New member

[Phaeton91]

Hello all.
 

I’m new to the forum and never owned a Lotus before.  I’m reaching out for a bit of advice as I have been watching the Evora market closely over the past year or so.  I’m fairly sure that this will be my next car, even though I have an early place deposit on an Emira although I don’t want a FE version.
 

really though, my issue with the Emira is quite simply that I have 2 kids, 10 and 12 years old and want them both to share the joy of the car with me.  

So This leads me to my questions, directed towards those of you who have kids around that age.  Is it a fanciful idea that I can get a 12 year old boy in the back for any reasonable period of time?. Is it a realistic ownership proposition?  I’m 5’9 and sit close to the wheel so not a rear footwell hogger in that regard.  I also have a daily driver as well as another family car so this will be for fun only and the annual NC500/European trip where I travel alone or with 1up.

I welcome your thoughts and any practical advice.  The model I’m yearning after by the way is the 400, manual 2+2.  

if I may also throw in another question.  I don’t have a garage so will be on the driveway - is that seen to be a bad idea?

Thanks in advance.

ps: hope I’m not taking liberties asking advice before contributing to the forum. Regrettably I have nothing to contribute but have given my fair share of (hopefully) helpful contribution on other forums - maybe that counts for something in the world of car-ma!

[DarrylV8]

Hi Cet,

welcome to TLF although our previous Evora was a +2 and regularly took our eldest grandson out, I think you would be better going to a dealer who has a 400 +2 with your children and see if they are ok with the seating 

as for leaving the 400 outside all year you may wish to use a good quality outdoor cover if only to protect from UV and bird droppings 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

I’m of similar stature to you. My (well above average height) boys were OK in the back for short/medium journeys until their early teens, so a 400 might just be OK for you until your Emira arrives. It’s headroom that’s the problem. As above, take them to a dealer to check.

[Phaeton91]

Thanks both for replying.  Yes, getting them to the dealer is definitely on the agenda, but I suspect that with the excitement of a prospective purchase they’d be happy to contort themselves into any position in a showroom or short test drive. Hence, this sort of feedback is greatly appreciated.

[Cdm2018]

I have had my sons girlfriend 5”4 and my daughter 5 foot in the back of my S1 no problem 

I am about same height as yourself and so can sit forward so leaves a sizeable space for rear passenger 

I think on long journeys (2 plus hours ) you need to take breaks , might struggle for a holiday where you need rear space for luggage unless carrying on your knees ? 

[TomE]

I've got a Series 1 Evora.  I'm 5'9" and sit with the seat on the front notch, so maximum rear legroom behind me.  My wife is the same height but prefers to sit further back as a passenger, but still enough legroom behind her for our younger daughter.  My girls have been travelling in the back of the Evora since the younger was 5 and the older was 9.  Older one is tall for her age and by about 17 she was struggling with headroom - OK for short trips but not long haul.  Younger one is 15 now and can still fit in the back fine.  Clearly if you're 4-up there's limited storage space - you can manage a weekend away but not a long holiday unless you got creative.

As mine are older now and doing their own things, we rarely go out in it as a four anymore.  It's still great to have the rear space for the odd short trip and luggage or bikes or DIY materials or cases of wine.  But I'll be swapping mine in for an Emira next spring.  Although the Emira doesn't have rear seating, with me being shorter the rear space will be a decent size for our future usage.

But, there are some differences with the 400, so as others have said do find one at a dealer and give it a try.

Leaving it outside will be fine.  A car cover will protect the paintwork and slow any UV fading of the interior.

[Phaeton91]

Really helpful. Thank you.  I’m feeling a lot more comfortable about it now.  I can’t believe how the Evora didn’t take off given the practicality - Lotus’ best kept secret it seems.

[Cdm2018]

Sometimes in life it’s best to keep the best kept secrets secret 🤔

[TdM]

Just a note, my car lives outside, no problems all year round so far (apart from the crap windscreen demisting ability). It's fine, don't worry about it. Just make sure you cover the dash so the leather doesn't shrink.

[Cdm2018]

Like TDM my car lives outside I suffer from tree sap and bird droppings , so regular washing, cover the dash to save the leather issues

a good car cover if you get loads of snow on prolonged periods but I found in high winds can move cover and the strap buckles can scratch ? 

[Phaeton91]

Thank you.  Yes, pros and cons to a cover.  I tend to cover my existing car after it’s been washed and dried only. There’s not much exotic machinery along my road (I’m not counting dark coloured Audi’s, Mercs and BMWs!) so also like to keep things under wraps from nosey passers by to a certain degree. That would be more so with an Evora. 

[Spanky3]

If you want an idea of rear space here's my two, just about to leave knebworth, 14 and 11 at the time. Eldest is 5'6 and sits behind my 5'5 wife with her knees either side of the backrest.  It doesn't look comfy but they never complain.  Before buying i took them to Silverstone and we all went out on the test drive.

 

 

[Gareth44]

My wife is 5'4, I am 5'10 and sit forward and I would have to say that she does not fit, not with her head upright anyway, legs were OK. On a test drive she did nothing but moan and all I could see in the rear view mirror was a sideways head!

I do keep mine outside all year, it is fine although water ingress to the window motor meant a new one of them (c.£500). As others have said, wash the bird poo off asap.

Also, as others have said, what concerns me most is the heat on the dash and airbag cover, so I do use a sunscreen on the windscreen if it is anything above 20 degrees.

[Relic222]

I'm a little surprised that people are saying that the rear is fine for someone who is 5' - my wife is 5'4" and has been in the back for one 20 minute journey and it did not look comfortable at all - her head had to be at an angle the whole time and she didn't have any leg room. I'd say 5' is probably the maximum for the rear passengers, and even that would only be for short journeys. The rear seats are great for luggage, but only children would fit in there in any sort of comfort. As others have said, get them to try one out at a dealer and see yourself how much leg and headroom they have.

I keep my car outdoors like many others. I have a car cover which I put on if it'll be left for more than a week or two, but it's my daily driver and I used it for nursery runs etc, so it usually sits without the cover. I will echo the comments of the demister though - it's lacklustre to say the least!

[Phaeton91]

Thanks all for the further comments.  I have to say that my kids are far more tolerant than my wife is to any sort of discomfort especially in a “fast” car.  I need to now find a dealer within reasonable driving distance who has one!

[Sam Downey]

Sounds like your kids have the right idea anyway! Who cares about things like comfort if you get to ride in a Lotus?! 😂👍

I cannot remember how old I was, but my first ever experience in a Lotus was in an Elan Plus 2. I'm sure there wasn't much room but it made me a fan for life!

GL with the car hunt I hope it works out well.

[21gg]

On 12/11/2021 at 10:13, Phaeton91 said:

Thanks all for the further comments.  I have to say that my kids are far more tolerant than my wife is to any sort of discomfort especially in a “fast” car.  I need to now find a dealer within reasonable driving distance who has one!

Well that presents an easy solution, leave the wife at home and just take the kids out 😁😂

[C8RKH]

On 08/11/2021 at 18:04, Cdm2018 said:

Like TDM my car lives outside I suffer from tree sap and bird droppings

Chop down the trees, get a bird feeding table and then a cat to feast on the birds whilst they feast on your nuts. Job done.  You're welcome

 

On 11/11/2021 at 15:47, Gareth44 said:

On a test drive she did nothing but moan

She's a wife. That's their purpose in life. Oh and to create lists of "jobs" for you to do, and to point out your short comings.

[MC2021]

On 12/11/2021 at 09:44, Relic222 said:

I'm a little surprised that people are saying that the rear is fine for someone who is 5' - my wife is 5'4" and has been in the back for one 20 minute journey and it did not look comfortable at all - her head had to be at an angle the whole time and she didn't have any leg room. I'd say 5' is probably the maximum for the rear passengers, and even that would only be for short journeys. The rear seats are great for luggage, but only children would fit in there in any sort of comfort. As others have said, get them to try one out at a dealer and see yourself how much leg and headroom they have.

I keep my car outdoors like many others. I have a car cover which I put on if it'll be left for more than a week or two, but it's my daily driver and I used it for nursery runs etc, so it usually sits without the cover. I will echo the comments of the demister though - it's lacklustre to say the least!

Sat in an Evora for the first time recently, was pleasantly surprised by the cabin. It felt better than I expected and a reasonably nice place to be. When I looked round to check the room in the back it was smaller & tighter than I expected. For all but the smallest children I think it would be a bit too much of a squeeze.

I’m coming from a different brand but looking forward to getting a decent test drive in an Evora, (400 or 410) and hope it’s as good as all the reviews say.

[DarrylV8]

As good, possibly better! 

[exeterjeep]

24 minutes ago, MC2021 said:

Sat in an Evora for the first time recently

Could even try an Evora S to get the lotus feel, then try the 4xx to confirm your choice. What is for sale around your local area? Who is your nearest dealer.

[MC2021]

Local lotus franchise have said they’re not doing test drives - “management policy”.  Would prefer to try what I’m looking to buy, and your suggestion of trying the S could be worth looking into.

There aren’t a huge amount of Evoras for sale across the whole of the UK. So it might just be a case of being patient.

[MC2021]

2 hours ago, DarrylV8 said:

As good, possibly better! 

I’ve read plenty of reviews and watched plenty of reviews on YouTube -  jayemm has a channel with a lot of information on his 400. I’m aware that the Evora has some minor failings but other than the high cost of a clutch change the Evora seems to gain very positive reviews. 
 

For me it’s about how different the Evora is to what I’ve had before (911 C2S).

[DarrylV8]

Will be good to hear what you think M

[TdM]

What minor failings? They are all character points surely 😁😉