Just got back from driving an Evora GT and Corvette C8 LT3.
Some context, I’ve driven (extensively):
Exige S240
Elise
981 Cayman and Boxster
718 Cayman and Boxster S
A110
Alfa 4C
So when it comes to sub-$100k mid-engine sports cars, I’ve driven pretty much all but these two. The order above reflects how I feel about them, from best to worst.
Same dealer had both cars, so I drove them back to back, and the fairly urban setting meant I couldn’t fully open the taps of either so my impressions are missing that experience. I started by driving the C8. I should mention I’m not a Corvette guy. I’ve never driven any generation, they’ve simply never appealed to me. I went into this with an open mind, but I’m not well researched in the car or how it works.
To me, the Corvette felt like a Cadillac. It rode very well, felt planted and pointy, but was a complete snooze-fest around town. There was absolutely no drama. I tried to coax some life out of it - putting it into sport mode and downshifting to higher RPMs but it still felt very docile and very, very mild mannered. Quick for sure, nice pops on a quick shift, but I expected much more V8 character. I was bored. If I wasn’t sitting in an overly aggressive interior I might have forgotten I was driving a sports car.
Also, I hate that hvac happy trail. One of the worst user interfaces I’ve seen in a modern car. I couldn’t even tell which vented seat button belonged to which side of the car.
Corvette seemed like it would be very comfortable to drive daily or long distances, but it didn’t feel engaging at all.
Sitting in the Evora couldn’t be more different. The interior is outclassed by the Corvette, obviously (and yet I still prefer the Lotus - corvette design is way too loud). From the moment I backed it out of the parking space I knew this was a bad idea. Clutch and gear shift were perfect. Felt like I had already driven the car for years. Pulling out on the roadway, it’s immediately clear how much more that car wants to play. How is it that the V6 sounds better than the V8? The induction noise! That gear shift! Perfect pedal placement. Got a little overzealous with my first rev match and the V6 screamed to life. Heart rate up and I’m already hooked. The steering feel, the chassis communication, it all felt very familiar while it was all but missing in the Vette. (Also, side note, I’ve heard the Sport suspension in the Emira is similar to the Evora GT and if that’s true, I can finally rest easy with my choice).
In the end, I think my disinterest in the c8 is justified, and I should have bought an Evora a long time ago. I should probably buy it right now as a stop gap. It also makes me even more excited for Emira.