Lotus. I've driven one & I think I finally get it.....
Lotus. I've driven one & I think I finally get it.....
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LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

224 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
I won't write a huge piece on it, but rest assured I've been thinking of late that a lotus evora could just be the thing I'm looking for. There are many reasons for this but I won't go into them just yet.

One point to take note is I did own an Exige a good few years ago & hated it.

But today I took a long test drive in said evora, & my god it's the best car I've ever driven. Ever. Yes I've owned some fantastic cars & more than that I've driven many, many seriously high end cars, but nothing has ever compared to this. Oh & it was a basic 270bhp one as well.

Ive commented on quite a few general gassing threads on lotus, it must be said I've never given them much support but after today, I'm seriously looking at putting my hard earned into one.

There are many, many reasons why I would never invest such a large sum in such a risky company but I think, just maybe, I want to do my bit. Any company that can produce such a fantastic bit of kit deserves our help.

Don't get me wrong, there are faults, there are things that could be better but bloody hell, none of them, detract from how fantastic these cars drive.


Benbay001

5,869 posts

185 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Any company that can produce such a fantastic bit of kit deserves our help.
Very true. Just a shame im poor frown
I could spend it for you?

LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

224 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Benbay001 said:
Very true. Just a shame im poor frown
I could spend it for you?
Many thanks for the offer but it ain't exactly peanuts for me either!

kambites

71,245 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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I think Lotus' and the Evora's biggest problem is that a lot of people start off with your views of the company and never even bother to drive the car.

It's interesting that you didn't like the Exige but do like the Evora though, because from what I've read they drive quite similarly (I must find an opportunity to try an Evora one of these days).

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

293 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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kambites said:
It's interesting that you didn't like the Exige but do like the Evora though, because from what I've read they drive quite similarly (I must find an opportunity to try an Evora one of these days).
The difference is that normal people can get in and out, big people can fit inside, the interior is trimmed like a car and it's nice and quiet at speed. The Evora is just as involving, but less tiring.

I love my Elise, but I'd have an Evora the day after I found the money for one.

kambites

71,245 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Captain Muppet said:
I love my Elise, but I'd have an Evora the day after I found the money for one.
I'll certainly consider one the day I can buy a cabriolet for 15k, but I think I might have a bit of a wait. hehe

LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

224 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
kambites said:
I think Lotus' and the Evora's biggest problem is that a lot of people start off with your views of the company and never even bother to drive the car.
You could be right, let's just say they don't exactly do too much to change anyone's opinion either.

Thing is as a Porsche guy (driving a BMW at the moment), you kind of become used to a certain type of ownership experience & when there's something different it's easy not to embrace it.

Which is obviously such a shame when the product is so good.

ajb85

1,124 posts

170 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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I've loved the look of the Evora since it came out, and read lots of shining reports on them. You seldom see them though; people clearly aren't quite convinced and won't put big money into a Lotus.

I would really, really, like to get behind the wheel and give one a go.

kambites

71,245 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Yes Lotus' advertising does seem to be a bit... non-existent.

I suppose your average Porsche driver believes that Lotus just produce cars for people who are willing to put up with a car designed like the Elise (ie far worse than anything Porsche produce) in order to get a car that drives like the Elise (ie far better than anything Porsche produce). I suppose any manufacturer who has a model line-up of one car for more than ten years is in danger of suffering from that.

Not that the Evora is up to Porsche standards of GTishness or quality control from what I've seen, but it does get a lot closer.

LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

224 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
The only thing that wasn't up to scratch on the one I drove was probably the quality of the leather, but this was their 17k miler demonstrator.

Apart from that, it looked in fantastic shape & let's be honest until very recently porsches interiors weren't exactly anything to write home about.

kambites

71,245 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
LaurasOtherHalf said:
The only thing that wasn't up to scratch on the one I drove was probably the quality of the leather, but this was their 17k miler demonstrator.

Apart from that, it looked in fantastic shape & let's be honest until very recently porsches interiors weren't exactly anything to write home about.
The only car I've sat in was a launch edition, and to be honest the interior seemed to be assembled worse than my Elise (probably because there are more bits to assemble badly). The later cars are meant to be much better.

LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

224 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
kambites said:
The only car I've sat in was a launch edition, and to be honest the interior seemed to be assembled worse than my Elise (probably because there are more bits to assemble badly). The later cars are meant to be much better.
Interesting, in what way? As I said I thought the leather could have been better quality & obviously there were a few minor scuffs (as you always get with low, wide silled cars) but nothing squeaked or rattled & nothing looked too "distressed".