The great big "all the customer test drives" thread

[Magma]

I don’t think anyone saying it feels fast or just as fast is claiming that it actually is. Some of us want the “fastest” or ”faster” than what we already own. For others there are some elements and the whole package that carry’s more weight. Imagine having a kid who’s an incredible athlete and can run 100M in 10.5 seconds. Some will immediately say “oh well he’s not fast enough to ever run in the Olympics”, but maybe that’s fine and can still say he’s fast and doesn’t just want to be a sprinter anyways and use his quickness towards other athletics where 100M time isn’t the be all and end all. To each their own .

To each their own for sure.

 

[DF_Toronto]

To add to that. If you told me I can have an Emira that’s 0-60 in 3.5 but for that I get the exterior of the C8…I’m taking the Emira hands down. I fully appreciate that half the audience just care about the performance and don’t about the interior whatsoever as someone mentioned earlier today, and that’s totally ok.

I think half of us are in my camp and think the Emira ticks so many boxes and that the performance is great and more than capable even if it’s not ”the best”. And there’s another half where priority is on being the best performer and I understand if the Emira falls short for those, it’s not the car they’re looking for and I understand if they had hoped it was the Emira package with the performance of the 430 or surpassed it. Those will want to pull their deposits or wait for a GT, other’s on the other hand are delighted and can’t wait to get theirs.

 

[Lotustoronto]

Just left the test drive at Lotus Oakville.... Hethel Yellow on sport suspension. I was going to write the review tomorrow, but I am on my way home to write it up. Stay tuned!

 

[themeatbaron]

Look forward to your thoughts. I did mine a bit earlier then I thought, about 11:15 this morning. I really enjoyed the car.

 

[Lotustoronto]

Finally!! After a much anticipated wait I got behind the wheel of the Lotus Emira.

For reference I am 6'1 and 220 lbs. Not a small guy. Size 11.5 shoe (US Sizing)

Background of previous cars - 2020 C8 Corvette, 2020 718 Spyder, 2021 992 911 S Manual, 2019 VW Golf R DSG, 2018 Mini Cooper S manual, 2014 Jaguar XK, 2005 BMW 330i Manual, few other Trucks and SUV's etc.

For the price - IMO only the 718 4.0 manual cars compete with the current Emira V6 manual. So I am direct comparing between the two.

First impressions from the exterior, much like everyone else I thought it was as stunner. A bit smaller than I expected, but certainly beautiful. In its price range it is by far the best looking / most striking vehicle, not a bad angle. 10/10 on looks for the price. (there are better looking cars, but double or triple the cost)

Interior - Leather is of high quality, right up there with Porsche. Seats were comfortable and looked good. (better than the 718's sports seats) Fit me well, but I am also not a small guy. Stitching was flawless and over all interior trim of the Emira was very good in my opinion. The Alcantara was very nice and how I would spec my own. Steering wheel felt good / not too thick and didn't feel cheap IMO, no issue. I didn't play too much with the buttons on the wheel, but if there was a negative, perhaps that would be it. The air con controls was a negative for me. Felt cheap, I think Lotus could have done something better. The chrome plastic controlling temp and fan speed still wobbled a bit @emiraspain and looked like something that belonged in a 25K car. The screens in the car I thought were good not great, no visual problems. No lag in the infotainment system and very clean programming. I personally liked the minimalist design in the infotainment. Manual shifter was a high point for me. Looks smaller than in pictures, but felt great in the hand and had a very solid feel. Pedal placement for me was a non-issue. Yes, it is off centre, but I adjusted quickly and was well placed for heel and toe. Pedal box itself is tighter than a 718's, mostly due to the larger sills. Egress/ Ingress was no problem, perhaps a bit easier than the 718's if not the same. The cabin itself felt smaller/tighter than the C8 corvette and the 911, but not by much. Again very close to the 718. Over all impression of the interior is that it feels special, more so than the 718's and a higher quality feel to the C8. With all the leather, stitching, Alcantara, aluminium and that beautiful manual shifter, it was a good place to spend time. I did not feel cramped nor did it feel spacious.(The Emira is not an M2 competitor IMO) It felt like a proper purpose built sports car. Pedal box spacing could be a little better. KEF speakers were not good, FYI. I almost wonder if there was something wrong with this specific car audio. That's how unimpressive they were. Over all interior 8/10 against the competition. It has a premium feel with an added sense of occasion to it that the Porsche lacks. However, the Porsche gets the nod in over all quality... nothing wobbles in the Porsche (and Burmeister is better), BUT the Emira's interior looks better.

Driving Impressions - The most important part. I'll start with sport suspension. I drove on a mix of highway and some bendy roads, only 10 minutes so not a lot. Took the corners with some speed (definitely broke the speed limits everywhere) and let me say, WOW. The Emira stayed glued and felt inspiring. I did not think the sport suspension was too stiff. Comparable to a 718 GT4/Spyder suspension, but a little more supple. (on the less firm setting of the dampers) I will be going with sports suspension. Glad I got to drive it. 9/10. If you are daily driving the Emira, or have really bad roads to commute on all the time, go with touring. View out was good, no complaints with visibility, similar to any mid engine sports car. Engine sound/exhaust - muted a bit in touring, sounded good in sports mode. 7.5/10 for sound in its class. Steering felt very good and better than Porsche. Felt very connected and excellent turn in. Overall the Emira feels very nimble and was a pleasure to take high speed corners in. Engine - I can say it felt quick. Not extremly fast, but built up speed quickly and made the Lotus feel controllable at all times. Would I have wanted the extra 30 BHP and extra rev's to 7,200. Yes, and I think would make a difference as well. The Emira does not feel slow against the 718 4.0's. The bottom end of the rev range on the Emira V6 is more urgent than the Porsche, felt more alive. However it loses breath at the top, this is where the Porsche shines and sings a bit better than the Emira. The 718 4.0's between 5,500 - 7,800 rpm is something special, and the Emira's V6 can't match that. On track, the GT4 will win, the 718's 4.0's are superior in the top end. The problem after owning the Spyder, is the gearing and trying to keep the Spyder in that high REV range is difficult on the street.(manual version not PDK) Dare I say it - I prefer the power delivery and gearing of the Emira to the Porsche. This was a big deal for me and I spent most of the test drive on feeling for this. The Emira's V6 is more exploitable than the Porsche's outside of the track and in the real world. Now onto the manual box - very mechanical feeling and notchy. Clicked into gear in a satisfying way. I would not consider it slick and did not have slack to it. It needs to be deliberate, with a small amount more force than the Porsche GT box. The gates are spaced a bit tighter. I really did like the shift action, had an overall feeling of quality about it and substantial, Not something flimsy or cheap. (unlike the HVAC controls ) The more I got used to it, the more I liked it. Is it better than the Porsche GT4/Spyder manual for feel, probably not better. But it felt very good and the gearing being better means you get to use it more. Overall rating in its class 9/10 for driving dynamics. This was the hardest for me to rank, as previously the 718 Spyder was the best drivers car I have owned. I still can't say for certain if it is more engaging from a driving dynamics perspective until I own the Emira for at least 1,500 KM of seat time. However, on my short drive, which included some good speed corners, highways and bendy back roads, I was all smiles. The power delivery on the low end felt more urgent than the N/A Porsche's and the gear shift IMO felt very good, mechanical and notchy.

So in conclusion - The Lotus Emira is a special car. I appreciate the beauty of the lines and of the design. The driving dynamics are excellent for its class and gives a feeling of being connected to car and road. It did not feel like a GT car like the C8 /911 does, or a super car like a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lambo. It does not have the lavishness of a Aston Martin or the austerity of the Porsche's. It is not a track star like a GT3/GT4 or a Z06.

It is simply an absolute beautiful pure sports car that stirs emotion. I can not ask for anything more.

Overall 9/10 in its class.

 

[themeatbaron]

Finally!! After a much anticipated wait I got behind the wheel of the Lotus Emira.

For reference I am 6'1 and 220 lbs. Not a small guy. Size 11.5 shoe (US Sizing)

Background of previous cars - 2020 C8 Corvette, 2020 718 Spyder, 2021 992 911 S Manual, 2019 VW Golf R DSG, 2018 Mini Cooper S manual, 2014 Jaguar XK, 2005 BMW 330i Manual, few other Trucks and SUV's etc.

For the price - IMO only the 718 4.0 manual cars compete with the current Emira V6 manual. So I am direct comparing between the two.

First impressions from the exterior, much like everyone else I thought it was as stunner. A bit smaller than I expected, but certainly beautiful. In its price range it is by far the best looking / most striking vehicle, not a bad angle. 10/10 on looks for the price. (there are better looking cars, but double or triple the cost)

Interior - Leather is of high quality, right up there with Porsche. Seats were comfortable and looked good. (better than the 718's sports seats) Fit me well, but I am also not a small guy. Stitching was flawless and over all interior trim of the Emira was very good in my opinion. The Alcantara was very nice and how I would spec my own. Steering wheel felt good / not too thick and didn't feel cheap IMO, no issue. I didn't play too much with the buttons on the wheel, but if there was a negative, perhaps that would be it. The air con controls was a negative for me. Felt cheap, I think Lotus could have done something better. The chrome plastic controlling temp and fan speed still wobbled a bit @emiraspain and looked like something that belonged in a 25K car. The screens in the car I thought were good not great, no visual problems. No lag in the infotainment system and very clean programming. I personally liked the minimalist design in the infotainment. Manual shifter was a high point for me. Looks smaller than in pictures, but felt great in the hand and had a very solid feel. Pedal placement for me was a non-issue. Yes, it is off centre, but I adjusted quickly and was well placed for heel and toe. Pedal box itself is tighter than a 718's, mostly due to the larger sills. Egress/ Ingress was no problem, perhaps a bit easier than the 718's if not the same. The cabin itself felt smaller/tighter than the C8 corvette and the 911, but not by much. Again very close to the 718. Over all impression of the interior is that it feels special, more so than the 718's and a higher quality feel to the C8. With all the leather, stitching, Alcantara, aluminium and that beautiful manual shifter, it was a good place to spend time. I did not feel cramped nor did it feel spacious.(The Emira is not an M2 competitor IMO) It felt like a proper purpose built sports car. Pedal box spacing could be a little better. KEF speakers were not good, FYI. I almost wonder if there was something wrong with this specific car audio. That's how unimpressive they were. Over all interior 8/10 against the competition. It has a premium feel with an added sense of occasion to it that the Porsche lacks. However, the Porsche gets the nod in over all quality... nothing wobbles in the Porsche (and Burmeister is better), BUT the Emira's interior looks better.

Driving Impressions - The most important part. I'll start with sport suspension. I drove on a mix of highway and some bendy roads, only 10 minutes so not a lot. Took the corners with some speed (definitely broke the speed limits everywhere) and let me say, WOW. The Emira stayed glued and felt inspiring. I did not think the sport suspension was too stiff. Comparable to a 718 GT4/Spyder suspension, but a little more supple. (on the less firm setting of the dampers) I will be going with sports suspension. Glad I got to drive it. 9/10. If you are daily driving the Emira, or have really bad roads to commute on all the time, go with touring. View out was good, no complaints with visibility, similar to any mid engine sports car. Engine sound/exhaust - muted a bit in touring, sounded good in sports mode. 7.5/10 for sound in its class. Steering felt very good and better than Porsche. Felt very connected and excellent turn in. Overall the Emira feels very nimble and was a pleasure to take high speed corners in. Engine - I can say it felt quick. Not extremly fast, but built up speed quickly and made the Lotus feel controllable at all times. Would I have wanted the extra 30 BHP and extra rev's to 7,200. Yes, and I think would make a difference as well. The Emira does not feel slow against the 718 4.0's. The bottom end of the rev range on the Emira V6 is more urgent than the Porsche, felt more alive. However it loses breath at the top, this is where the Porsche shines and sings a bit better than the Emira. The 718 4.0's between 5,500 - 7,800 rpm is something special, and the Emira's V6 can't match that. On track, the GT4 will win, the 718's 4.0's are superior in the top end. The problem after owning the Spyder, is the gearing and trying to keep the Spyder in that high REV range is difficult on the street.(manual version not PDK) Dare I say it - I prefer the power delivery and gearing of the Emira to the Porsche. This was a big deal for me and I spent most of the test drive on feeling for this. The Emira's V6 is more exploitable than the Porsche's outside of the track and in the real world. Now onto the manual box - very mechanical feeling and notchy. Clicked into gear in a satisfying way. I would not consider it slick and did not have slack to it. It needs to be deliberate, with a small amount more force than the Porsche GT box. The gates are spaced a bit tighter. I really did like the shift action, had an overall feeling of quality about it and substantial, Not something flimsy or cheap. (unlike the HVAC controls ) The more I got used to it, the more I liked it. Is it better than the Porsche GT4/Spyder manual for feel, probably not better. But it felt very good and the gearing being better means you get to use it more. Overall rating in its class 9/10 for driving dynamics. This was the hardest for me to rank, as previously the 718 Spyder was the best drivers car I have owned. I still can't say for certain if it is more engaging from a driving dynamics perspective until I own the Emira for at least 1,500 KM of seat time. However, on my short drive, which included some good speed corners, highways and bendy back roads, I was all smiles. The power delivery on the low end felt more urgent than the N/A Porsche's and the gear shift IMO felt very good, mechanical and notchy.

So in conclusion - The Lotus Emira is a special car. I appreciate the beauty of the lines and of the design. The driving dynamics are excellent for its class and gives a feeling of being connected to car and road. It did not feel like a GT car like the C8 /911 does, or a super car like a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lambo. It does not have the lavishness of a Aston Martin or the austerity of the Porsche's. It is not a track star like a GT3/GT4 or a Z06.

It is simply a beautiful pure sports car that stirs emotion. I can not ask for anything more.

Overall 9/10 in its class.

Well said

 

[FlyNavy01]

I drove the Shadow Grey w/ sports suspension and Eagle F1's in Bellevue this morning. My thoughts echo most of what was already said. Short version: Looks, drives, and sounds like it should based off my short 15 min drive. I'll be keeping my deposit since I enjoyed it slightly more than I expected based off the write-ups I've read here. Only thing I'd really change would be to remove 200lbs and/or add 10% power. However, not a deal breaker at all considering I daily drive a quick EV which should be complimented by the Emira quite well.

Steering is fantastic. I found the feel of the perforated leather wheel a little weird, so I'll be sticking with alcantara. The one thing that surprised me was the sports suspension did not feel rough to me at all. Stout yet composed on some less than ideal backroads. This could change slightly with Cup 2's I realize.

The size of the car is perfect for my style and visibility other than directly out the rearview (as expected) is above average. The interior is nice enough; plenty comfortable yet sporty and simple which I like. I agree with an earlier post that all the carpeting on the sills can appear a bit cheap, mostly due to how "in your face" they look with the doors open. A dry carbon or even alcantara option in the future would be something I'd certainly pay for if available. Hardly worth complaining about, but this is the only Lotus I've been in other than an 07 Elise and I forgot how prominent they can be in person.

The sound is enjoyable, although I think a 3rd cat delete is in my future as having it ~25% louder in sport mode could be the sweet spot for me. The driver before me did what sounded like a WOT drive-by and it had a lovely exotic growl. Lastly, while occasionally fun, I can see myself getting tired of the throttle liftoff burbles, so hopefully that's easily changeable at some point. The rep turned up the Kef audio for about 8 seconds and it sounded satisfactory, but I'm not buying a sports car for the interior audio.

Overall, I'm just as excited as ever! A group of a dozen or so Ferrari's and Lamborghini's drove by as I was leaving and the road presence of the Emira fit right in with the best of them. It honestly might've looked the best, but I'm probably biased.

 

[SmokeGlider]

I was fortunate to get a test drive today. Lots of comparisons by previous Lotus owners to earlier Lotus models. I've never owned or even driven a Lotus before so this review will compare the car to others I've owned. The car was Shadow Grey with alcantera interior, leather steering wheel, and sport suspension. I think the SA said it was running CUP 2's but I'm not sure about that and the tires were quiet, i.e., I didn't get the usual noise of rocks being picked up and slung against the wheel wells with super sticky tires. Day was overcast and the roads mostly dry and pretty clear. The route was suburban with a mix of a couple of nice curvy roads with good elevation changes, residential with a couple of speed bumps and then urban roadways. Plenty of stop lights and signs, but a couple of spots to get well above legal speeds if one chose to. I was asked to keep the tac below 5k.

This is a gorgeous car in the flesh. Pictures simply do not do it justice. It is low and wide and very sexy. The rear haunches are substantial and rounded nicely. This car looks very good going away.

The doors open and close with a nice thunk. They didn't feel heavy nor did they sound or feel fragile, and nothing rattled. Getting into the car was easy. I sat in the drivers seat and then swung my legs into the car, no fuss. Getting out was a little less easy mostly because I didn't know what to push up and out on. The sill is a little wide so you'd have to scoot a tad to get good leverage if you wanted to push out with it. I just grabbed the A pillar and kind of pulled and stood at the same time.

The cockpit is super roomy. I pulled the seat forward quite a bit to ensure I could bottom the clutch (I'm 5' 10"). I didn't feel cramped at all and the seat felt supportive and comfortable. I didn't really have an opportunity to fling the car around much so couldn't really test the bolsters but I think I'd be held in place through reasonably spirited canyon carving.

The steering wheel was thick in my hands and felt substantial and comfortable. The flat areas at the top and bottom felt different during cornering but not too intrusive. Something I could get used to without much issue.

The gearshift was notchy and positive. For contrast, my wife's Audi S4 is a real snick-snick gearbox with short throws and buttery action. The Miata shifter is light and smooth but with longer throws than the Audi. The Emira Gearbox has throws similar to the Miata, but with a notchy feel and positive engagement. Very tactile. My C7 7 speed felt vague in comparison.

The clutch engaged almost immediately after release and take up was pretty quick. The SA warned me about that so I was careful starting out. After a couple of tries I found I could modulate it well with just a light touch of throttle but would then get what sounded like a little bit of rattle from the throwout bearing as it took up.

Power was good making the car feel pretty quick. I've driven similar displacement supercharged V6 motors with manual transmissions (Jag F-Type S). The Jag puts out around 380 HP and weights about 3800 lbs. The Emira felt quicker and more responsive. Power delivery was pretty linear getting a little stronger as the revs passed through 3500/4000 RPM. It wasn't violent like a big displacement V8, nor was it peaky like a turbo motor. It felt very predictable and responsive. This car feels like it'll be easy to pick your line and accurately modulate your speed as you hustle through the twisties.

Which brings me to the steering. This car feels light and well sorted. There's no sense of heft while you toss it around. The steering is quick and precise. The car stays planted, doesn't get upset easily, doesn't feel nervous and edgy like the Vette can be when pushed hard. This car feels light, tight and surgical.

The sound in and out of the car is pretty nice. At idle with Tour mode on, it's quiet and you hear the motor more than you hear the exhaust; it sounded slightly tractor-like. But as soon as you apply throttle, that all disappears and it starts to sing. The higher you rev it, the sweeter the song. The exhaust note is a little higher pitched which is fine. It's not the low basso growl of the Infiniti G37 at idle and low RPM (which IMHO is the actual shit), but it still sounds good. I didn't hear the supercharger as much as I thought I would, but it might have been because I was distracted taking in all of the other sensations as I had such a short time in the car.

All in all, I really like the car. I'm looking forward to driving mine home.

 

[SPoivre]

So far, it seems that most guys who drive the sports chassis find it quite satisfactory. Not hearing a lot about it being too firm, harsh or uncomfortable. As I mentioned previously I drove the touring and found it great for the road. Not too soft. Looks like you can’t go wrong either way. More similar than different on the road…which is what Lotus told me before my selection.

Just makes me wonder why Harry had such a problem with it. I usually pay attention to his reviews because he approaches cars from the perspective of an owner and living with it. Many journos seem like 20 minute hot dogs around the track. Fine if your driving a car for 20 minutes but I expect to drive mine a bit more and mostly on the road.

 

[Green]

I was fortunate to get a test drive today. Lots of comparisons by previous Lotus owners to earlier Lotus models. I've never owned or even driven a Lotus before so this review will compare the car to others I've owned. The car was Shadow Grey with alcantera interior, leather steering wheel, and sport suspension. I think the SA said it was running CUP 2's but I'm not sure about that and the tires were quiet, i.e., I didn't get the usual noise of rocks being picked up and slung against the wheel wells with super sticky tires. Day was overcast and the roads mostly dry and pretty clear. The route was suburban with a mix of a couple of nice curvy roads with good elevation changes, residential with a couple of speed bumps and then urban roadways. Plenty of stop lights and signs, but a couple of spots to get well above legal speeds if one chose to. I was asked to keep the tac below 5k.

This is a gorgeous car in the flesh. Pictures simply do not do it justice. It is low and wide and very sexy. The rear haunches are substantial and rounded nicely. This car looks very good going away.

The doors open and close with a nice thunk. They didn't feel heavy nor did they sound or feel fragile, and nothing rattled. Getting into the car was easy. I sat in the drivers seat and then swung my legs into the car, no fuss. Getting out was a little less easy mostly because I didn't know what to push up and out on. The sill is a little wide so you'd have to scoot a tad to get good leverage if you wanted to push out with it. I just grabbed the A pillar and kind of pulled and stood at the same time.

The cockpit is super roomy. I pulled the seat forward quite a bit to ensure I could bottom the clutch (I'm 5' 10"). I didn't feel cramped at all and the seat felt supportive and comfortable. I didn't really have an opportunity to fling the car around much so couldn't really test the bolsters but I think I'd be held in place through reasonably spirited canyon carving.

The steering wheel was thick in my hands and felt substantial and comfortable. The flat areas at the top and bottom felt different during cornering but not too intrusive. Something I could get used to without much issue.

The gearshift was notchy and positive. For contrast, my wife's Audi S4 is a real snick-snick gearbox with short throws and buttery action. The Miata shifter is light and smooth but with longer throws than the Audi. The Emira Gearbox has throws similar to the Miata, but with a notchy feel and positive engagement. Very tactile. My C7 7 speed felt vague in comparison.

The clutch engaged almost immediately after release and take up was pretty quick. The SA warned me about that so I was careful starting out. After a couple of tries I found I could modulate it well with just a light touch of throttle but would then get what sounded like a little bit of rattle from the throwout bearing as it took up.

Power was good making the car feel pretty quick. I've driven similar displacement supercharged V6 motors with manual transmissions (Jag F-Type S). The Jag puts out around 380 HP and weights about 3800 lbs. The Emira felt quicker and more responsive. Power delivery was pretty linear getting a little stronger as the revs passed through 3500/4000 RPM. It wasn't violent like a big displacement V8, nor was it peaky like a turbo motor. It felt very predictable and responsive. This car feels like it'll be easy to pick your line and accurately modulate your speed as you hustle through the twisties.

Which brings me to the steering. This car feels light and well sorted. There's no sense of heft while you toss it around. The steering is quick and precise. The car stays planted, doesn't get upset easily, doesn't feel nervous and edgy like the Vette can be when pushed hard. This car feels light, tight and surgical.

The sound in and out of the car is pretty nice. At idle with Tour mode on, it's quiet and you hear the motor more than you hear the exhaust; it sounded slightly tractor-like. But as soon as you apply throttle, that all disappears and it starts to sing. The higher you rev it, the sweeter the song. The exhaust note is a little higher pitched which is fine. It's not the low basso growl of the Infiniti G37 at idle and low RPM (which IMHO is the actual shit), but it still sounds good. I didn't hear the supercharger as much as I thought I would, but it might have been because I was distracted taking in all of the other sensations as I had such a short time in the car.

All in all, I really like the car. I'm looking forward to driving mine home.

I would agree with almost everything you said except. I was surprised and pleased with how loud the supercharger was. The steering wheel felt small and light compared to my R8 wheel. We agree on the main item that is putting it in the garage.

 

[Green]

So far, it seems that most guys who drive the sports chassis find it quite satisfactory. Not hearing a lot about it being too firm, harsh or uncomfortable. As I mentioned previously I drove the touring and found it great for the road. Not too soft. Looks like you can’t go wrong either way. More similar than different on the road…which is what Lotus told me before my selection.

Just makes me wonder why Harry had such a problem with it. I usually pay attention to his reviews because he approaches cars from the perspective of an owner and living with it. Many journos seem like 20 minute hot dogs around the track. Fine if your driving a car for 20 minutes but I expect to drive mine a bit more and mostly on the road.

I suspect it may have to do with European roads being rough compared to USA roads. Just a guess. I ordered sport but I prefer firm suspension over comfort.

 

[SmokeGlider]

I would agree with almost everything you said except. I was surprised and pleased with how loud the supercharger was. The steering wheel felt small and light compared to my R8 wheel. We agree on the main item that is putting it in the garage.

I agree, the wheel does feel small. As far as the SC, I just don't think I was paying attention to it. The exhaust sound was really nice and I was winding it between shifts just to hear it. Clearly I need more time in the seat.

 

[MPD]

Finally!! After a much anticipated wait I got behind the wheel of the Lotus Emira.

For reference I am 6'1 and 220 lbs. Not a small guy. Size 11.5 shoe (US Sizing)

Background of previous cars - 2020 C8 Corvette, 2020 718 Spyder, 2021 992 911 S Manual, 2019 VW Golf R DSG, 2018 Mini Cooper S manual, 2014 Jaguar XK, 2005 BMW 330i Manual, few other Trucks and SUV's etc.

For the price - IMO only the 718 4.0 manual cars compete with the current Emira V6 manual. So I am direct comparing between the two.

First impressions from the exterior, much like everyone else I thought it was as stunner. A bit smaller than I expected, but certainly beautiful. In its price range it is by far the best looking / most striking vehicle, not a bad angle. 10/10 on looks for the price. (there are better looking cars, but double or triple the cost)

Interior - Leather is of high quality, right up there with Porsche. Seats were comfortable and looked good. (better than the 718's sports seats) Fit me well, but I am also not a small guy. Stitching was flawless and over all interior trim of the Emira was very good in my opinion. The Alcantara was very nice and how I would spec my own. Steering wheel felt good / not too thick and didn't feel cheap IMO, no issue. I didn't play too much with the buttons on the wheel, but if there was a negative, perhaps that would be it. The air con controls was a negative for me. Felt cheap, I think Lotus could have done something better. The chrome plastic controlling temp and fan speed still wobbled a bit @emiraspain and looked like something that belonged in a 25K car. The screens in the car I thought were good not great, no visual problems. No lag in the infotainment system and very clean programming. I personally liked the minimalist design in the infotainment. Manual shifter was a high point for me. Looks smaller than in pictures, but felt great in the hand and had a very solid feel. Pedal placement for me was a non-issue. Yes, it is off centre, but I adjusted quickly and was well placed for heel and toe. Pedal box itself is tighter than a 718's, mostly due to the larger sills. Egress/ Ingress was no problem, perhaps a bit easier than the 718's if not the same. The cabin itself felt smaller/tighter than the C8 corvette and the 911, but not by much. Again very close to the 718. Over all impression of the interior is that it feels special, more so than the 718's and a higher quality feel to the C8. With all the leather, stitching, Alcantara, aluminium and that beautiful manual shifter, it was a good place to spend time. I did not feel cramped nor did it feel spacious.(The Emira is not an M2 competitor IMO) It felt like a proper purpose built sports car. Pedal box spacing could be a little better. KEF speakers were not good, FYI. I almost wonder if there was something wrong with this specific car audio. That's how unimpressive they were. Over all interior 8/10 against the competition. It has a premium feel with an added sense of occasion to it that the Porsche lacks. However, the Porsche gets the nod in over all quality... nothing wobbles in the Porsche (and Burmeister is better), BUT the Emira's interior looks better.

Driving Impressions - The most important part. I'll start with sport suspension. I drove on a mix of highway and some bendy roads, only 10 minutes so not a lot. Took the corners with some speed (definitely broke the speed limits everywhere) and let me say, WOW. The Emira stayed glued and felt inspiring. I did not think the sport suspension was too stiff. Comparable to a 718 GT4/Spyder suspension, but a little more supple. (on the less firm setting of the dampers) I will be going with sports suspension. Glad I got to drive it. 9/10. If you are daily driving the Emira, or have really bad roads to commute on all the time, go with touring. View out was good, no complaints with visibility, similar to any mid engine sports car. Engine sound/exhaust - muted a bit in touring, sounded good in sports mode. 7.5/10 for sound in its class. Steering felt very good and better than Porsche. Felt very connected and excellent turn in. Overall the Emira feels very nimble and was a pleasure to take high speed corners in. Engine - I can say it felt quick. Not extremly fast, but built up speed quickly and made the Lotus feel controllable at all times. Would I have wanted the extra 30 BHP and extra rev's to 7,200. Yes, and I think would make a difference as well. The Emira does not feel slow against the 718 4.0's. The bottom end of the rev range on the Emira V6 is more urgent than the Porsche, felt more alive. However it loses breath at the top, this is where the Porsche shines and sings a bit better than the Emira. The 718 4.0's between 5,500 - 7,800 rpm is something special, and the Emira's V6 can't match that. On track, the GT4 will win, the 718's 4.0's are superior in the top end. The problem after owning the Spyder, is the gearing and trying to keep the Spyder in that high REV range is difficult on the street.(manual version not PDK) Dare I say it - I prefer the power delivery and gearing of the Emira to the Porsche. This was a big deal for me and I spent most of the test drive on feeling for this. The Emira's V6 is more exploitable than the Porsche's outside of the track and in the real world. Now onto the manual box - very mechanical feeling and notchy. Clicked into gear in a satisfying way. I would not consider it slick and did not have slack to it. It needs to be deliberate, with a small amount more force than the Porsche GT box. The gates are spaced a bit tighter. I really did like the shift action, had an overall feeling of quality about it and substantial, Not something flimsy or cheap. (unlike the HVAC controls ) The more I got used to it, the more I liked it. Is it better than the Porsche GT4/Spyder manual for feel, probably not better. But it felt very good and the gearing being better means you get to use it more. Overall rating in its class 9/10 for driving dynamics. This was the hardest for me to rank, as previously the 718 Spyder was the best drivers car I have owned. I still can't say for certain if it is more engaging from a driving dynamics perspective until I own the Emira for at least 1,500 KM of seat time. However, on my short drive, which included some good speed corners, highways and bendy back roads, I was all smiles. The power delivery on the low end felt more urgent than the N/A Porsche's and the gear shift IMO felt very good, mechanical and notchy.

So in conclusion - The Lotus Emira is a special car. I appreciate the beauty of the lines and of the design. The driving dynamics are excellent for its class and gives a feeling of being connected to car and road. It did not feel like a GT car like the C8 /911 does, or a super car like a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lambo. It does not have the lavishness of a Aston Martin or the austerity of the Porsche's. It is not a track star like a GT3/GT4 or a Z06.

It is simply an absolute beautiful pure sports car that stirs emotion. I can not ask for anything more.

Overall 9/10 in its class.

nice write up,

 

[DF_Toronto]

Finally!! After a much anticipated wait I got behind the wheel of the Lotus Emira.

For reference I am 6'1 and 220 lbs. Not a small guy. Size 11.5 shoe (US Sizing)

Background of previous cars - 2020 C8 Corvette, 2020 718 Spyder, 2021 992 911 S Manual, 2019 VW Golf R DSG, 2018 Mini Cooper S manual, 2014 Jaguar XK, 2005 BMW 330i Manual, few other Trucks and SUV's etc.

For the price - IMO only the 718 4.0 manual cars compete with the current Emira V6 manual. So I am direct comparing between the two.

First impressions from the exterior, much like everyone else I thought it was as stunner. A bit smaller than I expected, but certainly beautiful. In its price range it is by far the best looking / most striking vehicle, not a bad angle. 10/10 on looks for the price. (there are better looking cars, but double or triple the cost)

Interior - Leather is of high quality, right up there with Porsche. Seats were comfortable and looked good. (better than the 718's sports seats) Fit me well, but I am also not a small guy. Stitching was flawless and over all interior trim of the Emira was very good in my opinion. The Alcantara was very nice and how I would spec my own. Steering wheel felt good / not too thick and didn't feel cheap IMO, no issue. I didn't play too much with the buttons on the wheel, but if there was a negative, perhaps that would be it. The air con controls was a negative for me. Felt cheap, I think Lotus could have done something better. The chrome plastic controlling temp and fan speed still wobbled a bit @emiraspain and looked like something that belonged in a 25K car. The screens in the car I thought were good not great, no visual problems. No lag in the infotainment system and very clean programming. I personally liked the minimalist design in the infotainment. Manual shifter was a high point for me. Looks smaller than in pictures, but felt great in the hand and had a very solid feel. Pedal placement for me was a non-issue. Yes, it is off centre, but I adjusted quickly and was well placed for heel and toe. Pedal box itself is tighter than a 718's, mostly due to the larger sills. Egress/ Ingress was no problem, perhaps a bit easier than the 718's if not the same. The cabin itself felt smaller/tighter than the C8 corvette and the 911, but not by much. Again very close to the 718. Over all impression of the interior is that it feels special, more so than the 718's and a higher quality feel to the C8. With all the leather, stitching, Alcantara, aluminium and that beautiful manual shifter, it was a good place to spend time. I did not feel cramped nor did it feel spacious.(The Emira is not an M2 competitor IMO) It felt like a proper purpose built sports car. Pedal box spacing could be a little better. KEF speakers were not good, FYI. I almost wonder if there was something wrong with this specific car audio. That's how unimpressive they were. Over all interior 8/10 against the competition. It has a premium feel with an added sense of occasion to it that the Porsche lacks. However, the Porsche gets the nod in over all quality... nothing wobbles in the Porsche (and Burmeister is better), BUT the Emira's interior looks better.

Driving Impressions - The most important part. I'll start with sport suspension. I drove on a mix of highway and some bendy roads, only 10 minutes so not a lot. Took the corners with some speed (definitely broke the speed limits everywhere) and let me say, WOW. The Emira stayed glued and felt inspiring. I did not think the sport suspension was too stiff. Comparable to a 718 GT4/Spyder suspension, but a little more supple. (on the less firm setting of the dampers) I will be going with sports suspension. Glad I got to drive it. 9/10. If you are daily driving the Emira, or have really bad roads to commute on all the time, go with touring. View out was good, no complaints with visibility, similar to any mid engine sports car. Engine sound/exhaust - muted a bit in touring, sounded good in sports mode. 7.5/10 for sound in its class. Steering felt very good and better than Porsche. Felt very connected and excellent turn in. Overall the Emira feels very nimble and was a pleasure to take high speed corners in. Engine - I can say it felt quick. Not extremly fast, but built up speed quickly and made the Lotus feel controllable at all times. Would I have wanted the extra 30 BHP and extra rev's to 7,200. Yes, and I think would make a difference as well. The Emira does not feel slow against the 718 4.0's. The bottom end of the rev range on the Emira V6 is more urgent than the Porsche, felt more alive. However it loses breath at the top, this is where the Porsche shines and sings a bit better than the Emira. The 718 4.0's between 5,500 - 7,800 rpm is something special, and the Emira's V6 can't match that. On track, the GT4 will win, the 718's 4.0's are superior in the top end. The problem after owning the Spyder, is the gearing and trying to keep the Spyder in that high REV range is difficult on the street.(manual version not PDK) Dare I say it - I prefer the power delivery and gearing of the Emira to the Porsche. This was a big deal for me and I spent most of the test drive on feeling for this. The Emira's V6 is more exploitable than the Porsche's outside of the track and in the real world. Now onto the manual box - very mechanical feeling and notchy. Clicked into gear in a satisfying way. I would not consider it slick and did not have slack to it. It needs to be deliberate, with a small amount more force than the Porsche GT box. The gates are spaced a bit tighter. I really did like the shift action, had an overall feeling of quality about it and substantial, Not something flimsy or cheap. (unlike the HVAC controls ) The more I got used to it, the more I liked it. Is it better than the Porsche GT4/Spyder manual for feel, probably not better. But it felt very good and the gearing being better means you get to use it more. Overall rating in its class 9/10 for driving dynamics. This was the hardest for me to rank, as previously the 718 Spyder was the best drivers car I have owned. I still can't say for certain if it is more engaging from a driving dynamics perspective until I own the Emira for at least 1,500 KM of seat time. However, on my short drive, which included some good speed corners, highways and bendy back roads, I was all smiles. The power delivery on the low end felt more urgent than the N/A Porsche's and the gear shift IMO felt very good, mechanical and notchy.

So in conclusion - The Lotus Emira is a special car. I appreciate the beauty of the lines and of the design. The driving dynamics are excellent for its class and gives a feeling of being connected to car and road. It did not feel like a GT car like the C8 /911 does, or a super car like a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lambo. It does not have the lavishness of a Aston Martin or the austerity of the Porsche's. It is not a track star like a GT3/GT4 or a Z06.

It is simply an absolute beautiful pure sports car that stirs emotion. I can not ask for anything more.

Overall 9/10 in its class.

Great review, and I agree 100% on everything as mentioned in my review of the same car you drove on Wednesday as the 2nd one in the car on it's Canadian arrival right down to thinking there might be something wrong with the KEF system . I struggled to articulate what you did extremely well with regard to the rev and power range being extremely usable and engaging for every day use on normal roads unlike some of the competition. Agree the test drive was also very useful to affirm the suspension setup as I was undecided up to that point. I didn't bother playing with many controls but I did twist some dial to see how it felt for a moment and didn't notice the wobble on whatever it was.

I just got a ride home from the hockey game with a friend in his new Aston Martin that costs close to 2-3X the price and it affirmed a few other things I felt vs the Emira. The Aston much like my friends Corvettes and AMG GT etc, but unlike the Emira has very lovely seats, but you have to watch your head getting in, you're sitting low in a more cockpit feeling with poor visibility out front, and harshness over the bumps...none of these will come close to the Emira for daily comfort or a road trip. At the same time I honestly feel I'd have more fun driving the Emira with the fun manual box that feels so tactile and inviting. I'll likely regret these comments as soon as I'm stuck in standstill traffic on the highway in Toronto in my Emira!

 

[Lotustoronto]

Great review, and I agree 100% on everything as mentioned in my review of the same car you drove on Wednesday as the 2nd one in the car on it's Canadian arrival right down to thinking there might be something wrong with the KEF system . I struggled to articulate what you did extremely well with regard to the rev and power range being extremely usable and engaging for every day use on normal roads unlike some of the competition. Agree the test drive was also very useful to affirm the suspension setup as I was undecided up to that point. I didn't bother playing with many controls but I did twist some dial to see how it felt for a moment and didn't notice the wobble on whatever it was.

I just got a ride home from the hockey game with a friend in his new Aston Martin that costs close to 2-3X the price and it affirmed a few other things I felt vs the Emira. The Aston much like my friends Corvettes and AMG GT etc, but unlike the Emira has very lovely seats, but you have to watch your head getting in, you're sitting low in a more cockpit feeling with poor visibility out front, and harshness over the bumps...none of these will come close to the Emira for daily comfort or a road trip. At the same time I honestly feel I'd have more fun driving the Emira with the fun manual box that feels so tactile and inviting. I'll likely regret these comments as soon as I'm stuck in standstill traffic on the highway in Toronto in my Emira!

The Emira is a well thought out sports car. I don't think I could handle the Gardiner / DT traffic in a manual tho . Week-ends only for me. It feels/looks extremely special with the handling and power almost as good / in some ways better than top end 718 Porsche products. This is a very unique car, it deserves praise for what it is good at. It has some short comings. However in its price point, as a whole package, it is unique, rare and one of the most nimble and engaging cars I have driven. Not the fastest but there is no question it will be a future classic for sure.

 

[FrenchBred]

So far, it seems that most guys who drive the sports chassis find it quite satisfactory. Not hearing a lot about it being too firm, harsh or uncomfortable. As I mentioned previously I drove the touring and found it great for the road. Not too soft. Looks like you can’t go wrong either way. More similar than different on the road…which is what Lotus told me before my selection.

Just makes me wonder why Harry had such a problem with it. I usually pay attention to his reviews because he approaches cars from the perspective of an owner and living with it. Many journos seem like 20 minute hot dogs around the track. Fine if your driving a car for 20 minutes but I expect to drive mine a bit more and mostly on the road.

Just makes me wonder why Harry had such a problem with it. I usually pay attention to his reviews because he approaches cars from the perspective of an owner and living with it. Many journos seem like 20 minute hot dogs around the track. Fine if your driving a car for 20 minutes but I expect to drive mine a bit more and mostly on the road.

IIRC harrys issue was that sport suspension was tracking all over the road, rather than being overly firm..?

I'm planning on tour and dailying mine based on Harry's opinion.

 

[roundincircles]

So far, it seems that most guys who drive the sports chassis find it quite satisfactory. Not hearing a lot about it being too firm, harsh or uncomfortable. As I mentioned previously I drove the touring and found it great for the road. Not too soft. Looks like you can’t go wrong either way. More similar than different on the road…which is what Lotus told me before my selection.

Just makes me wonder why Harry had such a problem with it. I usually pay attention to his reviews because he approaches cars from the perspective of an owner and living with it. Many journos seem like 20 minute hot dogs around the track. Fine if your driving a car for 20 minutes but I expect to drive mine a bit more and mostly on the road.

Harry drove on British roads…….potholes a go go.

 

[Mistral]

Finally!! After a much anticipated wait I got behind the wheel of the Lotus Emira.

For reference I am 6'1 and 220 lbs. Not a small guy. Size 11.5 shoe (US Sizing)

Background of previous cars - 2020 C8 Corvette, 2020 718 Spyder, 2021 992 911 S Manual, 2019 VW Golf R DSG, 2018 Mini Cooper S manual, 2014 Jaguar XK, 2005 BMW 330i Manual, few other Trucks and SUV's etc.

For the price - IMO only the 718 4.0 manual cars compete with the current Emira V6 manual. So I am direct comparing between the two.

First impressions from the exterior, much like everyone else I thought it was as stunner. A bit smaller than I expected, but certainly beautiful. In its price range it is by far the best looking / most striking vehicle, not a bad angle. 10/10 on looks for the price. (there are better looking cars, but double or triple the cost)

Interior - Leather is of high quality, right up there with Porsche. Seats were comfortable and looked good. (better than the 718's sports seats) Fit me well, but I am also not a small guy. Stitching was flawless and over all interior trim of the Emira was very good in my opinion. The Alcantara was very nice and how I would spec my own. Steering wheel felt good / not too thick and didn't feel cheap IMO, no issue. I didn't play too much with the buttons on the wheel, but if there was a negative, perhaps that would be it. The air con controls was a negative for me. Felt cheap, I think Lotus could have done something better. The chrome plastic controlling temp and fan speed still wobbled a bit @emiraspain and looked like something that belonged in a 25K car. The screens in the car I thought were good not great, no visual problems. No lag in the infotainment system and very clean programming. I personally liked the minimalist design in the infotainment. Manual shifter was a high point for me. Looks smaller than in pictures, but felt great in the hand and had a very solid feel. Pedal placement for me was a non-issue. Yes, it is off centre, but I adjusted quickly and was well placed for heel and toe. Pedal box itself is tighter than a 718's, mostly due to the larger sills. Egress/ Ingress was no problem, perhaps a bit easier than the 718's if not the same. The cabin itself felt smaller/tighter than the C8 corvette and the 911, but not by much. Again very close to the 718. Over all impression of the interior is that it feels special, more so than the 718's and a higher quality feel to the C8. With all the leather, stitching, Alcantara, aluminium and that beautiful manual shifter, it was a good place to spend time. I did not feel cramped nor did it feel spacious.(The Emira is not an M2 competitor IMO) It felt like a proper purpose built sports car. Pedal box spacing could be a little better. KEF speakers were not good, FYI. I almost wonder if there was something wrong with this specific car audio. That's how unimpressive they were. Over all interior 8/10 against the competition. It has a premium feel with an added sense of occasion to it that the Porsche lacks. However, the Porsche gets the nod in over all quality... nothing wobbles in the Porsche (and Burmeister is better), BUT the Emira's interior looks better.

Driving Impressions - The most important part. I'll start with sport suspension. I drove on a mix of highway and some bendy roads, only 10 minutes so not a lot. Took the corners with some speed (definitely broke the speed limits everywhere) and let me say, WOW. The Emira stayed glued and felt inspiring. I did not think the sport suspension was too stiff. Comparable to a 718 GT4/Spyder suspension, but a little more supple. (on the less firm setting of the dampers) I will be going with sports suspension. Glad I got to drive it. 9/10. If you are daily driving the Emira, or have really bad roads to commute on all the time, go with touring. View out was good, no complaints with visibility, similar to any mid engine sports car. Engine sound/exhaust - muted a bit in touring, sounded good in sports mode. 7.5/10 for sound in its class. Steering felt very good and better than Porsche. Felt very connected and excellent turn in. Overall the Emira feels very nimble and was a pleasure to take high speed corners in. Engine - I can say it felt quick. Not extremly fast, but built up speed quickly and made the Lotus feel controllable at all times. Would I have wanted the extra 30 BHP and extra rev's to 7,200. Yes, and I think would make a difference as well. The Emira does not feel slow against the 718 4.0's. The bottom end of the rev range on the Emira V6 is more urgent than the Porsche, felt more alive. However it loses breath at the top, this is where the Porsche shines and sings a bit better than the Emira. The 718 4.0's between 5,500 - 7,800 rpm is something special, and the Emira's V6 can't match that. On track, the GT4 will win, the 718's 4.0's are superior in the top end. The problem after owning the Spyder, is the gearing and trying to keep the Spyder in that high REV range is difficult on the street.(manual version not PDK) Dare I say it - I prefer the power delivery and gearing of the Emira to the Porsche. This was a big deal for me and I spent most of the test drive on feeling for this. The Emira's V6 is more exploitable than the Porsche's outside of the track and in the real world. Now onto the manual box - very mechanical feeling and notchy. Clicked into gear in a satisfying way. I would not consider it slick and did not have slack to it. It needs to be deliberate, with a small amount more force than the Porsche GT box. The gates are spaced a bit tighter. I really did like the shift action, had an overall feeling of quality about it and substantial, Not something flimsy or cheap. (unlike the HVAC controls ) The more I got used to it, the more I liked it. Is it better than the Porsche GT4/Spyder manual for feel, probably not better. But it felt very good and the gearing being better means you get to use it more. Overall rating in its class 9/10 for driving dynamics. This was the hardest for me to rank, as previously the 718 Spyder was the best drivers car I have owned. I still can't say for certain if it is more engaging from a driving dynamics perspective until I own the Emira for at least 1,500 KM of seat time. However, on my short drive, which included some good speed corners, highways and bendy back roads, I was all smiles. The power delivery on the low end felt more urgent than the N/A Porsche's and the gear shift IMO felt very good, mechanical and notchy.

So in conclusion - The Lotus Emira is a special car. I appreciate the beauty of the lines and of the design. The driving dynamics are excellent for its class and gives a feeling of being connected to car and road. It did not feel like a GT car like the C8 /911 does, or a super car like a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lambo. It does not have the lavishness of a Aston Martin or the austerity of the Porsche's. It is not a track star like a GT3/GT4 or a Z06.

It is simply an absolute beautiful pure sports car that stirs emotion. I can not ask for anything more.

Overall 9/10 in its class.

Thanks for your detailed review, particularly the comparisons with the 718 and 992. Ultimately, you enjoyed it which is the most important thing. Hopefully, when we do eventually get a test drive in the UK, I'll think the same.

 

[TomE]

Finally!! After a much anticipated wait I got behind the wheel of the Lotus Emira.

For reference I am 6'1 and 220 lbs. Not a small guy. Size 11.5 shoe (US Sizing)

Background of previous cars - 2020 C8 Corvette, 2020 718 Spyder, 2021 992 911 S Manual, 2019 VW Golf R DSG, 2018 Mini Cooper S manual, 2014 Jaguar XK, 2005 BMW 330i Manual, few other Trucks and SUV's etc.

For the price - IMO only the 718 4.0 manual cars compete with the current Emira V6 manual. So I am direct comparing between the two.

First impressions from the exterior, much like everyone else I thought it was as stunner. A bit smaller than I expected, but certainly beautiful. In its price range it is by far the best looking / most striking vehicle, not a bad angle. 10/10 on looks for the price. (there are better looking cars, but double or triple the cost)

Interior - Leather is of high quality, right up there with Porsche. Seats were comfortable and looked good. (better than the 718's sports seats) Fit me well, but I am also not a small guy. Stitching was flawless and over all interior trim of the Emira was very good in my opinion. The Alcantara was very nice and how I would spec my own. Steering wheel felt good / not too thick and didn't feel cheap IMO, no issue. I didn't play too much with the buttons on the wheel, but if there was a negative, perhaps that would be it. The air con controls was a negative for me. Felt cheap, I think Lotus could have done something better. The chrome plastic controlling temp and fan speed still wobbled a bit @emiraspain and looked like something that belonged in a 25K car. The screens in the car I thought were good not great, no visual problems. No lag in the infotainment system and very clean programming. I personally liked the minimalist design in the infotainment. Manual shifter was a high point for me. Looks smaller than in pictures, but felt great in the hand and had a very solid feel. Pedal placement for me was a non-issue. Yes, it is off centre, but I adjusted quickly and was well placed for heel and toe. Pedal box itself is tighter than a 718's, mostly due to the larger sills. Egress/ Ingress was no problem, perhaps a bit easier than the 718's if not the same. The cabin itself felt smaller/tighter than the C8 corvette and the 911, but not by much. Again very close to the 718. Over all impression of the interior is that it feels special, more so than the 718's and a higher quality feel to the C8. With all the leather, stitching, Alcantara, aluminium and that beautiful manual shifter, it was a good place to spend time. I did not feel cramped nor did it feel spacious.(The Emira is not an M2 competitor IMO) It felt like a proper purpose built sports car. Pedal box spacing could be a little better. KEF speakers were not good, FYI. I almost wonder if there was something wrong with this specific car audio. That's how unimpressive they were. Over all interior 8/10 against the competition. It has a premium feel with an added sense of occasion to it that the Porsche lacks. However, the Porsche gets the nod in over all quality... nothing wobbles in the Porsche (and Burmeister is better), BUT the Emira's interior looks better.

Driving Impressions - The most important part. I'll start with sport suspension. I drove on a mix of highway and some bendy roads, only 10 minutes so not a lot. Took the corners with some speed (definitely broke the speed limits everywhere) and let me say, WOW. The Emira stayed glued and felt inspiring. I did not think the sport suspension was too stiff. Comparable to a 718 GT4/Spyder suspension, but a little more supple. (on the less firm setting of the dampers) I will be going with sports suspension. Glad I got to drive it. 9/10. If you are daily driving the Emira, or have really bad roads to commute on all the time, go with touring. View out was good, no complaints with visibility, similar to any mid engine sports car. Engine sound/exhaust - muted a bit in touring, sounded good in sports mode. 7.5/10 for sound in its class. Steering felt very good and better than Porsche. Felt very connected and excellent turn in. Overall the Emira feels very nimble and was a pleasure to take high speed corners in. Engine - I can say it felt quick. Not extremly fast, but built up speed quickly and made the Lotus feel controllable at all times. Would I have wanted the extra 30 BHP and extra rev's to 7,200. Yes, and I think would make a difference as well. The Emira does not feel slow against the 718 4.0's. The bottom end of the rev range on the Emira V6 is more urgent than the Porsche, felt more alive. However it loses breath at the top, this is where the Porsche shines and sings a bit better than the Emira. The 718 4.0's between 5,500 - 7,800 rpm is something special, and the Emira's V6 can't match that. On track, the GT4 will win, the 718's 4.0's are superior in the top end. The problem after owning the Spyder, is the gearing and trying to keep the Spyder in that high REV range is difficult on the street.(manual version not PDK) Dare I say it - I prefer the power delivery and gearing of the Emira to the Porsche. This was a big deal for me and I spent most of the test drive on feeling for this. The Emira's V6 is more exploitable than the Porsche's outside of the track and in the real world. Now onto the manual box - very mechanical feeling and notchy. Clicked into gear in a satisfying way. I would not consider it slick and did not have slack to it. It needs to be deliberate, with a small amount more force than the Porsche GT box. The gates are spaced a bit tighter. I really did like the shift action, had an overall feeling of quality about it and substantial, Not something flimsy or cheap. (unlike the HVAC controls ) The more I got used to it, the more I liked it. Is it better than the Porsche GT4/Spyder manual for feel, probably not better. But it felt very good and the gearing being better means you get to use it more. Overall rating in its class 9/10 for driving dynamics. This was the hardest for me to rank, as previously the 718 Spyder was the best drivers car I have owned. I still can't say for certain if it is more engaging from a driving dynamics perspective until I own the Emira for at least 1,500 KM of seat time. However, on my short drive, which included some good speed corners, highways and bendy back roads, I was all smiles. The power delivery on the low end felt more urgent than the N/A Porsche's and the gear shift IMO felt very good, mechanical and notchy.

So in conclusion - The Lotus Emira is a special car. I appreciate the beauty of the lines and of the design. The driving dynamics are excellent for its class and gives a feeling of being connected to car and road. It did not feel like a GT car like the C8 /911 does, or a super car like a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lambo. It does not have the lavishness of a Aston Martin or the austerity of the Porsche's. It is not a track star like a GT3/GT4 or a Z06.

It is simply an absolute beautiful pure sports car that stirs emotion. I can not ask for anything more.

Overall 9/10 in its class.

Thanks for the well-considered and perceptive write up. You address a number of questions people have about the driveability compared to other cars with a usefully detailed explanation. It's difficult to get a full impression on a short test drive on mostly urban roads but this is really helpful.

I think your conclusion helps with the question many are seeking to clarify and need to get their heads around. It's not the fastest, most powerful or most luxurious sportscar. It is a great drivers car that you can connect with and enjoy driving and being in. It's presented in a complete package with many boxes ticked as good or very good. For some people it will score highly on the things that matter most to them, and for others it won't. Like many fun cars, this is essentially an emotional purchase and the Emira appears to put a very big tick in that important box.

 

[Lotustoronto]

It is a car you need to drive for a bit to unlock its capabilities. Out of all the reviews from journalists, I think Chris Harris' was the most accurate. Jethro's was overly harsh, but he was not wrong, on track the GT4 is the better choice. I would take the Emira over a 718 GTS 4.0 easily IMO. The Porsche lacks the theatre and emotion of the Lotus and for driving on the road it just felt that bit better. What an engaging sports car! Amazing feat, @Leonard really needs to get behind the wheel of the Emira! My perfect two car garage would be the Emira and 718 Spyder, right now I can not choose one over the other and that is saying something!