Lotus Evora | Used Car Buying Guide
Porsche Cayman or Lotus Evora?
We’ve tackled the Cayman in this series and got excited about prices beginning below £20,000 for the very first Gen two cars of 2009. However, you’ll need another £10,000 to get into an early 2009/Ten Evora, albeit it will have half the mileage of a £20,000 Cayman.
About £30k is a hefty sum, but your faith will be rewarded with a 0-62mph sprint time of less than Five.5sec, track-tuned treating and steering, and a magic-carpet rail. You’ll also net a bulletproof Toyota V6 with low running costs and two more seats than the Cayman.
In the eight years since the very first Evora went on sale, no serious reliability issues have raised their head. The engines are still doing a shift, as is the Eaton supercharger on S models. The liberate gearbox cables that blighted some early cars have been tweaked, and the floppy door treats have been rectified.
The interiors on well used early examples may be looking a little tired and the front anti-roll bar bushes may be embarking to knock, but that’s it.
The Evora was launched in two thousand nine with a mid-mounted Toyota Three.5-litre V6 producing 276bhp and 258lb ft and driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Its three-section composite assets (with lightly replaceable plastic bumpers) houses a Two+Two cabin (albeit there are some Evoras with two seats and an extended parcel shelf) and a boot large enough for a set of golf clubs.
But you won’t want to waste time on the links when you’ve an Evora to play with. Double-wishbone suspension, Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers, brake parts by AP Racing and standard-fit Pirelli P Zeros (18in items at the front, 19s at the rear) make sure of that.
The very first cars got the Launch Pack, comprising Tech (sat-nav, parking aids, cruise control), Sport (cross-drilled discs, a deeper spoiler and uprated harass) and Premium (extra leather, heated seats, reversing camera). All the goodies became available singly, too. Another option was a close-ratio Sport gearbox.
The following year, Lotus sprang the supercharged Evora S, wielding 345bhp and 295lb ft for a 0-60mph sprint time of Four.6sec. The Sport Pack and Sport gearbox were standard.
The Toyota-derived six-speed IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) automatic transmission arrived at the same time. Albeit it exacts slight penalties on spectacle and efficiency, it is more reliable than the trouble-prone manual, with its slack cables. Lotus fitted tighter ones and then the 2012-model-year refresh brought low-friction gear selection cables and a low-inertia flywheel.
The cabin gained the Premium Pack as standard, improved door locks, better sound deadening and a fresh infotainment system. Standard Evoras also gained the S’s thicker rear anti-roll bar, stiffer wishbone bushes and a more compelling harass note. It’s all enough to make you think twice about that Cayman.
JAMIE MATTHEWS, BELL AND COLVILL
“The Evora is for someone looking for a spectacle car that’s a little bit different. Buyers are enthusiasts who are shrewd and knowledgeable. Some may be looking at a Cayman, too, but the Evora out-rides and out-handles it while being that bit more practical. The Lotus is much rarer, too.
“When looking at a used one, check the clutch for any slip and a strong pedal, and listen for a louder-thanusual chattering sound at idle. A fresh clutch can cost you £3000 but they can last up to 40,000 miles. “My pick? A 2011-model-year S for around £35,000.”
Chain-driven Toyota V6 is reliable (ditto the Eaton blower on the S) but have the ECU quizzed for any record of over-revving. Check that it has been serviced every year or nine thousand miles and that harass mounts are sound (they were a warranty issue on early cars).
On early cars, gearchange cables can spread, become noisy and make switches difficult. Adjustment or replacement requires interior trim removal. The clutch can fail as early as 25,000 miles. Check that the IPS gearbox switches sleekly.
The Evora should steer, brake and rail in true Lotus style. Check for signs of track manhandle. Worn tyre edges could indicate crash history. A knocking at the front is worn anti-roll bar bushes.
Early cars had issues so look for a crimson dot on the condenser, which indicates it was substituted under warranty. Don’t expect the air-con to deep-throat very cold and ensure the pipes aren’t draining into the cabin.
Composite assets is rust free but check that the panel gaps are straight. Door treats could give trouble but should have been repaired. If parking aids are fitted, ensure they work.
Early cars were criticised for poor interior quality but this later improved. Check for worn driver’s seat side bolsters, door speakers, lower fascia and fragile leather facings on sills.
The standard harass is reasonably titillating and Lotus’s optional sports system adds extra tingle. For thicker thrills, however, check out a quality aftermarket alternative. Enthusiasts tend to gravitate towards 2bular for its rortier, highquality valved or non-valved systems from £818. Its de-cat pipe is £170.
For an early 2009-2010 VVT-i (including some Launch Edition cars) with total history and less than 30k miles.
Mix of 2011-2013 VVT-i cars, including a main dealer’s 2013/13 car with 15k miles for £34,950; also, a two thousand eleven S with 18k for £35,999.
More VVT-i cars from two thousand twelve onwards, plus a sprinkling of S cars, including a 2013/63 S IPS with 56k miles for £39,995, a 2013/13 S with 6k miles for £41,990 and a 2014/14 S with 24k miles for £42,950.
In Photos: The best car interiors of two thousand seventeen exposed (Motoring Research)
The best car interiors of two thousand seventeen exposed