The great big "all the customer test drives" thread

[VL3X]

Thanks for the write up! If you had to chose one thing besides its looks, what was your favorite thing about the car???

That's tough, but I want to say the feel just sitting in it. Yes, I've been obsessing over this car for a year and a half, but it honestly just felt right to me. I felt comfortable and home. Everything seemed to be where I needed it. Mirrors and road view felt perfect. I was comfortable right away.

Other than that I would say the sound from the outside! The Emira just sounds amazing. I stayed at the event for another hour afte rny test drive just talking to the other guys there and watching/listening to the car take off down the road and come back... Hearing their impressions... The exhaust note is just amazing. I can only imagine what it'll be like with a 3rd cat delete, but honestly it doesn't even need it.

 

[Green]

This thread is proof you need to test drive the car and not follow the reviews. Two completely different takes on the car. You really cannot discount either review unless you drive the car yourself. I’m still excited to drive November 3rd. Thanks for the reviews but I plan on keeping a open mind until I drive.

 

[NicolasB]

Great writeup. Honest feedback from 1 experienced, unbiased driver is worth 100 youtube fanboy videos. I’m curious if anyone’s had a chance to drive Emira and Evora GT back-to-back? Maybe in the next couple of weeks. On the Evora, the steering feel was so magical it could make me forget the car’s faults.

Thank you. I was really hoping to test drive an Evora (edited the typo!) while I was there, but the owner didn't have his with him. Though, I'm guessing it wouldn't be all too different with the same engine and transmission. I really am not a huge fan of my wife tesla, other than it costs $8 to give it a full charge, versus $100 at the gas pump for her previous car. However, the instant torque that it gives you any speed really makes it fun to hit the pedal and push you into the seat. I guess the power of the Emira is just so smooth and that it would be great for the track, but I drive on the street and may never see the track at all. I want it to feel exciting when I press my foot down all the way. That certainly doesn't mean that I need 600 or 700 horsepower; I've driven cars with much less that are fun to drive. A GT3 is a dream car for me, but in order to get the manual transmission the prices are getting closer to the $200,000 range (used), and that's more than I am going to spend on a car that only sees a few thousand miles per year.

 

[VL3X]

So million dollar question, you were pretty annoyed before understandably.

Are you still gonna get it?

Hahaha, yeah.. You know I'm not going anywhere! Honestly, I don't mind my November delivery being pushed to March or April because I don't need it during the winter months. However, I'm going to be extremely upset if it gets delayed again even further and I miss out again on another track season and many other great opportunities to drive and enjoy this dream car I've waited so long for.

 

[SmokeGlider]

Ok, here it is (long, but hopefully useful for readers):

- I have been waiting for this test drive (and seeing the car for first time) for a while now, though not as long as others. I am 41, been into cars since I was 10 and still am a total "car guy". I went to college, but then decided to pursue my passion. I was on the Bimmerworld racing team for a bit, building race cars and working the pits at races, then went to UTI (automotive tech school) to keep moving my career forward. While there I got a job at a Porsche independent shop and worked on anything from an engine rebuild on a 356, to upgrading turbos on a 996, etc. I already had a very good working knowledge of mechanics and having already changed engines and rebuilt them, etc. growing up, so this was not too hard for me. After school was completed, I was chosen for the Porsche technician training program (12 chosen nationwide per year) and completed that. I then worked at the world's largest Porsche dealer in Florida and was one of the highest-earning techs at the time and was working on and driving amazing cars (this was closer to 2008). I have driven 911 Turbo S, 997 GT3, and every other model going back to the 356 (scary slow in traffic). Eventually I moved back home to Upstate NY and bought my father's small construction company and that is my everyday activity.

- My car ownership history includes: V6 Ford Probe GT I custom turbo'd and was fastest in the world for a stint, custom Nissan 240SX with skyline engine swap, 95 E36 M3 with custom turbo kit (~500hp), 96 E36 328i with every mod done to suspension and engine, '94 Integra stock, 2003 20th AE GTI with upgraded exhaust and tune, Audi RS5 with tune and exhaust, 2017 Audi RS7 with tune (~670hp). There are others in there, most were manual transmission and were fun, fast cars that put a smile on my face. The last 3 years I have been building a house and didn't have time or space for a fun car, but now it's done and I have my 3rd garage stall awaiting a toy.

- So, test drive yesterday. Lotus of Western NY is basically a hobby dealer that is owned by a guy who owns the Nissan dealer next door, but has a rich history with Lotus and racing cars and bikes. He's in his late 60's or early 70's and is a heck of a nice guy. The place is very tiny, filled with memorabilia from Andretti, James Bond, etc. I got to drive the Yellow Euro Spec Emira with sports suspension and Goodyears fitted. I took probably a 10-15 minute drive that was part expressway, part neighborhoods, part 45mph zone through business district. Here are my thoughts after sleeping on it.

- Car sounds good, looks great and is a huge jump from the previous cars (which I have no experience with other than sitting in them yesterday). The seat was fine, bolstering fit me well and I had it all the way down. My head was near the ceiling, possible I could fit a helmet, not positive. Head was halfway above the top of the headrest (6'3") and I didn't love that. The pedals are way too close. I had sneakers on and my clutch foot kept catching my braking foot. I ended up driving with my clutch foot half off the pedal, which is tricky because they are small pedals. Driving shoes would pretty much be needed for me (size 13 sneaker). The shifter was odd to get used to, and I have driven tons of manual cars. I mis-shifted 3 times, which is 3x more than I think I have in my life. When you switch from 4th to 5th, you have to be sure you don't go past the middle before then pushing to the right and then forward. You have to be VERY deliberate or you will go right into 3rd. The side to side action doesn't occur unless you are right in the middle. That took some getting used to (along with not hitting the brake by accident with my other foot).

- Revving out felt like it took an eternity to get to redline, and then it cut out quickly and surprised me. It did want to keep revving, but 6,800 isn't high enough. The power doesn't feel fast to me. I guess it is smooth, but doesn't feel torquey. I drove my wife's Tesla Model Y 4 hours to get there yesterday, and hers is the dual motor, NON-performance. The Tesla feels much quicker, rated at 0-60 in 4.8 from factory. I don't like her Tesla, but it's way more fun to hit the pedal in hers than the Emira. I was driving in Sport mode by the way. I didn't care for the digital tach, have to keep your eye on it as opposed to a needle that you can see sweeping out of the corner of your eye.

- While cruising the highway, exhaust noise is present, switch to Tour mode and it's nearly silent. Car was plenty loud and sounded nice. It felt like it was N/A and maybe 325hp to me, very, very surprising. The steering was good, didn't blow my mind, just felt like it should. The sport suspension was decent over bumpy roads, but I could tell Touring would have been the correct choice for my needs. I'm not going to the track, just driving on weekends for a short road trips with the wife or just cruising back roads alone. No need for that extra bumpiness, it doesn't gain you way better handling.

- The parking sensors were going off in traffic while pulling up to stop lights and I think the dealer was letting the Lotus USA rep Brian know that. Was very odd. The steering wheel was just fine, a non-issue in size and shape. The hood seal was noticeable, perhaps not the final version, but not a big deal. The trunk had nice space, and a battery tender plug was coming out from the battery storage area.

- I was excited beforehand to try the radio and the infotainment, since I'm very much into high-quality audio. I never even turned it on, never once touched the screen at all. I was most interested in the drive, and after getting back, I was feeling kind of deflated and couldn't believe that I was let-down the way I was. It should have been everything I wanted, yet it only looked really good, but the performance and overall fit of me into the cockpit didn't really mesh. I wasn't having a big smile, I felt like I had to lie a little when other guys asked me how it was when I got back. I am not a good liar, but I couldn't genuinely say that I really loved it like I hoped to.

- There was a kid there bringing a friend for a test drive, and had a new M4, which I have had my eyes on for a while, and not had a chance to drive or sit in. He let me sit in it, has the optional carbon bucket seats, and it felt amazing (inflatable bolsters). If it had been a manual I would have bugged him for a test drive but suffice to say, I drove to the BMW dealer across town and spoke to them about ordering one. For every option it would be around $90k and could be here in about 4-5 months since they have 2 already on their list. They apologized it would be a long wait...lol.

I did sleep on this to be sure I felt the same, but it just didn't ignite my fire and make me feel what good cars usually do. I wished I could have driven it more on better roads, and the dealer told me when he gets the demo I can come borrow it for an overnight, which was terribly generous. I haven't mentioned to him anything about my order, but I think after this more than a year, binge-watching adventure on the forums of literally reading every single post, checking 20x per day, I think I am going to move on to something different. A lightly used V10 R8 for a bit more money, or maybe a brand new M4 for less money. I have to see what I feel like doing, but I think someone at this dealer will be moving from no FE to getting one. Or someone looking for Magma with blackpack and black wheels with tan interior somewhere might get theirs sooner? It makes me sad to post this, and hate to sway anyone to cancel or anything like that, but definitely drive it before buying. I ALMOST didn't make the 8+ hour round trip to drive it, but thank god I did because assuming it was everything I wanted would have lead to much greater disappointment next summer or winter or whenever it would have arrived.

- Feel free to ask questions, or PM them to me. Again, I am not trying to give the car a bad name or sway people for no reason, but these are my honest feelings about it and thought I had to share after coming this far. Sorry for needing so many words to say it!


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I appreciate the honest review. Your comments about the power delivery mirror the one concern I have with the car. I used to have a Tesla model Y so can appreciate the comparison. I’ve driven the Jag F-Type which was an SC 6 with a manual making about 380 HP. It was fast but not quick. Power delivery was underwhelming. I’m hoping the Emira is not similar. I’m also hoping to get a test drive in a couple of weeks so this is timely. Thanks!

 

[scoates]

Love reading these reviews, much more helpful than the professional magazine reviews!

I think the car will still be good for me. The main concerns I've seen is power, cabin size and pedal spacing. I think the pedals are slightly better aligned in RHD from what I've heard which will be nice, the power doesn't really bother me much as I find my A90 Supra is more than quick enough for me and the roads I drive with 330hp/500nm so comparable power and 0-60 but with more sound and engagement is exactly what I'm after!

The only worry is headroom and I think it will be tight, but I briefly sat in a pre-prod one at Goodwood and I think it will be fine.

Can't wait to finally drive one myself hopefully soon, and look forward to more forum member reviews!

 

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

Thank you. I was really hoping to test drive anymore while I was there, but the owner didn't have his with him. Though, I'm guessing it wouldn't be all too different with the same engine and transmission. I really am not a huge fan of my wife tesla, other than it costs $8 to give it a full charge, versus $100 at the gas pump for her previous car. However, the instant torque that it gives you any speed really makes it fun to hit the pedal and push you into the seat. I guess the power of the Emira is just so smooth and that it would be great for the track, but I drive on the street and may never see the track at all. I want it to feel exciting when I press my foot down all the way. That certainly doesn't mean that I need 600 or 700 horsepower; I've driven cars with much less that are fun to drive. A GT3 is a dream car for me, but in order to get the manual transmission the prices are getting closer to the $200,000 range (used), and that's more than I am going to spend on a car that only sees a few thousand miles per year.

Great write up,mate.

You're on the money with my concerns too.
I grew up with dad having Lotus,then I had my Elise and I found the gear shift a bugger,this was my concern again for the Emira,annoyed the hell out of previously,delays shifting compared to a Porker let's say.

I've been obsessed with it also,the looks and the red interior for me look stunning,the noise seems great from.videos but I need to experience this too.

I will have to be wowed or I can't justify getting the FE.

Definitely need that test drive,hopefully I will be satisfied,otherwise I'm getting that GT4

 

[VL3X]

This thread is proof you need to test drive the car and not follow the reviews. Two completely different takes on the car. You really cannot discount either review unless you drive the car yourself. I’m still excited to drive November 3rd. Thanks for the reviews but I plan on keeping a open mind until I drive.

Yup, and everything @NicolasB said is valid. I loved sitting in, hearing, and seeing the Emira, but like I said, the test drive route was terrible. It's also always awkward test driving a new manual transmission car with a stranger sitting next to you and a line of people waiting to also drive it. Then you're taken down a shit road and over speed bumps in a residential area and right back. I didn't get up to proper speed, I didn't get on the freeway, and I barely got to rev it out. I hope I get to do a proper test drive before taking delivery of mine.

I mentioned last year how I was somewhat let down by my Evora GT test drive and how my GTI felt faster. And yes, I'm used to the low end big torque curves that turbo engines provide and my GTI is tuned (basic stage 1 flash with 310HP/347TQ) and weighs close to the same or even less than both Evora and Emira. I understand the power delivery is more linear and deceptive in a supercharged V6, but the daily driving fun factor isn't 3-4x greater to match the price difference between the GTI and the GT/Emira. I've tracked my GTI many times and it's also a blast. FWD and DSG trans so much different experience than a manual trans, RWD, mid supercharged engine set up. However, the Lotus wins on looks, sound, and exotic exclusivity. Hopefully reliability isn't a major issue...

Will I find the Emira's value at roughly 4x the cost of my GTI? We'll see... again, I really wish it debuted with 430-450HP.

 

[TomAce]

I can partly understand the issues which have been mentioned. For me it’s still the gearbox which is probably the weakest part of the package.

Especially at high revs I twice did not manage to shift from 4th to 5th gear. Obviously the weak spot. No problems though from 3rd to 4th, there you can do 0,2s shifts and the supercharger keeps on pulling directly. Not to compare to a manual shift turbo engine, which needs time for the boost build-up.

And the engine needs a tune, then it‘ll be perfect for me. But it all depends on what you are used to tbh.

Testdrive of Cayman R was also a letdown for me in the days. Gearing was waaay too long and the 3,4L engine did not have punch in the middle nor did the engine start to deliver in higher rpm.

I wanted to like it but except for ride and handling I was disappointed at that time. That was cured by the 3,8L engine of the GT4.

I know the potential of the Emira and with a tune it will perform in the mountains, shorter gearing and punch from low revs in regards to the Cayman GT4 should be beneficial. That’s at least my plan how I want to use this car.

 

[VL3X]

My biggest issue, and it's always been this, is that I come from a tuner background. I've always had JDM and German tuner cars. You can buy them for $10-50k, drop $2-10k into them and they'll outperform an exotic that costs 4x as much.

That's a hard pill for me to swallow. Why spend $100k+ on something like a Porsche when there are Supras and Zs for half the price that are now making the same (if not more) power from the factory. PLUS parts are cheaper and there is a massive aftermarket.

The Emira is awesome, but I just wish it had more power and was as exciting to drive it as it is to look at. Same can be said for the Porsche GT4. Cool car, but a bit underwhelming to drive on the street and doesn't turn any heads (except other enthusiasts).

End of the day (or life) I just want a fun car that is engaging and excites me. Bonus points if it's rare/exotic.

 

[Lotus64]

This thread is proof you need to test drive the car and not follow the reviews. Two completely different takes on the car. You really cannot discount either review unless you drive the car yourself. I’m still excited to drive November 3rd. Thanks for the reviews but I plan on keeping a open mind until I drive.

Agreed, gotta drive the Emira and make your own decision. However, I wouldn't exactly say this thread contains different takes on the car. I haven't really observed differing opinions on the car as much as different assessments on how well the Emira fit each driver's main priorities, whether it be feedback, speed, ergonomics, style, value...

And most likely, the negative or positive feelings ahead of the test drive will be amplified afterwards rather than change. It's human nature. I went into my test drive expecting unmatched driving dynamics and feedback, and my bias was certainly confirmed!

 

[eriegz]

My biggest issue, and it's always been this, is that I come from a tuner background. I've always had JDM and German tuner cars. You can buy them for $10-50k, drop $2-10k into them and they'll outperform an exotic that costs 4x as much.

That's a hard pill for me to swallow. Why spend $100k+ on something like a Porsche when there are Supras and Zs for half the price that are now making the same (if not more) power from the factory. PLUS parts are cheaper and there is a massive aftermarket.

The Emira is awesome, but I just wish it had more power and was as exciting to drive it as it is to look at. Same can be said for the Porsche GT4. Cool car, but a bit underwhelming to drive on the street and doesn't turn any heads (except other enthusiasts).

End of the day (or life) I just want a fun car that is engaging and excites me. Bonus points if it's rare/exotic.

Yeah that's totally fair (replying to your other post too). It's funny, I think these shortages and delays have caused a lot of people on this forum to re-examine their priorities and their values in life! I myself have even flip-flopped between buying a sports car or upgrading to a bigger home (especially back in Jan–Feb when interest rates were so low).

In your case, maybe you're starting to realize that JDM / tuner cars are where your passion has always truly been.

All that being said, though, for people who are still in the market for an exciting, moderately-priced sports car, I think there's no other choice.

 

[NicolasB]

If it had 475hp, slightly more space for my feet, and a shifter I liked, I would stick around for sure. Everyone likes different things. Some people are happy with 200hp.

 

[TomE]

This thread is proof you need to test drive the car and not follow the reviews. Two completely different takes on the car. You really cannot discount either review unless you drive the car yourself. I’m still excited to drive November 3rd. Thanks for the reviews but I plan on keeping a open mind until I drive.

Agreed, gotta drive the Emira and make your own decision. However, I wouldn't exactly say this thread contains different takes on the car. I haven't really observed differing opinions on the car as much as different assessments on how well the Emira fit each driver's main priorities, whether it be feedback, speed, ergonomics, style, value...

And most likely, the negative or positive feelings ahead of the test drive will be amplified afterwards rather than change. It's human nature. I went into my test drive expecting unmatched driving dynamics and feedback, and my bias was certainly confirmed!

Completely agree and that's why we're all so keen to test drive. And it's not just about how different people review the same car, it's about how different people assess how one car fits their personal requirements. So while the Emira is a great sportscar, it won't tick all the boxes for everyone in the same way.

If you like low end torque or more power, is that a big enough factor to put you off the car? If you love the looks, how much else will you overlook? Lotus used to be known for uncompromising drivers cars - funny to read people saying the Emira is like a go kart, because if you really want that experience then try an Exige! But the Emira is trying to be more of a fully-rounded package. The key question is, does it do most things "well enough" while maintaining the core Lotus driving DNA, or have the improvements in daily driving attributes (comfort, tech, cup holders...) compromised the "for the drivers" part?

I don't daily drive, so for me some of the possible mismatches of the Emira against my criteria are many of the things Lotus has added to give it wider appeal. Do I need a premium audio system? Probably not, I rarely use the system in my Evora. Do I need fancy displays and sat nav and phone integration? It's useful but not essential. So for me one of the comparisons is Emira versus later model Evora and my main criteria is how it drives.

 

[TomE]

I think the car will still be good for me. The main concerns I've seen is power, cabin size and pedal spacing. I think the pedals are slightly better aligned in RHD from what I've heard which will be nice, the power doesn't really bother me much as I find my A90 Supra is more than quick enough for me and the roads I drive with 330hp/500nm so comparable power and 0-60 but with more sound and engagement is exactly what I'm after!

Here are my previous pedal spacing pics to highlight the LHD and RHD differences.

The RHD cars have no discernible offset and the brake pedal is centered on the centre line of the wheel and seat. The LHD cars do have a noticeable offset and the brake pedal is more towards the centre of the car, maybe by an inch. It's noticeable but (at least to me) didn't look like a big issue.

RHD:

LHD:

 

[Marv]

Short Emira startup clip with switch to sport mode from my test drive last Friday. Biggest surprise for me was the great and loud sound especially from outside. Still enough to hear inside and good for a longer drive on tour mode.

 

[Green]

Short Emira startup clip with switch to sport mode from my test drive last Friday. Biggest surprise for me was the great and loud sound especially from outside. Still enough to hear inside and good for a longer drive on tour mode.

Dammmm that’s one sexy car!

 

[CoryC]

Disappointing to read that it felt so under powered. Do you think the pedal placement / gear change is something that you "grow" into with owning and driving the car? Glad you got to give it a test drive, the R8 is a fine machine and gets underrated in the world of sports cars for some reason. Enjoy!

I can say I am also 6'2 1/2 and size 13 as well and did not find these issues... may be a shape difference, but pedals felt perfect to me. Also, felt VERY fast to me... faster actually than I expected, acceleration wise. Have I driven faster manual cars? Yes... but not by very much, unless you're talking about big V8 torque monsters that can't turn to save their life. This isn't that. I wish I had more time in the car to get more situational feels, but overall, this is so unique to anything else available today.

 

[CoryC]

This thread is proof you need to test drive the car and not follow the reviews. Two completely different takes on the car. You really cannot discount either review unless you drive the car yourself. I’m still excited to drive November 3rd. Thanks for the reviews but I plan on keeping a open mind until I drive.

This. Exactly this. After my drive yesterday I was left surprised, and I wasn't expecting to be. The feel, and sound and overall experience from inside the car during the drive just felt "special"... more than it should have from a car in this category imho. If you don't feel that when you drive it, it's not the car for you. I hope more and more people feel what I did when I drove it. Now the waiting game continues...

 

[JKP]

After driving it, the way I'm thinking about the whole ownership experience is changed. Special things (in all forms) come with compromises. That is in part, what makes them special. If they fixed all the shortcomings, it would cost 2-3x as much and be displaying a prancing horse logo, but to be honest, that would make it less special as well. For the price, it does a lot of things very right. I might not be able to take the new M3 from stoplight to stoplight, but I can guarantee you his girlfriend in the passenger seat will wish she was in my EMIRA. The conversations I'll have with gear heads at the gas station every time I fill up that no-one in a 911 is having (because they aren't special) will make up for slightly offset peddles. I've decided what I really want is "Special", because for the 1% of the time on the street I might actually use more car, it wont make up for the 99% of the time I'll be in the car that makes me feel like I'm driving something special. Life can be so mundane to begin with, why not appreciate something special when the opportunity presents?