C8RKH

Al, I'm looking forward to meeting you and your Evora at some point in the near future.... Out of interest, why did you choose Lotus to retrim it rather than anyone else?

£79k list for my perfect next new car. It's a bargain but too rich for me, so can someone please order one as follows: Evora 400 base in White (pearl) Red Leather Cruise Forged Wheels When it's five years old with around 20k miles I should be able to afford to buy it from you.....

TBD - you are correct and if you desire it you should go as far as you want to exploit the reserves in the engine / gearbox etc. Indeed, I am looking at a new set of headers for my car to release just some of that potential in the reserves. So we kinda agree. I guess though there is a difference between "fettling" to get an extra 10% power which probably keeps the car balanced overall, than a wholesale engineering change to get 40% plus extra power (NA stock 275 versus 400 plus)which will undoubtedly need other things to be looked at like braking (the 400 has larger brakes for instance already), dampers, etc. I have no doubt there are some very fine 3rd party company's out there who could engineer the whole package. But at what price and might it not be better just to move the car on and, for instance, upgrade to the 400. Just look at the cost of the supercharger upgrade for the NA - £15k - £20K with all bits modified and balanced etc. No right or wrong answer.

Admittedly the Viper is not sold in the UK officially so a little hard to do the comparisons, but you should get the idea... NissanGTR £78,000 ($122,460) no options - ACTUAL US PRICE TODAY NEW - $102k base (in GBP at today's rate £65k) Porker 911 Carrera £73,500 ($115,395) no options - AUS PRICE TODAY NEW - $88k base (in GBP - £56k) Maser Gran Turismo £82,890 ($130,137)no options - ACTUAL US PRICE TODAY NEW - $133k (in GBP - £85k) Lotus EVora 400 - US Price $90k which equals a UK price, at today's rate of £57k!!!!! A £15k difference. I know, the Government probably gets most of the difference in the Uk in Taxes.

Thanks Lee and agree, done well it should be OK. I take it DTT shared my Pink Panther theme with you then Durum, durum.....

The "Ring" is not the be all and end all, after all how many cars with great "Ring" times are actually bitches to live with as the ride is too darnn hard and unforgiving (Most German cars?) All the cars you list are huge multi-national corporates that sell hundreds of thousands if not millions of cars a year and you are comparing, on price, a Lotus that barely sells 3,000 cars worldwide with them. Not a fair comparison in my mind. And also, If I'm spending £70k or more on a car, I like the fact that people will be intridued as to what my car is and I won;t see many on the road. You can;t say that about Vette's (in the US), Mustangs, GTR's, Porkpies, etc.... Look, at the end of the day sometimes you buy the Lotus BECAUSE you don't want any of the above. We can all justify the purchase of a 400 to ourselves, and at the end of the day who cares what others think? Would I have a Mustang, even a Shelby one - hell no. A GTR - no thanks, just think it looks ugly and heavy (which it is). The Porsche - no, I don't want my kids to think I'm either a dentist or a winker!. The Maser, hmmm, now maybe and as for the Vette, yes, if it was in RHD I'd consider it, but probably go for the Evora 400 'cause at the end of the day it will drive and handle better. But then I'm biased. And I know it. And damn it, I just dont care...

So likely to be a 2+0, which is ideal for me anyway. Now, where's that penny jar, I need to get filling it up....

Hi everyone, not been able to drive the Evora for the past 8 days as I've been away, god I miss it Doesn't stop me thinking about it though. I know a few people on here had some work done on their trim, and in a few instances, a full re-trim. I was looking for owners who had done this and then "sold on" their re-trimmed Evora. What were the consequences to the price you got for the car? Did it put anyone off? I have a 2010 2+0 NA with the charcoal interior. It needs livening up as it's a bit of a dull place to be, so, have been talking to "dave the trimmer" re some ideas and will be going down to see him, hopefully next month. So just interested in peoples experiences. Also, when the re-trim was done, did it all go back to together OK or did you get plagued with squeaks and rattles. I'm sure you get the gist of what I'm asking for. Thanks in advance and happy motoring.

Aurouge: Is Lotus is planning on using a V8 570/650ps, 7 Speed Twin Clutch, Carbon Fibre tub, adaptable electronic/magnetic suspension, hard folding electric roof with Carbon Ceramic disks...? No I don't suppose it is. But then, who needs all that when the Evora 400 Spider / Targa whatever will be 98% as good, 99% as fast on real roads, 97% or better on track and 50% of the price. I know where my smart money would go, but accept that some people just want to pose... I also buy an Exige as a toy with the £15k - £20k I won't need to spend on new Carbon Ceramic brakes after 3 years. Hahahaha - each to his or her own, you earned it, you have the right to spend it how you want. :)

Old interview (Geneva earlier this year) Interview in car magazine with new CEO re the Evora 400 here: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-events/geneva/2015/a-guided-tour-around-the-new-lotus-evora-400---by-the-chief-exec/ This bit really grabbed my attention and got my spine tingling quite a bit!!! How crucial is the US in that plan? 'Extremely crucial. Last year we sold 300 2014 model-year cars because the latest car wasn’t US compliant. This car will go to the US in December, and help take us to 500 units – that’s why we’ve engineered side airbags into the 400. An Evora roadster is an easy job with this chassis, and that will take us to 700 units.' Looks like the Evora Roadster is going to happen. Wow...... No need to buy a Mclaren spider now and why bother witha 458/488 spider at over 2x the cost? Killer blow hahahaha.....

Or just save the pennies and trade up to an Evora 400 which has been fully tested, mapped and configured for power AND reliability. I'd rather go with Lotus engineering than after-market for something like this as Lotus is a high performance engineering marque with a proven long pedigree so I would trust them to get the whole package (power, handling, stopping) well balanced and correct - unlike of course a mainstream manufacturer who lives for compromise. Just saying....

Well, not related at all to cargo nets but at least I now know where to look for my battery! Thanks for that, I was wondering....

Love it love it love it - oh yes, I'm gonna give up alcohol and start putting my beer money in the pot for this. However, just like with the S - I much prefer to the two pipes of the Lotus Sport exhaust on my 2010 NA model, rather than that triangularthingymejiggy that they use here too. So an Evora 400 with two big pipes at the back and that is me happy as happy can be.....

I have a CR box on a 2010 NA. I've only ever driven one Evora, the one I bought from MMC! So no idea what difference th SR/LR box would make. I may be just the luckiest man alive or just really easily pleased, but every time I open my garage and see that lovely big curvy bootilicious arse with her big rubber boots on, just begging me to take it for a drive, I honestly do not think I would care if she had a CR or an SR box. Just buy the one that suits you the best, look at it and drool all over it - coz everyone else will , but most importantly, just drive it - you'll not be disappointed with either option on normal roads where she will probably spend 90%+ of her mileage whether you track her or not.

SWMBO prefers a lie-in so have updated accordingly ! 1: bingoking +0 2&3: ian2144 + 1 4&5: Gordon + 1 6: DuncanA +0 7: Jim S 8&9: Innes W +1 10: van cleef 11&12 : Mike C +1 13&14 DewarCraig +1 15. Brandon 16. Andy 17 : Ian C 18&19: Hedgerley + 1 20 : Tony Y 21: Ken London 22: Jasonosarus 23 VFW108W 24 mxvx

I have to admit to being slightly flummoxed by several points of view and arguments that are put forward. I pity anyone who needs to use a food bank. Not because there is anything wrong with the food or the principle, but more from a self esteem perspective. It can't do much for your confidence having to rely on someone else's charity to feed yourself or your family. And whilst I can have a little sympathy for people in this situation, I have a lot more for the people who actually try to do something about their situation and get ahead. As for the food banks themselves, well I will share a little true story. Local farmer had 20 tons of perfectly good potatoes that he had lifted from the field and palleted up. He had no buyer for them so contacted the local food bank and was offering to donate them for free. "Are they washed" they asked. No, he replied, fresh from the field. "Oh, are they bagged?" they asked. No. Fresh from the field and I can deliver them to you he replied. "Sorry, we don't wan them" was the reply. Wow - 20 tons of potatoes is an awful lot of mash, roast, chipped and boiled potatoes that ended up rotting away. If things really where that bad, they would have been snapped up. Yes, I know, EU rules that, Local Authority rules this. But then 20 tons of perfectly good fresh food wasted. Complete and utter bonkers.... I just don't buy a lot of the drivel that I read in the press and see on the news. Times are hard and there are no jobs and yet we have the highest percentage of the population working for years. There are no jobs, yet people investing and building factories in the Midlands are having to setup interview centres in Eastern Europe to hire workers and ship them in to the jobs that are there - because they can't get applicants from the local community. Hmmm, something not quite right there. When I left school in 1985 jobs where hard to come by. There was nothing locally to me in th town I lived in, in Cheshire. So I applied for jobs in Liverpool, Runcorn, Warrington, Manchester etc. and eventually I found one in Manchester. A 50 mile a day commute back in 1985 at the tender age of 18. Haven't looked back since, but have had to move several times to stay employed / find a better job and have lived and/or worked in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, London, Northampton, Woking, Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling etc. The point I am making is that there are jobs - but they are not always on your terms and sometimes you need to move to get one and get on. 50 years ago, you were born where your parents were born and quite often you got a job in the same factory, mine, shop, whatever as they worked. Times now are different and you cannot expect to stay in one place for ever and get handed a great life on a plate. You can either stay and die in the famine caused by no jobs, or, move across the stream to the green field and prosper. The point I am making is that in these days, you have the power to choose to better your lot. Too many just sit there inert, whining their way to extinction. So, how much harder is it really now to get a job than it was in 1985? Housing ladders - another big gripe. Yes houses are expensive these days, but then mortgages are cheap. I bought my first house in 1987, a lovely little 2 up 2 down terrace for £20k. Interest rate was about 4.5% and everything was great until 12 months later when they topped 16%!!! Bugger, that was hard but the silver lining was the house had gone up in value to £42k - yippeee.. I worked for a bank at the time, but had to break the rules and got a second job working 3 nights a week in a pub / bar to just to keep afloat. Then overnight, the value of my house plummeted to £25k! Oh well, at least I was surviving. How much harder is it today? Probably not much harder in terms of mortgage affordability, the difference is in the size of deposit needed. But then, ma ny people didn't complain at the soaring price of their house, instead they remortgaed every three years or so, put £30k or £40k into a BMW or Audi, had the kitchen done and went on a cruise. Oh how times have changed and look at who is whinging and whining now.... Tuition fees - what a farce. Brought in by Labour but yet the Conservatives and Lib Dems are getting battered all over place for them. Again, in 1985 at the age of 18 I suppose I could have gone to University. But my parents would not have been able to help financially and I believed the best thing I could do was to get a job. My wife went to Uni - bloody waste of time and expense that was! But then that is another story A university education is regarded as a right these days, thanks to Labour. It's not. My daughter is at Uni. A four year course in International Business Management that is a breeze and could easily be condensed into 2 years. The benefit of that - well 2 years in easier to fund yourself through than 4 - 50% of the cost / debt, and the work ethic required to succeed would be similar to that required to succeed in a job. So the graduates would be more employable, more productive etc.... I suppose the point I am trying to make is that it is easy to blame the politicians of the time. But we all have played a part in what has happened. We can all do things to improve our chances and our lot in life. Maybe it's time to stop whining and whinging and blaming the politicians, but to actually get back to "old" values such as saving for things we want and the future. Not feeling as though we have to have it all now. etc... 12 years of New Labour taught us that the state knows best and will look after us as long as we do what they want. It did niot work for Stalin or communist Russia, so why did they think it would work for us? At least with the Conservatives they effectively say look, we'll create an environment that we believe will empower you to make your own decisions and your responsibility is to make the best of it for yourself and your family. I prefer the latter, but understand if people prefer the former. Off for a drive in my Evora to forget about the woes of this world....

I'd have sped up to 50 and the let the little shit smash into the central reservation. But then I'm not as nice as you... Driving out of Ballater towards Braemar got a nice light flash and a wave from a guy driving a bright yellow McLaren. Nice....

Any idea if this stuff would work on the plastic engine cover for the Evora na? Would the plastic need prepping first? Thanks

"Come on you Blues!!!" - Barry, as a lifelong Liverpool fan that will be the one and only time I chant those words....

Funny thing is though Pete it has suited Labour more from 1960 until 2010 when those extra 60 MP's kept on returning them to power. Don't remember anyone, Scottish or English, complaining about that at the time. During the 1950's Scotland was Blue, so, with the collapse of Labour, and an SNP firmly on the hook for delivery, maybe we will enter a time again when Scotland turns bluer. Who knows.... Without a rersurgence of Scottish Labour we could be in in for a few terms of Conservatives at the helm. But I do strongly agree that Scotland is over represented in Westminster and this needs to change. As does their whining that they have gotten the government they did not vote for - it's what happened to the English because of their block vote for Labour for years. I do wish the whining and whinging would stop. Interested that no-one from England has asked Leanne from Plaid Cymru what deal she has done with Nicola to reduce the Scottish subsidy and transfer some of it to Wales as this would show their progressive politics in action. I guess she just expects the English tax payers to give up more to level the disparity between Scotland and Wales whilst widening the per capita gap between both of them and England. Same goes for Northern Ireland too. Maybe we just have a subsidy per UK head and split the spoils equally by population. That seems fair to me. You spend what you make in taxes, no more, no less, so the focus will be on health, education and business to drive growth in wages and taxes. Thought that was what everyone wanted anyway.

Thought it was hilarious when the BBC presented Ashdown with a Marzipan hat and Campbell with a chocolate kilt last night on Question Time. It was the way the guy handed them a nice silver fork each, great touch.... Genuinely moved by Ashdown's honesty when he could not answer the question about why the Libdems had been punished so much by the voters. I thought he showed sincerity, honesty, and a real desire to understand rather than just whip out a sound bite. Many people are saying we need younger politicians, but look at the mess young politicians created as New Labour - I think we need good old fashioned statespeople who have actual real life experiences. I mean, we now have a 20 year old member of parliament who probably still get's her washing done by her mother! Thought the woman in the pink thing on the Question Time panel made some good points, but have to say that in my opinion Campbell came across as a nasty, sneering, arrogant piece of something. Despite his obvious intellect, does he not realise that it was exactly that attitude and arrogance that turned off people from Labour - exactly the same expression as Milliband, Balls, Flint et al. The Labour party really does need to look long and deep at itself if it is going to recover. As ever, thought Swinney was talking nonsense, how he is the "financial leader" of Scotland is beyond me. And with the Scottish elections looming next year that will be another distraction for the SNP that will again stop them from actually being progressive about anything as they haven't actually done anything yet in power. Just shows how the balance in the UK is wrong though as well - SNP have under 1.4m votes and 56 or so seats, UKIP have 3.9m votes and 1 seat, and LibDems have 2.4m votes and 8 seats. Bonkers system. Oh well, that's me for another 5 years, off for a drive in the Evora and everything will feel good....

I am coming up to 1 month ownership and just love my little red Evora. It feels like a really special place to be when you're sat behind the drivers wheel and I don't think I will ever get tired of the view from the side mirror over the those swooping hips and air vent! I feel very privileged to own such a beautiful car and others seem to appreciate it to with plenty of thumbs up, smiles and waves, including a flash of the headlights and wave from a passing bright yellow McLaren MP4 coming the other way up near Ballater. Only one instance where I've been given the finger / shaking coffee beans treatment but then that was a van driver who was being a tw@t anyway! Not sure I would feel so good behind the wheel of a Rosso Ferrari, as would suspect many people would think I was good at winking or something. Which in itself is a shame as, just like many Ferrari drivers, I've worked hard all my life to get what I have. But hey ho, people who don't feel compelled to work hard seem quite compelled to loathe those that enjoy what hard work can bring. That will never change. Already thinking of my next purchase, but I'm pleased to say it WILL be another Evora. I just love the car and like the brand - a real enthusiasts brand as opposed to a poseurs one.

1: bingoking +0 2&3: ian2144 + 1 4&5: Gordon + 1 6: DuncanA +0 7: Jim S 8&9: Innes W +1 10: van cleef 11&12 : Mike C +1 13&14 DewarCraig +1 15. Brandon 16&17. Andy +1? (will confirm with SWMBO shortly as she's still in bed!)

Ed has balls'ed it up and is no more - yippeee.. Hopefully Milibland will be next, and then those ghastly women Harriot Harmon and Caroline Flint who are always so smug and NEVER let anyone else get a word in... Hopefully, the Labour party will sit back for 3-6 months. Take stock, and really learn and understand why they have been given such a kicking by the "working man and woman". Maybe they will realise that those same working men and women were just getting sick of all the focus and money being spent on those who did not want to work.... Labour lost total touch with the electorate and real people with real problems. They have paid the price. If the Conservatists are smart, they will use this next 5 years to position three things: (1) the party that has the best interests of the working man and woman at heart and (2) a cast iron security net for the NHS and (3) deliver fiscal devolution to Scotland and scrap the Barnett formula. By doing these things they will "lock out" the Labour Party for some time in England. They will also start to address some of the gains by the nationalist parties of SNP and UKIP, and in Scotland, they will be able to hold the SNP to account for the delivery of affordable progressive policies and politics. The SNP now have a clear mandate from the Scottish People to govern and provide "progressive" politics in Scotland. The fact is that NOW THEY HAVE TO DELIVER this. So far, they have not, and with the referendum and election they have been able to "fob off" the people of Scotland with woolly non-answers, it's time now for them to stand and deliver and be held accountable by the Scottish electorate for what they deliver. The Conservatives last held power in Scotland in the 50's and this may well be a turning point for them. Historically, the SNP have always leaned to the right, and still do, so it could be fertile ground for the Conservatives to develop into the second party of Scotland at Labour's expense. Now, that would indeed be an interesting proposition on the UK platform....

Bloody trackers, spoil all the fun...