Cayman to Evora
Discussion
Probably get shot down for posting this here but i'm currently in the position of selling my Cayman 2.9 Gen 2 and possibly moving over to a Lotus Evora.
Good move or bad ?
I've loved the Cayman over the last 3 years of ownership but would like something different that handles as well as the Cayman.
thoughts please
Good move or bad ?
I've loved the Cayman over the last 3 years of ownership but would like something different that handles as well as the Cayman.
thoughts please
The Lotus will be a different proposition to the Porsche but well worth the experience. Nothing drives like them or handles like them. Nothing at the price, at least. There's a good reason they are regarded as the benchmark in ride and handling.
Give an Evora 400 or an Exige Sport 350 a go and prepare to be astonished.
Give an Evora 400 or an Exige Sport 350 a go and prepare to be astonished.
Edited by Oilchange on Monday 23 May 21:38
rObArtes said:
yep Oakmere (Christopher Neils) are close to where i live and where i bought my Elise from. I've driven the Evora before and do like the drive. the thing that holds me back is resale. i know, I'm worried about selling it before i've bought it
Just don't by a Porsche from them...the Boxster S I got from them turned out to be a nail. I'm convinced they pick up stock that Porsche centres don't want to sell themselves.I've got an Evora in stock at the moment and have driven a couple of them before. OP might not know but I have a Cayman S daily despite being a Lotus dealer. Really I guess I should have the Evora but there are a couple of reasons I have the Cayman.
The ergonomics and build quality are vastly better in the Porsche theres no getting away from that. You scratch the surface anywhere on the Evora and although its massive step up for Lotus in terms of their build processes its still a way behind most other modern cars. I find that no matter how much I adjust the seat I just cant get comfortable. Little things like the seat adjuster being butted up against the centre console rather than been near the door again expose the slightly cobbled together feel of the Evora.
The Engine in the Evora is a bit Meh. We have one with a sports exhaust and it still sounds a bit average nothing at all like the almost sexual sound of the Cayman with PSE. The Evora is also strangled with stupidly long gearing just as the Exige V6 is. Its a truly awful gearbox in those terms.
The two areas where the Evora wipes the floor with the Cayman are as you would expect in the ride/handling and steering department. My Cayman with the PCCBs matches it for steering feel but Porsches with cast brakes come nowhere near the feel and responsiveness of the Evora. The ride is supple and detailed and closer to the Elise than to the Cayman. The looks and exclusivity of the Lotus I would have to concede edge the Cayman too although of course the 987 and 981 Caymans are both handsome cars. The Evora is like driving a proper supercar around. They attract a lot of attention.
If you buy the right Evora depreciation doesnt exist. If you need a clutch its an engine out job and 3k but there are no other major issues with them.
If you havent owned a Lotus before try one. It will be a real eye opener as to what is really possible in terms of driver involvement. A plus 2 also pitches it more at the 911 but at a Cayman price so they are a relative bargain at 30 ish for an NA or 35k for an S which is a very quick car.
The ergonomics and build quality are vastly better in the Porsche theres no getting away from that. You scratch the surface anywhere on the Evora and although its massive step up for Lotus in terms of their build processes its still a way behind most other modern cars. I find that no matter how much I adjust the seat I just cant get comfortable. Little things like the seat adjuster being butted up against the centre console rather than been near the door again expose the slightly cobbled together feel of the Evora.
The Engine in the Evora is a bit Meh. We have one with a sports exhaust and it still sounds a bit average nothing at all like the almost sexual sound of the Cayman with PSE. The Evora is also strangled with stupidly long gearing just as the Exige V6 is. Its a truly awful gearbox in those terms.
The two areas where the Evora wipes the floor with the Cayman are as you would expect in the ride/handling and steering department. My Cayman with the PCCBs matches it for steering feel but Porsches with cast brakes come nowhere near the feel and responsiveness of the Evora. The ride is supple and detailed and closer to the Elise than to the Cayman. The looks and exclusivity of the Lotus I would have to concede edge the Cayman too although of course the 987 and 981 Caymans are both handsome cars. The Evora is like driving a proper supercar around. They attract a lot of attention.
If you buy the right Evora depreciation doesnt exist. If you need a clutch its an engine out job and 3k but there are no other major issues with them.
If you havent owned a Lotus before try one. It will be a real eye opener as to what is really possible in terms of driver involvement. A plus 2 also pitches it more at the 911 but at a Cayman price so they are a relative bargain at 30 ish for an NA or 35k for an S which is a very quick car.
Edited by fridaypassion on Tuesday 24th May 07:05
rObArtes said:
^^^ thanks for the great reply. its good to get advise/knowledge from others who have experience of both cars. the Evora would be used as a DD as my commute is 12miles/day. are they any good as a DD ? the cayman suits may needs in every way
just go and sit in one, you know they handle well and steering is great, also better brakes than the 987.2 cars by miles.but just looking around one and sitting in one puts you off, the early cars even more so than the later better built cars.
Trim still falls off, carpet not stuck down (Evora 400 the best of them) shoddy trim, handles air vents etc etc, it looks and feels very cheap.
I love the Elise they are what they are and the new Cup 250 has me on a major want, the Evora well if it were £40k new not £80k then ok, but sit in the Evora 400 then sit in the GT4 and the Evora then looks laughable.
The v6 Exige I also don't get it takes Lotus years and years to get these cars right, they have only just fixed the gear shift and over weightness ! so only the new sport 350 is any good imo.
A 718 Boxster S would be such a nice place to be imo and £30k cheaper !
Before I bought my Cayman R, I test drove both the Evora S and 400. As FP says, the steering/ride/handling of the Evora feel much more alive than the Cayman, but the Cayman is much better put together and the interior is a lot better integrated. However, I did prefer the drive in the S over the 400, felt a little more natural. In the end it came down to which came up first within my budget / spec requirements, and that was the R. About a month after I got it, my local Lotus dealer got an Evora S in which was exactly what I'd been looking for - still have some regrets about not waiting for it, however more than happy with the Cayman!
fridaypassion said:
I've got an Evora in stock at the moment and have driven a couple of them before. OP might not know but I have a Cayman S daily despite being a Lotus dealer. Really I guess I should have the Evora but there are a couple of reasons I have the Cayman.
The ergonomics and build quality are vastly better in the Porsche theres no getting away from that. You scratch the surface anywhere on the Evora and although its massive step up for Lotus in terms of their build processes its still a way behind most other modern cars. I find that no matter how much I adjust the seat I just cant get comfortable. Little things like the seat adjuster being butted up against the centre console rather than been near the door again expose the slightly cobbled together feel of the Evora.
The Engine in the Evora is a bit Meh. We have one with a sports exhaust and it still sounds a bit average nothing at all like the almost sexual sound of the Cayman with PSE. The Evora is also strangled with stupidly long gearing just as the Exige V6 is. Its a truly awful gearbox in those terms.
The two areas where the Evora wipes the floor with the Cayman are as you would expect in the ride/handling and steering department. My Cayman with the PCCBs matches it for steering feel but Porsches with cast brakes come nowhere near the feel and responsiveness of the Evora. The ride is supple and detailed and closer to the Elise than to the Cayman. The looks and exclusivity of the Lotus I would have to concede edge the Cayman too although of course the 987 and 981 Caymans are both handsome cars. The Evora is like driving a proper supercar around. They attract a lot of attention.
If you buy the right Evora depreciation doesnt exist. If you need a clutch its an engine out job and 3k but there are no other major issues with them.
If you havent owned a Lotus before try one. It will be a real eye opener as to what is really possible in terms of driver involvement. A plus 2 also pitches it more at the 911 but at a Cayman price so they are a relative bargain at 30 ish for an NA or 35k for an S which is a very quick car.
Clearly you have never heard an evora with a tubular exhaust. Absolute epic sound with many many compliments on it.The ergonomics and build quality are vastly better in the Porsche theres no getting away from that. You scratch the surface anywhere on the Evora and although its massive step up for Lotus in terms of their build processes its still a way behind most other modern cars. I find that no matter how much I adjust the seat I just cant get comfortable. Little things like the seat adjuster being butted up against the centre console rather than been near the door again expose the slightly cobbled together feel of the Evora.
The Engine in the Evora is a bit Meh. We have one with a sports exhaust and it still sounds a bit average nothing at all like the almost sexual sound of the Cayman with PSE. The Evora is also strangled with stupidly long gearing just as the Exige V6 is. Its a truly awful gearbox in those terms.
The two areas where the Evora wipes the floor with the Cayman are as you would expect in the ride/handling and steering department. My Cayman with the PCCBs matches it for steering feel but Porsches with cast brakes come nowhere near the feel and responsiveness of the Evora. The ride is supple and detailed and closer to the Elise than to the Cayman. The looks and exclusivity of the Lotus I would have to concede edge the Cayman too although of course the 987 and 981 Caymans are both handsome cars. The Evora is like driving a proper supercar around. They attract a lot of attention.
If you buy the right Evora depreciation doesnt exist. If you need a clutch its an engine out job and 3k but there are no other major issues with them.
If you havent owned a Lotus before try one. It will be a real eye opener as to what is really possible in terms of driver involvement. A plus 2 also pitches it more at the 911 but at a Cayman price so they are a relative bargain at 30 ish for an NA or 35k for an S which is a very quick car.
Edited by fridaypassion on Tuesday 24th May 07:05
My local independent can do the clutch for under 2k and a few people I know have had this done for this price.
That sounded a bit short a curt: a good summary and I would agree with everything else except that I actually really like the engine.
Sport mode is an absolute must. I do not like the car with it off. Some evo review said it makes the car artificially responsive but I think without it on, it is terrible.
Oh, and they're very easy to live with and drive quickly whilst feeling connected to the car. I also have an upgraded sound system (speakers with bluetooth and iphone charger) and reverse sensors, heated seats, all of these make it a much nicer car to live with (especially as rear visibility is not the best!)
Edited by johnwilliams77 on Tuesday 24th May 08:47
Oilchange said:
The Lotus will be a different proposition to the Porsche but well worth the experience. Nothing drives like them or handles like them. Nothing at the price, at least. There's a good reason they are regarded as the benchmark in ride and handling.
Give an Evora 400 or an Exige Sport 350 a go and prepare to be astonished.
I would echo all of this. I now have a Boxster S after having an Evora for three years and an Elise for 4 before that. These are all good cars. I would say the Porsche (mine at least) is a bit more sanitised as a daily driver and Lotus deservedly have their reputation for great handling sports cars - nothing feels quite the same.Give an Evora 400 or an Exige Sport 350 a go and prepare to be astonished.
I like all of them and I think, like most people, am not fiercely married to one brand of car above all others. If you buy one, I would be surprised if you were disappointed. Second hand values also were very firm during my ownership so if you change your mind a bit down the line you shouldn't lose a packet.
The only disappointment for me with the Evora was that it felt a bit too grown up after having an Elise - which is a criticism that I would also aim at the Boxster, but the benfit of electric roof and more space balance things out a bit. I think I am fairly likely to have another Lotus at some point - and another Porsche.
I just sold my 2010 NA Evora (w/ Larini exhaust and race pipes) to get into a Cayman GT4.
Negatives:
I agree with other folk have said, build quality is in a different league in the Porsche. I snapped a bunch of plastic in the center console just by lifting up the handbrake a bit over zealously :/ For the first year or so it was constantly in the garage for little bits and pieces of trim that just didn't fit right, eventually it got into a good place but it took a while.
Entertainment system is dire. Just, so ghetto.
Over 4 years the Evora was pretty reliable needing only regular servicing and tires, but I did have a couple of nasty bills towards the end of my ownership. A/C box failed, $4k bill, and they could never get the bonnet to line up well after taking the front clam off. I kept my car in the garage for 4 years too, towards the end it spent a couple of weeks outside and it turns out the boot was never sealed properly, so I got a boot full of water...
Pedals are weirdly misaligned, you always feel like your legs are slightly to the right of where they should be (US LHD model, I assume the UK model would be a bit to the left). You're really close to the front of the car which is a great feeling, but the front wheels encroach on your leg room.
Positives:
I didn't find the gearbox too bad after the car was broken in. Definitely a lot more 'floppy' but after a while it didn't bother me.
Pedals are waaaaaaaaay better positioned for heel/toe downshifts compared to the GT4.
Gets a lot more attention than even the GT4. People just don't know what it is - whereas Porsches are pretty popular in this neck of the woods.
Incredible steering - I'm really missing this on the GT4. I haven't taken the GT4 on track yet as I'm still breaking it in, but the steering is really special. I'm only noticing it now it's gone
Drivetrain feels robust. I spanked mine pretty hard, and whilst the trim was flimsy, I really didn't feel bad driving this hard.
Between a base Cayman and an Evora...that's a tough one. Between a Cayman S and an Evora, I'd definitely go Cayman.
Negatives:
I agree with other folk have said, build quality is in a different league in the Porsche. I snapped a bunch of plastic in the center console just by lifting up the handbrake a bit over zealously :/ For the first year or so it was constantly in the garage for little bits and pieces of trim that just didn't fit right, eventually it got into a good place but it took a while.
Entertainment system is dire. Just, so ghetto.
Over 4 years the Evora was pretty reliable needing only regular servicing and tires, but I did have a couple of nasty bills towards the end of my ownership. A/C box failed, $4k bill, and they could never get the bonnet to line up well after taking the front clam off. I kept my car in the garage for 4 years too, towards the end it spent a couple of weeks outside and it turns out the boot was never sealed properly, so I got a boot full of water...
Pedals are weirdly misaligned, you always feel like your legs are slightly to the right of where they should be (US LHD model, I assume the UK model would be a bit to the left). You're really close to the front of the car which is a great feeling, but the front wheels encroach on your leg room.
Positives:
I didn't find the gearbox too bad after the car was broken in. Definitely a lot more 'floppy' but after a while it didn't bother me.
Pedals are waaaaaaaaay better positioned for heel/toe downshifts compared to the GT4.
Gets a lot more attention than even the GT4. People just don't know what it is - whereas Porsches are pretty popular in this neck of the woods.
Incredible steering - I'm really missing this on the GT4. I haven't taken the GT4 on track yet as I'm still breaking it in, but the steering is really special. I'm only noticing it now it's gone
Drivetrain feels robust. I spanked mine pretty hard, and whilst the trim was flimsy, I really didn't feel bad driving this hard.
Between a base Cayman and an Evora...that's a tough one. Between a Cayman S and an Evora, I'd definitely go Cayman.
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