Who has had a Test Drive , score from 1 to 10

[Steve24]

I’ve not had a test drive yet , but back in the day when I bought a new F355 the sentiment was , “ you have bought the engine the rest of the car comes free “ during many years of ownership I came to understand how true this was , the fit and finish was mostly very good , but didn’t age well , the focus was all on that fantastic 3.5 Ltr 5 valve flat plane high revving V8 , in fact screaming V8 with a later capristio fitted , the driving experience was the gated shifter and the shrilling V8 .
Is it so , that the engine and the shifter are the weakest elements of Emira ?
we all agree the Emira looks fantastic for the price , but I’m sure no one will disagree the F355 is sublime evolution at any price and one of the best looking sports cars ever created .
while I have always looked to new cars to be a better evolution of the older , this is not always so , I own a Porsche 987 3.4 RS60 manual and a 718 4.0 25 (basically a GTS), PDK , 13 years between them , the RS60 is the far better driving experience , lacking some mod cons ,and 70 bhp, but they matter not when screaming that 3.4 flat six through the sublime gearshift to 8k .
so what does this tell us? , look to the old for better driving experience, or pay new money for not such an engaging experience ?or in the case of lotus , new money for older tech , but not so engaging driving experience.
I am reserving my personal opinion until I have a test drive .

Agree 100%.

I just sold my F355 which I’d owned for 11 years - partly to make way for the Emira.
At no stage during that time did I wish the 355 was faster, except perhaps on the track (I tracked it four or five times) but it was still loads of fun on the track and for 99.9% of my driving the performance was more than adequate.

The Emira is faster than a 355, so I don’t expect to be disappointed. I expect It will be plenty fast enough for public roads if you’re not being a total clown or want to end up in jail.

I mean this as no criticism, because everyones view is equally valid, but if you’re coming from a tuner background and are used to cars with 500,600,700+hp that are crazy fast in a straight line (and obviously that is important to you) of course the Emira will seem lacking.
You only have to look at the spec sheet to work that out.
I‘ve driven a number of the modern Ferraris, including several that do the 0-100kmh in the low 3 second range, and they are amazing, wonderful cars.
But the performance is totally inaccessible on the street in my view. You put your foot down for a couple of seconds and you’re in “Please arrest me” territory. Personally I don’t see the fun in that.

The 355 (and hopefully, the Emira) occupy that sweet spot of useable performance and fun, and I expect to be blown away by the steering and overall handling of the Emira which is more important to me than straight line speed.

Comparing these kinds of cars to a Tesla is laughable in my view. Like comparing a Spitfire to an airliner.

Having said all that, I dont quite get why it wasnt released in 430hp spec, but my dealer has already suggested there may well be upgrades approved by the factory that can be fitted later if you really want to.

 

[Leonard]

Agree 100%.

I just sold my F355 which I’d owned for 11 years - partly to make way for the Emira.
At no stage during that time did I wish the 355 was faster, except perhaps on the track (I tracked it four or five times) but it was still loads of fun on the track and for 99.9% of my driving the performance was more than adequate.

The Emira is faster than a 355, so I don’t expect to be disappointed. I expect It will be plenty fast enough for public roads if you’re not being a total clown or want to end up in jail.

I mean this as no criticism, because everyones view is equally valid, but if you’re coming from a tuner background and are used to cars with 500,600,700+hp that are crazy fast in a straight line (and obviously that is important to you) of course the Emira will seem lacking.
You only have to look at the spec sheet to work that out.
I‘ve driven a number of the modern Ferraris, including several that do the 0-100kmh in the low 3 second range, and they are amazing, wonderful cars.
But the performance is totally inaccessible on the street in my view. You put your foot down for a couple of seconds and you’re in “Please arrest me” territory. Personally I don’t see the fun in that.

The 355 (and hopefully, the Emira) occupy that sweet spot of useable performance and fun, and I expect to be blown away by the steering and overall handling of the Emira which is more important to me than straight line speed.

Comparing these kinds of cars to a Tesla is laughable in my view. Like comparing a Spitfire to an airliner.

Having said all that, I dont quite get why it wasnt released in 430hp spec, but my dealer has already suggested there may well be upgrades approved by the factory that can be fitted later if you really want to.

If I'm disappointed after driving I'm pretty sure it will be down to the linearity of the torque and power curve.
I'm sure this can probably be 'fixed' with a map and a rev limit raise. But it seems a shame it doesn't come like this from factory. Plenty of cars have great driveability under 5000 rpm but then come alive in the last 2 or 3k as and when you are in the mood to play

 

[emiraspain]

For me, without an ever-ending list and without going into suspension settings and the flakes in the metallic paint.. here is how I would base my opinion. Not saying everyone else should use the same factors, but I do think people should think what their 10 is, irrelevant of price, and go down from there.

This for me would be my ten
1. A car with go kart like feel and steering, pure return on input, so exciting that you dont want to stop driving it, not even to let your partner pee...or not even to let your partner go with you - think caterham / atom / BAC mono
This needs to balance with ride quality, absorbing bumps, not like a rolls royce or an S class, but a solid 5 series for example.
= hence for me an 8 here... it rides well and comfy, decent combination.

2. Interior quality - come on, a 9 here is your lambo if you like that kind of thing, or your latest porsche 911 if you want a bit more down to earth, but it has to be high quality and a design thats not just thrown together with the centre screen stuck on the dash as an after thought. *remember, we are going for 10's not whats expected in this price bracket.
= maximum a 6... its way off a 911, its a sporty volvo from 3 4 years ago

3. Design - for me a ferrari roma is a 9 (and yes I detest...strong word, ferraris, but I appreciate the design, or the Aston Martin DB10 (the car the vantage should always have been!).
= 8... again, its NOT the best looking car out there, I would take a DB10, if it existed, in a heart beat, the roma makes it look like a toy car, BUT the Emira makes the Alpine look like a contorted roller coaster of a design, and makes the 718 look 8 years old... irony.

4. Sound - has to be a GT3 / Ferrari V12 / Audi V10 / Aston V12 ... there are many approximating 10 that mean the V6 has an impossible job to get there.
= 7...a V6 cant compare, but again, thats the point... 10 would be if it did.

5. Power - Yes you can have too much of a good thing, but I think many of us feel todays sport cars weighing 1500 kilos should have around 450 - 500. More is a waste on roads, but its like a gym at a hotel, you wont use it, but its nice to know its there. I could have used a cruder example.....
= 6.5 ... its not powerful enough for me to think, ohhh best take it easy...or oh, I can catch that car in front easy.. again, its not comparing to a GTS, its comparing to a gt3, whatever your 10 would be.

6. Gear change - for me, a shortened through MX5 box, for many of the hand made cars, westfield / caterham is a 9 and no porsche gets close in my mind, not even the gt3.
= 6 ... no where near porsche's and way off MX5s modified for sportier cars... remains to be seen if final cars improved over regular evora / exige. but its never going to be a 10/9/8

Hence, this is why I make it a 7.5 at best and I dont feel stingy at all.
If we start making excuses for our ratings, thinking, "but it only costs xxxx$, its a lotus not a ferrari, its only had 2 years development, its british, resources" and all the other excuses, then it's impossible, we can all just say 10 and be done with it.
A car reviewer doesnt rate a Daewoo (never spelt that before) with all these considerations.... they give it a 5/10 as its not got merc interiors, or ferrari power, or italian design.... Again, this is the Doug way and we should be consistent...or not.... just an idea

Thats my sunday morning logic..take it or.....have a coffee and bagel..

 

[Leonard]

For me, without an ever-ending list and without going into suspension settings and the flakes in the metallic paint.. here is how I would base my opinion. Not saying everyone else should use the same factors, but I do think people should think what their 10 is, irrelevant of price, and go down from there.

This for me would be my ten
1. A car with go kart like feel and steering, pure return on input, so exciting that you dont want to stop driving it, not even to let your partner pee...or not even to let your partner go with you - think caterham / atom / BAC mono
This needs to balance with ride quality, absorbing bumps, not like a rolls royce or an S class, but a solid 5 series for example.
= hence for me an 8 here... it rides well and comfy, decent combination.

2. Interior quality - come on, a 9 here is your lambo if you like that kind of thing, or your latest porsche 911 if you want a bit more down to earth, but it has to be high quality and a design thats not just thrown together with the centre screen stuck on the dash as an after thought. *remember, we are going for 10's not whats expected in this price bracket.
= maximum a 6... its way off a 911, its a sporty volvo from 3 4 years ago

3. Design - for me a ferrari roma is a 9 (and yes I detest...strong word, ferraris, but I appreciate the design, or the Aston Martin DB10 (the car the vantage should always have been!).
= 8... again, its NOT the best looking car out there, I would take a DB10, if it existed, in a heart beat, the roma makes it look like a toy car, BUT the Emira makes the Alpine look like a contorted roller coaster of a design, and makes the 718 look 8 years old... irony.

4. Sound - has to be a GT3 / Ferrari V12 / Audi V10 / Aston V12 ... there are many approximating 10 that mean the V6 has an impossible job to get there.
= 7...a V6 cant compare, but again, thats the point... 10 would be if it did.

5. Power - Yes you can have too much of a good thing, but I think many of us feel todays sport cars weighing 1500 kilos should have around 450 - 500. More is a waste on roads, but its like a gym at a hotel, you wont use it, but its nice to know its there. I could have used a cruder example.....
= 6.5 ... its not powerful enough for me to think, ohhh best take it easy...or oh, I can catch that car in front easy.. again, its not comparing to a GTS, its comparing to a gt3, whatever your 10 would be.

6. Gear change - for me, a shortened through MX5 box, for many of the hand made cars, westfield / caterham is a 9 and no porsche gets close in my mind, not even the gt3.
= 6 ... no where near porsche's and way off MX5s modified for sportier cars... remains to be seen if final cars improved over regular evora / exige. but its never going to be a 10/9/8

Hence, this is why I make it a 7.5 at best and I dont feel stingy at all.
If we start making excuses for our ratings, thinking, "but it only costs xxxx$, its a lotus not a ferrari, its only had 2 years development, its british, resources" and all the other excuses, then it's impossible, we can all just say 10 and be done with it.
A car reviewer doesnt rate a Daewoo (never spelt that before) with all these considerations.... they give it a 5/10 as its not got merc interiors, or ferrari power, or italian design.... Again, this is the Doug way and we should be consistent...or not.... just an idea

Thats my sunday morning logic..take it or.....have a coffee and bagel..

Makes sense to me!
And thats the first time I've said that about any of your posts!!!!!

 

[emiraspain]

Makes sense to me!
And thats the first time I've said that about any of your posts!!!!!

I just got you back over in the bar...... ! although I did it before you did, so it was like a new unwarranted attack.... not unlike other off topic things going on in the world, which I wont mention so as to not go off topic

 

[Magicman]

For me, without an ever-ending list and without going into suspension settings and the flakes in the metallic paint.. here is how I would base my opinion. Not saying everyone else should use the same factors, but I do think people should think what their 10 is, irrelevant of price, and go down from there.

This for me would be my ten
1. A car with go kart like feel and steering, pure return on input, so exciting that you dont want to stop driving it, not even to let your partner pee...or not even to let your partner go with you - think caterham / atom / BAC mono
This needs to balance with ride quality, absorbing bumps, not like a rolls royce or an S class, but a solid 5 series for example.
= hence for me an 8 here... it rides well and comfy, decent combination.

2. Interior quality - come on, a 9 here is your lambo if you like that kind of thing, or your latest porsche 911 if you want a bit more down to earth, but it has to be high quality and a design thats not just thrown together with the centre screen stuck on the dash as an after thought. *remember, we are going for 10's not whats expected in this price bracket.
= maximum a 6... its way off a 911, its a sporty volvo from 3 4 years ago

3. Design - for me a ferrari roma is a 9 (and yes I detest...strong word, ferraris, but I appreciate the design, or the Aston Martin DB10 (the car the vantage should always have been!).
= 8... again, its NOT the best looking car out there, I would take a DB10, if it existed, in a heart beat, the roma makes it look like a toy car, BUT the Emira makes the Alpine look like a contorted roller coaster of a design, and makes the 718 look 8 years old... irony.

4. Sound - has to be a GT3 / Ferrari V12 / Audi V10 / Aston V12 ... there are many approximating 10 that mean the V6 has an impossible job to get there.
= 7...a V6 cant compare, but again, thats the point... 10 would be if it did.

5. Power - Yes you can have too much of a good thing, but I think many of us feel todays sport cars weighing 1500 kilos should have around 450 - 500. More is a waste on roads, but its like a gym at a hotel, you wont use it, but its nice to know its there. I could have used a cruder example.....
= 6.5 ... its not powerful enough for me to think, ohhh best take it easy...or oh, I can catch that car in front easy.. again, its not comparing to a GTS, its comparing to a gt3, whatever your 10 would be.

6. Gear change - for me, a shortened through MX5 box, for many of the hand made cars, westfield / caterham is a 9 and no porsche gets close in my mind, not even the gt3.
= 6 ... no where near porsche's and way off MX5s modified for sportier cars... remains to be seen if final cars improved over regular evora / exige. but its never going to be a 10/9/8

Hence, this is why I make it a 7.5 at best and I dont feel stingy at all.
If we start making excuses for our ratings, thinking, "but it only costs xxxx$, its a lotus not a ferrari, its only had 2 years development, its british, resources" and all the other excuses, then it's impossible, we can all just say 10 and be done with it.
A car reviewer doesnt rate a Daewoo (never spelt that before) with all these considerations.... they give it a 5/10 as its not got merc interiors, or ferrari power, or italian design.... Again, this is the Doug way and we should be consistent...or not.... just an idea

Thats my sunday morning logic..take it or.....have a coffee and bagel..

Have you heard the v6 in the new 296 fezza


The videos I've heard of the noise from the outside sounds pretty sweet on the emira, I can only assume its very soundproofed inside.
I noticed from Instagram my dealer has a demo now, great way to find out eh

 

[Steve24]

Makes sense to me!
And thats the first time I've said that about any of your posts!!!!!

Hmmm. I’m not going to bag @emiraspin because as I said before everyone’s view is equally valid and it is well worth listening to them all.
And then making up your own mind...

But I can’t agree with the assertion that price doesn’t come into it. Of course it does, unless you’re a Big Time Charlie.

Here in Oz, the cheapest new Ferrari is $600k.
I’ve driven both the Roma and the Portofino M (I prefer the Portofino, FWIW). I spent some time with the dealer speccing a new Portofino M and wasn’t far away from going ahead with it. Something like an F8 or 296 is $800k plus.

The Emira is $200k here (less, for the non FE editions).
As good as the Ferraris are, there is no way that they are 3 or 4x the car the Emira is, and anyone who thinks $400-600k doesn’t matter is either dreaming or living in a different world to the one I inhabit.

Sure, the Ferraris are way faster (but not in a useable way in my view), and are probably “better” cars in some ways but what’s that worth?
I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some ways in which the Emira is a better car for many people, regardless of price.

 

[Leonard]

Hmmm. I’m not going to bag @emiraspin because as I said before everyone’s view is equally valid and it is well worth listening to them all.
And then making up your own mind...

But I can’t agree with the assertion that price doesn’t come into it. Of course it does, unless you’re a Big Time Charlie.

Here in Oz, the cheapest new Ferrari is $600k.
I’ve driven both the Roma and the Portofino M (I prefer the Portofino, FWIW). I spent some time with the dealer speccing a new Portofino M and wasn’t far away from going ahead with it. Something like an F8 or 296 is $800k plus.

The Emira is $200k here (less, for the non FE editions).
As good as the Ferraris are, there is no way that they are 3 or 4x the car the Emira is, and anyone who thinks $400-600k doesn’t matter is either dreaming or living in a different world to the one I inhabit.

Sure, the Ferraris are way faster (but not in a useable way in my view), and are probably “better” cars in some ways but what’s that worth?
I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some ways in which the Emira is a better car for many people, regardless of price.

Of course price is a factor, but you can't let that interfere with reviewing a car unless you are specifically bench marking it at that price point.
Otherwise my 1995 Corrado VR6 would be the only car I ever need. And/or my Yaris wouldn't be going anywhere as it's totally incomparable to anything at circa 30k

 

[digilotus]

Hmmm. I’m not going to bag @emiraspin because as I said before everyone’s view is equally valid and it is well worth listening to them all.
And then making up your own mind...

But I can’t agree with the assertion that price doesn’t come into it. Of course it does, unless you’re a Big Time Charlie.

Here in Oz, the cheapest new Ferrari is $600k.
I’ve driven both the Roma and the Portofino M (I prefer the Portofino, FWIW). I spent some time with the dealer speccing a new Portofino M and wasn’t far away from going ahead with it. Something like an F8 or 296 is $800k plus.

The Emira is $200k here (less, for the non FE editions).
As good as the Ferraris are, there is no way that they are 3 or 4x the car the Emira is, and anyone who thinks $400-600k doesn’t matter is either dreaming or living in a different world to the one I inhabit.

Sure, the Ferraris are way faster (but not in a useable way in my view), and are probably “better” cars in some ways but what’s that worth?
I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some ways in which the Emira is a better car for many people, regardless of price.

And I would add that, down under at least, the Emira service and maintainance costs about 1/5th that of a Ferrari and ~1/2 that of a 718 Porsche.

 

[spice]

I hope it’s not a case of paying for the car and getting the engine and gearbox free , UK dealers should hopefully have their demos during Nov , although I doubt the gearbox couldn’t be as notchy and horrendous as the one fitted to an Aston Vantage N420 I had the misfortune to have owned.

 

[Green]

6.75

As a bench Mark what would you rate the mustang after your test drive?

 

[Steve24]

Of course price is a factor, but you can't let that interfere with reviewing a car unless you are specifically bench marking it at that price point.
Otherwise my 1995 Corrado VR6 would be the only car I ever need. And/or my Yaris wouldn't be going anywhere as it's totally incomparable to anything at circa 30k

Why wouldn’t you benchmark it at the price point?

Isn‘t that what most potential buyers would do?

If I’m looking at spending re $200k on a new sports car, I’m comparing it to other new cars I could buy at that price.

I‘m not comparing it directly to an $800k car, which (you would hope) would obviously be better.

I‘m also not comparing it to a $20k car that I can modify to be very fast, or a glorified washing machine.

 

[Leonard]

Why wouldn’t you benchmark it at the price point?

Isn‘t that what most potential buyers would do?

If I’m looking at spending re $200k on a new sports car, I’m comparing it to other new cars I could buy at that price.

I‘m not comparing it directly to an $800k car, which (you would hope) would obviously be better.

I‘m also not comparing it to a $20k car that I can modify to be very fast, or a glorified washing machine.

Not really. But maybe that is just me? As soon as I saw the pre reveal of GR Yaris I had to have it. It didn't matter that it was 'only' 33k and a tin box Jap hatch. I knew it would give me everything I want out of a car. Same reason I initially put down my pre reveal Emira deposit.
Do you not think I will be mentally comparing handling, steering feel, interior quality, gearbox change etc with my Yaris when I test drive it?
If I turned up to the test drive in a 997 GT3 I'd be comparing it with that also.
All of a cars touch points add to the experience, as do the sounds and even the smells! I think that is what driving is all about.
At the end of the day though the Emira will be scored upon how it makes me feel when looked at as a total package, pros and cons and whether the Pros outweigh the Cons. IF its not clear cut and a 50/50 decision then of course price will be a consideration as I'm normally more comfortable spending £60k or less on a single car. Or having 2 or 3 cars all offering something different but still sub 100k

 

[hml_xy]

Can you capture this low rev gearbox sound? Trying to get an idea of what I’m in for.

I found my GoPro suction mount and am about to had towards a very famous region in the mid-west of Germany to celebrate the 2nd to last weekend of tourist driving. Not going to bash her around as I still have to keep it below 4000rpm. But I'll try to capture as much different noise of the car as I can

 

[Leonard]

I found my GoPro suction mount and am about to had towards a very famous region in the mid-west of Germany to celebrate the 2nd to last weekend of tourist driving. Not going to bash her around as I still have to keep it below 4000rpm. But I'll try to capture as much different noise of the car as I can

Wow amazing.
You are going to create quite the spectacle there I am sure!

 

[Steve24]

Not really. But maybe that is just me? As soon as I saw the pre reveal of GR Yaris I had to have it. It didn't matter that it was 'only' 33k and a tin box Jap hatch. I knew it would give me everything I want out of a car. Same reason I initially put down my pre reveal Emira deposit.
Do you not think I will be mentally comparing handling, steering feel, interior quality, gearbox change etc with my Yaris when I test drive it?
If I turned up to the test drive in a 997 GT3 I'd be comparing it with that also.
All of a cars touch points add to the experience, as do the sounds and even the smells! I think that is what driving is all about.
At the end of the day though the Emira will be scored upon how it makes me feel when looked at as a total package, pros and cons and whether the Pros outweigh the Cons. IF its not clear cut and a 50/50 decision then of course price will be a consideration as I'm normally. Ore comfortable spending £60k or less on a single car. Or having 2 or 3 cars all offering something different but still sub 100k

All of that is fair enough.
However, there is no way I would be benchmarking this car against a Yaris, or anything similar.
For example, I had a 2020 Golf R wagon which I sold around 6 months ago (Ironically for exactly what I paid for it new).
That was a great car, and by any objective measure all the car anyone could ever need.
But would I even consider putting it in the same sphere as an Emira or my 355? Hell no.
The Emira has something extra no “normal” car will ever have for me - desirability.
You can’t put a price on that.
I get that for some people the Yaris, or a Golf R, or a fast Audi or a modified Nissan or whatever has that desirability, but for me they don’t.

Great cars, sure, but not in the same conversation.

 

[Leonard]

All of that is fair enough.
However, there is no way I would be benchmarking this car against a Yaris, or anything similar.
For example, I had a 2020 Golf R wagon which I sold around 6 months ago (Ironically for exactly what I paid for it new).
That was a great car, and by any objective measure all the car anyone could ever need.
But would I even consider putting it in the same sphere as an Emira or my 355? Hell no.
The Emira has something extra no “normal” car will ever have for me - desirability.
You can’t put a price on that.
I get that for some people the Yaris, or a Golf R, or a fast Audi or a modified Nissan or whatever has that desirability, but for me they don’t.

Great cars, sure, but not in the same conversation.

Again all true. But you aren't going to buy the Emira purely on desirability are you?
If the Golf wagon sounded better and handled better would you still give the Emira a 9 out of 10 and the golf a 6?

 

[NicolasB]

As a bench Mark what would you rate the mustang after your test drive?

I ended up cancelling the test drive as I am working on buying a 2018 RWS R8, which I am waiting to test drive.

 

[New to Lotus]

Great choice.

 

[Lotus64]

Focusing on the sum of the parts, and how I felt after the test drive: I was all smiles and full of dopamine. As I've gotten older, I've lost excitement about cars in general and became a little jaded. The Emira has me feeling like a kid again. Speaks to the car enthusiast in me by looking cool and sounding good, yet speaks to the driver enthusiast in me by feeling like a go cart. It's something I can enjoy every time I encounter it and fully master as opposed to something with limits too lofty or dangerous to regularly access. It exceeds at its core mission. Price is taken into consideration.

9.75