My Lotus Evora
Discussion
Been hankering for one of these for some time now and eventually managed to get one.
It's a 2010 ex Lotus demonstrator with a new clutch and the MY12 gear linkages.
It's done 22K miles and like any Lotus it's f
ked; the ARB bushes are shagged, the steering column needs a spacer fitting, 2nd gear is difficult to engage, the passenger airbag cover is warped, the traction control light is permanently on, the handbrake cable needs adjusting and the driver's seat bolster is worn. All quite common issues and <relatively> easy fixes, thankfully. Having come from a VX220 I'm already aware of the truly woeful build quality that Lotuses all suffer from - it's no wonder that sensible people opted for a soulless German sports car instead. I'm not sensible though.
As well as having the above issues addressed my plans are:
Leather redye (to red)
New rear tyres
Custom exhaust and third cat delete (it has the Sports exhaust already, which will be getting sold - it's just too quiet)
It's quite a head turner, which I wasn't expecting. They are bloody good looking little things though aren't they?!
It's a 2010 ex Lotus demonstrator with a new clutch and the MY12 gear linkages.
It's done 22K miles and like any Lotus it's f
ked; the ARB bushes are shagged, the steering column needs a spacer fitting, 2nd gear is difficult to engage, the passenger airbag cover is warped, the traction control light is permanently on, the handbrake cable needs adjusting and the driver's seat bolster is worn. All quite common issues and <relatively> easy fixes, thankfully. Having come from a VX220 I'm already aware of the truly woeful build quality that Lotuses all suffer from - it's no wonder that sensible people opted for a soulless German sports car instead. I'm not sensible though. As well as having the above issues addressed my plans are:
Leather redye (to red)
New rear tyres
Custom exhaust and third cat delete (it has the Sports exhaust already, which will be getting sold - it's just too quiet)
It's quite a head turner, which I wasn't expecting. They are bloody good looking little things though aren't they?!
Inkyfingers said:
Is that Amethyst Grey? That's the first other one i've seen!
Yeah, very similar to my outgoing VX220. I love this colour, especially with contrasting red leather (hence my wanting to change from the chocolate)plenty said:
Did your spacer get delivered? Mine's on indefinite back order (another of the joys of life with Lotus).
Yeah there's no delay for the spacer according to Deroure. I also managed to get a new brake pedal sensor to cure the TC light being on, but it didn't fix it so I'll have to remove it and test/adjust it so that it fixes. I removed the old one, noticed it was a GM part and Googled the part number to find it's from a Zafira and costs £15 from eBay. I got mine for £28 but I've seen them listed at £52 in other places which is outrageous. Lotus tax I'm guessing and is probably why the new one has the part numbers etched off it.
Edited by p4cks on Sunday 6th August 09:11
plenty said:
I've got spacer part no B132U0523F on order at DeRoure - "on back order at Lotus warehouse"
Hmm that's strange they'd not mentioned anything about it being on back order. I only got this from them "...The spacer B132U0523F is out of stock at the Lotus warehouse, but due in the week commencing 31st July"Hungrymc said:
Nice OP! They drive wonderfully when they are healthy. I'm sure you'll enjoy.
I have an unused 2bular decat pipe (They're are two or three different types - layouts of the bolts) if you're interested?
Yeah it's a lovely handling car I have an unused 2bular decat pipe (They're are two or three different types - layouts of the bolts) if you're interested?
I'm actually going to go for a custom backbox and decat but thanks for the offer
Had the ARB bushes changed and had the tracking done and the handbrake cable tightened at the same time, which all has helped me like the car a little more.
The steering wheel spacer was also changed so there's now no play/clicking in the steering, but I can hear the air bag squib hitting something at full lock which really gets on my tits.
2nd gear sometimes doesn't engage still, which will be interesting when I'm going to Germany in it for a week tonight. I'm certain it's just the gear linkage which needs adjusting but the garage who fitted the ARB bushes couldn't replicate the fault. This really gets on my tits.
The TC light stays on even with a new brake light sensor fitted which really gets on my tits.
Overall, we're not bonding as much as I'd have thought.
The steering wheel spacer was also changed so there's now no play/clicking in the steering, but I can hear the air bag squib hitting something at full lock which really gets on my tits.
2nd gear sometimes doesn't engage still, which will be interesting when I'm going to Germany in it for a week tonight. I'm certain it's just the gear linkage which needs adjusting but the garage who fitted the ARB bushes couldn't replicate the fault. This really gets on my tits.
The TC light stays on even with a new brake light sensor fitted which really gets on my tits.
Overall, we're not bonding as much as I'd have thought.
Couple of pics from me trip...
Germany 2017 by p4cks, on Flickr
Germany 2017 by p4cks, on Flickr
Germany 2017 by p4cks, on FlickrGermany 2017 by p4cks, on FlickrEdited by p4cks on Thursday 4th January 10:19
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!
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
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 FlickrFermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
p4cks said:
Ah cheers for the offer but you're a little too far away to make it viable - I'm in Newcastle.
...I do some work for Furniture Clinic, and they have a branch your way, they'd be a good start.https://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/UK_Branches
If you need any further advice feel free to shout.
Update:
Good news is the gear linkages are working perfectly, bad news is the TC light is intermittently back on so it'll have to go back to the Lotus dealer which I'll arrange when they've taken delivery of my new key (which is 208 bd quid).
Tomorrow it's booked in for a custom backbox which will be a straight through pipe which deletes the third cat and the rear silencer. For those interested I'll post a before and after video once I've found some decent video editing/stitching software.
In the meantime this is what it'll sound like... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dTD-DVctK4
Good news is the gear linkages are working perfectly, bad news is the TC light is intermittently back on so it'll have to go back to the Lotus dealer which I'll arrange when they've taken delivery of my new key (which is 208 b
d quid). Tomorrow it's booked in for a custom backbox which will be a straight through pipe which deletes the third cat and the rear silencer. For those interested I'll post a before and after video once I've found some decent video editing/stitching software.
In the meantime this is what it'll sound like... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dTD-DVctK4
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