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Isn't that (Lotus Academy) a driving skills school type of thing, whereas the Catarham Academy is actually a fully blown, nobby (as in newbie) race series? Two different things. Currently torn between the Lotus 3 days Academy session or 2bular headers for my Evora - both cost about the same!

And did you get her phone number before you dropped her off?

Does that apply to adding the black sports racer look too?

Just in case you missed it Stu the first post I referenced was NO ECU flash, just exhausts, cats, air. Have fun

Does this also apply to simpler mods like 2bular exhaust, ECU re-map and stuff like interior re-trim / diflow difuser / GTE wing etc? Just curious as to when "acceptable desirable" (it seems that a lot of people fit aftermarket exhaust systems like 2bular and Larini etc) becomes "unacceptable unwanted" if you get my drift. Is it when you start to "add" stuff to the engine to drive significant performance gains (e.g. intercoolers, turbo's,s/c's etc?) Just asking becuase I have never modd'ed a car before so genuinely have no idea / clue.

I thought I had read on here that someone had got Essex Autosports (I think!) to do just this - a 2bular full system and an ECU flash and programme on an Evora and they got good results. It might be worth contacting 2bular direct for info and advice etc, I've been told they (Jim I think) are very helpful and will be paying him a visit over the summer as I live around 60 miles away from him. The below was posted on here by BobsyRacer: I have installed the 2bular Headers - Downpipe - Metallic Cat, and Lotus Sport Muffler. The installation AND dyno results are posted at: http://www.lotustalk...564/index2.html Note, the dyno results are with NO ECU reflash / tune. I'm waiting until my warranty is up before any tune. The install is quite easy, if you have a lift. And this was posted by TomE: Nick Dooley over on SELOC (dicknooley) has 2bular exhaust, Radium CAI and a remap by Essex Autosport. Rolling road (by EA I think) was 307bhp at flywheel. Think he was going to go to the Dec rolling road session in Newbury that got postponed. He's on here too but doesn't post much so may be worth contacting via SELOC. You could invite him along to the TDI session in January - he's in Kent. The topic was called: More power and best ways to get it from an N/A? Hope this helps. Looks like you could get 20-40 bhp from the full exhaust and headers and an ECU remap which would be a very useful gain. Best Andy.

Personally, I absolutely love it and in that blue, yummy.........

A quick picture from a recent blast just to clear the cobwebs - up through Blairgowrie, the old Military Road to Glenshee, Braemar and then a stop in Ballater for lunch sat outside (where Scarlett pictured was parked opposite). Retraced route back to the B951 then cross country through Glen Isla to Kirriemuir and back home. A lovely drive on lovely roads and Scarlett was in great voice! I think she makes the mini look like a brick and really shows what a great looking car the Evora is.

I actually think that's a shame. A 345 at say £55k - £60k and then the 400 at £75k with paint. Nice... Guess it's all about capacity though. Still want a 400 though but in 2 years time. Can someone order an Ardent Red one, forged wheels, and no back seats. I might be able to buy it off you in 2018.... lol

I'm really excited too by the 400, and probably unlikely to buy a new one - but I will buy one! As for marketing / hype etc. As a community, there is something we can all, as current Lotus owners and forum members, do to positively HELP Lotus. Get out there on Facebook (if you have it, I loathe it and don't) and on Twitter. Us the hashtags Lotus; Evora; 400 etc and start talking about your current car, what you do with it, how it drives, what reaction you get, how it makes you smile. Damn, go mad and even post pictures on social media of your car (especially an Evora parked next to a Fezza 360 or 4300 as people will see just how ordinary the Fezza's look next to the Evora - there is said picture on this forum somewhere!). As owners, advocates, drivers, lovers and supporters of the marque and cars, we can actually make a huge difference in getting the message out there, generating the hype and helping Lotus, at no cost to themselves, to sell more more cars and then have the cash to invest in even more and better cars. Get your POSITIVE messages out there and watch the marque come alive...

Bill, i had to laugh at your post, but then I am getting slowly drunk in Warsaw! I don't think 3 weeks to get a part is good, 3 days then yes... but please forgive my tipsy state the beer is cold and the Wodka colder....

Damn Kier, you're so right. 3 week wait for cruise buttons when I bought car. Wanted barge boards, cash in wallet - on back order... Drivers window actuator gone - 2 weeks and no sight of part! You're right, Lotus really do need to sort this out and I would suggest it is ONLY the fact they have mostly great dealers who go the extra mile that keeps customers really happy.....

He's entitled to his own opinion but does not make him right A supercar compared to the Mclaren F1 of P1, of the Fezza FF, or any other post £250k machine may be not. But a super car, yes, the Evora 400 really is.... Lotus = british = low budget = not sexy to most car journo's. They need to suck up to the big boys to get early access to driver programmes etc as Lotus will sell a few pages/hits, but the next Lambo/Fezza/Macca etc will sell so much more. But then, that is just my opinion and I might not be right.

Nice picture. I think the retrim there really lifts the Evora into another league and is very impressive. As mine is a 2010 it will look great once done, like new again Spoken to a couple of people on here and on Piston Heads and DTT has a very good rep though he is booked up 3-4 months ahead. Good luck with Transcal, I'd have preferred to use them as local, the idea of an 800 mile round trip was not ideal but I am sure the end result will be worth it. Also will probably go and see Brian Swankie in Fife as he has been recommended by a couple of people on here too. Thanks.

Thanks Bravo73. I had seen these on another thread and was intersted. So I did my research and sent off a nice email to Transcal with all the details, including numerous pictures of what I wanted, and asked for a contact back and a quote. I waited two weeks and nothing. Yadder. So I phoned them. Spoke to someone who I explained the situation too and she said I would get contacted by the right person. Waited two weeks and yup you guessed it, yadder - nothing - no interest. So decided that if this company could not be bothered to respond I'd take my business elsewhere so approached "DaveTheTrimmer" with the exact same email and attachments as the one to Transcal and got a very professional response and price estimates too. Guess who will be getting my business? Those seats above do look very nice, but with service like that, I don;t think I'll bother

Totally agree with all you wrote in the last post Gravel. And Bibs, that just shows the attention to detail Lotus can get to when they try

I get your point Gravel, I guess we both want the same thing - a strong healthy Lotus company with a strong and healthy product line up of cars we want to, and indeed do, enjoy driving. Have to admit, although the switches are awkward on the dash / centre console for the current Evora, people I've had in my car genuinely feel the love for the fact it is real metal and not plastic. They seem to love the fact that they believe it means the car was "engineered". But then same people have not tried to use the mirror switch on the door from Ford, too much for my short fat hands. hahahaha!

Gravel, re "Would an Audi interior in a car that was actually fun to drive really upset people? " The answer to this is YES! A very good friend of mine with a long history of nice cars (F40, F50, 512, 360 Spider, F430, 911's, many classic Merc SL's, Bentley Arnages and GT's and Azures, etc etc) looked at an R8 and turned it down because (1) it was an Audi and (2) it had an Audi interior. A current work colleague who has a highly modified 500+bhp R8 V8 hates the interior - it's just like a TT he says. I wouldn't buy an Audi even if it was fun to drive, just hate the image and the fact they are two a penny. That's why I'm arguing for Lotus to do what it does, but better, get profitable but be content with it's niche. There's a difference between being a profitable business and chasing bigger and bigger revenues and profits. And as for quirkiness / build quality the R6 cabin isn't pretty and the R6 is one of the least reliable cars according to JD Power / Which surveys. SO even the "big" profitable guys don't always get it right. I know, I'll take the rose tinted spectacles off.

Yes Aurouge, maybe my spectacles are rose tinted, but in my opinion, having driven a 458 on the road (not the track) and now owning an Evora, I would say it is 98% as good. Don't get me wrong, if I had the cash I'd love to splash it on a 458, 488, 599 etc. but would I be getting something that was 2 or possibly 3 times better than the Evora 400 for my 2 or 3 times extra outlay? I personally do not think so. But woukld I enjoy owning one of the said Ferrari's? Of course I would. Though to be honest, whereas in the Lotus I usually get nothing but smiles, I can't help thinking in the Ferrari people would think I was in the coffee bean business. Just saying. I like the "ThePits" points. Owning a Lotus appeals to people who enjoy driving cars, and driving them well and driving them fast. It's a niche brand and in my opinion it should always stay so. By staying true to it's principles it can develop and produce great cars that people will buy and with improved manufacturing and quality control it will get more customers. It will never sell 100's of thousands of vehicles, but then why should it? Why can't it exist for what it is? A niche supplier of fabulous motor cars, at an affordable price point, for the enthusiast. Niche does not need to mean cheap, poor quality, etc. In fact in most instances, we seek out the "artisan" product and pay a premium for it. Strange then that Lotus do not charge more.... Leave Ferrari, Porsche, Audi and the rest to chase market share and don't get jealous of it - just remember that rather tha n buying an original oil painting, one of the few, you are buying a print - maybe a limited edition print, but a print all the same. Lotus. Please, just do what you do better, keep the customers you have loyal, and actually market your products, and you will grow. Why is everyone so obsessed with figures on paper, be they 0-60mph times or BHP figures or sales figures? Big is not always best or beautiful, and I'm a fat bugger so now that is true. I personally don;lt care that my NA Evora "only" pushes out 275bhp compared to a Vette's gadzillion or a GTR's quadmillion. I live in a beautiful part of Scotland, with some great roads and not a lot of traffic and struggle to reach the full potential of my lowly 275 bhp, god knows what I'll do with the extra 125bhp when I get an Evora 400. I always wanted a DB9. I was intoxicated by that 6.0 litre V12 and the sublime looks. I"settled" for an NA Evora. Do I regret my decision? After all a DB9 has an extra 200bhp and about an extra ton in weight too. No way. I guess it just shows it's horses for courses. I bought my Lotus to drive it. A lot of Ferrari owners bought it to pose and show off their wealth. Does not make them bad people, but ultimately, who will make the best driving car? The one who has demanding posers for customers, or the one who's customers demand th best driving experience. My money is on Lotus. But then, I'm not always right.

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.....