Lotus Emira driven by a Porsche guy
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- Lets look at the Lotus Emira First Edition, is it a better alternative to the Porsche Boxster Cayman 718 GTS?
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Instantly clicked on this one! Missed your reviews nick!
Agree! 🙌🏻
I put down a deposit for an Emira with my local Lotus dealer a year ago. Went to drive the car on their demo day expecting to come away over the moon for the car, but I just wasn’t feeling it after the test drive. I am 6’1”. The seating position is too high, the pedal position is odd, the stereo is garbage, and I got bad vibes about the dealer experience. They happen to have a used 718 GT4 there that I was also able to drive. I immediately fell in love. It took a few months of searching to find my spec but I purchased a GT4 and have no regrets.
There is no substitute! 🤦♂️😂
Well done from walking away.
My thoughts exactly. I’m a Lotus guy, have had almost every variant in the last 25 years and also lots of Porsches. I tried to compare it to my 718 Spyder.. and there was no comparison.. besides Nothing beats the Elise in the Lotus range for purity of feel, not even the V6 Exige (which I’ve owned). The Emira was utterly forgettable to drive.
I went from a GT4 to Lotus, so much nicer to own, faster low down and handles beautifully, and they are not common.
@@scottcowan6798nonsense
I’d be the one posting a review after watching. Totally unbiased - my car looks amazing when I’m looking at it flying by me.
Nick, thank you for having us over and producing this video so quickly!
Thank you for sharing your car for this review, top chap.
Owned my Emira for a year now. Absolute magic! No issues whatsoever.
Good to see you back!
A "mate" (as you would say) of mine just got this identical spec and I can tell you that the camera doesn't do it justice. It is absolutely jaw dropping in person. Not to mention, it is effing WIDE! Parked next to my cayman it looks like its wide enough to seat 3 abreast in the cabin. It's definitely a wonderful alternative to a Porsche and I'm waiting for my friend to finish his break in so I can steal it for the weekend! Great job as always Nick, always enjoy your content.
I took mine for 800 mile drive from Warwick through Europe, totally reliable, comfortable, I swapped out of a GT4 and absolutely love my Green Lotus
Thanks for the comment. I own a 981 GT4 now and thinking about making the same switch. Any regrets? Considering anything else? Thanks
Welcome to the happy club!
Another fine review and it's great to see you again. Cheers.
Every review I've seen of the GTS 4.0 fairly screams "GEAR RATIOS GIVE US DIFFERENT ONES" but the flat six is so delightful they forgive Porsche that. As you point out Porsche cleans up on a'la carte options and I've seen used cars with a substantial dealer markup.
All that said: I'm a lifelong Lotus fanboy and given the chance to own the last of a legendary Lotus line I'd be sorely tempted. That color is striking and not unlike Porsche shark blue.
Great to see another car review! Hopefully more coming soon
Love 911s (former owner), now an Emira owner. The Emira is fun to drive at all speeds, gets TONS of looks and compliments, and has plenty of power and handling for road driving.
Hey Nick, where’s the 992.2 configurator review?
I also had money down on the Emira, waiting for several years. I pulled it when a buddy of mine got his and it was trash. It was back&forth to the dealer for the first 2 months. Scariest of all is that they seemed to not even have fixes for the problems. Others were uncorrectable without using caulk and patches. He was smart and bailed on his. I checked the forums and they were plastered with the same. I pulled my deposit and ordered a 718 GTS 4.0. I've owned Mclarens and I'll never suffer like that again!
People who have them rave about the 718 GTS.
Good to see you back on this fine Sunday morning. Personally, I'll keep my 981 GTS.
Good choice - I had one and sold it, I miss it!
Same same
That's a great review and also extremely honest about Porsche ownership, if you listen to most Porsche owners you would think that they never have any issues! I'm 14 months and 6000 miles into my Emira ownership, I too have had the aircon issue (now fixed), as well as very occasional sticking handbrake and non start, both issues fixed by turning off and on again, so software related and will probably be fixed with an update. Apart from that it's been fine, is brilliant to drive and is, in my opinion, one of the best looking cars ever, real supercar looks for sportscar money.
Having had 2 911’s with this motor in turbocharged form and now a 718 GTS, I’ve never heard issues about it from mechanics or on the Porsche forums.
I’ve owned 10 Porsches including several 911s and a 991.2 GT3 Touring. My current garage includes a 718 Spyder, Boxster GTS 4.0 and an Emira among others. My favorite car to drive is the Spyder over all the 911s. However, nothing has the steering feel of the Emira and nothing gets second looks in a parking lot like the Emira.
I like how the gears are short and tightly spaced. I don’t understand why Porsche can’t do the same with the Cayman GTS 4 liter. Probably the Cayman GTS would end up too quick compared to the base 911 if they optimized the Cayman gearing for performance.
The gearing in the Lotus is actually longer it just has a much lower redline.
It’s called a cayman for a reason.
I have a 911, Spyder, and Emira. Porsche guy through and through. The Porsches are better in almost every way but I find myself driving the Emira the most….
@@tylertul this comment is like reading my mind. I also own Emira, 718 Spyder, and 992 GT3 Touring and I can’t say the Emira is better in any single way to the Porsches ……yet it’s always the car I find myself driving over the others. I’m not entirely surprised as I had an Evora GT and a 718 GT4 at the same time back in 2020 and enjoyed the Evora despite it being a virtual kit car compared to the faultless 718 GT4.
@@jameswillard1 would you drive it if ti was smaller but you still fit, 0 to 60 miler per hour in 6 seconds instead of 4.5, fake engine sound , 30k us dollar but the cheapest car to own? momentum preservation is more efficient and longer systems longevity than only relying on regen brakeing , limited slip differential , evora power steering/no power steering, also helps efinnecy/emissions including tire wear dust. sense of danger excitement and accomplishment is controllable, i mean even a low speed crashing into pedestrian can be majot injury. imagine if such a car is seen as a cheap car they also the safest with minimal active suspension and recycled forged carbon fiber structral parts, with a enjoyable look but not expensive looking (at least in the attention span and mind of monkeys whod damage yoru car out of jelousy etc). police tend not to suspect you. hagerty carmudgeon podcast white guy called jason said evora power steering is better than any other power steering, all the good of no power steering without the useless parts, which emira has not achived.
Lotus magic.
So if a thief comes in the night and takes two.. which one would you like to still be there?
@@porkchopexpress6969probably prefer the Porsches don’t get stolen due to their superior resale value. But that is a great question. The Emira is a fun car though so let’s hope I don’t have to choose.
I feed dizzy after a visit to the Porsche configurator, so it's nice to see a sports car with simplified content choices.
Welcome back Nick, great to have a review from you finally again!
Hey Nick, I never thought of this car as a real Porsche alternative before, but it is an interesting thought. Good for Lotus to build a car with so many things going for it. I bought a shark blue 718 Cayman T a few months ago, traded it for a 992 4S, 3 months later and never thought of test driving either one against a Lotus. Like the look of this Lotus and its low rpm torque. I always learn thing from your reviews. Thanks for this one.
Good to see you back on the road Sir Nick!
Wonderful review of the Emira. I never drove one but I'd love to. Can't wait for your next upload.
I’ve put >40k miles on the Cayman 4.0 engines between 3 different cars and have had zero issues. That motor has been bulletproof for me.
Not even a padm fault?
I have the identical car here in Auckland. Owned it for 1 year now. The only issue I have seen on my car is the hill start assist not releasing. (Software bug) The pedal placement on the RHD model is not displaced, I can remember driving the demo LHD car and noticing the odd position. Quite a few of the people who have bought Emira's in NZ have other exotic cars, however are not afraid to put the miles on this car. Our B class back roads are perfect for the chassis design and low torque. Not looking at selling the car any time soon...Thanks for the video comparison.
Actually you can tune the GTS and it makes ~440hp! This includes a big bump in torque?
I’m poor so this car is well out of my price range compared to my old 981 Boxster S but is quite intriguing so thanks so much for the review!
This is the closest you will get to a modern 246 Dino on sale today. Curvy body, mid-mounted transverse V6, non-electric steering, manual gearbox.
Nick's like a better, more exotic version of Austin Powers. Men want to be him and women want to be with him. His life is adventure, and he drives all the best cars: MR2, Jag F-Type, NSX, and now the Emira. If Jay and Harry are the internet's cool car guy uncles, Nick's the older brother. Great content as always;)
Good to see you Nick, cool vid!
Your head is hitting the roof!
I’ll go first. Great review Nick!
Thanks for a another great video. I currently own a 981 GT4 and have been eying the Emira as I find the GT4 too extreme for daily driving and feel a little silly taking it to do errands. So, have you driven the GT4? If so, how does the Emira compare? Looking for something more enjoyable for road trips and general duties. Thanks!
Nick is back!!!
Being a Porsche nerd i probably would never buy one, but I really like the look. It's fun to see other styles.
Many Lotus drivers were the same; until we tried a Lotus!
I considering this one. How do you like handling compared to Porsche?
I can't tell whether William is less impressed with Nick's driving or the Emira itself.
Thanks Nick. Missed your reviews. What are your thoughts on the proposed new electric Boxter Caymens?
I LOVE this car!
Nick's back!
The Emira is a lot more visceral than Porsche cars, but the lack of engineering budget to refine things like Porsche is apparent, as well a tiny dealer network by comparison. If you can get past those things, though, you’ll be rewarded with a more visceral driving experience, likely lower running costs over time (Toyota motor, parts cost similar), and something a lot more unique if you value that. I’ve got 100k+ miles on Lotus cars and if a visceral experience is what you value the most, you’ll likely be rewarded if you make the jump.
It was between this and the C8 for me. The same cons that Nick listed are what ultimately tilted me toward the C8 (enjoyed Nick's C8 review btw, same color C8 as mine). But I still admire the Emira and occasionally wonder, "What if?"
You should try driving the c8 z06. Completely diff car than base c8. I've had 2 911s a 570s a nissan gtr and an audi r8. Out of them all the z06 is up there with the 911 and 570s, but unlike Mclaren my z06 actually works. Cheers.
Such a shame they ended the Elise. The Emira, regardless of what their marketing may claim, is a modernized Evora seemingly with that car's older 400bhp engine rather than the 410bhp or 430bhp variant that came with later generation cars. It's far from being a light weight sports car either which runs contrary to Colin Chapman's design philosophy.
The problem was that the Elise is a pain to get in and out of and has little in the way of creature comforts. This certainly appeals to a small, driver-focused, segment, but that segment was far too small for the cars to sell in any volume. Like it or not, in today’s SUV obsessed world, Lotus had to make a car that would appeal to a larger audience (albeit still small- the sports car world is far smaller than it’s been in the last 4 decades).
Haven’t heard about trouble with the 4,0 GTS? Not in Europe anyway…
Welcome back Nick- where have you been??
I have one and YES its a great alternative to either the 911 or Cayman.
You forgot to check the "Availability" box for the Lotus.... Caymans or Boxster allocations are impossible!
👍Hey Nick - another great video.
I sold my 993 & '07 GT3
I bought (drum roll please-:) a GR Corolla & I absolutely love it.
If you give me a do over on all the fast cars I have owned _ I would buy the GR again - ADL👍
How about YOU get a hold of a GRC & give us a review...
Don't you have a Golf back in Australia??? (kidding I know your English)
@@TerryManitoba the GR is way more fun than anyone would suspect
@@NickMurray Yes -
So it that your Review???
@@NickMurray would you drive it if ti was smaller but you still fit, 0 to 60 miler per hour in 6 seconds instead of 4.5, fake engine sound , 30k us dollar but the cheapest car to own? momentum preservation is more efficient and longer systems longevity than only relying on regen brakeing , limited slip differential , evora power steering/no power steering, also helps efinnecy/emissions including tire wear dust. sense of danger excitement and accomplishment is controllable, i mean even a low speed crashing into pedestrian can be majot injury. imagine if such a car is seen as a cheap car they also the safest with minimal active suspension and recycled forged carbon fiber structral parts, with a enjoyable look but not expensive looking (at least in the attention span and mind of monkeys whod damage yoru car out of jelousy etc). police tend not to suspect you. hagerty carmudgeon podcast white guy called jason said evora power steering is better than any other power steering, all the good of no power steering without the useless parts, which emira has not achived.
It's a reasonable alternative to a Porsche. I have a Lotus Evora GT and a Porsche 718 Spyder. Both will outperform the Emira, but not by a lot.
Nick, look up Secor Lotus or Lotus New London, they are in Connecticut. You’ve been spending too much time with a gorilla 😂
That ZR1 engine was odd, designed by lotus and built by mercury marine.
sorry Nick. The only alternative for a Porsche is a late 1980s stock 4 door BMW 3 series. As you know only too well!
British with a gear stick 🤜
Finally! 💙💙💙
Where's the green gloves?
I miss you.
@@MostCedric I miss you too
😎💙
❤
Lotus New London 545 Broad Street, New London Connecticut?
Yes :) the NJ dealer is still the closest to me
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
I am a middle aged man from New Zealand. Every day people tell me I look terrible in a bikini. Could they be right?
Die hard true Lotus guy and currently own 2 late spec Evoras one manual one auto. None of my fellow local Evora owners desire Emira and definitely not a Porsche. Only people i met excited to buy an Emira before launch were Porsche owners. It's a good car (ugly front) but with Geely funding expected more from development then just a evolved Evora chassis.
Agree totally. Evora better sportscar than Emira.
No way! Won't fit in my garage. BOXSTER does. Can't go on a long touring trip in Europe. No luggage space. Boxster / Cayman has loads of space. I enjoyed the Toyota supercharged engine but no way I would purchase one just for the great noise. I can have great fun in my 2.0. Turbo Boxster PDK. In sport plus it's a beast. The Porsche engine's torque is king on mountainous roads.
Nick, your forehead gets bigger and bigger as the years goes by. Does this mean that you are getting smarter!?
Where is your four legged coterie?!
Nice review for those of us deciding between the Emira and Cayman, but of course Lotus is owned by a gigantic Chinese conglomerate so I'm not sure it can be called tiny or even British...
The problem with Lotus is that they are a Chinese owned company.
It is the car you love to hate and hate to love. IYKYK.
_"We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men."_ *~George Orwell*
*Lastly, congrats on the weight loss Nick. Idk if that was your intention but it is certainly noticeable. Bravo!
Stay classy my friends.
*EDITED for forgetfulness.
"This car gets a lot of love on the road". So there's that.
Fun package but not a cayman
Try one (or better yet, an Evora) and you might be surprised. I was.
I’d rather have a C8 Z06 ;)
Lot Of Trouble Usually Serious still applies, now as much as ever. Lotus is a company that’s destined to close in 5 years or less. The insanely stupid EV plan that makes them no different than a Nissan, Subaru, Toyota EV in terms of powertrain engagement is going to be its death knell. EV market has slipped so far and we aren’t at bottom yet. It’s sad because lotus could have been so good, but it’s just another brand corrupted by the climate crazies (who’s experts couldn’t tell you the temperature change we could expect even if we spent $15 trillion $ to “fix” a problem that doesn’t exist).
Blah blah blah, same old garbage from the German-is-always-best brigade.
Heretic!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤣
You can tell they can't afford many engineers. The dashboard is ugly, the middle screen looks like a billboard stuck on (like BMWs and many other brands that can't figure out, as Porsche has, how to elegantly integrate the screen), and the rear is awful. Front looks cool though. Overall, not impressed.
So dynamics are not important to you.
@@EvoraGT430 Important, no, since I wouldn't buy a Lotus. I'm sure its a thrill to drive though, but the rear and interior surer are ugly and as I mentioned, the billboard appearance of the screen suggests a lmited engineering/construction budget.
I have two Porsches so dynamics are surely of interest to me, generally.
Of course just an opinion lost in a sea of opinions but this is the ugliest car in the segment to me. It is not as offensive to the eyes as the cybertruck but it is close for me.
Interesting, you’re the first person I’ve come across with this opinion. Quite the opposite infact, everyone I’ve talked to seems to find it to be stunning
I just started to say the same thing. 1st person I’ve heard say that. To each their own!
Just out of curiosity and with all due respect,
What cars do _you_ find appealing, Thomas?
A lot can be deciphered from that list.
Stay classy my friend.
@@BertShackleford My main issue with the Lotus is the back end and the side pinch at rear of door. When I look at it I just cannot stop seeing a 488 that someone put in photoshop and smooth all the sharp points out. Then added them back in by pinching the picture on a touchscreen. That rear looks like a boomerang holder. That being said my dream garage would be(currently) an Aston Martin DB12 Volante in Ion blue with bronze rims for my grand tourer. A Porsche 718 Spyder manual with stock engine but Dundon race headers and a Sharkwerks gear reduction for my local mountain roads. A 4x4 truck to tow stuff. A used and now cheap Taycan for local shopping. Then finally a gt3 cup car for track day work. Have a great day!
@@thomasschimmeyer8715 Fair points.
It is always nice to gather different perspectives. And your dream garage is admirable. That is a well rounded stable.
Stay classy my friend.
My god, Lotus did exaggerate the wheel stance in their marketing photos. Those wheel gaps look surprisingly high.