Mctaff
Emira Fiend
just drove the new Vantage (auto) and Emira back to back. I know I'm compraing appples and pears, but the Aston is a 2018 plater @ 85k
Initial feeling
Aston: wow, lush, smothered in cow; odd button placement, but lots of buttons nonetheless. great seats, lots of control. can't see half the dash once I've got the wheel in the right place. really weird square wheel (didn't notice again once driving). Visibility a bit limited due to high waist of car. Carplay setup quickly.
Emira: low, good finish, but could have been better at this price point. nasty plastic buttons on steering wheel just make me want to get back out. not many buttons. pedals offset to the left/ in the wrong place and close together. seats are ok, controls hard to access due to positioning next to the door. can't see the rev counter at all when the steering is in the right place for me. Great front visibility. hard time getting carplay setup to test the stereo
Stereo:
As per the Kef thread, the Kef is clearer an has more seperation and definition than my Porsche Bose, but bass is weaker and volume more limited and soundstage less expansive. Aston premium stereo better all round.
Route:
Aston took me on some motorway which worried me, but that was to get my quickly onto some great b-roads. Lotus route was appalling, I didn't really get to try out the capability of the car.
Seats
Aston were great, comfortable, supportive whilst throwing around, but could take a long drive without problem
Emira: seats were ok and felt similarly supportive yet comfortable, but my back didn't like them much though after less than 30 minutes in the car.
Grunt
Aston: wow this thing has got power and puts it down without any trouble
Emira: its got reasonable power, but could do with more urgency. Wasn't sure about the whiny supercharger.
Driving
Aston: planted, solid, good feedback, goes like a maniac wherever you point it and sounds amazing, great pops now and again on the downshift. I hate flappy paddles and I loved the flappy paddles!
Emira: light and deft with good feedback but wasn't sure I liked the experience much! Felt like I was in a toy (I'm used to heavier cars). I enjoyed the manual as I haven't driven one for a while, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I didn't like the pedal position and got my foot stuck under the brake whilst changing gear - I put this down to not having driven one for ages, but the pedals must be close. I think I forgot to change modes, as I found I had to focus more than normal just to drive it. Didn't like the sound much.
Ambience
Aston just felt right. Emira didn't in a way I can't put my finger on. I left the emira feeling ever so slightly sick... perhaps the whiny surpercharger, as I'm noise sensitive.
Overall
I want the Aston. I'm really not sure about the Emira.
Edit: forgot one point - Aston, no glovebox. go Lotus!
Yellow stripe anyone??!
Initial feeling
Aston: wow, lush, smothered in cow; odd button placement, but lots of buttons nonetheless. great seats, lots of control. can't see half the dash once I've got the wheel in the right place. really weird square wheel (didn't notice again once driving). Visibility a bit limited due to high waist of car. Carplay setup quickly.
Emira: low, good finish, but could have been better at this price point. nasty plastic buttons on steering wheel just make me want to get back out. not many buttons. pedals offset to the left/ in the wrong place and close together. seats are ok, controls hard to access due to positioning next to the door. can't see the rev counter at all when the steering is in the right place for me. Great front visibility. hard time getting carplay setup to test the stereo
Stereo:
As per the Kef thread, the Kef is clearer an has more seperation and definition than my Porsche Bose, but bass is weaker and volume more limited and soundstage less expansive. Aston premium stereo better all round.
Route:
Aston took me on some motorway which worried me, but that was to get my quickly onto some great b-roads. Lotus route was appalling, I didn't really get to try out the capability of the car.
Seats
Aston were great, comfortable, supportive whilst throwing around, but could take a long drive without problem
Emira: seats were ok and felt similarly supportive yet comfortable, but my back didn't like them much though after less than 30 minutes in the car.
Grunt
Aston: wow this thing has got power and puts it down without any trouble
Emira: its got reasonable power, but could do with more urgency. Wasn't sure about the whiny supercharger.
Driving
Aston: planted, solid, good feedback, goes like a maniac wherever you point it and sounds amazing, great pops now and again on the downshift. I hate flappy paddles and I loved the flappy paddles!
Emira: light and deft with good feedback but wasn't sure I liked the experience much! Felt like I was in a toy (I'm used to heavier cars). I enjoyed the manual as I haven't driven one for a while, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I didn't like the pedal position and got my foot stuck under the brake whilst changing gear - I put this down to not having driven one for ages, but the pedals must be close. I think I forgot to change modes, as I found I had to focus more than normal just to drive it. Didn't like the sound much.
Ambience
Aston just felt right. Emira didn't in a way I can't put my finger on. I left the emira feeling ever so slightly sick... perhaps the whiny surpercharger, as I'm noise sensitive.
Overall
I want the Aston. I'm really not sure about the Emira.
Edit: forgot one point - Aston, no glovebox. go Lotus!
Yellow stripe anyone??!
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