Purchased my Evora from the Lotus dealer in Auckland New Zealand 6 months ago. Have done 15,000km in the car since then.
While the car was new it was an old stock MY 11 car.
Car has been pretty much faultless in that time. Only warranty issue has been the brake light switch which caused problems with the throttle sensor, cruise control etc... Effectively putting the car into limp mode.
There are a couple of things though that seem to be spoiling my enjoyment of the car.
1, The brake feel while the brakes themselves are great. The initial bite of the brakes seems too fierce. The brakes grab with the initial touch of the pedal. Giving too much initial stop. Which means you lift off a little. The brakes are not as progressive and fearsome as my S1 Elise (these are not assisted) or the 993 I had previously or my WRX.
I noticed a thread were this issue was raised there was talk of there being some changes to the brake set up on the MY 12 cars. Does anyone know about the changes? Or has anyone driven both early and later cars and noticed a difference in brake feel? Possible solution is to fit a valve in the vacuum system and tune the brake assistance.
2, Since first driving the car I have been happy with the grip levels. But less happy with the handling and feel of the chassis. This initially I believed was me just getting used to the car coming from a 993. With its rear end bias to a mid engined car. I later found out the the rear toe on the car was out. I had mistakenly presumed that a new car off the lot would have the correct alignment settings. The poor rear toe set up chewed out the the inner edge. Of one of the rear tyres.
I ordered new tyres got the alignment set up properly and looked forward to using the car and it putting a smile on my face. Unfortunately the car is now more nervous in the corners than before. The steering hunts the cambers and bumps more than ever. The grip is still there. If you are brave the car can still be hustled through a corner.
Unsure of the cause of the continued problems I looked at my rear tyres purchased from Tire Rack (the correct LS Corsas). Both tyres are scalloped to their centre to the point that the center of one of tyres is not in contact with the road. Just the two outer areas of the tyre are in contact with the road surface. I have never seen this on a tyre before and wondered if anyone else had had this kind of experience with their Pirelli Corsa tyres?
I believe the scalloping of the centre of the tyre is the cause of my current handling woes.
3, I think I also need to change my exhaust as it is still stock with the third cat. I can barely hear the engine. I presume a louder exhaust improves the overal experience with the car.
I have owned a Lotus of some kind for the last 29 years starting in the original baby élan through Europa specials to buying a new S1 Elise in 98 (Which I still own). I have gone away from Lotus only once with an air cooled 993. I have also raced elans in classic race meetings. The Evora (based on what I have read was going to be my dream car). I have tried hard to love the car but these issues are making the love hard. I am sure I will get to the bottom of my issues with the car. Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.
Regards
Paul Aston.
While the car was new it was an old stock MY 11 car.
Car has been pretty much faultless in that time. Only warranty issue has been the brake light switch which caused problems with the throttle sensor, cruise control etc... Effectively putting the car into limp mode.
There are a couple of things though that seem to be spoiling my enjoyment of the car.
1, The brake feel while the brakes themselves are great. The initial bite of the brakes seems too fierce. The brakes grab with the initial touch of the pedal. Giving too much initial stop. Which means you lift off a little. The brakes are not as progressive and fearsome as my S1 Elise (these are not assisted) or the 993 I had previously or my WRX.
I noticed a thread were this issue was raised there was talk of there being some changes to the brake set up on the MY 12 cars. Does anyone know about the changes? Or has anyone driven both early and later cars and noticed a difference in brake feel? Possible solution is to fit a valve in the vacuum system and tune the brake assistance.
2, Since first driving the car I have been happy with the grip levels. But less happy with the handling and feel of the chassis. This initially I believed was me just getting used to the car coming from a 993. With its rear end bias to a mid engined car. I later found out the the rear toe on the car was out. I had mistakenly presumed that a new car off the lot would have the correct alignment settings. The poor rear toe set up chewed out the the inner edge. Of one of the rear tyres.
I ordered new tyres got the alignment set up properly and looked forward to using the car and it putting a smile on my face. Unfortunately the car is now more nervous in the corners than before. The steering hunts the cambers and bumps more than ever. The grip is still there. If you are brave the car can still be hustled through a corner.
Unsure of the cause of the continued problems I looked at my rear tyres purchased from Tire Rack (the correct LS Corsas). Both tyres are scalloped to their centre to the point that the center of one of tyres is not in contact with the road. Just the two outer areas of the tyre are in contact with the road surface. I have never seen this on a tyre before and wondered if anyone else had had this kind of experience with their Pirelli Corsa tyres?
I believe the scalloping of the centre of the tyre is the cause of my current handling woes.
3, I think I also need to change my exhaust as it is still stock with the third cat. I can barely hear the engine. I presume a louder exhaust improves the overal experience with the car.
I have owned a Lotus of some kind for the last 29 years starting in the original baby élan through Europa specials to buying a new S1 Elise in 98 (Which I still own). I have gone away from Lotus only once with an air cooled 993. I have also raced elans in classic race meetings. The Evora (based on what I have read was going to be my dream car). I have tried hard to love the car but these issues are making the love hard. I am sure I will get to the bottom of my issues with the car. Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.
Regards
Paul Aston.
They then ate completely through them at the track with lots of time there lol. WELL worth it in my eyes.
