RE: Evora S Sports Racer: Intro

RE: Evora S Sports Racer: Intro

Author
Discussion

zebedee

4,589 posts

279 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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SpudLink said:
Perhaps the problem is people (journalists) expected cars to fit into an existing 'class'. Porsche is considered the definition of the sports car classes. By not being an exact fit into either the Caymen or (current) 911 class of car, the Evora considered to have failed to match either.
It seems people have difficulty accepting it on its own terms.
You make a good point. Gavan Kershaw once told me that the main problem with the Evora was getting people to try them, he said once they had tried them they had little problem converting them into sales.

moribund

4,033 posts

215 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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Personally I'm gobsmacked that a motoring website has two writers who'd NEVER driven ANY Lotus until now. Huh? Don't Lotus PR lend them cars? Don't they have friends with Loti? Did they never just think to ask for a go in someone's at a Sunday Service? They're in the business of writing about performance cars after all.

CTE

1,488 posts

241 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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I am sure this is one significant area where Lotus let themselves down...marketing, and all that goes with it. I am sure Porsche do everything they need to in order to support journalists and their magazines...

kambites

67,634 posts

222 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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otolith said:
It's a fair point that cars which are not trying to be exactly the same kind of thing as whatever the scribblers consider to be the class leader tend not to be judged on their own terms.
It certainly happens somtimes, but I think it's the exception not the norm. Most journalists will explain the relatively differences between the cars - what each one does better than the other - and then go on to give their own opinion of which is better overall and why. No-one forces people to read the second half of that and anyone who bases their buying decision on it is an idiot, but that's not the journalists' fault.

zebedee

4,589 posts

279 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
quotequote all
kambites said:
It certainly happens somtimes, but I think it's the exception not the norm. Most journalists will explain the relatively differences between the cars - what each one does better than the other - and then go on to give their own opinion of which is better overall and why. No-one forces people to read the second half of that and anyone who bases their buying decision on it is an idiot, but that's not the journalists' fault.
And many car buyers are certainly idiots, such as those who buy a car without having driven it and then complaining that it wasn't what they were expecting. Like my mate's girlfriend who bought a brand new MX-5 thinking it would be "really fast like a Porsche". I explained that isn't what they were about but it was still a great car but she was so disappointed she sold it within about 6 weeks and lost a shedload of cash on it. No sympathy at all though.

otolith

56,341 posts

205 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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kambites said:
It certainly happens somtimes, but I think it's the exception not the norm. Most journalists will explain the relatively differences between the cars - what each one does better than the other - and then go on to give their own opinion of which is better overall and why. No-one forces people to read the second half of that and anyone who bases their buying decision on it is an idiot, but that's not the journalists' fault.
Most cars are easily pigeonholed. Something which isn't, which makes different compromises, may be difficult to benchmark. The RX-8 was a good example.

kambites

67,634 posts

222 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
quotequote all
zebedee said:
kambites said:
It certainly happens somtimes, but I think it's the exception not the norm. Most journalists will explain the relatively differences between the cars - what each one does better than the other - and then go on to give their own opinion of which is better overall and why. No-one forces people to read the second half of that and anyone who bases their buying decision on it is an idiot, but that's not the journalists' fault.
And many car buyers are certainly idiots, such as those who buy a car without having driven it and then complaining that it wasn't what they were expecting. Like my mate's girlfriend who bought a brand new MX-5 thinking it would be "really fast like a Porsche". I explained that isn't what they were about but it was still a great car but she was so disappointed she sold it within about 6 weeks and lost a shedload of cash on it. No sympathy at all though.
Yeah, the idea of buying a car without driving it is utterly baffling to me; reviews are there to help create a short-list, not to make a final decision. Clearly lots of people do it, though.

The reviews I've read have been good enough that I know I'd never buy a 911 without driving an Evora and vice versa. That's all the review has to provide for me.

Ikobo

511 posts

150 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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At least the latest update to the feature is more positive. It would be nice to see the comments focus on that and the car in question rather than how much a Porsche weighs!

f1colin

51 posts

204 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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Read the updates with interest. Observations: 1) shameful that 2 PH hacks have never driven a Lotus until now 2) agree that the Evora isn't easily pigeonholed and struggles against the Stuttgart offerings in terms of build quality but equally Porsche and jaguar and Aston suffer terrible comparison with the sublime Evora ride steering and handling.

I write this as the proud owner of a 997 c2 and an Evora. The 997 came before Evora was launched but the Lotus won me over in the same way the R8 on my shopping list left me ever so regrettably cold and the Aston was just hard work to really like once I looked beyond its tailored suit.

The 997 and Evora are very different cars, but the Lotus is just more special and the one I drive for fun. It is a mini Supercar, attracts interest in a way the Carrera can only dream of and is just so comfortable and precise. The 997 will probably go when my company car is changed next year and the Cooper S is replaced by (probably) a Golf R, despite being incredibly capable.





blueg33

36,078 posts

225 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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This write up gets the point across that I have been trying to get across

Dave211

1,670 posts

182 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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Much better review , although shakes at head at yet another PH'er not having driven a Lotus to date frown

Couple of photos I took this evening, after a spirited drive wink



And one of favourite angles of the car



I know I'm biased, but I think they are great looking cars.


kambites

67,634 posts

222 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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I think the black roof helps the styling a lot. It makes the whole car look less bulky.

Dave211

1,670 posts

182 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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kambites said:
I think the black roof helps the styling a lot. It makes the whole car look less bulky.
Agree fully. Shame they didn't offer a lower roof option for those only wanting 2 seats, as there is tons of space above a 6 ft driver.


Edited by Dave211 on Tuesday 29th April 22:52

Zyp

14,711 posts

190 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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That really does look good...like it a lot!

May have to shift my focus from the Exige to the Evora.

HokumPokum

2,051 posts

206 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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I think they are definitely better looking than the exige especially in SR guise. It is just so different from everything else.

I would wait for the Hp upgrade that Lotus has been promising since end of 2013. The current engine and gearbox can take up to a rumoured 370HP via intake, exhaust, pulley and edu upgrades.

That will clear some air between the GTS cayman and it. If an upgrade is coming it should be now as porsche has responded to the F-type with the GTS, where is Lotus's response?


kambites

67,634 posts

222 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
quotequote all
There have been mutterings about gearbox failures on Ss which have been tuned, although I don't actually know of any concrete examples. I don't know how much it's capable of taking whilst maintaining "production" levels of reliability.

The last thing Lotus need is a car with significant reliability issues with the major mechanical components.

Sampaio

377 posts

139 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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moribund said:
Personally I'm gobsmacked that a motoring website has two writers who'd NEVER driven ANY Lotus until now. Huh? Don't Lotus PR lend them cars? Don't they have friends with Loti? Did they never just think to ask for a go in someone's at a Sunday Service? They're in the business of writing about performance cars after all.
Well Matt is the new guy here, so it's OK. But I was very, very surprised when I learned Garlick had never driven one before...

Robert Elise

956 posts

146 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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otolith said:
Most cars are easily pigeonholed. Something which isn't, which makes different compromises, may be difficult to benchmark. The RX-8 was a good example.
GT86 too. But that's a thread shift.
Pigeonholes work well because most cars are bought with image in mind, even by PHers

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

129 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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I actually prefer the body colour roof and would not want it any lower... you also have to remember, 6ft is only average, and some of us 6-footers are longer in the spine and shorter in the leg than others.

PhillipM

6,524 posts

190 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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Can I just say, I've never driven a Lotus either.

So if someone wants to drop their keys off tomorrow to rectify such a heinous crime, I'd be forced to reluctantly accept a test drive.