there's something about fibreglass, in this country at least

makes it impossible for Lotus and TVR to shake off a kit car image

 

The Evora has just come 31st in the top 100 drivers cars ever in Evo.

My opinion is still undecided - all the press raves about the ide, the feedback and control but the interior is typical Lotus but in a higher quality of aterials. Thing is, my elise, is 3 years old now - passed it's first MOT with flying colours and the interior is as solid as it ever was. My S at that point was showing initial signs of wear on the seat and there were one or two niggles I had to address.

I actually think my Elise is better built than my S was (and that's saying something) so how the Evora is going to hold up I don't know

 

give us a laugh

what's their top five?

 

TVR yes, Lotus I think much less so the last decade.

The later French made bodies are not obviously fibreglass
when you first take a look. JCT Leeds share the Lotus with
Ferrari and Masarati in the same showroom, externaly
there's not much in it.

Russ.

 

Reading the list on the thread below reminded me why buying EVO is such a waste of money (glad I cancelled my subscription).

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.a...rs%20*Spoilers*

Top 10:

1. Zonda F
2. 340R
3. 996 GT3
4. Caterham R300
5. Megane R26.R
6. Elan
7. Clio Trophy
8. F50
9. MX5
10. Evo VI Makinen

 

Didn't the ITR beat the Clio Trophy in the 'Best FWD Ever Mega Test'?

Didn't the NSX-R beat the 996 in the 'PCOTY'?

 

I don't think looks and finish have anything to do with it

People know they are 'plastic'

And plastic=kit

I'm not defending the prejudice

Just offering it as a reason why they struggle to break into the mainstream

 

And where's the GTR? It won last years ECOTY?

 

Gad is probably correct.

Even sales of the 308GTB Resina (1st year) were damaged by the image, although the cars were subsequently sought after for lightness and corrosion resistance.

And yet the 288GTO and F40 had a 'racing heritage' connection, because it was assumed all the reinforcement webbing was carbon & not silicon!

The 501/502/503 cars were sophisticated and therefore especially blighted by the usual LOTUS acronym, which damaged the image.

There are certain areas of the Evora (necessarily huge panel gaps, reflective instruments, that 1970s 'feel' to the interior) that still suggest low-volume (kit car) manufacture.

Same with the Elise; the unwashed see a greenhouse crossed with a shed inside, Some of us see an elegantly extruded and bonded spaceframe.

The inside of a Porsche looks like the inside of an Audi looks like the inside of a M-B and the buyers now have no imagination for any alternative.