TLF GT430 Club

[blindside]

Impressive job @Jedifar That’s already a unique car in terms of colour & mods.

In addition to @jimichanga comments above: If you are determined to achieve an exact GT430 match you could use high grade carbon fibre effect vinyl film for both the roof & mirror caps. (The actual 430 mirrors are not real carbon and are vinyl skins. The mirrors are a long-standing irritation for owners as the rest of the carbon parts are so good). Might be tricky to get a convincing match, but a hell of a lot easier than taking the roof off.

[Jedifar]

1 hour ago, jimichanga said:

Looks amazing but you already knew that I don’t recall seeing any GT430s in that exact colour (Persian Blue?). Also looks like your rear wing is at a steeper angle than the factory GT430s, not sure if that was intentional or not but won’t necessarily give you more downforce if that’s what you were aiming for. Drag will be increased though for sure. I understand the obsession with a rare unobtainable Lotus but think if it was mine I’d stop short of the GT430 badging, does look good having said that and I don’t think Evora 400 badges would be appropriate any longer either. You should be able to replace the CupR embroidered cushion if you wanted. I’d want the vented front clam but the cost would be enormous for very little performance gain but you’re way past common sense on this passion project already. Must be a thrill seeing that in the garage, hope you get to drive a real GT430 one day for comparison.

I understand, thanks for the feedback, the color is Azure blue, there are only 2 of these 400s in this color and a 410 in the UK (probably one or 2 more worldwide)

The rear wing is from hethelsport, I was unable to get the oem one, it's fixed at that angle but I might get the oem one later on if possible. 

I can see why others might think the badging is not appropriate but given all the original 430 parts on the car, and the biggest argument being that the 430 was never offered in the US, I'd say an exception should be allowed, it would be better than going badgeless as the 400 wouldn't work as you say. 

I plan on getting the embroidery changed on the seats if I'm able to get the original 430 template but it's not crucial for me. As for the vents, I know Elise shop sells the cut out vents, that might be an option, and Oliver from tops racing is making a full 430 carbon front end... but again unsure of what to do. 

I've got the ohlins set up to the exact 430 alignment specs provided by Lotus so theoretically, it should feel the same (aside from the few pounds of weight I still need to shed).

It's those small few things that'll pretty much make it an exact replica. But again, I can totally understand some folk not acknowledging this for what I'm trying to make it, but given our circumstances here, it's the best we can do. Ever since i saw the 430, i just had this itch that I needed to scratch.

[OakMan]

Congratulation's on what you've achieved with your car. 

Just to direct you if you weren't aware to the home page of this site, Lotus US have got quite good discounts on the Evora Carbon Fibre panels, plus other parts - these discounts are not available over here in UK. 

Also here in the UK is the Bell & Colvill owned DeRoure Lotus Parts online catalogue https://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/deroure.  You navigate to the specific models and then can view the factory parts lists and diagrams - be aware that most things are listed but not all are remotely available.  It's always worth a call or email to them to check first if they are stocked or on back order from Lotus.  

Given the current climate and situation at the factory building Emira its likely that Lotus won't necessarily hold 'old' stock or replace it.  Hence the clearance of US based parts ?

Good luck,

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by OakMan
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[TomE]

Some GT430 fun from a recent trip to the Island of Man.  The Sloc is a famous hill climb in the south west of the island.  I need to sort a better microphone!

 

[DDubya]

A bit of research help:

Would appreciate if UK owners of GT430’s please quote their first date of registration the current rate of road tax please. There’s a discussion on FB Evora owners and seems to be a large discrepancy in RFL fee paid.

Only GT430’s please 

 

thanks Danny

[exeterjeep]

Danny,

Just got my tax renewal, tax expires at end of Sept, 6 mths will cost £313.50, 12 mths £407.50. This is due to my car going  down to the lower rate tax (ie the extra 390 pa for the first 5 years after the first year. )  So from the next renewal will be just £180 plus any future general increase. It's 7 months at the combined rate and 5 at the reduced.

DVSA says for my car

Additional Rate applicable until  30 April 2024 Car registered on 11 May 2018.

This change will apply to all cars registered after  April 1st 2017   

see

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables

So my previous Evora S will be at a much higher rate of tax until it goes to 0 when it's 40 years old.

[Rambo]

On 26/08/2023 at 14:23, TomE said:

Some GT430 fun from a recent trip to the Island of Man.  The Sloc is a famous hill climb in the south west of the island.  I need to sort a better microphone!

 

I hate travelling facing backwards. Always makes me feel travel sick 🤮

[DarrylV8]

@DDubya our GT430 was 5 years old July this year, it’s now approximately £290 a year, not at home so unable to confirm exact figure. HTH

Although having read Keith’s reply above his does sound correct with his justifications

[scotty435]

Will be interesting what this 430 achieves in what is a struggling used car market at the moment ?

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2018-lotus-evora-gt430-1

[blindside]

Hope you are well Scotty & the Macca is still giving you a buzz.

Agree it’s not a good time to be selling at present for obvious reasons. Even exotic, usually much sought after stuff isn’t shifting unless priced well below previous market average prices. Particularly applies on auction sites.

[jep]

It will be interesting to see. I'd only sell on Collecting Cars if I was not bothered about getting a trade price. 

It seems a totally wrong platform for a 430. 

The Sport 410 sold as a buy it now. Now listed with a dealer for £10k more....I think they will struggle with that. 

Justin

 

[scotty435]

42 minutes ago, blindside said:

Hope you are well Scotty & the Macca is still giving you a buzz.

Agree it’s not a good time to be selling at present for obvious reasons. Even exotic, usually much sought after stuff isn’t shifting unless priced well below previous market average prices. Particularly applies on auction sites.

Hi Jimmy, yes the Macca still meeting and on some ocasiones beating my expectations it’s a very capable car. Will be back in a Lotus at some point, a 430 would be a very tempting car to get back into the brand, they have to be a very hard car to value as they don’t come up for sale that often. With the economic climate we are in at the moment anyone in the market for the best modern Lotus made to date this car could be the best opportunity to buy one?

[Gazm]

Grabbing a coffee after visiting United Autosports 

[EGTE]

14 hours ago, scotty435 said:

Will be interesting what this 430 achieves in what is a struggling used car market at the moment ?

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2018-lotus-evora-gt430-1

Particularly as it looks like it's been driven hard a lot (475 upgrade, cracked disks and replaced exhaust gaskets!) and quite possibly a big off (stone chips everywhere and replaced wishbones!).

Love the colour, but this one's been for sale unsuccessfully quite a few times, no?

[blindside]

Accurate summary @EGTE Definitely no garage Queen. It’s been driven hard which will clearly impact price. No surprise that it ends up on an auction site. Probably going to end up with another niche dealer at a bargain basement price who can hang on until the market picks up again.

[OakMan]

It’s a tricky one with these cars isn’t it Jimmy.  They’re built as a road to track car like a GT Porsche.  The latest RS models are seemingly now criticised for being too track biased !  Leaving a ‘standard’ GT3 / 4 as the road to track day version.  Forgetting the Porsche GT product unobtanium tax 😉
 

When people use them for what they’re designed for it then can cause concern for potential buyers.  
 

The same must be thought about Exige models which are unashamedly road to track, a lot of owners of those seem to modify them to even higher levels.  

[C8RKH]

4 hours ago, EGTE said:

replaced exhaust gaskets!

The KT475 kit deploys new manifolds so would this not account for that?

The car has been used a lot, I believe the first owner did track it and did some European Road Trips with it. When I last saw it around 2 years ago iirc at Knockhill track the sail panel had cracked, a common problem and not necessarily down to neglect/type of use.

So it seems that, on here, the view is that the pinnacle of the Evora's should be restricted to being a garage queen and used for the occasional Sunday morning coffee and back roll run. Such a shame that by using a car the way Lotus intended it seems to put people off the car.  I'm sure I remember the first owner was fanatical about servicing the car etc. So whilst it was well used it was also properly looked after, I believe.  I also thought it had been PPF'd but might be very wrong there.

I am sure the chips and cracked discs will be reflected in the price, but not sure that if the price is right there is anything here to worry about. Or, are we saying the GT430 is a fragile beast?

[DH2]

4 hours ago, EGTE said:

Particularly as it looks like it's been driven hard a lot (475 upgrade, cracked disks and replaced exhaust gaskets!) and quite possibly a big off (stone chips everywhere and replaced wishbones!).

Obviously I know a bit of recent history on the car.  It's been enjoyed, done a couple of trackdays.  It's not had an off, the wishbones had to be replaced due the balljoints not being individually replacable, you have to buy a complete arm from Lotus.  Ditto the radiators at the front are hugely prone on the newer style clamshells because Lotus fitted the mesh grilles tight up against them, so they don't really protect from stone imacts much at all.  Seen all this on garage queens also.

Dave

[EGTE]

Good info, thanks Dave.  I put extra mesh grilles on my car for just that reason.

I'm not put off myself by its condition (now I know more about the wishbones, anyway); I prefer a well-serviced, well-used car to a garage queen. However, 430s are in Ferrari-money territory and many of those in that market just want cars that never move(d).

Definitely one to watch.

[OakMan]

I'm the second owner of my 430.  First owner did some track days, he was a member of one of the exclusive owner/track day driving clubs.  He was a very experienced amateur racer (not with the Evora) It didn't put me off buying the car, he had numerous other toys and had also owned a 2Eleven.  The car was in meticulous condition throughout and maintained by an independent Lotus specialist who also built and prepared race and track spec Exige and Elise models. 

I did my research and was very happy to buy the car, probably more so than if it had just a normal Lotus dealer history.  I however do not have the first owners skills and am enjoying it as a road car, when garaged for winter it will have the TTX suspension checked and overhauled at Mick Gardner, who did the specs on them for Lotus, they're happy to deal direct with you which saves going through a main agent.  Using main agent for this is fine if you're a valued customer and they only pass the cost on, car will still require a suspension alignment after.

 

I very much would like to do an appropriate track day in the car, I have with a couple of my other ones.  The Evora is a major step up and I know I will require instruction/tution. 

 

[Bruss]

Doing a track day in a Lotus, whatever next? Soon you’ll be wanting to drive them across Europe and those snowy mountain passes and rocky roads. 🫢

[blindside]

1 hour ago, C8RKH said:

So it seems that, on here, the view is that the pinnacle of the Evora's should be restricted to being a garage queen and used for the occasional Sunday morning coffee and back roll run. Such a shame that by using a car the way Lotus intended it seems to put people off the car. 

WTF? How did that assumption creep into the mix Andy. Pretty sure a number are tracked regularly based on historical input to this group. It is in large part what I bought my car for. The comments about the empire green 430 just reflect a reality check on its apparent condition. 

[OakMan]

9 minutes ago, Bruss said:

Doing a track day in a Lotus, whatever next? Soon you’ll be wanting to drive them across Europe and those snowy mountain passes and rocky roads. 🫢

So right - its remarkable isn't it 🤣

Then all the Garage Queen buyers won't buy it because it's been on a track - where Lotus earned all its reputation! 

Anyhow, I prefer not to drive my cars on the road 

 

[C8RKH]

14 minutes ago, blindside said:

WTF? How did that assumption creep into the mix Andy. Pretty sure a number are tracked regularly based on historical input to this group. It is in large part what I bought my car for. The comments about the empire green 430 just reflect a reality check on its apparent condition. 

Ha. Hi Jimmy. I was referring to what I perceived or assumed to be negativity from some re the fact the car had been used hard...

Everyone has different perspectives and I know you are one of the ones who "drives" their cars and really enjoys driving them. No offence meant bud.

[blindside]

Just have to use the term “garage queen” in any context to bring out the attack dog in you Andy. 😂