Is there a better handling 4-seater than the Evora?

[Danelaw]

I expect some of you may claim they aren't really seats in the rear, but as a relatively normal family that regularly travel 4-up in the Evora we can do this because legally it is a 4-seat car.

I ask this question because some on this forum love the car but aspire to a McLaren or a 458, and the 540s could attract me too, but the Evora is unique as the only mid-engined 2+2. The mid-engine layout provides an agility that is endearing, and hard for other cars to match.

It amazes me that with this unique selling point, in addition to what is a good package for a plain 2-seat sports car, the Evora has not been more of a hit with the public. Have I missed something here, is there a better handling 4-seater out there? 

[Stuno1]

This is a very well discussed topic! The only real competitor is the 911. Which (obviously as I have just bought an evora) I don't believe comes close to the evora for a petrol head. The evora is more exotic looking, more special to drive, more exciting etc. Porsche have the edge on built quality, marketing etc. As such when people have money to spend they nattily think the Porsche is the 'only' option and is more likely to impress the neighbours. 

 

I I think the evora is the perfect weapon to counteract this BUT it will take time and lots need to stick at it. Personally I love the fact it's so rare and that's one reason that I was attracted to it. Not ideal for lotus though! 

So in answer to your question, no, I don't believe there is from a driving perspective. 

[Danelaw]

I agree with all of that Stuart. I wanted to take this beyond the normal 911 competitor question though, and say there are 4-seaters from Ferrari like the FF, and from Aston Martin and others. Several will have a space advantage, and possibly more power, but do any of these compare for balance, agility and driver feedback?

I wonder if Lotus can't make more of being unique in offering a mid-engined 2+2? It allows many of us to indulge ourselves before the children have all left home. Would this make the car appear too practical and therefore less sexy and exotic? I don't think so but others might.

As an Evora owner I find myself really torn as I'd like everyone to enjoy this hidden gem, but I also enjoy how rare and special it is when others spot it...

 

[Stuno1]

Hmmmm. Difficulty is they are wildly different budgets. Money no object I still wouldn't get an ff personally as o really don't like its looks. The Aston vantage s (I believe???) can be species with +2 and apparently handles like a sports car and that would be a massive condenser for me. That's it though i think in terms of 4 seat sports car options as all other 4 seat options are more gt than sports cars and that's the really unique thing about the evora. 

[CocoPops]

Like a few on here.. I moved from VX220/Elise/Exige.

If I could have had a 4seater vx220, I would have done.

So the Evora was the perfect fit, "same" chassis as the Elise platform.

[Bravo73]

1 hour ago, Stuno1 said:

The Aston vantage s (I believe???) can be species with +2 and apparently handles like a sports car and that would be a massive condenser for me. 

The Vantage is 2 seat only (in either V8 or V12 guises).

The Aston Martin option is the DB9/Vanquish sized car. A considerably larger car with nothing of the handling of the Evora. A real GT, even as DBS/Vanquish. And the rear seats are just as small as the Evora.

[Stuno1]

The vanquish is the one I was thinking of. Apparently it handles very well for its size. 

 

Im out though and that is why, like you I am surprised the evora does not sell better. I think it will become more and more popular as lotus get the balance of sport/luxury car better and better. 

[brightoncorgi]

On ‎11‎/‎7‎/‎2015‎ ‎6‎:‎32‎:‎33‎, Danelaw said:

I agree with all of that Stuart. I wanted to take this beyond the normal 911 competitor question though, and say there are 4-seaters from Ferrari like the FF, and from Aston Martin and others.

A Ferrari FF pulled up beside me in traffic (on the way to work) and gave me the thumbs up.  I have seen in traffic before but this is the first time we were side by side.  Beautiful car that FF in nice burgundy metallic.

How about a Ferrari California?  Then again if you want a manual it's a DB9, 991 or BMW M something.

 

 

Edited November 16, 2015 by brightoncorgi

[chylld]

On 7/11/2015, 8:59:01, Danelaw said:

I expect some of you may claim they aren't really seats in the rear, but as a relatively normal family that regularly travel 4-up in the Evora we can do this because legally it is a 4-seat car.

I ask this question because some on this forum love the car but aspire to a McLaren or a 458, and the 540s could attract me too, but the Evora is unique as the only mid-engined 2+2. The mid-engine layout provides an agility that is endearing, and hard for other cars to match.

It amazes me that with this unique selling point, in addition to what is a good package for a plain 2-seat sports car, the Evora has not been more of a hit with the public. Have I missed something here, is there a better handling 4-seater out there? 

540C

The Evora's other killer feature is the transverse engine layout which also gives the Evora a usable rear boot (160L capacity)

I umm'd and ahh'd about upgrading to a 540C because it would mean losing the rear seats (which I've used to carry 2 small adults on occasion) as well as some boot space (McLaren frunk is only 150L, but critically more boxy and I carry long things). In reality though, I know when I need to carry more than 1 passenger so I've pre-ordered the 570GT which will be revealed next March (and apparently is capable of carrying a bike)

Handling-wise the Evora is a dream, look forward to doing a direct comparo against the McLaren :)

[Danelaw]

5 hours ago, chylld said:

540C

The Evora's other killer feature is the transverse engine layout which also gives the Evora a usable rear boot (160L capacity)

I umm'd and ahh'd about upgrading to a 540C because it would mean losing the rear seats (which I've used to carry 2 small adults on occasion) as well as some boot space (McLaren frunk is only 150L, but critically more boxy and I carry long things). In reality though, I know when I need to carry more than 1 passenger so I've pre-ordered the 570GT which will be revealed next March (and apparently is capable of carrying a bike)

Handling-wise the Evora is a dream, look forward to doing a direct comparo against the McLaren :)

Excellent. Really look forward to reading your comparison. The 570GT looks like a great choice, but too expensive for me and not a +2 (yet?).

Also interested to see the photo proof of a McLaren carrying a bike...

[Danelaw]

9 hours ago, brightoncorgi said:

 

How about a Ferrari California?  Then again if you want a manual it's a DB9, 991 or BMW M something.

 

 

Interested to hear others thoughts on this, but good as those cars are I don't believe that they handle any better than the Evora although I can't do a direct comparison and as an Evora owner I'm bound to be biased.

[TBD]

I would take a different angle at this. For me a key point in judging the handling of a car is the answer to the question "what if". We all know we should never be driving at 10/10ths, but sometimes (like on wet days) those 10/10ths can be very close to 3/10ths on a dry day.

So, the "what if" question has two vey important aspects. First off, how easy is the car to recover when you do overdo it? I think the Evora is great here, certainly much better than the GT3 or the ever popular M3's. I certainly will never forget what it feels like when my 996 GT3 decided to break out @ 250 Kph on a sudden patch of ice. 

Secondly, there is the "hard" question, could I afford a crash? True, that is why we have insurance, but even so you'll rarely come out of a serioous accident without a significant personal financial loss. For myself, I know I couldn't afford the cost of crashing the Ferrari ff or the McLaren. 

So, the Evora, in my case, the Evora GTE, remains at the top of the list.

[amoss]

On 07/11/2015, 13:09:44, Stuno1 said:

The vanquish is the one I was thinking of. Apparently it handles very well for its size. 

 

I understand that a certain factory in Norfolk had something to do with the handling on the Vanquish!