RE: Lotus Evora 400 :Driven
Discussion
unsprung said:
Surely this is a matter of perspective. From where I sit, outside the UK, I'm more likely to hear Britons crow about British motors as if everybody else is still on horseback.
In the UK it's very much the opposite. For a great many people if a car doesn't have one of a handful of German badges on the nose, it's not worth considering. That would, I suspect, also be the reason they have no interest in the Corvette - they're not erroneously believing it'll be crude and unworthy next to something British but rather compared to something German. If I had the money and only wanted performance I'd go for an Exige, no question. If I wanted a balance of performance and style at this price I'd take an F-Type V6S manual. Not sure why anyone would want a car that is 20% more fun to drive than the F-Type but sacrifices 50% of the looks and comfort (preparing to get called out on those numbers - I've not driven either!).
drgoatboy said:
Can you comment on Driving position Dan? Is there room for the larger driver (height and width)?
Its much easier to forgive slightly wonky interior if its actually a comfortable place to be.
The driving position on every Lotus I have owned (S1 Elise, S2 Elise, Exige and Evora) has been comfortable given I am 6'3". The Evora is supremely comfortable as an 11 hour motorway closure-lead journey a few weeks ago proved. It was the reason I swapped the Exige for the Evora. The extra weight is very telling in terms of its nimbleness, both off the mark and around bends. However, in terms of being a great GT, it's comfort level is superb IMO and better than a lot of daily cars I have previously owned that should, by rights, be far more equipped for a long m'way or A road trip.Its much easier to forgive slightly wonky interior if its actually a comfortable place to be.
That Lotus badging on the dash is awful. Aside from that, I think the interior is great. I had a Porsche between Lotuses and really don't understand folk that consider it a benchmark in terms of interiors. That said, the Porsche is a fantastic all round car and arguably more polished. It didn't instill the same passion in me and hence I never held a candle to it, but the new Cayman is a very, very high threshold in terms of any car competing with it - but for some of us, me included, it doesn't matter how accomplished something is if it gives us no feeling inside. I could spend £2k on a diesel Mondeo and instill no passion inside me, when spending a larger sum I want something that gives me a sense of passion as well as capability. Horses for courses though.
Seems like a great car to me - but I'd rather have an Elise for fun duties and a boring, "normal" car for when I needed the extra room and seats.
I do like the cars Lotus put out though and if I had fourty/fifty grand to spend on a second car they would be getting a serious consideration (Elise).
I do like the cars Lotus put out though and if I had fourty/fifty grand to spend on a second car they would be getting a serious consideration (Elise).
Shnozz said:
for some of us, me included, it doesn't matter how accomplished something is if it gives us no feeling inside. when spending a larger sum I want something that gives me a sense of passion as well as capability. Horses for courses though.
Maybe. But I think Mr Gales needs to be backing a different horse to secure the future of his company.unsprung said:
Banned Member said:
Maybe it's the mentality that it's British so there must be something wrong with it.
Surely this is a matter of perspective. From where I sit, outside the UK, I'm more likely to hear Britons crow about British motors as if everybody else is still on horseback. At times, said crowing becomes deliciously absurd: waxing poetic about a short production run of British cars that almost nobody will be able to purchase. Or even see.
"Ooooh... They're making eleven units and each costs £380,000. Add another £90,000 for carbon ceramic brakes, natch."
The ne plus ultra of British pride, for me, has come when former UK colleagues -- petrolheads, the lot of them -- popped in, while visiting the US.
"Fancy a go behind the wheel in my C6 Corvette? Here's the fob" I say. Five of them by now.
Each has said no. One or two snickered like school boys in response. And one of them told me, "You're still driving that thing?"
Everybody else -- the Australian, the Frenchman, the German, the Pole, etc. -- did not need to hear my offer a second time.
I love Lotus. Had 6. % of them bought new. I like this but its far too expensive for me. The Elise was aspirational at sub £30k. This, patently is not. The criticisms of the in car audio continue to puzzle. Alpine is a respected brand with some considerable history. There purpose was and is to provide in car audio and latterly sat nav and media connectivity which is superior to that offered by the manufacturer. Otherwise why would anyone buy any of it? Thus you would assume that if Lotus are plucking from the best aftermarket satnav/phone/audio units available whatever they selected would be at least the measure of that offered as a cost option by Porsche or the other mainstream brands.
I just can't see people parting with £70k plus in sufficient numbers to make sales of this viable which is a shame. i drove the Evora S which was impressive albeit the rear seat space less than in my 20 year old 911.
I just can't see people parting with £70k plus in sufficient numbers to make sales of this viable which is a shame. i drove the Evora S which was impressive albeit the rear seat space less than in my 20 year old 911.
Ok, so here goes as a multiple ex Lotus and Porsche owner.
It sounds great! I appreciate the re-style it has sorted some of the issues out, it has however generated a few new ones as well.
Looks a well sorted quick car, but it is quite a bit of cash, for a car that still has to have exceptions made for it in finish and trim quality, its a pricing point where that shouldn't happen anymore, no one wants a 10/10ths car that after a few months has rattles and marked / wobbly trim, it really kills the appeal. The first Elise solved this by having as few luxuries and moving parts as possible, this is what Lotus does well, it is now chasing a market which demands things Lotus are not so good at.
And if we stop Porsche bashing for a minute, IF you had this kind of money burning a hole in your pocket and you have just taken one of these for a test drive, where is your next stop going to be? lets be honest.
And as a final point I still hate the Halfords letters on the dash.
It sounds great! I appreciate the re-style it has sorted some of the issues out, it has however generated a few new ones as well.
Looks a well sorted quick car, but it is quite a bit of cash, for a car that still has to have exceptions made for it in finish and trim quality, its a pricing point where that shouldn't happen anymore, no one wants a 10/10ths car that after a few months has rattles and marked / wobbly trim, it really kills the appeal. The first Elise solved this by having as few luxuries and moving parts as possible, this is what Lotus does well, it is now chasing a market which demands things Lotus are not so good at.
And if we stop Porsche bashing for a minute, IF you had this kind of money burning a hole in your pocket and you have just taken one of these for a test drive, where is your next stop going to be? lets be honest.
And as a final point I still hate the Halfords letters on the dash.
IMI A said:
Truly an embarrassment of a car. Too expensive , too heavy and too ugly......
Must be trolling, or butthurt due to owning a dull porka Must say this is the most exciting car of 2016 to me and given that we have had such a great year for new cars thats pretty impressive!
If lotus can get the new esprit out in the next couple of years you might see a real turn of fortunes fortunes such as porsche did in the 90's
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