Leaderboard

Many folks my never have gotten a chance to grab a copy of these brochures before they were taken down. I grabbed them in December 2018. Lotus Evora GT430 ENG copy.pdf Lotus Evora GT430 Sport ENG copy.pdf Evora GT410 Sport Brochure copy.pdf

bit of background to the production process, it's penance really

Atrocious driving conditions on the Sunday driving up to Glasgow to visit relatives. Good job I didn't use the Esprit with no demister or heater! However, gorgeous sunny day on the Monday driving from Glasgow to Duns. Took the A697, - drivers dream! Long straights, snaky bends and quiet open roads. Eclat had a ball . When I arrived at the museum, they lifted the barrier and let me park in front of the museum for some photos. Throughout our visit people were taking photos of the Eclat with the museum in the background. The museum is brilliant with tons of information on EVERYTHING! By the time we left, I had info overload. So need to make another trip some time for a second helping. The good news, Once you pay your entry fee, it is valid for 12 months so you lucky people in Scotland could go every day if you wanted to! On driving in Scotland, got lots of thumbs ups from various white van men, a motorcyclist pulled up alongside and lifted his visor up to get a better look then gave me another thumbs up. A couple of lads in a hot hatch pulled up alongside me on the motorway, (M8 and it was fairly quiet) wound down the window and the passenger started taking what looked like a video with a big grin on his face. (my grin matched his though!). Would of liked a copy of the video. Over the three days we covered over 600 miles and the Eclat never missed a beat. Very happy.

Well no going back now! I started cutting into the clam and used a diamond dust hole cutter to make the necessary holes to remove the protrusion of the OEM mounting points. Have to say in reality a very easy job when taking care and really isn't as daunting as it is to do in real life. I then sought to test fit the internal scoops and make the necessary markings for the new mounting points which would be secured via riv nuts. The keen eyed amongst you will notice the new satin vynl cut and applied to the side sill. You'll also see the internal scoops seem to actually be also carbon composite vs grp which is what I originally expected. On another positive the OEM intake scoop which is basically a 90 degree bend that comes of the OEM side scoops and directs air to the intake in the engine bay can be easily retro fitted to the internals on the new scoops. At this moment I've fitted the internals using the OEM bolts but have already ordered some nice black anodised items from Pro Bolt (currently in the post). With the internal scoops fitted I've gone on to test fit the outer carbon shells. To fit the outer shells I need to panel bond them to the internal scoops then fix them using two bolts to the side sills. Which is a job I hope to do over the weekend as I want to take my time especially as the panel bonding makes things semi permanent! I've decided to try self tapping bolts (again from Pro Bolt) as from what I've seen the factory uses screws from B&Q, so I'll hold on additional riv nuts, and see if I can make it a nice fitment using anodised self tapping Allen bolts. Should work fine and makes the install easier. Hope to complete Saturday night so assuming weathers good get the car out for a wash Sunday and little test drive. Up to now the wait has been worth it!

Many thanks Julian, believe it or not I wrote the words for those brochures and I didn't even have a digital copy myself!

Yes I did see this, looks good in the red. I've bought a black riviera last month to be honest 🎉.

Just got mine- back in Lotus ownership after a number of years out. Now all I need is some weather to get out. Photos a big rubbish I was skirting the rain.

Sorry to make the observation, but why has the engine builder elected not to install the cylinder heads when sealing the liners? That is not an appropriate way to clamp the liners in place.....

Being a part of the Lotus community in the US. Being able to buy the parts that we desire isn't always easy. Luckily, My years of working with Öhlins in the US have made acquiring the right suspension a direct, more affordable route. As the official importer of Evora Öhlins shocks I have them in stock in the US for direct shipment. These are the identical spec units that came on the 430GT. The performance and fitment are proven. It is an amazing improvement in handling and acceleration. All kits come with updated shock mounting brackets and hardware.

Yep, my new plate. Nearly the end of a very long journey!

You are absolutely right !!! My mechanic is making a fuss about it because he is used to working in more modern cars and the Lotus V8 is giving him a hard time... But he is a great mechanic with lots of knowledge, so we just joke about it... More photos :

Nice article remembering Jimmy in Autocar.

I watched that too, the Jean Todt car is stunning. It won car of the day at the Lotus 70th last year!

Lotus uses a Mocal Pump 17-311, a filter and Toyo 15710-31021 oil heat exchanger mounted on a Local RFH2EB remote filter head, plus other bits and pieces.

So I've got a Norfolk Mustard one and a Solar Yellow one, because that's what I wanted.. Don't recall anyone ever describing me as being bright or sunny though......☀️

Welcome! You've come to the right place for advice. Bibs' long term tests are worth a read if you've not found them yet and cover all the variants you're looking at https://www.thelotusforums.com/category/latest-news/long-term-tests/ There's some buyers guide info in the "Evora market watch" thread for example here. And a good set of info and links here. And an old 2015 Pistonheads buyers guide here which obviously only covers the earlier models. Key decisions include 2+0 or 2+2 seating, S versus NA, manual or auto and optional packs. I'm with you on the S1 shape. You'll find several on here who've owned both S1 and later variants, and people who swear by one or the other. If you go for an S1 you'll find references to MY12 in the reviews, when several key changes were introduced including fixes to some of the earlier common issues and improvements to build quality. There are decent pre MY12 S1s too that were either well-built to start with or have been sorted by previous owners, such as upgrading gear linkages (a common gripe). There are a few well-documented things to check, covered in the links above, such as water leakage in the boot and foot well, warped airbag covers, cracked A-pillar covers, seat wear, peeling headlights. And of course the dreaded clutch question. I've had my S1 S since 2011 and still don't see anything else I'd swap for it yet. It's comfortable on long journeys, practical (2 kids or a suitcase or a road bike or a lot of cases of wine on the back seat) and an absolute hoot when pressing on. I moved from a supercharged Elise and first time out on track at Goodwood in the Evora - being careful in my shiny new grown up car - I was comfortably bettering my lap times. In the hands of a driving god it might be a different story. For me the Evora is very rewarding to drive briskly and gives brilliant feedback. On normal roads there's not a significant difference performance-wise between S and NA S1s. The auto (IPS) is also pretty good, if you find one, and avoids the gear linkage and clutch concerns. VED is different on the S and NA and IPS, if that's something that matters. Mine has been very reliable, only broke down once when the starter motor jammed, which Lotus replaced FOC despite being out of warranty. Running costs have been fine, a bit more than the Elise but not supercar territory. The original spec Pirelli tyres used to be pricey and wear quickly but newer options are longer lasting and less eye-watering. Another plus is you get great reactions from other people, with other drivers letting you out of side roads and people coming up to you in car parks to talk about the car, as well as the "nice car mister" comments from kids. I was flagged down by two families while driving on the Isle of Man a few weeks ago, as they had never seen an Evora in real life before and wanted their pictures taken with it. And then there's the friendly owners community, always ready to help out and with plenty of interesting events to join. Once you've worked out what you're looking for, contact a few of the larger dealers such as Silverstone and B&C as well as your local one and tell them what you're after. There's often a waiting list for used Evoras and so cars will be offered out to people on the list before being advertised. You may have to wait for the right car but it'll be worth it. Good luck with the search.

Just sold and heading from Perth UK to Perth Western Australia...

Last night, I pulled into Tebay Services on the M6 southbound and noticed across the other side of the relatively deserted car park, a Land Rover Freelander with a trailer carrying another car. "So what - nothing out of the ordinary there!" I hear you all say. Well, upon looking a bit closer I noticed that there were 2 large Snap-On tool chests sitting next to it, along with a collection of various automotive bits and pieces, and that the front of the Freelander was up on axle stands. As I walked past on my way to the facilities, the guy working on it slithered underneath, to re-emerge a few seconds later dragging a gearbox with him, . Now, in my time, I've changed the odd bulb, fanbelt, wheel, or even a thermostat mid-journey but I think this guy was in a whole different league. Anybody else done a major repair at the roadside? Apologies for the poor quality pics - I didn't think he'd appreciate being snapped close-up so these were taken from a 'safe' distance away.

Both the block and cylinder heads are made aluminium alloy LM25TF (fully heat treated LM25) https://www.gutter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/LM25-ALUMINIUM-CASTING-ALLOY1.pdf A lot of the pitting is coming from cases where either incorrect coolant is used or that the coolant has not been replaced at the correct intervals.

They always have to find a angle. It's not a bad article. It just wouldn't get someone to go and buy one. Which is a shame. Getting closer. After a couple of tries I finally got one without scratches. If only I had the front bumper! I'm sure it will be just a few more months😜🤣

The front splitter to match the wing is a work of art!

Hold on you actually got that plate officially?

Love car not sure above loud red interior? Although it’s growing on me.

Needs a JCB sticker on each front wing. Lovely motor, congrats.

It's LM25TF, an alloy commonly used for blocks and heads (and road wheels).

Quite agree - its essentially money down the drain so for me it always has to be value for money, with only a hint of car snobbery thrown in(!). When there's a Lotus sat on the drive for the weekends, then naturally I don't to worry too much about handling finesse. The Lexus IS300h I currently drive has been flawless, is supremely comfortable and quiet and actually has a well balanced chassis for some enjoyable driving if needed. Its not a fast car though, the gearbox sees to that! There are huge numbers of deals available, its quite a minefield. My recommendation is for no more than 3 months deposit (as you don't get it back) and no more than a 3 year lease. Having maintenance included is really dependent on mileage. I did a two year lease a few years back on 10k a year. The cars service interval (it was a Golf) was 20k miles and in the end I only changed the front tyres once, toward the end of the lease. I did pay for maintenance at something like £30 a month, so over that time I paid £690 in monthly costs and because of the way the deposit works £90 as part of my deposit. When I run the numbers against the various deals they all work out within a few £ of each other, so it makes so sense to put a large amount down just to reduce the monthly payments. The key is not to be too fussy on the ultimate spec, any options you add you basically pay for the option in full over the course of the lease, so a sound standard spec is a must IMO (this includes colour) When it comes to being competitively priced on lease deals, Porsche are not, so you're going to be paying for it. Mercedes (as do BMW and Audi) however put some serious backing behind their deals so pound for pound you will get more car for you money in the Merc than the Porsche. Naturally you won't get the type change you are after!

And a perfect synopsis of the GT430 those words are 🙂 Just reading the specs, I notice that the IPS vs manual gearbox max speed is 174mph vs 190mph respectively; that is a huge difference!

Yes, very lucky indeed! I know the roads pretty well (and the ones that link between them and out to the coast and over to Cumbria). There are some really good roads out the back of Duns also. The A68 is the best of the two but is a lot twistier than the 697, you need to be on it early else you can easily get caught up behind a train of traffic and get stuck. The 697 much more open and more passing places, just mind the cameras on both...

Hi Jon, Thanks for pointing it out. Yes a great article about a great man. R.I.P. Jimmy.

You need some serious leverage on the alternator to get the tension. Ideally a two man job so you have both hands free to tighten the nuts and bolts when in the correct position. Pete

I dn't know the car, but it is one of the very ealy S models. They weren't released until Nov 2010 and very few were sold then. What's a VIP model? If looking to buy check the recall and service history. Also check whether the later 2012 gear cables have been fitted.

Moving to a cup430, otherwise this exige would never be sold. Just love the car. Talking to ppl about mine makes me actually debate sticking as I’m so happy with it but then I remember the upgrade!

Red always usually ends up the colour of choice for me👍

Holy mother , that's some reply there TomE, thanks so much for the welcome and the bible of advice....amazing support thanks so much. The maserati was a nightmare when it came to faults and maintemenace so I'm hoping a lotus may well be a little less troublesome. Yet I totally understand the hand built niggles all of these exotics suffer. Having owned italian for the last 15 years i think I'm prepped 🤦‍♂️. The advice is appreciated and will be duly taken on board. Thankyou to all for taking the time to fire some advice and take the time to give me some pointers. Legends all of you .

With that reg, it should’ve been under a Vulcan’s wing.

At Bruntigthorpe today and spotted this parked up under a Nimrod's wing!

Wow thanks sorry I missed these...it was a big one.... Mrs B threw a surprise trip to Vegas...

Hmmm is it for driving though? For me, my everyday car was a Proceed GT Which was bloody awesome I have to say. Something a bit different to all those Golf and other semi hot hatches. It was quick, had everything on it. Then just last week I realised something. I was driving my Lotus less, because it was "Quick Enough" and exciting enough to scratch at least a little of my performance itch).. But I have to say I got a bit tired of the ultra low alloys, sports suspension and superquick gearchange. I still loved the car but I realised for an everyday car I wanted something comfortable, easy to drive and, that would eat up the miles and have all the equipment on it I wanted. I do a fair amount of miles and must admit 33mpg was getting a bit tiring on the wallet! So, I can have anything on fleet, Audi, BMW, Merc, Ford, Toyota, etc etc (Only cars we don't really buy on fleet is Vauxhall and some of the smaller brands (Mitsi etc). I drove all the prestige cars and came back having test driven everything.....this was by far the "Nicest" car I drove. Not quick, not Sporty and not Badge orientated, but it had everything........and I mean everything on it (It's the 4 spec), the gearchange was sweet (auto) it does 55mpg and its ride and handling was lovely on Motorways or back roads. AND it's the new Mild Hybrid so the Co2 was 118g/km saving me loads on my company car tax. If I want something exciting I can drive my Lotus. (By the way, my second choice was a Peugeot 3008 2.0 GT Diesel Auto). I know you say money is not that important Brent but not sure why you would want to pay twice as much for something with a German Badge. (BTW my daughter preferred the Peugeot to the Q3 and X3 and it was half the price).

This S1 is probably known by some on here. It was Imported to Australia 6 years ago. Great colour and classic interior. Car was entered in the Motorclassica Concourse, and yes the Stamp is of this car

Aye, but you tell the kids today and they won't believe you.

If you had waited half an hour you would have found someone wandering around the car park wondering where his gearbox had gone. Beats pinching catalytic converters.

I must visit this place with a camera at some point!

It's been a while guys! I did a trackday at Abbeville, will post some info on that later as I'm trying to figure out a way to host extra pictures as I can't upload any more here it seems? If anyone has a decent image hoster for forums, please share the wealth! Mo Powa Baby! I got some updates on the power increase. I've been talking a lot with several engine experts and Lotus tuners and I think I'm pretty sure on what path I'm going to follow. I think I'm sticking to the Elise platform for now as I love the handling more than an Exige and the running cost is also very enjoyable. An Exige is fast, but put Exige numbers in a little Elise and it's a ballistic missile, so here is where we stand: I'm aiming for the 350-370hp mark and it IS doable (on stock engine nonetheless!), however fellow cup owners, don't get too excited yet, it is and will be very expensive to get there. For a 350-370hp build several things will happen: New ECU Adapter Loom O2 Wideband controller & sensor Reinforced engine with steel rods and custom pistons New bearing and gaskets Drill and hone cylinders Oil pump modifications CNC Head/Camshafts including 4-in-1 header and exhaust Updated intercooler setting .... Quite a list. We're still discussing the details but I'm about to pull the trigger soon on which way I'm going. I might be willing to pay extra for all the above so I can have an 'overbuilt' engine which should be able to handle even more power. I like headroom specially on a car that is being driven hard on track. Should give me a bit more confidence in the pistons not going airborne thru the engine bay on a trackday. Some other things that will happen aswel: Aim MXG dash Clutch upgrade LSD install (still can't believe Lotus doesn't fit this stock) Extra gearbox cooling Traction control system 12-step Big brake kit Suspension Tomorrow I'm meeting up with the guy who's going to trim the dashboard so will be able to post a cool update on that aswel soon. For the suspension, Jubu was really pushing hard on the KW Competition 3 dampers. They said it is a superior system compared to Nitron 3-way. Any feedback or experiences here? Price very similar but I only see people fitting Ohlin or Nitron?

Salut Nicolas voilà ... en plus un autre que j'ai aussi chez moi ... / ... plus another one I have at home

Why the fook would I want DFS arm chairs in a lightweight, driver focused, weapon? I was talking about upgrades to the car, not downgrades!

Ars Technica review of Evora GT https://apple.news/AIdVEOVmeSFqZ-aV690QOMQ

They are here!

Here are a few more photos:

I recently contested, and won, an appeal for a box junction in Hammersmith which the council (or someone) had coned off one lane of the exit of the box, something which could not be seen from before entering it. The verdict from the appeals people was very strongly worded against the council, there is a specific clause in the rules which states temporary changes to the road layout invalidate any enforcement. They must have "caught" hundreds of drivers at the time, probably 90% of them paid up despite a blatant infringement of the rules on the part of the council.