📓 Journals Ft's Emira Adventure

[Ft.S]

I continue to benefit from many of the journals posted here, and I sincerely appreciate people taking time to share their experiences. In hopes of returning the favor to the community, I thought I start one of my own. I don't make many modifications to my vehicles, so I doubt this journal will be as comprehensive as the others I have been reading.

The start of the adventure is here:
2025 Emira V6 Manual Touring

https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/hello-again.6862/

 

[Ft.S]

I have driven the car just about 150 mi. during the last 5 days, and we are getting acquainted.

There are two track events left this season that I am registered, one with the local (Washington DC region) PCA and the other BMW CCA. To get ready, I planned few changes: Tires, brake pads, brake cooling, brake fluid and alignment.

First off was the tires. Ordered Contin ECF in stock sizes. They arrived in two days from trackdaytires.com. They really have superb service, including consultation over the phone.

Starting to Understand "Add lightness and Simplify"

Car on the lift for the first time and wheels off, I marvelled on the work of art that is the suspension on the Emira. It looks so simple, yet so effective. It appears there are only just enough parts that are needed, no crowding, no wires, just few key connectors with the control arms. Compared to my previous M3, which had MacPherson strut up front and multi-link in the rear with all sorts of electrical wires criss-crossing, the Emira's wheel wells were so clean and simple. I am getting my first glimpse of the "simplify."

I know many of you already seen similar pictures, but I'll still add few of my own, in comparison to a typical MacPherson/Multi-link car (M3).

Emria Front Suspension:

M3 Front Suspension (the orange ducts were added later for brake cooling):

The Emira Rear Suspension:

The M3 Rear Suspension:

Also, the wheel locking bolt is nothing new to many of you, but it was the first time I came across such simple and effective solution against theft. The locking bolt has a spinning outer sleeve, so it cannot be tapped-broken HAHA! I am sure theeves have other ways, but it is just another simple approach to making it harder on them. Why other manufacturers do not do it?!?

 

[Ft.S]

Finally, break-in is complete, took nearly 6 six weeks, sheesh!
I have been enjoying driving it as a regular car for daily needs, going for groceries, running errands, and just driving for the sake of driving. I am also looking forward to my first track event in 10 days at Summit Point. I have apprehensions about how it will hold up.

Based on many notes on these forums and others, my expectations have been really low for my first Lotus. Here are some of my initial experiences and observations:

• The car’s built quality is better than I was expecting. There are no rattles, no misalignments or other weird noises, except two things: (1) the left front proximity sensor is overly sensitive, as reported by others,and needs to be realigned, (2) there is a strange noise above 50 mph when the throttle pedal is pressed partially or kept steady; it is like a thin card board flapping rapidly in the wind, pirr-pirr-pirr.
• Trunk and door close with minimal push and make solid sounds
• Visibility is superb.
• Although I do like the feel of the steering, I do not like the wheel itself. I still haven’t gotten used to it. If the ratio was shorter and I could have my hands mostly stay on 9-and-3 positions, I would not mind the shape of it, but right now I nearly detest it.
• We all know how good Lotus has always been with the chassis and suspension tuning. What I am experiencing during street driving is more than just good, it is nearly perfect. The shocks just absorb the undulations and bumps, without compromising directional changes or becoming harsh or crashing. The spring set up is also so well matched for street driving that the car nearly never feels over sprung even on rather rough roads.
• I hadn’t realized how distracting all of the screens and heads-up displays were in my previous cars. When manufacturers started adding these screens, initially I thought it is cool. I thought I will miss those in the Lotus. Surprisingly, I am so glad they are not in the Emira. I pay much more attention to driving, seeing the details outside as I drive and enjoy the lack of constantly something on the screen asking for my attention. Even the small Emira screen feels perfect in size and so very easy to operate intuitively. If the sun light directly hits the screen it is invisible; otherwise, it has been a good experience.
• CarPlay works nearly every single time. The only times bluetooth does not connect is when I do three or four stops during short trips.
• Storage space is limited for sure, but it hasn’t been an issue to visit the grocery stores, get take out (the meals stay warm in the trunk), or going to the hardware store.

Let’s see if I can find some items to complain about:

• It is loud inside the cabin. It is the perfect reason to send calls to voice mail.
• Wipers are not great, but do the job overall.
• First two days of driving, I had cramps on my left foot and frankly I was smiling in pain. It has been more than ten years since I drove a manual.
• Doing my on work on the car is challenging. I changed the brake pads that was easy, but took me a couple of hours. I haven’t flushed the brake fluid myself though. Changing the oils will be difficult, I might decide to buy a lift system.
• The Paid RSL29 pads dust at crazy levels. While changing the pads, I washed the wheels at detail level, then in less than 50 miles, I had bronze wheels. I think once I bed them in, the dusting might taper off or at least I hope so.
• Scheduling service with the local dealer is more than challenging. They keep asking me to leave the car with them for several days to complete my check list of items following break-in. So, I got some of the work done myself, some at another shop (Ross Service) and hopefully I can just wait for a couple items left to do.
• The shifter is notchy like I never had before. At the same time, I am really enjoying the purely mechanical feel. I’ll take notchy over the shifter pedals on the steering column.

Hopefully next update will be after the first track day with the sunny side staying up

 

[geoffbland]

• Although I do like the feel of the steering, I do not like the wheel itself. I still haven’t gotten used to it. If the ratio was shorter and I could have my hands mostly stay on 9-and-3 positions, I would not mind the shape of it, but right now I nearly detest it.

When I got my car I thought I would get used to the steering wheel, after about a month and the first few thousand miles I was really starting to dislike it. But I now have got used to it and to be honest now really like the shape of it. When I drive other cars I am missing the feedback of the shape of the wheel under my hands. I've done a 360 on the wheel