Why The Lotus Evora is The Best Car No One Buys

I love the Evora. When it came out so did everyone else - it won several car of the year awards. So, why don't many people buy it?

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[Vonstroke]

The total lack of a decent marketing (strategy) really hurts them. By now it's even worse as they even killed their press fleet. Go figure.

[seattlejeeper]

Oooops, I did it again. I bought an Evora S 4 weeks ago, after owning a 2001 Esprit a few years back while in the USA. I couldn't be happier with this car. Now, I do currently live in the UAE where Lambos, Ferraris, Mclarens and Porsches are the rule but for some reason I am always drawn to doing things different. In my year living here, I have seen on the road 1 lotus, which is a shame. I considered the Cayman, the Stingray and even the MP 4-12C. But the Lotus just does things to me that the other cars cant, it is hard to explain. I am just back from my first real road trip in the car, about 1000 km over the weekend, up one of our best driving roads (Jebel Hafeet) then to Sohar Oman and back to Abu Dhabi. The drive was "spirited" but so very comfortable. I usually feel pretty beat up after a long drive in most cars, but this trip of 5+ hours non stop road time each way was somehow quite relaxing. The ride quality and interior comfort in the Evora are quite honestly amazingly good. I am loving my new Evora. This car is my daily driver as well, so it makes getting up in the morning for work just much much better. If anyone is even remotely curious about how good these cars can be, do yourself a favor and take a test drive... If you drive one, it will get into your soul. And JayEmm, thanks for all your vids, good stuff!

[andrewveitch]

I purchased my first lotus, a 21 Evora GT liquid yellow, I also own a 720S, a GT3, and a Ford GT500 carbon fiber track pack, and I absolutely love this lotus

[anthony_stevens]

I'd say the Evora is definitely just as good as any 911 or Cayman, it's one of the best sports cars money can buy, I wouldn't mind having one myself!

[rbarbetta]

I have a 2014 Evora S and I totally get what you are saying. I love the car and can forgive it's very minor issues simply because of special it is to drive and how rare it is. It's almost 2018 and the only issue I have had is with a window regulator.

[colinhardy]

I really think Lotus has taken great steps forward in quality control. My new Exige Sport 350 is leagues - and I do mean leagues - ahead of my old Exige V6s in terms of build quality. It's beautifully made. Absolutely nothing rattles..!

[PADABOUM]

I am an owner of a 400. I think lack of dealers have been a meaningful issue and JMG has clearly worked on this. I think the alternatives to that car for me would have been a Lambo but having a 2+2 for a lot less money was just perfect but i feel I am likely to be a market anomaly. The car is either too expensive for car lovers or the likely buyer does not mind paying the extra for a Lambo or a Ferrari. The price movement of the car seems to evidence that Lotus got similar feedbacks.

The 400 logical closest alternative is the 911 but almost nobody buys a 911 because it is a great looking sports car. Some people buy a 911 because it is status thing, some want something a bit different from a m3, some may even buy it because they want something more common than a Ferrari.

Even among lotus enthusiast, people underestimate how much of a step up the 400 is over the previous generation. They should have called it S2 like esprit used to be. The marketing of lotus is at best deficient most of the time. They got unlucky that the evora was launched as not being the successor to the esprit so despite now being more super car than the esprits have ever been, it has the wrong perception. Also Lotus does too many small edits that makes people wait for the next version. They nailed the 400 as a daily 2+2 drive but the attention on the 410 and 430 is a distraction. Lack of a critical number of identical models is also making the issue of spare parts bigger.

I think Geely will get it rights by using Volvo's network and ensuring a better working capital hence better service. The car is really good so more marketing and visibility will automatically generate sales. If they could push it close to 1000 in 3 years time, that would already be a massive economic success.

[Screamifyoumeanit]

Nice to take a drive around Halstead & Hedingham again... I quite fancy an Evora too!

[soolman]

I'll just say that I've learned quite a bit from your channel and am now seriously considering the Evora. Leaning more towards The 410 sport or GT430 but either I will own an Evora after I've had a chance to sample all 3 models. Thank you.

[adampetten]

380 000 have seen the Smoking Tires very glowing review of the Evora 400. Dude seriously wants one for himself.

[spainter]

You're absolutely right. I don't think I've ever seen one on the road, unfortunately!

[trevorsabiston]

There is one car in Canada (and it is an automatic), I have been waiting for a couple years for them to show up and no dealers have them. The main reason why there are none of the 400 here is because no one has any. There are a few new Evora SR 2015 cars still at dealers and I think people are waiting for the new cars to be available, and are not buying the old stock. Great video I am looking to test one when they do come to Canada.

[IMTHEBIGGESTCUNT]

I’ve owned my Audi TT mk2 2006! for two and a half years now. No problems with it since I got it. Everything works, nothing has failed.. apart from the clutch (manual) and the right rear light (common problem) the rest of the car is absolutely solid.

[yugnoswam]

The frustration I have for not owning one of these cars cannot be put into words. One day I will have one of these in the garage and it will be driven well, and hard. I just hope more people buy into Lotus cars to keep the brand going, and that Geely do not try and take the company down the cheap (read: built in china) route.

[KennethNeilson]

I get that Lotus does not have the marketing budget of the big guys, but a decent website with a configurator does not cost millions and it is an essential in this day and age. I'm not knocking the brand, I have been a long term admirer of Lotus and their survival in the business. I almost bought an Exige when they first launched but decided on a TVR at the time...so I clearly did not fear the reliability issues ;-) There's no escaping that their optimistic (read expensive) pricing is preventing those who are driving other brands from even considering a test drive, which would most likely result in a sale.

[LawrenceTimme]

Driven across Leeds in a 2004 carrera 's in grey. 0 people even looked at it. Was a passenger in an orange exige 's 260 cup just round small village and everyone was snapping their necks to look :D

[emgee]

Brilliant videos, Jay! Thank you! Id love to buy one of these, but the price of the clutch job is simply untenable. People who don’t have supercar pockets simply won’t have this kind of money for routine maintenance, unless you’re a Kuwaiti prince or a wealthy racing team! Which is sad, as I’d love one of these!

[iDayno]

Glad you kept persevering to make this video, very interesting discussion. I agree with your point that a lot of people don't take Lotus seriously and that they make little more than kit cars. In my opinion, the Evora is more special than a lot of today's sports cars and to a certain extent, you're paying the premium for the exclusivity in that they're produced in limited numbers...

[ImBarryScottCSS]

Because they are trying to sell handling to the Playstation generation, to whom all that matters is how much power goes up when you add stage 4 turbo. How many young people are there that you would count as 'drivers'? There are plenty that enjoy racing down a straight road, but on the B-Roads, enjoying driving for driving's sake and not for the cheap thrills of racing some VXR? Very very few in my experience.

Also happens to be a direct competitor to one of the best cars ever made by one of the most desirable brands, there is that.

[TxLoneStar]

Please keep reviewing these... you’re amazing bro!