It's clear that what really makes a car special isn't just its engine or aesthetics, but the memories and emotions it invokes. What's the one car under 100k that you think strikes the perfect balance between thrill, style, and reliability? 👍
Toyota GR supra MT yes i know its pretty much a bmw cosplaying as a jdm car but here me out the car is quite faithfull to the mk4 formula inline 6 turbo front engine rear wheel drive 6 speed manual and is very agile and agressive in its handaling its probally one of the best enthusiast product out today plus its 60k anything that tick as much box as this car are 100k and over maybe the Z but it far less superior and the mustang but that quite heavy car.
Lotus is what we need more of today. Lightweight, no BS sports cars with clean looks. I'm really rooting for them to succeed with this, even if I couldn't or wouldn't buy it.
My daily weighs 3,117 lbs. And holds four adults with legs. Tons of storage.Has awesome seats and a world class manual. For a 1/3 of the price. So not impressed. ...and yet the Lotus is pure eye candy, and has the mid engine, rwd magic. So still very glad they built it. It is special. If I had room it would be keeping my Type R company.
My shop is located next to Earth MotorCars which is an authorized Lotus dealer. And man I will tell you, the Emira really does invoke that emotional response, outside and inside.
Got to drive one off turo for a day and I have to say everything I had read about it was true. So glad to not have my dream car spoiled when I finally got to drive it. Now, I just wait for the day I can own one
Steering is amazing. But unless you have the right roads near you then you get bored of the power( or lack there of) very quickly. That and the dealership experience is what kept me from keeping my deposit
@@moneyshift8190you will have a lot of little issues that will either drive you crazy or you'll live with them comfortably. Some people think a cars reliability is based on the engine but until they own a lotus they will never appreciate how horrific British electronics are. If you don't have a dealer close to you then you better be really comfortable wrenching on it yourself. Also important mention Lotus will immediately terminate your warranty if they see mods. They also monitor the forums so keep that in Mind. I believe they own emiraforums. One of their reps knew who I was and knew all my posts, it was quite strange. I recommend driving one because they're fantastic but they're definitely not for everyone.
I test drove the Emira and a 718 GTS and put my deposit down on the Emira. The 718 is a great car but the manual wasn't a strong point. The rev matching takes the rewarding aspect away and the gears were very mismatched to the engine IMO. I don't think you'd ever see the top of 2nd gear outside a track environment and certainly wont make use of the top end of anything after. I'm not planning to use the Emira as a daily. Its a second car and for me that emotional fun factor scores higher in the weighting.
It's really not bs, it has to do with noise levels. They measure manual cars different from autos and it really penalizes them. Porsche is not the only long gear manual offender, but being one of the few remaining who makes manuals is oft singled out. @@bearclaw5115
@@judgedeath2614 He meant that the gear ratios are too tall and he’s right they are but at least in the 2.5 turbo flat-4 the torque band is so wide you can shift most anywhere in the rev range for fun. I also installed the GT4 short shifter in mine to take out the rubberiness and now it’s as perfect as it can get 👍
The Lotus is beautiful, unique, and fun. But the C7 and C8 are cheaper to buy and maintain, and there is a dealership usually within 10 miles. The C7 is amazing for looks, interior, powertrain, cost to maintain. Enjoy looking at the Lotus but smile sitting in your C7.
@@bicboi1930 I hear you on that. My last three cars all had V8s. I think the Emira has a pretty sweet sounding six though. The driving experience also seems to warrant the cost. 6-cylinder aside, it's a rather special car.
@@infidel900rr definitely. We all wanted this car to be perfect, to be the one to have. But it's still a compromise like all Lotus' seem to be in one way or another....
Honestly, I think this comment is very outdated. The Evora and Elise have proven to be very, very reliable. It's too early to tell about the Emira, but it's far more likely to be in line with reliability of the Evora/Elise. The early cars in the 60's/70's definitely had reliability issues even when well cared for (too much lightness added :)), but the new cars are very good.
@@michaelp5663 about the only reliable component of the lotus is the drivetrain. And even though, lotus somehow manages to mess that up... Coming from a low mileage elise owner! :)
Really enjoyed the video. Thanks. I’ve had my Emira (in the UK) since last September. Perhaps it’s because I picked it up at the factory, but It’s been faultless in every way. I was convinced it would let me down somehow, but not so far. I now have that Lotus experience combined with 100% confidence, and that’s a great feeling. Can’t believe I still watch RUclips videos for the car after I got it- that’s never happened before!😀
I wasn't born into money, but I like nice cars. This car is attainable, and has the quirkiness I kinda want (masochist?) in my driving car. This is attainable! Thanks for the fantastic review, gents.
@@stevemiller1626 I LOVE Saabs. Always did as a kid.. always wondered where the owners have moved on to (and have checked Quora many times). Last year was on the verge of getting a V90 wagon but got a Prius instead (I know.. but it’s for work).
I bought a GT86 10 years ago and I watched all of your series on that car, where you delightfully compared to a cheeseburger. I bought the Emira last July, and with great trepidation I clicked the thumbnail. Really glad you like it, I had it round Anglesey (a great little track on this side of the pond) and it was an absolute blast. I think you guys already said it, in an event that was dominated by GT4 RS’s, 911’s, and even some GT3’s, everyone commented on how special the little Lotus was.
As an ND2 owner I would love to tuoro one of these someday. But I love owned the nd2 for about 3 years now with 60k miles. I beat the piss out of it and not so much as a check engine light. The reliability and low maintenance cost I’d just insane. I understand the lotus is better in nearly every objective driving category I just don’t think i could buy one even if in the budget.
Especially when you could get multiple ND's for the price of one of these. Get the same feeling every time I look at vintage British sports cars, and then realize I have an NB in the garage.
I had an evora GT and now I have a nd2 rf (needed to buy a house) and while the GT was a unique car I was always nervous something serious was going to break on it having the nearest lotus dealer literally hours away… meanwhile I drive the nd2 and have no worries just smiles knowing ultimately it’s “just” a Mazda… and I have one of those dealers worst case 15 minutes from my house.
@@viscountslappy5085 My BIL and sister have had multiple Miata’s while also owning Lotus, Jaguar, Aston, etc. so apparently it’s possible to own multiple Miatas and also own Lotus …
@@viscountslappy5085 And the craziest thing is that you could have multiple Miata's and each one setup with it's own unique drivetrain with how plentiful the aftermarket support is; and probably still stay under what the Emira costs. The Emira does look sublime though.
I had an Evora 400 - and dealing with the BS fit and finish issues made me never want to get a Lotus again. The driving experience is phenomenal - but if I ever get a pricey fun car again it will for sure be a Porsche as you don't have those issues.
As a Porsche owner this saddens me. I feel like Lotus have always been on the cusp of producing something to rival the Cayman/Boxster and yet even after all the investment it still isn't quite there. I really hope Lotus get it right before this model disappears entirely as we now know it's the last of its kind.
Also owned an Evora 400. I loved the car under 8/10ths (road use), but couldn't quite get along with it as expected on track. From my experience with multiple events, the front end (with the factory Bilstein dampers), wasn't as transparent and sure-footed under threshold braking and turn-in. If I had plenty of garage space, I would've kept the Evora as a street-only weekend car. Given limited garage space, my fun car(s) need to strike an optimal balance between street and track use. Bought a 981 Cayman S to replace the Lotus and it's much better on track but less fun, less of an occasion, on public roads. My M2C, on the other hand, is a blast on public roads but is heavier, worse on consumables, and requires more modification to hold up to extended sessions on track. Tradeoffs!
I do appreciate you both taking the additional time to get the engineering/technical tidbits. And even though I enjoyed every minute of it, the summary really solidified the expectations one should approach this beautiful yet not perfect car. Thanks for all you do.
This car is more "1st gen NSX" than the NSX (2nd gen) Light weight, RWD, manual, easy to look out, easy to drive, not win by hp - a true 1st gen NSX spiritual successor.
Right. I began to seriously look at this car when I realized the 2nd Gen NSX started way above my price point and the first gens were also too pricey. Plus Lotus history of driver focus aided this decision.
Hey Guys, I have a 2020 Lotus Evora GT that I put so far 92,000 miles on it since buying it new 3 years ago. I still daily it as my ONLY car. Love Lotus as a brand, but aftermarket, and support in general has always been a hit or miss. The forums are filled with very enthusiastic people to help with the little issues that WILL show up. I think you convinced me to go ahead and get the Emira as the new daily.
Excellent video! Great analysis and honest final thoughts. I was cross-shopping the Emira and a Cayman GTS 4.0. Since the Cayman is in its final production year, it was now or never to order one to my spec. I want a second car for occasional track use, canyon runs, and future road trips. I’m glad I bought the Cayman for its build quality, relative reliability (and dlr network when away from home), bespoke Porsche engine, and practical luggage space. The driving experience is 95% of the Lotus (or maybe better?) and the interior is a generation older, but thank you for reinforcing my decision. Looking forward to the comparo video.
You hit it on the nail! This is my assessment as well. As an owner of the 981S, I love how fun my Cayman is and the reliability factor. My next logical move would be a GTS 4.0 or a preowned Emira after all the corks are figured out
I have been saying this for sometime, but I feel that the Evora and now Emira are a better representation of the NSX that we have grown to love. Acura / Honda just had to replicate something not too distant from these Lotus in order to captivate our hearts again, but went off into a completely new direction with the latest (2017+) iteration.
It’s a beautiful car, but. I’m so over having a sports car that has issues. There are to many options out there now where you don’t have to deal with little problems all of the time. Then again, I have owned several Porsche’s and had many similar issues, I would never own one again. Interesting that you stated that the Porsche engine was more reliable than a Toyota engine, I don’t agree with that at all. Maybe the added super charger changes it, but I’m not sure. Great video and I’m glad you guys are finally getting the views you deserve. Your the best on the internet!
Exige S owner; bought new in 2007 as a street car with no A/C or any options that didn't make it faster. Zero problems. None. Infinite fun times. A key thing with Lotus is to follow Chapman's advice of "adding lightness". This also brings simplicity and reliability. The understeer built into the Exige was eliminated with some front upright machining commonly performed on track and street cars. After that, it is a car like no other.
Fantastic review of a fantastic car. Idiot light? Who's the idiot? Crummy stereo? I'm partially deaf. Wind noise? Compared to what? a convertible? Love it. Well Done. P.S. - I had no idea the Lotus Evija EV weighs 2,000,000 lbs.!
For a car that starts at 99k this is very special. Easily looks like a 200k car and to the untrained eye would look like a direct competitor to a Mclaren or Ferrari. Lotus has come a long way.
@@Rocket9944 yep Z06 would probably beat this car at everything for just a little more. If you don't mind buying used there are a lot of options under 100k, including what I would pick up, a V10 Gallardo.
Looks like a $70-80k car, overpriced at $99k. Not even in the same category as McLaren, much less Ferrari. And for a little more than $200k you are in older Porsche GT3 territory which is a better car by a mile in all regards. Other than that, I agree with you.
Self professed car guy - obsessed with R35 GTR and car related content from way back - This one is amazing. I was blown away by the transparency, editing, content and delivery. More please. Come drive a slightly modified R35 GT-R from the far north to bluff and back in NZ - a life changing drive. You guys are good at what you do
No denying, IMHO, this is Lotus' best-looking car since the Esprit. It is that reliability thing that keeps me away from this brand. The C8 reminds me of the Alfa Romeo Milano. From the rear 3/4 view, it has a bit of that "a-crash-tested-car-that-has-already-been-crash-tested" look (aka Alfa Romeo Milano look). Still, I would go for the C8-after a priest blesses the transmission, of course. P.S. I can't believe I wrote Milano and was able to keep a straight face.
We’re going to test drive an Emira tomorrow. I feel like this video has me educated enough to manage expectations and make a decision that’s balanced with our situation and needs. We will see what happens.
If I had the money I'd be super interested; softer suspension actually makes it faster on-road by gripping better over bumps. However, it's hard to financially justify over an MX-5 or BR-Z/FRS/86. Too bad there's no more MR2 in NA.
It's. just. SO. damned. pretty! I can tell you, if I could afford this car, I certainly wouldn't mind a noisy window rubber or some HVAC glitches. I'd be as happy as a two peckered tom cat just driving this Lotus.
I pre-ordered one of these, put my deposit down, waited over 3 years checking almost daily on the Emira forums. After lengthly delays, slow 0-60 performance and a test drive that did put a big smile on my face but quality concerns went up - I canceled and bought a Z4. The emira is no doubt a much more beautiful car, but I love the convertible and I’d rek the Emira on the streets where I drive. For a pure weekend car - get one. The mid engine supercharger sound is a hell of a lot of fun. For a primary car, I would advise looking elsewhere based on my experience.
981 Cayman owner here (former 987.2, NC3, ND and S2000 owner). I wish I was wealthy enough to get a new GTS 4.0, GT4 or Emira. But I just don't think I could risk committing to the Emira as my only car like I can the Cayman etc. Its just too risky. And honestly. I would give a 4C a go before this.
I love the 4C too but reliability is even worse and the interior is even more of a joke than the Evora's was (I say that as the Evora is my dream car). I think the Cayman would probably be the better daily or "only" car, but the lotus is just so special. The Evora GT I drove from turo for a day put everything else I've ever driven to shame as far as driver involvement, and I daily an s2000.
Just got my 981 CS last year. Had an allocation for new GTS 4.0 but passed on it after acquiring my 981 while waiting for my allocation. Is the GTS 4.0 really that much better? I didn’t think so. The 981 sounds much better. The 4.0 makes more power but they are otherwise the same cars. My next upgrade will be a GT3.
@racesuey the steering feel argument is so overblown. Every cars steering feels different as soon as you hop in. But once you adapt. I swear the only time you feel the difference with hydraulic is at ten tenths or if you're at a really high speed.
Nice review. A special car, but I’m not feeling the front bonnet slats or the supercharger whine. And I’m US, so lack of service is a deal breaker. My main question…when are you reviewing the Porsche spyder rs? 😎
I had a deposit on one a while and so glad I cancelled to get my gt4. The price increase, delays, and now hearing all the issues people are having despite 2+ years of production delays indicate I made the right choice.
Erm... actually the chassis is very much the same with Evora, save for some ported holes for new electronics. The track width and wheelbase length are pretty much the same as Evora, which is weird for a car that was supposed to be 100% brand new. Don't take it as a criticism towards the Emira, though. Sharing the same backbone as one of the best driver's car ever made is no bad thing. I just wish Lotus would iron out the reliability issues.
Yeah, it's a joke that it's pretty obvious it's essentially the same car but people are willing to roll out the Lotus line of 'all new' as you say, that's not an issue but don't peddle the bull...
Excellent review! I did a test drive with the Emira when it was first available in the US. I had a supercharged NSX at the time. I felt the NSX was a better car performance wise, so I did not get the Emira. However, the NSX was getting pretty old and so I got a Lotus Evora GT. I like the analog raw driver's car nature of it. That blew the NSX away. To top it off, I then dyno tuned mine to 504bhp and 403lbft of torque. That is a serious performing car. Yes, the view out the front of the NSX is better. My car is what Honda should have made as the new NSX in 2017.
Now that California finally allowed Lotus to start giving out allocations to buyers like me to get their Lotus I'm happy. California really fucked up the delivery times for this car. As soon as I heard about this car I drove downtown Toronto to Gentry Lane and met with George and speced my allocation. Gave my deposit and have been waiting for the call that I'll be taking delivery of my Lotus soon. I have my Aston Martin DB9 Volante that I use for road trips to Niagara or Montreal, my FD rx7 for track days when I want to go 10/10ths and really push it. But this will be my everyday fun car to and from to work and Sundays to enjoy the back roads. Ever since I got a ride in my uncle's Lotus Esprit V8 turbo when I was 10 I wanted a Lotus. You don't buy a Lotus to say you have the fastest car in the group. Just like I didn't buy the Aston to say I have a faster grand tourer. It's emotional.
I now drive a manual 718 GTS 4.0 at over 100k. Amazing engine and gear box for sure...but I still miss my 2017 Toyota 86. It was so much fun to throw around that simple, underpowered, manual Toyobaru twin...
I was waiting for these two to review this car! They always cover all the major areas of what makes a car desirable in its "category"! Such a beautiful timeless vehicle!
Even as a second vehicle, I can’t deal with the reliability and quality issues of the Emira. And with the discontinuation of the GT4/Spyder, I’ll be happy with a Miata until something better comes along.
I'd definitely still take the 718, in any trim. Lotus dealers in the US are practically non-existent so unless you live by one, it's of great inconvenience WHEN warranty issues arise. Lotus build quality has gotten better over the years, but it's still a British assembled car, for worse and for worse. Furthermore, the Porsche is the standard to which everything else is judged. I'd rather buy the standard over the competitor that just gets close.
@@TermlessHGW For me, this wouldn't be a daily driver, and i would be willing to deal with some of the issues... the main problem in my perspective is the dealer network being so sparse. I wish they would make a deal with Toyota to create a larger service network.
@@TermlessHGW That was true when they made there own engines. The moment the engines switched to toyota sourced, alot of the "Serious" problems went away.
@@TermlessHGW I’m obviously biased as a Lotus Elise owner, but that hasn’t really been true since they started using Toyota power trains. Little random things here and there going wrong? Occasional electronics issues? Sure, par for the course for a small manufacturer. Not everything gets to be engineered and tested to perfection like Porsche. If that’s a deal breaker for you, no worries. Porsche is a compelling option for many
I remember when it was announced and it was going to be $80K. Then it was released at $100k+. It has problems that other channels highlighted. Glad I didn’t put money down on it because it doesn’t matter how good It looks if you can’t drive it without problems.
I primarily bought a 2021 Evora based on SG's earlier video on the same. I loved the car and kept it 3 years without any issues. 2 or 3 track days and local spirited driving. I loved the fact that it was no compromise between comfort and sport. I sold it and bought a 718 Spyder just to try something different. The Spyder is great, but I still miss that Evora. With a decat pipe that card sounded great and the fact that I 'couldn't' hear the supercharger except on occasion was a bonus. It felt like a NA engine with that linear power delivery. I know I am in the minority, but I truly hate the way that supercharger sounds on the Emira. Everyone would put CAIs on Evora to elicit that sound and I never understood it. On the track portion of this video I had to check to ensure I hadn't switched over to the C8 E-ray video and it's ridiculous Tron sound.
What does being a Pisces matter? Or am I missing something? I’m a Pisces too 😊 I tried to buy one in 2021 but couldn’t get my hands on one at the time. I ended up getting something different.
Loved the video and itching to take mine to the track. Agreed on it giving way to understeer much more readily than the Porsche despite double wishbone up front Sport suspension surprisingly compliant and is great for canyon carving and driving around town. Touring too soft and gives up too much front end sharpness. Agreed on it being fun even when driving slow.
I was wondering if I’d find you in the comments lol. hey doc! I’m surprised you were willing to forgive the under steer as such a rwd/steering fanatic. But I guess the feedback and ability to fix aftermarket makes it worth for you.
@@darrena4048 Just uprate the spring and/or shock rate in the REAR end? Sway bar only works mid-corner, whereas stiffer damping/wheel rate helps on initial turn-in too. Unfortunately most aftermarket springs and shocks also lower the car, it's hard to find ones that are uprated but keep the OE ride height. Edit -- Sorry I said front end at first, I got confused.
Because the Corvette needs (and by needs I mean absolutely requires) a trunk that will accommodate a golf club bag. They start with that and engineer out from there. Lawyers and plastic surgeons need golf accommodations on toys.
Another great video. The dryness of the the revuews is so refreshing conpared to a lot of other iver the top youtube reviews. This channel and Harrys Garage are gold standard youtube car channels.
I picked mine up Saturday. I love it, but it has swirls all over the paint like its been washed improperly multiple times already. I will be following up on that today.
While it looks great on paper I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle of having to deal with dealership issues. For my money (of which there is none) it's going to be the Porsche.
I have had my Emira for a month and here are my thoughts. Beautiful car. Draws crowds at cars and coffee and everyone comments on it when you are out and about. Very fun to drive. I have had 911's and this is much more fun. As for the Caymans, I looked at those, but everyone has one and the tall gearing is a deal killer. I don't know how anyone looks beyond that when you compare cars. What good is a manual if you can't row the gears some? Car sounds great as well in sport/track mode. Also, this focus on track use and track times is a red herring to me. Ask how many Vette or Cayman drivers go to the track? I bet it is less than 10%. To me, the media focuses way too much on track in reality to the actual numbers who track their expensive car. The downside to the Emira is Lotus issues, I have to drop it off because the HVAC fan needs a new resistor and the dealer is 90 miles away. Besides that type of headache, there is no way I would take a Corvette or Cayman over this car. Also, I am in my 50's, this is my fun car. I do drive it almost every day, but I have another car that is a more practical daily driver.
I wanted the emira for the looks and the initially quoted £60k, then I drove a gts 4.0 and 981 S. I went with the 981 S for £30k, full loaded with a porsche warranty. It gets looks and comments, I'm sure much less than an emira but that's fine, it's about my enjoyment. The sound of the 981 won it, the high revs make me feel like a kid in a race car. I wanted to try pdk after 15 years with a manual and it's great for this car. Lastly, I wanted a convertible so it's a no brainer.
@@Jay-xr3sb Sounds very nice! I have tried to convince my wife to get a 981 convertible. She wants a 911, but I think the 981 is a much better value and more fun to drive.
@@ms8742 when I asked myself why I wanted a 911, it really came down to its reputation and the front looks better. I tried a 997, the size and performance was comparable to the 981S but it felt dated and there are bore scoring issues. The 991.1 is NA but there was a huge premium for more power I can't use on the street, plus its bigger and GT like. Anything past that was a turbo, so out of the question. I'm more likely to try a miata/mx5 if I need to cash out but still have some fun.
Emira owner… 300 miles of break in and no drivability issues, only cosmetic and fitment issues but still glad I bought it. The issues should soon be resolved with a trip to the dealership.
@iannealcole That sounds like an awesome collection! People are too black and white... all cars have their place. Especially the Murano Cross Cabriolet.
@@iannealcole No, I was just saying I hope Lotus stays viable cause them trying to grow significantly with an expensive car like the Eletre is going to be tough, that's all. It's a cool car, just not sure that is going to get them the growth they need.
I salute anyone that makes the decision to get an Emira over a GTS 4.0, I think it’s a bold choice. When it came to my money though, this might be my forever car and the issue that was pointed out with Lotus was reliability and dealer network. How are things going to look in 5 years, 10 years? When Lotus goes fully electric will they be able to service the internal combustion cars still? With Porsche’s investments into alternative fuels and pledge to keep ICE and manuals around for as long as they can, that ultimately swung my decision. If you can put up with issues, do service yourself/have a trusted shop, and/or are planning on keeping the car shorter term, I think the Lotus makes a lot of sense!
@@RA22475 Geely is a reasonably large auto conglomerate. Lotus will only disappear if Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, London Taxi Cab Company (!), and so on also disappear. Which is possible of course, but Geely want a brand in their portfolio to have that Maserati/Porsche positioning, and that's Lotus.
Pretty sure the Emira GT4 finished P1 this weekend and Silverstone British GT Championship - and set a LAP RECORD for GT4 class! - I know this first Emira is set up for the street, but based on what it is doing on the race track (P1 & P2 in Macao GT4) Lotus can clearly make a Porsche GT4 beater with the Emira. Perhaps a road review would have been better for the road variant of the Emira. Agree with the build quality issues and dealer network... biggest letdown of owning a Lotus... review was underwhelming for the type of car this is.
I tried buying a car part from Alibaba once...never again. I ordered an electronically valved exhaust with 3" in and out. The valve was nice, welding all looked okay. Looked down the 3" pipe and the actual hole in the muffler was around 1" wide. They just tacked a 3" stainless pipe to the back of a super cheap muffler. I tried to explain that using such a muffler on my car would, at best, severely hamper performance and possibly damage the car. They said, 'our engineer said it's okay, put it on and let us know.' Luckily alibaba refunded my money but I'm not dealing with that again.
I had an order to buy one of these launch addition’s and was so pleased I pulled out, your title is so appropriate, a beautiful car no doubt but still an Evora in principal underneath and if Lotus want to challenge me on that technically I would be more than welcome to discuss. A great new skin and beautiful interior, naturally somewhat heavier than the past. But understandably. It is an excellent cost effective way to cash in on the last ice engine cars ‘port injection only’ passive suspension, very rare now, to help fund the disaster of an EV which they have delivered. It should be a success. However my Australian dealership were not interested in assisting the customer experience so decided to pick one up later with some deprecation built in. Incidentally I think being a refined Evora should be part of the Lotus marketing promotion, it’s an opportunity to get what was wrong all fixed and right with the stunning looks. You can’t hide it once you lift the skin so why make stupid claims.. turn it into a positive rather than living in denial
The problem is that Geely and Lotus want absolutely nothing to do with Evora, which was seen as the troublemaker for Lotus after not selling all that well. And because it failed to sell, Lotus saw Evora as the culprit of their failure, therefore they try to distance themselves as far as they can. Remember when Exige and Elise got the final editions? Nothing as such with Evora, they didn't even announce the closure of Evora production line. Not Evora's fault, though. It is still one of the best driver's car ever made. It's Lotus' fault for not marketing it properly. And now they want to distance themselves from old Lotus fans even more by going all EV and calling us old Lotus fans 'the bobblehats'. I used to love Lotus as a company. Not anymore.
@@AntoniusTyas All automakers in western Europe will have to go all-EV by 2035 anyway though (at least for the domestic market there)? Does it matter if Lotus does it a bit earlier than Maserati and Porsche?
I kinda wish Lotus partnered with Honda as a supplier. The Honda K20C1 engine (Type R) and transmission would have made so much more sense than the Mercedes engine
100% agree. If they could have made the civic manual work with their own engine that would have been great too. Just think if it had a 4.0l na cosworth v6 with a dry sump with a honda gearbox. Scream to 8000+ rpm and around 400bhp. It would lower the centre of gravity loads as well.
I always Enjoy Savagegeese videos, I am entertained and educated. Don't know what you do , keep doing it. God willing I will be a pateron as soon as I can, just cause y'all are dedicated.
Harry Metcalfe (Harry's Garage) was so chuffed to get his last year. But Harry has the resources and local support network to enjoy it. In North America Porsche makes more sense.
I own one. Agree with this review, except for the quality comments. The underpinnings of this car are no where near first gen, built on a very reliable and respected motor and supercharger. Additionally, there are not enough cars out there to decide if reliability is an issue still. I'm at 1200mi with no issues. Lovely car!
Seriously was considering this for track car. But they had so many quality issues. Also they wont be delivering until the end of this year when i inquired last september.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
It's clear that what really makes a car special isn't just its engine or aesthetics, but the memories and emotions it invokes. What's the one car under 100k that you think strikes the perfect balance between thrill, style, and reliability? 👍
Murano Cross Cabriolet
@@savagegeese 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@savagegeese unfortunately he said UNDER 100K 😢
ND Miata. Nothing comes close.
Toyota GR supra MT yes i know its pretty much a bmw cosplaying as a jdm car but here me out the car is quite faithfull to the mk4 formula inline 6 turbo front engine rear wheel drive 6 speed manual and is very agile and agressive in its handaling its probally one of the best enthusiast product out today plus its 60k anything that tick as much box as this car are 100k and over maybe the Z but it far less superior and the mustang but that quite heavy car.
Lotus is what we need more of today. Lightweight, no BS sports cars with clean looks. I'm really rooting for them to succeed with this, even if I couldn't or wouldn't buy it.
Not light.
Lightweight compared to a C8, but not compared to a 981 or a 718.
@@electric_boogaloo496 comparable to a cayman in weight, but a fair bit wider.
Not a traditional lotus, that would be an alpine a110.
My daily weighs 3,117 lbs. And holds four adults with legs. Tons of storage.Has awesome seats and a world class manual. For a 1/3 of the price. So not impressed.
...and yet the Lotus is pure eye candy, and has the mid engine, rwd magic. So still very glad they built it. It is special. If I had room it would be keeping my Type R company.
my 1970 911S weighs in at just over 1,000 Kgs - this is not light
"It'd be better with a B58" - Jack (probably)
Jack definitely
Naah
This Motor
Is way more reliable
@@vindevhunta4905 you stupid? The b58 is one of the most reliable engines of all time and won awards for the design and capabilities.
@@vindevhunta4905reliable? Maybe. Better? Not even close on any metric
prob not enough room
My shop is located next to Earth MotorCars which is an authorized Lotus dealer. And man I will tell you, the Emira really does invoke that emotional response, outside and inside.
Man when I had the evora gt, the handling and steering communication was unmatched.
Got to drive one off turo for a day and I have to say everything I had read about it was true. So glad to not have my dream car spoiled when I finally got to drive it. Now, I just wait for the day I can own one
Steering is amazing. But unless you have the right roads near you then you get bored of the power( or lack there of) very quickly. That and the dealership experience is what kept me from keeping my deposit
How was your experience reliability wise? Always interested in the Evora
@@moneyshift8190you will have a lot of little issues that will either drive you crazy or you'll live with them comfortably. Some people think a cars reliability is based on the engine but until they own a lotus they will never appreciate how horrific British electronics are. If you don't have a dealer close to you then you better be really comfortable wrenching on it yourself. Also important mention Lotus will immediately terminate your warranty if they see mods. They also monitor the forums so keep that in Mind. I believe they own emiraforums. One of their reps knew who I was and knew all my posts, it was quite strange. I recommend driving one because they're fantastic but they're definitely not for everyone.
They really need to tune the hp to at least 430 like the previous models. It's the last ice car from lotus, they have to make it special.
I test drove the Emira and a 718 GTS and put my deposit down on the Emira. The 718 is a great car but the manual wasn't a strong point. The rev matching takes the rewarding aspect away and the gears were very mismatched to the engine IMO. I don't think you'd ever see the top of 2nd gear outside a track environment and certainly wont make use of the top end of anything after. I'm not planning to use the Emira as a daily. Its a second car and for me that emotional fun factor scores higher in the weighting.
Yes, the gearing is just killing those cars. They had some garbage excuse but it's bs, we all know Porsche could do better.
For some reason I just cannot get over the profile of the cayman. It just seems to have a feminine demeanor…and yes I would happily take a GT4 RS.
You know you can disable rev matching right? And not sure what you drove but the manual in my GTS 4.0 is an absolute treat to drive.
It's really not bs, it has to do with noise levels. They measure manual cars different from autos and it really penalizes them. Porsche is not the only long gear manual offender, but being one of the few remaining who makes manuals is oft singled out. @@bearclaw5115
@@judgedeath2614 He meant that the gear ratios are too tall and he’s right they are but at least in the 2.5 turbo flat-4 the torque band is so wide you can shift most anywhere in the rev range for fun. I also installed the GT4 short shifter in mine to take out the rubberiness and now it’s as perfect as it can get 👍
In a world where logic and rationality doesn't exist, I'd be driving this car instead of my C7. Absolutely love everything about it.
The Lotus is beautiful, unique, and fun. But the C7 and C8 are cheaper to buy and maintain, and there is a dealership usually within 10 miles.
The C7 is amazing for looks, interior, powertrain, cost to maintain. Enjoy looking at the Lotus but smile sitting in your C7.
Do you love a 6 cylinder? I couldn't justify spending that much for anything less than 8cyl. Just feels and sounds much more special.
@@bicboi1930 I hear you on that. My last three cars all had V8s. I think the Emira has a pretty sweet sounding six though. The driving experience also seems to warrant the cost. 6-cylinder aside, it's a rather special car.
I went from a C7GS to an Evora GT. It cost me a lot of money but I have no regrets. Well except for the regret of track day insurance costs.
Only a commie would give up a reliable American classic for some Eurotrash clickbait
Very much looking forward to your comparison of the Emira vs. Cayman GTS 4.0!
I wouldn't care which is faster.
Which is nimbler ?!?!?
Which is more communicative?!!??!
Jacks final fudge at the end is amazing 😆
Literally went ape shit
He's celebrating that it was a good take, right?
I think he’s upset it wasn’t all positive.
@@infidel900rr definitely. We all wanted this car to be perfect, to be the one to have. But it's still a compromise like all Lotus' seem to be in one way or another....
Prior LC500 owner ive wanted this car but never actually had the blessing. But i think both cars are equally sexy.
Prior? ! The LC500 is so new and I still think about buying one. Curious to know what you drive currently?
LC500 was pure bliss on longer drives... Get one if you don't need to go to the track or really tight mountain roads.
what does "had the blessing" mean?
@@SelimxBradley they’ve never had the opportunity/experience of owning one
@@VetteMaro86 they’ve sold the LC500 for over 6 years now, plenty of time for people to own/lease/sell.
Buy a scale model and hold it really close to your face. You get the good looks, and none of the Lotus reliability issues.
Honestly, I think this comment is very outdated. The Evora and Elise have proven to be very, very reliable. It's too early to tell about the Emira, but it's far more likely to be in line with reliability of the Evora/Elise. The early cars in the 60's/70's definitely had reliability issues even when well cared for (too much lightness added :)), but the new cars are very good.
@@michaelp5663this video literally has an Exige owner who complains about reliability. Only Lotus could make a Toyota unreliable.
@@michaelp5663 about the only reliable component of the lotus is the drivetrain. And even though, lotus somehow manages to mess that up... Coming from a low mileage elise owner! :)
@@michaelp5663 Evora, reliable?
@@truantraymy Toyota powered Lotus has been just as reliable as my IS350, Sequoia, and ISF.
The production value of these videos is exceptional! On par with Jay Leno's car channel. Bravo!
Really enjoyed the video. Thanks. I’ve had my Emira (in the UK) since last September. Perhaps it’s because I picked it up at the factory, but It’s been faultless in every way. I was convinced it would let me down somehow, but not so far. I now have that Lotus experience combined with 100% confidence, and that’s a great feeling. Can’t believe I still watch RUclips videos for the car after I got it- that’s never happened before!😀
I wasn't born into money, but I like nice cars. This car is attainable, and has the quirkiness I kinda want (masochist?) in my driving car. This is attainable! Thanks for the fantastic review, gents.
That’s funny. I feel like the Alfa Giulia has enough quirkiness and masochism I could rationalize in a pipe dream. So cheap too.
@@Mark-eu6mc The Giulia is FAR more sensible, and a great choice methinks.
@@Mark-eu6mci have had my eye on a Giula 2.0 as a replacement for my SAAB one day.
@@stevemiller1626 I LOVE Saabs. Always did as a kid.. always wondered where the owners have moved on to (and have checked Quora many times). Last year was on the verge of getting a V90 wagon but got a Prius instead (I know.. but it’s for work).
I bought a GT86 10 years ago and I watched all of your series on that car, where you delightfully compared to a cheeseburger. I bought the Emira last July, and with great trepidation I clicked the thumbnail. Really glad you like it, I had it round Anglesey (a great little track on this side of the pond) and it was an absolute blast. I think you guys already said it, in an event that was dominated by GT4 RS’s, 911’s, and even some GT3’s, everyone commented on how special the little Lotus was.
As an ND2 owner I would love to tuoro one of these someday. But I love owned the nd2 for about 3 years now with 60k miles. I beat the piss out of it and not so much as a check engine light. The reliability and low maintenance cost I’d just insane. I understand the lotus is better in nearly every objective driving category I just don’t think i could buy one even if in the budget.
Especially when you could get multiple ND's for the price of one of these. Get the same feeling every time I look at vintage British sports cars, and then realize I have an NB in the garage.
I had an evora GT and now I have a nd2 rf (needed to buy a house) and while the GT was a unique car I was always nervous something serious was going to break on it having the nearest lotus dealer literally hours away… meanwhile I drive the nd2 and have no worries just smiles knowing ultimately it’s “just” a Mazda… and I have one of those dealers worst case 15 minutes from my house.
@@viscountslappy5085 My BIL and sister have had multiple Miata’s while also owning Lotus, Jaguar, Aston, etc. so apparently it’s possible to own multiple Miatas and also own Lotus …
@@viscountslappy5085 And the craziest thing is that you could have multiple Miata's and each one setup with it's own unique drivetrain with how plentiful the aftermarket support is; and probably still stay under what the Emira costs. The Emira does look sublime though.
did you just butcher a third of your texts?
I love the way the Emira looks. It's amazing
Possibly the best looking car under 250k
Have a new 2024 Emira driven 1100mile zero issues, love the car!
I had an Evora 400 - and dealing with the BS fit and finish issues made me never want to get a Lotus again. The driving experience is phenomenal - but if I ever get a pricey fun car again it will for sure be a Porsche as you don't have those issues.
As a Porsche owner this saddens me. I feel like Lotus have always been on the cusp of producing something to rival the Cayman/Boxster and yet even after all the investment it still isn't quite there. I really hope Lotus get it right before this model disappears entirely as we now know it's the last of its kind.
i own and Evora 400 - reliabble and easy car to fix, while Porsche problems can cost a fortune - especially things like the new engine
Also owned an Evora 400. I loved the car under 8/10ths (road use), but couldn't quite get along with it as expected on track. From my experience with multiple events, the front end (with the factory Bilstein dampers), wasn't as transparent and sure-footed under threshold braking and turn-in. If I had plenty of garage space, I would've kept the Evora as a street-only weekend car. Given limited garage space, my fun car(s) need to strike an optimal balance between street and track use. Bought a 981 Cayman S to replace the Lotus and it's much better on track but less fun, less of an occasion, on public roads. My M2C, on the other hand, is a blast on public roads but is heavier, worse on consumables, and requires more modification to hold up to extended sessions on track. Tradeoffs!
Hopefully Lotus sorts out more of the issues, buying the first year is risky. I heard they are shutting down 2025 production though?
I do appreciate you both taking the additional time to get the engineering/technical tidbits. And even though I enjoyed every minute of it, the summary really solidified the expectations one should approach this beautiful yet not perfect car. Thanks for all you do.
Already done 23,000 km on my Emira for one year. Love it.
94J8D❤
Already did 40,000 on my Dark Horse. 500 hp. V8
Did you have any issues/repairs?
How did you buy it?
@@Dr23rippa I'm in China lol. Bought it last year
This car is more "1st gen NSX" than the NSX (2nd gen)
Light weight, RWD, manual, easy to look out, easy to drive, not win by hp - a true 1st gen NSX spiritual successor.
It's a Mark 3 Evora, basically.
Nsx is not suppose to be the same old stuff. Literally in name to be different or experimental.
@@2010ngojoThan the World Rally eXpiriment has long forgotten that meaning 😂 (unless the "sport" CVT is their experiment)
Right. I began to seriously look at this car when I realized the 2nd Gen NSX started way above my price point and the first gens were also too pricey. Plus Lotus history of driver focus aided this decision.
@@qx4n9e1xp
Yeah, Subaru lost it's innovation when Mitsubishi pulled the Evo out of the market. Maybe even before then.
The whistles go woo woo
Needs the Bubb Rubb treatment.
D O U B L E W H I S T L E
That's only in the morning. You're supposed to be up cooking breakfast or something by then so, that's like an alarm clock.
WOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOOOO
Yeah I got it on my car
Thassit an thassall
Definitely not the comment I was expecting in 2024 😂
Always worth it to finish the video… God bless you Gents.
What a beautifully shot video, especially the intro great job
Looking forward to the track comparison with 718. Great video.
Hey Guys,
I have a 2020 Lotus Evora GT that I put so far 92,000 miles on it since buying it new 3 years ago. I still daily it as my ONLY car.
Love Lotus as a brand, but aftermarket, and support in general has always been a hit or miss.
The forums are filled with very enthusiastic people to help with the little issues that WILL show up.
I think you convinced me to go ahead and get the Emira as the new daily.
Excellent video! Great analysis and honest final thoughts.
I was cross-shopping the Emira and a Cayman GTS 4.0. Since the Cayman is in its final production year, it was now or never to order one to my spec. I want a second car for occasional track use, canyon runs, and future road trips.
I’m glad I bought the Cayman for its build quality, relative reliability (and dlr network when away from home), bespoke Porsche engine, and practical luggage space. The driving experience is 95% of the Lotus (or maybe better?) and the interior is a generation older, but thank you for reinforcing my decision.
Looking forward to the comparo video.
You hit it on the nail! This is my assessment as well. As an owner of the 981S, I love how fun my Cayman is and the reliability factor. My next logical move would be a GTS 4.0 or a preowned Emira after all the corks are figured out
I have been saying this for sometime, but I feel that the Evora and now Emira are a better representation of the NSX that we have grown to love. Acura / Honda just had to replicate something not too distant from these Lotus in order to captivate our hearts again, but went off into a completely new direction with the latest (2017+) iteration.
It’s a beautiful car, but. I’m so over having a sports car that has issues. There are to many options out there now where you don’t have to deal with little problems all of the time. Then again, I have owned several Porsche’s and had many similar issues, I would never own one again. Interesting that you stated that the Porsche engine was more reliable than a Toyota engine, I don’t agree with that at all. Maybe the added super charger changes it, but I’m not sure. Great video and I’m glad you guys are finally getting the views you deserve. Your the best on the internet!
Tend to agree. If this engine is unreliable, it's the induction system, not the Toyota V6.
Odd that Lotus owner Geely doesn't utilize one of their other brand's dealer network for after sales support, which it will be needing.
They will be able to go to some Volvo dealers
They should absolutely try to go through Volvo. There are some nice interior elements by Volvo in there too. :)
@@karacha Yes there are! Came here to see if anyone had noticed!
Exige S owner; bought new in 2007 as a street car with no A/C or any options that didn't make it faster. Zero problems. None. Infinite fun times. A key thing with Lotus is to follow Chapman's advice of "adding lightness". This also brings simplicity and reliability. The understeer built into the Exige was eliminated with some front upright machining commonly performed on track and street cars. After that, it is a car like no other.
Absolutely stunning car! Gorgeous!! But there is no way I could bear that supercharger whine. Cayman GTS for me...
In this EV era That supercharger sound it awesome..seem you are not a true car person…
981 S/gts for me, need to feel like a kid in a race car for a little longer
@@vindevhunta4905 Some people don't like the sound of turbos and superchargers (raises hand). I definitely prefer my engines naturally aspirated.
@@Contractor815 fair enough
Thanks for waiting until near the end to throw in the ads and making them brief. Excellent as always guys!
Fantastic review of a fantastic car.
Idiot light? Who's the idiot?
Crummy stereo? I'm partially deaf.
Wind noise? Compared to what? a convertible?
Love it.
Well Done.
P.S. - I had no idea the Lotus Evija EV weighs 2,000,000 lbs.!
Man, you guys are awesome. You’re just killing your niche in reviews and honestly your videos are just really refreshing to watch.
For a car that starts at 99k this is very special.
Easily looks like a 200k car and to the untrained eye would look like a direct competitor to a Mclaren or Ferrari.
Lotus has come a long way.
I disagree , 99k and up is a lot of money for a tiny car with a V6, yes it looks good but I think it's overpriced.
@@Rocket9944 yep Z06 would probably beat this car at everything for just a little more. If you don't mind buying used there are a lot of options under 100k, including what I would pick up, a V10 Gallardo.
Looks like a $70K car to me.
@@ksegg_ffsYou probably haven’t priced new cars lately!
Looks like a $70-80k car, overpriced at $99k. Not even in the same category as McLaren, much less Ferrari. And for a little more than $200k you are in older Porsche GT3 territory which is a better car by a mile in all regards.
Other than that, I agree with you.
Self professed car guy - obsessed with R35 GTR and car related content from way back - This one is amazing. I was blown away by the transparency, editing, content and delivery. More please. Come drive a slightly modified R35 GT-R from the far north to bluff and back in NZ - a life changing drive. You guys are good at what you do
No denying, IMHO, this is Lotus' best-looking car since the Esprit. It is that reliability thing that keeps me away from this brand.
The C8 reminds me of the Alfa Romeo Milano. From the rear 3/4 view, it has a bit of that "a-crash-tested-car-that-has-already-been-crash-tested" look (aka Alfa Romeo Milano look). Still, I would go for the C8-after a priest blesses the transmission, of course.
P.S. I can't believe I wrote Milano and was able to keep a straight face.
We’re going to test drive an Emira tomorrow. I feel like this video has me educated enough to manage expectations and make a decision that’s balanced with our situation and needs. We will see what happens.
If I had the money I'd be super interested; softer suspension actually makes it faster on-road by gripping better over bumps. However, it's hard to financially justify over an MX-5 or BR-Z/FRS/86. Too bad there's no more MR2 in NA.
You guys (yet again) knocked it out of the park with this analysis. Amazing level of information and video content. Kudos.
It's. just. SO. damned. pretty! I can tell you, if I could afford this car, I certainly wouldn't mind a noisy window rubber or some HVAC glitches. I'd be as happy as a two peckered tom cat just driving this Lotus.
I pre-ordered one of these, put my deposit down, waited over 3 years checking almost daily on the Emira forums. After lengthly delays, slow 0-60 performance and a test drive that did put a big smile on my face but quality concerns went up - I canceled and bought a Z4. The emira is no doubt a much more beautiful car, but I love the convertible and I’d rek the Emira on the streets where I drive. For a pure weekend car - get one. The mid engine supercharger sound is a hell of a lot of fun. For a primary car, I would advise looking elsewhere based on my experience.
Congrats Z4 is a great car
981 Cayman owner here (former 987.2, NC3, ND and S2000 owner). I wish I was wealthy enough to get a new GTS 4.0, GT4 or Emira. But I just don't think I could risk committing to the Emira as my only car like I can the Cayman etc. Its just too risky. And honestly. I would give a 4C a go before this.
I love the 4C too but reliability is even worse and the interior is even more of a joke than the Evora's was (I say that as the Evora is my dream car). I think the Cayman would probably be the better daily or "only" car, but the lotus is just so special. The Evora GT I drove from turo for a day put everything else I've ever driven to shame as far as driver involvement, and I daily an s2000.
Just got my 981 CS last year. Had an allocation for new GTS 4.0 but passed on it after acquiring my 981 while waiting for my allocation. Is the GTS 4.0 really that much better? I didn’t think so. The 981 sounds much better. The 4.0 makes more power but they are otherwise the same cars. My next upgrade will be a GT3.
The 4c is by far the most fun on the road, it’s a absolute riot but definitely not a first or second car maybe a 3rd car
981 has the worst feedback on modern sports car steering.
@racesuey the steering feel argument is so overblown. Every cars steering feels different as soon as you hop in. But once you adapt. I swear the only time you feel the difference with hydraulic is at ten tenths or if you're at a really high speed.
Great Video. Own 3 Evoras but waiting for 400hp+ 4cyl cylinder models. For track use it will be much better then V6.
Nice review. A special car, but I’m not feeling the front bonnet slats or the supercharger whine. And I’m US, so lack of service is a deal breaker.
My main question…when are you reviewing the Porsche spyder rs? 😎
I had a deposit on one a while and so glad I cancelled to get my gt4. The price increase, delays, and now hearing all the issues people are having despite 2+ years of production delays indicate I made the right choice.
Erm... actually the chassis is very much the same with Evora, save for some ported holes for new electronics. The track width and wheelbase length are pretty much the same as Evora, which is weird for a car that was supposed to be 100% brand new.
Don't take it as a criticism towards the Emira, though. Sharing the same backbone as one of the best driver's car ever made is no bad thing. I just wish Lotus would iron out the reliability issues.
Yeah, it's a joke that it's pretty obvious it's essentially the same car but people are willing to roll out the Lotus line of 'all new' as you say, that's not an issue but don't peddle the bull...
Excellent review! I did a test drive with the Emira when it was first available in the US. I had a supercharged NSX at the time. I felt the NSX was a better car performance wise, so I did not get the Emira. However, the NSX was getting pretty old and so I got a Lotus Evora GT. I like the analog raw driver's car nature of it. That blew the NSX away. To top it off, I then dyno tuned mine to 504bhp and 403lbft of torque. That is a serious performing car. Yes, the view out the front of the NSX is better. My car is what Honda should have made as the new NSX in 2017.
Now that California finally allowed Lotus to start giving out allocations to buyers like me to get their Lotus I'm happy. California really fucked up the delivery times for this car. As soon as I heard about this car I drove downtown Toronto to Gentry Lane and met with George and speced my allocation. Gave my deposit and have been waiting for the call that I'll be taking delivery of my Lotus soon. I have my Aston Martin DB9 Volante that I use for road trips to Niagara or Montreal, my FD rx7 for track days when I want to go 10/10ths and really push it. But this will be my everyday fun car to and from to work and Sundays to enjoy the back roads.
Ever since I got a ride in my uncle's Lotus Esprit V8 turbo when I was 10 I wanted a Lotus. You don't buy a Lotus to say you have the fastest car in the group. Just like I didn't buy the Aston to say I have a faster grand tourer. It's emotional.
Single turbo FD? Dyno?
I now drive a manual 718 GTS 4.0 at over 100k. Amazing engine and gear box for sure...but I still miss my 2017 Toyota 86. It was so much fun to throw around that simple, underpowered, manual Toyobaru twin...
Part of me really wants to own a Lotus, but I just couldn't deal with the pain points. C8 is just such an easy car to live with.
I definitely don't align with their comment that the C8 is fugly, I actually like the proportions of the C8 more than the Emira.
I was waiting for these two to review this car! They always cover all the major areas of what makes a car desirable in its "category"! Such a beautiful timeless vehicle!
Damn, Jack going deep with the Blade/Kris Kristoferson reference. Respect
You guys always do such a great job reviewing and presenting.
Even as a second vehicle, I can’t deal with the reliability and quality issues of the Emira. And with the discontinuation of the GT4/Spyder, I’ll be happy with a Miata until something better comes along.
my fav car reviewer reviews my fav car design rn WOOOO!
I'd definitely still take the 718, in any trim. Lotus dealers in the US are practically non-existent so unless you live by one, it's of great inconvenience WHEN warranty issues arise. Lotus build quality has gotten better over the years, but it's still a British assembled car, for worse and for worse. Furthermore, the Porsche is the standard to which everything else is judged. I'd rather buy the standard over the competitor that just gets close.
Porsche yawn
LOTUS stands for Lot's of Trouble Usually Serious. Their reliability is and always was crap.
@@TermlessHGW For me, this wouldn't be a daily driver, and i would be willing to deal with some of the issues... the main problem in my perspective is the dealer network being so sparse. I wish they would make a deal with Toyota to create a larger service network.
@@TermlessHGW That was true when they made there own engines. The moment the engines switched to toyota sourced, alot of the "Serious" problems went away.
@@TermlessHGW I’m obviously biased as a Lotus Elise owner, but that hasn’t really been true since they started using Toyota power trains. Little random things here and there going wrong? Occasional electronics issues? Sure, par for the course for a small manufacturer. Not everything gets to be engineered and tested to perfection like Porsche. If that’s a deal breaker for you, no worries. Porsche is a compelling option for many
I remember when it was announced and it was going to be $80K. Then it was released at $100k+. It has problems that other channels highlighted. Glad I didn’t put money down on it because it doesn’t matter how good It looks if you can’t drive it without problems.
the stains on the upper door panel at 14:42 are sus
sussy geese
@@Ian-oe9wp Beef 'N Cheddar?
Beef and white cheddar does not come off that leather.
@@savagegeese bars
@@savagegeese we need taco hat back!
These guys are the best American reviewers, they are sophisticated guys. Not the typical over excited American.
They are Canadian.
@@jpve76Canada is basically just a bastardized America
Love seeing some Sabbath as the music choice! 🤘🤘🤘
I primarily bought a 2021 Evora based on SG's earlier video on the same. I loved the car and kept it 3 years without any issues. 2 or 3 track days and local spirited driving. I loved the fact that it was no compromise between comfort and sport. I sold it and bought a 718 Spyder just to try something different. The Spyder is great, but I still miss that Evora.
With a decat pipe that card sounded great and the fact that I 'couldn't' hear the supercharger except on occasion was a bonus. It felt like a NA engine with that linear power delivery. I know I am in the minority, but I truly hate the way that supercharger sounds on the Emira. Everyone would put CAIs on Evora to elicit that sound and I never understood it.
On the track portion of this video I had to check to ensure I hadn't switched over to the C8 E-ray video and it's ridiculous Tron sound.
I’m a Pisces. This is my dream car. Hope they develop a version with a removable roof.
Same. Unfortunately, I read somewhere that Lotus already confirmed they won't make one. Sad face.
What does being a Pisces matter? Or am I missing something? I’m a Pisces too 😊 I tried to buy one in 2021 but couldn’t get my hands on one at the time. I ended up getting something different.
Bang for buck this is the best sports car on the market imo
Loved the video and itching to take mine to the track.
Agreed on it giving way to understeer much more readily than the Porsche despite double wishbone up front
Sport suspension surprisingly compliant and is great for canyon carving and driving around town. Touring too soft and gives up too much front end sharpness.
Agreed on it being fun even when driving slow.
Can't you just dial the understeer out with some after market parts? Anti-roll bar, or more camber up front?
I was wondering if I’d find you in the comments lol. hey doc! I’m surprised you were willing to forgive the under steer as such a rwd/steering fanatic. But I guess the feedback and ability to fix aftermarket makes it worth for you.
@@darrena4048 Just uprate the spring and/or shock rate in the REAR end? Sway bar only works mid-corner, whereas stiffer damping/wheel rate helps on initial turn-in too. Unfortunately most aftermarket springs and shocks also lower the car, it's hard to find ones that are uprated but keep the OE ride height. Edit -- Sorry I said front end at first, I got confused.
It's good to see savagegeese excited to review this special car. I hope Lotus don't switch to battery only. I can see that being the end of an era.
Holy cow... i was just looking at the Lotus home page, and this appears... must be CARma?
Now you need to buy it😂
It's God's way of telling you to get into a financially precarious position
BUY IT!!!!! I love spending other ppls money.
Do it
@@davidsubotin7122 google corperation cookies and shie
I love how the engine is in on the right, balancing the driver that is in the left
The real spiritual successor to the original NSX
Nah
That was the Evora.
That being said, don’t want to end on a negative. Great channel, love you guys. Great job.
Why can't the Corvette look this good??
@twinturboray C5 is ugly.
Because the Corvette needs (and by needs I mean absolutely requires) a trunk that will accommodate a golf club bag. They start with that and engineer out from there. Lawyers and plastic surgeons need golf accommodations on toys.
@twinturborayC6 looks better than the C5 imo
Golf clubs
@@cbotten106 I understand that, but a wide trunk doesn't explain the tacky exterior styling. I wish the Corvette borrowed more from the old CERV3.
Another great video. The dryness of the the revuews is so refreshing conpared to a lot of other iver the top youtube reviews. This channel and Harrys Garage are gold standard youtube car channels.
I picked mine up Saturday. I love it, but it has swirls all over the paint like its been washed improperly multiple times already. I will be following up on that today.
Is it a new car? That's unfortunate to hear bro. Hopefully it gets fixed soon.
@@yareyare74 brand new. Picked it up Saturday with 150 miles on it. I ordered it last April and waited just over one year.
It's not brand new with 150. I wouldn't accept that.
@@krzzzy19 I've read that 150 is normal.
You sure thats not a dealer or port issue?
very thoughtful, insightful commentary. Thanks!
While it looks great on paper I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle of having to deal with dealership issues. For my money (of which there is none) it's going to be the Porsche.
You and 95% of people, sadly.
I'm contemplating buying Jack an extra washing machine just to keep that hoodie with the "Gulf" logo alive forever. I love it Jack!
A beautiful car❤
V6 manual ❤
Yellow ❤
Oh yessssssssssss😊
I have had my Emira for a month and here are my thoughts. Beautiful car. Draws crowds at cars and coffee and everyone comments on it when you are out and about. Very fun to drive. I have had 911's and this is much more fun. As for the Caymans, I looked at those, but everyone has one and the tall gearing is a deal killer. I don't know how anyone looks beyond that when you compare cars. What good is a manual if you can't row the gears some? Car sounds great as well in sport/track mode. Also, this focus on track use and track times is a red herring to me. Ask how many Vette or Cayman drivers go to the track? I bet it is less than 10%. To me, the media focuses way too much on track in reality to the actual numbers who track their expensive car. The downside to the Emira is Lotus issues, I have to drop it off because the HVAC fan needs a new resistor and the dealer is 90 miles away. Besides that type of headache, there is no way I would take a Corvette or Cayman over this car. Also, I am in my 50's, this is my fun car. I do drive it almost every day, but I have another car that is a more practical daily driver.
Im curious whats your daily?
@@ShaiyanHossain A Range Rover Sport Supercharged. But it's nothing fancy as it is a 2013 with 150,000 miles on it.
I wanted the emira for the looks and the initially quoted £60k, then I drove a gts 4.0 and 981 S.
I went with the 981 S for £30k, full loaded with a porsche warranty. It gets looks and comments, I'm sure much less than an emira but that's fine, it's about my enjoyment.
The sound of the 981 won it, the high revs make me feel like a kid in a race car. I wanted to try pdk after 15 years with a manual and it's great for this car. Lastly, I wanted a convertible so it's a no brainer.
@@Jay-xr3sb Sounds very nice! I have tried to convince my wife to get a 981 convertible. She wants a 911, but I think the 981 is a much better value and more fun to drive.
@@ms8742 when I asked myself why I wanted a 911, it really came down to its reputation and the front looks better. I tried a 997, the size and performance was comparable to the 981S but it felt dated and there are bore scoring issues.
The 991.1 is NA but there was a huge premium for more power I can't use on the street, plus its bigger and GT like. Anything past that was a turbo, so out of the question.
I'm more likely to try a miata/mx5 if I need to cash out but still have some fun.
Emira owner… 300 miles of break in and no drivability issues, only cosmetic and fitment issues but still glad I bought it. The issues should soon be resolved with a trip to the dealership.
The car doesn’t require a break-in
Im sold on the looks alone. One of the best looking cars to come out in last 10 years
Still hoping Lotus changes their minds and develops more lightweight gas sports cars.
Legislation dictates they cannot, sadly.
EVs are 10+ years out from being the standard.. nobody wants them
@@TornadoOfSouls777 Yes, Lotus is jumping too quick into EV only. If anything they should go hybrid for a while.
@iannealcole That sounds like an awesome collection! People are too black and white... all cars have their place. Especially the Murano Cross Cabriolet.
@@iannealcole No, I was just saying I hope Lotus stays viable cause them trying to grow significantly with an expensive car like the Eletre is going to be tough, that's all. It's a cool car, just not sure that is going to get them the growth they need.
Thanks to Patagonia for another great video
Yaaaas!!! Been waiting for this one ;)
I salute anyone that makes the decision to get an Emira over a GTS 4.0, I think it’s a bold choice. When it came to my money though, this might be my forever car and the issue that was pointed out with Lotus was reliability and dealer network. How are things going to look in 5 years, 10 years? When Lotus goes fully electric will they be able to service the internal combustion cars still? With Porsche’s investments into alternative fuels and pledge to keep ICE and manuals around for as long as they can, that ultimately swung my decision. If you can put up with issues, do service yourself/have a trusted shop, and/or are planning on keeping the car shorter term, I think the Lotus makes a lot of sense!
Lotus isn’t going to be around in 10 years.
@@RA22475 bingo that’s the fear
@@RA22475 Geely is a reasonably large auto conglomerate. Lotus will only disappear if Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, London Taxi Cab Company (!), and so on also disappear. Which is possible of course, but Geely want a brand in their portfolio to have that Maserati/Porsche positioning, and that's Lotus.
Pretty sure the Emira GT4 finished P1 this weekend and Silverstone British GT Championship - and set a LAP RECORD for GT4 class! - I know this first Emira is set up for the street, but based on what it is doing on the race track (P1 & P2 in Macao GT4) Lotus can clearly make a Porsche GT4 beater with the Emira. Perhaps a road review would have been better for the road variant of the Emira. Agree with the build quality issues and dealer network... biggest letdown of owning a Lotus... review was underwhelming for the type of car this is.
Can’t wait for the comparo mentioned in the video!
The Ali Baba Quality quote is 😂😂😂
I tried buying a car part from Alibaba once...never again. I ordered an electronically valved exhaust with 3" in and out. The valve was nice, welding all looked okay. Looked down the 3" pipe and the actual hole in the muffler was around 1" wide. They just tacked a 3" stainless pipe to the back of a super cheap muffler. I tried to explain that using such a muffler on my car would, at best, severely hamper performance and possibly damage the car. They said, 'our engineer said it's okay, put it on and let us know.'
Luckily alibaba refunded my money but I'm not dealing with that again.
I had an order to buy one of these launch addition’s and was so pleased I pulled out, your title is so appropriate, a beautiful car no doubt but still an Evora in principal underneath and if Lotus want to challenge me on that technically I would be more than welcome to discuss. A great new skin and beautiful interior, naturally somewhat heavier than the past. But understandably. It is an excellent cost effective way to cash in on the last ice engine cars ‘port injection only’ passive suspension, very rare now, to help fund the disaster of an EV which they have delivered. It should be a success. However my Australian dealership were not interested in assisting the customer experience so decided to pick one up later with some deprecation built in. Incidentally I think being a refined Evora should be part of the Lotus marketing promotion, it’s an opportunity to get what was wrong all fixed and right with the stunning looks. You can’t hide it once you lift the skin so why make stupid claims.. turn it into a positive rather than living in denial
The problem is that Geely and Lotus want absolutely nothing to do with Evora, which was seen as the troublemaker for Lotus after not selling all that well. And because it failed to sell, Lotus saw Evora as the culprit of their failure, therefore they try to distance themselves as far as they can. Remember when Exige and Elise got the final editions? Nothing as such with Evora, they didn't even announce the closure of Evora production line.
Not Evora's fault, though. It is still one of the best driver's car ever made. It's Lotus' fault for not marketing it properly. And now they want to distance themselves from old Lotus fans even more by going all EV and calling us old Lotus fans 'the bobblehats'. I used to love Lotus as a company. Not anymore.
@@AntoniusTyas All automakers in western Europe will have to go all-EV by 2035 anyway though (at least for the domestic market there)? Does it matter if Lotus does it a bit earlier than Maserati and Porsche?
I kinda wish Lotus partnered with Honda as a supplier. The Honda K20C1 engine (Type R) and transmission would have made so much more sense than the Mercedes engine
A better ariel atom for sure
And a better throwback to their Lotus-Honda F1 days
Isn’t it a Toyota engine
@@dxcheongthe v6 is a toyota, the 4 cylinder is a mercedes engine.
100% agree. If they could have made the civic manual work with their own engine that would have been great too. Just think if it had a 4.0l na cosworth v6 with a dry sump with a honda gearbox. Scream to 8000+ rpm and around 400bhp. It would lower the centre of gravity loads as well.
I always Enjoy Savagegeese videos, I am entertained and educated. Don't know what you do , keep doing it. God willing I will be a pateron as soon as I can, just cause y'all are dedicated.
Harry Metcalfe (Harry's Garage) was so chuffed to get his last year. But Harry has the resources and local support network to enjoy it. In North America Porsche makes more sense.
100% having had a evora GT
When I’m able to get a high(er) end sports car again it will be a Porsche of some form.
I have been waiting for this emira video for years! ! ! I was still laughing about the intro music of the suv video, and I saw this uploaded!
Thanks for the content!
I own one. Agree with this review, except for the quality comments. The underpinnings of this car are no where near first gen, built on a very reliable and respected motor and supercharger. Additionally, there are not enough cars out there to decide if reliability is an issue still. I'm at 1200mi with no issues. Lovely car!
Thanks!
I appreciate this car but I’d have to go Cayman 4.0 GTS if I had the money. Although an old Lotus Elise in a bright color would be fun to own!
Seriously was considering this for track car. But they had so many quality issues. Also they wont be delivering until the end of this year when i inquired last september.
I love this car. Hope to have one of these or an Evora someday.