Model/mileage decision - opinions gratefully received!

[Cdm2018]

In my NA I got 34-36mpg at steady cruise speed of 60 

I got this going up to Scotland and repeated it on way back so car computer it was fairly accurate ? I used shell v power but also had used back then regular petrol which wasn’t the E10 nowadays 

[Bravo73]

20 hours ago, Doug Ashley said:

On fuel economy, does anyone know how accurate the onboard computer is? 

Not very. Just like the range computation (which seems to have been coded by someone from Jackanory). 

If you want an accurate idea, I suggest that you try the Fuelly app. 

[TdM]

My range calculation seems to be pretty good (admittedly I've not run it dry so it might actually be miles out for all I know) but the approximate fill to fill range seems to add up to about right.

Probably another car to car difference!

[Markindevon]

@mmhexeter, If it's at all helpful, my long box n/a tells me (I've not done a brim to brim check of these figures at all) that I typically get 24-26mpg pottering about and usually see about 36 mpg when in cruise at (ahem) 80 on a longer run.  It's a brilliant cruiser if you need to do normal, longish, drives in it as I do.

I've never tried a supercharged version (though tested an Emira) but am perfectly happy in the real world with the n/a performance and I think the fuel economy is amazing for such a car.  There's actually something quite cool about the way it just pulls and pulls to redline in third :-).  May not be the fastest thing in the world but there's lots of drama 😁

[mcdonaa]

I have the same experience with my long box LE N/A. Back from Scotland I got a combined 36mpg...with 42-43 showing on the computer in some 50mph motorway stretches. It's an excellent long distance muncher....and very, very comfortable for such a car. Then when it wants to be an animal round the twisties...it can be 😁

[mmhexeter]

Hi all - many thanks once again for all of your opinions and suggestions. So, I've now put a deposit down on a 2015 Evora S with 11k miles on the clock. It needs to be serviced and have it's MOT before I can collect, but I'm eagerly looking forward to it!

I was hoping I could tap into your collective expertise a bit more please. Again, I've searched the forum for existing threads on these topics, but it'd great to have a more up-to-date perspective if possible.

* Insurance - I currently have my VX220 Turbo insured with the AA, as they were one of the few insurers willing to touch me with no previous 'sports car' experience. Having only had that for half a year (although, thankfully, with no issues yet!) I'm not sure whether that'll now, in turn, do me any favours with searching for insurance for the Evora. I unfortunately don't have any 'no claims history' (although I passed my test about 22 years ago, I didn't regularly drive or own a car until several months ago), so I have a feeling this will be a painful search... any recommendations gratefully received.

* Fuel - I fill my VX220 up with Tesco Momentum 99 and have definitely noticed an enormous improvement over and above when it was initially run on standard unleaded. It's also pretty decent value for money when compared alongside other premium unleaded petrol. Would it be ok/advisable to use this for my Evora too?

* Bodywork - one of the potential 'downsides' to my new Evora is that it's finished in factory matte black. I say 'downside' as although I love the look, I realise that upkeep of matte paintwork is fairly hard work, coupled with the fact that it seems as though it has already suffered a bit of mottling/water-marking. My options are...

1) Use some specialist matte paintwork products to try and restore it as best I can, and then be careful about maintaining that ('repair' would involve a full respray, which I don't have the budget for)

2) As above, and then pay for a ceramic coating

3) Opt for a wrap, and then worry about what to do next in a few years time when the wrap reaches it's max lifespan

* Storage cover - I'm in the process of trying to negotiate covered storage space for the car that doesn't involve me having to need another car just to drive to it! In the meantime could anybody recommend a decent all-weather outdoor cover please? I have a really decent Halfords one on my VX220, but it is quite loose, so - with me living on the coast - it often catches the wind and moves around more than I'd like (even with straps that pass under the car). I've seen some beautiful-looking tight, neoprene styles ones on the store on this site, but any other suggestions would be very welcome.

Thanks again in advance for your help, it really is appreciated.

[exeterjeep]

https://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/115560-evora-insurance/?&page=2#comments

https://www.lotuscars.com/en-GB/fuel-compatibility   only use E5 in my S or GT430.

ps good luck with the car.

TLF @Bibs do storage covers.

[mmhexeter]

thanks very much, really helpful

[jerzybondov]

Congrats on the purchase! Lovely low mileage car that  
 

Tesco, Shell and now Esso do 99 fuel - all highly recommended. Esso 99 is also (I believe) still E0 despite being marked E5. Ie no ethanol. I get noticeably better fuel economy with it over the others so am pretty sure that’s still the case.

Insurance - stick your details into comparethemarket and see what you get. You may randomly get a quote that beats the specialists. Had that quite a bit recently. Can also experiment adding named drivers and other details to see what difference that makes (can be v significant).

[mg4lotus]

One thing I have noticed when getting online quotes for insurance is that if you go through the process more than once then the first quote is always the best and any subsequent quotes they always put the premium up. If you get a good quote, don't dither.

[mmhexeter]

Interesting, thanks. Quotes have been pretty high so far... circa £1k per year with my partner as a named driver. Both 40, driving over 20years and no previous issues. *gulp*

[21gg]

I've found on the insurance comparison sites, once you get within 2 weeks of the start date it goes up. So could try pushing the story date back to see what difference it makes?

[mmhexeter]

Brilliant, will do... thanks!

[jerzybondov]

Also on the comparison sites - most jobs fall within a few different descriptors - worth trying a few different ones that ‘fit’ as that can make a massive difference.

[Bibs]

1 hour ago, 21gg said:

I've found on the insurance comparison sites, once you get within 2 weeks of the start date it goes up. So could try pushing the story date back to see what difference it makes?

I had this recently and asked why. Apparantly, the insurance companies think that if you don't take out insurance more than a couple of weeks before you get the car you have a very lapse attitude to risk, hence the hike

[Spanky3]

Last couple of years I've been with Classicline for just over 500 with guaranteed value, but as it's a specialist policy you don't earn NCB. This year I nearly fell off my chair when direct line quoted 390. Late 40s plus mid 40s wife, 2013 S in Herts, no commuting.

[mmhexeter]

2 hours ago, jerzybondov said:

Also on the comparison sites - most jobs fall within a few different descriptors - worth trying a few different ones that ‘fit’ as that can make a massive difference.

Now, that's really interesting. I'm a mortgage broker, so fit in the 'financial advice' category... I wonder if that's regarded favourably or not now! 

40 minutes ago, Spanky3 said:

Last couple of years I've been with Classicline for just over 500 with guaranteed value, but as it's a specialist policy you don't earn NCB. This year I nearly fell off my chair when direct line quoted 390. Late 40s plus mid 40s wife, 2013 S in Herts, no commuting.

Blimey, I wonder what I've done wrong!

[Phaeton91]

Expected annual mileage makes a difference, maybe tweak that to be realistic rather than go for the standard 10-12k pa, and occupation as others have stated but Your occupation should be a safe one.  Presumably you are a regulated person and so should count in your favour.  

Lack of NCB makes a huge difference.  Bearing in mind you’ve had no issues with the VX220 insurance and are halfway through a policy year would it not be possible to simply keep that policy, with the Evora replacing the VX220.  That way you are 6 months closer to a year’s NCB which could be worth 30% or so of a year’s premium.  You can do the cost benefit analysis compared to starting from scratch.

Be careful with anything that could be conceived to be a modification - eg, a wrap. That could turn out really bad.  

[Cdm2018]

I just renewed 5 years NCB my only private car insurance as I am company car driver 

I paid £200 fully protected comp (with coop)  but I guess insurance varies according to age location cover etc 

[mmhexeter]

3 hours ago, jerzybondov said:

Also on the comparison sites - most jobs fall within a few different descriptors - worth trying a few different ones that ‘fit’ as that can make a massive difference.

 

1 hour ago, Spanky3 said:

Last couple of years I've been with Classicline for just over 500 with guaranteed value, but as it's a specialist policy you don't earn NCB. This year I nearly fell off my chair when direct line quoted 390. Late 40s plus mid 40s wife, 2013 S in Herts, no commuting.

 

2 minutes ago, Phaeton91 said:

Expected annual mileage makes a difference, maybe tweak that to be realistic rather than go for the standard 10-12k pa, and occupation as others have stated but Your occupation should be a safe one.  Presumably you are a regulated person and so should count in your favour.  

Lack of NCB makes a huge difference.  Bearing in mind you’ve had no issues with the VX220 insurance and are halfway through a policy year would it not be possible to simply keep that policy, with the Evora replacing the VX220.  That way you are 6 months closer to a year’s NCB which could be worth 30% or so of a year’s premium.  You can do the cost benefit analysis compared to starting from scratch.

Be careful with anything that could be conceived to be a modification - eg, a wrap. That could turn out really bad.  

This is going to sound incredibly naive... So, I could swap my Evora for Vx220 in my existing policy without too much of a change to existing terms/costs?

Thanks for the advice re the wrap too... Hadn't thought of that as a 'mod'

1 minute ago, Cdm2018 said:

I just renewed 5 years NCB my only private car insurance as I am company car driver 

I paid £200 fully protected comp (with coop)  but I guess insurance varies according to age location cover etc 

Blimey, that does sound reasonable!

[Phaeton91]

1 hour ago, mmhexeter said:

 

 

This is going to sound incredibly naive... So, I could swap my Evora for Vx220 in my existing policy without too much of a change to existing terms/costs?

Thanks for the advice re the wrap too... Hadn't thought of that as a 'mod'

Blimey, that does sound reasonable!

I wouldn’t go as far as to say without too much of a change in costs - I’m guessing that the Evora is more expensive, but generally you can change the car on a policy mid term for a fee.  The main point I was alluding to was that if you are halfway through your first year of building up no claims discount, to end your policy now would mean you have to start again and so it will be 12 months before you get your first year’s NCD.  Given that a year’s NCD could be a 30% discount, being 6 months closer to that point may be beneficial.

If your current policy is a phone based one, suggest giving them a call.  If online, there should be a section in the website that allows you to make changes.  You can get the requote that way.  
 

Note that they’ll probably charge you an admin fee to terminate the policy anyway so you may as well ask.  If they accept the change, job may be a good un based on the difference and then you can shop around in 6 months time.  

[mmhexeter]

Great suggestion, thanks again 

[TdM]

I usually find them will charge you more to change the car because you are already with then, bit worth a shot.

LV were good for me, specialists cost a fortune, no idea why. Seems to be different for everyone.

[exeterjeep]

6 hours ago, Phaeton91 said:

Note that they’ll probably charge you an admin fee to terminate the policy anyway so you may as well ask.

I cancelled a policy a couple of yeas ago, when I scrapped the car, by the time they had their cancellation charge - guess what -  there was no refund at all.

[Phaeton91]

21 hours ago, TdM said:

I usually find them will charge you more to change the car because you are already with then, bit worth a shot.

LV were good for me, specialists cost a fortune, no idea why. Seems to be different for everyone.

I’m with LV too.  I was recommended by a mate who hit a deer and said that their claims process was top notch.  Touch wood I haven’t had to test it,  

We’ve got two cars on a multi car policy but plan to add my station car soon too. It seems I am spending far too much a proportion of my life renewing insurance and breakdown cover that the simplification is becoming very welcome.