P4N Lotus Posted March 6, 2013 Posted March 6, 2013 Thought I''d give a review of the Evora having had it for 2 weeks now... Ride/Handling:- The handling is incredible, but I haven't pushed it hard yet and the power from it just leaves me to be a bit tentative, and the additional weight underbreaking does get some getting use to, but I have been able to push it a couple of times, but still need more practice in the damp conditions it is a bit twitchy. General use - the car feels like it is screwed into the road. With the Elise being so light it felt like a go-kart that grips the road, but the Evora grip feels very different, I guess this feels more like mechanical grip and it just feels magnetic and solid when driving. Over speed bumps and potholes you would think you are in a normal car, the extra width of it means speed bumps you just pass straight over which is an added bonus. Ride is very smooth and it makes you want to cruise rather than speed around, I guess it makes you a more "mature" driver ha, where as in the Elise you felt more like a kid driving it. Acceleration:- Well the car is lighter than most other sports cars which would be in its category with the V6 or higher engines and for me this is the largest BHP car I have owned, so I am still getting use to it. 1st to 2nd to 3rd feels phenomenal, you can be at 100 without even knowing it as the ride feels so smooth, but I still haven't really pushed the car off the mark yet - if I am honest, I'm not ready for the power yet and keep chickening out with the current road conditions - simply put immense and rapid. I have driven a Gallardo and 997 and feels as quick as those cars, I've also driven a 360 and I'm sure the Evora is much quicker than this, handling is far superior than the 360, I could be wrong but feels much quicker than the Ferrari. Overall its only 280bhp in a car that weight slightly more than a fiesta? but it is more than enough power for me. I often wonder how people in the seriously powerful supercars 300-700 bhp are able to control those cars - I think the answer is - they can't! Generally speaking deceleration feels amazing in the Evora - I hate the word but EPIC lol . Comfort/Cabin - Day to day driving, so smooth, motorway feels like a grand tourer (I guess it is), the Evora got criticised by Clarkson on the build quality being tinny and the dash being unreadable and the satnav being useless. I can't see where he is coming from., compared to a Masserati or Lambo, Bentley, top of the range Merc, maybe it is less refined, but as a sports car its most refined car I have owned, leather interior is stunning, the design of the dash console is very futuristic sitting in the car I feel like I am a pilot of Stealth Bomber, or some space craft, The mix of Leather, Chrome and Alluminum vs the red glowing displays make you feel like you are a fighter pilot ready to go in for the kill, I kinda feel that interior must have been influence by futurist / aviators. The dials and buttons feel fine and refined, I didnt feel that anything was tinny, and compared to an elise or exige its completely different refinement wise - you just dont expect it from a lotus. Satnav I have had no problems with I think its easier to use than Fords if I a honest. Only downside is rear view, but with the reverse camera + sensors it really helps, if you are considering one make sure the Camera is on the car - you will need it! For any exige owners Im sure you have the power of reversing blind down to a T. Head Turner Appeal? Yes - too much, I wasn't ready for the attention, the Elise always had great attention and always was 100% postive found. The Evora seems to be getting mixed attention. Generally because you rarely see Lotus' and rarely see an Evora it gets too many looks, on the road it looks like nothing else, maybe similar to some but generally people wonder what it is, you get a lot of people losing concerntration when they drive by as they weave off course and if you are behind someone you see them doing "the Meerkat" in the mirror or moving to the side to view it in the wing mirror, its quite amusing. You also get the flycatcher mouths. There is mixed opinion, seems to get the positives people wondering what it is, wanting to find out more, looking inside the cabin and at the engine bay (even though its just a cover) and people giving you the thumbs up, then you have the negatives and the hates generally Land Rover owners seem to look down their noses at you with hate in their eyes, Porshe owners pretend not to notice you, and as you pass they take a quick peak, there some people end up giving you a hate look or shouting abuse for no reason so thats the negatives. Another positive when you are on the motorway, you dont even have to go fast in the fast lane and lane hoggers move over, I guess it must look intimidating lol What I've learned and experience so far? The gear box is noisy on idle (chattery) - apparently on the standard evora 2009-2011 the gearbox is off a Toyota Diesel Camry and because of this is it louder than normal and has chattery characteristics and is perfectly normal, on the newer models and the S models they changed the gearbox to reduce the noise apparently. The engine makes these wonderful noises from the air intakes, strange its almost like a turbo noise, not sure if there is a forced air induction on them but you get this really nice "swwwwwooooossh" sound at about 3,000 revs and then you get this boost of energy. Im not really use to the fuel consumption but day to day stuck in traffic then motorway into work and back Im getting about 24mpg out of it. On long Motorway trip I got 34mpg out of it, if Im having fun in it its about 18-20mpg. Not too bad. Tax is £270 for the year (K band) which is reasonable considering the power it gives. Torque on it is amazing you can easily drive around town in 5th or 6th and it has no problems with pick up. I think there might be a design floor on the windscreen wiper? It wont allow you to lift it off the winder cause of the bonnet overlaps it, so not sure if that was a design flaw or not could be wrong. Are you thinking of one? If you are, keep your eyes pealled the reasonable priced ones seem to sell within hours of being listed. I think I saw a red one for sale at £31k within a few hours it was sold and a Silver one at £30k that went in an instance too. But keep your eyes open daily they popup and I say go for it! Its a beautiful car and you only live once and if you get a good opportunity take it while you can. I think the Evora will appeal more to the Elise drivers who want daily use out of a car , and who can't deal with the hardcore nature and cold winter months with cold feet and feeling every ant you run over vibrate through your spine. I had the Elise for daily use for 3 years it was doable but was painful at times and bloody cold. The refinement int he Evora is brilliant for every day and the heater is really warm too. I think it is amazing, stunning, real head turner, very sexy, very futuristic, modern, reasonable priced in comparison to other cars of similar nature, and if you get the opportunity hope others will join me in the Evora camp too ;-) I will get some more photos up soon, hopefully this weekend weather permitting
Numbnutz Posted March 7, 2013 Posted March 7, 2013 Great write up - makes me want to take one out! I agree about the attracts the attention, you don't see many so its nice to see one and check it out when you can.
Alex B Posted March 7, 2013 Posted March 7, 2013 Sounds like an awesome machine. Prior to owning my elise I hadn't really given the evora a great deal of though, main due to the price tag. However the more photos of them I see the more interested I become. If you're going to chatsworth then ill have to have a good look round it if that's ok.
John FISH Curtis Posted March 7, 2013 Posted March 7, 2013 I love the Evora and if funds were there, I would get one over a lot of other sports cars (Porka/Lambo etc). Your a lucky barsteward!!!
russelld Posted March 8, 2013 Posted March 8, 2013 Good write up Paul. Now where did I put that spare £35K !
a7esk Posted March 8, 2013 Posted March 8, 2013 Last week it was Exiges now Evora what are you like buy the lottery ticket tomorrow boys .
mneil Posted March 9, 2013 Posted March 9, 2013 good write up Paul; like me you just love it to bits and couldnt think of owning any other car.............well maybe a Maclaren
DeanB Posted March 9, 2013 Posted March 9, 2013 I hope some of you Evora boys and girls are going to bring them along to Chatsworth. ....
benny1235 Posted March 9, 2013 Posted March 9, 2013 I've had mine 4 weeks and have to say I have owed a fair few sports cars but as Paul says, sticks to the road like glue, attention grabber, amazing handling and good mpg what more could a bloke ask for. Really glad I purchased mine.
mneil Posted March 12, 2013 Posted March 12, 2013 only one problem with mine; the front has not been armoured against stone chips, other parts have but not the front bumper, area hence its got poc marked. i dropped it off this evening at the body shop; front bumper coming off tomorrow and resprayed, booked in friday afternoon at Bodyguard in daventry for Ventureshield coating ( like armourfend) will give feed back as to the quality of the job.
P4N Lotus Posted March 12, 2013 Author Posted March 12, 2013 only one problem with mine; the front has not been armoured against stone chips, other parts have but not the front bumper, area hence its got poc marked. i dropped it off this evening at the body shop; front bumper coming off tomorrow and resprayed, booked in friday afternoon at Bodyguard in daventry for Ventureshield coating ( like armourfend) will give feed back as to the quality of the job. Give an idea on cost involved ? What's involved? Respray + clear vinyl covering? What is the venture sheild coating?
mneil Posted March 13, 2013 Posted March 13, 2013 http://www.bodyguarduk.com/index.html local body shop luckily owned by a neighbour doing the respray to get all the stone chips out £300 and the above link in Daventry for the protective membrane, front end £200 and whole car i think £300.
mneil Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 ok: http://www.bodyguarduk.com/index.html got there at about 4.10 this afternoon and recieved good welcome/customer care. had fornt bumper/skrt + light cluster and front wing and a small bit of door protection for opening. finished about 6.30 ; did a really good job and can recommend them, looks great. £250 the respray was superb having taken off the bumper; not an easy job!
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