RE: Driven: Lotus Evora IPS
Discussion
kambites said:
I think what you're asking for in the 2-seater, is pretty much where the new Elan will fall. Basically a direct Cayman competitor.
Which is IMO where they should have pitched the car in the first place.With VVA can they get there quickly and easily by lopping a few inches out of the chassis and a quick exterior restyle? So far as I'm concerned the interior is fine and it would be very expensive to change in any event. Maybe they wouldn't even have to go through crash testing again. I really want them to get that car right!
paranoid airbag said:
RobM77 said:
Handling has got nothing to do with how fast something goes round a track
surely some connection in terms of how easy it is to get the most out of the car? i.e. if two cars have similar power, grip levels etc but one handles well and the other doesn't, the driver will find it easier to get the former to it's theoretical maximum than the latter. It can still be swamped by other factors mind, but if it had nothing to do with it competition cars would have no need to handle well. 'Tis all very subjective mind.
The original quote I was responding to was that "the Evora posted a faster lap time, therefore it handled better", which is a false statement. Faster laptimes are mainly down to grip and power. Sure, a good handling car will be more likely to maximise its grip potential in a corner, and to do so more easily for the driver's applied effort, but one can't conclude that a car handles better just because it laps faster - there's not really any correlation because of how much power and grip affect lap time.
A small bit off topic here but since a pic of the future Elan popped up ill share my thoughts quickly. Out of all the cars Lotus revealed at the auto show, it was the Elan that caught my eye. It was instantly a comfortable design to my mind and just made sense. Then I read the intended specs and blown away. If they go through with that car even close to what they showed us at the show there should be no reason for the Elan not to become an instant big seller for Lotus.
Also OT, but since were talking here; I have waited with "curiousity" to see what Lotus would come up with regarding the design on the new Esprit. I say curiously because I fell in love with the classic wedge shape and couldnt fathom a different design element for any such vehicle to take the Esprit name. All in all, I have to say I am very dissapointed with the style of the intended Esprit, more specifcally the rear of the car. I have no doubt that once I get the opportunity to see one in the flesh it will make more sense to me and grow on me, like most Lotus cars in the flesh have a tendancy to do. But I know for sure I can never get passed that rear end. It is absolutely HIDEOUS and seems like they ran out of ideas and decided to put various sketches in a hat and just pick one based on fate FFS.
Also OT, but since were talking here; I have waited with "curiousity" to see what Lotus would come up with regarding the design on the new Esprit. I say curiously because I fell in love with the classic wedge shape and couldnt fathom a different design element for any such vehicle to take the Esprit name. All in all, I have to say I am very dissapointed with the style of the intended Esprit, more specifcally the rear of the car. I have no doubt that once I get the opportunity to see one in the flesh it will make more sense to me and grow on me, like most Lotus cars in the flesh have a tendancy to do. But I know for sure I can never get passed that rear end. It is absolutely HIDEOUS and seems like they ran out of ideas and decided to put various sketches in a hat and just pick one based on fate FFS.
kambites said:
Indeed, which is why it's slightly baffling that people consider the Evora overpriced.
It is. Not because it's direct rival, the Cayman 2.9, is cheaper, more because it simply doesn't feel like a £50k car. It's simply too rough around the edges to command that kind of price from regular buyers (ie non-lotusphiles).kambites said:
Quite possibly. That's what I'm asking. 
And if that's the case, would it make the Cayman a worse car if they started shoving the Cayman engine in the front of a Golf or something (not that it would fit)?
The engine is a tough one for me. It's very effective. It's a Toyota so it's probably reliable (of all the things that broke on my Elise, the engine kept going). In pure performance terms the stock engine/car probably goes a little better than my stock Cayman. But, and this is the annoying bit, it has no character whatsoever. Regardless of where it came from. It is meerly a perfectly good engine. Sounds bAnd if that's the case, would it make the Cayman a worse car if they started shoving the Cayman engine in the front of a Golf or something (not that it would fit)?
ks, but Porsche do have something special with the flat 6. It's an engine that oozes character and it does make a huge difference to me. It shouldn't, but it does. Anyhow I think I summed up all I felt about the Evora vs Cayman here.kambites said:
Most of the reviews say the Evora is better to drive than either, but that the ergonomics and interior let it down too far to recommend it. Edited by juansolo on Saturday 18th June 08:21
kambites said:
Most of the reviews say the Evora is better to drive than either, but that the ergonomics and interior let it down too far to recommend it. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff