📓 Journals Ft's Emira Adventure

[Ft.S]

I had a splendid track weekend with the Emira

It was the annual "PorscheFest" even PCA puts together with many different activities besides HPDE, including autox, veteran's rids, kids rides, concours, dinner, etc. It was crowded with many people around and nearly 200 cars, vast majority being all sorts of Porsches of course (including a consourse entry of 356 and slant-nose 964 Turbo). We had great time over 3 days.

A school of kids, ages 8-10, were invited as part of their field trip. Out of all the cars there, including race cars, all variants of GTs and the classics, they unofficially selected the Emira as the best car. They were all over the car, touching, asking questions... It was a lot of fun to interact with the younglings

The car performed flawlessly, knock on wood! I was part of the intermediate run group, and I was probably on the slower half of drivers of that group. Regardless, the car is tremendously fun to drive on track. I was a bit worried if my pads would last the 3-day weekend having only 11 mm of pad left from last year, it was a none issue.

This was my first event of 2026, after a 8 month break. I cannot say I was rusty, I did better than I was expecting. Frankly, the credit has to go to the new wheels and tires: see post #18; GT4+ DarkWorks wheels and Nankang CRS at 265/35/19 and 305/30/19 sizes. This package was exactly what my Emira needed, amazing grip. Since this was my first event of the year, I hadn't improved as a driver from last year. The only change has been the wheel tire package. My average lap times improved just about 3 secs, and my best time was 3.5 secs better than the last event. Just amazing.

I still have not maximized my use of the tires, I am getting used to them and there is more time available. Above 32 psi the tires did not perform well. Below 27 psi they were not at their best, but very usable, I think the lower limit was right around 25 psi. I had the most confidence in the tires when the fronts were 29 hot and rears were 31. I will try 28 at the front next event, but I think I am getting close to the ideal pressures for my driving.

Also, the rears got the most beating. Fronts at 29 psi were right at the wear marks, but the rears got halfway through the wear marks at 31 psi. I swapped the tires left to right after the first day and will swap them back for the next event.

​

 

[mr.suntorytime]

I had a splendid track weekend with the Emira

It was the annual "PorscheFest" even PCA puts together with many different activities besides HPDE, including autox, veteran's rids, kids rides, concours, dinner, etc. It was crowded with many people around and nearly 200 cars, vast majority being all sorts of Porsches of course (including a consourse entry of 356 and slant-nose 964 Turbo). We had great time over 3 days.

A school of kids, ages 8-10, were invited as part of their field trip. Out of all the cars there, including race cars, all variants of GTs and the classics, they unofficially selected the Emira as the best car. They were all over the car, touching, asking questions... It was a lot of fun to interact with the younglings

The car performed flawlessly, knock on wood! I was part of the intermediate run group, and I was probably on the slower half of drivers of that group. Regardless, the car is tremendously fun to drive on track. I was a bit worried if my pads would last the 3-day weekend having only 11 mm of pad left from last year, it was a none issue.

This was my first event of 2026, after a 8 month break. I cannot say I was rusty, I did better than I was expecting. Frankly, the credit has to go to the new wheels and tires: see post #18; GT4+ DarkWorks wheels and Nankang CRS at 265/35/19 and 305/30/19 sizes. This package was exactly what my Emira needed, amazing grip. Since this was my first event of the year, I hadn't improved as a driver from last year. The only change has been the wheel tire package. My average lap times improved just about 3 secs, and my best time was 3.5 secs better than the last event. Just amazing.

I still have not maximized my use of the tires, I am getting used to them and there is more time available. Above 32 psi the tires did not perform well. Below 27 psi they were not at their best, but very usable, I think the lower limit was right around 25 psi. I had the most confidence in the tires when the fronts were 29 hot and rears were 31. I will try 28 at the front next event, but I think I am getting close to idea pressures.

Also, the rears got the most beating. Fronts at 29 psi were right at the wear marks, but the rears got halfway through the wear marks at 31 psi. I swapped the tires left to right after the first day and will swap them back for the next event.

​

How are the shoulders wearing so far? i can imagine they are getting kinda roughed up without more neg camber.

 

[Ft.S]

How are the shoulders wearing so far? i can imagine they are getting kinda roughed up without more neg camber.

Actually, not really. I have been at the wear bars all weekend. Granted I am not a fast driver and likely not yet pushing the tires or car to their limits.

 

[Ft.S]

Well... The adventure came to an end. It is a bit bitter-sweet. I really enjoyed the Emira and got to taste what Lotus has been with the good and the bad. The disappointments have been very few and not entirely unexpected, but one.

At the end the disappointments won in my case, it turns out I am not as much of a driver that I thought I have been. I could deal with the little issues. Although they have been somewhat more frequent that I would have liked, the combination of few things just pushed me over the edge to given it up:

1. the parking brake not releasing or the parking brake caliper needing a computer reset. It just keeps happening, and each time requiring a dealer visit.
2. Being warned that a buffed oil pan would void the engine warranty (and likely all things remotely attached or related to it). Waiting two more years until I have the piece of mind to install the pan is frustrating.
3. The seats are comfortable for about an hour, after that either my neck or back starts getting increasingly sensitive. Not to mention that I keep moving in them like water in a fishbowl being driven. If I change my seats, then I lose the airbags.
4. The car gets hot inside even while driving normally on the streets. The AC is working very well, but the vent distribution is not good at all. Neither me or my wife ever got comfortable in it completely during relatively hot days, so we preferred to take our SUV over the weekends, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of the car.
5. The car gets so much attention. First few weeks it was a novelty and fun, but it started bothering me more and more. It even got silly a couple of times, but too long of stories for this post.
6. Finally, what really broke the camel's back is the service. Miguel at Lotus of DC has been superb, every Lotus driver that interacted with him agrees. He truly a customer-oriented tech, learning fast, creative and very capable. However, he is just one. Every time I need to take the car to him, I have to plan for it a couple of weeks in advance, then the car stays with him for a week most of the time, sometime longer. I realized I have been finding excuses not to take the car to service even though it really needs to be taken. It has been frustrating. I think I could have dealt with all other issues, but this service one really pushed it over the edge for me.

I traded the car in over the weekend for a BMW M2. Frankly, I feel relieved, happy and enjoyed driving the new car over the weekend for ~300 miles. I also feel sadness as the Emira is a really good car, one that Lotus should have put a much stronger dry-sump engine in it, but I think the Emira stays true to the Lotus heritage in many ways that I learned over the last 12 months of ownership.

Thank you all for having me here. You all are exemplary owners contributing valuable experiences and knowledge in the most cordial ways. Wish you all the best with your Emira and other cars.

P.S. I will be selling my gorgeous Darkworks GT4+ wheels that I had just gotten (~400 miles) , if you are interested, it will be in the marketplace in few days.

Cheers.

 

[XL Lotus]

Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you with the Emira! It was nice meeting you out with the BMW club!

 

[MiamiBlue]

1. I also feel sadness as the Emira is a really good car, one that Lotus should have put a much stronger dry-sump engine in it.

I thought the Toyota 2GR-FE was pretty much bombproof? It's been used in Evora's and track focused Exige cars for over a decade. I thought it was regarded as solid and dependable?

Has there ever been even one report of an issue with the engine posted in this forum by anyone?

Sorry you didn't keep the Emira for longer. But at least you got a good taste of the Lotus experience.

 

[kitkat]

I thought the Toyota 2GR-FE was pretty much bombproof? It's been used in Evora's and Exige track cars for over a decade. I thought it was regarded as solid and dependable?

Has there ever been even one report of an issue with the engine posted in this forum by anyone?

Sorry you didn't keep the Emira for longer. But at least you got a good taste of the Lotus experience.

It's fine but if you're putting slicks on you need proper oiling. No engine is going to last if it doesn't have proper oiling. I'm guessing the want for a dry sump is related to his use case

 

[allenyao09]

I thought about switching to a G87 M2 as well since I might need a bit more practicality out of my fun car. How do you like the driving dynamics so far? I've driven E92 M3, G82 M4, F87 M2 and manual Supra. BMWs are great cars but I'm not a fan of the steering and handling.

 

[geoffbland]

Dry sump engines are differently reliable than normal engines - not really more reliable (for most cases).
They are better for race cars as they ensure constant lubrication, help centre of gravity and don't suffer from oil starvation under cornering.
But they are a lot more complicated, have many more parts to leak or get blocked over time, more expensive, potentially heavier and need a lot more maintenance.
A baffled sump is probably the sweet spot for the Emira unless it really is used as a 100% track car.

https://www.seriouslylotus.com/exige-v6-evora-emira-and-3eleven-baffled-sump

 

[MiamiBlue]

Dry sump engines are differently reliable than normal engines - not really more reliable (for most cases).
They are better for race cars as they ensure constant lubrication, help centre of gravity and don't suffer from oil starvation under cornering.
But they are a lot more complicated, have many more parts to leak or get blocked over time, more expensive, potentially heavier and need a lot more maintenance.
A baffled sump is probably the sweet spot for the Emira unless it really is used as a 100% track car.

https://www.seriouslylotus.com/exige-v6-evora-emira-and-3eleven-baffled-sump

That link took me down a rabbit hole. Seems Seriously Lotus are remapping Emira ECU's without issue. I wonder why in another thread owners are sending their ECU's off to Korea with mixed success.

 

[Ft.S]

I thought the Toyota 2GR-FE was pretty much bombproof? It's been used in Evora's and track focused Exige cars for over a decade. I thought it was regarded as solid and dependable?

Has there ever been even one report of an issue with the engine posted in this forum by anyone?

Sorry you didn't keep the Emira for longer. But at least you got a good taste of the Lotus experience.

Thank you for the sentiments. I too wish I could have kept it as it is a unique car and difficult to replace.

Yes, I think the Toyota engine is very reliable. If I was just driving casually and not tracking, I would not have worried a bit. But I have this addiction to track driving, although I am not a track rat.

As @kitkat and others mention, it is very likely I would not have had any issues with the engine as it is from the factory. Past experience probably skews my perception and fears. I had a Cayman engine seize on me in the past while on track due to oil starvation..

Evora track drivers appears to me that one of the first things they modify is the oil pan, switching to baffled pan. It is a relatively easy fix that would have satisfied me as well. I wanted to have the 430 Cup pan from Lotus, but the dealer warned me that would void the engine warranty. Given the number of dealer visits I had for, mostly minor, warranty repairs, I did not want to risk not having an engine warranty. So, I had to wait another 2.5 years, before having piece of mind.

I bought the car to enjoy it at all times as my daily driver. It had been really great. But if I am constantly worried while at the track, which I only do 4 to 5 events a year, that took away the enjoyment. That being the case for me, what is the point!?

This was one of the reasons, and possibly exaggerated in my mind, but it was a real feeling for me. Everyone's comfort level is different of course.

 

[Ft.S]

I thought about switching to a G87 M2 as well since I might need a bit more practicality out of my fun car. How do you like the driving dynamics so far? I've driven E92 M3, G82 M4, F87 M2 and manual Supra. BMWs are great cars but I'm not a fan of the steering and handling.

I think the Emira is better sports car in many ways. The M2 is certainly more practical and is enjoyable in its own way, but not as a sports car. I had a G80 M3 CS before the G87 M2 CS, and an F82 M4 previously. I know BMWs and like them a lot. I have to get over my rants about the electronics and few other things, and once I do that in my head, they are really great cars and I prefer them at this time.

The steering is extremely direct but does lack the feel of the Emira. Actually, every aspect of the M2 lacks feel compared to the Emira. I already got used to it, I feel and communicate with the car in different ways, mostly with the butt-feel

Handling is close to the Emira, not quite the same of course, but close. It needs to be driven differently than the Emira, which is closer to a 911 dynamics feel, IMHO. On the other hand, the M2 has a huge advantage over the Emira with the brakes, cooling, traction control/ABS, and of course the power. So, it is a give and take, I think.

However for just daily driving as a second car, it is hard to beat the Emira.

 

[MajHall04]

I think the Emira is better sports car in many ways. The M2 is certainly more practical and is enjoyable in its own way, but not as a sports car. I had a G80 M3 CS before the G87 M2 CS, and an F82 M4 previously. I know BMWs and like them a lot. I have to get over my rants about the electronics and few other things, and once I do that in my head, they are really great cars and I prefer them at this time.

The steering is extremely direct but does lack the feel of the Emira. Actually, every aspect of the M2 lacks feel compared to the Emira. I already got used to it, I feel and communicate with the car in different ways, mostly with the butt-feel

Handling is close to the Emira, not quite the same of course, but close. It needs to be driven differently than the Emira, which is closer to a 911 dynamics feel, IMHO. On the other hand, the M2 has a huge advantage over the Emira with the brakes, cooling, traction control/ABS, and of course the power. So, it is a give and take, I think.

However for just daily driving as a second car, it is hard to beat the Emira.

Thinking about trading in my I4 first edition for a manual G87 once the emira warranty expires. I love the emira but since this is my first lotus I’m worried post warranty. I’ve owned 6 BMW and they have held up very well with only minor issues. My daily 2019 X5 has 145k miles and has been bulletproof. The emira is such a special car and the handling and looks are superb! Anyone else who have had both please share your thoughts.

 

[Beachbum]

Are there no extended warranty options in the US?
Lotus offer one in the UK, so may be worth asking a dealer in the US about it.