rear tyres are near the end of the life the balance goes to oversteer. Easy to control but grip level lower.

My children are now 14 and on the limit for fitting in the rear so you have a few years to go.

C43

ps never driven a 135i or Z4m but given the later was nicknamed the widow maker by the development engineers and the former is front engined the Evora should be a joy in comparison.

bennyboysvuk

Original Poster:

3,491 posts

247 months

Thursday 2nd July 2015
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Thank you all for the extra information.

The M135i has a bit of understeer built in and the turbo lag means that overcoming the understeer with large throttle inputs isn't very rewarding. It's fast, but it's quite clumsy.

The neutrality/oversteer balance sounds fantastic. At Goodwood 73MM I stood at the first corner and watched as the 1960s 911s were going through with the rear carving a wider line than the fronts. It was spectacular.

Toaster

2,938 posts

192 months

Friday 3rd July 2015
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This is not a technical response but planted, safe, secure are words I would use to describe driving an Evora in the wet and heavy rain.