If you sold your EMIRA what’s next?
- Thread starter hellasf1
- Start date
freefall_junkie
Emira Fiend
I had a good poke around an Artura for the first time this week and even though I didn’t drive it I came away seriously impressed. It looks fantastic up close, way better than in photos. I think it is a less pretty and coherent design than the Emira overall, but the Artura has better proportions. It is lower, wider and more dramatic, and of course the scissor doors add a great bit of theatre. You sit really low in the standard bucket seats with superb side support and, praise be, the steering wheel is perfectly round with no buttons on it at all. When I got back in my Emira the steering wheel jarred and I felt like I was perched up in an SUV in comparison. I'll be watching Artura used prices closely 
FlashingBlade
Emira Fan
Artura's go for circa 120-140k used whereas Emiras go for circa 60k, the cost of change would be significant to say the least.
If I got rid of the Emira, it would have to be for an 'all rounder' that I could use daily. The advantage of the Emira is that I can afford to keep it as a second car. I do find myself looking at 1 year old Vantages though and that 'could' be a daily.
The bigger debate for me will be do I pay the £45k and buy the Emira outright at the end of my deal or do I use that 45k down on sometihng else. I question whether a four year old emira will be worth 45k other than the fact that I know its history and how its been driven etc.
If I got rid of the Emira, it would have to be for an 'all rounder' that I could use daily. The advantage of the Emira is that I can afford to keep it as a second car. I do find myself looking at 1 year old Vantages though and that 'could' be a daily.
The bigger debate for me will be do I pay the £45k and buy the Emira outright at the end of my deal or do I use that 45k down on sometihng else. I question whether a four year old emira will be worth 45k other than the fact that I know its history and how its been driven etc.
freefall_junkie
Emira Fiend
True of course. The Artura is twice the price new and I suspect the running costs will be multiples of the Emira. However the thread is about what you would consider replacing the Emira with and for me it would have to be something mid-engined, with more power and steering feel as good as an Emira (i.e. hydraulic). There is pretty well nothing that fits that bill other than a McLaren.
geoffbland
Emira Fiend
Thorney Motorsport recommend budgeting £4000 per year for servicing any McLaren (other than the P1s, Senna etc) at an independent (more through a dealer). It may be worth adding an bit more for the Artura as it is hybrid - the batteries don't last forever and are several £10,000, on the positive side battery tech is improving almost daily so you are likely to get a lighter battery when you upgrade.
freefall_junkie
Emira Fiend
Yes, the battery life is a concern with all hybrids. I suspect fears over the battery and hybrid system reliability have contributed to soft Artura used values. I have heard about a large number of BMW 330e s with failed batteries which would cost half the value of the car to replace. You are then effectively left with a 320i lugging around a useless extra 200kg in weight
I'll keep this thread alive, since I am no longer an Emira owner.
I ended up moving from the Emira to a 296. The weight difference is about 250-300 pounds, which is noticeable mostly for longer drives and general stability - the wife has commented that the 296 is "so much more enjoyable to ride in". My Emira had a touring suspension for comparison.
The power is obviously not comparable - the 296 is an absolute rocket ship. I've traditionally gone back and forth from high power cars to lower power cars, so the trend continues. The Emira needed to be "worked" and required a lot more attention on shifting, etc - where as the attention in the 296 is focused on "holy shit this thing is moving in a hurry".
Last comparison, which I know is unfair given the extreme disparity in price points; I've had both cars in the garage for about a week (Emira goes to its new home over the weekend), and the Emira looks like a tinker toy sitting next to the 296. I cant put my thumb on exactly what that is, but it's almost comical. The Emira is a beautiful car standing on its own, but sitting next to a 296 it is very obviously in a different category of vehicle.
Of note, the 296 is a 25' and the peace of mind of the extended warranty and 7 years of maintenance included is nice. It did burn a little with those 800 dollar glorified oil changes through Lotus...
I ended up moving from the Emira to a 296. The weight difference is about 250-300 pounds, which is noticeable mostly for longer drives and general stability - the wife has commented that the 296 is "so much more enjoyable to ride in". My Emira had a touring suspension for comparison.
The power is obviously not comparable - the 296 is an absolute rocket ship. I've traditionally gone back and forth from high power cars to lower power cars, so the trend continues. The Emira needed to be "worked" and required a lot more attention on shifting, etc - where as the attention in the 296 is focused on "holy shit this thing is moving in a hurry".
Last comparison, which I know is unfair given the extreme disparity in price points; I've had both cars in the garage for about a week (Emira goes to its new home over the weekend), and the Emira looks like a tinker toy sitting next to the 296. I cant put my thumb on exactly what that is, but it's almost comical. The Emira is a beautiful car standing on its own, but sitting next to a 296 it is very obviously in a different category of vehicle.
Of note, the 296 is a 25' and the peace of mind of the extended warranty and 7 years of maintenance included is nice. It did burn a little with those 800 dollar glorified oil changes through Lotus...
Upvote for doing the exact same thing. Have moved from an Emira to a 296. I agree with just about your entire statement. I made that decision after doing a Ferrari driving school at COTA a few months ago and the 296 was more competent than expected and seemed like a car I could live with daily.
The only downside is how awful the Ferrari swipe UI is (am on a list for the button steering wheel as soon as it's released), but the rest just works.
trackday14
Emira Fanatic
Gonna take a whole lotta $800 oil changes to make a dent in the price disparity between the 296 and the Emira!
Sandalwood
Emira Fan
I don't think there is anything directly comparable that I would give up the Emira to drive. I have driven a GT4 and found it a little boring. I drove a GT4 RS and found it much better, but still with lacking steering feel. I did very much enjoy the GT3 RS that I drove, but it is unlikely to ever be at a price point I can justify. I think I would likely gravitate upmarket to a used 570S or 458, or potentially shift over to a GT experience like an Aston. Nothing directly comparable to the Emira is interesting to me thus far.
Agreed - I have found so far that just "set it and forget it" is the best way to deal with it - I actually like that carplay doesn't notify me unless its a phone call with it closed. Gives me a better excuse to focus on driving! What color is your 296? Are you in central texas? Maybe we will run into each other!
I respect differing preferences and I certainly agree the 296, along with the Tributo and the classic 355 are, to my eyes, F gorgeous designs. I'd personally swing for one of the first two models if it weren't for their center console erection deficit. That alone, made them "automatically" a non consideration.
The Emira isn’t in the same league as a newer Ferrari and that’s not a knock on the Emira. In fact, it’s a huge compliment to Lotus that you moved from an Emira to a 296. But let’s be honest: that jump is like moving from your starter home into a 5,000-square-foot mansion. They’re simply not cross-shopped cars.
My favorite Ferrari has always been the 458. Driving that car felt perfect balanced, engaging, and special. I’ve driven four different 296s, and while they’re incredible machines, they’re honestly no more usable on the street than my 2024 Z06. It’s just too much power for public roads, especially around Austin or the DFW area. There are simply too many people on the road to enjoy what those cars are capable of.
I’d love to see a photo of the Emira and the 296 sitting side-by-side in the garage—that would be awesome. And I completely agree with your point: compared to the 296, the Emira really does feel like a toy.
This reminds me of an experience I had back in 2012 when I owned a Lotus Evora. I went on a drive with friends who had McLarens, Ferraris and Porsches. We stopped, swapped cars, and once I jumped into those more powerful cars, everything changed. Two weeks later, I sold the Lotus. I simply couldn’t drive it anymore as I needed more power the difference was that dramatic. The steering on the Lotus was very nice but the GT3 RS was unbelievable, and the McLaren and Ferrari were on another level entirely.
That contrast really sticks with you once you’ve felt it, especially if your on the I need more power side of your car needs.
My favorite Ferrari has always been the 458. Driving that car felt perfect balanced, engaging, and special. I’ve driven four different 296s, and while they’re incredible machines, they’re honestly no more usable on the street than my 2024 Z06. It’s just too much power for public roads, especially around Austin or the DFW area. There are simply too many people on the road to enjoy what those cars are capable of.
I’d love to see a photo of the Emira and the 296 sitting side-by-side in the garage—that would be awesome. And I completely agree with your point: compared to the 296, the Emira really does feel like a toy.
This reminds me of an experience I had back in 2012 when I owned a Lotus Evora. I went on a drive with friends who had McLarens, Ferraris and Porsches. We stopped, swapped cars, and once I jumped into those more powerful cars, everything changed. Two weeks later, I sold the Lotus. I simply couldn’t drive it anymore as I needed more power the difference was that dramatic. The steering on the Lotus was very nice but the GT3 RS was unbelievable, and the McLaren and Ferrari were on another level entirely.
That contrast really sticks with you once you’ve felt it, especially if your on the I need more power side of your car needs.
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MickOpalak
Emira Fanatic
The new MR2 that Toyota is about to introduce should be interesting…
Jinba ittai
Emira Fanatic
Why a GR86 over a Miata?
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