Evora - what’s what?
Discussion
I’ve had a 996 Turbo for about 6 years. It’s been great, but am keen to change & have the urge for a Lotus. When restrictions are eased, I hope to get to Bell & Colvill to take a look at options. For now, looking at Evoras, can anyone just confirm the models (past & present). From what I know, was it a normally aspirated v6, followed by v6s (supercharged), then v6 400 , followed by models out of my price range (upto £45/50k) - 410 & 430?
Also, anyone come from a 996 to Evora? Cheers
Also, anyone come from a 996 to Evora? Cheers
Thanks for that. Bert, can I ask how you find the Evora after the GT3 - aware you don’t have an Evora, but have driven them. I see that B&C have a blue 410 in the same price bracket as the 400’s they have. Thought there would be a definite difference in £’s. Also, have you considered an Exige? I love the look of them. I drove an Exige v6s about 18 months back. Really liked it, but it wasn’t the best example & had a few issues, so didn’t pursue it as a purchase. I think an Evora would suit better for what I use the car for.
AndyGT430 said:
Hi there. I have been lucky enough to own multiple Lotus's, Elise, Exige and currently driving a GT430 Sport. If you want complete lunacy, no room for the kids, dog or luggage and are as supple and bendy as a baby Kangaroo go for an Exige S. Mine also had the IPS gearbox, some scorn this and you get the naysayers, its not as good as a DSG or PDK blah blah, no its not, but for me it was way more fun than a manual and on track my lap times were faster! Ive had a N/A Evora manual, absolutely amazing, fast comfy and roomy. Also had a 3.5s Sport racer, even faster and much better finished. I havent driven a 410 but speaking to folks there isn't a world of difference to the 430. Whichever you go for I think you would be happy, they may not be the fastest or best finished but you cant beat them for the overall driving experience (in my opinion.) And you dont see one very often either! I live near Leeds but deal with Jamie at B&C, great dealership and he is a top bloke. If you live anywhere near me you are more than welcome to come and take mine for a spin - Happy shopping!
Thanks for your response, Andy & very generous offer to have a go in yours. If I were closer, I’d be outside now - if it weren’t for restrictions. I’m in Kent, just under an hour from B&C. It must say something (positive) about them, if you use them, with the distance between you. Cheers CTE said:
Hopefully I can add some information. To answer the original question;
Original car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
Wow, that answers it all. Thanks very much for taking the time to post that. CheersOriginal car was N/A 3.5 V6 about 276hp. They came with 2 gearbox ratios, close and normal. Seems the close ration cars feel quite sprightly to drive and they can economically be upgraded to around 300hp which gets them closer to the supercharged cars performance given they are a bit lighter.
Second was 3.5 Supercharged S with around 350hp...much the same interior.
Third was SR which was essentially the S but with nearly 200 minor/noticeable improvements and is one of the pick of the bunch models. The best Recaro seats for instance.
Fourth was the 400 with charge cooled supercharger and power increasing to 400hp and a bit more torque. Spring and dampers stiffened a bit along with redesigned interior...debateable as to whether it was really an improvement over the SR. Definitely a faster car...and I preferred the styling.
The fifth was a limited run of the 430 Cup, which was quite stripped out with a power increase and many weight saving items along with adjustable Ohlin's dampers and is a car very much aimed at the track, but as with any Lotus is also very happily at ease on the road. Not driven one.
There have a been a few mix and match 410`s initially and the U.S. versions seem to have the 400 front with the newer 410 Sport rear...so in the UK sixth is the GT410 Sport which has completely redesigned front and rear ends with improved aero along with several carbon bits to save weight and a titanium rear exhaust section (mostly taken from the 430 Cup). The general build quality of the car is also noticeably better than the 400. For instance both Use similar Sparco seats of the non bucket type, but in the 400 it turns out they were Chinese made and not that good a quality (no s&&t Sherlock!) and you felt like you sat a bit high in the car...although you quickly get used to it. The similar seats in the 410 are excellent.
This car has stiffer spring and damper rates again over the 400 and is definitely fast road/track set up and loses the all round polished comfort of the earlier iterations, but is more Exige like in its dynamics which is fantastic if a bit less comfortable.
Then the last iteration is the GT410 and it may be the best all round model...it foregoes some of the weight saving items and returns to a similar spring and damper set up to the original cars which were so highly praised when first launched. As a result of losing the carbon etc it is cheaper.
I don`t think there is a bad Evora. The positives are fantastic handling/balance and steering, amongst the best in the world, and whilst they will never win any drag races, they more than make up for it in the uncanny ability to maintain speed through bends in all kinds of conditions. I`ve been on road trips in my original S in terrible conditions where all sorts of exotic machinery had been spinning off left right and centre (911`s being key among them) and the Evora was barely flustered. For a drivers car with a great combination of involvement and reward and all round daily usability they are hard to beat...at least not without spending considerably more money, and even then your only getting a few % better.
The downsides are the earlier cars build quality was not so good along with gear linkage issues and incorrectly set up clutches leading to premature failure...but I`d imagine many of these issues are sorted now. The SR was a stepped improvement and at the price level absolutely the pick.
The 400 was an improvement again, but the 410`s are a real step up (currently run a GT410 Sport) although essentially the same car. I ran a 400 for 2 years and it was an excellent car, and the main criticism was the Sparco seats which can easily be rectified.
Again the 410`s are the other pick...but obviously more money.
I`ve limited experience with 911`s to make much of a comparison with although I am constantly being told I should try a GT3, but your comments are interesting. My friend had a lovely 997 GTS which I had a drive of and whilst it felt like it was made from granite, as every Porsche does, it just did not gel with me, feeling a little narrow and very rear end heavy, but I`m sure with a few miles you get used to this and maybe you start to use this imbalance. Porsche interiors are on another level, but the later Evora's especially are fine.
Also with an Evora, it will take a few miles before you find out just how good they really are...
Bringing this up to date. I visited Bell & Colvill earlier this week & drove an Exige 350 & Evora 400 IPS. Due to social distancing, Jamie (good bloke) couldn’t accompany me, so went out on my own. Went in the Exige first, which was as I’d hoped. I drove a V6s a couple of years back, so knew what to expect & wasn’t disappointed - very intense, quick, responsive & alive. Then drove the Evora, which felt so refined after the Exige. Evora was very easy to drive & confidence inspiring immediately. Didn’t feel as alive or quick, but was very fluid & the gearbox was great - I would personally want a manual, but the changes were very quick & criticisms of the changes & ratios must come from those that haven’t tried it.
I drove home in my 996 Turbo, which felt a bit ‘dead’ after the Lotus drives, which I had expected. The 996 would leave the Evora convincingly on a straight road, but throw in a few bends & twisty sections & the Lotus would leave the 996 & those drives are the ones that are the most enjoyable.
I honestly preferred my time in the Exige though the Evora would suit my requirements better.
I’ve been left trying to convince myself that I can make the Exige work for me.
Jamie at Bell & Colvill was very helpful, straightforward to talk to & welcoming.
I’m hoping I’ll be heading back there at some point when I’ve decided what to do.
I drove home in my 996 Turbo, which felt a bit ‘dead’ after the Lotus drives, which I had expected. The 996 would leave the Evora convincingly on a straight road, but throw in a few bends & twisty sections & the Lotus would leave the 996 & those drives are the ones that are the most enjoyable.
I honestly preferred my time in the Exige though the Evora would suit my requirements better.
I’ve been left trying to convince myself that I can make the Exige work for me.
Jamie at Bell & Colvill was very helpful, straightforward to talk to & welcoming.
I’m hoping I’ll be heading back there at some point when I’ve decided what to do.
It was dry when I drove the Evora & Exige & probably just half an hour or so in each, back to back. The Evora had a fantastic ride, felt refined & can imagine it would inspire confidence whatever the weather. The Exige felt more alive, noisier & focused. It was comfortable, but would emphasise bumps & road surface changes, that the Evora would just dial out. Both have a different level of feel to the 996.
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