What should I expect from an Evora S
Discussion
I've had a great drive this evening. A few things have become more clear. The stability control certainly does work, the moments I had the first few days must have been down to the very greasy roads (long dry spell, wet spell). This evening on dry and then properly wet roads, it's behaved exactly as you'd want it to (an annoyance I have with M3s and C63s etc is the constant early intervention). The car also will not spin up an inside wheel either with the stability on or off, it definitely spins the outside wheel even when pulling out of a tight junction so the 'e-diff' function although surely not as nice as a mechanical LSD, does its job well enough.
Got a free day tomorrow, need to fake it for a proper, longer run.
On the topic of clunky teenagers, my kids are a little younger - and are arguing over who gets to go in the back - they normally argue over who's turn it is in the front of a car but there is something about the back that they seem to really like (the seat is relatively high.... Maybe that).
Got a free day tomorrow, need to fake it for a proper, longer run.
On the topic of clunky teenagers, my kids are a little younger - and are arguing over who gets to go in the back - they normally argue over who's turn it is in the front of a car but there is something about the back that they seem to really like (the seat is relatively high.... Maybe that).
A quick update on my car. I haven't taken the plunge yet on a wrap or barge boards etc. but I'm enjoying driving it more and more. The handling really is a joy and quite a contrast to my 911. I'm struggling to explain it, but I like the way it will start to move around either due to momentum (if you throw it into a bend) or on the power. It feels like it starts to move quite early but it also seems to be able to carry huge corner speed - which seems contradictory. Really does feel very different to anything I've owned and is brilliant fun.
Powertrain is interesting, the clutch is heavy but pleasant. Gear selection is better than my 996 was. It won't be rushed at high revs, that's not to say the change is slow - you have to be very deliberate and firm but can't just try to shove it through the gate. I'm learning this and it's fine.
The engine is lacking a little charisma - I was expecting this as it was probably a highlight of my Porsche (lovely power delivery and so many interesting sounds and resonances as you moved through the rev range). It has plenty of torque, I think the car could cope easily with more top end but it has enough to be a very, very fast car and very good fun. I suspect the decat will liberate a little noise as people have suggested and this will add a little more drama / charisma.
And it puts almost as large a smile on my face driving it slowly and gently as it does hurling it through a series of sweeping bends. It really is a lovely little car.
Powertrain is interesting, the clutch is heavy but pleasant. Gear selection is better than my 996 was. It won't be rushed at high revs, that's not to say the change is slow - you have to be very deliberate and firm but can't just try to shove it through the gate. I'm learning this and it's fine.
The engine is lacking a little charisma - I was expecting this as it was probably a highlight of my Porsche (lovely power delivery and so many interesting sounds and resonances as you moved through the rev range). It has plenty of torque, I think the car could cope easily with more top end but it has enough to be a very, very fast car and very good fun. I suspect the decat will liberate a little noise as people have suggested and this will add a little more drama / charisma.
And it puts almost as large a smile on my face driving it slowly and gently as it does hurling it through a series of sweeping bends. It really is a lovely little car.
johnwilliams77 said:
I assume you have sport mode for a slightly higher rev limit/better throttle response? I changed my exhaust to a tubular backbox and it changed the car and my enjoyment dramatically. Best money I have spent on it.
Yep, it has the sport mode and does Rev well. That also brings with it the valved exhaust so it sounds OK but I think you're right that an exhaust change will really open it up - that is the new job number but I'll start with the decat pipe as I'd like to keep the switching ability (quiet for early starts - vocal when having fun).I second the comments above. Although I keep talking about having wanted a 2+2. It was actually a 3 seat car that I needed (myself and my two kids - 10 and 11 years old).
The Evora is absolutely fine when I have both kids on the passenger side. There is no usable leg room behind the driver. I'm only 5ft 10, you can get your hand down behind the drivers seat but there is no real room for legs ... and feet in particular (they can't really go under the drivers seat).
I HAVE had 4 people in the car for a 30 minute journey. Two adults in the front, the passenger a bit cramped. And two kids in the back - my daughter behind me sat with her legs crossed. My Lad on the passenger side sitting normally.
It is more of a compromise than a 996/7. But they are also so tight in the back that I'm not sure it's particularly relevant. I had to push my seat a long way forward in my 996 to allow a child to sit behind me, might have been OK in an auto but it was a pretty bad driving position in a manual car.
The Evora is absolutely fine when I have both kids on the passenger side. There is no usable leg room behind the driver. I'm only 5ft 10, you can get your hand down behind the drivers seat but there is no real room for legs ... and feet in particular (they can't really go under the drivers seat).
I HAVE had 4 people in the car for a 30 minute journey. Two adults in the front, the passenger a bit cramped. And two kids in the back - my daughter behind me sat with her legs crossed. My Lad on the passenger side sitting normally.
It is more of a compromise than a 996/7. But they are also so tight in the back that I'm not sure it's particularly relevant. I had to push my seat a long way forward in my 996 to allow a child to sit behind me, might have been OK in an auto but it was a pretty bad driving position in a manual car.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
I had the children helping me wash the Evora yesterday afternoon. Lots of giggling from the back of the car so I go to see what is going on.......Turns out a noodle mit has managed to snag the "U" of the Lotus badge and now we have a LOT S.
2 mins with some good double sided tape and it's as good as new.
And the new passenger record is me (at 5'10) a 6ft passenger, an 11 year old and a 15 year old..... Was a bit snug.
2 mins with some good double sided tape and it's as good as new.
And the new passenger record is me (at 5'10) a 6ft passenger, an 11 year old and a 15 year old..... Was a bit snug.
So a very brief update.
Have managed a few drives in the car these last few weekends. Firstly the negative, I find it hard work in very heavy traffic, the clutch feels heavy and I'm probably trying too hard to look after the clutch and avoid slipping it in crawling traffic. I also find the throttle a bit too quick acting early in it's travel in sport mode, I'd rather it a little 'longer', in fact I prefer the throttle response in normal mode in the first 10 or 15 mm of travel.
However, it's just an absolute scream to drive. This weekend the roads of been a little damp and cold but the car has been wonderful, lots of feel and very predictable which is very different to how I felt about it on damp roads when I first has the car. I think I'm being far more gentle with the controls than when I first had the car - I was used to a 4 wheel drive 911 where you could really take liberties with the back end. The steering is fabulous and the way the car moves into oversteer is really predictable. It's fast enough to be fun on faster roads and delicate enough to throw around tight B roads.
I was so close to booking it into Hangar111 for some komotec work but I've decided against it for now. I wanted an S mainly for tuning potential, but I don't think I've had one moment when I wanted more torque or top end, so although more is normally better, I'm not rushing it.
Still in a quandary over an SR wrap and barge boards. I think they suit the cars and do make them look sharp, but I also love the colour and like being able to see some of the lines which you lose a little with the wrap (the bumps in the roof and the depth of the undercut on the sills).
Have managed a few drives in the car these last few weekends. Firstly the negative, I find it hard work in very heavy traffic, the clutch feels heavy and I'm probably trying too hard to look after the clutch and avoid slipping it in crawling traffic. I also find the throttle a bit too quick acting early in it's travel in sport mode, I'd rather it a little 'longer', in fact I prefer the throttle response in normal mode in the first 10 or 15 mm of travel.
However, it's just an absolute scream to drive. This weekend the roads of been a little damp and cold but the car has been wonderful, lots of feel and very predictable which is very different to how I felt about it on damp roads when I first has the car. I think I'm being far more gentle with the controls than when I first had the car - I was used to a 4 wheel drive 911 where you could really take liberties with the back end. The steering is fabulous and the way the car moves into oversteer is really predictable. It's fast enough to be fun on faster roads and delicate enough to throw around tight B roads.
I was so close to booking it into Hangar111 for some komotec work but I've decided against it for now. I wanted an S mainly for tuning potential, but I don't think I've had one moment when I wanted more torque or top end, so although more is normally better, I'm not rushing it.
Still in a quandary over an SR wrap and barge boards. I think they suit the cars and do make them look sharp, but I also love the colour and like being able to see some of the lines which you lose a little with the wrap (the bumps in the roof and the depth of the undercut on the sills).
It must be me, I dont like quick action throttles on motorbikes either. I like the initial travel to be quite a shallow gradient and then be steeper as you get closer to WOT.
I find I'm inclined to over rev on heel and toe at the moment, am sure I'll get used to it.... and have lots of fun doing so :-)
I find I'm inclined to over rev on heel and toe at the moment, am sure I'll get used to it.... and have lots of fun doing so :-)
Best drive of my ownership today. Over to west Wales nice and early before any traffic. The car is wonderful and even though conditions were cold and damp in places it was brilliant fun. Brilliant handling, enough grunt to be fun, comfortable enough to be no chore in the dull parts.... brilliant.
Developed a rattle from the corner of the screen and a pillar (a pillar trim I think). But only at very high speed so it wasn't an issue and I'll give the area a good going over to try and stop it.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/cFoaiw0h.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/GuKVQyL3" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/GuKVQyL3.jpg)
Developed a rattle from the corner of the screen and a pillar (a pillar trim I think). But only at very high speed so it wasn't an issue and I'll give the area a good going over to try and stop it.
Gassing Station | Evora | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff