My friend has a red C8 with top of the line interior in red. It is wow!
4C vs Lotus Emira? Any lingering questions?
In about 10 days I'm going to FINALLY have an opportunity to test drive the Emira at a new dealership in Wilmington, NC. I've missed a couple other optys due to conflicts and I put my deposit down over 18 moths ago! I will be very curious to see how it compares to my 2015 4C and my 2008 Elise.
So obviously I will use this opty to create one or two videos for my YouTube channel, but I'd also like to use it to answer any questions that maybe haven't been answered yet - or not to everyone's full satisfaction. To add to this, the Dealer Managers are all meeting with Lotus in California this week and should have the latest and best information on production schedules, etc.
So I know by now there have been plenty of Emira reviews, etc., but I was wondering if there were still any lingering questions that I should try to answer while I have this opty. The test car will be a Nimbus Gray V6 First Edition and I'll supposedly have it for 20-30 minutes.
So, any lingering questions out there?
Are any other 4C owners considering a Lotus Emira? Do you have a deposit down?
Thanks in advance, Peter
So obviously I will use this opty to create one or two videos for my YouTube channel, but I'd also like to use it to answer any questions that maybe haven't been answered yet - or not to everyone's full satisfaction. To add to this, the Dealer Managers are all meeting with Lotus in California this week and should have the latest and best information on production schedules, etc.
So I know by now there have been plenty of Emira reviews, etc., but I was wondering if there were still any lingering questions that I should try to answer while I have this opty. The test car will be a Nimbus Gray V6 First Edition and I'll supposedly have it for 20-30 minutes.
So, any lingering questions out there?
Are any other 4C owners considering a Lotus Emira? Do you have a deposit down?
Thanks in advance, Peter
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I didn't realize the IPS Auto was the V6 option. I'm also not overly impressed with the sound of the V6
I see your point of view on reliability, but who buys a Lotus because it's a reliable vehicle? I think there's a chance that the I4 might sound and perform better, and the DCT will be an improvement over the V6 manual or auto transmissions.
Glad you liked my latest video and thanks for the feedback! Yeah, I can definitely understand where you're coming from vis-a-vis the Emira.I finally watched the latest video. Great video!
After seeing the price increases and reading some of the posts on the Emira forum, I don't see the value in it.
Hearing your friend's comments along with the history of the cars that they've owned really added perspective to the observations.
I can honestly say that at this point there's no way I'd ever consider the Emira. I think (or know) I'd rather have a a 4C, or a C8 or 718 and save money while adding features like a convertible top.
The Emira is a cool $70k sportscar. Not worth $110 IMO.
For those of you following the Lotus Emira, they announced new colors on Thursday, so I put together this video. In other news, I'm renting a fully loaded Corvette C8 this afternoon on a trip to visit my parents and can't wait to see what it's like.
By "fully loaded" is it a Z51? Hopefully it's a Z51, or (if not) a car with mag ride so you can get a better feeling of how the car handles. The base car drives great, but the suspension is too soft with additional body roll for my taste. Also, if non-Z51 you might not have the performance exhaust which makes a difference in sound while adding an undetectable 5hp. The drive modes make a big difference in the powertrain response and feel.For those of you following the Lotus Emira, they announced new colors on Thursday, so I put together this video. In other news, I'm renting a fully loaded Corvette C8 this afternoon on a trip to visit my parents and can't wait to see what it's like.
Thanks for the tips. It doesn't have Z51, but it does have Mag Ride. It has MBRP exhaust "MBRP C8 Corvette Straight Pipes C8 Corvette MBRP Cat Back Exhaust - Stingray. Look no further for one of the loudest exhaust systems on the market for the C8 Corvette Stingray. "By "fully loaded" is it a Z51? Hopefully it's a Z51, or (if not) a car with mag ride so you can get a better feeling of how the car handles. The base car drives great, but the suspension is too soft with additional body roll for my taste. Also, if non-Z51 you might not have the performance exhaust which makes a difference in sound while adding an undetectable 5hp. The drive modes make a big difference in the powertrain response and feel.
So having rented the C8 for the weekend, that MBRP exhaust is LOUD! Here's the first of several videos on the C8 - it's a test drive w/my Dad. Future videos will contain a review, compare it to the 4C, Elise and Emira, etc.Thanks for the tips. It doesn't have Z51, but it does have Mag Ride. It has MBRP exhaust "MBRP C8 Corvette Straight Pipes C8 Corvette MBRP Cat Back Exhaust - Stingray. Look no further for one of the loudest exhaust systems on the market for the C8 Corvette Stingray. "
I have seen a few owner reviews of the Emira and indeed there are lots of teething problems. i was surprised that some of them tend to be the same issues that Lotus has always had on previous models. You would think by now that things like a good shifting manual trans wouldn't be that hard. I also saw that Lotus is having second thoughts about the i4. It was designed for a front drive car and evidently is having serious problems with over heating....to the point some have grenaded engines. The Toyots 6 sounds like the one i would go for. I agree that any new car will have teething problems so best to wait a couple of years when those issues have mostly been worked out. The cost will usually go down once the newness/novelty wears off and dealers no longer tack on extra surchages and markups....AND the next great thing in a car comes along.The plan was and always has been to aim for a depreciated one in 2025.
I have zero desire to pay above sticker for anything or deal with teething issues that all manufacturers have with new vehicles, let alone a smaller niche one.
Does the motor from the A45 suffer from overheating in certain conditions? They might have been advised to look at the 4C cooling system. I’ve not had any problem even when tracking in over 40 deg C heat. Were they production or development cars?I have seen a few owner reviews of the Emira and indeed there are lots of teething problems. i was surprised that some of them tend to be the same issues that Lotus has always had on previous models. You would think by now that things like a good shifting manual trans wouldn't be that hard. I also saw that Lotus is having second thoughts about the i4. It was designed for a front drive car and evidently is having serious problems with over heating....to the point some have grenaded engines. The Toyots 6 sounds like the one i would go for. I agree that any new car will have teething problems so best to wait a couple of years when those issues have mostly been worked out. The cost will usually go down once the newness/novelty wears off and dealers no longer tack on extra surchages and markups....AND the next great thing in a car comes along.
You packed a lot of things that I haven't heard elsewhere into one post, so I wonder if you can share your sources. Re: the manual on the Emira, when I sat in one last year, I noted it shifted like 'butter' in a good sense. When I test drove it last month, this was confirmed. Nothing wrong with it from my perspective. "Lotus having second thoughts about the I4" "grenaded engines" would just be curious where this is coming from. Thanks in advance, PeterI have seen a few owner reviews of the Emira and indeed there are lots of teething problems. i was surprised that some of them tend to be the same issues that Lotus has always had on previous models. You would think by now that things like a good shifting manual trans wouldn't be that hard. I also saw that Lotus is having second thoughts about the i4. It was designed for a front drive car and evidently is having serious problems with over heating....to the point some have grenaded engines. The Toyots 6 sounds like the one i would go for. I agree that any new car will have teething problems so best to wait a couple of years when those issues have mostly been worked out. The cost will usually go down once the newness/novelty wears off and dealers no longer tack on extra surchages and markups....AND the next great thing in a car comes along.
My original plan for 2025 was based on the belief that UK, Europe, China, etc. deliveries would help sort out issues before they ever hit North American shores. Looks like I was overly optimistic based on some Emira forum posts.I have seen a few owner reviews of the Emira and indeed there are lots of teething problems. i was surprised that some of them tend to be the same issues that Lotus has always had on previous models. You would think by now that things like a good shifting manual trans wouldn't be that hard. I also saw that Lotus is having second thoughts about the i4. It was designed for a front drive car and evidently is having serious problems with over heating....to the point some have grenaded engines. The Toyots 6 sounds like the one i would go for. I agree that any new car will have teething problems so best to wait a couple of years when those issues have mostly been worked out. The cost will usually go down once the newness/novelty wears off and dealers no longer tack on extra surchages and markups....AND the next great thing in a car comes along.
That MBRP exhaust drones like crazy! I don't know why people put exhausts like that in cars that already have decent factory systems that DON'T drone horribly.So having rented the C8 for the weekend, that MBRP exhaust is LOUD! Here's the first of several videos on the C8 - it's a test drive w/my Dad. Future videos will contain a review, compare it to the 4C, Elise and Emira, etc.
I'm interested to see your review. I noticed the car was in tour when you filmed the PDR video, which limits torque and shifts less aggressively than sport or track mode. It also looks like it was non mag ride and non Z51, so a great riding car but the worst handling (but still very good) C8 available.
The website tip was great! I'll be using that to discover new roads to drive on the weekends.
Glad you found the tip helpful, love those websites! As I mentioned in an earlier reply, it did have mag ride. Also, the PDR video was during my entire test drive and the drive included Tour, Sport and Track settings. I think I know what you mean by "shifts less aggressively in Tour mode," but in Track mode I was manually shifting. I only wish that I had more and safer roads to drive it on.That MBRP exhaust drones like crazy! I don't know why people put exhausts like that in cars that already have decent factory systems that DON'T drone horribly.
I'm interested to see your review. I noticed the car was in tour when you filmed the PDR video, which limits torque and shifts less aggressively than sport or track mode. It also looks like it was non mag ride and non Z51, so a great riding car but the worst handling (but still very good) C8 available.
The website tip was great! I'll be using that to discover new roads to drive on the weekends.
Granted most of the Emira forum posters are newbs talkin out of their asses. As an 18yr Lotus owner, I firmly believe there is no way in hell the Emira will be any less of a gem than the Evora of which I have had 3. I had my Elise for 9yrs. But, I too, am frustrated with the multiple delays etc. I was willing tolet the FE's go and wait for the real FE (Final Edition V6). Thus a prime reason the timing is perfect for my 4C purchase. It will be at least 2025 before they get to a gen 2 Emira now.
On a track, I have yet to drive a better car than an Evora. The Eliges are more raw, the Evora is more the Swiss Army knife that does everything well. Out of the box untouched the Evora was a better car than the Eliges. You had to mod an Elige's alignment to get rid of its understeer etc. The Evora was moire crisp stock..hard to believe but true.
I'm not a rookie in Alfa world either now. I owned a 164L for 9++years, my 2018 Stelvio for 4 and now own a 2020 Stelvio Quad. Sedans just don't do it for me anymore. Can't take an RR tire to shop for a flat repair in a Guilia. The 4C is the missing link in my Alfa experience...because i can't afford an 8C!!!!! I was so pissed when they left in 1995 because I REALLY wanted a 166!
A c8 is indeed value but comparing her to a 4C is like comparing Mikaela Shiffrin to Henrietta Farkasova. Look it up for a laugh awkward is the kindest word I have for the C8. oh and they blow up too!
On a track, I have yet to drive a better car than an Evora. The Eliges are more raw, the Evora is more the Swiss Army knife that does everything well. Out of the box untouched the Evora was a better car than the Eliges. You had to mod an Elige's alignment to get rid of its understeer etc. The Evora was moire crisp stock..hard to believe but true.
I'm not a rookie in Alfa world either now. I owned a 164L for 9++years, my 2018 Stelvio for 4 and now own a 2020 Stelvio Quad. Sedans just don't do it for me anymore. Can't take an RR tire to shop for a flat repair in a Guilia. The 4C is the missing link in my Alfa experience...because i can't afford an 8C!!!!! I was so pissed when they left in 1995 because I REALLY wanted a 166!
A c8 is indeed value but comparing her to a 4C is like comparing Mikaela Shiffrin to Henrietta Farkasova. Look it up for a laugh awkward is the kindest word I have for the C8. oh and they blow up too!
I can live with quirks and compromises, but teething issues annoy me
That goes for everything
I'm done being an early adopter and being an unpaid beta tester
And I won't be an apologist for any company. Bad design and poor execution is inexcusable when it interferes with something's intended use
That goes for everything
I'm done being an early adopter and being an unpaid beta tester
And I won't be an apologist for any company. Bad design and poor execution is inexcusable when it interferes with something's intended use
Sigh...A c8 is indeed value but comparing her to a 4C is like comparing Mikaela Shiffrin to Henrietta Farkasova. Look it up for a laugh awkward is the kindest word I have for the C8. oh and they blow up too!
Not sure what the blowing up is in reference to (the 2 or 3 Z06 engine failures?) but the Emira has had its share of first year growing pains.
This reminds me of my job several years back. We had a chart for our grade levels that was gone over at review time, and myself and a few of my peers were performing at one or two grades higher than our current grade. You could look at the chart and we met and exceeded EVERY line item to be performing at a higher level, but during review, management would come up with subjective things we needed to improve on in order to be promoted and get a higher pay raise. "Teamwork" "Leadership" etc....with no objective criteria to prove we've met the requirement.
The C8 (as the C7 was as well) is very much like my example. It could meet or exceed every criteria for the best car, but will always be criticized for some immeasurable category... appearance, driver "involvement", interior design, etc.
The Lotus is quite the opposite. It could fall well below expectations, but people will sing its praises because of the way it looks (somewhat valid when considering a car purchase for a vehicle that could likely be looked at more than actually tracked), or the great road feel and driver involvement.
The 4C is a beautiful car. Probably one of the all-time best looking, especially for one made in the last 10 years. It's extremely fun to drive and has a great driver connection to the road. The availability of a convertible spider option makes it appealing to convertible fans. It's fast enough for a street car, and to be fun on the track. It's like a really hot supermodel girlfriend that you want all your friends to see...she doesn't have very good behavior and you wouldn't want to take her to every social event, and she's above average in the bedroom but not the best.
The C8 is a functional car. Its design is brash and angular. It doesn't have a very attractive rear end. The performance in every category exceeds its MSRP, and that of the 4C. The style definitely isn't for everyone, but it exudes a f-yeah 'merica dressed up musclecar vibe that Euro car fans find offensive, while others (myself) get amusement from. It's like the girlfriend that has more average looks and dresses casually, but still has manners and performs appropriately in every given social situation...oh, and she's fantastic in the bedroom.
I always enjoy reading everyone's very different opinions and creative comparisons to girlfriends, etc. Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts on the C8, Emira, Evora, 4C, etc.
Clarity.
1. 4C the beautiful. Most focused
Least DD potential
2. C8 best value. Fastest. Ugliest. Seen the most relative to numbers out there major fails. SURPRISINGLY trannies and motors. Big stuff
3. Elise/Exige. Considered by many the purest handling cars of all time.
Evora, highly capable. Joy to drive. Till I got 70-80 days on her at track, she was flawless. Getting old now.
Emira, delays delays delays. SAD
1. 4C the beautiful. Most focused
Least DD potential
2. C8 best value. Fastest. Ugliest. Seen the most relative to numbers out there major fails. SURPRISINGLY trannies and motors. Big stuff
3. Elise/Exige. Considered by many the purest handling cars of all time.
Evora, highly capable. Joy to drive. Till I got 70-80 days on her at track, she was flawless. Getting old now.
Emira, delays delays delays. SAD
As SouthWaterXRS mentioned, there are lots of teething issues with most first year autos, whether its Lotus or Chevrolet.
There were definitely a couple of Z06 engine failures, and a few transmission failures. I'd like to see what your accurate source is for it being "relative to numbers" however. There are over 100,000 C8s produced now. Even if there were reports of 100 transmission and engine failures, the numbers would be extremely small compared to total production. The A8 transmission issues with the C7 seemed more widespread than the DCT, and if the numbers are anywhere close to what you infer, the Internet forums would absolutely be exploding with posts about the thousands of failures. The DCT definitely had some early issues that are hopefully sorted by now. As for the engine, what other pushrod V8 is as proven as the Chevy LS/LT engines?
I'm not really here to defend the C8 on a 4C forum, or Lotus thread though. We all have different perspectives, car uses, biases, driving styles, etc...myself included.
I'd love to drive an Emira so that I could more accurately speak on how it compares to other vehicles in its class. As for the 4C vs C8, I drove them both back to back this weekend so I at least feel qualified in my personal observations based on those two cars. Others can and will disagree.
There were definitely a couple of Z06 engine failures, and a few transmission failures. I'd like to see what your accurate source is for it being "relative to numbers" however. There are over 100,000 C8s produced now. Even if there were reports of 100 transmission and engine failures, the numbers would be extremely small compared to total production. The A8 transmission issues with the C7 seemed more widespread than the DCT, and if the numbers are anywhere close to what you infer, the Internet forums would absolutely be exploding with posts about the thousands of failures. The DCT definitely had some early issues that are hopefully sorted by now. As for the engine, what other pushrod V8 is as proven as the Chevy LS/LT engines?
I'm not really here to defend the C8 on a 4C forum, or Lotus thread though. We all have different perspectives, car uses, biases, driving styles, etc...myself included.
I'd love to drive an Emira so that I could more accurately speak on how it compares to other vehicles in its class. As for the 4C vs C8, I drove them both back to back this weekend so I at least feel qualified in my personal observations based on those two cars. Others can and will disagree.
Not talking Z06. Regular C8 after a few years now. I know of 4 failures i have witnessed! 2motors 2 trannies. New trannies are to be expected....but motors? Yes it is technically a new motor. The thing drives a lot heavier than it is. Felt like an R8....in many ways. Its not that I'm a Eurosnob, I'm just not a FAT ASSED AMERICAN that needs that much room......As SouthWaterXRS mentioned, there are lots of teething issues with most first year autos, whether its Lotus or Chevrolet.
There were definitely a couple of Z06 engine failures, and a few transmission failures. I'd like to see what your accurate source is for it being "relative to numbers" however. There are over 100,000 C8s produced now. Even if there were reports of 100 transmission and engine failures, the numbers would be extremely small compared to total production. The A8 transmission issues with the C7 seemed more widespread than the DCT, and if the numbers are anywhere close to what you infer, the Internet forums would absolutely be exploding with posts about the thousands of failures. The DCT definitely had some early issues that are hopefully sorted by now. As for the engine, what other pushrod V8 is as proven as the Chevy LS/LT engines?
I'm not really here to defend the C8 on a 4C forum, or Lotus thread though. We all have different perspectives, car uses, biasses, driving styles, etc...myself included.
I'd love to drive an Emira so that I could more accurately speak on how it compares to other vehicles in its class. As for the 4C vs C8, I drove them both back to back this weekend so I at least feel qualified in my personal observations based on those two cars. Others can and will disagree.
The labeling of Corvette owners as "FAT ASSED AMERICANS" adds little to the conversation. Did someone hurt your feelings?Not talking Z06. Regular C8 after a few years now. I know of 4 failures i have witnessed! 2motors 2 trannies. New trannies are to be expected....but motors? Yes it is technically a new motor. The thing drives a lot heavier than it is. Felt like an R8....in many ways. Its not that I'm a Eurosnob, I'm just not a FAT ASSED AMERICAN that needs that much room......
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