Emira 3.5 V6 manual vs Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 Spyder

[Speedy Emira]

This is a really interesting review because it’s from an independent owner who owns a GT4 Spyder and isn’t associated with a garage or magazine.
He praises everything about the Emira except it needs a bit more power and the engine doesn’t sound that amazing compared to the chassis which he said is better than the Cayman.
I kind of agree with him where it’s not quite as good as it could be with the sound and I’m not a fan of the rev limit being 6800 with a hard cut off.
To me no car is ever perfect and goes for the likes of Ferrari, Maclaren and top end Porsches as well. Lotus can’t please everyone and if they did it would probably be out of the price point for most current owners.
Based on this review I think the Emira would be as close to perfect as can be with a sports exhaust, intake and 50/60hp more with a 7200 rev limit. Ok this is probably £10k to go the 440hp/500nm JUBU upgrade or £14k for the 460hp/500nm route.
Hopefully now I’ve done the exhaust and Nitron coil overs I can do the 440 upgrade and the Eventuri carbon intake when it’s ready which combined should be 450hp. With the full ppf and ceramic it’s £20k of mods but hopefully I think it will be exactly what I would have gone for if the upgrades were possible options.

What does everyone else think is the perfect Emira?

 

[GAVLA]

This is a really interesting review because it’s from an independent owner who owns a GT4 Spyder and isn’t associated with a garage or magazine.
He praises everything about the Emira except it needs a bit more power and the engine doesn’t sound that amazing compared to the chassis which he said is better than the Cayman.
I kind of agree with him where it’s not quite as good as it could be with the sound and I’m not a fan of the rev limit being 6800 with a hard cut off.
To me no car is ever perfect and goes for the likes of Ferrari, Maclaren and top end Porsches as well. Lotus can’t please everyone and if they did it would probably be out of the price point for most current owners.
Based on this review I think the Emira would be as close to perfect as can be with a sports exhaust, intake and 50/60hp more with a 7200 rev limit. Ok this is probably £10k to go the 440hp/500nm JUBU upgrade or £14k for the 460hp/500nm route.
Hopefully now I’ve done the exhaust and Nitron coil overs I can do the 440 upgrade and the Eventuri carbon intake when it’s ready which combined should be 450hp. With the full ppf and ceramic it’s £20k of mods but hopefully I think it will be exactly what I would have gone for if the upgrades were possible options.

What does everyone else think is the perfect Emira?

I couldn't agree more. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my Emira but an extra 40/50hp is all it needs to be perfect. If Lotus had offered a tuning upgrade as an option I would have gone for it 100% but not now or at the prices quoted and certainly not under warranty.

 

[TomAce]

I'm afraid this is not a 718 Spyder (GT4 equivalent), but a 981 Spyder. It did not have the special GT4 treatment as the 981 Cayman GT4 got, just to put this into persepctive.

Other than that I agree Emira needs some extra horses. I will probably go with Komo-Tec one day.

It's hard to resist to all those group-buy events tbh regarding carbon fiber bits and bobs, though.

 

[Speedy Emira]

I'm afraid this is not a 718 Spyder (GT4 equivalent), but a 981 Spyder. It did not have the special GT4 treatment as the 981 Cayman GT4 got, just to put this into persepctive.

Other than that I agree Emira needs some extra horses. I will probably go with Komo-Tec one day.

It's hard to resist to all those group-buy events tbh regarding carbon fiber bits and bobs, though.

I totally get you on the groups buys Tom. It's like being an addict coming on here and seeing the latest upgrades, especially if owners are saying the improvements they have seen. I remember seeing a joke on a social media platform where a son phoned his dad to say 'mum is just about to sell or your car parts for what you told her you paid for them'.

 

[seriously]

After improving the shifter with a short shift kit and the sound with 3rd cat delete I think the emira is nearly perfect and needs only better seats. More power is always great but 400 hp is not holding the emira back on canyon or track.

Last I’m not sure that I agree that the lotus chassis is better. The boxster/cayman chassis is really superb and feels so rock solid. I might give a nod to the Porsche in that regard.

 

[Speedy Emira]

After improving the shifter with a short shift kit and the sound with 3rd cat delete I think the emira is nearly perfect and needs only better seats. More power is always great but 400 hp is not holding the emira back on canyon or track.

Last I’m not sure that I agree that the lotus chassis is better. The boxster/cayman chassis is really superb and feels so rock solid. I might give a nod to the Porsche in that regard.

I test drove the Caman 4.0 GTS and thought it was on par overall but didn’t feel quite so sharp on the bends, probably due to the electric steering. We are talking super close and I wouldn’t blame someone for preferring one. I was looking for a Caman GT4 originally but was blown away with the Emira looks.
Like you I did the cat delete when I fitted a Miltek exhaust and I have the GRP short shift to fit when I get time.
With a set of decent coil overs and lighter wheels I reckon the Emira could be a decent Caman GT4 contender.

 

[David s]

I totally get you on the groups buys Tom. It's like being an addict coming on here and seeing the latest upgrades, especially if owners are saying the improvements they have seen. I remember seeing a joke on a social media platform where a son phoned his dad to say 'mum is just about to sell or your car parts for what you told her you paid for them'.

HA HA. I remember telling my wife when I upgraded my first v6Exige SC from the TVS 1350 to the Harrop 1900 because it improved the fuel economy.

I agree. The Emira is a wonderful car. But it does need to be a 450 HP car. Even if you spend 10 to 15K to do it. It`s still cheap, in that you have a car with all the looks, and dynamics, and now more likely to match the GT4 Cayman. Not bad really. Try buy a new GT 4 and see what that costs.

 

[Blackthought_]

HA HA. I remember telling my wife when I upgraded my first v6Exige SC from the TVS 1350 to the Harrop 1900 because it improved the fuel economy.

I agree. The Emira is a wonderful car. But it does need to be a 450 HP car. Even if you spend 10 to 15K to do it. It`s still cheap, in that you have a car with all the looks, and dynamics, and now more likely to match the GT4 Cayman. Not bad really. Try buy a new GT 4 and see what that costs.

Is the GT4 that much faster than an Emira? Don’t they have similar numbers? Albeit the GT4 costs ~40-50k more after options

 

[David s]

Is the GT4 that much faster than an Emira? Don’t they have similar numbers? Albeit the GT4 costs ~40-50k more after options

No. Not much faster. That`s the point. With relatively little money, the emira is looking like a performance bargin. I think as owners become less spooled by the "warranty" jitters, there will be more aftermarket vendors willing to make performance upgrade option.

 

[Speedy Emira]

No. Not much faster. That`s the point. With relatively little money, the emira is looking like a performance bargin. I think as owners become less spooled by the "warranty" jitters, there will be more aftermarket vendors willing to make performance upgrade option.

You are spot on there regarding the warranty cover David. I’m not over worried personally because in the UK they have to fix anything can cannot be attributed to the mods. The only d we shine issue I’ve had so far other than clearing a fault code was a replacement lambda sensor which would be covered. If you have driven 5000 miles I think you are pretty safe from failures from the gearbox, clutch and LSD as far as manufacturing defects.