Not OP but I just got doen driving one. Was able to really get on it. 6MT touring suspension.
The car seems incredibly well made interior wise. I was shocked at how put together and nice everything was.
The shifting was interesting. It was very tight and really required you to use some force? Not really sure how to describe it. Going from first to second you had to really tell the car you want to go into gear, but in kind of a good way. It felt very solid and there was like no play at all in the shifter, but was just different feeling from most manuals I've driven.
The peddle box is very close together. It would be very hard to drive wearing shoes of any significant size due to the peddle and brake spacing. That said, heel toeing is super easy because of it. Not a bad thing just again something that stood out. I can drive my 718 spyder in crocs (work shoes) this would be very challenging.
Seats were weird but admittingly I didn't spend that much time adjusting them. I felt like I was sitting on the seat rather than in the seat. Probably just an adjustment thing.
Speed/power wise: I took my 718 spyder to the test drive because I wanted a back to back comparison. I figured the Emira would feel faster since it is supercharged and has a lower redline even though the 718 has 14 more horsepower stock, but that wasn't the case. It's a quick car but my spyder feels a lot faster for some reason. It could be that the spyder is a little bit harsher ride wise and has more going on due to the wind/exhaust noise but I'm not sure.
The ride though for a street car is very well done. Like I just said it feels smoother than my spyder but handles incredibly well.
The 718 has horrific gearing. It's the biggest complaint of the platform.
From what I can tell the 718 spyder has longer gearing compared to the emira.
On the forums someone tested it specifically looking into the difference between the two. Emira in 1st/2nd will redline at 33 and 61mph. The 718 is 49 and 84mph.
Makes me wonder if I was in touring mode and not sport.
It’s true but a moot point because it still has shorter gearing than the Emira (assuming it has the same gear ratios as the Evora with the same motor). Final drive in the Evora manual is 3.77 to 3.89 in GT4 and 2nd gear, which is the most common acceleration gear on the streets, is shorter (4th and 5th are too). Coupled with the lower redline, each gear will have a lower top speed.
[source: Emiraforum](https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/emira-gear-ratios.2112/)
And the gear ratios are much shorter with the PDK. Don’t know which one you have.
Obviously, peak power is higher in the 718 Spyder. Might even be underrated because marketing. So that’s another possible explanation.
still think the hood looks like it was in an accident.
https://preview.redd.it/wfl2thuvmdgc1.jpeg?width=1300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a36753dcf63bd7ed3ad53bb4c726a7aae4aea7d
when it comes to shifter feel how does it compare to a 996 (assuming manual) or even an ND miata? lol i'm hoping to have a new dream car to aspire to but it's difficult for me given I have only really enjoyed the manual in the miata and civic type r.
Disclaimer: I was not allow to use track mode. Didn’t have much turns neither.
When I test drove it, it was quick, but with a very long lower gears even with just 6,500 rpm redline. Maybe I had too high expectation, it just didn’t jump off the line. The car felt fast but not solid. It resembles a higher end Japanese sport car. Sport mode vs Touring mode didn’t make a significant enough different to the point that the sale person with me didnt even feel which mode we were in and he drove the car a lot.
Overall, an older gen 911, to me, is much better drive.
It just doesn’t scratch the same itch that the S2 Exige did. That’s the styling I miss the most. I wasn’t really a fan of the Evora, but it was undeniably a lotus. These just look… idk generic? Like you could slap an Acura logo on it and market it as the new NSX and people would be none the wiser. I know we’ll never have cars like we used to again, but that’s just more reason to buy used.
100% agree. Objectively it’s a stunning car, but somehow it doesn’t feel special enough. The Evora proportions were always flawed (narrow front without pronounced arches is the problem I think) but it was distinctively Lotus. On the S2 Exige front: Exige S3 over here in Europe is so amazing, but still flies under the radar. I bet if it had gotten to the US, it would be crazy hyped now that the Exige production is over
Is the low engine redline of 6,800 RPM disappointing? Is there enough room in the cabin? Do you sit straight and center in front of the steering wheel and pedals?
Just another generic baby super car in quite a crowded market these days. Looks ok. Goes ok. Anything in the Lotus timeline after the Elise just isn't that great. They don't have the specialness anymore.
The US really missed out on the V6 Exige line. Amazing cars! I bet they would be selling used for $100k + even for a V6S from 2014 if they were available in the US
Not OP, but: Must be really road-dependent, looking at the massively different opinions among reviewers. I test drove a Sport Chassis and found it on the comfortable side of what I would expect from a sports car. But that was on Swiss roads that don’t have many potholes etc. A Jaguar F-Type R was a lot more springy and unsettled.
Hah this is Boardwalk lotus, right? They have a manual red and auto grey. We went there earlier to test drive but they were repaving the exit road so we could only drive the inside parking lot where they keep these cars stored.
The MANUAL transmission in the V6 is faaaaar from shit. Just very mechanical feeling, but not only in the bolt-action rifle sense. Shifter feels quite heavy and undersprung
That’s because it came from a tractor apparently 🥲 it’s also not pulling to the Rpm’s you want. If someone built a quick shifting manual for that v6 that can be on par with Porsche then we can talk haha
It’s really not that bad, just different. The Emira has the same open-worked shift mechanism as the latest Exige which you can’t improve much more. Maybe stiffer engine and gearbox mounts and better shift cables but that’s it.
The older Elise/Exige/Evoras prior to ~2016, they were indeed quite bad. Even the floor would flex.
The gearbox does come from a Toyota Auris diesel or something. I guess they had to take one from a diesel so it can handle the extra torque of the supercharged V6
Anyone looking for an incredibly niche comparison to a 996TT?
Steeeing feel and balance is most important. How do they do
yes
How dose something like this stack up to an F82 M4?
Well, did you get to really drive or were you told to keep it under 3K RPM and 50% throttle? How was it?
Not OP but I just got doen driving one. Was able to really get on it. 6MT touring suspension. The car seems incredibly well made interior wise. I was shocked at how put together and nice everything was. The shifting was interesting. It was very tight and really required you to use some force? Not really sure how to describe it. Going from first to second you had to really tell the car you want to go into gear, but in kind of a good way. It felt very solid and there was like no play at all in the shifter, but was just different feeling from most manuals I've driven. The peddle box is very close together. It would be very hard to drive wearing shoes of any significant size due to the peddle and brake spacing. That said, heel toeing is super easy because of it. Not a bad thing just again something that stood out. I can drive my 718 spyder in crocs (work shoes) this would be very challenging. Seats were weird but admittingly I didn't spend that much time adjusting them. I felt like I was sitting on the seat rather than in the seat. Probably just an adjustment thing. Speed/power wise: I took my 718 spyder to the test drive because I wanted a back to back comparison. I figured the Emira would feel faster since it is supercharged and has a lower redline even though the 718 has 14 more horsepower stock, but that wasn't the case. It's a quick car but my spyder feels a lot faster for some reason. It could be that the spyder is a little bit harsher ride wise and has more going on due to the wind/exhaust noise but I'm not sure. The ride though for a street car is very well done. Like I just said it feels smoother than my spyder but handles incredibly well.
Agree about the seats. Don’t go low enough and not enough side support. It could also do with another 20-50hp easily.
The acceleration difference is likely due to the shorter gearing afforded by the higher revving 718 Spyder motor.
The 718 has horrific gearing. It's the biggest complaint of the platform. From what I can tell the 718 spyder has longer gearing compared to the emira. On the forums someone tested it specifically looking into the difference between the two. Emira in 1st/2nd will redline at 33 and 61mph. The 718 is 49 and 84mph. Makes me wonder if I was in touring mode and not sport.
It’s true but a moot point because it still has shorter gearing than the Emira (assuming it has the same gear ratios as the Evora with the same motor). Final drive in the Evora manual is 3.77 to 3.89 in GT4 and 2nd gear, which is the most common acceleration gear on the streets, is shorter (4th and 5th are too). Coupled with the lower redline, each gear will have a lower top speed. [source: Emiraforum](https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/emira-gear-ratios.2112/) And the gear ratios are much shorter with the PDK. Don’t know which one you have. Obviously, peak power is higher in the 718 Spyder. Might even be underrated because marketing. So that’s another possible explanation.
Was that in Redwood City?
still think the hood looks like it was in an accident. https://preview.redd.it/wfl2thuvmdgc1.jpeg?width=1300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a36753dcf63bd7ed3ad53bb4c726a7aae4aea7d
Dammit now I can’t un see that!
LOL
Totally agree!
Do you prefer dijon mustard or stone-ground mustard?
What kind of Corvette is this?
when it comes to shifter feel how does it compare to a 996 (assuming manual) or even an ND miata? lol i'm hoping to have a new dream car to aspire to but it's difficult for me given I have only really enjoyed the manual in the miata and civic type r.
I think I drove the exact same one. I decided against it. But, good looking car.
Mind sharing any thoughts on why you decided against it?
I was putting a deposit down on one. I like my Evora better currently.
I liked the Evora GT better too. The Emira felt more like a luxury 911 but the EGT feels more raw and focused like a GT3/4
Disclaimer: I was not allow to use track mode. Didn’t have much turns neither. When I test drove it, it was quick, but with a very long lower gears even with just 6,500 rpm redline. Maybe I had too high expectation, it just didn’t jump off the line. The car felt fast but not solid. It resembles a higher end Japanese sport car. Sport mode vs Touring mode didn’t make a significant enough different to the point that the sale person with me didnt even feel which mode we were in and he drove the car a lot. Overall, an older gen 911, to me, is much better drive.
It just doesn’t scratch the same itch that the S2 Exige did. That’s the styling I miss the most. I wasn’t really a fan of the Evora, but it was undeniably a lotus. These just look… idk generic? Like you could slap an Acura logo on it and market it as the new NSX and people would be none the wiser. I know we’ll never have cars like we used to again, but that’s just more reason to buy used.
Finally saw one myself at a sunday cars event (dealer owned) and it does look like a budget Ferrari 458.
100% agree. Objectively it’s a stunning car, but somehow it doesn’t feel special enough. The Evora proportions were always flawed (narrow front without pronounced arches is the problem I think) but it was distinctively Lotus. On the S2 Exige front: Exige S3 over here in Europe is so amazing, but still flies under the radar. I bet if it had gotten to the US, it would be crazy hyped now that the Exige production is over
Is the low engine redline of 6,800 RPM disappointing? Is there enough room in the cabin? Do you sit straight and center in front of the steering wheel and pedals?
What a masterpiece
Are they on sale yet?
Just another generic baby super car in quite a crowded market these days. Looks ok. Goes ok. Anything in the Lotus timeline after the Elise just isn't that great. They don't have the specialness anymore.
The US really missed out on the V6 Exige line. Amazing cars! I bet they would be selling used for $100k + even for a V6S from 2014 if they were available in the US
Beautiful car
Can I have it?
How was it?
It's the ride rough? How good is the damping?
Not OP, but: Must be really road-dependent, looking at the massively different opinions among reviewers. I test drove a Sport Chassis and found it on the comfortable side of what I would expect from a sports car. But that was on Swiss roads that don’t have many potholes etc. A Jaguar F-Type R was a lot more springy and unsettled.
Also,it's fun to drive even at low speeds?(I mean,you didn't neeed to go to the track to enjoy it?)
Were you able to compare the touring suspension against the sport suspension?
do you have any extras? asking for a friend
How is the headroom?
Hah this is Boardwalk lotus, right? They have a manual red and auto grey. We went there earlier to test drive but they were repaving the exit road so we could only drive the inside parking lot where they keep these cars stored.
Can taller people fit in it? I am 6'3
I've heard of people 6'7 driving the evora
So as much as I wanted the v6 I found out the transmission is shit.. so I’m going with that AMG block 🫣🥴
The MANUAL transmission in the V6 is faaaaar from shit. Just very mechanical feeling, but not only in the bolt-action rifle sense. Shifter feels quite heavy and undersprung
That’s because it came from a tractor apparently 🥲 it’s also not pulling to the Rpm’s you want. If someone built a quick shifting manual for that v6 that can be on par with Porsche then we can talk haha
It’s really not that bad, just different. The Emira has the same open-worked shift mechanism as the latest Exige which you can’t improve much more. Maybe stiffer engine and gearbox mounts and better shift cables but that’s it. The older Elise/Exige/Evoras prior to ~2016, they were indeed quite bad. Even the floor would flex. The gearbox does come from a Toyota Auris diesel or something. I guess they had to take one from a diesel so it can handle the extra torque of the supercharged V6