Doug Demuro Review

[Porter]

So which did he like best new 992 t or an Emira?

They aren't exactly competitors. The 992 T has a nice base price on paper, but they can't be acquired for under $130k anywhere I've checked, even in totally stripped spec. Optioned the way an owner would want the car, it's at least a $150k proposition.

 

[Magma]

They aren't exactly competitors. The 992 T has a nice base price on paper, but they can't be acquired for under $130k anywhere I've checked, even in totally stripped spec. Optioned the way an owner would want the car, it's at least a $150k proposition.

I've never really understood this line of thinking. If your comparing a Dodge Ram to an MX-5 I can see being totally confused. But when talking about a fun, weekend sports car, I feel the range of options is much wider. I mean shoot, some people are looking at the LC500 or C8 as the Emira alternative. Price shouldn't be the only factor excluding cars from competitors.

 

[fnkdrspok]

I'm here to buy an Emira but the Supra is more than competent competitor for a little over half the price.

Dealer network, dealer support, warranty, faster, more power, more torque, huge aftermarket, and they've somehow managed to turn the usual rubbery and vague BMW manual into a precise and communicative shifting experience.

It's a whole lot uglier though.

Or you can be like me and own both! One for the track, one for date night and cars and coffee! lol

 

[Porter]

I've never really understood this line of thinking. If your comparing a Dodge Ram to an MX-5 I can see being totally confused. But when talking about a fun, weekend sports car, I feel the range of options is much wider. I mean shoot, some people are looking at the LC500 or C8 as the Emira alternative. Price shouldn't be the only factor excluding cars from competitors.

I hear what you're saying, but a 50% higher price is a huge jump. By that standard, the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari 296GTB would be cross shopped by the same buyers.

I guess if you're rich, all of these things look like equivalent options. But in the part of the market where people have jobs, and families to support, there's an ocean of difference between a Lotus Emira (at $94k loaded) and a Porsche 911 (which are commonly $150k+ in mid-tier spec, before ADM).

 

[New to Lotus]

Must be a US thing can get one with no options at list in uk, the only option worth considering over a base 992t for me is rear wheel steering at about 2k. That makes it 100k in uk.

 

[Magma]

I hear what you're saying, but a 50% higher price is a huge jump. By that standard, the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari 296GTB would be cross shopped by the same buyers.

I guess if you're rich, all of these things look like equivalent options. But in the part of the market where people have jobs, and families to support, there's an ocean of difference between a Lotus Emira (at $94k loaded) and a Porsche 911 (which are commonly $150k+ in mid-tier spec, before ADM).

Yes true and I hear you... but someone's "new" Porsche doesn't literally have to be "NEW" ya know
Lots of practically new (by mileage and condition) Porsche's available. That opens the door up a bit more for those who can't afford the $150k new Pcar. CPO is available on many used Porsche's too.
With US FE 2.0's being over $105k, the price is no longer 50% more. Who knows where the BE'S will fall once fully spec'd out. It'll be unfortunate if they hit $120k. I know a lot of early Emira appeal was the looks combined with the low low introductory price, which ended up being a tease.

 

[Porter]

Must be a US thing can get one with no options at list in uk, the only option worth considering over a base 992t for me is rear wheel steering at about 2k. That makes it 100k in uk.

I wish. The US market is really weird for this stuff right now.

 

[New to Lotus]

Let's hope by the time you get them in the US they aren't 150k?

 

[LotusFan]

I thought Doug's review was right on the money. Remember...this is a guy who in 2012 (I believe) wrote a Jalopnik article about Lotus disappearing from the US and nobody would notice. I think, like many, he has a love/hate relationship. But his review was very fair, in imo. Especially liked how he went thru some more menu options and also mentioned the lower torque curve, which is something I will like!

I agree with you and Doug's take as well. He was very fair with the Emira, I thought. Too bad he only had 1/2 a day with the car, whereas with other new cars he has them for much longer to get more familiarity and experience with them. Given only 1/2 a day to take videos, notes, come up with a script, I think he did a good job.

 

[lion shf]

One thing I really like about Doug and his reviews is that he does not go to the events that the manufacturers pay for. There is a video he has done where he explains that manufacturers fly the "influencers" to exotic locations, pay for everything, and then expect them to be able to write a review without any bias, like the fact that they have just had a nice vacation for free. Doug does not go along with that, and doesn't think you can write a fair review after that. I agree. This does not apply to this review, but explains (to me at least) why most reviews of new cars are very favourable.

I thought his Emira review was perfect. He thought the car was for people willing to take a chance on Lotus. And that is so true. I took a chance with my deposit a long time ago. Then gave up, as many have, on Lotus.

I know geese and jack are fully wined but theyre always objective. I don’t think it’s an absolute. Big Matt is also very honest

 

[TomE]

We destroyed this thread.

@TomE can you save us from our terrible behavior and split some of this garbage out to off topic or somewhere else?

Thank you for your kind moderation!

You know you (and others) could self-moderate by deleting your own posts sometimes when you realise it's gone some way off topic!

I've attempted to split out the tangential posts into a new thread in Off Topic:

Reliability of German marques

I'm here to buy an Emira but the Supra is more than competent competitor for a little over half the price. Dealer network, dealer support, warranty, faster, more power, more torque, huge aftermarket, and they've somehow managed to turn the usual rubbery and vague BMW manual into a precise and...

www.emiraforum.com

 

[emiraspain]

where's @emiraspain comments on this review... looks like he scored it fairly high. Perhaps an 8/10 overall... but ya 7/10 for styling?

quoting Doug "it looks like a mclaren or a Ferrari" . Yet still scores styling a 7. Makes no sense. He had some Porsche biased in their 100%.

Besides the styling error (IMO)..... review was spot on on everything he said. He likes the car, doesn't trust the brand.

WEll I saw the review and actually I found him quite negative, especially when you compare how positive he was about the Evora, relatively speaking.
I think some of his scores are crazy, looks, practicality etc when compared to the cayman....

but overall he wasn't oosing love for the car at all, and I thought he would as he is a bit of an anglophile ....
It was a warm review in my view.... I expected it to be the same as the throttle one, go figure.
Lets be honest, for those of us who have been emotionally involved in this process for 2 years and MORE.... you have to be honest and say, its a good car.... but you cannot/should not lie and say overall its a great car.... its not and it should have been better...but I may still end up with one, just as I ended up with a colombian at one/several points, BUT in both cases, it wont be for the right reasons

 

[Cachaco131]

WEll I saw the review and actually I found him quite negative, especially when you compare how positive he was about the Evora, relatively speaking.
I think some of his scores are crazy, looks, practicality etc when compared to the cayman....

but overall he wasn't oosing love for the car at all, and I thought he would as he is a bit of an anglophile ....
It was a warm review in my view.... I expected it to be the same as the throttle one, go figure.
Lets be honest, for those of us who have been emotionally involved in this process for 2 years and MORE.... you have to be honest and say, its a good car.... but you cannot/should not lie and say overall its a great car.... its not and it should have been better...but I may still end up with one, just as I ended up with a colombian at one/several points, BUT in both cases, it wont be for the right reasons

Well...well we know you are glass half empty. More like 3/4 empty!

 

[lion shf]

WEll I saw the review and actually I found him quite negative, especially when you compare how positive he was about the Evora, relatively speaking.
I think some of his scores are crazy, looks, practicality etc when compared to the cayman....

but overall he wasn't oosing love for the car at all, and I thought he would as he is a bit of an anglophile ....
It was a warm review in my view.... I expected it to be the same as the throttle one, go figure.
Lets be honest, for those of us who have been emotionally involved in this process for 2 years and MORE.... you have to be honest and say, its a good car.... but you cannot/should not lie and say overall its a great car.... its not and it should have been better...but I may still end up with one, just as I ended up with a colombian at one/several points, BUT in both cases, it wont be for the right reasons

Watch his gt4 vid and tune into the first minute of the drive. He’s actually laughing. I was hoping for laughing

 

[Lotustoronto]

Also have to add... his handling rating is the same as the C8. I have driven both, there is no possible way the C8 handles the same as an Emira. We are talking about a 250 KG weight penalty, larger proportions and it's a Lotus with hydraulic steering. Either that or he overly rated the C8.

I really think Doug just couldn't handle scoring it above a Porsche in the weekend category. Where by his metrics it would have beat out a GT4 potentially.

 

[Concept24]

Also have to add... his handling rating is the same as the C8. I have driven both, there is no possible way the C8 handles the same as an Emira. We are talking about a 250 KG weight penalty, larger proportions and it's a Lotus with hydraulic steering. Either that or he overly rated the C8.

I really think Doug just couldn't handle scoring it above a Porsche in the weekend category. Where by his metrics it would have beat out a GT4 potentially.

I agree. I drove a C8 for over 150 miles and there is no getting around its 3600 lbs weight. The Evora I test-drove was so much more communicative/responsive, whereas the C8 was closer to a Cadillac V sedan.

 

[Green]

WEll I saw the review and actually I found him quite negative, especially when you compare how positive he was about the Evora, relatively speaking.
I think some of his scores are crazy, looks, practicality etc when compared to the cayman....

but overall he wasn't oosing love for the car at all, and I thought he would as he is a bit of an anglophile ....
It was a warm review in my view.... I expected it to be the same as the throttle one, go figure.
Lets be honest, for those of us who have been emotionally involved in this process for 2 years and MORE.... you have to be honest and say, its a good car.... but you cannot/should not lie and say overall its a great car.... its not and it should have been better...but I may still end up with one, just as I ended up with a colombian at one/several points, BUT in both cases, it wont be for the right reasons

It’s a great car!

 

[Pegasi]

Lets be honest, for those of us who have been emotionally involved in this process for 2 years and MORE.... you have to be honest and say, its a good car.... but you cannot/should not lie and say overall its a great car.... its not and it should have been better...but I may still end up with one, just as I ended up with a colombian at one/several points, BUT in both cases, it wont be for the right reasons

But that's the thing though. If a car company makes an enthusiast car for fanaticals (i.e. irrational people following passion) you must appeal to enough people to say it's a "great" car. I think the Emira is a great car, a perfect car, for me and what I am looking for. Doug loved the engine and he said either the steering and/or handling was better than the Porsche. Even if it was slightly worse that would be fine with me. I like the idea of being a Lotus owner, call me irrational, call me Dark Verdant.

 

[lion shf]

Also have to add... his handling rating is the same as the C8. I have driven both, there is no possible way the C8 handles the same as an Emira. We are talking about a 250 KG weight penalty, larger proportions and it's a Lotus with hydraulic steering. Either that or he overly rated the C8.

I really think Doug just couldn't handle scoring it above a Porsche in the weekend category. Where by his metrics it would have beat out a GT4 potentially.

Do you think the Emira is a better car dynamically than a GT4?

 

[Lotustoronto]

Do you think the Emira is a better car dynamically than a GT4?

tough question, as per my test drive (mind you I have much more seat time in the spyder than an Emira) I felt in the low end speed's, road driving the Emira felt a bit more responsive and fun. Handled a bit better and rode just as good.(sport suspension Emira) I also thought between 1k-4k RPM the Emira felt a little more alive. On the top end, really hammering the car (which I did on the highway sections only a little) it felt a little out of breath, where the Porsche was telling you give me more. On the track it would be a clear win for the GT4. On the road I felt the Emira was the more "fun" car to drive.

Porsche GT4 handling to me is more clinical and the Emira's was more connected. The C8 was not a clear winner in either of these area's IMO comparatively speaking.

I would only choose a spyder over an Emira due to the convertible aspect. If I had to choose between a GT4 or an Emira, they would have to promise to build a local dealership and a loaner Emira every time mine broke down, then I would take an Emira. If not.... it would be very tough choice. lol

(also for the record the Emira handling is prob an 8 if GT4 is 9....C8 should be a 7)