How long till the £20k Evora?
Discussion
nunpuncher said:
Question for those that have had or driven an NA car v's an S. Is the c£10k extra for the S worth it? I love supercharger whine but it's a big premium for 50bhp more and it doesn't seem to translate to a big change in performance figures. Does it make a notable difference to in gear acceleration for overtaking? I find this is where my 996 is lacking.
I've had an Elise S, and N/A Evora, and just taken on the Evora 400. Do I notice the difference.....damn straight!The Elise S was definitely delicate and scalpel like. Was only 217bhp from the 1.8l so definitely very nimble. The supercharger whine was there as I had rhe TRD intake from factory.
The N/A Evora was my first foray into the increased torque in the smaller chassis. It handled like a magic carpet and could accelerate just fine against normal traffic. Sound was adequate at best. Gear change let it down, but I offloaded before I could remedy that.
Few cars later, including some more modern German options (check the garage) and I'm now upgrading to the 400. I don't have rhe supercharger whine yet (plans for a GRP / BoE intake) but I took it out on local flowing country roads and it flew very nicely. Open the valves and it howled nicely. Jon Seal said he preferred the 400 to the 410 as the latter's suspension is a little too stiff for him. Close the valves and it cruised effortlessly.
I never drove an S1 S, but I do notice the in gear improvements.
Matty_ said:
Nice! I had my eye on that one, but it arrived after I've given up on my Evora search and and I'd decided to buy something else.
Also, what is it with the Scots and Evoras
They all seem to end up there at some point in their lives.
My third Lotus in Scotland, and the simple justification is twofold. One, it doesn't take long to get to good roads outside the bomb crater road urban areas. Teo, once you're there, they are relatively lightly trafficked and the views are epic (when it's not raining)Also, what is it with the Scots and Evoras
They all seem to end up there at some point in their lives. Question for those that have had or driven an NA car v's an S. Is the c£10k extra for the S worth it? I love supercharger whine but it's a big premium for 50bhp more and it doesn't seem to translate to a big change in performance figures. Does it make a notable difference to in gear acceleration for overtaking? I find this is where my 996 is lacking.
[/quote]
It's over 50bhp but also the torque. I tested the SC & NA back to back. The NA felt like a normal car in fancy clothes. The S/C, with C/R box just 'wanted' to pull more instantly & felt like the engine matched & sounded it's looks. It would only do 20mpg pottering about, & I never got more than 25mpg on a run though.
I bought the S/C, but to be faIr to the NA, if I'd stirred the gears a bit more, it may have felt almost as quick, in the 0-60 there's not much in it in reality. Longer gears would have made it a better cruiser when not on it, it's also a small bit lighter.
Whilst overall I prefer the looks (& sound) of the 400, if I ever had another, I'd still consider a Launch Edition early N/A, it's still a great car, has longer ratio gears, better mpg, less weight, better seats, a good spec, smaller wheels help with the tyre costs (if you go for gripper settings mean rear tyres don't last long), no supercharger to go wrong, cooler engine bay & a bit cheaper tax. See if its had an inspection hatch put in the rear bulkhead though, aircon units can fail (mine was a later car with a hatch), with no hatch, it's a real PITA & costly replacing the aircon unit.
Dr_Rick said:
Matty_ said:
Nice! I had my eye on that one, but it arrived after I've given up on my Evora search and and I'd decided to buy something else.
Also, what is it with the Scots and Evoras They all seem to end up there at some point in their lives.
My third Lotus in Scotland, and the simple justification is twofold. One, it doesn't take long to get to good roads outside the bomb crater road urban areas. Teo, once you're there, they are relatively lightly trafficked and the views are epic (when it's not raining)Also, what is it with the Scots and Evoras
They all seem to end up there at some point in their lives. 
I thought I would reciprocate 
It helps that there was a very good dealer in Murray Lotus who I think sold a huge number of cars and had a very good rep until there were some ownership changes and eventually they went bust - luckily the same service team are working as an independent Lotus specialist in the same area of Edinburgh. The official franchised dealer is now a much newer large group owned outfit in the West of Scotland. If they were my only option for "specialist" servicing I would likely have sold mine years ago.
Matty_ said:
I had the NA (never drove the S) but wouldn't say it felt like it was lacking in power, felt about right to me.
Would I miss the power if I'd had an S beforehand? More than likely, but it was still a brilliant car and 280bhp on current roads is more than enough IMO.
I went from a supercharged exige to a NA Evora and it felt slow. However, some of that was down to its ride quality and refinement. Looking at the Speedo it was faster than it felt - the opposite is true of an exige. Would I miss the power if I'd had an S beforehand? More than likely, but it was still a brilliant car and 280bhp on current roads is more than enough IMO.
I've never driven an S but my NA only really feels it needs more power on overtakes in practice. It is the fastest car I have ever driven though, but I have a motorbike so I am probably (unfairly) comparing to that.
Twisties is where the Evora is most fun and the NA never feels lacking in oomph there. For me it carries scary speed through corners so nonchalantly that the experience can actually be a bit uninvolving.
Twisties is where the Evora is most fun and the NA never feels lacking in oomph there. For me it carries scary speed through corners so nonchalantly that the experience can actually be a bit uninvolving.
Shnozz said:
I went from a supercharged exige to a NA Evora and it felt slow. However, some of that was down to its ride quality and refinement. Looking at the Speedo it was faster than it felt - the opposite is true of an exige.
my OH normally complains when I get spirited on the twisties, but at considerable speed along a Snowdonian B road she nonchalantly started a conversation about furniture decisions. That's never happened in any other car than the Evora, and we were moving. B4391, not a straight road.A great 3 years with the Evora but I swapped it for a Chimeara and kept the Elise too.
Shnozz said:
I went from a supercharged exige to a NA Evora and it felt slow. However, some of that was down to its ride quality and refinement. Looking at the Speedo it was faster than it felt - the opposite is true of an exige.
my OH normally complains when I get spirited on the twisties, but at considerable speed along a Snowdonian B road she nonchalantly started a conversation about furniture decisions. That's never happened in any other car than the Evora, and we were moving. B4391, not a straight road.A great 3 years with the Evora but I swapped it for a Chimeara and kept the Elise too.
Appreciate these first hand experiences.
Currently in a 996.1 which is almost identical weight and power to an NA Evora but with long gearing. I had a 996tt previously which had plenty of power but always felt like a bigger GT car on Scottish country roads (yup another Scot thinking of getting an Evora).
The NA 996 is perfect in terms of size and power most of the time but just doesn't have that extra oomph needed when you get stuck behind someone on a twisty b road. Power and performance figures don't always tell the full story though. My golf R and cupra 290 had that necessary in gear acceleration despite being very close on paper to both the NA Evora and 996.
Currently in a 996.1 which is almost identical weight and power to an NA Evora but with long gearing. I had a 996tt previously which had plenty of power but always felt like a bigger GT car on Scottish country roads (yup another Scot thinking of getting an Evora).
The NA 996 is perfect in terms of size and power most of the time but just doesn't have that extra oomph needed when you get stuck behind someone on a twisty b road. Power and performance figures don't always tell the full story though. My golf R and cupra 290 had that necessary in gear acceleration despite being very close on paper to both the NA Evora and 996.
I bought my Evora 400 two and a half years ago. It had done 23k. It’s now done 60k.
No real faults. A window actuator but that’s about it. It gets driven but all dry miles. I had it serviced in April this year. It now needs another.
I was seriously looking to change it due to the mileage. I’ve been to see nearly every Evora listed. Non of them are anywhere near the condition of mine
So I’m keeping my 400. Booked in for a service, full PPF refresh and alloy refurb due to lacquer peel
I know this car. It’s never let me down and I know how it’s been treated. Sod the mileage.
No real faults. A window actuator but that’s about it. It gets driven but all dry miles. I had it serviced in April this year. It now needs another.
I was seriously looking to change it due to the mileage. I’ve been to see nearly every Evora listed. Non of them are anywhere near the condition of mine
So I’m keeping my 400. Booked in for a service, full PPF refresh and alloy refurb due to lacquer peel
I know this car. It’s never let me down and I know how it’s been treated. Sod the mileage.
nunpuncher said:
Appreciate these first hand experiences.
Currently in a 996.1 which is almost identical weight and power to an NA Evora but with long gearing. I had a 996tt previously which had plenty of power but always felt like a bigger GT car on Scottish country roads (yup another Scot thinking of getting an Evora).
The NA 996 is perfect in terms of size and power most of the time but just doesn't have that extra oomph needed when you get stuck behind someone on a twisty b road. Power and performance figures don't always tell the full story though. My golf R and cupra 290 had that necessary in gear acceleration despite being very close on paper to both the NA Evora and 996.
For me my S was one of the best overtakers I have ever had. The mid range grunt was epic. I now have a rather fast electric car and although away from a standing start it is much faster than the Evora I never quite feel that confident in fast overtakes. The incredible grip too also means nipping in and out was super comfortable.Currently in a 996.1 which is almost identical weight and power to an NA Evora but with long gearing. I had a 996tt previously which had plenty of power but always felt like a bigger GT car on Scottish country roads (yup another Scot thinking of getting an Evora).
The NA 996 is perfect in terms of size and power most of the time but just doesn't have that extra oomph needed when you get stuck behind someone on a twisty b road. Power and performance figures don't always tell the full story though. My golf R and cupra 290 had that necessary in gear acceleration despite being very close on paper to both the NA Evora and 996.
I can't talk to an NA, I've not driven one. But the s will give you what you are looking for.
ziggy328 said:
I bought my Evora 400 two and a half years ago. It had done 23k. It’s now done 60k.
No real faults. A window actuator but that’s about it. It gets driven but all dry miles. I had it serviced in April this year. It now needs another.
I was seriously looking to change it due to the mileage. I’ve been to see nearly every Evora listed. Non of them are anywhere near the condition of mine
So I’m keeping my 400. Booked in for a service, full PPF refresh and alloy refurb due to lacquer peel
I know this car. It’s never let me down and I know how it’s been treated. Sod the mileage.
I’m not being argumentative but I am curious because people say something similar a lot. No real faults. A window actuator but that’s about it. It gets driven but all dry miles. I had it serviced in April this year. It now needs another.
I was seriously looking to change it due to the mileage. I’ve been to see nearly every Evora listed. Non of them are anywhere near the condition of mine
So I’m keeping my 400. Booked in for a service, full PPF refresh and alloy refurb due to lacquer peel
I know this car. It’s never let me down and I know how it’s been treated. Sod the mileage.
How can you genuinely say a car is driven frequently in the uk and that it’s only done dry miles? My Ferrari dies about 3k per year, is sorned for 3 months and I couldn’t genuinely say it’s only done dry miles.
blueg33 said:
I’m not being argumentative but I am curious because people say something similar a lot.
How can you genuinely say a car is driven frequently in the uk and that it’s only done dry miles? My Ferrari dies about 3k per year, is sorned for 3 months and I couldn’t genuinely say it’s only done dry miles.
Quite easily. I did nearly 500 miles this weekend as an example. It really isn't that difficult to put plenty of miles on a car for me when I'm in the mood.How can you genuinely say a car is driven frequently in the uk and that it’s only done dry miles? My Ferrari dies about 3k per year, is sorned for 3 months and I couldn’t genuinely say it’s only done dry miles.
ziggy328 said:
blueg33 said:
I’m not being argumentative but I am curious because people say something similar a lot.
How can you genuinely say a car is driven frequently in the uk and that it’s only done dry miles? My Ferrari dies about 3k per year, is sorned for 3 months and I couldn’t genuinely say it’s only done dry miles.
Quite easily. I did nearly 500 miles this weekend as an example. It really isn't that difficult to put plenty of miles on a car for me when I'm in the mood.How can you genuinely say a car is driven frequently in the uk and that it’s only done dry miles? My Ferrari dies about 3k per year, is sorned for 3 months and I couldn’t genuinely say it’s only done dry miles.
Gassing Station | Evora | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff