RE: Lotus Evora 400 :Driven
Discussion
Oilchange said:
You could turn it round to say the competition has dull steering. How could you remedy that? Other than take it to Lotus for fettling...
At the the end of the day if you are not a fan then fine. They are selling like hot cakes and that's the important bit. And anyone who lables Lotus latest cars 's
t' is a fking idiot.
is it really dull? I suspect not. A recalcitrant gear change would get on your nerves all day though. At the the end of the day if you are not a fan then fine. They are selling like hot cakes and that's the important bit. And anyone who lables Lotus latest cars 's
t' is a fking idiot.Edited by Oilchange on Friday 31st July 21:58
Oilchange said:
The steering on my Omega is dull. It grates daily but I tolerate it because it's a motorway mile muncher. If I'd bought a (very expensive with loads of heritage) sports car I'd expect the steering to be utterly sublime.
Well since you called me one I'll return the favour. Only a fking idiot would drive an Omega. Oilchange said:
Ha LOL, yes you are probably right on that count. However it was free, is supremely comfortable, has Bose and it runs on lpg so I get to rag an Esprit round during the weekend because of the money I save using it.
The point still stands though.
Great response. Esprit, just superb. The point still stands though.
Blackbird425 said:
RedTrident said:
5 stars, but ahem, a questionable gear change. How can a car with a gearchange everyone says is not good enough be 5 stars. Goes back to my earlier point about everyone wanting a Lotus to be 5 stars. How hard could it be to fix? I don't get why you are do anti about a car you haven't tried. Are you always pointlessly argumentative or do you work in Porsche's handling department and feel inferior?
blueg33 said:
Blackbird425 said:
RedTrident said:
5 stars, but ahem, a questionable gear change. How can a car with a gearchange everyone says is not good enough be 5 stars. Goes back to my earlier point about everyone wanting a Lotus to be 5 stars. How hard could it be to fix? I don't get why you are do anti about a car you haven't tried. Are you always pointlessly argumentative or do you work in Porsche's handling department and feel inferior?
In a pretty positive review it has to be said. Seem to be doubtful about its noise levels but IME stock noise is usually far too subdued.
Looking forward to getting a test drive in the 400 and will be heading to the roughest road I can find to see what they have done to the ride. It will be interesting to see if the performance improvements on track transfer to the real world. Found the gear change in the Evora awkward until told to let the lever go to centre when cross changing, no issues since.
I wonder how light a stripped out Evora cup could be?
I wonder how light a stripped out Evora cup could be?
braddo said:
Odd that Evo don't even mention the Evora is a 2+2 (and therefore comparable to the £10k dearer 911S rather than a Cayman) and all they do is compare to the GT4, which is not possible to buy in the UK, is slower and is spec'd by the vast majority to £70k-80k anyway....
Yup. I simply don't get why Lotus' 2+2 halo road product would be compared to Porsche's range of cars for wives and men who can't afford a proper Porsche. It's very clearly a product to contrast against the 911 and when you do you realise that you get a hand built, exclusive car for less than a ubiquitous mid level dentist or accountant's preferred means of displaying their modest success over strangers. And then on top of that it gives a far superior driving experience until you get to the genuinely interesting 911s such as the Turbo or GT3.
The review that I would like to see is how the Exige stacks up against the GT3 on a selection of tracks and how the Evora stacks against the Turbo on a selection of roads.
What I'm not interested in is reading how a grown up's serious road car stacks up against a youngster's bottom of the range, generic product.
The 2+2 bit surely is a factor for many who are drawn towards the car. Price wise the comparison is a lightly specced 911 or perhaps 10k more to drive out with a lightly specced 911s version.
I think I'll go and test drive the Lotus when the dealers get their demonstrators, see for myself what the gear change niggle is all about.
If they do a decent finance offer it'll sell much easier I think. Something not far off what they have now across their range, the 50/50 24 month package would eliminate any last doubts I had I think
I think I'll go and test drive the Lotus when the dealers get their demonstrators, see for myself what the gear change niggle is all about.
If they do a decent finance offer it'll sell much easier I think. Something not far off what they have now across their range, the 50/50 24 month package would eliminate any last doubts I had I think
Even ignoring the fact that they're arguably comparing it to the wrong product, there's something very odd about the tone of that Evo article. Every time they point out a weak point in the Evora, they specifically state that the Cayman does it better; every time they talk about a strength to the Evora, the Cayman isn't mentioned. For example:
Evo said:
Quality has taken a significant step. However, this ain’t no Cayman and the Alpine infotainment is pretty nasty.
Evo said:
The gearbox has been a huge focus in the 400’s development programme and feels much tighter and more precise. It lacks the smooth fluidity of a Cayman’s ‘box but then so does pretty much everything on the planet.
Yet:Evo said:
The steering itself is simply beautiful. There’s a bit more grit and weight than previously but its still alive with subtle detail and it allows you to quickly gain confidence with the 400.
Evo said:
However, there are plenty of people who don’t want (or can’t get) a Cayman and the superbly communicative, agile and now more exciting Evora 400 has its own appeal.
They seem genuinely scared of explicitly saying that the car does anything better than the Porsche. It's clear that they think the Evora is more communicative and agile than the Cayman so why do they bend over backwards to avoid saying so? Evo did give the Evora their car of the year award a few years ago didn't they?
Strange review though, and also very short and not like their usual section by section. Points out all the things the Cayman does (even if it is the wrong car to compare with) but doesn't say the same when the Evora does something better.
Strange review though, and also very short and not like their usual section by section. Points out all the things the Cayman does (even if it is the wrong car to compare with) but doesn't say the same when the Evora does something better.
justin220 said:
^ Pretty muuh exaclty what I was about to post.
Xcar review is much better
Alex likes Lotus though. I say that in the spirit of openness and balance, something the journos can be accused of not having.Xcar review is much better
It may well be just laziness though, as Porsche clearly is the benchmark (by shear volume over decades) it's only right that every sports car be compared to it.
Kambites highlights something that is quite pervasive in car reviews too. A bit like passive sexism or racism in the 90s - people would say 'not me' but then use demeaning language 'only in jest'. Thing is, language is important.
Anyway, from XCAR, to the Germans to Jalopnik it seems that the 400 is well liked.
kambites said:
Even ignoring the fact that they're arguably comparing it to the wrong product, there's something very odd about the tone of that Evo article. Every time they point out a weak point in the Evora, they specifically state that the Cayman does it better; every time they talk about a strength to the Evora, the Cayman isn't mentioned. For example:
To a degree I can understand it. Financially they're direct competitors and understandably, with Porsche's resources, the Cayman is better made and much more polished. Evo said:
Quality has taken a significant step. However, this ain’t no Cayman and the Alpine infotainment is pretty nasty.
Evo said:
The gearbox has been a huge focus in the 400’s development programme and feels much tighter and more precise. It lacks the smooth fluidity of a Cayman’s ‘box but then so does pretty much everything on the planet.
Yet:Evo said:
The steering itself is simply beautiful. There’s a bit more grit and weight than previously but its still alive with subtle detail and it allows you to quickly gain confidence with the 400.
Evo said:
However, there are plenty of people who don’t want (or can’t get) a Cayman and the superbly communicative, agile and now more exciting Evora 400 has its own appeal.
They seem genuinely scared of explicitly saying that the car does anything better than the Porsche. It's clear that they think the Evora is more communicative and agile than the Cayman so why do they bend over backwards to avoid saying so? However, the Evora murders a Cayman on in terms of ride. The difference is way greater and IMO more important than the action of the gear change (though the change in the Evora is horrible). Unless you're spanking a Cayman hard, the ride is dreadful. The Evora remains composed and compliant all of the times with no detriment to handling at all. Impressive considering Lotus don't need fancy adaptive dampers to achieve this. Handling and steering is also better. Not leagues better, but noticeably so. Comfort, the standard Recaro CS's are much more comfortable and supportive than Porsches sofas that pinch across the shoulders unless you spec the fully electric 'sports' seats. Brake weighting goes in Porsches favour on the older cars, but the new ones have upped the sensitivity to go with current trends and match the Lotus in that respect.
In all, it's the only car I'd swap my Cayman for. Indeed I'd like to, but they've held their value so much better than the Cayman that I can no longer afford to. At 2nd hand prices I can overlook some of the Evora's nature. The interior isn't brilliant as has been said and the pervading smell of glue was very TVR
BUT, and it's a massive one for people who enjoy driving, the way it drives is spectacular, and for that alone I'd swap. I've been 5 years in the Cayman which has given me 5 years to forget the bullst I had with my Elise and it's utter lack of reliability (there was no way I was buying another Lotus at the time). I think I could do it now. Shame I can no longer afford it.Anyone slamming an Evora hasn't spent time in one. Sure it has it's faults. It's a Lotus, that comes with the badge. But it also comes with Lotus ride and handling. Which no-one does better, and that very much includes Porsche.
Edited by juansolo on Saturday 1st August 10:40
I can only talk about the styling but contrary to most on this thread I much preferred the original inside and out, it was and is a unique looking car with a clean design. Sorry to make a Porsche analogy but I fear Lotus are doing like they did after the 996/986 cars by moving away from a clean design and listening too much to closed minded enthusiasts on one hand and magpies on the other.
Also like a previous poster it is amazing how well these cars have held value, its probably the only car I would consider chopping in my race/track car and Megane R26 combination as a do it all one stop shop but £30k is just too much for me.
Also like a previous poster it is amazing how well these cars have held value, its probably the only car I would consider chopping in my race/track car and Megane R26 combination as a do it all one stop shop but £30k is just too much for me.
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