Autocar - 911 vs R8 vs GT410

[C8RKH]

I know the Porsche won. And actually reading the article I understand why it won. However, reading the article confirmed to me why I have an Evora. Why I have a Lotus.

I think the author here struck the right balance. No stupid quips about Toyota, Lots of Trouble, parts bin etc. He actually got and gets what the Evora is all about and seems to have remembered with fondness his drives way back in 2009 at launch.

I actually think this win for Porsche was justified. I understand his rationale and his reasoning for it. I think it also actually tells us what Lotus needs to do to win. And it's not really as much as you might think!  Food for thought.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/good-sports-porsche-911-vs-audi-r8-v10-vs-lotus-evora-gt410

[au-yt]

Good read, and a well rounded review, yes the 911 won. To me the Evora is still my choice, it’s a special place to be in and a magic thing at any speed, yes it’s a little difficult to get into but to me that’s it’s part of its appeal. Sadly when cars become to user friendly they become like common white goods. My concern is if the Lotuses become to easy to use they will loose that endearing  specialness. I hope I’m wrong.

[jonwat]

Nice to see the Lotus rate better than the Audi when it's only two thirds the price. 

[Bozzie]

I agree with all the above posts but for me... look at the photos?  Who here would buy either of the German cars on looks? Not me! 

[EGTE]

I've got a Panamera for touring and an Evora for B-roads. The 911 tries to do both (and looks huge...). I'll wager my cars do their respective jobs better than the 911.

 

[electro_boy]

Good article, I think it describes each car pretty fairly.  Good to see the cars are actually close and the result comes down to personal preference. eg I could use the exact same words as the writer but my conclusion would be the Evora, just because for me the feeling and connection you get driving the car at any speed not just 80mph+ is amazing and trumps everything else.

Also really nice to see the press are taking more notice of the Evora.  There are 3 "vs" threads near the top top of the Evora forum list, slightly different combinations and different mags.  I do feel in past years the press forgot about the Evora and it wasn't involved very much in group tests and articles beyond an initial review of a new car.

[The Pits]

I'd take the Audi over the 911 personally. I've had my whole life to come round to the 911 but I'm still waiting.

[EGTE]

They're probably the best do-everything cars there are, but we all know the saying about jack-of-all-trades.....

[The Pits]

That's the trouble, the press keep insisting that they are a master of all trades. As a compromise for people who absolutely need a 2+2 then fair enough. But we are sold the story that they are the absolute best a man can get even when compared to dedicated 2 seaters. They are undeniably capable now after decades of engineering out treacherous handling characteristcs but it's not something I desire at all. R8 with the V10 is hugely preferable to me as a fast road car.

[blindside]

Perhaps a 991.2 GT3 manual would provide the necessary uncompromising focus and it’s roughly in/around the R8’s price bracket. Provided of course you can actually get hold of one with a decent spec, which is ever more likely in current market circumstances. Fabulous car.

[The Pits]

I'd take an R8 over any 911 personally but that's just me. Having a nice engine in the tail doesn't change the thing I most dislike about it - which is having a nice engine in the tail! R8 V10 is even nicer in any case.

Pretty shocking how quickly Autocar dismissed it in that article. That 911 is pretty hideous to my eyes, significantly worse looking than its predecessors. R8's got worse looking too over time. It does happen - Countach Anniversary, Ferrari 512M, Ferrari 575, 360 Modena, new Corvette.....  just no-one's allowed to say it when it's a 911.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Don’t forget the MG Midget and MG-B.

To be fair to the 911, no-one says the impact bumper models look better than the pre-impact models. Although that was nearly 40 years ago...

[blindside]

You are neglecting the “light is right” principle Jonny! 😊

GT3 manual kerb weight is 1418 kgs as opposed to R8 V10’s 1625 kgs. You’d hate that weight on track.

[C8RKH]

2 hours ago, The Pits said:

I'd take an R8 over any 911 personally but that's just me

R8 V10. Wonderful, almost perfect engine. Oh the noise. Oh the torque. Oh my fooking god the width of the R8.  Great on track but on UK roads, you'd have more fun in one of @Alfa2Evora's trucks with its triple turbo charged V48 24ltr diesel tractor!  The 911 GTS is a great car for the dentists and accountants. The GT3 and RS is a wonderful car, truly is a work of art with a superb engine. I'd have either the GT3 or the GT3 RS over an R8 with its Audi A4 interior. However, the R8 spider would be cool for pulling the cougars at the local tennis club, but that's about it the limit to its charms....

[blindside]

58 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

the R8 spider would be cool for pulling the cougars at the local tennis club

Pulling grannies at the local bingo club more likely 😉

[The Pits]

Still rather have an R8 but wouldn't swap my Evora for the pair of them!

[Mark123]

Driven various Porsches, bought the Evora GT.  Agree with all, however the difference described between the Evora GT and Carrera is much more significant than the article indicates.  (IMHO)

[Bibs]

Welcome Mark and congrats on the Evora GT! 

Please feel free to head to the intro's section and share some pics

[Yan]

A bit late to the party, but for what its worth...

I have a Gen 1 R8 V8 (well, the wife does). It's a much better car than a mates same vintage 997. It can crawl around in traffic, it is seriously quick on a country back round, and it sounds much better doing it. Certainly looks much better than a 911, and not that I care, but it also gets much more positive attention than the 911. Only thing it loses out to a 911 is it is less practical. I'm not a fan of the Gen 2 R8's looks, I think Audi are trying too hard to hit the market that the Lamborghini Huracan already reaches and should never have discontinued the V8.

I've driven a GT410 Sport and a 991.2 GT3 RS on the same stretch of road on the same day. The GT3 RS is truly epic. It is so much more alive in your hands than anything else. However it was hard work on the road. I suspect it would be truly sublime on the track. On the same road in the GT410 I believe I had more fun. It was far smoother and easier to drive, yet not any slower on a very tight and twisty back road. I doubt any other regular 911 can match the tactility of the GT3 RS, nor the Evora. Perhaps the GT3 but I havent drive one, and in Australia, both Porsche (new) and the average Joe Public (used) are commanding much higher prices than I care to spend.

That's why I am looking at buying an Evora. A regular 911 just doesnt interest me because they are too compromised in attempts to appeal to everyone.

Everyone - dentists, stockbrokers and every other wealth aspirationalist has a 911 as a symbol of status and wealth. Yes there are real enthusiasts that own 911's as well. However you only ever get real drivers owning a Lotus and none of the posers.

[au-yt]

Yan,

Welcome, from an Aussie Evora 400 owner, you sum up the reason for owning a LOTUS very well even more so in Australia.

Where I live, late 911s are very common in fact not a day goes by with out seeing one, and I don't live in Sydney.

[pete]

On 06/05/2020 at 21:13, blindside said:

Pulling grannies at the local bingo club more likely 😉

that will do me