My Lotus Evora
Discussion
The clutch issues on the early Evoras was down to the inconsistently fitted throwout bearing (now fixed on many cars). Some lasted 20K miles, some 80K.
It's certainly not Porsche build quality that's for sure, but it does have quirks that more than make up for it. The rattly airbag squib turned out to be a missing screw on a piece of plastic on the steering column, so that's now fixed. 2p to fix
New rear tyres are ordered and it's due a service soon so I'll get Lotus to look at the problematic TC light while they service it.
It's certainly not Porsche build quality that's for sure, but it does have quirks that more than make up for it. The rattly airbag squib turned out to be a missing screw on a piece of plastic on the steering column, so that's now fixed. 2p to fix
New rear tyres are ordered and it's due a service soon so I'll get Lotus to look at the problematic TC light while they service it.
Just back from Stoneacre Lotus in Durham - who I can't praise enough. Sophie the service adviser is a particular highlight, she's excellent when I'm used to very, very poor service from main dealers.
I booked it in on Monday for the TC light to be looked at as well as the temperamental second gear (doesn't engage when downshifting) and by Monday lunchtime I'd received a video walkaround by the technician, showing me what he'd done and what was wrong and then included in that was a webpage where you 'authorise' the work before they crack on with any more.
Ended up getting my gear linkages adjusted, steering angle sensor refitted and reset (TC light problem), two new Pirelli front tyres and an air filter fitted for £460. Bargain in my eyes!
It's booked in for a custom straight through back box next month (Pleck copy) to give it a bit of a better sound. It's rather tame at the moment!
I booked it in on Monday for the TC light to be looked at as well as the temperamental second gear (doesn't engage when downshifting) and by Monday lunchtime I'd received a video walkaround by the technician, showing me what he'd done and what was wrong and then included in that was a webpage where you 'authorise' the work before they crack on with any more.
Ended up getting my gear linkages adjusted, steering angle sensor refitted and reset (TC light problem), two new Pirelli front tyres and an air filter fitted for £460. Bargain in my eyes!
It's booked in for a custom straight through back box next month (Pleck copy) to give it a bit of a better sound. It's rather tame at the moment!
Scottie - NW said:
Confirms what i suspected though, you need to be an enthusiast to own one and able to put up with some frustrations
With the greatest of respect to OP, I think his car is probably more troublesome than the norm and he is also keenly critical of its faults.Before I get accused of myopic Lotus fanboy-ism, I am the first to call out those who will hear no word said against the brand, particularly on the marque-specific forums which can be really phenomenally silly at times.
Instead I base my opinion above on my experience, triangulating the experience of others. and OP’s own comments like “the truly woeful build quality that all Lotuses suffer from...” - again, no disrespect intended to OP.
If ARB bushes, a TC light, handbrake adjustment and worn seat bolster ate the worst of your troubles when acquiring a used performance car then I reckon you’ve done OK, and even that would be considered unusually poor for an Evora. I’ve owned a Noble - now *that* was a car only an enthusiast could live with.
I’ve also owned Porsches and M cars and my Evora has cost me less and given me less headaches than any of them. Yes, the interior door handles on the early cars are cheap and the airbag cover doesn’t perfectly fit, but if you can live with that then an Evora is likely to be quite a reliable and hassle-free proposition.
plenty said:
With the greatest of respect to OP, I think his car is probably more troublesome than the norm and he is also keenly critical of its faults.
Before I get accused of myopic Lotus fanboy-ism, I am the first to call out those who will hear no word said against the brand, particularly on the marque-specific forums which can be really phenomenally silly at times.
Instead I base my opinion above on my experience, triangulating the experience of others. and OP’s own comments like “the truly woeful build quality that all Lotuses suffer from...” - again, no disrespect intended to OP.
If ARB bushes, a TC light, handbrake adjustment and worn seat bolster ate the worst of your troubles when acquiring a used performance car then I reckon you’ve done OK, and even that would be considered unusually poor for an Evora. I’ve owned a Noble - now *that* was a car only an enthusiast could live with.
I’ve also owned Porsches and M cars and my Evora has cost me less and given me less headaches than any of them. Yes, the interior door handles on the early cars are cheap and the airbag cover doesn’t perfectly fit, but if you can live with that then an Evora is likely to be quite a reliable and hassle-free proposition.
Exactly this. Before I get accused of myopic Lotus fanboy-ism, I am the first to call out those who will hear no word said against the brand, particularly on the marque-specific forums which can be really phenomenally silly at times.
Instead I base my opinion above on my experience, triangulating the experience of others. and OP’s own comments like “the truly woeful build quality that all Lotuses suffer from...” - again, no disrespect intended to OP.
If ARB bushes, a TC light, handbrake adjustment and worn seat bolster ate the worst of your troubles when acquiring a used performance car then I reckon you’ve done OK, and even that would be considered unusually poor for an Evora. I’ve owned a Noble - now *that* was a car only an enthusiast could live with.
I’ve also owned Porsches and M cars and my Evora has cost me less and given me less headaches than any of them. Yes, the interior door handles on the early cars are cheap and the airbag cover doesn’t perfectly fit, but if you can live with that then an Evora is likely to be quite a reliable and hassle-free proposition.
I am guilty of being overly critical, but I'd not change anything about it. The issues I've had are fairly minor and have been easily remedied - they're certainly first world problems in comparison to the constant paranoia I used to have with my 996.2
Wiggle5 said:
Lovely looking car, never looked into lotus so a complete noob. Would anyone be kind enough to give me a brief explanation of the difference between the elise, exige and Evora?
For anyone else wondering I found this which is a good summary because I found it a bit hard to work out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3HMkyomnc0
good work op
i have one of these 2010 27k miles its been bulletproof, stunning to look at, stunning to drive.. the ride quality is sublime, it is by far one of the best if the best ride quality compliant cars i have driven... love it
lotus evora by andrew james, on Flickr
lotus evora by andrew james, on Flickr
lotus evora interior by andrew james, on Flickr
lotus evora by andrew james, on Flickr
i have one of these 2010 27k miles its been bulletproof, stunning to look at, stunning to drive.. the ride quality is sublime, it is by far one of the best if the best ride quality compliant cars i have driven... love it
lotus evora by andrew james, on Flickrlotus evora by andrew james, on Flickrlotus evora interior by andrew james, on Flickrlotus evora by andrew james, on FlickrWiggle5 said:
Lovely looking car, never looked into lotus so a complete noob. Would anyone be kind enough to give me a brief explanation of the difference between the elise, exige and Evora?
In basic terms, have a look here: https://wiki.seloc.org/a/SELOC_TechWikiYou'll be able to trawl info to your hearts content, I know I have.
To break it down to the ultimate in simple explanations:
- Elise:
- 2 seat purest driving experiences from a 4 cylinder engine (started NA, then had supercharged versions).
- Soft top with option of removable hard top.
- Exige:
- Started as Elise format but more hardcore version for the track.
- Wings, harnesses, adjustable suspension.
- Mental.
- Latest ones have gone V6 and are proper supercars.
- Evora:
- Essentially a 'fast' GT version of the above.
- 2+0 or 2+2, hardtop, manual or auto, V6 NA or Supercharged.
- (I think) it started with the S1 as an amalgam of an Elise front and Exige rear.
- Now there's the 400, the 410, the 430GT and 430GT Sport, so it's gone from 276bhp up to 430bhp.
There's more on the Wiki though.
johnwilliams77 said:
They sound wonderful with the right zorst.
I agree. The one I have on at the moment is far too tame (Lotus Sports Exhaust) but should be able to sell it on easy enough. I've been busy tidying up today, the discs were a little tatty where the pads don't touch so I masked and sprayed them with some left over silver caliper paint I had lying around. Also gave the wheels a good wash with Wonder Wheels:
Before:
Discs by Pack, on FlickrAfter:
Untitled by Steven Pack, on FlickrDr_Rick said:
- Evora:
- Essentially a 'fast' GT version of the above.
- (I think) it started with the S1 as an amalgam of an Elise front and Exige rear.
Very much no. The Evora of all variations is a completely different chassis to any of the Elise derived cars. In most basic terms it's a lot bigger! Same basic technology of extruded aluminium sections bonded together but moves the technology on a fair way. A key benefit of the Evora chassis over the Elise/Exige is that after a front end prang you can detach the front end and replace it. Not possible on the Elise/Exige version hence why low speed impacts that bend the suspension pick up points can write them off.- Essentially a 'fast' GT version of the above.
- (I think) it started with the S1 as an amalgam of an Elise front and Exige rear.
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