Evora vs the alternatives

[C70R]

It's my plan to replace my stopgap Z4 with something more exciting for roadtrips, occasional trackdays and some B-road jollies next year.

At £30k, my budget gets me a tidy, early Evora. I love the way they look, I'm going to get a seat in one to make sure I fit with a helmet, and I'll probably test drive a few alternatives when I come to buy.

Because I'm quite excited, I've already started looking at what else that budget might buy me. My rough shortlist would be:
- Z4M (probably a roadster) - wildcard, but much cheaper
- 987 3.4 Cayman
- 981 2.7 Cayman
- 981 3.4 Boxster
- 997 3.8
- TVR Tamora
- V8 Vantage

A broad church there. The Evora is probably the car that excites me most, but I'm open to alternatives.

I'm keen to hear the experiences of others who have bought the base Evora. What did you consider? What have I missed? How did the Evora compare?

[blueg33]

Its not that broad a church!

Evora is great (I've had 2), if you are 6ft or taller it will be tight with a helmet.

Exige or Elise or are they >£30k I have lost track

[C70R]

blueg33 said:

Its not that broad a church!

Evora is great (I've had 2), if you are 6ft or taller it will be tight with a helmet.

Exige or Elise or are they >£30k I have lost track

The height/helmet issue is my main worry at 6ft3. I found an old Autocar data sheet that suggested more headroom than a 987, which I've driven with a helmet, so I'm staying optimistic...

Elise and Exige were deliberately excluded, because I'm not tolerant enough to take one on a roadtrip even if I fitted.

[limpsfield]

C70R said:

I'm keen to hear the experiences of others who have bought the base Evora. What did you consider? What have I missed? How did the Evora compare?

I went from an Elise 111R to an Evora and now a Boxster 987S

My favourite out of all of those was the elise.

The Evora felt like a grown up Elise with similar great handling.

I have had the Boxster the longest out of all of them which I suppose says something. I've done a few euro roadtrips in the Boxster and I think it's the best all-rounder.


I would miss having a convertible if I went back to the Evora - how important is that for you?

If I was to change I would consider an F Type Jag - lots of those for low 30s.

Or, because it has got the engine from my old M240 which I loved, the newer shape Z4 M40, around mid-30ks.

[limpsfield]

Thinkng about it again, if you are not bothered about a soft top I would go Evora.

More special than a Cayman, cheaper to run than a Vantage?

Although mine did need a new clutch which was about £5k from memory as the car needs to be taken apart...soured my ownership a bit.

[C70R]

limpsfield said:

I would miss having a convertible if I went back to the Evora - how important is that for you?

If I was to change I would consider an F Type Jag - lots of those for low 30s.

The convertible thing is a great question. I think I'd compromise for the right car, even though I'd miss it a bit.

I absolutely love the F-type, but I worry that I'd feel a bit short-changed by 'only' having the V6 (which isn't particularly quick). Might add it to the list and give one a drive.

Edited by C70R on Thursday 11th May 11:57

[blueg33]

C70R said:

The height/helmet issue is my main worry at 6ft3. I found an old Autocar data sheet that suggested more headroom than a 987, which I've driven with a helmet, so I'm staying optimistic...

Elise and Exige were deliberately excluded, because I'm not tolerant enough to take one on a roadtrip even if I fitted.

You will have to recline the seat. (I tend to sit quite upright in cars, at 6ft my helmet touched the roof of the Evora - ooh er missus)

[blueg33]

limpsfield said:

Thinkng about it again, if you are not bothered about a soft top I would go Evora.

More special than a Cayman, cheaper to run than a Vantage?

Although mine did need a new clutch which was about £5k from memory as the car needs to be taken apart...soured my ownership a bit.

Clutch is typically £3k fitted. early cars had a clutch issue but pretty much all of those were sorted under warranty.

[C70R]

blueg33 said:

C70R said:

The height/helmet issue is my main worry at 6ft3. I found an old Autocar data sheet that suggested more headroom than a 987, which I've driven with a helmet, so I'm staying optimistic...

Elise and Exige were deliberately excluded, because I'm not tolerant enough to take one on a roadtrip even if I fitted.

You will have to recline the seat. (I tend to sit quite upright in cars, at 6ft my helmet touched the roof of the Evora - ooh er missus)

That might be a deal breaker, to be honest. I'll report back once I've found the time to sit in one.

[limpsfield]

blueg33 said:

limpsfield said:

Thinkng about it again, if you are not bothered about a soft top I would go Evora.

More special than a Cayman, cheaper to run than a Vantage?

Although mine did need a new clutch which was about £5k from memory as the car needs to be taken apart...soured my ownership a bit.

Clutch is typically £3k fitted. early cars had a clutch issue but pretty much all of those were sorted under warranty.

Fair enough, although mine wasn't. It really annoyed me as I had an indie inspection and they said it was as if it was always partially engaged which of course wore it quicker. In the end I sold it to the dealer with the broken clutch and vowed to never buy another Lotus! Although the Emira is tempting.

[blueg33]

limpsfield said:

Fair enough, although mine wasn't. It really annoyed me as I had an indie inspection and they said it was as if it was always partially engaged which of course wore it quicker. In the end I sold it to the dealer with the broken clutch and vowed to never buy another Lotus! Although the Emira is tempting.

Same clutch...............

[limpsfield]

blueg33 said:

limpsfield said:

Fair enough, although mine wasn't. It really annoyed me as I had an indie inspection and they said it was as if it was always partially engaged which of course wore it quicker. In the end I sold it to the dealer with the broken clutch and vowed to never buy another Lotus! Although the Emira is tempting.

Same clutch...............

Hopefully this time around it's fitted properly!

I'd love to drive an emira to see if it is an Evora in a pretty dress or something different. Gorgeous car either way.

[BertBert]

limpsfield said:

Hopefully this time around it's fitted properly!

I'd love to drive an emira to see if it is an Evora in a pretty dress or something different. Gorgeous car either way.

From the test drive (albeit short) I was expecting to think the Emira was not as good a drive as my Evora had been, but was pleasantly surprised. I thought the Emira drove really well and better than I remembered my Evora 410.

[paul jarrett]

Have you considered a Jaguar F-type? The V6 S is pretty awesome IMO, one of the best cars I have driven.

[C70R]

paul jarrett said:

Have you considered a Jaguar F-type? The V6 S is pretty awesome IMO, one of the best cars I have driven.

I haven't. I worried it might be a bit heavy and under-powered/inert on track.

[Edmundo2]

I went from modded Cayman 987s via quick Caterham to Evora Sport410.

Loved my Cayman and think the mods really helped to bring it to life, ( seats, kw v3, exhaust , manifolds, r geo, lsd, short shift, gt3 master cylinder etc etc ). Still can't believe it could be had for well under £20k!

( PS. I've no affiliation but think the current owner is looking to sell it if you want putting in touch )

I'd have kept it if I could extract more power cheaply but it's not possible..

I'm now a month into owning the Evora and loving it..Feels really special and the perfect answer/step up from my Cayman..

Obvs an earlier car won't be quite as sharp, ( heavier/softer/less power ), but I enjoyed a ride out in an early NA car none the less..

Re headroom yes I can imagine it will be tight, ( mine has carbon buckets which are a good inch or so lower than norm so might be an option ).

Good luck

[C70R]

The 987 is actually the only one of the list I've driven on track, at a Thruxton experience day. Obviously I wasn't able to 'explore its limits' in half an hour, but it felt very stable and balanced, if not a tad unspectacular.

[RedAndy]

if you buy the Evora (lovely things they are) please buy the louvred/ducktail bootlid. I love them and really want one, but havent got an Evora so if you buy one on my behalf I'll be happy knowing that someone has one.

[The Wookie]

Surprised about the comments about headroom, I’m 6’5” and long in the back, I did a load of track time in S1 Evoras without any issues whereas I definitely struggled in 987 Caymans

[C70R]

The Wookie said:

Surprised about the comments about headroom, I’m 6’5” and long in the back, I did a load of track time in S1 Evoras without any issues whereas I definitely struggled in 987 Caymans

Very interesting. I'm very much 50/50 proportions, but I do like to have my seat quite upright on track.

Annoyingly the only Evoras for sale in Norfolk, are late model GTs at Stratton. Presume this isn't going to give a realistic gauge of headroom in an early car?