Test drive report

[Beany]

Christ, a £25k 996 Turbo sure seems like a great way to singlehandedly support your local porsche indy.

[Jobbo]

With mileage discrepancy, being sold at what is traditionally more of a farm equipment auction

[Sundayjumper]

The mileage discrepancy seems to just be one MOT with no mileage recorded. All the others are consistent.

[Beany]

With mileage discrepancy, being sold at what is traditionally more of a farm equipment auction

Someone call Rev, I think we have a new 996-swap adventure for him

[mik]

Did you manage to book a slot for an Emira drive @Jobbo ?

[GG.]

Turbo cars are notorious for needing new turbos aren't they. Trying to remember whether that was 993 or 996 but probably both - issuing being that they're low to the ground and get immersed in water and other shit which weld the wastegates shut IIRC.

[Beany]

I mean, that, and >20 year old fairly specialised turbo engine - it's probably gonna want a little more care and attention than a Focus turbo diesel.

[Jobbo]

Did you manage to book a slot for an Emira drive @Jobbo ?

Birmingham Lotus hasn't come back to me yet but I've not got time to go and drive one at the moment so I'll chase them when I have.

[JonMad]

I remember when a decent 996 Turbo was £25k

[Swervin_Mervin]

The mileage discrepancy seems to just be one MOT with no mileage recorded. All the others are consistent.

I have a mileage discrepancy on the 330, thanks to an MOT tester typing 133,000 instead of 113,000 one year

[GG.]

The mileage discrepancy seems to just be one MOT with no mileage recorded. All the others are consistent.

I have a mileage discrepancy on the 330, thanks to an MOT tester typing 133,000 instead of 113,000 one year

I wonder if there is a way of rectifying such a discrepancy. Issue is likely evidencing what the correct mileage should be. In any event clearly it can't be higher than the following year...

[Sundayjumper]

I had this one time with an MOT - got home and realised they’d put in the wrong mileage. Phoned them straight away and they were able to correct it. It was far easier than I expected, I was braced for a series of “computer says no” conversations.

[Ascender]

Turbo cars are notorious for needing new turbos aren't they. Trying to remember whether that was 993 or 996 but probably both - issuing being that they're low to the ground and get immersed in water and other shit which weld the wastegates shut IIRC.

Just before I bought the M2 I came close to buying one from Peter Vardy Heritage, but in the 8 weeks or so I was talking to them about it, they were trying to resolve a faulty ECU and I gave up waiting in the end as I (obviously) couldn't drive it and they didn't seem too bothered about doing anything quickly. ECUs and turbos needing replacing are pretty common I think.

Edited... Just found my notes on them that I'd started to gather.

front radiators, brake discs, clutches, suspension and heat shields are all points to check other than regular servicing.
Things to look out for:
- 2nd gear pop out (manual only)- an expensive fix, known fault with 'some' gearboxes. It's not a widespread problem but add it to the test drive checklist
- Radiator leaks - Three of them, seen as a consumable as they are susceptible to stones/corrosion if the front bumper isn't cleaned out once in a while
- Manifold/turbo bolts etc.. No engine covers so they rust, if not replaced/protected its an expensive job to get the old ones out
- Rear spoiler rams leak/fail, cost of 1K+ to fix, kits available to stick spoiler in 'always up' position for those who want to skimp on paying to repair
- ECU failures are common and need replaced

All in all they are incredibly reliable cars, especially given their age & the level of performance they offer. A few other things:
- Tiptronics fetch lower prices than the manual equivalent
- X50 performance pack commands a premium and offers a very different personality (for the better imo)
- Black interior is the most desirable, so if you like tan or grey its a good bargaining point

Check turbos, rads, rear spoiler working and suspension. Plus over revs and if modified (not bad if done properly).

X50 is same 450bhp output same as Turbo S but without ceramic brake discs and S badge.

[Swervin_Mervin]

The mileage discrepancy seems to just be one MOT with no mileage recorded. All the others are consistent.

I have a mileage discrepancy on the 330, thanks to an MOT tester typing 133,000 instead of 113,000 one year

I wonder if there is a way of rectifying such a discrepancy. Issue is likely evidencing what the correct mileage should be. In any event clearly it can't be higher than the following year...

There is. If I'd spotted it at the time it would have helped as the MOT station could have rectified it. But I didn't and so it's now very difficult to change as you need the evidence. And who has any of that? I need to organise our filing cabinet soon though and so I might have a hunt for some servicing bills around that time to see what I have. I don't expect any success though and tbh it's probably not going to make much difference - these cars are now sought after by someone that's really looking for one and it's obvious from the mileage chart that it was doing 10k a year at the time apart from this blip. I don't lose any sleep over put it that way.

[Jobbo]

Did you manage to book a slot for an Emira drive @Jobbo ?

Birmingham Lotus hasn't come back to me yet but I've not got time to go and drive one at the moment so I'll chase them when I have.

@mik By coincidence they emailed around the time I posted. Test driving it on Thursday.

Just been reading the Evo mid-engined issue and tempted by an S2 Elise again of course.

[Jobbo]

Today was the Emira test drive. At Lotus Birmingham, which is actually the Rybrook Rolls Royce/McLaren dealer in Hockley Heath. A nice civilised place to get to and well within my stamping ground so I know the roads around it well.

I must thank those of you who suggested driving it because I really loved it. I didn't really have any preconceptions, other than having really loved my Elise 20+ years ago. So I expected it to feel quite Lotus-y. The actual car I drove was this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 0203167925


I'd seen a few on the road and obviously watched Harry Metcalfe's videos so was a bit blase about it but in the flesh it is rather a lovely thing. Still looks like a Lotus, but the perceived quality inside and out is massively improved over my S2 Elise. Simplicity and light weight is all very well but I'm not a 20-something any more and the Emira feels like it's grown up with the early Elise owners. The interior with alcantara headlining and leather on pretty much every surface - even the door pockets at the bottom of the doors where a Porsche has scratchy plastic - makes it feel quite special. And that is my overriding feeling about it - it's special, in a way that a nearly new one for £70k feels like a bargain; I know it's a lot of money but with inflation the 2001 RRP of my Elise would be £49000 in 2024. I did spec a new Emira up as I'd want it - there are few paid options on the First Edition - and it came to about £91k with new car tax and so on.

To drive, it's not actually that similar to an Elise but does feel more of an event than a 911. Despite 400bhp and a supercharger, it needs to be revved to feel like it's fast. The brakes felt odd at first; the pedal is delicate and I expected more effort like a non-servo Elise but it quickly bites and slows you down more than you expect. Something to get used to. The gearchange is quite positive, not snick-snick like an MX5 but easy to match the revs when changing down and I'd definitely have the manual. It would suit a DCT though.

The steering is again not that much like an Elise; the wheel doesn't writhe in your hands, but I realised as I dodged multiple potholes that it's still got that telepathic Lotus thing: the car just went where I wanted it, exactly. Yet it cruised down a short stretch of motorway very happily with barely a finger on the wheel.

It's a much more rounded car than the Elise, and I think that's a good thing; if I bought a late Elise I would not be driving it to the office but this I would. It doesn't feel as toy-like; that's part of why I would like an MX5 because it's basically like getting a car to play with. So what makes me think I'd rather have an Emira? Two things:

First, while driving it on roads I know, it felt great on the Redditch-Henley road through a short compression dip which I have driven many times in many cars. My old blue MX5 used to be unsettled through it; this told you what was happening and dealt with it. I was only doing 50mph so it wasn't that it needs to be driven at the limit to feed back - I think the A110 would have been just as unfussed but not really told you about it.

Second, back inside the showroom, I walked round a blue Emira and just looked at the details and wanted one. If I got an MX5 I'd always wonder, "what if?" and potentially be unsatisfied over time and sell it. It's too ubiquitous and something you probably will feel like you're getting 100% out of. The Emira feels properly special with plenty to uncover about its character over time.

So the dealer is on the look out for a nearly new V6 manual in my preferred spec (Nimbus Grey with Touring suspension like HarryM's car, alcantara interior) at the right price. Closest thing on Auto Trader is this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 3077301340 - I'd rather not have black wheels nor the black roof (Upper Black Pack) but I quite like them in the photos. And it's £20k less than a brand new one. I don't think prices are going up, so I shall bide my time slightly.


One other observation: I can see why 911s always win ECOTY. I compared the 992 GTS I test drove and it was brilliant - faster, more capable and surprisingly easy to simply get in and drive. But it wasn't as special. Head would buy the 992, heart the Emira.

Next test drive is the VW ID Buzz this Saturday

[Ascender]

That colour is properly stunning. It still reminds me of the 458 which is no bad thing. Really interesting to hear your impressions, so looks like we have a winner then?

That's a lot of car for the money and sounds like a pretty good buy with the initial depreciation hit already being taken.

[Jobbo]

I think we have a winner, despite the Emira forums doing their very best to make me think it's a clown car which everything falls off

[Mito Man]

I thought they felt pretty solid when I had a poke around one a while ago. Emmanuel mit V6 is the correct choice.

[mik]

Excellent news. Hope you manage to find one in your spec.

The drive felt very Evora-like to me, but the Emira is far prettier. Particularly side by side.