Evora GT430

[Trevsked 755]

I'd love to see the 430 equal or better the GT3 here and it's in with more than a shout but I think they are quite different cars and preference by the tester may play a large part in the outcome. One thing for sure, there will be a huge Lotus shaped target on the back of every GT430 that appears at a track day this coming year :-) Embrace it and get your excuses ready, or up your game depending on how brave you're feeling.

 

Trevor.

[The Pits 4,404 1 Vehicles]

What matters more is why you chose a GT430 over a GT3 as one of the few that could have had either.

It would be very interesting to hear from our German GT430 owners as to why they chose a car that most in the UK* consider to be totally inferior.

*who haven’t driven one

 

[Black Forest Power 126]

15 hours ago, The Pits said:

What matters more is why you chose a GT430 over a GT3 as one of the few that could have had either.

It would be very interesting to hear from our German GT430 owners as to why they chose a car that most in the UK* consider to be totally inferior.

*who haven’t driven one

 

Comment from The Pits in Evora GT410 launched:
„Second guessing Lotus is a favourite past time on here of late but I think we are at the stage of penultimate model updates before the all new cars arrive. So I think we'll see a last hurrah for all the platforms in terms of being lighter and more powerful. Then that's your lot.

Next gen cars might be the best things since sliced bread or they might be more ordinary. Most likely 4 cyl turbos with paddleshift autos and easier access, better visibility, TFT screens, interior tech, obligatory iPad sticking out of the dash. Probably better all rounders and easier to live with but also possibly less focused, less pure drivers cars as a result. I'll always wish Lotus every success but right now I've got my eye on the run out models of the current range more than the next generation cars. In order to get those right I suspect they'll have to do something that won't appeal to me as much.

A lot seem to assume that newer will automatically equal better. But does it? Is the 718 Cayman/Boxster better than the 981? Is the Ferrari 488 better than the 458? BMW appear to be losing something from a pure driving point of view with each new generation of M3 since the E46, some would argue the E30! The newer cars are usually faster but are they really offering more in terms of driving pleasure?

 

Pits, in your own comment you can find a big part of the answer to your question and you describe very good my position and motivation for the Evora GT430 vs. Porsche GT3. Many years ago for me it was about the same consideration taking a new Elise S1 at that time just before the Elise S2 was launched. Of course again in the future Lotus might develop a car so special and off the mainstream that I can not resist buying an additional one as I did when they released the Elise SC and now with the GT430. For sure I am not someone who admires everything just because it is from Lotus. But there are  factors like driving involvement that I do not find in any other car, the engineering of parts, design, handling, aerodynamics, the dedicated people at Hethel behind the cars, or my Lotus dealer and garage being two Lotus enthusiasts and racers (www.blackforest-lotus.de).

Lotus is building cars that meet
in summery most of my wishlist having the features I like and -very important-leaving me alone with a lot of things I do not want. Sure a GT3, which I was taking a look at during my decision process on the way to the GT430, this Porsche is great, has advantages in revs, gearbox, speed etc. but the overall appeal for me is much bigger with the Evora GT430. Looking for an additional confirmation for my crazy decision last year I asked my wife if she would prefer the GT3 and her answer was a prompt and precise NO!

[C8RKH 5,319 2 Vehicles]

Your wife, @Black Forest Power, has excellent taste. Obviously.

[mik 356]

On 18/01/2018 at 13:38, Bibs said:

My issue 246 dropped through the letterbox today.

I wont post any spoilers.

 

 

[Cypriot 92]

Can you get the issue in the shops yet? Evo's website is terribly bad at informing you about its current issue.

[mik 356]

Note sure actually Mike. I think subs copies arrive 1-2 days beforehand?  

[21gg 354 1 Vehicles]

Mines arrived yay!

[The Pits 4,404 1 Vehicles]

Yes arrived today. Massively controversial I believe. No spoilers but absolutely not what I was expecting to read. Nor anything I will believe until I drive a new GT3.

[auRouge 434 1 Vehicles]

It's a good read

Won't spoil it either but the article really points out what an exotic thing the E430 is... 

"with its swathes of exposed carbonfibre and mid-engined proportions, the Evora looks like a miniature supercar embodying recent GT race car aerodynamic thinking"

What a car

[Solstice 71]

Come on spill the beans, the carrier pigeon hasn't made it to deepest wiltshire yet.....

[auRouge 434 1 Vehicles]

51 minutes ago, The Pits said:

Yes arrived today. Massively controversial I believe. No spoilers but absolutely not what I was expecting to read. Nor anything I will believe until I drive a new GT3.

A bit surprised about the steering comments, any depth to this?

[The Pits 4,404 1 Vehicles]

The part I take issue with is that the conclusions are drawn on the basis of a cold, wet road drive. Ambient temperature was 7 degrees C. The writer would have had a totally different experience in the dry on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2s.

The inevitable win for the Porsche won't surprise anyone. However the reasons given for the Evora losing the comparison are literally the last things you'd expect.

[auRouge 434 1 Vehicles]

23 minutes ago, Solstice said:

Come on spill the beans, the carrier pigeon hasn't made it to deepest wiltshire yet.....

When referring to when the rear end let's go... 

"In fact, the Lotus feels more like a 911 than the Porsche does" 

[The Pits 4,404 1 Vehicles]

Car Magazine: "The well-calibrated power steering is as communicative as ever, too."

Top Gear: "The steering isn’t so high-geared as to be nervous, but it’s precise and staggeringly alert. And for a powered system the feel is as vivid as it gets."

Road & Track: "On the road you'll immediately notice one thing: This car talks to you. I don't mean that it literally says words. I also don't mean that the steering is communicative by modern standards. I mean it talks. The hydraulic rack is inch-precise and relays information quickly and accurately. It's not darty or nervous. An action by your hands produces an immediate, expected reaction from the front end. That might not sound like a monumental achievement or even something worth celebrating, but consider the moment: There are currently so few new cars on the road that are both immediate and communicative, this deserves applause. And it's not only the steering. The brakes, the gearbox, the clutch, they all have the same desire to tell you what they're up to, like a platoon giving key information to a lieutenant."

I think we can put Evo's findings mostly down to the conditions. Shame it wasn't a proper comparison.

 

 

[anthonyyule 309]

I rushed home to read this..... having just come back from a drive in mine on Saturday morning (1-3 degrees) then I immediately locked onto the initial comments about grip. It’s true.... limpet like.

however I genuinely ended the article confused about whether the car I own is the same as the Car that was reviewed. The steering on my car is almost other-worldly..... 

I’m delighted to see that it was a close run thing.... and I’m delighted to see that all the things we had all guessed would be raised as issues/ negatives from EVO were unfounded..... but bewildered that a “non-issue” has turned into a big deal. I agree - it must have been the conditions.... I can’t think of anything else!

[C8RKH 5,319 2 Vehicles]

1 minute ago, anthonyyule said:

it must have been the conditions.... I can’t think of anything else!

I can. The Porsche as always HAD to WIN!

[JG220 257]

They did drive them on the same road though. So the conditions were the same for both cars. 

An unsurprising result. The GT3 does look terrific, the 430 a perhaps a bit more exotic. 

The pricing has the Evora at £2k more than the GT3 which we all know is not the case. 

Quite a good read. 

[The Pits 4,404 1 Vehicles]

The conditions render the conclusions pretty meaningless for both cars. The comparison was limited to welsh A and B roads on a cold, wet day. Both cars deserved a more thorough investigation than that. I don't take much heed of the suggestion that the GT3 generates less grip in poor conditions either. It's a lot heavier and has the same tyres, only wider.

I'm utterly amazed that the Porsche's EPAS could be compared in any way to the Evora's system, I will believe it when I drive it for myself. It would have to be a quantum leap better than the 991.1 GT3 to get anywhere close. No other magazine has suggested the 991.2 steering is any kind of revolution, only that the EPAS keeps getting incrementally better with each new GT car. I read that as an admission that it was pretty awful to start with, not that many journos admitted it at the time.

Loads of inaccuracies such as the Sparco seats and 25 438bhp Evora GTEs but that’s to be expected these days.

[mcx 164 1 Vehicles]

1 hour ago, The Pits said:

The conditions render the conclusions pretty meaningless for both cars. The comparison was limited to welsh A and B roads on a cold, wet day. Both cars deserved a more thorough investigation than that. I don't take much heed of the suggestion that the GT3 generates less grip in poor conditions either. It's a lot heavier and has the same tyres, only wider.

I'm utterly amazed that the Porsche's EPAS could be compared in any way to the Evora's system, I will believe it when I drive it for myself. It would have to be a quantum leap better than the 991.1 GT3 to get anywhere close. No other magazine has suggested the 991.2 steering is any kind of revolution, only that the EPAS keeps getting incrementally better with each new GT car. I read that as an admission that it was pretty awful to start with, not that many journos admitted it at the time.

Loads of inaccuracies such as the Sparco seats and 25 438bhp Evora GTEs but that’s to be expected these days.

I used to enjoy getting EVO issues through the door, but now it is pretty sh1t. Their car of the year test was an absolute joke and the quality of the journalism ... not even bothering to do any research.. is awful. The GT3 is a great car but the comments about the Evora don’t make any sense. Possible issues with the weather of the test... anyway I’ve just cancelled my EVO subscription. I cancelled Autocar a few years back when they gave a nissan duke 5 stars. I don’t have anything against the car but really... ?

[mik 356]

1 hour ago, The Pits said:

The conditions render the conclusions pretty meaningless for both cars.

That was pretty much the conclusion i drew too. 430 has more than 2Deg -ve camber on the front end from memory. Whilst they have to call it as they find it, I struggle to believe the observations (on either car) bear much relation to dry capabilites above 15DegC where th8s woukd come into play.

[cobwatch 40]

Read the ink of my friends copy( a 40 mile round trip)...and the Porsche won by being...a better Lotus. Lotus really should have tweaked that clunky Evora steering, a well known and long standing weakness...the icing on the cake is the Porsche costing less. 

Not obvious Porsche propaganda though. Feels like EVO have called it as they found it for once.

 

[Gadzooks 66]

I wonder how fresh the rubber was on both cars.  I have noticed that the turn in response and steering feel on my 410 has dulled as the Cup 2s have worn.  Still great but noticably poorer.

[anthonyyule 309]

7 hours ago, cobwatch said:

Read the ink of my friends copy( a 40 mile round trip)...and the Porsche won by being...a better Lotus. Lotus really should have tweaked that clunky Evora steering, a well known and long standing weakness...the icing on the cake is the Porsche costing less. 

Not obvious Porsche propaganda though. Feels like EVO have called it as they found it for once.

 

Eh? and Eh?

im on my 3rd Evora.... never had any issues or concerns or problems or negative feedback to say about the power-steering.

and list price of the GT3.... well yes possibly cheaper....on the face of it.... But find 1 single car which left the factory without ANY options and/ or any car that you can actually buy! Even EVO themselves made this point quite clear.... cost comparisons with a car which you would struggle to buy anywhere (or if you could it would cost just under £200k) are meaningless. 

[The Pits 4,404 1 Vehicles]

Only reference to price was that the Lotus was £119k as tested and the 911 was £130k as tested. To buy one that's been thrashed with no regard to the running-in schedule by a car flipper will cost you another £50k.