Emira vs GTS or used GT4 - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

So… heart went over head and popped down to local Lotus dealer when the new Lotus was announced. Immediately stuck a deposit on the V6 manual (for delivery March next year, big birthday etc)… I was called a month later to say everything was being managed by Hethel and they would return my deposit and they couldn’t guarantee for my birthday. Awesome. I was away at the time. Gave me time to pause and think etc. anyway, upshot is I’ve had a few suggestions and it’s coming down to a used GT4 or a new GTS or still the Emira. It will be a weekend fun car (very little realistically) and a track car (<6 times a year). What does the intelligent consensus think one should throw a few quid at? I drove a new GTS this morning and thought it was fantastic bar the cheap feeling steering wheel. But still came away thinking should I go for GT4 given it’s mostly primary purpose. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s seen the Lotus or ideally driven one.

if your weekend car means weekends away then the lotus has very little boot space compared to the gt4 and gts.

I had a deposit down on the Emira before it even came out, pulled it on release. I love Lotus, tracked, raced Elise’s for 15 very happy years but I couldn’t get my head around the fact it’s pretty much an Evora. Take into account Lotus build quality on new cars has quite a reputation it was enough for me to consider something else. I managed to see one at Oulton Park earlier this year and whilst I didn’t sit in it, thought it looked great although the back end is a bit awkward. The interior looks good too, but not Porsche good in my opinion. Fast forward 12 months and I’ve just bought a GT4, I think it is natural to compare the two, the Emira looks more modern, will have fabulous handling. I wanted to tick the GT box. I may well get one in the future, but will be the inline4. Edited by VTECMatt on Sunday 17th July 10:00

14 month wait now too.

crashley said: So… heart went over head and popped down to local Lotus dealer when the new Lotus was announced. Immediately stuck a deposit on the V6 manual (for delivery March next year, big birthday etc)… I was called a month later to say everything was being managed by Hethel and they would return my deposit and they couldn’t guarantee for my birthday. Awesome. I was away at the time. Gave me time to pause and think etc. anyway, upshot is I’ve had a few suggestions and it’s coming down to a used GT4 or a new GTS or still the Emira. It will be a weekend fun car (very little realistically) and a track car (<6 times a year). What does the intelligent consensus think one should throw a few quid at? I drove a new GTS this morning and thought it was fantastic bar the cheap feeling steering wheel. But still came away thinking should I go for GT4 given it’s mostly primary purpose. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s seen the Lotus or ideally driven one. Hi Ash, I’m about to sell my 981 GT4, drop me a line if you’d like any more details. I’ve not driven the Emira yet, although I may be visiting Hethel soon. The GT4 is a decent step up from the GTS, I tried both before getting into the GT4 and there was little comparison to me (despite all the reviews stating that it was 9/10ths of a GT4. I’ve only tracked mine once and it was staggering.

Are you looking for a road car that is trackable or a track toy that also works on the road? GT4 is very much the later, whilst the GTS is the former. The Emira in its current guise IMHO sits somewhere between the two. I’d fully expect in the fullness of time Lotus to launch “track pack” or similar variant, probably as an Auto with the race car wing and engine (Harrop TVS 1900 supercharger).

GT4 No contest out of those 3. Spyder out of all of them tho.

b0rk said: Are you looking for a road car that is trackable or a track toy that also works on the road? GT4 is very much the later, whilst the GTS is the former. The Emira in its current guise IMHO sits somewhere between the two. I’d fully expect in the fullness of time Lotus to launch “track pack” or similar variant, probably as an Auto with the race car wing and engine (Harrop TVS 1900 supercharger). I’m not entirely sure myself. Probably more track toy but equally something I’d be happy to take out for a blast on a sunny evening.

Big difference in capability in many areas between the GTS and 718 GT4 the latter is way more driver focused and offers almost GT3 like road pace at a bargain price. GTS is unsuitable for the track. You mention a new GTS but lead times are around 2 years and new GT4s slots are running out very hard to get without buying history and have just had a price increase too now £81500 basic. Emira is a fantastic looking piece of kit but no track car more a resonably quick sports weekend car. I've ordered a V6 FE 'manuel' for March 23 and an i4 DCT for September 23 the current lead times are expected to extend to 18 months in reality if ordering now. Reckon on them getting a reasonable premium for the first 12 months and 1k miles at least. There are a few 718 GT4s around and these offer great value with full warranty and well worth the difference ££ over the much older 7 year old 981 for the more special bespoke engine alone with 8k rev limit and great economy as a bonus. With 7 year old 981 GT4s remarkably still selling for over list the future residuals of the 718 GT4 are guaranteed to stay high. If you are tracking a car 6 times a year as well as wanting a rapid and entertaining road car the Cayman 718 GT4 is your car.

av185 said: GTS is unsuitable for the track. Seems a bit strong pal. Mine seems to do alright.

crashley said: I’m not entirely sure myself. Probably more track toy but equally something I’d be happy to take out for a blast on a sunny evening. So your choices are really GT4 or Emira as you'd identified then. You would end up with buyers remorse on a GTS. As noted the lead times on Emira's are long now, so not something you'll see this year or realistically next. Working on the basis that an Emira is an improved Evora, a car I've seen on track a bit and have driven. I am not aware of owners complaining about Evora's being ill suited to trackdays. I'd say the Emira should work okay on track, but wouldn't ultimately be as focused as a GT4, it is more a fast and capable roadcar. Hopefully I'll get a few pax laps in a mates one when it turns up. The price difference vs a used GT4 available today is of course considerable which would pay for a lot of "track" upgrades if that's a route you'd want to explore. However GT4 is heading towards the end of its production run so whilst I'm not going state you can't get an allocation on a new build, at this point in the cycle it is probably not going to happen unless you're lucky in finding a OPC that has very short order queue. If you really want one then looking at used options is probably the most sensible, maybe after the summer when some owners are looking to move onto the next new shiny thing. I passed on a Emira last autumn when "my" OPC came good on a GT4 allocation, since delivered. No I'm not selling It would have been a much harder decision if comparing used GT4's against new Emira's the price difference for "my" spec on a used but recent GT4 would have been approx £30k more than a new Emira FE which buys a lot of after-market stuff.

If you get a GTS you can set up the chassis more aggressively if you really feel that need.

Grantstown said: If you get a GTS you can set up the chassis more aggressively if you really feel that need. Not like you can on a gt4. Gts is a everyday road car like a S.

i had the same dilemma, had a depo on the Emira bought a 2,000 miles 2016 981 GT4 earlier this year, full spec - PCCB, Clubsport, 918's etc etc. PPF - Guards red. Perfect condition as per mileage No brainer IMO vs. the Emira for the same money

GT4RS said: Not like you can on a gt4. Gts is a everyday road car like a S. Not quite as much adjustment with the existing parts, but you can create something very competent without having to source upgrades. This is a few track days and weekends we’re talking about here, hardly the carrera cup.

Both the GTS and GT4 are pretty restricted out of the box and only get around -1.5 degress of negative camber all round with standard parts. The GT4 is ultimately more adjustable but you need to add parts e.g. shims, toe links, top mounts, toe arms etc. The biggest issue on a GTS on track is likely to be hot brakes and a slight lack of grip from skinnier tyres. For occasional track days the GTS is more than good enough, but if you're seriously quick or a heavy track goer the GT4 is the better choice.

The fastest YouTube round the ‘ring in a GTS I’ve seen - 7.12 So I would say a GTS is perfectly fine for track As ever, the limiting factor what is behind the wheel

The Emira looks great (and I wish Lotus well) but…… there’s been a few really poor reviews, so I’d want to get behind the wheel myself before committing over a GTS or GT4. Nice position to be in though!

I did the same, early deposit on the Emira wanted V6 but then the V6 price was announced and I could get a GTS 4.0 for less which I knew was a proven quality product. But then I saw a 981 CGTS perfect spec, low miles 1 owners etc etc and brought it and cancelled my Emira deposit. I didn't wanted to wait for a GTS 4.0. Mine was for road/daily ish use, anyhow didn't really use it much so sold it. GTS is fine for the odd track day, and they go really well. The usual though, road tyres get hot quick, and brake fluid gets hot, well that's what I found in my previous 981 BGTS on track. Perfectly capable for some fun, all very much down to the driver. Drive them both, Id say if your doing 80% road and 20% track the GTS is probably the better car for you. as you get closer to a 50/50 you may think a GT4 is better.

Unless I'm mistaken from reading your post, my only piece of advice is to go and drive a GT4! That way you'll understand the tangible differences between a GTS and a GT4. My prediction is you'll drive a GT4 and all your thoughts about a CGTS and/or Emira will be instantly gone!

Well I’ve a 981 gt4 and was thinking of the lotus to replace it. I’ve had 3 lotus before and would like another. We were looking after all the cars at London Concours and lotus were in attendance again. Get on really well with Scott walker from Lotus‘s and we had a great chat about the V6 compare to the new four-cylinder car. We also shot a new promotional video for Autoglym using the new car so I managed to get up close and personal with the Emira