RE: 2020 Lotus Evora GT410 | PH Review

[ewand]

blueg33 said:

bcr5784 said:

Baldchap said:

Even used Vs new (which is a silly discussion to get into), there isn't a comparison for me. If you're considering the Evora, or any Lotus for that matter, you aren't considering a turbocharged automatic.

Sorry but that is EXACTLY what I did. I don't have a thing about automatics (so long as they are good) or turbos (so long as they aren't noticeably laggy). Would you actually turn your nose up at a 488 or 650S?

Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 13th July 08:32

Also exactly what I did. 4c and Alpine in my case - bought a supercharged Evora Sports Racer

When I was shopping for an Evora 400, I spoke to Jamie at Bell & Colvill and arranged to go and have a look at their demonstrators, take them out for a couple of hours etc. "Obviously, I'll want the manual" said I - but he said not to write off the auto. So I went out (on a wet, cold day right enough) in a 400 auto followed by a 410 Sport manual, and I have to say, the (torque converter, previously known as IPS) auto won the day. It's very good indeed (as long as you get it into Sport mode as soon as the engine is warm enough).

[blueg33]

ewand said:

blueg33 said:

bcr5784 said:

Baldchap said:

Even used Vs new (which is a silly discussion to get into), there isn't a comparison for me. If you're considering the Evora, or any Lotus for that matter, you aren't considering a turbocharged automatic.

Sorry but that is EXACTLY what I did. I don't have a thing about automatics (so long as they are good) or turbos (so long as they aren't noticeably laggy). Would you actually turn your nose up at a 488 or 650S?

Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 13th July 08:32

Also exactly what I did. 4c and Alpine in my case - bought a supercharged Evora Sports Racer

When I was shopping for an Evora 400, I spoke to Jamie at Bell & Colvill and arranged to go and have a look at their demonstrators, take them out for a couple of hours etc. "Obviously, I'll want the manual" said I - but he said not to write off the auto. So I went out (on a wet, cold day right enough) in a 400 auto followed by a 410 Sport manual, and I have to say, the (torque converter, previously known as IPS) auto won the day. It's very good indeed (as long as you get it into Sport mode as soon as the engine is warm enough).

My car is an IPS (previous one was a manual), and i do like it. Just driven it today for the first time in several weeks as its been away being fettled. Its a bloody good car.

[EGTE]

CABC said:

recent Evo article tying themselves in knots as they try to balance ad revenue / hospitality benefits with integrity.
conclusion was that the Evora was the best sports car in the test but had to lose because of non-sports car criteria.
it's tough being in publishing these days.
lesson, always go for your own test drive!

Noticed that, too. So much for the Thrill of Driving, Evo.......they've sold their souls to ze Germans.

[bcr5784]

EGTE said:

CABC said:

recent Evo article tying themselves in knots as they try to balance ad revenue / hospitality benefits with integrity.
conclusion was that the Evora was the best sports car in the test but had to lose because of non-sports car criteria.
it's tough being in publishing these days.
lesson, always go for your own test drive!

Noticed that, too. So much for the Thrill of Driving, Evo.......they've sold their souls to ze Germans.

Thought their conclusion was a bit perverse too. That said many seem buy a supercar at least in part for the "sense of occasion" rather than driving dynamics. On that basis you might mark down the Evora. But you would have to mark the 911 down too (probably even further)..

[blueg33]

bcr5784 said:

EGTE said:

CABC said:

recent Evo article tying themselves in knots as they try to balance ad revenue / hospitality benefits with integrity.
conclusion was that the Evora was the best sports car in the test but had to lose because of non-sports car criteria.
it's tough being in publishing these days.
lesson, always go for your own test drive!

Noticed that, too. So much for the Thrill of Driving, Evo.......they've sold their souls to ze Germans.

Thought their conclusion was a bit perverse too. That said many seem buy a supercar at least in part for the "sense of occasion" rather than driving dynamics. On that basis you might mark down the Evora. But you would have to mark the 911 down too (probably even further)..

Not much sense of occasion in something that is pretty ubiquitous.

The Evora is an occasion, its the sort of car that gets people smiling and pointing and that add to the occasion. It has sort of baby supercar looks. Mine is quite a standout colour and thats a factor too.

My neighbours 10 year son told me last week that he has my car on Forza, he has matched the colour etc. (Made my day )

A few years ago, my Evora, a mates 360 and another mates 993c2 S were parked at the front our hotel in Cognac that had a group of Chinese people staying. They took it in turns to pose for pics by the Ferrari and the Evora, but ignored the Porsche. (I thought it was a shame though the 992c2S is probably my favourite 911)

Edited by blueg33 on Thursday 16th July 18:00

[bcr5784]

blueg33 said:

The Evora is an occasion, its the sort of car that gets people smiling and pointing and that add to the occasion. It has sort of baby supercar looks. Mine is quite a standout colour and thats a factor too.

Edited by blueg33 on Thursday 16th July 18:00

Well the Alpine attracts positive comments in petrol stations, supermarkets from petrol heads, pensioners and overweight middle aged ladies on an almost daily basis. A buddy which is great fun yes,quite a sexy lady, perhaps, BUT a supercar, a sense of occasion - NO. I feel much the same about the Evora. Probably the Evora has more presence because of the noise - and that is quite special - but the looks, while perfectly OK are only that for me.

[DaveGB]

Loved my Evora 400 auto, only swapping out after 10 months to an Exige V6. Also had the Evora S1 a few years earlier. Both cars were compared with Porsche’s at the time, but each time the Lotus gave me the bigger smile. Will have another Evora at some point as they are that good , sound epic and love the looks.

|https://thumbsnap.com/d4H5zbd8[/url]



Also had one the first Alpine A110 Premier Editions. Great little car but sold it after 10 days as front of car kept reminding me of a 90’s Celica, so just couldn’t gel with looks. Each to their own of course. Anyway that’s off topic for a thread about Evoras. Loved my S1 in Orange

|https://thumbsnap.com/sp2kMx5J[/url]

Having been through way too many sports cars I’m always drawn back to Lotus (9 of them to date). Until you’ve driven one I’m not sure you know what you’re missing. Please do go drive one. They make you smile [url][url]

Edited by DaveGB on Monday 20th July 03:20

[Mannginger]

Is the auto an enjoyable car? You've had a lot to compare it against. I've been spoiled a little by my current Golf, my first modern auto and it's pretty good, especially in inner city work. An Evora as an every day car really appeals.

I know, I know I have to drive both but would welcome more thoughts on how good the auto is (or not)!

[blueg33]

Mannginger said:

Is the auto an enjoyable car? You've had a lot to compare it against. I've been spoiled a little by my current Golf, my first modern auto and it's pretty good, especially in inner city work. An Evora as an every day car really appeals.

I know, I know I have to drive both but would welcome more thoughts on how good the auto is (or not)!

I had a manual and now have an auto. I really like the auto, plus you have peace of mind re clutch life and none of the horrible drive drain noises that manual Evoras have.

I am selling my car, with a view to a newer Evora and I am relaxed re auto or manual.

[ewand]

blueg33 said:

I had a manual and now have an auto. I really like the auto, plus you have peace of mind re clutch life and none of the horrible drivetrain noises that manual Evoras have.

I am selling my car, with a view to a newer Evora and I am relaxed re auto or manual.

That's a very good point. I put a deposit on a manual Evora 400 with Snows in Southampton, but on the condition that they could fix the chuntering from the transmission; they said there was a guy coming in from Norfolk the following week, so they'd get him to look at it. That car was a 2016, and they had a brand new (unregistered, I think) 2017 demonstrator manual which didn't make the noise (I drove them back to back and basically told the guy, I'll only buy the 2016 car if it can be made to sound like this).

Man from Norfolk came down; TATDS. Order cancelled and I bought a 2016 auto from Silverstone.

[CABC]

ewand said:

That's a very good point. I put a deposit on a manual Evora 400 with Snows in Southampton, but on the condition that they could fix the chuntering from the transmission; they said there was a guy coming in from Norfolk the following week, so they'd get him to look at it. That car was a 2016, and they had a brand new (unregistered, I think) 2017 demonstrator manual which didn't make the noise (I drove them back to back and basically told the guy, I'll only buy the 2016 car if it can be made to sound like this).

Man from Norfolk came down; TATDS. Order cancelled and I bought a 2016 auto from Silverstone.

is this a 400 series issue? haven't noticed it on the s1.

[blueg33]

CABC said:

ewand said:

That's a very good point. I put a deposit on a manual Evora 400 with Snows in Southampton, but on the condition that they could fix the chuntering from the transmission; they said there was a guy coming in from Norfolk the following week, so they'd get him to look at it. That car was a 2016, and they had a brand new (unregistered, I think) 2017 demonstrator manual which didn't make the noise (I drove them back to back and basically told the guy, I'll only buy the 2016 car if it can be made to sound like this).

Man from Norfolk came down; TATDS. Order cancelled and I bought a 2016 auto from Silverstone.

is this a 400 series issue? haven't noticed it on the s1.

It’s not an issue, it’s s characteristic, they all do it, including the new GT410 sport I drove a couple of weeks ago.

[ewand]

IIRC, there was a redesign of some parts of the transmission in the MY17 car, to make it less noisy - I found in a couple of MY16 manuals that as well as the chatter and shunting, there was a very notable vibration/whine at certain points in the rev range - like decelerating in gear.

Maybe it's something you just get used to but it was annoying enough that it pushed me to the auto (and the fact the auto - in Sport mode - is very good, and does downshift blips etc). The auto in normal mode is quite easy to fox, and when you plant your right foot it can make numerous grumbling noises as it tries to get the right gear, but in the 400 auto in sport mode, if you brake from speed, like approaching a roundabout, the noise is fantastic as the car barks and blips down through the gears.

Edited by ewand on Monday 20th July 22:17

[blueg33]

ewand said:

IIRC, there was a redesign of some parts of the transmission in the MY17 car, to make it less noisy - I found in a couple of MY16 manuals that as well as the chatter and shunting, there was a very notable vibration/whine at certain points in the rev range - like decelerating in gear.

Maybe it's something you just get used to but it was annoying enough that it pushed me to the auto (and the fact the auto - in Sport mode - is very good, and does downshift blips etc). In the 400, in sport mode, if you brake from speed, like approaching a roundabout, the noise is fantastic as the car barks and blips through the gears.

The S1 IPS also does the blips and barks.

[ewand]

blueg33 said:

The S1 IPS also does the blips and barks.

Ah, I wasn't sure if that was common. The exhaust noise on the 400 though

[DaveGB]

Had the gearbox chunter on S1 Evora and the 3 Exiges. Didn’t matter so much on Exige as so noisy anyway in cabin, but used to wind me up on Evora when driving at lower revs , which was often done as daily runner at the time.

The auto on Evora400 is very impressive. Not dual clutch speed, but good enough for spirited driving and some track days. Would have another in preference to manual on an Evora.

[DaveGB]

ewand said:

Ah, I wasn't sure if that was common. The exhaust noise on the 400 though

Oh yes re noise, but just as amazing is how silent it goes when you close the valve. First time i tried it , it felt like I was driving an electric car in comparison lol.

There are occasions when you do feel the exhaust is a bit too noisy tbh. I’m sure it must scare some people when you come past them at full chat.

[blueg33]

DaveGB said:

ewand said:

Ah, I wasn't sure if that was common. The exhaust noise on the 400 though

Oh yes re noise, but just as amazing is how silent it goes when you close the valve. First time i tried it , it felt like I was driving an electric car in comparison lol.

There are occasions when you do feel the exhaust is a bit too noisy tbh. I’m sure it must scare some people when you come past them at full chat.

I recall hearing you change down as you drove past the supermarket in Evesham that I was just leaving - I assume you were in sport mode? It was loud....

[MellowshipSlinky]

Having had two Exige V6’s (hi DaveGB ) I’d really like another but can’t stomach the noisy gearbox again.
So, I’d rather have the auto Evora.
For some reason, an auto Exige doesn’t really seem right...

[Mannginger]

All very good food for thought, thanks folks

I still need to rationalize the price a little in my mind - no doubt solved by a test drive!

I'm realistically not buying until next year in any event but I just can't get excited enough by a Porsche (or even the Alpine) even if they're probably the better all-round car. I want my next car to have a sense of occasion around it and the Evora meets a lot of my wishes