Evora Sport 410

[achaddy]

So the Silverstone one is full retail price with no discount. 

They told me a few weeks ago that it was coming in as a demonstrator as I had requested a test drive. Looks like they are trying to market it as a new car though so no test drive possible. Yet anyway. Hoffmanns said they probably wouldn't be getting one in.

[JayEmm]

Lotus took away the dealer demo discount I believe and with it a massive incentive for Lotus dealers to run demo cars. A shame, as the drive is what sells a Lotus.

[CocoPops]

5 minutes ago, achaddy said:

Hoffmanns said they probably wouldn't be getting one in.

They're getting a 380 demo instead.

As James points out it's quite an investment now for a dealer to have a demo and take the hit.

[achaddy]

It is a shame. 

I had spec'd up £91k 410. 

I added the titanium exhaust to recover the weight added by the AC and Sat Nav. Extravagance I know.

So at that price it's a bit of a leap of faith. Especially as this would be my first Lotus.

[auRouge]

If there was ever a Lotus not to be afraid of buying new it's this car. One of those rare scenarios (like certain Porkers) where by spending more in the short term you'll spend spend less in the long run.

A 410 properly specced with that exhaust will always be in strong demand. I reckon it might even be cheaper than a 400 when it comes to selling (if you did ever sell it!!)

[The Pits]

The 410 is less car for the money but that's what makes it more Lotus.

Easiest saving in the world is to ditch the hi-fi and sat nav. Your smartphone can do both already and in a few years time the thing stuck in your 410's dash will only have value as a curious period piece!

If you really want that stuff get a fully loaded 400. The 70kg weight saving is the single biggest difference. The more weight you option back in the less the car makes sense. The light spec is the right spec for this car. Who'd want to buy an Exige V6 Cup with a stereo in it now? So I think it will not help sell the car down the line, unlike the tit exhaust which always will.

[Babas89]

I've got the same idea as you The Pits, my car specification should be without airco and radio but with titanium exhaust

The only weight I would like to and is and harness bar with Harness for track use (that's why I would like to know if it's "Hans" seat or not?)

[scotty435]

There some great in car Bluetooth speakers on the market, which will sound better than lotus poor after market stereos, save money and weight and use better maps on your smartphone got to be the way to go

[achaddy]

Yes, I could certainly drop the sat nav. Not a requirement and wouldnt need the stereo to play music to be honest either. Would be too busy listening to the sound of that V6:-) I was only adding for future desirabilityif I was to sell.

I think AirCon is required because it can become quite warm in those cabins especially on track. Probably even worse if they have removed some insulation/glass to save weight.

 

 

[DJW]

8 hours ago, achaddy said:

So the Silverstone one is full retail price with no discount. 

They told me a few weeks ago that it was coming in as a demonstrator as I had requested a test drive. Looks like they are trying to market it as a new car though so no test drive possible. Yet anyway. Hoffmanns said they probably wouldn't be getting one in.

Shame.  Will have to try demo at Central then. 

[internets]

Sounds like most dealers are all saying the same as no dealer support, B&C said they won't get one in either for that very reason.  Shame

[The Pits]

6 hours ago, Babas89 said:

I've got the same idea as you The Pits, my car specification should be without airco and radio but with titanium exhaust

The only weight I would like to and is and harness bar with Harness for track use (that's why I would like to know if it's "Hans" seat or not?)

The seats in the V6 Cup are Hans compatible and I believe they are the same seats. The shells look identical but padding is slightly different. However for racing you would need to remove the seat runners and have them bolted directly to the chassis. In the Exige the passenger seat is already like this, not sure about the Evora. But fairly easy to do and should lower seat height plus c of g by getting rid if the seat runners. A nice fix for anyone who thinks the seats are too high in an Evora 400.

[DJW]

3 hours ago, internets said:

Sounds like most dealers are all saying the same as no dealer support, B&C said they won't get one in either for that very reason.  Shame

Big mistake in my view. Each time I have come back to Lotus has been on the spur of the moment post a test drive. Without the latter, I wouldn't buy a car.   That's coming from a Lotus fan. 

To widen the audience you need as many demo drives as possible

Edited December 23, 2016 by DJW

[auRouge]

Half hearted marketing, what a surprise. 

[The Pits]

The focus has been on increasing profit margin from very little to as much as possible. Lotus were practically selling cars at cost just to keep the lights on. If you think what they must have been getting for an Elise less dealer margin and VAT, it's barely worth doing when it's built by hand. The Evora is a much more complex and expensive car to make too. So now we have more basic cars for a higher price and more expensive options which is really where the Germans make the big margins.

JMG is squeezing the dealers very hard at the moment and not buying a Sport 410 is their way of pushing back.

[JayEmm]

The words "nose, spite and face" come to mind in that scenario.

I personally don't think the Sport 410 will achieve the cult status of something like the Sport 300, which is not to say it isn't a good car - I am sure it's astonishing. Is it £5k better than a 400? Probably is. Is it £20k better, which is the reality in most cases? I highly doubt it.

I've only sat in one and it wasn't even moving, so I can't say. Obviously I'll be doing my best to get a go in one at the earliest convenience for the ol' YouTube channel.

 

Perhaps the 410 is going to be a car that appeals to a lot of first time Lotus buyers - people who love the idea of a track car like the Exige, but reality prevents them (they can't get in it, or its just too impractical, etc)... I suppose then you can see it as a half-price Ferrari Challenge Stradale type thing.

[C8RKH]

I think the 410 could be a future classic along the lines of the Esprit 300 etc.

Small numbers. Focused. Lightweight. Etc. Exactly like the other rare Lotus Classics.

But then, what do I really know anyway...

[scotty435]

The Carbon alone is a piece of artwork and if you look at what other big brands charge for carbon it's still a lot of car for the money and the hours that's gone into the the development, I have been out in one and can say it's one of the best card I have been in, a future classic for sure

 

 

[achaddy]

6 hours ago, JayEmm said:

Perhaps the 410 is going to be a car that appeals to a lot of first time Lotus buyers - people who love the idea of a track car like the Exige, but reality prevents them (they can't get in it, or its just too impractical, etc)... I suppose then you can see it as a half-price Ferrari Challenge Stradale type thing.

This where I am coming from. Currently own a Ferrari 360 Modena and I would like to move up to something newer but Ferrari prices have gone up considerably and I need 25-30k to get into a F430 which is same chassis as the 360 and has a well known issue with the manifolds that could result in an engine failure. 

Anything newer is just out of my league and the Stradale, Scuderia and Speciale are all stupid money. 

I was originally thinking of an Exige but the evora caught my eye and then the 410 got me thinking I must have one of those. It looks amazing and in the style of the Speciales etc. 

But... the lack of acces to cars to test drive, poor dealer support, diabolical marketing do not install confidence in dropping 80-90k on the most expensive car I will ever have bought.

i have spoken to two dealers and asked for a back to back test drive of an Exige and  Evora. So far I haven't driven either.

[Barrykearley]

I understand that completely. You need to drive one for sure.

cant see you wanting another prancer then

good luck in your hunt

[JayEmm]

@achaddy 360 vs 400 comparison video?

 

I was looking at 360s when a good manual one was 40K, they've gone mad. I think you would really love the 400. The Exige is great too but a totally different car.

[Gashead1105]

2 hours ago, achaddy said:

This where I am coming from. Currently own a Ferrari 360 Modena and I would like to move up to something newer but Ferrari prices have gone up considerably and I need 25-30k to get into a F430 which is same chassis as the 360 and has a well known issue with the manifolds that could result in an engine failure. 

Anything newer is just out of my league and the Stradale, Scuderia and Speciale are all stupid money. 

I was originally thinking of an Exige but the evora caught my eye and then the 410 got me thinking I must have one of those. It looks amazing and in the style of the Speciales etc. 

But... the lack of acces to cars to test drive, poor dealer support, diabolical marketing do not install confidence in dropping 80-90k on the most expensive car I will ever have bought.

i have spoken to two dealers and asked for a back to back test drive of an Exige and  Evora. So far I haven't driven either.

I'm sure either Silverstone or B&C could sort you out test drives of a standard 400 and Exige back to back. 

[DJW]

For primarily track use I would personally look at Exige 350 upwards.  However if mainly road use then the Evora.  

I had planned to get an Exige for track work next year, keeping Evora for the road, but must admit the Evora 410 might have been option to have one car do it all.  Without ability to test drive one though, that won't happen  

Lotus Silverstone have been great re test drives of standard cars.     Did 3 back to back with second hand Exiges to choose right one.  Also did manual vs Auto for the Evora 400 , which allowed me to choose the latter. 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2016 by DJW

[Philsport300]

JCT600 in Leeds will have a 410 and Exige 380 available for test drives in January.

[achaddy]

2 hours ago, Gashead1105 said:

I'm sure either Silverstone or B&C could sort you out test drives of a standard 400 and Exige back to back. 

Silverstone are one of the two I have spoken to and they haven't come back to me. They said they were getting the 410 in as a demo but seems it's now for retail only. 

Leeds is a bit far to go but would be handy to try a 410 and 380