Viewing my first Evora - buyers advice

[C8RKH]

I got my info @andyj007 from a well established Lotus parts supplier and understood it was a "batch" of soft internals that went into a "specified" range of gearboxes (serial number range). Certainly my CR NA box from 2010 has had no issues whatsoever in the last 13 years+ and I would say more 2010-12/13 CR boxes out there with no issues than those with issues based on 10 years of this forum and other Lotus forums. Given the small numbers involved our information may collaborate each others.

[DH2]

It should be anything pre VIN CH_10542 (which is MY12 serial number 542) or gearbox GB1564.

[Seb]

8 hours ago, Jonathan Ashcroft said:

But say what you really feel 😂. 

Owners guides are great but it does tend to focus the attention on issues that are more prevalent than you'd like but not foregone conclusions. Then the internet goes to work and faults become guaranteed imminent failures. 

That said bought a RR L322 4.2 sc on its second engine at 130k and it does appear this is shockingly common. However that's a bloody huge skip on wheels and they usually did lots of hard miles.

My Evora, cr box, original clutch 60k miles and it's feels as fresh as the day I bought it at 30k. The clutch will go one day as it's a consumable part really. If I still own it it will be a big bill but so far I've driven 30k miles and only replaced front brakes, suspension parts and a couple of batteries. I'd say that's pretty good. 

As a buyer we try to insulate ourselves from every cost possible but at some point it comes down to luck and a feel for how the car was looked after. 

I don't want to be a party pooper, but.... my CR gearbox's 6th went out this june on the way to nurburgring. no crazy acceleration, in gear, sitting at about 150kph, no warnings, just one loud bang. car had 103k km, I thought if it were to blow it would have -> 7000€ later I can say I was wrong for sure. 

I was "saving" the gears, always trying to shift as smooth as possible before. I sure ain't sparing the gearbox no more...

[Jonathan Ashcroft]

Your car obviously didn't want to go to the 'ring! Sorry to hear that. I always try to rev match etc but you can't stop everything things going wrong sometimes. 

[Arregueti]

@Seb

Sorry to read about your misfortunes.

I think it is too easy to blame it on reckless drivers and Internet mythology and legends. Personally I have driven almost 500,000 Kms. on the four cars I currently own and the only one that has needed three clutches and a rebuild of the gearbox is the Evora at just over 67,000 Kms.
 

Just for curiosity and future reference, did you fix your car in Slovenia?

[Phaeton91]

On 03/10/2023 at 20:06, Seb said:

I don't want to be a party pooper, but.... my CR gearbox's 6th went out this june on the way to nurburgring. no crazy acceleration, in gear, sitting at about 150kph, no warnings, just one loud bang. car had 103k km, I thought if it were to blow it would have -> 7000€ later I can say I was wrong for sure. 

I was "saving" the gears, always trying to shift as smooth as possible before. I sure ain't sparing the gearbox no more...

Maybe a blessing it blew before you got on the track. 

[Seb]

10 hours ago, Arregueti said:

Just for curiosity and future reference, did you fix your car in Slovenia?

No, since it blew up near Frankfurt, I took it to K-Performance in Mainz. 
Unfortunately there are only 20 Lotus in our country so the market is too small for a dedicated workshop, we do have a guy that does motorsport who "specialized" a bit in Lotus, but for dealer-only procedures, both Trivellato and JUBU are only about 2h away, so not too bad. 
 

9 hours ago, Phaeton91 said:

Maybe a blessing it blew before you got on the track. 

yes indeed, luckily enough the car was drivable and I could bring it into the shop myself. But the noises were crazy 😬

 

Side note: I had always expected that it's going to give up on the clutch or CR gearbox sooner or later, being at 90k km when I bought it, without record of it being done. The purchase price was good, so I had some money ready on the side, but I'd just hope it happened a year or two from now, and piggybank could grow enough for a supercharger conversion at the same time 🤭

[TrevS]

Hi all

So after posting a wanted ad I've had a few more cars offered to me. There is one car that looks particularly good but has an issue with crazing in the headlights. I'd heard that headlights can suffer with lacquer issues and can be reconditioned, do these look like that and can they be reconditioned? Are there any recommended specialists to use and does anyone have an idea on cost?

Trev

 

Edited October 6, 2023 by TrevS

[Bibs]

 

[Bruss]

It is hard to tell on those pictures whether that is just the surface finish or crazing/ cracking of the headlight itself. If its surface then allow 200 pounds for someone to polish and re-lacquer. If its in the headlight itself then replacement is going to be more like 2000 pounds. Good second hand headlights are like hens teeth and will cost around 1200 pounds, plus the cost of someone replacing them.

 

[Cdm2018]

See Bibs link to thread on headlights 

my recent refrub of lights was tad under £200 it made a marked difference both appearance and light emitted 

my lights got some imperfections inside the case but I live with that as got other issues more urgent to sort 

[TdM]

First picture looks like someone has run a polishing pad over them. It has a circular look to it that looks a bit worrying. If it's just the coating, not a big issue. Even if it's give through to the headlight it might be polished out if it's not too deep but you need someone who knows what they are doing to look at it

[DaveYesman]

On 03/10/2023 at 11:58, jep said:

Safest bet, buy fully loaded early NA with CR box rebuilt at 68k miles, FSH, in the best colour combo ever. 😁

Justin 

What have you got then? Can PM me? David 

[TrevS]

Hi all

I thought I'd update this thread to say I've placed a deposit on a 2011 Evora S manual. The car looks fantastic and is coming from a forum member whose pride and joy it is. I'm so excited about getting the car, I've wanted one for so long and I the car is exactly what I have been looking for. I'll share some pics and info once I have the car home but would appreciate any advice for driving an Evora for first time? What things to look out for/quirks and anything you wish you knew when you first drove one e.g. where the petrol filler cap release is etc.

Trev

[Bravo73]

4 hours ago, TrevS said:

…but would appreciate any advice for driving an Evora for first time? What things to look out for…

If you don’t see the Sonic rings, you’re not trying hard enough. 😉

[EGTE]

 

16 hours ago, TrevS said:

Hi all

I thought I'd update this thread to say I've placed a deposit on a 2011 Evora S manual. The car looks fantastic and is coming from a forum member whose pride and joy it is. I'm so excited about getting the car, I've wanted one for so long and I the car is exactly what I have been looking for. I'll share some pics and info once I have the car home but would appreciate any advice for driving an Evora for first time? What things to look out for/quirks and anything you wish you knew when you first drove one e.g. where the petrol filler cap release is etc.

Trev

This should help: https://www.thelotusforums.com/wiki/index.php?title=Evora#Buyers_Guide

[TrevS]

14 hours ago, Bravo73 said:

If you don’t see the Sonic rings, you’re not trying hard enough. 😉

I always get very nervous driving a new car for the first time so I don't suspect I'll see those on my first drive. I'll just want to get the car back safely onto home turf and then can start to explore the performance more on roads I know etc.

One other thing, does the Evora have cruise control or a speed limiter? I've got a long drive back so would come in handy.

Edited November 1, 2023 by TrevS

[mcdonaa]

Depends on the model…if you have buttons on the steering wheel, you have cruise 

[Bravo73]

1 hour ago, TrevS said:

One other thing, does the Evora have cruise control or a speed limiter?

Cruise Control was part of the Tech Pack (I think). 

4 hours ago, EGTE said:

 

This should help: https://www.thelotusforums.com/wiki/index.php?title=Evora#Buyers_Guide

FYI, your link is broken (404 error). 

[Harey]

Quote

Cruise Control was part of the Tech Pack (I think). 

Yes it was - from the brochure

Tech Upgrade Pack
High tech Alpine multi-media in car entertainment system with 7’’ WVGA touch screen, Bluetooth connectivity*, satellite navigation, tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control and rear parking sensors

[Harey]

Quote

FYI, your link is broken (404 error). 

The Buyers Guide can be found here

[Harey]

18 hours ago, Bravo73 said:

If you don’t see the Sonic rings, you’re not trying hard enough. 😉

The single Sonic Ring (immobiliser) will stop you trying hard first 😀  

Just press the keyfob button to release the ability to get the three later 😜

[TdM]

It's easy enough. As Harey said, the immobiliser is the thing most likely to catch you out if it decides to re-arm.

 

Outside of that little chestnut, make sure the filler cap grip is horizontal(ish) after filling up or the filler for might not close... But much else to say. You won't crash it on your first drive, it's a well behaved machine you have to be abusing it on the road to really upset it.

[Cdm2018]

Hope you not driving today ? Weather is awful and it would spoil your first drive 🌧️🌧️🌧️🚗

[TrevS]

Still have another week until collection. I really hope the weather isn't like this though.