The Evora 400 Diaries

[Frickin_idiot]

9 months in and no issues here.

 

[JayEmm]

@Macetrix - my situation is difficult. I don't like moaning unnecessarily but neither will I keep quiet if something goes wrong, My car is probably the single most problematic 400 on the planet, for no other reason than the fact Lotus didn't seem to pay any attention when they built the first few. By all accounts, later cars are much better built, unfortunately using too many cheap parts for my liking.

[pickle]

Mine is an early car (LOTUS lettering on dash, different pedals, leather insert on boot lid......). Apart from a battery that got replaced under warranty I haven't had any issues. I'm 5 months and 3000 miles in.

Although the problems that James has had are terrible I wouldn't want them to put anyone off this remarkable car.

[Tris...]

7 Months and 5000 miles, a couple of issues but quickly and professionally fixed, with excellent Dealer support.

To reinforce the other comments, these are truely amazing cars, and will bring a smile to your face every time you drive it. 

Every manufacturer has the occasional "Friday Afternoon Car", you shouldn't judge the entire marque by that one example.

[CocoPops]

Perhaps we should update the registry to include mileage and age, along with any issues.

[Danelaw]

I had a neighbour with a Porsche 911 turbo (if you want to know the exact iteration it's the one that looks like a souped-up beetle) and it was only  some years after he sold it that he told me what a terrible car it had been and the catalogue of issues he'd had with it. He'd owned it from new, and whilst he owned it he never once told me of any issues. My point being my impression was it really was a rock solid car but the reality was that it had spent many years with the dealer for repairs.

Ever since I have wondered if P-car owners are as open about any issues as we Lotus owners tend to be? We half expect the odd issue wheras if you've bought a brand based on reputation for build quality then it is embarrassing if it turns out you've got a lemon. 

[JayEmm]

The thing we need to remember is most people go on *reputations* of reliability, rather than hard data. Mercedes, VW, BMW, are nowhere near the top of the league table but people think they are.

 

Also @Tris... my car definitely wasn't a friday afternoon car... they clock off at 12!

[PaulCP]

14 minutes ago, JayEmm said:

The thing we need to remember is most people go on *reputations* of reliability, rather than hard data. Mercedes, VW, BMW, are nowhere near the top of the league table but people think they are.

That's all down to the clever marketing used by German companies (& not just cars) many years ago that many Brits still fall for.

I wouldn't even try to estimate the number of times I've heard people say they are buying German products "because of the high quality and reliability"

this is something that Lotus need to learn, perceived quality & reliability plays a much higher role in consumer spending that what the actual situation is. This is why Lotus needs to wake up to marketing.

[Gadzooks]

James - thanks for keeping your 'diary'.  I am on the cusp of buying a new Evora  so all your posts and videos have been really informative.

I did one of the last Driving Academy sessions last year (inc driving the 410) and one of the guys helping run the sessions was a test driver for the Evora.  According to him every Evora is taken for a shakedown drive round the local area - unlike the Exige.  He also knew about the seat problem which he said was down to changing the OEM design to fit low in the Evora.  This had removed some of the strengthening.  Cars built from summer 2016 had been fitted with a new/different design.

(my first post ?)

[CocoPops]

Welcome Darren, go to the introductions forum and we can welcome you properly.

[Ccd]

I understand how important it is for Lotus to remain profitable, but using cheap parts is like playing with fire.  The German makes have created an impression of quality and reliability thru marketing.  Lotus has a reputation for unreliable cars in the minds of FAR too many people and they lack the marketing prowess and money to change that.  Better the spend a few extra cents/dollars to keep from reinforcing old opinions.  Reputations are hard to change.

Edited January 15, 2017 by Ccd
typos

[C8RKH]

Impression and perception of quality are normally used by the people who buy these German car brands as they don't do their homework and worry about what the neighbours will think.

I agree Lotus reputation is poor but that is a largely 20 year old myth now. Came up the other day in conversation when talking about Skoda with a woman - even though the engines and drivetrain arrive in a crate from Audi/VW this woman was not going to have a Skoda due the impression/perception. She was quite happy to spend essentially 30% more for the same car with a VW or Audi badge. As they often say, a fool is easily parted from their money.

[FGA]

I've had my 400 for about 2 months and covered 1500 miles. The car had done 1700 when I bought it. Its had the creaky seat fixed and the heater control module replaced under warranty at B&C. It's also had 3 service bulletin work carried out. I use it as a weekend toy. It's a fantastic handling  car and always puts a smile on my face ( and on the faces of many others) when I drive it. To Daren (Gadzooks) who is on the casp of buying a new evora I would say if you're considering a 400, go for it. JayEmm's issues with his 400 is really unfortunate however all makes of cars suffer unreliability / teething niggles. The deal breaker is not having support when things go wrong. I've owned 3 Porsches over the past 6 years and my last one before the 400 was a 997.2 C2S.  They are fantastic all round performers, but I still had unreliability problems despite their bullet proof reputation. 

[Ccd]

C8RKH, you make my point.  We are not talking reality but perceptions and myth.  A Porsche craps out and people will make excuses for it.  A Lotus craps out and it reinforces the myth that all Lotus cars are unreliable.  That is why cheap parts need to be kept to a minimum.  Lotus will not receive the benefit of the doubt in terms of reliability

[C8RKH]

Cheap parts. Expensive parts. Surely the critical thing is they work? And go on working reliably.

If Lotus starts using more expensive parts then everyone whinges about the cost etc.

New Evora headlight anyone ?

Audi use loads of expensive parts but the reality is their reliability scores ain't been that great of late.

Porsche had many expensive parts in its 911 engine but it still didn't stop some cars behaving like a mobile IED did it?

That last bit was for @JayEmm@JayEmm as he loves my quotes re pork pies going bang!

Lotus uses a relatively cheap Toyota V6 engine and that does not often go bang, at all, if ever.... it does however go fast often and for long stretches...

 

[JayEmm]

Nice to know you're thinking of me Andy!

I think perhaps the distinction is VAG/BMW etc... charge a lot for their parts. Does not make them expensive parts necessarily. 

 

One thing I will say is I did up an old 993 once, even the most obscure part I could get in about three days, maximum. Lotus struggle to provide spares for cars they are currently producing. That unfortunately is a reality and not a perception. 

[Gm77]

Interestingly, I'm debating canibalising a Boxster as part of the rebuild of my kit car. Consequently I have found myself searching on a few forums for info. It's been interesting to hear how many Porsche parts are on back order with no estimate on when they will come in. Just saying ...

[chylld]

My car finally developed the dreaded driver's seat creak/rattle after the dealer installed my harness. Didn't just creak in turns but going straight on any bumpy road.

Took 15 minutes to track down the noise to the inboard seat runner, and specifically, the rear M6 sockethead bolt. It was tightened down incredibly hard and once loosened a touch (still very tight) the creaking totally went away!

I have a torque wrench on order to double-check that it's actually at the safe and correct torque (30Nm).

[chylld]

Torque wrench arrived, gotta love express post. Took it to the same bolt and tightened it down to exactly 30Nm and the creak still hasn't returned.

Very happy

[JayEmm]

I often wondered if that had anything to do with the noises, my seat has been in and out of the car so many times who knows what is going on with it.

[DJW]

Friend with a brand new 981 Cayman S needed a new engine within 1k miles. Friend with a brand new Audi TTS is in process of rejecting car due to a turbo rattle they can't get rid of.  The days of bullet proof  cars seems to have dissappeared. 

My 400 is on 6k miles.   Warranty work to date :- 

•  Both front seat runners replaced with latest design, due to creaking
• MAF sensor replaced

I exoect the next warranty item will be the protective film on the car, which is starting to go yellow, which shows up a treat on a white car. 

Adore the car and no intention to replace for the mo...... unless I test drive a 410 ...... no stop, STOP ✋;)

Edited January 17, 2017 by DJW

[Barrykearley]

On 15/01/2017 at 19:28, Gm77 said:

Interestingly, I'm debating canibalising a Boxster as part of the rebuild of my kit car. Consequently I have found myself searching on a few forums for info. It's been interesting to hear how many Porsche parts are on back order with no estimate on when they will come in. Just saying ...

Mate of mine has a 928 in his garage for brake works. Calipers £1100 a pair - refurbed !! £1400 from Porsche...

car looks nice - but it's a dog and is eating parts twice as fast as even a v8 esprit could

[DJW]

That's a shame, as always fancied a 928 at some point

[Barrykearley]

Haha - it's spanking the owner massively. The dealer he bought it off filled him full of lies and BS. It's only in Worcester - and it's shortly to be for sale if you fancy

[JayEmm]

People keep saying "they don't make 'em like they used to...."

But sometimes I think people are being unfair. My Grandfather bought a VHS player in about 1982 for something like £800. It still works. It didn't do anything fancy - play, record, that's it.

My mum complained because her DVD player packed up after four years. Cost £25 from Tesco I think. So was probably made for about £6. I don't know what £800 in 1982 is now but even £800 is still a lot.

People expect lots of things and they want them cheap. A 993 was around £55-60k in 1993. They had NOTHING in them. Air con was an optional extra. They still weren't perfect. You get cars brand new now for £15,000 which are loaded with gadgets we couldn't dream of 20 years ago. Without the scale Audi/BM/etc make cars they simply wouldn't be possible at the price. 

The 928 always did have a reputation for being expensive and troublesome, even from day one. A shame. Many fell prey to being "cheap cars" for a long time. Lot of Italian cars suffered the same but many of those outright vanished.

I do worry though we seem to be moving towards a more disposable car market. All car companies work on finance so after the car is three years old they don't care, they just want you on finance for a new one. I expect the used car market is shrinking all the time, especially for cheaper cars. I'm not keen on these elongated service intervals either, that doesn't seem to be in anyone's interest unless you're a fleet manager.