Evora Sport 410

[The Pits]

This has been discussed at length elsewhere. It would be great if we could get back to the Sport 410. A much nicer and more interesting topic!

Thanks

[Cypriot]

10 hours ago, Bravo73 said:

Unfortunately, for as long as Chris Harris is involved with Top Gear, I imagine that there won't be many (if any) Lotuses on the program. That bridge is, well & truly, burnt. 

Indeed! Does anyone know how much lighter the 410 wheels are than the forged 400 ones?

Edited February 8, 2017 by Cypriot

[Gadzooks]

7.2 kg lighter (total for all 4 wheels) I believe

[The Pits]

Sounds about right, now, can we see some more pics of your car please?

We'd be interested to know your thoughts so far too. Quite a few here teetering on the edge for one.

Swine thing won't leave me alone either! 

[RJB]

Liking the colour of those wheels...be good if the 410 stripes matched that

[Cypriot]

wow those wheels look amazing. I was dead set on getting a 400 come summer, but now this 410 is playing ticks on my mind - "No you don't need an arm rest on the door.  Yes you need carbon fibre. Yes you can use the Cup 2 tyres in the wet." Damn you inner demon! 

[Neal H]

Is that 7.2kg lighter than the 400 forged wheel or cast wheel? If it is the forged wheel, that's impressive!

[CocoPops]

40 minutes ago, Neal H said:

Is that 7.2kg lighter than the 400 forged wheel or cast wheel? If it is the forged wheel, that's impressive!

7.2 per car not per wheel.

[The Pits]

Still a lot from a set of wheels. I doubt they are much lighter than the forged 400 wheels though, that must be the difference to the cast ones.

[blindside]

I am a carbon fibre junkie, so am becoming more & more tempted to trade-up to a fully specced 410. That said it would take a decent test drive & some time afterwards to make a proper objective comparison with my 400.

Not a fan of white cars, but I suspect that a pearlescent white car with graphite wheels would contrast well with all the carbon. Either that or liquid yellow.

Something like this Elise 220 sport at Murrays: http://murraylotus.co.uk/car-classifieds/220-sport-with-exclusive-white-pearl-paint-new/

[The Pits]

If carbon is your thing then you'll go crazy for the Sport 410!

I was thinking Sport 300 Mica yellow but Renault Liquid Yellow would probably be even nicer!

[RJB]

Jimmy - if you find yourself in the South of England would be happy to let you have a drive - failing that take Jonny's advice and go for it - you won't regret it, fabulous car 

[Snoopy1969]

@The Pits I believe I have eead that Lotus would paint your car in any color but not in renaulr liquid yellow anymore because to hard ?

[blindside]

10 hours ago, RJB said:

Jimmy - if you find yourself in the South of England would be happy to let you have a drive - failing that take Jonny's advice and go for it - you won't regret it, fabulous car 

@RJB Many thanks for the kind offer Richard. It would seem that getting a chance to test drive a 410 with a dealer is going to be very unlikely in the forseeable, so I might well take you up on it.  (With plenty of notice of course and the promise of some thoughts provided on here afterwards).

What is the lead time currently from confirmed order to build & delivery?  Sometime around June would be ideal for me; so presumably 3 or 4 months ahead of that if buying to spec? 

[The Pits]

I have heard something similar about RLY but I would imagine it's possible at a price.

I believe Bell&Colvill will be getting a 410 soon so hopefully they'll run it as a demo to give Richard's car a break!

[Gashead1105]

That will be me spreading rumours! Or repeating what Scott Walker told me when I was specing my V6 paint job anyway... 

[Gadzooks]

21 hours ago, The Pits said:

Sounds about right, now, can we see some more pics of your car please?

We'd be interested to know your thoughts so far too. Quite a few here teetering on the edge for one.

Swine thing won't leave me alone either! 

I don't have any decent pics yet as the weather has been too bad.

But first impressions are - it is EPIC. I was lucky to have quite a bit of track time in a Ferrari 458 Speciale and the 410 definitely has a similar feel to the Ferrari.

The Cup tyres need a bit of care. Took it out today in sleety, zero degrees conditions and had a little sideways action coming off a couple of roundabouts. Fortunately it has a decent stability system.

 

[blindside]

I have seen pics of the yellow & metallic grey launch cars, the black one in the crappy Lotus marketing video. Plus Richard's green beauty and the metallic blue car on pistonheads at Howards Lotus. Are there any other colours knocking about yet?

[Gadzooks]

22 hours ago, RJB said:

Liking the colour of those wheels...be good if the 410 stripes matched that

I agree.  I had the stripes removed as they just didn't match the colour scheme.  I also thought that they cheapened the look - but maybe that's just me!

[The Pits]

Will do a full write-up when I get the chance next week. Driving one really stays with you.

It appeals to me personally very much, more so than the Evora 400, irrationally more so!

[CocoPops]

Some interesting comments you make... but then go no further.

like why you prefer the engine and gearbox... but say no more..

Or how the 400/410 has the edelbrock charge cooled charger, rather than the Eaton non charge cooled. Likely the reason the Exige runs out of puff a little at the top as that charger must be reaching its upper limits of efficiency etc

or how the gearbox is the same, but it's the gearshift mechanism shared by Sport 350,380, 400 and 410.

[21gg]

I'm so glad I've got my Gte as I don't know if I could resist the blue 410 otherwise!

[blindside]

@The Pits I really enjoyed the review Jonny. Your Exige being used as a colour coordinated 'chase car' was real added value. The footage of the two cars together coupled with the combined soundtrack makes it petrolhead wet dream material. 

This is the first considered comparison with the 400 from a proper enthusast. You have definitely swayed me towards buying one. I have 8000 miles on the clock in the 400 after 9 months of ownership. I love the driving experience and use the car every day if I can, but now feel something a little more hard core would be even better....

If there was one single thing that has finally convinced me to commit to buy it is probably the carbon bucket seats. Your review certainly gives them a big thumbs up. Richard's post about their comfort level for long periods during his Spanish road trip helped as well.

Just a small thing but does Richard's car have the titanium version of the exhaust? If so, apart from the obvious weight saving, was there any discernable difference with soundtrack etc.

The timing of your review is perfect for me. I now need to commit to a colour choice and then find a good p/x deal with one of the dealers. I will go for a fully specced car with carbon coloured alloys and intend to use it as a 'daily driver' whenever possible. Just not sure about the extra cost versus benefits of the ti exhaust. Perhaps overall investment/resale value?

[The Pits]

2 hours ago, CocoPops said:

Some interesting comments you make... but then go no further.

like why you prefer the engine and gearbox... but say no more..

Or how the 400/410 has the edelbrock charge cooled charger, rather than the Eaton non charge cooled. Likely the reason the Exige runs out of puff a little at the top as that charger must be reaching its upper limits of efficiency etc

or how the gearbox is the same, but it's the gearshift mechanism shared by Sport 350,380, 400 and 410.

I have to leave some stuff out for the write-ups you like so much Lee!

Very happy to try and answer any questions from anyone on here though. In fact I was thinking about trying something different for the written review which was more a Q&A with TLF members, happy to give that a go if we get a few more questions coming in.

I think the stuff about the supercharger is Evora 400 material really, I didn't think that should take up much time in a 410 review. I wanted to concentrate on the differences to the Evora 400.

I also think that everyone on here already knows that the gearbox is the same. The differences in the linkage were also covered in the Sport 350 article. As for the shift quality, Lotus themselves say that the latest Exige set-up is an even better install than the Evora, with shorter cables and more direct mounting. However, in my personal opinion the Evora 400 and 410 shift is even sweeter and the best I've ever used in a Lotus. That's just my subjective opinion. It just feels slightly more precise and shorter throw with that shorter gear lever. There's a bit more texture to it as well. The S350 gearbox just slots straight into gear, some may well prefer that, but I like to feel a bit more mechanical porridge. Thought it best to leave that out of the video!

I don't yet know which version of the linkage will stand up to higher stress track use. Experience so far suggests it will be a draw on that one. The Evora 400 box was very good on track, no missed gears or graunching, same for the Sport 350 Exige at Hethel. Same for my V6 Cup gearbox too but no-one believes me about that!

 

[Gadzooks]

On 10 February 2017 at 22:09, RJB said:

Jimmy - if you find yourself in the South of England would be happy to let you have a drive - failing that take Jonny's advice and go for it - you won't regret it, fabulous car 

+1

If you can make the 'man maths' work, go for it