pickle

@Snoopy1969 have you managed to work out any lap times yet? I've noticed that you've been following closely on Instagram.

Here, have another

The more I see if the colour of this car on Jack's Instagram, the more I like it. It's absolutely gorgeous to my eyes

At least that means that whatever time they end up with will have some relevance to a car that someone could spec and live with in the real world.

The choice of paint seems to suggest that this car was specced with the ring in mind. I'd be surprised if it had air-conditioning, stereo and standard exhaust. Does the US spec 410 have the same suspension as the normal 410?

I think that the AMG colour is a satin finish, whereas this looks gloss to me. What are the differences with the US spec 410? It's meant to be carrying a bit more weight due to crash regulations isn't it?

@Colin P I know! We should have a competition to rename him. The winner gets to take him home for the weekend. I'll start with 'Bibbsy McBibsface'

@Bibs Andy Betts? I honestly had no idea that you had a real name

Nice PH write up James. You're right about the lotus family thing, my first thought when I saw the article was 'hey, that's one of our boys!'

I've finally got around to sorting my audio upgrade. I was pretty sceptical about how much difference if would make given how noisy the car can be, and I was nervous heading over to collect the car yesterday. Needless to say I shouldn't have been worried. The difference is huge, and to me at least it corrects one simple thing that was really letting the car down. The car now feels much more fitting of its price tag - the components that came out were crap. I used a local installer in Macclesfield as when I stopped by for a quote he knew all about the 400. He'd just finished an install on one a few days earlier. Probably not the cheapest, but I was given confidence in the fact that he already knew about the need for harness change, location of sub and amp etc..... I also benefited from all the research and decisions that went into the other install, something that was important to me as I don't know where to start with audio stuff! I went with Audison Voce speakers and tweeters, Audison Prima sub and Prima 8.9 amp (the Voce sub and amp are bigger than the Prima apparently and won't fit in the factory position). I've only done a short journey so far, but very, very pleased.

I've no experience of the S1 unfortunately, but here's a picture of my daughter in the back of a 400 in case it helps. The passenger seat is slid all the way forward in the photo.

Congratulations! I'm sure that you're going to love the car. After 9 months and 6000 miles I still have that feeling. I can't walk away from it without looking back and I'm constantly trying to find an excuse to drive it somewhere

Porsche ultraviolet. I quite like it. Think it needs dark wheels though

Hard to do, but if you can give the car a fresh start it might be worth it. At least that way if you decide to sell the car you can part on good terms and salvage something from a bad situation.

@Simon on tour Did you manage to get out and drive the car after giving it a wash? It was perfect weather over the weekend (up here at least). Hope you managed to enjoy the car doing what it does best, and can appreciate that a few of the compromises are worth it.

This thread is turning into something that I could read on pistonheads. Comments on the OPs spelling or questioning his lifestyle and background are making it personal, which it shouldn't be. I'm taking the thread at face value and seeing as someone just venting his frustration. If I'm being taken for a ride so be it.

Looks like Howards Lotus are getting a purple 410 in this week. I wonder if it'll be amethyst. Could look absolutely amazing.

But you're still okay for a hug right??? Don't deny me that fella....

Cheers JayEmm, I think that you're right. The way it was written could be taken two ways, and I took it the wrong way ('nearly all new ones....') Fancy a virtual pint and a group hug?

That's really useful. Especially finding out that the IPS is actually shorter geared. It really helps put my drive in Central's demonstrator into context. Thank you. I'm intrigued to know what colour Lotus refused.

Based upon a sample size of one I'd have to disagree with this statement. Eight months and 6000 miles in with my early Evora I haven't had a single fault that has left me wishing that Lotus would buy the car back. Anything that has gone wrong has been dealt with by the dealers and I've received excellent service. I know you've had bad luck with yours, but creating a perception that all early cars are bad is doing Lotus a disservice. I hope that the OP finds a solution that he's happy with. I was a little dubious after his first post late on a Friday. It just seemed a little too antagonistic to ring true. However fair play to him that he's come back on here and presented the facts. I have a lot of respect for that.

Excellent. I'll ask for a 410 with 420bhp in that case.

I wonder whether it might just be a case of comparing a car from early in the 400 life cycle with something much more current. I'm sure that there will have been minor revisions since mine was built. Surely the engine map must be different though, how else would the extra power have been released? Bear in mind that I'm not technologically minded

Interestingly the car I drove had Michelin PSS on so it was a like for like comparison. The pads definitely felt like a harder compound though and a firmer pedal feel. It was most noticeable in stop start traffic so I wouldn't have thought that it was weight related. I was surprised myself as I'd have thought that a change in pad material or set up would have been advertised by Lotus. This was one of the early 410 and a previous press car, so maybe it had a few quirks (e.g. it had all the speakers, including a sub woofer and reversing camera in place but also the blanking plate instead of the head unit). It would be really interesting to hear the thoughts of others, especially @blindsidewho has recently swapped from a 400 to 410. Even at idle the car had a different character. Sounded meaner with possibly a higher rpm, this might just be a difference due to the IPS rather than something 410 specific.

Yep, had mine checked and corrected a while ago. If you get chance have a drive in a 410. I was very sceptical about just how different it could possibly be when compared to the 400. Everything from the brakes to the engine map seem turned up a notch. Would be interesting to see a full list of detail changes for the car. It's much more than different seats and geometry changes.