My Lotus Evora 400 & Video Diary

My Lotus Evora 400 & Video Diary

Author
Discussion

Quickmoose

4,494 posts

123 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
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You're right there!
Checked this out as I love the GTE thread so much, but here we have:
black roof? check
black A-pillars? check
Bright bright colour? check
Angry lights? check
Gaping front cooling? check

stylistically it's holding it's own very well...!

(but a long with 90% of other threads with shots of current cars, like the Evoque open top, I CANNOT WAIT for the fashion trend for black alloys to end!!! - doesn't make it look like a race car, it makes it look poverty-taxi spec, especially after half an hours' brake dust and grime has settled on them -URGH! - rant over)

Anyway, Enjoying the fact that Lotus are keeping Porsche honest and really hope they can expand their range and remit.

jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
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Interesting you mention the black alloys. I personally don't like black alloys, but I think this car just about gets away with them as it has the "black pack" (black roof, mirrors, under door). There are quite a few 400s out there now with silver wheels, which also look cool.

The AP racing brakes do generate a fair bit of brake dust though! Especially at the front.

Tickle

4,918 posts

204 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
quotequote all
Quickmoose said:
You're right there!
Checked this out as I love the GTE thread so much, but here we have:
black roof? check
black A-pillars? check
Bright bright colour? check
Angry lights? check
Gaping front cooling? check

stylistically it's holding it's own very well...!

(but a long with 90% of other threads with shots of current cars, like the Evoque open top, I CANNOT WAIT for the fashion trend for black alloys to end!!! - doesn't make it look like a race car, it makes it look poverty-taxi spec, especially after half an hours' brake dust and grime has settled on them -URGH! - rant over)

Anyway, Enjoying the fact that Lotus are keeping Porsche honest and really hope they can expand their range and remit.
100% with you on the black alloys, the wheels on the 400 are some of the best from recent Lotus' and they are hidden.

OP, keep up the good reviews thumbup

jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Sunday 24th July 2016
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Another great picture from last weekend


jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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A minor update. My car is back at Hethel for some more work, most notably the seat creak. They are replacing the whole seat unit, apparently changes/improvements have been made to the seat in its life already.

My car was built in September 2015, which makes it earlier than I expected, so there is a possibility I am experiencing issues because of that.

240Cup

638 posts

190 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
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Great thread, and motor.

Just picked up on your list of things to rectify.

I completely concur with the annoying brightness of the start button at night if it is anything like my old 2008 Exige - can't believe there is no facility to dim/turn it off..!

Also I seem to recall there being a thread on TLF (might have been by Bibs) on how to set up Evora hi fi systems which apparently makes a world of difference ...

Cheers,

240

jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
240Cup said:
Great thread, and motor.

Just picked up on your list of things to rectify.

I completely concur with the annoying brightness of the start button at night if it is anything like my old 2008 Exige - can't believe there is no facility to dim/turn it off..!

Also I seem to recall there being a thread on TLF (might have been by Bibs) on how to set up Evora hi fi systems which apparently makes a world of difference ...

Cheers,

240
240 - yes I used the official Lotus setup guide, it's actually poorly written and doesn't help sound quality in some regards. I am working to improve it but fundamentally you'll never get great sound out of it. Hopefully a few easy improvements will sort it, but for now it's quite low on my list.

jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Wednesday 10th August 2016
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I did a tiny little "mod" to the car the other day. I changed the rear indicator bulbs for LEDs. My OCD didn't like the fact that the front and side were LED, but the rears were not.

This being a low volume, hand-made British car I was fully prepared for half an hour of sweat, blood and tears with a lot of swearing. As it happens, easiest bulb change I have ever done. Less than two minutes for the pair. Happy days!

I also attended the Helmingham Hall show with PHEA and had a very nice moment. We gathered at a local pub ready to go down there. PHer AndrewD turned up with his magnificent Carrera GT. A childhood icon of mine (well, adolescence) I couldn't resist and asked if I could have a sit in it. He obliged, properly nice chap, and I got to finally sit in one of my hero cars. I've sat in an Enzo before, so that just leaves a MacMerc and I've sat in the holy trinity of hypercars circa 2004.

The family that owned the pub came out to look at the cars (very nice people) and their young (seven/eight) son came up to me, whilst I was stood next to the Porsche and said "excuse me, can I sit in your car?". I said "Well, that depends which one you think is mine" and he points to my Lotus and says "That Yellow one!" I was shocked, of course I let him have a sit in it. I did want to try and explain to him how much better the Porsche was than my car, but I'm not going to ruin a young lad's day like that smile

Diesel Meister

2,044 posts

201 months

Thursday 11th August 2016
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thumbup

jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Wednesday 31st August 2016
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So in my quest to see how usable the car is, enlisted my Dad to see if his golf clubs would fit in the boot. I've been told they do fit, but I wasn't certain. Turns out a medium sized bag fits easy. Just take the drivers out and then lay them on top of the bag. Even room for shoes and an overnight bag in the back.

The rear seats in a 400 are flat too, unlike a 911, so I am not quite sure how some people take the Porsche to be more practical. Certainly not if you're a golfer!

SpudLink

5,777 posts

192 months

Wednesday 31st August 2016
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Have all the problems been resolved by the factory?

Will you be doing a video of the Lotus festival at Brands? I was there a couple of days before for a trackday on the GP circuit, and it's my new favourite track.


PS. Keep up the good work. thumbup

jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Monday 26th September 2016
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So, I've had the car on a couple of event days in the last fortnight.

First was a go at Carlimits' activity day at North Weald. It was soaking wet, so was pretty interesting. Mostly an exercise in managing throttle application!

Then yesterday it was off to RAF Woodbridge for a chance to find out how fast the car really is in a straight line - I've never been that impressed with its performance in that regard.

There was a huge mix of machinery, with the predictable German barge and 911 Turbo brigade all at the pointy end of things. I achieved my own personal goal of going faster than I ever had before (with me at the wheel).

My previous GPS verified record was 160mph on the Autobahn in a 996, my later Z4 M having been stuck at its 155 limiter. Yesterday however I beat that with two runs of 172mph. Not bad for a totally standard car.


Hitch

6,106 posts

194 months

Monday 26th September 2016
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What do Lotus claim as the top speed?

blueg33

35,880 posts

224 months

Monday 26th September 2016
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Hitch said:
What do Lotus claim as the top speed?
click this link click here

smile

Hitch

6,106 posts

194 months

Monday 26th September 2016
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
click this link click here

smile
2008 called, it wants it's joke back!

blueg33

35,880 posts

224 months

Monday 26th September 2016
quotequote all
Hitch said:
blueg33 said:
click this link click here

smile
2008 called, it wants it's joke back!
sorry

smile couldn't resist

Hitch

6,106 posts

194 months

Tuesday 27th September 2016
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I forgive you. 186 seems to be the answer, but I've not read anywhere claiming to have reached that yet.

blueg33

35,880 posts

224 months

Tuesday 27th September 2016
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Doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It has more power than a Ferrari 355 and I have been on one of those at 179mph (on sat nav).

To be fair, there aren't all that many places where you can get a road car up to those sort of speeds

jayemm89

Original Poster:

4,036 posts

130 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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Hitch said:
I forgive you. 186 seems to be the answer, but I've not read anywhere claiming to have reached that yet.
The manual's top speed is 186, the auto is 174 I believe. The auto is limited to 6,600rpm and the manual is 7,000rpm.

Top speed would definitely be reached in sixth, as I was basically on the redline as I crossed the line (in fifth).

giveitfish

4,031 posts

214 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
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Really enjoyed the 400 vs GT4 vid, good to hear impressions from actual owners.