Evora - what’s what?
Discussion
I’ve had a 996 Turbo for about 6 years. It’s been great, but am keen to change & have the urge for a Lotus. When restrictions are eased, I hope to get to Bell & Colvill to take a look at options. For now, looking at Evoras, can anyone just confirm the models (past & present). From what I know, was it a normally aspirated v6, followed by v6s (supercharged), then v6 400 , followed by models out of my price range (upto £45/50k) - 410 & 430?
Also, anyone come from a 996 to Evora? Cheers
Also, anyone come from a 996 to Evora? Cheers
You have got the models right, taken me a while to get my head around the 410 models which is where I am headed once we are allowed out again.
I'm coming from a 997.1 GT3 which I sold at the end of last year. I suspect that you may miss the shove of the 996TT, but you should love the dynamics of the handling and steering.
Jamie at B&C is very helpful and has endured a number of visits from me and has shoved me out the door in a test drive on several occasions!
Bert
I'm coming from a 997.1 GT3 which I sold at the end of last year. I suspect that you may miss the shove of the 996TT, but you should love the dynamics of the handling and steering.
Jamie at B&C is very helpful and has endured a number of visits from me and has shoved me out the door in a test drive on several occasions!
Bert
Thanks for that. Bert, can I ask how you find the Evora after the GT3 - aware you don’t have an Evora, but have driven them. I see that B&C have a blue 410 in the same price bracket as the 400’s they have. Thought there would be a definite difference in £’s. Also, have you considered an Exige? I love the look of them. I drove an Exige v6s about 18 months back. Really liked it, but it wasn’t the best example & had a few issues, so didn’t pursue it as a purchase. I think an Evora would suit better for what I use the car for.
Yes indeed, that's a good question. I've driven the Exige and Evora on test drives from B&C. In a way, I'd prefer the Exige, but for reasons of space and touring purposes, it's probably going to be the Evora. The stage I got to last year with Jamie was to do a test drive back to back, along with Mrs Bert (who doesn't travel light) for us to make up my mind on where to go. I had to sell my GT3 first (it wasn't an easy car to p/ex) and now it's sold. So I am waiting to do that when circumstances allow. And everyone on here will be delighted once I have made up my mind!
To the comparison. The GT3 is a fantastic car, but quite compromised on the road. On the right roads (smooth enough) it's blindingly capable, and good fun. But it's not very nice on many normal driving roads, it can be caught out too much.
The Lotuses have so much more feel and driveability. The most recent test drive I did there in the Evora was absolutely torrential. I would have been pussy-footing around in the GT3, but the Evora was a complete blast.
B&C have 4 Evoras in the mid-50s, a 400, 2 400 Hethels and the 410 sport. The 410 sport looks good value, but the looks are a bit underwhelming. I think the brighter colours suit the car better. The white GT410 sport at Hendy Poole looks stunning (as referenced by Eddie on here), but it's £73k. I also expect to prefer the carbon buckets of the 410 sport.
Bert
To the comparison. The GT3 is a fantastic car, but quite compromised on the road. On the right roads (smooth enough) it's blindingly capable, and good fun. But it's not very nice on many normal driving roads, it can be caught out too much.
The Lotuses have so much more feel and driveability. The most recent test drive I did there in the Evora was absolutely torrential. I would have been pussy-footing around in the GT3, but the Evora was a complete blast.
B&C have 4 Evoras in the mid-50s, a 400, 2 400 Hethels and the 410 sport. The 410 sport looks good value, but the looks are a bit underwhelming. I think the brighter colours suit the car better. The white GT410 sport at Hendy Poole looks stunning (as referenced by Eddie on here), but it's £73k. I also expect to prefer the carbon buckets of the 410 sport.
Bert
Hi there. I have been lucky enough to own multiple Lotus's, Elise, Exige and currently driving a GT430 Sport. If you want complete lunacy, no room for the kids, dog or luggage and are as supple and bendy as a baby Kangaroo go for an Exige S. Mine also had the IPS gearbox, some scorn this and you get the naysayers, its not as good as a DSG or PDK blah blah, no its not, but for me it was way more fun than a manual and on track my lap times were faster! Ive had a N/A Evora manual, absolutely amazing, fast comfy and roomy. Also had a 3.5s Sport racer, even faster and much better finished. I havent driven a 410 but speaking to folks there isn't a world of difference to the 430. Whichever you go for I think you would be happy, they may not be the fastest or best finished but you cant beat them for the overall driving experience (in my opinion.) And you dont see one very often either! I live near Leeds but deal with Jamie at B&C, great dealership and he is a top bloke. If you live anywhere near me you are more than welcome to come and take mine for a spin - Happy shopping!
The 410 carbon buckets are a bit marmite. They are great for some people, torture for others. I loved them, my wife hated them. The Recaros in the pre 400 cars are really comfortable, I find that the 400 cars (except the ones with buckets) sit you too high.
Sweet spot for me in Evoras is either a late Sports Racer S (i recently sold mine) or a a 410 sport. I nearly went for a 410 sport, there are 2 nice ones for sale, but ended up scratching a different itch.
the 410 sports have been for sale for ages, I was £1k apart from the seller on one of them, but he wouldn't budge, the car is still for sale 6 months on.
Sweet spot for me in Evoras is either a late Sports Racer S (i recently sold mine) or a a 410 sport. I nearly went for a 410 sport, there are 2 nice ones for sale, but ended up scratching a different itch.
the 410 sports have been for sale for ages, I was £1k apart from the seller on one of them, but he wouldn't budge, the car is still for sale 6 months on.
AndyGT430 said:
Hi there. I have been lucky enough to own multiple Lotus's, Elise, Exige and currently driving a GT430 Sport. If you want complete lunacy, no room for the kids, dog or luggage and are as supple and bendy as a baby Kangaroo go for an Exige S. Mine also had the IPS gearbox, some scorn this and you get the naysayers, its not as good as a DSG or PDK blah blah, no its not, but for me it was way more fun than a manual and on track my lap times were faster! Ive had a N/A Evora manual, absolutely amazing, fast comfy and roomy. Also had a 3.5s Sport racer, even faster and much better finished. I havent driven a 410 but speaking to folks there isn't a world of difference to the 430. Whichever you go for I think you would be happy, they may not be the fastest or best finished but you cant beat them for the overall driving experience (in my opinion.) And you dont see one very often either! I live near Leeds but deal with Jamie at B&C, great dealership and he is a top bloke. If you live anywhere near me you are more than welcome to come and take mine for a spin - Happy shopping!
Thanks for your response, Andy & very generous offer to have a go in yours. If I were closer, I’d be outside now - if it weren’t for restrictions. I’m in Kent, just under an hour from B&C. It must say something (positive) about them, if you use them, with the distance between you. Cheers BertBert said:
I'm suspecting I will like the buckets as I like buckets! So the 410 Sport is where I'm thinking currently. Where are the nice ones for sale that you know of?
Cheers
Bert
I too like buckets and have them in my Exige which I think are the same as the Evora. I’m 5’6” and 9 1/2 stone and get a sore back after about an hour. This is the only road car seat that’s given me a sore back. In an Evora I think I’d want regular seats Luckily for me it was easily fixed with one of those gel cushion things that I bought from Amazon and wedges perfectly into the seat and supports my lower back. This solved all my back problems. Bliss. Sorry to go off topic, good luck with your search. Cheers
Bert
I'll point a friend in the direction of this thread, he's had a number of Evora's from early models up to the 410 as well as various Exiges.
As for B&C, I didn't buy my Exige from them but they have serviced it and dealt with a couple of minor issues and I can't praise them enough, excellent service. I'm Surrey/Kent border and they'll collect/deliver the car free of charge.
As for B&C, I didn't buy my Exige from them but they have serviced it and dealt with a couple of minor issues and I can't praise them enough, excellent service. I'm Surrey/Kent border and they'll collect/deliver the car free of charge.
Hopefully I can add some information. To answer the original question;
Original car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
Original car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
CTE said:
Hopefully I can add some information. To answer the original question;
Original car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
I disagree about the GT410 seats. They are still too highOriginal car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
CTE said:
Hopefully I can add some information. To answer the original question;
Original car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
Wow, that answers it all. Thanks very much for taking the time to post that. CheersOriginal car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
There are a few things I would add
On all cars A pillar trims are a weak point, I ended up treating them as a service item and all cars eat front suspension bushes - I went to powerflex
I think that the SR is the highlight in terms of interior, the 400 has cheaper feeling and looking knobs and switches, and pretty horrible plastic sill trims compared with the leather trim in the SR and Premium pack cars.
Best handling and balance is the n/a but I always felt it needed more power, S, 400 etc all have the power but are slightly less sweet in handling and ride.
Biggest frustration is lead time on parts especially bumpers!
On all cars A pillar trims are a weak point, I ended up treating them as a service item and all cars eat front suspension bushes - I went to powerflex
I think that the SR is the highlight in terms of interior, the 400 has cheaper feeling and looking knobs and switches, and pretty horrible plastic sill trims compared with the leather trim in the SR and Premium pack cars.
Best handling and balance is the n/a but I always felt it needed more power, S, 400 etc all have the power but are slightly less sweet in handling and ride.
Biggest frustration is lead time on parts especially bumpers!
Brinyan said:
Thanks for your response, Andy & very generous offer to have a go in yours. If I were closer, I’d be outside now - if it weren’t for restrictions. I’m in Kent, just under an hour from B&C. It must say something (positive) about them, if you use them, with the distance between you. Cheers
No worries at all, think I am on my 5th car from Jamie at B&C now! I've got a new Emira ordered (Type 131) from him too.Gassing Station | Evora | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff