chris_h Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 So it’s about time I stop driving my new Evora and tell you guys about how amazing it is! First of all I have to thank Aimee at Lotus Silverstone, her patience and determination to get Lotus to build me the exact car I wanted has been brilliant. So as some of you already know, I ordered a new Evora S IPS Sports Racer. Once the car was completed it was then sent over to Lotus motorsport where I had them fit as many of the Evora GT4 race parts whilst keeping the car vaguely road legal. (GT4 front bumper and carbon splitter/front undertray, detachable cannards, vented A panels, barge boards, louvered engine cover, GT4 rear wing, front and rear towing straps and a second set of wheels 18” F&R for when on track). I have then also fitted radium oil catch cans and carbon fibre air scoops. So I picked the car up on Thursday afternoon, it happened that Pastor Maldonado and Charles Pic were at the dealership launching the Exige LF1. Nice to get a picture of the guys with my car. Charles pic said “cool car” and Pastor said “nicer than my Evora!” which I thought was funny. The official lotus photographer was there and took some pictures that he has promised to email over. Interestingly he said that he had taken photos of my car at the factory before it was dispatched, he has said once processed he will email those as well. Friday morning drove straight up to a wedding on the edge of Loch Ard north of Glasgow. The car didn’t miss a beat, and whilst I’m still running the car in, this is one very quick car. The handling and weighted power steering is just magical. If you haven’t driven an Evora you really need to try one. You are so isolated from bumps and rough road yet you have the steering feel like my old an unassisted exige. The new Alpine nav system is brilliant (so much better than the old system which people slate) and the Aircon actually blows really cold air on you!! The seats are really comfy and at the end of the 5 hour journey I could have turned around and driven home! Last review point is the noise, in sport mode it just sounds epic (can't wait for it when I've had the manifold and sports cat done later in the summer!) So the first mod I did myself was to add the HKFever carbon fibre air scoops. I know some of you will think I'm crazy, but I didn't think the gloss carbon look went with the gloss black, so I flatted them back and then sprayed them gloss black (the lotus ones were more expensive and only made from Glass fibre). Here they are before and during the wet sanding. (you can see them fitted on the loch picture 2 above) I attached them using Sugru, what fantastic stuff that I'm sure I'll be using more of. Before people ask, yes I do have a front number plate. I just got lotus to mount 3 magnets on the reverse of the bottom of the front clam and then I put magnets on the number plate so that I can remove it for trackdays easily (and take nicer pictures!) The car will be at Chatsworth for people to have a look around and I'm sure I'll bore you all with many better photo's over the coming months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
un1eash Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Wow, that is all I have to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanB Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Stunning. An object lesson in how to spec a new car. Well done mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveb99 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Stunning - congrats. Looking forward to seeing it at Chatsworth.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterField Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Nice write up and pics Chris, glad to hear you're really pleased with it (although I can't see how you could possibly be disappointed!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Excellent, it looks fab with the different colour roof. See you all soon for more dirty allotment chat! E&R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Superb looking car and very well spec.ed (with the possible exception of the IPS ). Any particular reason for an IPS over a manual, given that the latest manual shift is now vastly improved? P.S. Have just ordered these Sector 111 bits for the Elise (to help perfect those manual heel and toe shifts).... ...and if they're good, I'll be having another set for the Exige!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4N Lotus Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Nice write up, people really don't believe how good the Evora ride and handling is , it is really understated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_h Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 I really like the ips. Whilst it isn't the fastest double clutch affair, it is really pretty good. It's as fast or faster than a manual change, smooth and pretty sensible change points when in auto, then when in manual mode will hit rev limiter and not change and only change down a gear at stall point. To be honest when driving really fast I prefer to keep both hands on the steering wheel (for example I hated changing from 4th to 5th down Craner curves at donington with a manual car, as I was taking a hand off the steering wheel just when I need to be correcting the slide - If I stayed in 4th I hit the rev limiter). When in sport mode braking hard the auto blips on downshift are awesome and way better heal and toe that I ever managed in he the exige. I've driven 2 manual evora's, one on the road and one on track. I really didn't like the shift and on track you had to be really slow with it otherwise it baulked and was hard to get right. Even the lotus factory driver missed 2 shifts on the 2 hot laps he did with me. I'm the playstation generation though, so I've never got this manual is "more pure" theory, buttons all the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@ndy Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Lovely looking car..... Great spec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil S1 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Lovely, look forward to seeing it at Chatsworth and hearing it on song on a trackday sometime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 oh i like that, difficult to keep clean though, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a7esk Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stumason10 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 niiiiice....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve J Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Glad you're pleased with it. It really does ride very well and brakes are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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