Evora market watch, for discussion and to help those searching!

[Bravo73]

2 hours ago, electro_boy said:

Take it for a test drive a check if the clutch has any signs of slipping.  Have a read on line / you tube to see how to do this.  but short version is, find an empty dual carriage way  stick it in third ~40 mph and floor it.  If the revs rise faster than the speed then there is some clutch slipping.

FWIW, you're better testing a clutch in 6th gear at 30-40mph. Any slip will be much more apparent.

[plenty]

18 hours ago, LazyDonkey said:

Much bollocks is spouted about the boxes. Both have their merits and IMHO you should buy on condition and not overly worry about the box. 

Can't agree with that I'm afraid.  Gear ratios make a huge difference to how a car drives.  Personally not bothered about things like colour and 2+2 but would never consider a long-ratio car for what I want an Evora to do.  On the other hand, the early CR boxes are prone to failure, as I have expensively discovered.

[LazyDonkey]

OK I'll bite. Why wouldn't you consider one? Have you driven one? 

Edit : My main issue is gearbox being discussed on these sort of threads lead potential new owners to become polarised on spec.... With a view that you cant track a long box car, or the long box ruins the car or fuel consumption is destroyed on the cr box or even cr boxes destroy themselves. Imho both boxes have their pluses and minuses and I know a few people that went out looking for x and bought y... And don't regret the decision. Everyone has a preference, of course, but we need to keep this within the bounds of the evora being a stunning car regardless of box. 

 

Edited January 22, 2019 by LazyDonkey

[C8RKH]

58 minutes ago, plenty said:

On the other hand, a small number of early CR boxes are prone to gear failure, as I have expensively discovered.

FTFY.  I believe the problem is fairly well documented and due to an hardening issue with 3 of the cogs used in a set of early CR boxes.  I cannot remember the serial numbers but I do believe Elise-Shop have worked it out.

A good specialist is currently charging £1800-£200k for a clutch change. Main dealers will  be nearer £4k. The more the specialists do the quicker they get, the easier they get.

However, compared to other similarly real world as quick cars the Evora is generally very light on the bills front for servicing, maintenance and consumables. I think it would cost a lot more for example to run some of the other specialist cars, just with services, brake pads and discs.

[Bazza 907]

11 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

A good specialist is currently charging £1800-£200k for a clutch change.  

Blimey, £200k for a clutch. I'm out.

[plenty]

2 hours ago, LazyDonkey said:

OK I'll bite. Why wouldn't you consider one? Have you driven one? 

Edit : My main issue is gearbox being discussed on these sort of threads lead potential new owners to become polarised on spec.... With a view that you cant track a long box car, or the long box ruins the car or fuel consumption is destroyed on the cr box or even cr boxes destroy themselves. Imho both boxes have their pluses and minuses and I know a few people that went out looking for x and bought y... And don't regret the decision. Everyone has a preference, of course, but we need to keep this within the bounds of the evora being a stunning car regardless of box. 

 

That is all entirely sensible.  I was simply disputing the earlier contention that the debate around boxes is "bollocks" and to "not overly worry about the box".

I've no doubt many people are flexible on gearbox choice, but equally there are folks for whom it matters a lot.  No, I haven't driven a long-ratio car but neither have I driven an IPS and that I wouldn't consider one of those either as I have specific preferences when it comes to transmission which for me are high up the priority list. 

I've read up enough on the ratios and other drivers' experiences to know that the long ratios wouldn't work for me, as there's nothing I love more than rowing up and down the gears rev matching (One of my fondest remembered cars was a 1993 Impreza RA - 4,000 rpm in top gear at 70!).  The long-ratio 5th is longer than 6th in the CR box which given I rarely use 6th in CR means the top two gears in the long box would basically be redundant.  Of course, if you do a lot of cruising then the long box could be a wise choice.

As you say, there's a diversity of preferences out there.  Personally I think it's mad when I read comments like "I'd never consider colour X" as colour is just about at the bottom of my personal list of criteria, but as the old chestnut goes it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things, eh.

Edited January 22, 2019 by plenty

[LotusFella]

20 hours ago, scotty435 said:

Clutches do fail at this mileage so yes you a right to be concerned and the advert says it as the Premium pack and I am afraid it hasn’t. As for after dealer and aftermarket warranties they do not cover for wear and tear and that’s what the clutch going to fail on, so be aware.

How difficult is the clutch to change?  Do you need special tools?  I have a 2 post lift in my garage. Is a DIY job possible?

[LazyDonkey]

59 minutes ago, plenty said:

That is all entirely sensible.  I was simply disputing the earlier contention that the debate around boxes is "bollocks" and to "not overly worry about the box".

I've no doubt many people are flexible on gearbox choice, but equally there are folks for whom it matters a lot.  No, I haven't driven a long-ratio car but neither have I driven an IPS and that I wouldn't consider one of those either as I have specific preferences when it comes to transmission which for me are high up the priority list. 

I've read up enough on the ratios and other drivers' experiences to know that the long ratios wouldn't work for me, as there's nothing I love more than rowing up and down the gears rev matching (One of my fondest remembered cars was a 1993 Impreza RA - 4,000 rpm in top gear at 70!).  The long-ratio 5th is longer than 6th in the CR box which given I rarely use 6th in CR means the top two gears in the long box would basically be redundant.  Of course, if you do a lot of cruising then the long box could be a wise choice.

As you say, there's a diversity of preferences out there.  Personally I think it's mad when I read comments like "I'd never consider colour X" as colour is just about at the bottom of my personal list of criteria, but as the old chestnut goes it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things, eh.

It's nothing like the ips vs manual debate. Not even close. 

Not knocking your choice, it's yours to make but on a thread such I think box comments to be left to people who have driven both flavours of na. No one has ever driven my car and come away with anything other than a huge grin. And that's the point I was trying to make. 

There's an article in last months evo (256) about the std box car... 

"the power output actually feels perfectly judged for UK roads and the car as a whole - you might want the short box, stickier tyres and supercharged engines of latter models if your driving is weighted towards trackdays, but as Watson (the owner who supplied car) puts it, his is a car that will do up to 40mpg on a trip down to the alps and then offer engagement and entertainment when he gets there"

In an article which features a gtr and a gt4 it ends "but for the money and for feeling perfectly suited to everything from grocery runs to euro Road trips the used ecoty hero that has me searching through the classifieds is the lotus evora."

Couldn't have put it better myself

22 minutes ago, LotusFella said:

How difficult is the clutch to change?  Do you need special tools?  I have a 2 post lift in my garage. Is a DIY job possible?

Are you comfy taking rear clam off and engine out? 

[andyj007]

2 cars sold early  last year 2010 & 2011 both na from memory , one with short ratio box and one with long, with 80 & 90k   miles respectively,  both  on original clutch, i emailed the owners as was interested on there   expenditure costs. did post it somewhere on here . but nothing other than consumables. tyres brakes fluids etc etc. . used as a commuter cars,   

re the gearbox, drive them both i did,  .  but i tend to use my car on local roads for pleasure  not long commutes... and one made this more pleasurable and fun..  

    I did find out that all the glowing press  review cars supplied  at  launch  were with short ratios, despite these not being supplied as standard equip  on the LE edition cars. they were an option from 2010, and then all cars have them as  standard from 2011-2012..  as i understand it anyhow  

oh and 2.0 for the "proper  sportscar" effect 😉

 

great cars in any flavour variant,   you wont be disappointed  absolute bargain at that price too..  so much car for that money.

 

[LotusFella]

40 minutes ago, LazyDonkey said:

It's nothing like the ips vs manual debate. Not even close. 

Not knocking your choice, it's yours to make but on a thread such I think box comments to be left to people who have driven both flavours of na. No one has ever driven my car and come away with anything other than a huge grin. And that's the point I was trying to make. 

There's an article in last months evo (256) about the std box car... 

"the power output actually feels perfectly judged for UK roads and the car as a whole - you might want the short box, stickier tyres and supercharged engines of latter models if your driving is weighted towards trackdays, but as Watson (the owner who supplied car) puts it, his is a car that will do up to 40mpg on a trip down to the alps and then offer engagement and entertainment when he gets there"

In an article which features a gtr and a gt4 it ends "but for the money and for feeling perfectly suited to everything from grocery runs to euro Road trips the used ecoty hero that has me searching through the classifieds is the lotus evora."

Couldn't have put it better myself

Are you comfy taking rear clam off and engine out? 

Well I’ve restore 3 pre 1972 alfa Romeos and removed clam on S1 Elise. So I guess yes.

any specials tools required?

[andyj007]

5 minutes ago, LotusFella said:

Well I’ve restore 3 pre 1972 alfa Romeos and removed clam on S1 Elise. So I guess yes.

any specials tools required?

handy guy to know.... not too far from me either

 

[plenty]

32 minutes ago, LazyDonkey said:

Not knocking your choice, it's yours to make but on a thread such I think box comments to be left to people who have driven both flavours of na.

Well we'll just have to disagree again...the old "you can't have an opinion unless you've driven the car" argument holds no water imo.  I have seen enough reviews from various sources to be able to form an informed view.  And as I said earlier, if I rarely use 6th in a CR box I wouldn't have any use for 5th or 6th in a LR.  That's just a fact.  I'm sure I would still enjoy a four-speed Evora, just not as much.

That doesn't mean that a LR is a lesser car.  It just means it's not the car for me.  I don't care about MPG or relaxed cruising on the motorway.  Others do and their opinions are also valid.

[MattyB]

I wasn't fussed if mine was CR or LR - but I've got to admit, as I need to blast up/across the M6/M54 every week, doing 2k@80mph makes it much more of a dual-personality car for me. Sure, I can see why people consider 3rd to be too long on a B-road, but for me, that's a small price to pay for the far bigger advantage of better gearing for some distance driving.

In regards to buying the Yellow one mentioned, the gearbox type wouldn't put me off, but the lack of +2 (for resale alone, whether you wanted them or not) and the clutch not being replaced would be a consideration. As mentioned, even if you don't replace it yourself, lets say you sell it on 60k miles, the next owner is going to think "I'll need to find £2k to replace that clutch" and want to price it accordingly. But for £24k it's a bargain as long as everything else adds up.

(As for the colour, Evora's look great in Yellow as long as they have the SR black accents IMO....and I don't usually like yellow cars!)

[mayevora]

1 hour ago, MattyB said:

 "I'll need to find £2k to replace that clutch" and want to price it accordingly. But for £24k it's a bargain as long as everything else adds up.

Unfortunately 2K isn’t that unusual any more, even on a lot of normal daily drive cars. Even a standard BMW Mini is 2.3k for a clutch change at main dealer prices nowadays. 👎

£24k looks good.

[DaveC72]

@fillpoke, welcome.

Some thoughts:

Clutch: My 2012 Evora S had done 68K miles when I sold it, and the clutch still hasn't needed to be done 16 months later (so maybe another 6-12K miles on top).  The car was used for all kinds of driving, and honestly speaking it was showing no signs of wear.

The Pistonheads car is ridiculously close to you, in the grand scheme of things, so if it were me I'd be taking the car for a test drive (show him this thread if he thinks you're a tyre-kicker).  At a guess, you're already on the decision track having asked for our thoughts...

IMHO there is no such thing as "the right answer" with regards to trim levels, gearboxes, rear seats (sorry Andy) etc etc.  Sure, there's popular wisdom, and a general consensus on these things - but, considering most of us on here don't drive 911s so clearly aren't that arsed about this, we're collectively strangely insistent on what the "right choices" should be.  Which has always mystified me somewhat.

Buying a car is such a personal thing.  If you like it when you try it, then buy the damn thing.  No-one will berate you for making the "wrong" choice - certainly not on here - and you will have a car that you have chosen, not anyone else.

Advice is good.  Experience offered is good.  The choice is yours!
 

[JAWS]

@DaveC72 don't come bounding in with your size 7's and logical thinking. Pipe down. 

[C8RKH]

5 hours ago, DaveC72 said:

rear seats (sorry Andy)

No need to apologise to me. I prefer no rear seats and know others prefer them. It's just down to personal taste and I have it and they don't. I also question how often they actually do really use those as seats for passengers, I think some just like the idea of them. But hey, that's OK because you still bought a Lotus, right!

[tim_marra]

Sure is! I bought a +2 option so our dog could come along too . To be honest, he preferred a car he could stick his head out of, but he always enjoyed the destination.

RIP Sherman , thanks for all the great times 

 

[mdavies]

Late in here, but don't think that what for me is the quick and easy check on which gearbox has been mentioned.

No need for high speeds, so ok on accompanied test drives.  Top gear, 1,000 rpm:  37.5mph > long box.  27.5 mph > short box.

Main points about preference already mentioned and I've been round that loop quite enough times previously. I will just say there is only one right for me and I wouldn't touch the other. (Driven both - of course.)

[MJK 24]

Hello everyone,

does anyone have any wisdom to share with regard to this early NA Evora?  It seems to be good value for money but wondering if there’s anything to be aware of?

Thanks in advance!

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-LOTUS-EVORA-2-2-27K-MILES/273670817761?ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575033836&toolid=10001&campid=5337202664&customid=&icep_item=273670817761&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&srcrot=710-53481-19255-0&rvr_id=1833321731763&rvr_ts=8512bacb1680aa64ace18497fff61f00&_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1&ul_noapp=true&pageci=c8f1560d-343c-4c2c-8ee4-566238d0ba8e

[Bravo73]

Nobody seems to be sure why it hasn’t sold yet. The car is the subject of a thread here:

 

[Del Lardo]

It's been up for sale since October, I think it sold at one point but came back.  That could mean the seller has just been unlucky as the market isn't great at the moment (and I say that as a seller as well) or it could be that there's something the owner is not saying in the advert (to be very clear I am not suggesting there is anything) as I'm surprised that it hasn't sold at £25k for what looks to be a good car.

Early Evora's can suffer from the following.....

• Clutch - Won't last forever but worth looking for a car that's had it replaced.
• Headlights can need re-lacquering as the initial process that Lotus used wasn't great.  
• CR Gearbox can suffer from weak 3-6th gear ratios causing premature failure. 
• Front wheel arch liner brackets rust away to nothing (someone sells a stainless steel replacement for £25 or so)
• Air conditioning condensers can fail 
• Passenger side airbag cover pops up, £500 to fix an TADTS

On the plus side, drive train is pretty much bomb proof and no reports of electrical gremlins.

 

 

[mg4lotus]

I viewed this car in October. AU10 ECN Storm titanium Evora NA

If you do a search on this forum and the Internet in general you will discover that it was used in the soap Emmerdale. Do a search for its mot history on the government website and you will see that on it's first three years it had only done 8k miles, that's quite low and might be explained by it's TV usage.

There was no early documentation of it's history that Gareth could show me and he wasn't able to show me any stamps in the service book. In subsequent communications he has said there are 7 stamps in the service book. There may be a valid reason for this but I would advise any buyer to beware and check it out

Gareth has had the car a couple of years and has documentation to show the work he has done on it. He also showed me pictures of work he has done on his project car (Alpha Romeo 4C), he seems to be a competent home mechanic and in the bodyshop.

The bodywork and the paintwork look to be in really good condition. It has PPF on front, sides and back and that looks in good condition also.

I had a short test drive and didn't notice any faults but it wasn't long enough to form an opinion. If I was interested in the car after some consideration, I would have gone back for another test drive.

It has Sports pack but not Tech pack or Premium pack. Gareth has added a rear view camera and different head unit. There were some items of the Tech pack that I wanted and it didn't have them.

The drivers mud flap was loose. This sounds like a nothing job but there may be more work involved than you would think

There may be other things that I didn't spot.

I have already requested more info about this car on here but no one was able to give me any extra info so it has been off the radar for a while.

Value is a subjective thing. £25,000. Not for me.

You might also want to check out Gareth's previous Ebay history and as ever, buyer beware.

[C8RKH]

On 26/01/2019 at 11:53, Del Lardo said:

Headlights can need re-lacquering as the initial process that Lotus used wasn't great. 

Actually it was the headlight manufacturer not Lotus and AM used the same cpany for the DB9 I believe and they have similar misting and lacquer issues. TADTS.

[Bibs]

McLaren too, same manufacturer for them as well.