Evora vs the alternatives

[The Wookie]

No, to be fair I never got on with the Sparcos in the later cars, they always felt like they were sat an inch or two higher than the earlier recaros. The bucket seats in the GTs were better though

[C70R]

What is the early, cooking Evora like on British b-roads? I live in the rural wilds, and my favourite roads are narrow and bumpy. My Z4 feels small and compliant here compared with other cars I've owned.

I'm favouring something lighter over the obvious M-cars at this budget, because I'd hope to be able to use it more on these roads.

Edited by C70R on Sunday 14th May 09:25

[p4cks]

The Evora is at home on the British B road, they're absolutely sublime.

Regarding the clutch issues some early owners had... it wasn't the actual clutch itself but the issues were down to poorly installed thrust bearings at the factory which caused the issues

[limpsfield]

p4cks said:

The Evora is at home on the British B road, they're absolutely sublime.

I would agree with this. Once you get used to the car I don't think I have owned anything as good on our twisty country roads.

If that was all I was going to do, I would still go with my old Elise for the roof-off drama but as an all rounder the Evora is the more practical car.

Coming back to a previous point though, I would really miss having a soft top if it is was my fun car. I did a trip down to Venice in my old Boxster last September and having the roof down for me adds so much more to the experience.

Anyway, a great situation for you to be in - good luck with the decisions.

[s2kjock]

My N/A Evora is about the price range you are looking at, and it is generally bumpy Highland roads I used to enjoy driving most when I had time to do so.

The car is extremely impressive, but on a clear run I often got to the point that it felt so composed that it offered less of a challenge, and was therefore to me (oddly) in many ways less fun to drive than the Honda S2000's I had previously. I suppose I have a "cut-off" speed at which I think this is getting silly, I need to dial things back in as any mistake is going to be irrecoverable and very nasty. The speed at which driving the car becomes a challenge is way over my cut-off threshold.

On smaller twisties, I did find the increase in footprint and lower seating position with reduced visibility offset the gains in handling and power more than I expected.

Having a "less perfect" handling car on minor roads I think I found more challenging overall and therefore more entertaining.

N/A Evora more than enough power for the twisty stuff - only feels a bit lacking on overtakes really, which presumably the S would resolve.

On the plus side, it is (relatively - I recently had to replace an AC condensor on mine @ £1,000) cheap to run, comfortable on a long run, still looks great and I can't see the current glacial pace of depreciation increasing that much in the near future.

I haven't driven any of the others on your list for comparison, but I frequently hanker after my Honda S2000 (not just for the topless feature) and in retrospect may have been happier with a direct replacement when I was forced into a change 10 years ago rather than going for an "upgrade" as a bit of a "this might be my last chance to own/drive something a bit special" (which the Evora certainly is).

[C70R]

That's really great insight. Thank you.

For what it's worth, I'm not an s2000 fan. Too compromised to be enjoyable when you're away from the bits where it is enjoyable. Not for me, sadly.

[CABC]

I'm a long term Elise owner who tried an S1 Evora SR for 3 years. The 400 series is more Elise-like and probably better on track. I wanted a GT car though, so S1 seats and manners were better. it was sublime on B roads and really enjoyable on a trip. On track it was so-so, the tall heavy engine was a bit much for Bedford, ok for Anglesey and quite a pleasure at Goodwood. ie tight turns showed up the tall weight. Really enjoyed my time with it, but eventually swapped it for a Chimeara - open top, noise and a dramatic cockpit. As a fixed top car the Evora only had one purpose, to drive fast. it was good at that, maybe too good. always egging you on. The TVR is a different proposition and complements the Elise well.

no easy answer. Evora for B roads, trips & reasonable costs. Cayman for more occasional track work. Boxster for open top. Vantage for road trips. need to work your way through a few of them, they all shine in different areas. The Evora can still show up the others for steering feel and balanced damping, worth ownership just for those.

[C70R]

Funnily enough a Chimera was on my long list after passengering to Le Mans in a friend's 400 a few years back. The thing that let it down on that trip was simply refinement. The cabin feels very 'kit car', it's VERY noisy at cruising speed, and the general levels of comfort (lacking aircon and cruise control) didn't endear.

A fun car, but more of a weekend blast than a road trip for me.

I know that the Tamora has fairly marginal aircon (some vents don't actually blow conditioned air!), but I believe cruise was an option at least.

[The Wookie]

It's funny, I always really enjoyed the S1 Evoras on track (although never driven an S2 on track), but then I always preferred the Elises to the Exiges on track too!

They're soft and they roll a bit, but you can manage the weight transfer nicely with them, and they powerslide hilariously well, particularly for a mid engined car... though the rear tyres don't last too long if you do!

[Big E 118]

A friend of mine has had pretty much every Evora over the years, S1, Sports Racer, 400 and now a GT410 Sport. Although they've developed into quicker cars he'll tell you the most pure ride and handling are the S1 cars.

[Quickmoose]

I love a "what car" thread... the OP knows their onions, knows their own personal wants and needs, and is 'excited' about a specific car.
I wrote one a while back.... I spent literally years in the run up making sure my list was comprehensive, the no.1 choice fluctuating between a very choice few.... the resulting spreadsheet being falsified to make the one I wanted appear at the top....

Engaging with a load of strangers who also LOVE their cars, rarely results in a change of mind, but we ALL enjoy that time where we're 'choosing' and justifying....

Something like the Evora will be as good a kill as it will be the chase
I 'needed' an open top so went elsewhere in the end....

ok, so ....just gonna have a look at some Lotuses now...

[The Wookie]

Yeah absolutely, it sounds obvious but you have to buy the car you really 'want' rather than the one that makes the most sense, otherwise you tend to regret it!

[blueg33]

Big E 118 said:

A friend of mine has had pretty much every Evora over the years, S1, Sports Racer, 400 and now a GT410 Sport. Although they've developed into quicker cars he'll tell you the most pure ride and handling are the S1 cars.

Agree - I has an n/a S1 a S1 S Sports Racer and extensively drove a sport 410 and 400. The first car was the sweetest handling and balance, the S sports racer was the best all round, the Sport 410 was interesting but the carbon buckets became unpleasant after a few hours. The S1 has the best seats by miles

[CABC]

C70R said:

Funnily enough a Chimera was on my long list after passengering to Le Mans in a friend's 400 a few years back. The thing that let it down on that trip was simply refinement. The cabin feels very 'kit car', it's VERY noisy at cruising speed, and the general levels of comfort (lacking aircon and cruise control) didn't endear.

A fun car, but more of a weekend blast than a road trip for me.

for sure, it's that V8
your friend's car may have been a bit ropey? after market exhaust? They're all getting on a bit now. But yes, along with the mpg I see it as a quick blast car to appreciate an old school V8.

[CABC]

The Wookie said:

It's funny, I always really enjoyed the S1 Evoras on track (although never driven an S2 on track), but then I always preferred the Elises to the Exiges on track too!

They're soft and they roll a bit, but you can manage the weight transfer nicely with them, and they powerslide hilariously well, particularly for a mid engined car... though the rear tyres don't last too long if you do!

yes, they do slide predictably
it's a personal choice, I just like light & agile. and while the Evora was rolling on track the quality of its chassis was clear, which is why it was just superb on the Welsh B roads. I find the Evora's competition and the highly rated modern hatches too heavy as well.
I know I'm different, if I do a Palmer day most people get excited about the BMWs!

[C70R]

CABC said:

for sure, it's that V8
your friend's car may have been a bit ropey? after market exhaust? They're all getting on a bit now. But yes, along with the mpg I see it as a quick blast car to appreciate an old school V8.

Whatever the opposite of "ropey" is would be how is describe that car. It's cared for and fettled to within an inch of its life.

It's just a bit too 'rough and ready' for me to want to jump in and drive to Switzerland (which I'm coincidentally doing in the Z4 in a few weeks).

[otolith]

Z4M is just about the engine. The rest of it is ok.

[C70R]

blueg33 said:

Big E 118 said:

A friend of mine has had pretty much every Evora over the years, S1, Sports Racer, 400 and now a GT410 Sport. Although they've developed into quicker cars he'll tell you the most pure ride and handling are the S1 cars.

Agree - I has an n/a S1 a S1 S Sports Racer and extensively drove a sport 410 and 400. The first car was the sweetest handling and balance, the S sports racer was the best all round, the Sport 410 was interesting but the carbon buckets became unpleasant after a few hours. The S1 has the best seats by miles

Presume that "S1" is the moniker of the original, cooking Evora?

[C70R]

Quickmoose said:

I love a "what car" thread... the OP knows their onions, knows their own personal wants and needs, and is 'excited' about a specific car.
I wrote one a while back.... I spent literally years in the run up making sure my list was comprehensive, the no.1 choice fluctuating between a very choice few.... the resulting spreadsheet being falsified to make the one I wanted appear at the top....

Engaging with a load of strangers who also LOVE their cars, rarely results in a change of mind, but we ALL enjoy that time where we're 'choosing' and justifying....

Something like the Evora will be as good a kill as it will be the chase
I 'needed' an open top so went elsewhere in the end....

ok, so ....just gonna have a look at some Lotuses now...

I'm currently sinking every penny I have (and some I don't) into a house renovation, so planning the next car purchase is a good way of distracting me.

That actually brings up an interesting challenge. I'm eventually going to build a lovely garage to keep my cars warm and dry, but that's a few years away right now because a number of other things need to happen first.

How would the Evora cope with living outside? I'd expect any of the Germans in my list to take it in their stride, but I'm unsure on how the Evora would deal with it.

[C70R]

CABC said:

The Wookie said:

It's funny, I always really enjoyed the S1 Evoras on track (although never driven an S2 on track), but then I always preferred the Elises to the Exiges on track too!

They're soft and they roll a bit, but you can manage the weight transfer nicely with them, and they powerslide hilariously well, particularly for a mid engined car... though the rear tyres don't last too long if you do!

yes, they do slide predictably
it's a personal choice, I just like light & agile. and while the Evora was rolling on track the quality of its chassis was clear, which is why it was just superb on the Welsh B roads. I find the Evora's competition and the highly rated modern hatches too heavy as well.
I know I'm different, if I do a Palmer day most people get excited about the BMWs!

What's the actual kerb weight of the original car? I only ask because the Boxster and Cayman seem to be in the same ballpark as the figures I've seen.