Evora 400 - feedback?

[Mjb7]

Am seriously considering buying an Evora 400. Met a chap yesterday with one that complained of transmission noise (sort of a low spinning / grinding sound) at low speed / revs?

any fair feedback from current owners would be greatly appreciated before I take the plunge. Upsides of the car are many - but what should I really know ?! 

[Colin G]

Yes, the transmission noise definitely happens at low speed/revs, but it's heavily related to gear selection. I must admit that I've pretty much zoned it out and know when to change (though admittedly it shouldn't happen anyway) and it doesn't bother me. That said, on the occasions it still happens it freaks my other half out and she thinks there's something wrong with the car.

[Mjb7]

Thanks Colin. Really appreciate that. 

Overall though scoring the car out of 10 what would you say?

[Bibs]

The noise is much better on the 400 compared to the earlier cars. It basically makes it way into the cabin via the gearchange cables and not only are they better insulated now, but the car benefits from better (and lighter) NVH materials.

Have you had a read of our review? 

http://www.thelotusforums.com/latest-news/lotus-cars-news/driven-evora-400/

[Mjb7]

Thanks very much - I had not seen the review. great feedback - appreciate it

[Colin G]

1 hour ago, Mjb7 said:

Thanks Colin. Really appreciate that. 

Overall though scoring the car out of 10 what would you say?

In the words of Spinal Tap, "most only go to 10, this one goes to 11".

I adore mine, so would find it hard to give you a totally unbiased view. There are some little things that irk, but to be honest as an overall package I would find it hard to even mention them in the grand scheme of things. I think the only way to really get it is to take one for a test drive. For me it's a phenomenal car, probably the best I've ever owned from a driving perspective, but for others I've read comments from it just doesn't float their boat. Depends what you expect/want from it I suppose?

[Mjb7]

was a fairer statement ever made by a follow petrol head...I don't think so...thanks Colin...

[Bibs]

Best car I've ever driven. Ever.

[Ccd]

Bibs, any update on when your video review will be available?

[99Problems]

I literally just asked the same thing in another thread.  I think if we ask this in EVERY thread, related or not, Bibs will be forced to post it!!

[Ccd]

Bibs, any idea when cars are actually going to be shipped to the USA?  As best I can tell, no dealer on the East Coast actually has an Evora 400; they are only taking pre-orders.

[Bibs]

July or August is the latest info on that mate.

[Danelaw]

I haven't tried a 400 yet and in fact I'm frightened of doing so because I don't want the expense of what logically follows!

My series 1 Evora is phenomenal to drive and I find it hard to imagine anything being better. I felt some of this on test drives, but it was only with increasing confidence with my own car that I really began to understand what an utterly fantastic car it is to drive. 

I find myself looking at the drivers of other vehicles - especially the expensive ones, and wondering if they realise how poor their driving experience really is. Apologies if that sounds arrogant. I don't want to feel superior but I find myself pitying the drivers of nearly all other vehicles. 

[Gm77]

Mike

As others have said, the car really is very special. Two key points for me:

- The suspension set up is a work of genius. Where I live, there are some very inconvenient ruts and bumps in the road that all seem to be placed on corners; the sole purpose of which is to bump you off into the hedge if you're driving in a spirited fashion. The 400 just soaks them up in a way that other mainstream cars just can't do. And by mainstream, I'm comparing it to a Honda CRV, Jaguar X Type, Fiesta e.g., not performance oriented. 

- Its fun at all speeds which is pretty rare these days. I can be cruising the motorway, poodling round local lanes, or enjoying myself with spirited driving and I'm always smiling.

As Colin mentions, there are very small points that could be better (I wish the reversing light was on the other side of the car!) but they are totally insignificant overall.

I wouldn't swap the car for anything else. Go test drive one and see. You'd better take your debit card with you though.

Greg

[JayEmm]

@Mjb7 you'll see in another thread I am doing a video blog about the car. Like several others, I think this is the best car I have ever driven. And my driving experience includes about 30 different 911s, five R8s (V10 and V8), two different Ferraris, several Astons, etc...

The 400 is a rare car in that it strikes a perfect harmony between all components - nothing dominates, but everything is *just* right. I was driving out in the rain for the first time today, it was pretty heavy at points. I tested a few cars that in these conditions I'd be tempted to park it and wait the weather out. But, by the same token, last night I had a dry run on a back road and despite the fact I'm still running the car in I had one of the best drives of my life. I was grinning like a cheshire cat at the end of it. 

It is a noisy car, the visibility isn't great but I actually see these as plus points - these are traits of more "exotic" cars rather than the garden variety stuff which tends to prioritise NVH. 

You'll find that we aren't praising the car because we own it, we own the cars because we loved them. Some of these guys are serial Lotus buyers, I had never driven one until this year.

If you want another way of looking at it, the thing has Ferrari levels of looks/noise/driving pleasure matched with Porsche prices and running costs (actually, cheaper in many ways)

[Ccd]

I'd never consider poor visibility to be a "plus" point.  But since we are on the subject, just how bad is the rear vision?  Are you totally dependent on your side mirrors?  Does it give you pause while switching lanes in traffic?

[Mjb7]

thanks Greg and Jay - much appreciated - I have test driven a 400 - loved it - I have one reserved but then.... Met a chap (nice guy) on the motorway services with a 400 by chance and he had a few grumbles...

I wanted to get a wider view so the forum has been a great way of confirming where the car "is" and what other drivers think 

I have got another test drive this weekend and that will settle it....there seems to be an acceptance by most owners that the drive chain does make a noise under certain circumstances (I had a new style GTR it did the same thing - did Lotus also have something to do with that drive chain?!) but they accept it as immaterial and all round this does not detract from what seems to be one of the best cars ever to hit the tarmac 

all told it seems drivers have a few small issues (but what car doesn't) ...and in the main everyone seems very happy with what Lotus has achieved here

 

 

[Colin G]

@Ccd No, you have rear view mirror vision, it's just not great. Side mirrors are big (though you may find the passenger side slightly obstructed by the pillar like I do) so you are comfortable with lane changes. 

@Mjb7 seems odd if the guy you met had major gripes with the car that he'd buy it in the first place? If I felt that way about a car I sure as hell wouldn't be putting down £70k+ on it!

[Bibs]

4 minutes ago, Mjb7 said:

Met a chap (nice guy) on the motorway services with a 400 by chance and he had a few grumbles...

Some people are never pleased! He's certainly in the minority, as you can see

[JayEmm]

I drive a Peugeot 207 van as my daily hack, visibility out of the Evora is better than that. Rear passenger 3/4 view is not great, my only real criticism but the same view was pretty poor on my Z4 M Coupe, my mother's Audi TT when the roof is up, the Jag F-Type coupe....

I have a lot of grumble from the transmission. I don't mind mechanical noise as long as it's meant to be there!

[Mjb7]

Bibs - yes he seems to be in the minority and has been a bit unlucky by the sounds of it but to be fair to him he paid a lot of money for the car and somethings about it he wasn't happy with - was he justified? - I am not a judge!.. but Lotus do need to take his concerns on board. Customers are never wrong!

[Barrykearley]

There's a saying we have round here.

 

" You cant educate pork.......but you sure can beat it with a stick "

 

maybe thats apt !!! 

 

You never hear of motorcycle riders moaning about noise from their bikes......... Christ what does he expect from a monster beast of a car

[Mjb7]

Lol!!! At Porsche 911 money you've paid good money to complain!

Good blog James (sorry few line back) - look forward to next instalment

[Bibs]

Alec's complaint is more with the dealer than the factory. I'm looking into it. 

[Barrykearley]

7 minutes ago, Mjb7 said:

Lol!!! At Porsche 911 money you've paid good money to complain!

Good blog James (sorry few line back) - look forward to next instalment

this guys probably whinging about the dealers, factory and insurance company