Am i barking up the wrong tree....

[Havoc856]

Hi everybody,

I've been toying with getting a Lotus in one way shape or form for the last 6yrs. I've currently got a Ford Focus RS Mk2 that i've owned from the off and keep defaulting back to it as being rather good at everything. I've decided after a fairly hefty uprooting recently that i should stop procrastinating as i'm not getting any younger and life is decidedly unpredictable.

I'm in the Army and have a German Shepherd so i normally have at least a big bag or a big dog in the passenger seat... This burning drive for a Lotus isn't going away though. I've driven all of the Elise/Exige cars and found every one from a 111S to a 260 RGB to be a riot. They're.... well, they're just a little small - this would be my only car... and i'm sure you can see where this is going...

So my RS is 1450kg with 400bhp... the Evora (apparently) is 1400kg with 276bhp... but it does have ample space for aforementioned furry and bag. I can't stretch to a supercharged Evora alas. The starting price is a few grand out of reach. Dare i say on paper it seems a little slow - i'm yet to get in one (although this is coming shortly).

I'm not overly bothered about paper stats.. its how it drives that is important to me, but i do want decent performance.

Basically i'm posting this for both Evora and Elise/Exige forums to try to put together a balanced view on things from owners opinions.

[Thorburn]

Always found with Lotus' its not about the power, its about the feel. Driven most the range from my S1 Elise and the Elise 1.6 up to the Evora S and Exige V6 and unless you're willing to be really silly I don't think there is THAT much difference on the road, you just have to work the lower power models a bit harder and rely on the lower gears a bit more.

In some ways that makes the lower power ones a bit more satisfying as you feel like you're working a bit harder, although I'd still love one of the newer supercharged models.

When you have a lot of power its actually pretty rare you actually get to use it on the road - the power gauge in my Dad's M135i rarely ever goes over about 150bhp in road driving...

One thing to bear in mind with the n/a Evora though is there are two different gear ratio sets - the optional sports ratios give shorter 3rd/4th/5th/6th and offer better in gear acceleration in the higher gears, the standard gear set gives better economy.

[FRO911]

Evora is great car but from what you've said I'd put an order in for the new Focus RS. Reports suggest its a fantastic car, cheap to buy and run and you can put the dog in the back!

[CTE]

About 3 years ago I had an RS Mk2 which as you say is a brilliant all round fast car (with it's own character), and economical to own and run. I changed it for an Evora S, and have to say the Evora is a step up in the performance world. That's not to say in a straight line the Evora will lave the Focus for dead, but hit a few bends and it is a totally different experience. The RS feels like a crude but effective bruiser whereas the Evora is all about balance, poise, and involvement.
You will miss some of the simple and very practical things you have with a main stream car, and there will be the odd thing that might annoy you with the Evora, but overall you will not regret it one bit. Get the right spec. And go for it.
As for a Mk3 Focus, sure it will be a very quick and competent car with all sorts of computer controlled gadgets to alter the driving style...but you do not need all that tosh when you have a car that is fundamentally spot on...and I have a feeling that like most modern highly capable hatches, it will probably get a bit dull after a while??

[Sumsion]

Drive and buy ......!

[Havoc856]

Perfect responses, thank you!

I've looked at the Mk3... Even spec'd modestly its a £35,000 car - I'd be questioning why i decided a hatchback over an Evora S or CR for that money.

I preferred the 190 Exige to the 220 and 240. The 260 was just mental and hilarious. The 111S was a lovely drive too. I think i'd miss the rush the RS can provide in the sudden smash of boost... but maybe i need to get hold of Aimee and get in the 276 i've been staring at for weeks.

[Don262]

The Evora is a true GT with lots of pace and plenty of storage space for the weekend etc. Your dog will fit in either 2+0 or 2+2 setup.I think the CR box gives it a bit more sportiness than the normal box but that is a personal opinion. The S has a higher fuel consumption compared to the NA. Best to try both NA and S before making a decision but I think you would be pleased with the drive and handling experience of both cars.

[Toaster]

What a dilemma, its a nice one to have but as an Evora owner and a former German Shepard owner I think you may want to stick with the RS. The Evora is a great car but not sure id want to subject the German Shepard to having to be in it. Its only my opinion but I wouldn't buy an Evora if I had a Dog such as yours.

[BravoV8V]

Havoc856 said:

... but maybe i need to get hold of Aimee

Does Aimee know you feel this way?

[Havoc856]

Toaster said:

What a dilemma, its a nice one to have but as an Evora owner and a former German Shepard owner I think you may want to stick with the RS. The Evora is a great car but not sure id want to subject the German Shepard to having to be in it. Its only my opinion but I wouldn't buy an Evora if I had a Dog such as yours.

You realise i'm not living in it right? It'd be for short trips back to the family home etc, not for 3 hour marathons. If you're concerning yourself with the noise, she falls straight asleep in a rock hard straight through exhaust fitted RS too.

Not to mention the seats are Recaro CS in the RS as well as the Evora. Additionally the intention is the entire rear bench area is hers for the short trips.

[Havoc856]

BravoV8V said:

Does Aimee know you feel this way?

Valid shout!

I've begun the search, it didn't start well with the one i'm after being off the road for a steering rack issue must... be... patient...

Thanks for the help guys. You've been cracking.

[stuno1]

If the rear seats are removed and you put carpet in its place it may be better for your dog. Having said that I don't own a dog so can't be sure!

[Sumsion]

Any dog worth it's salt will want to sit in the front ! I then coax mine from the front seat into the footwell and away we drive .

[CTE]

Just get a 2+0, it already has a parcel shelf with a net...

[Havoc856]

Thanks again, I've managed to stumble across a thread where there's a fairly simple rear seat delete guide so if she does get arsey... then I have a backup plan.

Tbh she sits on the front seat quite happily now and normally starts off in the footwell then gets nosey!

[Havoc856]

Copied from the Readers cars section!

So after six long years of looking for a Lotus that fit my life, i finally went up to Lotus Silverstone to see Aimee about a Grey Evora... I'd driven virtually every Elise and Exige variant up to that point (and bored friends about wanting one) and despite loving them, they just were too impractical for my needs Aimee didn't disappoint with the car - it's lovely and the forged alloys are works of art! So i bought it there and then!

Believe it or not the rear "seats" are damn useful for comfortably loading up grip bags or my dog - although she prefers the footwell, even though its a tighter fit

I just can't stop driving it, i love how special it feels, the handling and the noise it makes. I went out to buy a kettle tonight and ended up 30 miles away at Sandbanks....

20160404_192151 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

I've been fairly corrupted by blown cars for the last 8yrs so this is a return to my roots and naturally aspirated - it's taken an adjustment period to get used to not having instant access to huge waves of power, but the fun of rev hunting and instant throttle delivery that naturally aspirated engines give over the softness of blown engines has made me grin from ear to ear!

I've found the clutch pretty heavy and reversing has become a bit of a bugger considering the beeps go from nothing to "OMG stop" in a second. Practice makes perfect!

Spec:

2011 Carbon Grey Lotus Evora
N/A V6 300bhp (near as makes no odds)
Essex Autosport Remap
2Bular Exhaust c/w sports cat
Drop in sports air filter

Future:

Decent phone mount
New PH smiley required
Track day at Snetterton 300 on 5th May and Silverstone in August!
Polish, DA and a general tidy up of the seat (bolster wear)
Difflow 5 elm diffuser
A decent weighted gear knob... i find the shift a little light and imprecise (in other words i fluff a few gear changes)

Gratuitous Picture Collection:

C_7D6206 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

C_7D6210 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

C_7D6213 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

C_7D6214 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

C_7D6215 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

C_7D6218 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

Thanks for the guidance!

[Havoc856]

Sumsion said:

Any dog worth it's salt will want to sit in the front ! I then coax mine from the front seat into the footwell and away we drive .

20160402_101048 by Simon Cox, on Flickr

[AlanH1]

Nice car. Really loving the metallic grey.

The first picture on the ramp is great, looks like some kind of stealth vehicle.

[DaveGB]

Congrats. Loved mine and will have another at some point. Enjoy

[CTE]

Like the pics...funny. Good spec on the engine and bet it sounds the biz with the exhaust etc.

There is a new thread about the 781 4 cylinder Boxster and the engine tone, or lack of. This Evora will run rings around it for fun and character and save you £20-30k!