Evora - first 200 models

[Twit]

I had a letter from Lotus this morning trying to sell me one of the first 200 Evora's in launch spec with the plaque etc. I thought they had all been sold? Apperently not it seems... Did anyone else get one?

The cost 59,410.00... Looking the spec, with the exception of the reversing camera I would say all the options on it are essentials for the car, so in 2+2 spec I would say that is the base price in reality. Also, if you want metallic paint or anything other than the base wheels then add about 3 grand. 62K... Big ouch!!!

[Twit]

I'm a bit gutted, after being very sceptical the car was growing on me a bit, I still think its all a bit of mess behind the doors but the reviews have been OK.

I have got the full price spec and you simply can't think of buying the car without tec pack - 2,495.00 the premium pack - 2495.00 and the sports pack - 950.00. The car would be unsellable without those. So that is 49k to start, plus 6k for essential options and then another 2-3k for paint and wheels.

I think the base 49k would have alright (that is only relative to the 59k launch car) if it included all the 'packs', still not good value but better. I'm not actually sure it is possible to have a car at 49k, I think you have to have options as things like the leather interior (which is 'standard') are actually part of the premium pack, from what I can see.

Whether its a good car, brilliant car or rubbish car, 60k is too much - way too much! Look what you can get a year old...!?

Maybe thats why the launch 200 cars seem to be available still...

Edited by Twit on Saturday 16th May 21:56

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dom180 said:

I wouldn't say all the options are essential really - it seems to have a fair bit of kit as standard - I'd be quite happy with just forged alloys, rear seats, sports pack and metallic. I like the close ratio gear-box option. ( - They should have done that as an option on the 111R as they could supply but didn't market it.)

Tech pack is just a stereo system upgrade/bluetooth/cruise control and tyre pressure monitor and the Premium pack is just lots of leather (Recaros in a lessor leather are standard). Porsche charge more for similar options.

Re commments on discounts, Lotus/dealers may also discount - from a pricing perspective Lotus undercharged for the Elise given the long waiting lists initially.

Edited by dom180 on Sunday 17th May 10:57

I think that understates the options. Without the tech pack you don't get things like a ipod link or more importantly the phone adaption. People who are going to buy this car (if anyone does!) will need the phone options etc, I could'nt not have it in a new car! The premium pack I can see an argument, but everyone will want the door panels to match the seats etc in terms of leather, without that it doesnt!! Also, a base spec car will be worth nothing in 3 years, you will have to spec up if you want to get rid of it at some point.

I do see that Lotus are trying to follow the Porsche model of low base price and make money on options. They won't get away with it, Porsche do because of the heritage of the product; Lotus are miles away on that front! If I did even think about it I would want everything I want at under 50K or I would not even consider it. In reality I won't bother, when the time comes it'll be off to Porsche or Aston... That is a real pity as I love Lotus but they have messed this one up big time with stupid pricing!

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dom180 said:

The proof will be in the pudding I'm sure, not in some ipod connector! - If it drives brilliantly and reports so far are pretty encouraging, then I'm sure it will be a success. You might need an ipod connector to enjoy your car, but I certainly don't.

Without getting into a big discussion about this what I need or don't need is irrelevant. The car driving brilliantly alone will not sell this car - all cars at that price need to drive well. Things like phone adaption, interior toys, stereo quality are where this car is going to have to shine at its base price.

Lotus are selling to a completely different market with this car, the elise, exige and europa can get away with a lot because they are cheap and drive well; people put up with all the compromises because of the price and experience. There is a vast different between the 30-40K market and the 60K market; all the toys are important and for the broader market stuff like toys actually sell cars!

[Twit]

You can say the colour etc you want but the first 200 are fully spec'd in terms of packs etc. Basically they are prespec'd cars except fot colour and trim etc, from what I can see.

2 main problems - car looks shocking and is just too expensive!

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Mikeyboy said:

originally thought the car was way too expensive when the gave an indicative price. Then the reviews came in and I thought, yeah then maybe its about the right price and then I read the OP. if its rue that most of the spec options are pretty essential then this car is far far too expensive, especially when you consider it can get you another 2+2 seater which gets pretty consistently good reviews. The GT-R

I agree with you and as the OP, I do think the different packs will be essential making it just too much.

Ages ago I posted on here wondering what the market was, I still don't know. At that price if you want a fast four seater why would you buy the evora, you'd go with the GTR, an M3/5 any number of AMGs. Christ you can get a reasonable Massa GT for close to new Evora money and I'd take that any day.

The evora has to be cheaper. I really really hope that the US 'gets' the Evora and buys the thing or Lotus is in deep st!

[Twit]

I think the R8 is quite dramatic and having spent a fair bit of time in one, its bloody good to drive! The problem with the Evora is that it is kind of bland, a bit anodyne and the rear haunches actually couldnt be any worse, its a hunchback of a car.

Funnily enough I followed a M100 Elan down the road yesterday and the evora looks like an evolution of that design more than anything. Looking at the evora square on from the front it is ok, boring but ok. From the rear, square on, I quite like it - thats its best view. From the side is an utter horror, to long and from the rear of the doors backwards just a disaster!

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dom180 said:

And apparantly they're only looking to sell 200/year in the UK - sounds like job done to me.

200!! Did that come from Lotus?? If so that is a total downgrade, at the launch they were talking of selling at least 2000 a year! 200 is lunacy, unless the plan is to abandon the UK and European markets and hit the US' which wouldnt be a bad idea. The car looks much more US anyway.

200... You know where we heard that before... Ah yes, the Europa, that was the figure Lotus talked about because it was seen as a short term, non-core car! I have one and love it, but that is not the point.

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dom180 said:

Well there were more than a few US journos at the launch so go figure! I'm sure they'll sell a lot in EMEA too.

Well I hope so!!! Mike Kimberley is on record as saying there will be no espirit replacement, which is the car we really all want, without this one being a success! Surely they can't cock that one up as well!!!?

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dom180 said:

No more so (imho) than people being negative and saying Lotus have screwed up when all evidence so far, suggests otherwise.

That isnt what people are doing at all! In my opinion I think the cars looks are iffy but I'm sure it drives as well as people say it does.

What I am discussing is the price, again in my view properly spec'd its too expensive regardless of how good or bad it is. For 50-60K instead of some untried toyota V6, you get some proper exotica; in that company it starts to look pretty bad value. Add in fairly unsure residuals allied to the Lotus announced intention to put out a higher (proper) powered version out, then again it doesnt stack up. For someone paying 60k of their own cash on a car, that is the kind of issues that really do matter.

I want it to succeed, not because I like the style of the car but because if it doesnt succeed then Lotus will probably cease to exist. I think 10k cheaper it would be a sure fire hit because its in a price band that it probably could dominate. In its actual band it looks very susceptable to the opposition both new and used.

[Twit]

OK... Actually some of the criticisms of what I wrote are valid, if you compare only new cars then there are fewer alternatives. What I was getting at is that if you have 60K to spend on a car new or used then there are some pretty attractive alternatives - the GTR is one new, or you have a V8 vantage, 996 gt3; you'd probably get an RS definetly a turbo, even the xkr, they are just off the top of my head.

In my view (my view) I don't like the styling, I'm not alone on that, even some of the reviews say its fussy. I have no doubt the thing drives awesomely well- the reviews are all great, that isnt a fluke, and when we all get to drive it we will all see.

There is some view on here which is that if people can afford 60k for a car you can afford to piss loads of it away in ownership costs. That isnt the case, I will be spending about that ona new car this year - and its my money. I want to make sure as much of that is preserved in ownership, that is not uncommon and it will come into many buyer thoughts. Running costs are pretty irrelevant to me as I don't really pay other than servicing. When you add in retention type issues and, also, the extra toys you can have, then you may wish to go with the proven alternatives rather than the un-proven one.

Bottom line is that if the car had been 45k fully spec'd it would have been a nailed on success regardless of looks etc. By pitching it into the 60k market, I think Lotus have made life difficult for themselves, I really hope it succeeds and they sell thousand of the things as it will mean when a proper full powered one arrives it will be fully supported, but there is a risk that it may not sell enough - no one knows, we will have to wait and see.

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RobM77 said:

Maybe I've been turning a blind eye, but I haven't noticed much Lotus criticism on here of late? Yes, the Evora's pig ugly, but I think most of us agree on that. I haven't heard any specific criticism of Lotus - they build the best driver's cars in the world, and I think almost everyone has that opinion don't they?..

Spot on, all I, and others, have ever said is the car is ugly and seems a bit expensive. I bet its great to drive and I'm looking forward to driving it! You never know even the looks will be ok in real life!

Everyone wants Lotus to go from strength to strength and I really hope this car does it for them!