Thursday 14th August 2014

Lotus Evora: You Know You Want To

The Evora has to be worth a shot at under £30K doesn't it?

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Being honest, there aren't many days that pass without looking at Evoras in the PH classifieds. Having been so beguiled by the Sports Racer we ran a little while back (the thread is at 760 comments!), I can't help but hold a huge soft spot for the Lotus and like to see where prices sit. Caymans are regularly checked up on too, but that's to follow shortly...

Well you won't see many others

This Evora is the most affordable in the PH classifieds and is actually comfortably below £30K at £28,950. Shot in a studio in graphite grey doesn't do the Evora too many favours on the looks front perhaps. Seeing a red car with both the Sport Pack and Tech Pack arguably makes the case against the grey car stronger but then that isn't under £30K. Although it could be with some haggling...

The case for any Evora is a strong one though, particularly used. Running an off-the-shelf Toyota V6 may not make for the most exciting engine in the world but at least it shouldn't cause any problems. There actually doesn't seem too much to be wary of bar a few trim and finish issues. It seems that most have been purchased as occasional cars too, which means even the highest mileage 2009 cars have fewer than 50,000 miles on them. Furthermore, at less than they were new the case for one as a weekend car is easier; £30K for a fun car is more justifiable than £50K.

And it's the 2+2. Oh goody (!)

Don't get me wrong however, an Evora could be used everyday. The beautiful compliance of the suspension means it will be comfortable and that unstressed lump behind is fast enough. And all the time you can enjoy some of the best power steering ever known and a mini-supercar silhouette in shop windows. But getting in is a faff, the infotainment isn't great and the pedals are skewed. That sort of thing would likely get annoying.

Probably best mention the Porsche now. I quite like those too, although having only driven the 981 Cayman. They're out of budget currently but models like this 2009 3.4S are right on the money compared to the Evora. We all know how talented the Porsche is, and the higher numbers produced means more choice secondhand and the manual's nicer and...

There's still something about the Evora though. Try one and experience it for yourself. It must make more sense secondhand after all. And if you do fancy a punt on a new one, what about this gorgeous Daytona Blue S?

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LOTUS EVORA
Price: £28,950
Why you should: One of the best recent sports cars to drive, now under £30K
Why you shouldn't: Porsches are quite good too...

See the original advert here.

[Oddball RS]

These have been at this pricing point for the cheapest for over 12 months now, but have dropped no further, cars seem to stay for sale for an age what do people think as to why?

[kambites]

Sadly, the Evora appears to be another example of Lotus believing that anyone thinks how a car drives is more important than the cuddliness of the dashboard. I suppose I'd consider one if I needed a 2+2, but to my mind it will always be another example of Lotus not understanding the market.

[astirling]

I picked my 2009 car up a week ago and love it!

[soad]

T350c for me, I reckon.

Who needs those rear seats!

[Vee12V]

Not in the market but that Daytona blue Evora S is ridiculously good looking!

[kambites]

Hmm, I've just noticed:

Advert said:

Four wheel-drive

[samoht]

Note how the photos have been taken at one aspect ratio and displayed at another, resulting in the car looking unattractively tall and thin. I guess it goes with the "4x4" centre that is selling it ?

[anonymous-user]

Aspect ratio issues??

[3ananaPie]

astirling said:

I picked my 2009 car up a week ago and love it!

Congrats, it looks amazing. I was thinking of getting an Evora not too long ago. Still sort of want one. Enjoy.

[Qwert1e]

Interesting. That's still strong money for a 5 year old car when most cars lose about half their value every three years. I guess there may be a certain scarcity value though.

[Matt Bird]

3ananaPie said:

astirling said:

I picked my 2009 car up a week ago and love it!

Congrats, it looks amazing. I was thinking of getting an Evora not too long ago. Still sort of want one. Enjoy.

Yes, what he said!

[Prawnboy]

I just love them, and can't afford one.

[hondansx]

They just don't look quite right. That Daytona Blue does a bloody good job of improving things though; you could get a £30k one and spend a bit on a wrap to match that.

Love the green the GT4 cars come in...

[astirling]

Matt Bird said:

3ananaPie said:

astirling said:

I picked my 2009 car up a week ago and love it!

Congrats, it looks amazing. I was thinking of getting an Evora not too long ago. Still sort of want one. Enjoy.

Yes, what he said!

Thanks both

[wooooody]

Oddball RS said:

These have been at this pricing point for the cheapest for over 12 months now, but have dropped no further, cars seem to stay for sale for an age what do people think as to why?

Not the perception of the market I have. Have a few friends with them; the 1 who just bought had to wait a while for the right car to come up and not be sold immediately. Certainly the main dealer in Scotland can't seem to get enough of them to sell. Wonder if the slow sellers are simply not specc'd well? Again, north of the border, most seem to be buying from the main dealer who have an excellent reputation. At that price point & with the perception of potential Lotus reliability, I can understand why.

Also know Lotus cut the management cars programme wit the effect of throttling the artificial supply of nearly new cars to the market. In the months after this the average used price rose by circa £5k a car IIRC.

[alex_gray255]

Brilliant cars to drive, look great, hardly ever see any on the road (I've only ever seen 2 in the 3 years I've owned mine),
get 35 MPG and although the interior is a little bit spartan, that is easily solved by a good trimmer for £1-2k.

Mines a keeper!

[Guvernator]

These are always on my radar whenever I think about an interesting 2+2 that's fun to drive. However prices do seem to have stayed firm despite the rather lacklustre reception and at £30k, it's hard to look past the 911. The Porsche might not handle as well but it's certainly no slouch, it sounds better with it's much more interesting engine and it will be better put together. In short you REALLY have to hate Porsche or desperately want a Lotus.

[ManOpener]

Always though they should have done a road-going version of the Evora endurance racers:

[rob.e]

I lust after one of those in a way i can never imagine myself feeling about a cayman.

Don't know why, and i fully expect there will be niggles (it would not be my first lotus..) but the "want" factor is very high. That blue car is fantastic.

The cayman on the other hand looks limp in white and does not suit those big 911 style 19" wheels. 02p etc.

The blurb says the lotus infotainment system isn't great, but i would hazard a guess that the porsche unit probably doesn't do 7 digit uk post codes and has a slot for a sim (wtf?!) - from a 2009 car i'd expect bluetooth surely?

[unsprung]

astirling said:

I picked my 2009 car up a week ago and love it!

A handsome combination: grey with bits of black and red. Looks wicked in the wet.