Yeah. I agree. The US configurator has it quite a bit less expensive in USD, but at the price on your screen there, it becomes hard to swallow. I really like my Emira. But, I can't ignore the reality that it's a bit of a compromise car in a lot of regards, and even though it suits the purpose that I wanted it for very well, part of its appeal was its [relative] affordability. And I'm willing to deal with some of its quirks because of that. But It would have been completely off my list even at $150K USD. At current exchange rates, 150K GBP (being over $200K USD currently)... you can just get a good bit more car elsewhere for that money.
Plus no ADAS !!! YAY !!!
Tell me more about how the Emira driving experience differs the Cayman. I've had all 3 Cayman generations too - changed to a 911 GTS 4S Hybrid and hate everything except that instant response when you put your foot down. I have been looking hard at replacing it with the Emira assuming the experience would be closer to the Cayman (closer, not identical).If I wanted a Lotus, I'd pick the Lotus, and if I wanted a 911, I'd pick the 911(probably the S). But I already have an Emira, and sold my 991.2 911 to get it so...
In all seriousness, they are VERY different experiences to drive, especially in the 992 generation of 911 (having gotten so relatively large) so, you kinda have to lean into which experience you actually want. And neither is without some kind of compromise, so it's kinda apples-to-oranges. Closer comparo would be a Cayman (but since the Cayman is dead... and even then, they're quite different experiences, I can say after having also owned 3 generations of Cayman...)
I've had 2 caymans (PDK 2.0 718 and a manual 4.0L GTS) and I owned an Evora 400 between them. Now I have the Emira V6. I also had 3 Caterhams during that time!
Appreciate it. I had and 718S and 4.0L GTS and loved them. I was stupid to sell the GTS to buy the new 911 GTS C4. the 911 is fast but I miss the mid-engine balance and the feeling of being connected with the car. So I am selling the 911 and looking at getting a Emira SE and upcycling a few items (suspension with FAL) to make it more like the 420 Sport.
You were asking for comparisons, and I'd concur with what others have said regarding Cayman vs Emira (sport suspension)... or Evora, of which I also had two; a 2014 S and a 2020 GT. In the Cayman, I had a 987.1 S, 981 S, and 718 S. I would add a couple of things to the above:
Really appreciate this detailed feedback. I test drove an Emira but it was pretty much driving 1 mile and back on a straight piece of highway access road. I have little chance to throw the car into turns (and few turns at all). After spending stupid money on the 911GTS and realizing I hate it, I wanted to try to avoid this time. I may not have gotten everything I want from my limited test drive (the clearest info I got there was engine sound and the weirdly long seat base). But what you shared is the kind of information I needed and I'm moving forward with a buy.You were asking for comparisons, and I'd concur with what others have said regarding Cayman vs Emira (sport suspension)... or Evora, of which I also had two; a 2014 S and a 2020 GT. In the Cayman, I had a 987.1 S, 981 S, and 718 S. I would add a couple of things to the above:
I felt the turn-in on the 981 was my favorite of all of them, Emira and Evoras included. The 981 also sounded WAY better, with that era's signature high RPM wailing. But the Emira turn in is very very very good, everything is quick and sharp, I felt significantly more engaging than 718 and 911. Whether the "analogue" thing means anything to you is for you to decide, but there's definitely more communication in the steering. The Emira doesn't sound as good. The engine has a little more grunt, but it's not nearly as "slick" as the Porsche (no surprise). It's a decent powerplant though, and overall I find everything else about the Emira more engaging/enjoyable. You get to shift more frequently due to the ratios, shifting is a bit more clunky/chunky (I happen to like the chunky-ness). Just sitting in the car is very different... uncomfortable, at first, if I'm being honest. Tight, further forward, visibility compromised, but once I got used to it (from Evoras past) I love the flattened, "shrunken around me" feel. Between that and the way it goes over the road, it simply feels very, very different in a way that can't be fully explained.
Eyes wide open, the Emira's mid-engine feel is a bit different than the Cayman. Center of gravity is a little higher maybe? It's not a rear-engine feel, but I can tell that the engine isn't as low.... doesn't bother me though. You have to be ready for "weird stuff". The Emira interior is creaky, the infotainment is a mixed bag on a reliability front, the car is way less practical, and the transmission is a love it or hate it affair... you simply cannot rush it, it's noisy as h_ll (I happen to like its weird chunky feel).
The 981 and 718 were objectively "better cars", in pretty much every regard. But I didn't yearn to be in them the way I do the Emira. Case in point: I sold my 718 after 9 months and only put about 3500 miles on the 981 in 30 months. I've had my Emira for 4 1/2 months and I've already got 3000 miles on it
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