[gonzo]

So much respect for his channel. No music. No screaming. No goofy faces. Just drive and talk like an adult.

Still the 6 for myself but the 4 does sound doable.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by gonzo

So much respect for his channel. No music. No screaming. No goofy faces. Just drive and talk like an adult.

Still the 6 for myself but the 4 does sound doable.

Haha, just finished that vid. Personally, I'd go for a later version of the 4, that's were the performance will be at. Ppl are waaay too hung up on sound, this one is alright, and ofc, ppl are waay too hung up on the tranny. I'd go for performance all the time, it's supposed to be a sportscar, right?

[gonzo]

^
3 pedals are what I'm after in this segment and sound is near the top of wants also.
A second here or there doesn't mean squat to me. Having the choice from Lotus 'could' make them the only ones doing it. I applaud it.

Get what you like!
I wouldn't call personal preference being "hung up" on anything.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by gonzo

^
3 pedals are what I'm after in this segment and sound is near the top of wants also.
A second here or there doesn't mean squat to me. Having the choice from Lotus 'could' make them the only ones doing it. I applaud it.

Get what you like!
I wouldn't call personal preference being "hung up" on anything.

You're right, maybe my language was 'too strong' but to some ppl having 3 pedals and/or sound is/are the only factor(s) and I think that's just silly. Yup, to each their own.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Haha, just finished that vid. Personally, I'd go for a later version of the 4, that's were the performance will be at. Ppl are waaay too hung up on sound, this one is alright, and ofc, ppl are waay too hung up on the tranny. I'd go for performance all the time, it's supposed to be a sportscar, right?

Ehh - if you are capable of extracting 10/10ths then sure performance is most important. But most people just want a fun cool car to drive that taps into their senses. On public roads, that last bit of power or shift speed becomes meaningless when there is already too much on tap to explore.

When you get to this level of performance, it is splitting hairs for many and once you cross a certain point everything is “fast enough”. At least that’s how I view it.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Ehh - if you are capable of extracting 10/10ths then sure performance is most important. But most people just want a fun cool car to drive that taps into their senses. On public roads, that last bit of power or shift speed becomes meaningless when there is already too much on tap to explore.

When you get to this level of performance, it is splitting hairs for many and once you cross a certain point everything is “fast enough”. At least that’s how I view it.

For sure and fair enough. I suppose it depends on the car, if it's a MX-5, personally, I'd definitely get the MT, but for this one, I'd wait for the I4+DCT.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Ehh - if you are capable of extracting 10/10ths then sure performance is most important. But most people just want a fun cool car to drive that taps into their senses. On public roads, that last bit of power or shift speed becomes meaningless when there is already too much on tap to explore.

When you get to this level of performance, it is splitting hairs for many and once you cross a certain point everything is “fast enough”. At least that’s how I view it.

Yep, if the car is being raced competitively, then yeah, give me a DCT and the most power the chassis can handle. Otherwise, in my mostly street driven performance car, I want connection with the car and something that I can push hard, but doesn't achieve such high limits that if it were to break loose, I'm a goner. I want a car that I can explore the limits without it trying to kill me. My ~3,000lb 987.2 Cayman 6MT with 265hp is that car for me. Low 5 second 0-60s, mid 13s in the 1/4 mile, requires you chase the redline to achieve max acceleration, and can be hammered with little risk of the ass coming around. It's a freaking fun an hell car. My other car is a Stage 2 2016 M235 6MT LSD slick top that I've owned since new. I love that car, but even though it's way faster above 60mph, I'm no longer impressed by it and it doesn't come close to delivering the connection and feel of the Cayman.

The Lotus Emira is one hell of a car and I'd absolutely want the SC'd V6 6MT for the sound, connection, and reliability. Those AMG turbo 4s are beasts, but are laggy as hell and the sound.......

I think when you get older, you become less focused on the numbers.

[Alfisti]

To me the 997 hits my sweetspot given the lack of twisties here. Entering a freeway it still has good shove in the back and sounds fantastic right up to red line. If it does turn twisty it's more capable than me.

In the end I can't go legit tossable traditional sports car ala miata or boxster because I have the four of us in the 911 about 70% of the time I use it. This weekend we all set out at 7am sunday morning, packed the frunk with snacks and water, hit the freeway for 25 mins then some twisties, stopped for breakfast at a nice cafe then went on a hike and repeat in reverse. Can't do that with 4 people in a 2 seater. On the way back we had a clean entrance to the freeway, i went WOT in 3rd and my goodness the kiddos loved it.

[Arcades]

My issue with Lotus is more simple.

Dealership network is nonexistent in LA. There used to be one in suburbs of LA (valley area) but they closed a little before COVID. That one was the closest and most convenient. The other is all the way out in Van Nuys. OC has one Lotus dealership. That is it.

That is not even close to being enough.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by Arcades

My issue with Lotus is more simple.

Dealership network is nonexistent in LA. There used to be one in suburbs of LA (valley area) but they closed a little before COVID. That one was the closest and most convenient. The other is all the way out in Van Nuys. OC has one Lotus dealership. That is it.

That is not even close to being enough.

Yeah, it's too damn bad that Lotus is the one making this car. This is what the 2nd gen NSX should have been. Simple, pure, and a Cayman competitor.

[nicholasn]

Originally Posted by tranquility

For sure and fair enough. I suppose it depends on the car, if it's a MX-5, personally, I'd definitely get the MT, but for this one, I'd wait for the I4+DCT.

After putting a few hundred miles on a CLA45 AMG which shares the same engine and transmission, I would recommend going with the V6/6MT. The only exception would be if it was going to be a track only car. The engine is absolutely nuts and fitting for a sports car, but the DCT has too many gears for normal street driving and generally doesn't match the engine very well. Unless Lotus changed the gear ratios substantially, the upper gears are toweringly tall and you end up bouncing around between 5th and 6th and 7th and 8th constantly even when just driving moderately down the interstate. 5th and 6th are too noisy for regular cruising but you have absolutely no power at all in 7th and 8th.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by nicholasn

After putting a few hundred miles on a CLA45 AMG which shares the same engine and transmission, I would recommend going with the V6/6MT. The only exception would be if it was going to be a track only car. The engine is absolutely nuts and fitting for a sports car, but the DCT has too many gears for normal street driving and generally doesn't match the engine very well. Unless Lotus changed the gear ratios substantially, the upper gears are toweringly tall and you end up bouncing around between 5th and 6th and 7th and 8th constantly even when just driving moderately down the interstate. 5th and 6th are too noisy for regular cruising but you have absolutely no power at all in 7th and 8th.

Ya, I'm scratching my head as it has 8 gears? How many do they need? I don't think Harry's video made a big deal outta the tranny though either way.

[HNSKP]

Originally Posted by Arcades

My issue with Lotus is more simple.

Dealership network is nonexistent in LA. There used to be one in suburbs of LA (valley area) but they closed a little before COVID. That one was the closest and most convenient. The other is all the way out in Van Nuys. OC has one Lotus dealership. That is it.

That is not even close to being enough.

Yes it’s a concern for me as well. Lotus of West Covina was only 2 miles from me and it would’ve been perfect if they were still around. Most Lotus owners just live with the small problems and take it to the dealer to get them all fixed at once. Luckily for the S2 Evora (400/GT) there weren’t any major issues that made it undriveable. I’m hoping that carries over to the Emira.

On the other hand, there are some highly regarded Lotus indies in SoCal including A1 in San Gabriel and of course Inokinetic in Murrieta.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by HNSKP

Yes it’s a concern for me as well. Lotus of West Covina was only 2 miles from me and it would’ve been perfect if they were still around. Most Lotus owners just live with the small problems and take it to the dealer to get them all fixed at once. Luckily for the S2 Evora (400/GT) there weren’t any major issues that made it undriveable. I’m hoping that carries over to the Emira.

On the other hand, there are some highly regarded Lotus indies in SoCal including A1 in San Gabriel and of course Inokinetic in Murrieta.

Yeah losing the West Covina location is the reason why I no longer would consider Lotus. It is just way too damn far.