What should I expect from an Evora S

[Hungrymc]

A general update on my last few weeks with the car.

It's brilliant.

Really does seem to be a sweet spot between sports car and GT. It feels more of a sports car even if some of the specs suggest it's more GT. Handling and responsiveness in the dry are wonderful. It's very predictable and the cornering attitude is easy to play with, it's very balanced with little / no understeering. I haven't yet had a track day and I'm not going to be trying lurid drifts on the road so I can't comment on its behavior when really playing with it.

Today is wet after another longish dry spell. All of a sudden the car feels very loose again. A number of times today it's gone very sideways on, and leaving roundabouts when I'd say I was driving swiftly as opposed to trying to drive fast. In some of the early incidents I had I was unsure if the stability control was working, I can now see that it clearly is but when grip is very low, the car can be a long way out of shape before the system intervenes. I'm guessing this is many factors coming together.... Worst possible road conditions, mid engined car with a pretty steep torque curve, maybe tyres, maybe the stability is setup to allow a bit of playfulness in the dry (amplified in the slimy conditions of today).... And maybe I just need to keep recalibrating my driving after 6 years in a 4wd 911.

The car does thrill on every drive. I'm really delighted with it.

[stuno1]

Hungrymc said:

A general update on my last few weeks with the car.

It's brilliant.

Really does seem to be a sweet spot between sports car and GT. It feels more of a sports car even if some of the specs suggest it's more GT. Handling and responsiveness in the dry are wonderful. It's very predictable and the cornering attitude is easy to play with, it's very balanced with little / no understeering. I haven't yet had a track day and I'm not going to be trying lurid drifts on the road so I can't comment on its behavior when really playing with it.

Today is wet after another longish dry spell. All of a sudden the car feels very loose again. A number of times today it's gone very sideways on, and leaving roundabouts when I'd say I was driving swiftly as opposed to trying to drive fast. In some of the early incidents I had I was unsure if the stability control was working, I can now see that it clearly is but when grip is very low, the car can be a long way out of shape before the system intervenes. I'm guessing this is many factors coming together.... Worst possible road conditions, mid engined car with a pretty steep torque curve, maybe tyres, maybe the stability is setup to allow a bit of playfulness in the dry (amplified in the slimy conditions of today).... And maybe I just need to keep recalibrating my driving after 6 years in a 4wd 911.

The car does thrill on every drive. I'm really delighted with it.

Change the tyres I moved from the pirellis recommended by lotus to conti contact 6 and they are MILES better. The pirellis would kick loose in the wet but the contis just don't with the same amount of pressure applied. I agree regarding it being s sweet spot of a car. I recently drove to, around and back from the Nurburgring and it was epic! Sporty with epic handling and feel yet mile munching and comfy when needed! Lots of attention and people saying it is a 'beautiful' car etc. It really is a 3 person car with the 3rd being a nipper. Man I love it, more than any other car I have owned.

[Shnozz]

I was running Avon ZZ5's and found them excellent in both wet and dry.

[blueg33]

I find the pirellis better tan the avons, especially in the dry and similar in the wet.

[Havoc856]

In the dry P Zeros are pretty damn good. Ive been told to look at ZZ5 and Super Sport 2s when i'm need new tyres. Interested to hear pros and cons as they come..

[jayemm89]

FWIW a 996/997 FEEL much larger inside than an Evora, particularly an early one. One good reason is the huge amount of glass in a 911 compared with an Evora. That's just a product of the differences in layout.

One of the most significant upgrades of the 400 is the added room for rear passengers. I still wouldn't want to put four people in one though.

[stuno1]

jayemm89 said:

FWIW a 996/997 FEEL much larger inside than an Evora, particularly an early one. One good reason is the huge amount of glass in a 911 compared with an Evora. That's just a product of the differences in layout.

One of the most significant upgrades of the 400 is the added room for rear passengers. I still wouldn't want to put four people in one though.

Lateral room though not leg room which is what it needs.

[blueg33]

stuno1 said:

jayemm89 said:

FWIW a 996/997 FEEL much larger inside than an Evora, particularly an early one. One good reason is the huge amount of glass in a 911 compared with an Evora. That's just a product of the differences in layout.

One of the most significant upgrades of the 400 is the added room for rear passengers. I still wouldn't want to put four people in one though.

Lateral room though not leg room which is what it needs.

Plus feet now fit under the seats

[Hungrymc]

It's got P Zero Corsas on it at the moment and it's brilliant in the dry and good in the full wet. It seems to be when the roads are really awful with rain after a dry spell. I might be asking too much of it, i think the old 911 was particularly good in poor conditions.

I hate changing tyres in case it brings unexpected changes (on top of or instead of the ones you're looking for).... But I think that will be step one.

[Lotuslover669]

you should expect A LOT of minor issues that might eventually get on your nerves, or the nearest dealer being over a 100 miles to you, unfortunately lotus doesnt have the greatest infrastructure or supply chain as do some of its competitors. you have a problem in your car...gotta wait until hethel sends the right fix and if they screw up thats another 2 weeks. but you will never have any engine problems so that is a plus.

[stuno1]

Lotuslover669 said:

you should expect A LOT of minor issues that might eventually get on your nerves, or the nearest dealer being over a 100 miles to you, unfortunately lotus doesnt have the greatest infrastructure or supply chain as do some of its competitors. you have a problem in your car...gotta wait until hethel sends the right fix and if they screw up thats another 2 weeks. but you will never have any engine problems so that is a plus.

Waiting for parts is a fair point. Clearly dealer distance depends on individuals location. Mine is less than 20 miles away for servicing. I have NO little issues that annoy me. Like ANY car buy one that has bee sorted by previous owner/s.

[Hungrymc]

Lotuslover669 said:

you should expect A LOT of minor issues that might eventually get on your nerves, or the nearest dealer being over a 100 miles to you, unfortunately lotus doesnt have the greatest infrastructure or supply chain as do some of its competitors. you have a problem in your car...gotta wait until hethel sends the right fix and if they screw up thats another 2 weeks. but you will never have any engine problems so that is a plus.

I'm prepared for the support difficulties. You know that when you get involved in a smaller company that isn't at the upper end of the price / service market. Additional to the dealers, Porsche ownership benefitted from loads independent specialist, lotus don't. I do have a more local service centre (A graypaul only about 5 miles away), and an independent - PaulMatty about 20 miles, but no experience of either so I'm not relaxed about it yet and that won't solve the general factory support / supply chain difficulties.

It then becomes a question of do the benefits out weigh the negatives. And it's early days, but at the moment they do by a massive margin. I considered so many alternatives while I worked out what I really want from this car - notice that I say 'what I wanted' as opposed to what's best - I'm not here to say my Evora is right and your 911 is wrong. It seems to have satisfied my criteria brilliantly.

[blueg33]

Lotuslover669 said:

you should expect A LOT of minor issues that might eventually get on your nerves, or the nearest dealer being over a 100 miles to you, unfortunately lotus doesnt have the greatest infrastructure or supply chain as do some of its competitors. you have a problem in your car...gotta wait until hethel sends the right fix and if they screw up thats another 2 weeks. but you will never have any engine problems so that is a plus.

Parts supply can be an issue with any make

Aston have no rear bumpers for V8 vantage and dont know when they will get more
My Outback needed a door trim, 8 weeks as non in the country
My A6 needed a convenience module, 6 weeks as none in the country
Peugeot needed 2 months to supply a door skin for my dads 3 year old car.

The only wait i havd had on the evora so far is gear knob because the dealer didn't have one in stock.

[Lotuslover669]

Hungrymc said:

I'm prepared for the support difficulties. You know that when you get involved in a smaller company that isn't at the upper end of the price / service market. Additional to the dealers, Porsche ownership benefitted from loads independent specialist, lotus don't. I do have a more local service centre (A graypaul only about 5 miles away), and an independent - PaulMatty about 20 miles, but no experience of either so I'm not relaxed about it yet and that won't solve the general factory support / supply chain difficulties.

It then becomes a question of do the benefits out weigh the negatives. And it's early days, but at the moment they do by a massive margin. I considered so many alternatives while I worked out what I really want from this car - notice that I say 'what I wanted' as opposed to what's best - I'm not here to say my Evora is right and your 911 is wrong. It seems to have satisfied my criteria brilliantly.

yes in the right setting the Evora is a wonderful car, if i lived in the UK i would have purchased one over the 911s ,i think, but being in the UAE with that insane price point (where the 911s became just too good of a bargain on its price point) I'm sorry guys but a 10,000 pound difference is a huge sum.

[Toaster]

Lotuslover669 said:

you should expect A LOT of minor issues that might eventually get on your nerves, or the nearest dealer being over a 100 miles to you, unfortunately lotus doesnt have the greatest infrastructure or supply chain as do some of its competitors. you have a problem in your car...gotta wait until hethel sends the right fix and if they screw up thats another 2 weeks. but you will never have any engine problems so that is a plus.

Erm sound like your talking bks to me having had my Evora for around 5 years all minor issues were all resolved under warranty supply chain doesn't seem an issue also https://www.deroure.com these guys had additional capital investment if you need a spare part it will be despatched. 100 miles to a dealer hmmm such a generic statement and one that can be said of any manufacturer my VW dealer doesn't hold spares and takes between a day and week to get a part. I have at least two Lotus service centres between 20 and 70 miles there will be more but can't be arsed to look.

[swanny71]

Lotuslover669 said:

you should expect A LOT of minor issues that might eventually get on your nerves, or the nearest dealer being over a 100 miles to you, unfortunately lotus doesnt have the greatest infrastructure or supply chain as do some of its competitors. you have a problem in your car...gotta wait until hethel sends the right fix and if they screw up thats another 2 weeks. but you will never have any engine problems so that is a plus.

You're obviously an experienced Lotus owner (otherwise you'd look a bit of an idiot giving un-informed opinions on the Internet wouldn't you?)
So from an owners point of view (and as a self confessed Lotuslover), which models did you have problems with?

[jayemm89]

My Evora 400 is the best car I have ever driven, but it's spent 20 days out of 100 days of ownership being worked on. None of the issues were "major" (ie. would stop a journey from being made), but several issues have required repeated visits. The car's been worked on by the factory themselves for 14 of those days.

Make of that statement what you will...

[Havoc856]

My faults since April on my 70k mileage MY11 S1 Evora:

1. Cruise control intermittently switched off - replaced clutch position sensor under warranty.

2. F/R Anti roll bar noisy AF - replaced all mounts and drop links under warranty.

3. Noise when engine pitched - replaced engine mounts under warranty.

4. Window regulator needs adjusting as the window sits incorrectly when the door is closed - being repaired during my lunch stop on Silverstone GP Trackday on Monday under warranty.

So since April it's been in for 6 days total... Over the 5000 mi I have put on the car. Plus an hour to pull off the door card and sort the regulator out on Monday. Lotus Silverstone have been pretty damn good. To be honest i don't think they're big problems all things considered.

Edited by Havoc856 on Saturday 20th August 23:06

[blueg33]

My faults this year on 70k car

Gear knob leather worn
Headlights started to peel

Consumable items
Brake discs and pads

Last year
Driver door lock mechanism

In the life of the car and done under warranty
Clutch cables upgraded to my12
New clutch (my car was one with the clutches incorrectly installed at the factory)

[Havoc856]

How in the sweet hell did you get My12 shift cable under warranty?