RE: Lotus Evora Sport 410: Review
Discussion
Having worked for a Lotus dealership in the past in after sales i can tell you the cars being produced are brilliantly put together and well thought but i always thought this was a very big leap for Lotus and is a hope for the best built car.
Disappointingly the same faults found on the Evora's cheaper sisters, the Exige S and Elise S share the same electrical counter parts which either fail under warranty or out of warranty and often! One story i remember hearing from their head field technician where a 2015 Exige S with parking sensors failed to leave the production line after having been replaced three times with a parking sensor control unit (made by cobra alarms) which for me brings some big questions on reliability for an £82K car. Its competitors priced about the same, arguably have a much better platform and reliability in terms of supplied electrical parts.
That being said Lotus are going in the right direction and give or take 10 years i i think we will see a successful reliable British own made sports car brand.
Disappointingly the same faults found on the Evora's cheaper sisters, the Exige S and Elise S share the same electrical counter parts which either fail under warranty or out of warranty and often! One story i remember hearing from their head field technician where a 2015 Exige S with parking sensors failed to leave the production line after having been replaced three times with a parking sensor control unit (made by cobra alarms) which for me brings some big questions on reliability for an £82K car. Its competitors priced about the same, arguably have a much better platform and reliability in terms of supplied electrical parts.
That being said Lotus are going in the right direction and give or take 10 years i i think we will see a successful reliable British own made sports car brand.
Edited by Mrcarsportscarcam on Tuesday 1st November 14:59
cypriot said:
Cold said:
£82k seems almost reasonable for a car with this performance and capabilities.
An interesting fact I read in one of the other reviews of the 410 is that one would have to get a Porsche Turbo to get a faster Porsche than the 410. this puts its value proposition into perspective i think.anniesdad said:
cypriot said:
Cold said:
£82k seems almost reasonable for a car with this performance and capabilities.
An interesting fact I read in one of the other reviews of the 410 is that one would have to get a Porsche Turbo to get a faster Porsche than the 410. this puts its value proposition into perspective i think.Porsche obviously have a huge budget advantage over Lotus, which shows in the way that they have engineered their cars. For example, their cars have a bespoke sports car engine mounted very low and central in the chassis (well, central in a Cayman and Boxster at least!), and across the range their brake pedals feel and progression is second to none. Nevertheless, as Ferrari and Mclaren in F1 prove, budget isn't everything, and Porsche's decisions such as the variable ratio steering rack distance cars like the Cayman from true driving enthusiasts, which is precisely where a car like the Evora can step in, with its totally linear responses. For Lotus to compete with Porsche across the board, whilst hopefully retaining their driver focussed ethos, then there's a chicken and egg situation related to their budget and the number of cars they sell. I'd like to think that with good leadership and cars as good as the current line-up, Lotus will get there eventually in appealing to a greater audience than just people like me, I just hope that on their way there their cars don't become watered down as Porsche clearly have done in some areas.
Big words of praise in the Top Gear review:
http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/lotus/evora-400...
It’s a Lotus. Handling pretty swish, I imagine?
"Just sublime. Yup, it’s the usual Lotus hallmarks of astoundingly communicative steering and a relatively playful yet utterly trustworthy chassis that’s pretty beguiling.
But more than that, I’m not sure I’ve driven any mid-engined car which gives such clear and honest messages about how much grip you’ve got to play with, and when it’ll mildly push on at the front (easily reined back in by trimming the gas) or arch wide at the rear on corner exit. This is one of the great mid-engined sports car chassis. Its balance is spellbinding.
Honestly, I could go on for days about the messages pouring from the steering, but I’ll spare you. Suffice to say, this machine could make a strong claim to be the best handling car in the world. There. I said it...
It’s right up there with Porsche’s best, as a driver’s car, a Sunday treat. The rest of the time, for the rest of us, the more supple Lotus Evora 400 might do just fine. But having experienced the angrier Sport 410, I’d probably man up and go for it. What a car."
http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/lotus/evora-400...
It’s a Lotus. Handling pretty swish, I imagine?
"Just sublime. Yup, it’s the usual Lotus hallmarks of astoundingly communicative steering and a relatively playful yet utterly trustworthy chassis that’s pretty beguiling.
But more than that, I’m not sure I’ve driven any mid-engined car which gives such clear and honest messages about how much grip you’ve got to play with, and when it’ll mildly push on at the front (easily reined back in by trimming the gas) or arch wide at the rear on corner exit. This is one of the great mid-engined sports car chassis. Its balance is spellbinding.
Honestly, I could go on for days about the messages pouring from the steering, but I’ll spare you. Suffice to say, this machine could make a strong claim to be the best handling car in the world. There. I said it...
It’s right up there with Porsche’s best, as a driver’s car, a Sunday treat. The rest of the time, for the rest of us, the more supple Lotus Evora 400 might do just fine. But having experienced the angrier Sport 410, I’d probably man up and go for it. What a car."
Edited by cib24 on Tuesday 1st November 16:04
RobM77 said:
Bell and Colvill are probably the people to speak to.
Looks like 2bular are also on the case: http://www.2bular.co.uk/evora-s/trackday-silencing .Sounds like quite the machine. Unfortunately, I don't even have a sofa. Will need to buy one first to go looking for the budget
. Really glad to see Lotus do better. Chapeau, Mr. JMG!hughcam said:
I would sell a kidney for the 410. The only car comparable is the GT4 and even though that is a super special car I think for me this just pips it (I would be more than happy to own either!!).
I'd also sell a kidney. Or indeed, both. But that's only because I'm a devious b'stard and both of mine are fooked,apparently.Which gets me out of the equation in a nice , easy manner, because as much as I admire the engineering of the Lotus, I really, really can't get past its looks which have always looked unresolved to me.
I'm one of the unlucky minority (!) that cant currently afford one of these, or the Gayman/911 rivals, but. And it's a big but (but not as big as the one allegedly belonging to Mrs Shed...) if I was in the market for the Lotus then I am the salesmans dream as wouldn't look at the Porsche(s). However, I would have a different viewpoint if I was looking for a new Cayman, as I would definately look at a used 911. Confused? Me too. And I think that's the problem Lotus have, in that potential customers like me look at the Evora, or a Cayman, but not both.
If, however, I did have two fine organs capable of passing 'X' litres of liquid nitrogenous waste, then I'd be in the Lotus showroom talking test drives and delivery times.....And a pair of dark glasses to wear as I approach the car, lest I catch sight of it and get turned to a pillar of salt.
Right-oh, back to my foam-lined room and that funny jacket with straps all around it...
Was lucky enough to drive the 410 at the (about to close) lotus driving academy. Absolutely fell in love with it - brilliant to drive and the carbon fibre seats look good too. Much preferred it over the Exige V6 though the a Exige is a bit more visceral and is great if you want to build forearms like Garth!
I am now actively trying to work out how I can get a 410 and stay married - and still have somewhere to live. Spare bedrooms are over rated anyway!
I am now actively trying to work out how I can get a 410 and stay married - and still have somewhere to live. Spare bedrooms are over rated anyway!
Gadzookoids said:
Much preferred it over the Exige V6 though the a Exige is a bit more visceral and is great if you want to build forearms like Garth!
Please tell us more on the differences, I couldn't quite makes sense of a hardcore lightweight Evora when there is a 200kg lighter Exige Sport 350 for 25k less... Mrcarsportscarcam said:
Having worked for a Lotus dealership in the past in after sales i can tell you the cars being produced are brilliantly put together and well thought but i always thought this was a very big leap for Lotus and is a hope for the best built car.
Disappointingly the same faults found on the Evora's cheaper sisters, the Exige S and Elise S share the same electrical counter parts which either fail under warranty or out of warranty and often! One story i remember hearing from their head field technician where a 2015 Exige S with parking sensors failed to leave the production line after having been replaced three times with a parking sensor control unit (made by cobra alarms) which for me brings some big questions on reliability for an £82K car. Its competitors priced about the same, arguably have a much better platform and reliability in terms of supplied electrical parts.
That being said Lotus are going in the right direction and give or take 10 years i i think we will see a successful reliable British own made sports car brand.
As an owner of a 73k mile S1 Evora, I don't recognise any of the issues you mention with regard to electrics, with the exception of one faulty door lock that was easily fixed.Disappointingly the same faults found on the Evora's cheaper sisters, the Exige S and Elise S share the same electrical counter parts which either fail under warranty or out of warranty and often! One story i remember hearing from their head field technician where a 2015 Exige S with parking sensors failed to leave the production line after having been replaced three times with a parking sensor control unit (made by cobra alarms) which for me brings some big questions on reliability for an £82K car. Its competitors priced about the same, arguably have a much better platform and reliability in terms of supplied electrical parts.
That being said Lotus are going in the right direction and give or take 10 years i i think we will see a successful reliable British own made sports car brand.
Edited by Mrcarsportscarcam on Tuesday 1st November 14:59
Reliability is no issue whatsoever, yes there are the odd niggle eg having to have headlamps re-lacquered, but nothing at all that impacts on reliability
I've always thought that the Evora was a criminally underrated car and in truth, it would probably always have topped it's contemporaries were I to compare them. However, it really seems now that the Evora is coming of age and slowly, surely winning over the journalists and punters who have become lazy and apathetic in the wake of Porsche's pervasive presence. It has been looking more like a miniature Ferrari/McLaren contender in recent interations. It may be down in power against the entry level supercar elite and plenty will chide the humble origins of it's fantastic engine, but the Evora looks so much more exotic than a Porsche.
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