Thoughts now nearly run in
Discussion
I've spent a fair bit of time with my car now and thought I'd post a quick summary as I know there are equal measures of worry and rubbish flying about. This is coming from the perspective of an ex-Evora owner who worked at Lotus Engineering as a dynamics engineer when the early cars were in production.
First of all, I'm very happy with the Emira and haven't got any regrets with it.
- Steering has loosened up and become more chatty with miles, it was good compared to a Porsche right from the off but a fraction aloof compared to my Evoras (which were a benchmark for me), now it wriggles in your hands as you'd expect. The feedback is probably 95% compared to the Evora but I think it's a trade-off of the geometry as the tracking stability is much better. There's also no kickback which was significant in the Evora. I'll probably still have a play with the geo when I feel like it though.
- Gearshift: The feel of the shift is as good as my 2nd Evora which was the best I'd driven (and I've driven dozens of them) with the added bonus that the throw is much smaller. It's a good shift, there are better but it compares favourably to most cars I've driven. The only issue I had was that it was a little tricky to get into 1st which felt like a cable adjustment issue, but as the cables have stretched with a few miles it's now perfect.
- Engine: I know it's not got the sophistication and revs of a Porsche 6 (although a million times better than the god awful 4 pot) but I always liked the V6 Toyota lump and this car makes the best of it. It makes a good noise, the throttle response is good, ultimately if you've driven a later Evora you won't be surprised. Added bonus, my old Evora S was non chargecooled, and the Emira has more grunt but so far seems to be at least matching the fuel consumption of the N/A car I had after at about 26-28mpg.
- Sports suspension: Again I don't regret the choice although I fully understand why many will prefer the Touring. The Sport doesn't breathe with the road like the early Evoras so isn't as 'Lotusey', but the damping is spot on and it still rides properly and soaks up potholes. It's actually quite Ferrari-ish, tightly controlled but floats over the bigger stuff. Even on a properly crap road it doesn't get unsettled but it doesn't isolate you from it as much as an early Evora. I think it suits the mini-supercar vibe of the car and as a weekend toy/track car it's perfect. If you're spending a lot of time on better European roads I think the Touring could even be too soft. One other thing I've noticed is that it takes a mile or two to warm up, so don't judge it on an overly short test drive on a cold day. Added bonus, Mrs Wookie suffers from car sickness and the float of the Evoras used to set her off, she's absolutely fine in the Emira.
- Handling: it's a Lotus, superb front end and it has a staggering amount of grip, way more than I remember in the Evora, but you can still get it to play and it gives you loads of feedback. Controversial opinion, I'm fairly sure the understeer some have mentioned is the limited slip diff; as soon as you pick up the throttle when it's loaded you can feel it tighten up. Again I think this sensation could be sorted with tweaked static geo settings. One thing you have to accept is that it's part of the authenticity of the car, Porsche have a lot of experience with hiding those sort of quirks with small ESP interventions, even my old 997 used to subtly pull the inside rear brake if you were loaded and on the throttle, even with everything switched off. Personally I don't like that sort of thing in a pure driver's car.
- Aesthetics and Quality: It's a BIG step on from the Evora. The MY12 onwards cars were a lot better screwed together but they were still pretty basic with a lot of Ford bits knocking about. Subjectively it feels a match for Mrs. Wookie's Velar which IMHO is a compliment and price appropriate. No rattles after 1000 miles. Yes it's still a Lotus; HVAC makes a funny noise on full heat, the wipers don't go at full speed and I had a spurious MIL warning when I stopped a set of traffic lights that lasted about 10 seconds, but all quirks rather than show stoppers. No it's not a Porsche but it's done better than my old man's 992 Turbo S at more than double the money which had a full active aero meltdown and limp mode at 200 miles.
- Comfort: The most direct comparison for cost and weight is to the Cayman but I barely fit in one, at 6'5" I'm very comfortable in the Emira, thanks to the cutaway doors it's also easier to get in and out of than the old man's 992. OK less luggage space but personally it's still enough for the two of us for a weekend away. Don't understand the moaning about the seats. General refinement is good for a car of its type, only a bit of a rustle from the window seals lets it down.
Other stuff...
The infotainment is easier to use than the Porsche systems (IMHO) and it's nice to have an HVAC system that actually works well and demists the screen quickly.
Lights are superb which came as a pleasant surprise and although the wipers don't go full speed they actually clear the whole windscreen which seems like an achievement if you've had an Evora
Yes rain water does like to sit in the vented window recess in the engine cover and throw it into the boot if you're not careful when you open it which does seem an oversight. The rest of the car has remained watertight though despite being driven in some crap conditions and living outside. I never had an issue with my Evoras leaking but I know some did.
Generally gets a positive reaction from people (had a lot of thumbs up) but seems more polarised than the Evoras. Some people definitely hate you in it although could just be 10 years of 'societal progression'!!
Brakes are a bit grabby and the pedal inconsistent. And they squeal when it's cold. And they stick on if you park it up wet! But I'm pedantic and biased as I work for a rival brake company!
I think the extra grip and diff make it feel like it could handle a bit more poke where the later Evoras felt like they had enough. Although it's certainly not slow I could definitely see myself doing some engine upgrades in the future.
For me it's a perfect mix of all the best bits of an old school sports car with the convenience and creature comforts of a modern car. Added bonus that if it's anything like the Evoras it should be also pretty robust and cost effective to run. Plus just look at it!! It's definitely a keeper.
First wash yesterday!
First of all, I'm very happy with the Emira and haven't got any regrets with it.
- Steering has loosened up and become more chatty with miles, it was good compared to a Porsche right from the off but a fraction aloof compared to my Evoras (which were a benchmark for me), now it wriggles in your hands as you'd expect. The feedback is probably 95% compared to the Evora but I think it's a trade-off of the geometry as the tracking stability is much better. There's also no kickback which was significant in the Evora. I'll probably still have a play with the geo when I feel like it though.
- Gearshift: The feel of the shift is as good as my 2nd Evora which was the best I'd driven (and I've driven dozens of them) with the added bonus that the throw is much smaller. It's a good shift, there are better but it compares favourably to most cars I've driven. The only issue I had was that it was a little tricky to get into 1st which felt like a cable adjustment issue, but as the cables have stretched with a few miles it's now perfect.
- Engine: I know it's not got the sophistication and revs of a Porsche 6 (although a million times better than the god awful 4 pot) but I always liked the V6 Toyota lump and this car makes the best of it. It makes a good noise, the throttle response is good, ultimately if you've driven a later Evora you won't be surprised. Added bonus, my old Evora S was non chargecooled, and the Emira has more grunt but so far seems to be at least matching the fuel consumption of the N/A car I had after at about 26-28mpg.
- Sports suspension: Again I don't regret the choice although I fully understand why many will prefer the Touring. The Sport doesn't breathe with the road like the early Evoras so isn't as 'Lotusey', but the damping is spot on and it still rides properly and soaks up potholes. It's actually quite Ferrari-ish, tightly controlled but floats over the bigger stuff. Even on a properly crap road it doesn't get unsettled but it doesn't isolate you from it as much as an early Evora. I think it suits the mini-supercar vibe of the car and as a weekend toy/track car it's perfect. If you're spending a lot of time on better European roads I think the Touring could even be too soft. One other thing I've noticed is that it takes a mile or two to warm up, so don't judge it on an overly short test drive on a cold day. Added bonus, Mrs Wookie suffers from car sickness and the float of the Evoras used to set her off, she's absolutely fine in the Emira.
- Handling: it's a Lotus, superb front end and it has a staggering amount of grip, way more than I remember in the Evora, but you can still get it to play and it gives you loads of feedback. Controversial opinion, I'm fairly sure the understeer some have mentioned is the limited slip diff; as soon as you pick up the throttle when it's loaded you can feel it tighten up. Again I think this sensation could be sorted with tweaked static geo settings. One thing you have to accept is that it's part of the authenticity of the car, Porsche have a lot of experience with hiding those sort of quirks with small ESP interventions, even my old 997 used to subtly pull the inside rear brake if you were loaded and on the throttle, even with everything switched off. Personally I don't like that sort of thing in a pure driver's car.
- Aesthetics and Quality: It's a BIG step on from the Evora. The MY12 onwards cars were a lot better screwed together but they were still pretty basic with a lot of Ford bits knocking about. Subjectively it feels a match for Mrs. Wookie's Velar which IMHO is a compliment and price appropriate. No rattles after 1000 miles. Yes it's still a Lotus; HVAC makes a funny noise on full heat, the wipers don't go at full speed and I had a spurious MIL warning when I stopped a set of traffic lights that lasted about 10 seconds, but all quirks rather than show stoppers. No it's not a Porsche but it's done better than my old man's 992 Turbo S at more than double the money which had a full active aero meltdown and limp mode at 200 miles.
- Comfort: The most direct comparison for cost and weight is to the Cayman but I barely fit in one, at 6'5" I'm very comfortable in the Emira, thanks to the cutaway doors it's also easier to get in and out of than the old man's 992. OK less luggage space but personally it's still enough for the two of us for a weekend away. Don't understand the moaning about the seats. General refinement is good for a car of its type, only a bit of a rustle from the window seals lets it down.
Other stuff...
The infotainment is easier to use than the Porsche systems (IMHO) and it's nice to have an HVAC system that actually works well and demists the screen quickly.
Lights are superb which came as a pleasant surprise and although the wipers don't go full speed they actually clear the whole windscreen which seems like an achievement if you've had an Evora
Yes rain water does like to sit in the vented window recess in the engine cover and throw it into the boot if you're not careful when you open it which does seem an oversight. The rest of the car has remained watertight though despite being driven in some crap conditions and living outside. I never had an issue with my Evoras leaking but I know some did.
Generally gets a positive reaction from people (had a lot of thumbs up) but seems more polarised than the Evoras. Some people definitely hate you in it although could just be 10 years of 'societal progression'!!
Brakes are a bit grabby and the pedal inconsistent. And they squeal when it's cold. And they stick on if you park it up wet! But I'm pedantic and biased as I work for a rival brake company!
I think the extra grip and diff make it feel like it could handle a bit more poke where the later Evoras felt like they had enough. Although it's certainly not slow I could definitely see myself doing some engine upgrades in the future.
For me it's a perfect mix of all the best bits of an old school sports car with the convenience and creature comforts of a modern car. Added bonus that if it's anything like the Evoras it should be also pretty robust and cost effective to run. Plus just look at it!! It's definitely a keeper.
First wash yesterday!
Really interesting write up, especially coming from from an ex Lotus dynamics engineer. How do you think the Sport suspension compares to the later Evoras? The advice from Lotus is that it is comparable to the GT 410 Sport, but I was wondering if it might actually be firmer. I've only done 300 miles in my Emira, but so far it almost feels like Exige levels of firmness on rough roads (sport suspension and Goodyears).
To be fair I wouldn’t flatter myself, I was Engineering so I spent most of my time tuning Chinese minibuses 
To me it feels pretty similar to the GT410 that a mate (who is a PHer and still a dynamics engineer at Lotus) brought to my wedding a few years back
To be fair I’d done 300 miles in my Emira before I even got home on the day I picked it up!
Generally it does feel like it’s loosened up in a good way and it’s not an uncommon trait, another ex Lotus dynamics engineer mate warned me not to judge the ride on my F-Pace SVR until I’d put a couple of thousand miles on it!
To me it feels pretty similar to the GT410 that a mate (who is a PHer and still a dynamics engineer at Lotus) brought to my wedding a few years back
To be fair I’d done 300 miles in my Emira before I even got home on the day I picked it up!
Generally it does feel like it’s loosened up in a good way and it’s not an uncommon trait, another ex Lotus dynamics engineer mate warned me not to judge the ride on my F-Pace SVR until I’d put a couple of thousand miles on it!
Interesting. I wasn't aware the ride might loosen up a little with miles, but I guess springs and dampers do bed in. So far I'm finding the steering, handling and grip to be sensational but the ride is definitely on the firm side, and that is from someone who has owned two Exiges. Of course perception is a big factor so it could just be that I'm hyper aware of what the car is doing as it is so new. The ride in my daily BMW is pretty firm and I never give it a moment's thought.
ryallm said:
Interesting. I wasn't aware the ride might loosen up a little with miles, but I guess springs and dampers do bed in. So far I'm finding the steering, handling and grip to be sensational but the ride is definitely on the firm side, and that is from someone who has owned two Exiges. Of course perception is a big factor so it could just be that I'm hyper aware of what the car is doing as it is so new. The ride in my daily BMW is pretty firm and I never give it a moment's thought.
Dampers in particular, once you get to 50,000 miles it’ll probably be like Tour suspension anyway To be fair I always thought the V6 Exiges felt softer on the road than they looked!
Yeah I think if you’re expecting a Lotusy waft then Tour is the setup for you. I never find Sport harsh or uncomfortable although if you get a particularly lumpy bit of road you know about it, it doesn’t exactly glide over it like an early Evora.
I’d pitch it as similar to an F430 or a 458 Speciale on the bumpy road setting, maybe a bit softer sprung but a bit more low speed damping
Thank you for the write up, great to read of all the positive points. It sounds like a great all rounder with looks to die for.
I’m due to pick up my Nimbus grey car in the next week or so, though I’ll be on the Touring suspension. I’m now at the point of barely being able to sleep in anticipation of collection day!!
I’m due to pick up my Nimbus grey car in the next week or so, though I’ll be on the Touring suspension. I’m now at the point of barely being able to sleep in anticipation of collection day!!
I thought there was a metallic sparkle at the 2021 Goodwood FoS but last year a sales person at Bell & Colvill told me it was flat blue. I'm pleased to say it arrived in the sunshine and the blue is definitely metallic although I don't know if it shows in this low-res photo I'm uploading. Anyway I'm feeling very happy with the car and that was the point of getting it.
Fantic SuperT said:
I thought there was a metallic sparkle at the 2021 Goodwood FoS but last year a sales person at Bell & Colvill told me it was flat blue. I'm pleased to say it arrived in the sunshine and the blue is definitely metallic although I don't know if it shows in this low-res photo I'm uploading. Anyway I'm feeling very happy with the car and that was the point of getting it.
FoS car was definitely sparkly and so is mine! Just as well as I chose the colour based on the FoS car!Hope you enjoy it!
Fantic SuperT said:
Now my First World problem is trying to find something that threads into the Lotus key to keep it together with the tracker fob. Normal metal key-rings don't fit into the tiny opening in the key. Has anyone found something suitable?
Yes, insulation tape wrapped around the fob and key ring..!A couple of thoughts after three weeks ownership:
The £400 ceramic coating is poor quality. In several places it appears to be unfinished.
It's going to cost roughly the same amount to have all the ceramic coating polished off to prepare for a replacement. I'm going to replace the ceramic coating with PPF which is a lot more expensive but I've checked the quality and attention to detail of the PPF fitters work and it is considerably higher standard than the Lotus ceramic coating.
The other annoying thing is the poor air conditioning. I've ended up winding windows down to keep cool because the air-con is so weak. Maybe it wasn't checked before leaving the factory and just needs fixing. I'm worried that it's already as good as it's going to get. How are other Emira owners getting on with their air-con?
Apart from that, and the useless tiny hole in the key, I'm very much enjoying the car and intend to keep it. More power would be handy but there's something to be said for being able to engage with the vehicle without driving at totally illegal speeds. It feels special at all speeds.
The £400 ceramic coating is poor quality. In several places it appears to be unfinished.
It's going to cost roughly the same amount to have all the ceramic coating polished off to prepare for a replacement. I'm going to replace the ceramic coating with PPF which is a lot more expensive but I've checked the quality and attention to detail of the PPF fitters work and it is considerably higher standard than the Lotus ceramic coating.
The other annoying thing is the poor air conditioning. I've ended up winding windows down to keep cool because the air-con is so weak. Maybe it wasn't checked before leaving the factory and just needs fixing. I'm worried that it's already as good as it's going to get. How are other Emira owners getting on with their air-con?
Apart from that, and the useless tiny hole in the key, I'm very much enjoying the car and intend to keep it. More power would be handy but there's something to be said for being able to engage with the vehicle without driving at totally illegal speeds. It feels special at all speeds.
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