just love the fact that in almost every video from harry, you can see a Ferrari F40 and a F50 sitting there casually in the garage like it's the most normal thing in the world
I would _love_ to learn one day, that Mrs Metcalfe sometimes strolls out to the shed, and jumps into.... _any car she likes_ , and pops into town to post a parcel, or maybe choose a bottle of wine for later. That's when the boot space in, say, the Testarossa would be ideal - right? 😏 Even better, would be if she just goes for a good blat around the countryside! 😄
@Landon-si5xc No thanks bro, unless you got one of those flying carpets I can take for a spin. But jokes aside tis a fine religion with fine ppls, I’m sure it can help ppl achieve whatever it is they wish to achieve, as with others.
Having you and Charlie as sound boards felt good. He may not be a journalist but the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. Wouldn’t mind seeing more of that.
I must say, the addition of Charlie's perspective really took this review to the next level. It's refreshing to see a father and son duo sharing their insights and opinions on these fantastic cars. Charlie's candid views, combined with Harry's wealth of knowledge, create a perfect balance. And that garage setup with the Ferrari F40 and F50? It's like a dream come true. Keep up the awesome content, Harry and team! Looking forward to more great reviews and comparisons like this one.
Harry, really liking what Charlie brought to the table on this one. A straight shooter with great insight. Really good to see Father & Son together. I wouldn’t be opposed to more of this. Cheers from America!
@@johnsmith1474 It's a figure of speech, calm down. Besides, Harry clearly reads the comments and cares how his presentations come across, so letting Harry know that his content was entertaining and showing support *does* matter to Harry.
A 25% increase in price is so disappointing. At over £80k with no good pcp rates for the foreseeable future, this has now become far too expensive to justify.
He doesn't value anyone's opinion really. He censors people who he disagrees with (who prove him wrong by using simple facts). He literally censors people here!
@Landon-si5xcyo we’re not Christians. We actually know that our religion is the truth so there’s no way ur gonna convince others using that chanting method. Give them reason, logic and the Quran, then they’ll come knowing it’s the truth
Great to see father and son comparing. I bailed out last week buying the i4, due to the increased waiting time, poor customer service and THAT PRICE INCREASE. I've also seen the V6 selling now at 12% below list price for a 1 year old car which make the i4 expensive.
@@mattevans4377 Which is ridiculous as it has the "flair" of A class amg which means absolute none. Awful modern turbo 4 sound, no character and efficiency as only thing of note(and one responasible for killing cars soul). Excluding that stupid UK tax for higher displacement V6 would be far cheaper to run except for fuel. It gets amazing fuel economy for performance 6 cylinder. People just got spoiled by diesels and weeny 4/3 bangers and now something that is above mpg.that you would get in a 6 cylinder from mid 2000s except with much higher power is scoffed at. Ridiculous
I would like to suggest having Charlie over more often. His 'younger' views and wordings complement your knowledgeable points of view perfectly. This format would work great for classics as well, I think. Thank you both (and all others involved) for all the continued hard work.
That's me in the black gtr. Thought I'd spotted you that day! For me the dual clutch is a must have because when acceleration reaches a certain level you would effectively be driving one-handed as you are changing gear so often. The driving experience at that point becomes better with a dual-clutch and paddles
Great video and comparison 👍🏽 I’m fortunate to be the owner of a V6 Emira (same colour as Harry’s.!) Very happy with it, one of the best things about it is the engine, it properly howls at the top end and makes the car feel very special. Even bumbling around town in sport mode, it has a lovely crackle through the exhaust. I initially had an order for the i4 but cancelled and got a lightly used V6, and after seeing this video I’m glad I did. It looks like Lotus have had to do an awful lot of heat management with the AMG engine in a mid engine layout, and I can’t imagine higher outputs will be feasible as a result, but I may proven wrong! I considered the Porsche route but I’m very happy with that V6 and manual box 😊
Well done Charlie, very clear commentary and good to hear your thoughts. Not that I can really afford one, but I think if I really wanted a DCT sports car it would be the Porsche and save myself £20K to spend on insurance, fuel, roadtax and servicing.
Yep - you can load up a cayman with a good set of options for £80k, and as a daily driver they are even more practical (you can get a lot on top of the engine in the cayman inc long wide things). If practical wasn’t an issue Emira would be interesting, looks great.
@@Hali88 or you can drive an old one like my 987 that is every bit as good to drive at 1/4 to 1/3 the cost. You have to be comparable to be fair - the Emiras being reviewed are loaded with things that are costly extras (seats, leather, lights) on a cayman. I bought mine 6 years old, but it had been £70k (3.4s with pdk etc) new 12 years ago! So these aren’t that pricey in comparison (a 3 series BMW has risen from £30k towards £50k over the same period).
A great review, I had intended to try both before deciding but delays with the i4 and price increases, meant that I went V6, which I've had for a week now. Got in before the latest price hike and absolutely love the car, it's a brilliant drive (even though I'm still limited to 4k revs atm) and a real eye catcher.
Ah Harry, you've just turned this into the perfect sports car comparison test, younger driver giving unbiased and very technical review of both flavours of an incredible new Lotus, tempered by an old hack who you can planely see is incredibly proud of his son and is quick to point him back in the right direction as regards where Lotus are going with these two gorgeous cars. Harry of course these cars are both very much more expensive than planned and therein lies the rub, when a very well regarded Porsche is less expensive there is a problem. Review was exceptional as always, and Harry's son just added to the driver involvement, thanks as always Harry, top notch.
Really interesting comparison and it’s great to hear Charlie’s thoughts on both Emiras too. I think both are beautiful but I can’t see how the i4 is worth £20k more than a Cayman. Bonkers.
I would like you to include Charlie on more of your car reviews. He's very insightful, and he adds to the analysis that you, Harry, ,are so thoroughly good at!
Thank you for a great review, Harry and Charlie! I’d be very interested to see you compare the i4 with the V6 Automatic. I’m lucky to have a V6 Auto as my daily driver. Very quick shifts and much better than the manual in the real World, which is full of traffic jams. If you’d want to try my dark verdant car, come to Ghent, Belgium, and I’d be happy to have you drive it. Keep them coming, Harry, always very insightful! Thank you, Bart
I come to Gent each year with my Evora S1, when I drive up from my home in Italy to the U.K. for the annual control technique. Mine is also an automatic..it’s also has the TVS 1900 supercharger to give much more torque and about 420 Bhp. I absolutely love it. For my use case, automatic was absolutely the way to go…I have no regrets at all. 👍
@@martinsaunders2942 Thank you for this! I'm sure you're enjoying your Lotus Evora S1 with that type of supercharger. My previous car was also an Evora S IPS MY2012, which gave me a lot of joy as a daily driver. The Evora is likely to get increasingly valuable, with few cars built, which will make it much rarer than the Emira. Enjoy!
Wonderful to see you Charlie! Absolutely brilliant review We need more of these reviews together as the points of difference discussed are fascinating! Well done indeed 😊
Great review! Viewed from armchair perspective here, the sound of the V6 excites me more, more special, and tbh I like that “pause” in the sound-track on gear changes. The i4 sound-track is less well defined and I’ve never really liked the shot-gun gear change exhaust sound on sporty dual-clutch changes - although lifting off the throttle slightly on up-changes may soften that. My own experience is of 2.0 diesels with dual cutch (all VW’s), and having had these for the last 16 years am very much a fan of dct. I really never get on well with “sport” setting on dct, it’s just annoying, so flick between auto and manual changes as the road conditions and my mood suits. I’d go for i4 for daily use, economy, convenience. But would hanker after the sound-track of the V6.
That price hike is really disappointing: £60k sounded like a bit of a bargain, and was probably a bit optimistic/ headline grabbing. I expected the reality to be £10k more, but £20k+ is a very large increase - that's a third more, and will have lots of people going back to look at the Cayman again, I think. Great video, as always, and lovely to see the father/son interaction. Cheers.
They had a projected price and issued it. Not in a million years have the components required inflated that much, which means as usual that Lotus are trying to screw their customers. Let's not forget that this is an Evora in a frock, so it can't even be attributed to development cost.
At the announced 60K price I was super excited about the I4 version, but that 20K increase placed it out of reach. When the actual pricing became clear I went and bought a nearly-new A110 for over 30K less; and aside from a garbage infotainment system, I've been very pleased with it. It delivers exactly what I wanted/expected the I4 Emira to be.
Absolutely love this new Lotus. I think the V6 comes across more or less spot on. I don’t mind the sound a character of this turbo i4, though I do think the gear box needs some sorting. As Charlie put it, a simple map update should sort the ratios and general behaviour of the box. I do think Lotus missed a trick with the stick though. If you get the mapping right and combine that with an intuitive pull to go up the gears and a nudge forward to go back down the ratios, you could end up with a relatively satisfying driving experience. Especially in a car as small and chuck-able as the Emira. Funny thing is and from these videos, I do get the impression that the V6 comes across as a more sport touring type prospect. Where as the i4- with some the aforementioned gearbox revisions- could really hit the spot as a more racy track day tool. Its a shame you cannot option the four banger with a manual gearbox. Likewise, the V6 with a nicely sorted flappy paddle box. I'm thinking if Lotus could sort all that and bring the price down a tad ;)) they could have and absolute hit on their hands with these lovely cars. Regardless, nice work Harry and Charlie!! Lets have more in this father son format!!
There are certainly a lot of compelling arguments for the I4, no doubt, but as a (lucky) Evora 400 owner, it's the V6 for me all day long. My DCT turbo I4 Audi is for daily duties. The SC V6 Lotus for fun. It is special. Lovely video, nice to see your son brought in to. Thanks.
If it fits I would like to see some more videos of you both together. Very well done, Harry, and Charlie with his own very nuanced view on the matter. Two Lotus in comparative competition but two car enthusiasts in very good complement. About the cars, I hope Lotus doesn't overprice the Emira now to sell enough of them. At 60K I would think about it but at 85K no more. I'd rather keep my 2007 Elise. You can't compare it to the Emira for many reasons but I have the fun too, maybe even more at 830 Kg.
Great to have your feedback on the i4. Like you, I opted for the V6 manual and would like to try the i4 for comparison, but as I don't 'daily' mine then your thoughts seem to back up my choice of V6.
@@clipsbyme definitely! Because while the whine of the turbo charger and the fan at the back could get annoying and on your nevers, I think that would make the auto choosers pick the v6 auto instead. Although a dual clutch transmission changes gears faster than a torque converter but obviously torque converters are still livable with especially when you just need the Emira as your all rounder/daily
@@artlorddavis5836 Indeed - mine arrives this month (v6 Auto) and for me the auto is perfect - 8 gears is bound to be short - a comparison of gear ratios would be most helpful. I have had my V6 Exige Auto for 6 years and love it to bits.
I liked how Charlie was included in this video. I'm aware he's a big part of the channel and he drives pretty much everything, so of course his opinion is useful and worthwhile including in the video.
'You are paying for the Lotus name' A very interesting point. I have felt that the other big names have been doing that sort of thing for years and they've benefitted financially for that. Lotus has always been the underdog, playing catchup. But it now seems their quality is much improved as is their confidence. The 2 engines seemed an odd mix to me initially, but this video has really shown, especially with Charlie's opinion as well, that the market now has a much bigger appeal basis than with just the v6. The better fuel consumption is a nice bonus but with this price bracket and the horrendous road tax rip off, is the buyer that concerned about mpg ? You are now buying supreme handing and exclusivity, and that comes at a price. Well done Lotus.
Not sure I'd trust Lotus to be quality cars. They've always charged a premium for the great chassis designs, driving dynamics but when it gets close to Porsche money you KNOW you are going to lose money by buying a Lotus.
i was fully prepared not to like this video, but the boys views and perspectives were great and not just agreeing with dads opinions. great video hopefully there is more from the metcalf family.
What a great video Harry! The involvement of Charlie is a really good idea. It gives a different perspective on the cars more of a layman's view, so interesting to see how the experience is interpreted between you both. That's no bad thing as it is the view that the the great part of the buying public would relate to.
If I had £100k to buy a car this would 100% be it. Forget an M3, 911 and all those usual contenders which you could just about get a base model without any options for that money, with this you'd get change from your £100k and it's just a beautiful car in every way.
Through my eyes this exterior colour is the best of them all, shows off all the lines and curves where the blue or yellow makes it a bit flat. Interior fantastic ANYTHING than black and my choice would be the V6 manual….. The rear air intakes remind me of the new McLaren ARTURA which is not a bad thing at all … great design, great content !
Bravo for bringing in Charlie and his point of view! You know he is quite good! The difference in fuel efficiency is not surprising, but it is significant. V6 or I4? A very difficult choice, unless the transmission dictates a preference. Very interesting review, thank you both.
I cant imagine buying a two seater, low volume sports car, and choosing the one with the less fun, less reliable engine, and worse gearbox. I mean COME ON.
@@mitchellsteindler Lotus are wanting to gain more mass appeal, which does mean making it feasible to be someone's only/daily car. A turbo charged automatic makes sense to appeal to a particular demographic, who want a good looking sports car but they aren't bothered by the compromises in "driving purity". They want convenience and for the running costs to not be too high. As much as I would love the V6, I don't know if I could justify the additional expenses as it would be my daily. Perhaps a manual I4 could be a sweet spot for me, the fun of a manual but without the significant increase in running costs, but unfortunately that isn't an option!
Well, I own an Audi with I4 Turbo and DSG and like it a lot for long trips. I also have a Miata NB with a manual, fun to drive sharper steering. BTW 33 mpg vs. 30 mpg US on the highway. So which do I prefer? Neither, they both serve a purpose, but they aren't daily drivers either. @@mitchellsteindler
@@mitchellsteindler Well... Yeah, exactly?That's because they made very niche cars. If they want to grow their brand and not just survive, they need to diversify and create cars that appeal to a wider audience, which is what they are doing. Hopefully they sell enough of the SUVs so they can continue developing and making sports cars.
7:07 Harry, its a safety thing. Actor *Anton Yelchin* was the highest profile case of an accidental gear engagement when his Chrysler reversed into him as he was opening his gate. From then on, cars have now got some kind of way to prevent accidental gear engagement.
Great Video and comparison between the two . I think I’ll be happy with either. Charlie’s comment at the end “ I’m not a journalist “ not needed , came across very well 👍
As a paraplegic driver, I am pleased there is another option from Lotus. I do know that it is possible to convert manual gearboxes to hand controls, but the double clutch route is an easier option. I jumped for a base 911 (991.2), which is a more practical option for me, and I do love the whole 911 experience. As such, it is a keeper (currently done 100 000miles since new) and will hopefully outlast me!
Let's see more of Charlie, that conversation between the two of you is a really interesting feature. Watching the two of you discussing the cars, really teasing out details that you had both experienced over a period of time provided far more insight than your usual (and very good, I might add) summing up. As ever, another great video on the roads of my old stomping ground...
When they launched the car, i thought the engines were a bit closely matched, there's obviously a bit more too it than that, but would it be an easier choice with a bigger performance/price gap? Also, nice Elise S1 cameo 😁
It's easy knowing Charlie isn't a journalist; his reviews are straight to the point and honest. He's not worried about being blacklisted by a manufacturer. And this is the way it should be. Manufacturers should be building cars to please drivers, not paid-for shills. Well done Metcalfe Jnr & Snr.
The additional colors are available on the V6 as well, starting with the higher-priced second batch of the First Edition, that they announced a while back.
I like the Harry & Charlie show, great insights and Charlie pulls no punches, both cars have good and bad points and the little things like the gear selector can be immensely annying over time.
Charlie is right about the auto being practical in the traffic commuting and all that but you will never have the same control as you do with a manual. I'm sure there is an art to using the paddles and you can get good at it but the more direct involvement you have with a sports car the better so I would be the same as Harry and go for the manual V6. If there was a manual version of the x4 turbo, then I would have a difficult choice. Old story, manual geared towards the very important American market QED. Roger (Dublin) ps if you are rich enough buy both of them in different colours.
Was pleasantly surprised by the lovely engine note of the i4 and feel Lotus have judged this very well. For me though, you still can't beat that great v6 sound and so that would be the one for me. Great video as usual Harry, and including your son was a really good thing in getting the younger generation insight and would be very interesting on some future posts, certainly with newer cars.
Great review Harry. I look forward to trying an i4 but like you I absolutely love my v6. The noise and the connection I think will keep the car feeling more 'special'. Also, I paid the same price as you so think we now got a bargain. I went DV but the Nimbus looks great.
Interesting comment on the lower centre of gravity. I helped a friend install a Duratec in his S1 Elise and we managed to drop the crank centreline by 30mm as well as pushing it forwards about 15mm and the transformation was quite remarkable compared with a standard K-series at pretty much the same weight.
Great video and good to have father and son review! I had noticed the fan on the video which if you can hear when driving is a shame, but I'm sure it wont detract from the driving experience too much!
Another great , Honest, Review with a new added generational twist. Lotus have really put a very difficult choose for the buyer, but ultimately it sounds like they will be happy with whatever they choose. I think I would go i4 for just get in and go but fully understand Harry’s choose based on what his planned use would be. Excellent watching 👏🏼👏🏼
Dear commenters who are very very excited to tell us what L.O.T.U.S stands for. Thank you so much for your very funny joke. We have heard it many times. But it’s very funny and we appreciate the value you bring to the discussion.
My Audi S4 has a supercharged v6. I did a resonator delete and it sounds incredible. I heard an Evora V6 at a track day and it sounded great too. Also V6 is far less complex.
The grey one is my favourite.
Haaa! I know, both please…
I'm sure Harry will appreciate that!
😅
You've got it all wrong. The grey one is definitely better.
Nah... the grey one is the better car, sorry.
just love the fact that in almost every video from harry, you can see a Ferrari F40 and a F50 sitting there casually in the garage like it's the most normal thing in the world
I would _love_ to learn one day, that Mrs Metcalfe sometimes strolls out to the shed, and jumps into.... _any car she likes_ , and pops into town to post a parcel, or maybe choose a bottle of wine for later. That's when the boot space in, say, the Testarossa would be ideal - right? 😏
Even better, would be if she just goes for a good blat around the countryside! 😄
Don't forget the countache
Don't forget that it's _Countach_ ,@@GrantBattle-w2m. 🤦🏼♂️
There used to be a zonda too lol
Are those cars his?
Nice to see a father & son Enjoy doing the same hobby/passion at the same time on screen together, should show others what’s possible in that respect.
@Landon-si5xc No thanks bro, unless you got one of those flying carpets I can take for a spin. But jokes aside tis a fine religion with fine ppls, I’m sure it can help ppl achieve whatever it is they wish to achieve, as with others.
That was me in my Elise at 9:13! Very cool to see the Emira out and about!
Having you and Charlie as sound boards felt good. He may not be a journalist but the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. Wouldn’t mind seeing more of that.
Agreed, I felt his input was great.
He could have ironed his T-shirt though 😂
Agreed. More Charlie.
The Apple
"Charlie Metcalfe is a British journalist. He writes for magazines and newspapers, including WIRED, The Guardian, and MIT Technology Review."
I must say, the addition of Charlie's perspective really took this review to the next level. It's refreshing to see a father and son duo sharing their insights and opinions on these fantastic cars. Charlie's candid views, combined with Harry's wealth of knowledge, create a perfect balance. And that garage setup with the Ferrari F40 and F50? It's like a dream come true. Keep up the awesome content, Harry and team! Looking forward to more great reviews and comparisons like this one.
Hear hear.
Agreed 👍
Charlie pulls no punches and says it like it is. Bravo!
Yes a natural like the ole boy. Plus every time an Englishman says Charlie I think of that video with “Charlie bit my finger “lol!
Meanwhile Harry shadowbans replies to him if they use facts to disprove something he said...not so bravo...
Is that the same Charlie that the Jaguar engine builder said had been thrashing his dad's new V12 XJC engine 😂
Really? The only thing he disagreed on was that the 110 is a similar car.
Charlie is more direct and to the point than Harry!
Thank you for the comparison. You have done more for the Lotus brand than their marketing department.
Harry, really liking what Charlie brought to the table on this one. A straight shooter with great insight. Really good to see Father & Son together. I wouldn’t be opposed to more of this. Cheers from America!
Like it would matter if you were "opposed."
@@johnsmith1474 It's a figure of speech, calm down. Besides, Harry clearly reads the comments and cares how his presentations come across, so letting Harry know that his content was entertaining and showing support *does* matter to Harry.
@@johnsmith1474 Are you sure that your name is John and not Dick?
Wish I could talk to my dad like that. Like a conversation, to a friend.
A 25% increase in price is so disappointing. At over £80k with no good pcp rates for the foreseeable future, this has now become far too expensive to justify.
Yeah, just hopping on the "price increase" bandwagon, like everyone is.
blame putin
welcome to post-COVID era.
It's a 33% increase or 40% if you include the onroad fees.
I say "forget it"
Harry, love the way you value your son's opinion. You are so proud about him and that force is magic. Cheers from Greece
He doesn't value anyone's opinion really. He censors people who he disagrees with (who prove him wrong by using simple facts). He literally censors people here!
@Landon-si5xcyo we’re not Christians. We actually know that our religion is the truth so there’s no way ur gonna convince others using that chanting method. Give them reason, logic and the Quran, then they’ll come knowing it’s the truth
Like father, like son. A nice 'two-watch' insight on how these match up. Your grandson might have to decide which one he prefers!
Great to see father and son comparing. I bailed out last week buying the i4, due to the increased waiting time, poor customer service and THAT PRICE INCREASE. I've also seen the V6 selling now at 12% below list price for a 1 year old car which make the i4 expensive.
Shouldve gotten V6 mt.
Doesn't this mean more people want the 4 cylinder automatic? Bonkers world if you ask me.
@@mattevans4377 Which is ridiculous as it has the "flair" of A class amg which means absolute none. Awful modern turbo 4 sound, no character and efficiency as only thing of note(and one responasible for killing cars soul).
Excluding that stupid UK tax for higher displacement V6 would be far cheaper to run except for fuel. It gets amazing fuel economy for performance 6 cylinder. People just got spoiled by diesels and weeny 4/3 bangers and now something that is above mpg.that you would get in a 6 cylinder from mid 2000s except with much higher power is scoffed at. Ridiculous
The i4 is slower and not a drivers car. If you want an automatic don’t buy a lotus
Your son has definitely learn to use your words Harry, he is a great communicator. Lovely video and greatly described by both of you.
Such a great dynamic having Charlie on - you both pick up on specific and very different thoughts and feelings which is really cool.
You can always see the love in Harry's eyes when he is with his son.
They have the same passion respect and love for car's 👍🏼
I have to say that it was great to have Charlie along for a second (and critical) opinion.
And those side by side and overtake shots were spectacular
It’s great to see Charlie with Harry. Great team. 😊
More content with Charlie! Great conversation between the two of you on the differences and summary, great job Harry
I would like to suggest having Charlie over more often. His 'younger' views and wordings complement your knowledgeable points of view perfectly. This format would work great for classics as well, I think. Thank you both (and all others involved) for all the continued hard work.
That's me in the black gtr. Thought I'd spotted you that day!
For me the dual clutch is a must have because when acceleration reaches a certain level you would effectively be driving one-handed as you are changing gear so often. The driving experience at that point becomes better with a dual-clutch and paddles
😂
Its very unfortunate what has happened to the price. This is dipping into territory that is better fulfilled by other sports cars.
Such as?
For £81k?
Remember when Nissan GTR was 60k brand new? Those were the days, no markups either.
Cayman gts
The prices didn’t rise…
the value of the money get lost.
Great video and comparison 👍🏽 I’m fortunate to be the owner of a V6 Emira (same colour as Harry’s.!) Very happy with it, one of the best things about it is the engine, it properly howls at the top end and makes the car feel very special. Even bumbling around town in sport mode, it has a lovely crackle through the exhaust.
I initially had an order for the i4 but cancelled and got a lightly used V6, and after seeing this video I’m glad I did. It looks like Lotus have had to do an awful lot of heat management with the AMG engine in a mid engine layout, and I can’t imagine higher outputs will be feasible as a result, but I may proven wrong!
I considered the Porsche route but I’m very happy with that V6 and manual box 😊
You have a 100 years old engine with no torque and a truck gearbox...congrats
This was the comparison video I've been waiting for for 2 years, thanks. It would be perfect if you also did a head-to-head race
the nimbus grey should be called British sky blue
clever
Or just english sky😊
😂😂😂
😂
Well done Charlie, very clear commentary and good to hear your thoughts. Not that I can really afford one, but I think if I really wanted a DCT sports car it would be the Porsche and save myself £20K to spend on insurance, fuel, roadtax and servicing.
By the time you’ve added extras in the Porsche like a steering wheel and engine I reckon you’ll be around the same price.
@@oldbasted😂
Yep - you can load up a cayman with a good set of options for £80k, and as a daily driver they are even more practical (you can get a lot on top of the engine in the cayman inc long wide things). If practical wasn’t an issue Emira would be interesting, looks great.
@@rfpho1456 you can make them £80k, but you don't have to. A base spec car is perfectly usable.
@@Hali88 or you can drive an old one like my 987 that is every bit as good to drive at 1/4 to 1/3 the cost. You have to be comparable to be fair - the Emiras being reviewed are loaded with things that are costly extras (seats, leather, lights) on a cayman. I bought mine 6 years old, but it had been £70k (3.4s with pdk etc) new 12 years ago! So these aren’t that pricey in comparison (a 3 series BMW has risen from £30k towards £50k over the same period).
A great review, I had intended to try both before deciding but delays with the i4 and price increases, meant that I went V6, which I've had for a week now. Got in before the latest price hike and absolutely love the car, it's a brilliant drive (even though I'm still limited to 4k revs atm) and a real eye catcher.
Congrats on the correct choice.
👍
You also have Toyota reliability unlike Mercedes unreliability.
Lol@@EvoraGT430
Ah Harry, you've just turned this into the perfect sports car comparison test, younger driver giving unbiased and very technical review of both flavours of an incredible new Lotus, tempered by an old hack who you can planely see is incredibly proud of his son and is quick to point him back in the right direction as regards where Lotus are going with these two gorgeous cars. Harry of course these cars are both very much more expensive than planned and therein lies the rub, when a very well regarded Porsche is less expensive there is a problem. Review was exceptional as always, and Harry's son just added to the driver involvement, thanks as always Harry, top notch.
Really interesting comparison and it’s great to hear Charlie’s thoughts on both Emiras too. I think both are beautiful but I can’t see how the i4 is worth £20k more than a Cayman. Bonkers.
I do love the Emira. Looking forward to driving one. Interesting comparison between the two models. Sounds like both have their pros and cons.
I would like you to include Charlie on more of your car reviews. He's very insightful, and he adds to the analysis that you, Harry, ,are so thoroughly good at!
Thank you for a great review, Harry and Charlie! I’d be very interested to see you compare the i4 with the V6 Automatic. I’m lucky to have a V6 Auto as my daily driver. Very quick shifts and much better than the manual in the real World, which is full of traffic jams. If you’d want to try my dark verdant car, come to Ghent, Belgium, and I’d be happy to have you drive it. Keep them coming, Harry, always very insightful! Thank you, Bart
I come to Gent each year with my Evora S1, when I drive up from my home in Italy to the U.K. for the annual control technique. Mine is also an automatic..it’s also has the TVS 1900 supercharger to give much more torque and about 420 Bhp. I absolutely love it. For my use case, automatic was absolutely the way to go…I have no regrets at all. 👍
@@martinsaunders2942 Thank you for this! I'm sure you're enjoying your Lotus Evora S1 with that type of supercharger. My previous car was also an Evora S IPS MY2012, which gave me a lot of joy as a daily driver. The Evora is likely to get increasingly valuable, with few cars built, which will make it much rarer than the Emira. Enjoy!
V6 auto is perfect😊
Wonderful to see you Charlie!
Absolutely brilliant review
We need more of these reviews together as the points of difference discussed are fascinating!
Well done indeed 😊
I have a V6 Emira and i have absolutely no intention of changing it for the i4 thats for dam sure!!!
Great review of two fabulous cars by father and son, sharing and discussing their thoughts about cars on test. Good to see Charlie again.
Great review!
Viewed from armchair perspective here, the sound of the V6 excites me more, more special, and tbh I like that “pause” in the sound-track on gear changes. The i4 sound-track is less well defined and I’ve never really liked the shot-gun gear change exhaust sound on sporty dual-clutch changes - although lifting off the throttle slightly on up-changes may soften that.
My own experience is of 2.0 diesels with dual cutch (all VW’s), and having had these for the last 16 years am very much a fan of dct. I really never get on well with “sport” setting on dct, it’s just annoying, so flick between auto and manual changes as the road conditions and my mood suits.
I’d go for i4 for daily use, economy, convenience. But would hanker after the sound-track of the V6.
I think Charlie is spot on with his take on it. Would be a fantastic every day car if you had to have just one of them and use it for everything.
Flippin love that car, (either of them) absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Thanks Harry. Great stuff.
Loving this father/son type of video. A great addition to the channel Harry.
That price hike is really disappointing: £60k sounded like a bit of a bargain, and was probably a bit optimistic/ headline grabbing. I expected the reality to be £10k more, but £20k+ is a very large increase - that's a third more, and will have lots of people going back to look at the Cayman again, I think.
Great video, as always, and lovely to see the father/son interaction. Cheers.
They had a projected price and issued it. Not in a million years have the components required inflated that much, which means as usual that Lotus are trying to screw their customers. Let's not forget that this is an Evora in a frock, so it can't even be attributed to development cost.
80k for a 2 seater A45s
The AMG cars that have the i4 engine are priced much lower.
@@antihypocrisy8978 THEY AREN'T NOW
At the announced 60K price I was super excited about the I4 version, but that 20K increase placed it out of reach. When the actual pricing became clear I went and bought a nearly-new A110 for over 30K less; and aside from a garbage infotainment system, I've been very pleased with it. It delivers exactly what I wanted/expected the I4 Emira to be.
Congrats!
@@jeremyb4493 Thank you.
Good job on the A110.
By a country mile a better car.
Regarding the infotainment system, nothing a £40 phone holder can’t fix 😂
2 in a week we are lucky, Thanks Harry
Thanks for this side by side comparison Harry, and pleased to meet you Charlie.
You two work much better than Top Gear. More of this please.
Aside from seeing the main focus of a back to back comparison, it’s fun spotting all the other ’interesting’ cars around Harry’s local roads
Absolutely love this new Lotus. I think the V6 comes across more or less spot on. I don’t mind the sound a character of this turbo i4, though I do think the gear box needs some sorting. As Charlie put it, a simple map update should sort the ratios and general behaviour of the box. I do think Lotus missed a trick with the stick though. If you get the mapping right and combine that with an intuitive pull to go up the gears and a nudge forward to go back down the ratios, you could end up with a relatively satisfying driving experience. Especially in a car as small and chuck-able as the Emira.
Funny thing is and from these videos, I do get the impression that the V6 comes across as a more sport touring type prospect. Where as the i4- with some the aforementioned gearbox revisions- could really hit the spot as a more racy track day tool. Its a shame you cannot option the four banger with a manual gearbox. Likewise, the V6 with a nicely sorted flappy paddle box. I'm thinking if Lotus could sort all that and bring the price down a tad ;)) they could have and absolute hit on their hands with these lovely cars.
Regardless, nice work Harry and Charlie!! Lets have more in this father son format!!
The perks of being Harry’s son is a blessing 🙏🏽
There are certainly a lot of compelling arguments for the I4, no doubt, but as a (lucky) Evora 400 owner, it's the V6 for me all day long. My DCT turbo I4 Audi is for daily duties. The SC V6 Lotus for fun. It is special.
Lovely video, nice to see your son brought in to. Thanks.
It only makes about 320 hp on a dyno though
@@fzr1000981 Sure it does.
@@EvoraGT430 are you doubting that? Look it up
Charlies contribution was a very helpful. Just felt right. Please keep him on the channel as a regular!
If it fits I would like to see some more videos of you both together. Very well done, Harry, and Charlie with his own very nuanced view on the matter. Two Lotus in comparative competition but two car enthusiasts in very good complement.
About the cars, I hope Lotus doesn't overprice the Emira now to sell enough of them. At 60K I would think about it but at 85K no more. I'd rather keep my 2007 Elise. You can't compare it to the Emira for many reasons but I have the fun too, maybe even more at 830 Kg.
More Father & Son Reviews please. You Two are a Very Good match.
Great to have your feedback on the i4. Like you, I opted for the V6 manual and would like to try the i4 for comparison, but as I don't 'daily' mine then your thoughts seem to back up my choice of V6.
More Charlie please! I like the chemistry.
There's also an automatic for the v6 that uses a torque converter. Hope to see a review of that soon
Yes agree - that would be a better comparison.
@@clipsbyme definitely! Because while the whine of the turbo charger and the fan at the back could get annoying and on your nevers, I think that would make the auto choosers pick the v6 auto instead. Although a dual clutch transmission changes gears faster than a torque converter but obviously torque converters are still livable with especially when you just need the Emira as your all rounder/daily
@@artlorddavis5836 Indeed - mine arrives this month (v6 Auto) and for me the auto is perfect - 8 gears is bound to be short - a comparison of gear ratios would be most helpful. I have had my V6 Exige Auto for 6 years and love it to bits.
I liked how Charlie was included in this video. I'm aware he's a big part of the channel and he drives pretty much everything, so of course his opinion is useful and worthwhile including in the video.
'You are paying for the Lotus name' A very interesting point.
I have felt that the other big names have been doing that sort of thing for years and they've benefitted financially for that. Lotus has always been the underdog, playing catchup.
But it now seems their quality is much improved as is their confidence.
The 2 engines seemed an odd mix to me initially, but this video has really shown, especially with Charlie's opinion as well, that the market now has a much bigger appeal basis than with just the v6.
The better fuel consumption is a nice bonus but with this price bracket and the horrendous road tax rip off, is the buyer that concerned about mpg ?
You are now buying supreme handing and exclusivity, and that comes at a price.
Well done Lotus.
A Lotus is still is no Porsche! Not by a long shot.
Not sure I'd trust Lotus to be quality cars. They've always charged a premium for the great chassis designs, driving dynamics but when it gets close to Porsche money you KNOW you are going to lose money by buying a Lotus.
i was fully prepared not to like this video, but the boys views and perspectives were great and not just agreeing with dads opinions. great video hopefully there is more from the metcalf family.
What a great video Harry! The involvement of Charlie is a really good idea. It gives a different perspective on the cars more of a layman's view, so interesting to see how the experience is interpreted between you both. That's no bad thing as it is the view that the the great part of the buying public would relate to.
“Old school turbo laggy boosted”. Love the brutal honesty from Charlie.
If I had £100k to buy a car this would 100% be it. Forget an M3, 911 and all those usual contenders which you could just about get a base model without any options for that money, with this you'd get change from your £100k and it's just a beautiful car in every way.
Through my eyes this exterior colour is the best of them all, shows off all the lines and curves where the blue or yellow makes it a bit flat. Interior fantastic ANYTHING than black and my choice would be the V6 manual….. The rear air intakes remind me of the new McLaren ARTURA which is not a bad thing at all … great design, great content !
Bravo for bringing in Charlie and his point of view! You know he is quite good! The difference in fuel efficiency is not surprising, but it is significant. V6 or I4? A very difficult choice, unless the transmission dictates a preference. Very interesting review, thank you both.
I cant imagine buying a two seater, low volume sports car, and choosing the one with the less fun, less reliable engine, and worse gearbox. I mean COME ON.
@@mitchellsteindler Lotus are wanting to gain more mass appeal, which does mean making it feasible to be someone's only/daily car. A turbo charged automatic makes sense to appeal to a particular demographic, who want a good looking sports car but they aren't bothered by the compromises in "driving purity". They want convenience and for the running costs to not be too high.
As much as I would love the V6, I don't know if I could justify the additional expenses as it would be my daily. Perhaps a manual I4 could be a sweet spot for me, the fun of a manual but without the significant increase in running costs, but unfortunately that isn't an option!
@olivera182 nobody outside of enthusiasts and British people even know that Lotus exists.
Well, I own an Audi with I4 Turbo and DSG and like it a lot for long trips. I also have a Miata NB with a manual, fun to drive sharper steering. BTW 33 mpg vs. 30 mpg US on the highway. So which do I prefer? Neither, they both serve a purpose, but they aren't daily drivers either. @@mitchellsteindler
@@mitchellsteindler Well... Yeah, exactly?That's because they made very niche cars. If they want to grow their brand and not just survive, they need to diversify and create cars that appeal to a wider audience, which is what they are doing.
Hopefully they sell enough of the SUVs so they can continue developing and making sports cars.
GREAT Vid.... watching cars drive in 25fps was a bit hard, but you are one of the only people showcasing the sound of the i4
7:07 Harry, its a safety thing. Actor *Anton Yelchin* was the highest profile case of an accidental gear engagement when his Chrysler reversed into him as he was opening his gate. From then on, cars have now got some kind of way to prevent accidental gear engagement.
Thank you for that insight.
Great Video and comparison between the two . I think I’ll be happy with either. Charlie’s comment at the end “ I’m not a journalist “ not needed , came across very well 👍
As a paraplegic driver, I am pleased there is another option from Lotus. I do know that it is possible to convert manual gearboxes to hand controls, but the double clutch route is an easier option. I jumped for a base 911 (991.2), which is a more practical option for me, and I do love the whole 911 experience. As such, it is a keeper (currently done 100 000miles since new) and will hopefully outlast me!
The V6 also has an automatic transmission option but its not the same as the dct in the i4.
Let's see more of Charlie, that conversation between the two of you is a really interesting feature. Watching the two of you discussing the cars, really teasing out details that you had both experienced over a period of time provided far more insight than your usual (and very good, I might add) summing up. As ever, another great video on the roads of my old stomping ground...
When they launched the car, i thought the engines were a bit closely matched, there's obviously a bit more too it than that, but would it be an easier choice with a bigger performance/price gap? Also, nice Elise S1 cameo 😁
The first 10 seconds of the vid answers the question for me 🔊
Nice Elise photo-bomb at 9:14!
What about the GT-R photo bomb?! 😂
@@TML34 What's one of those...?
@@AndyRRR0791 22:37
@@TML34 Oh, I thought that was a Prius.
@@AndyRRR0791 🤣
It's easy knowing Charlie isn't a journalist; his reviews are straight to the point and honest. He's not worried about being blacklisted by a manufacturer.
And this is the way it should be. Manufacturers should be building cars to please drivers, not paid-for shills.
Well done Metcalfe Jnr & Snr.
Cheers from the USA! Great car reviews. Question: Does the I4 engine come with a limited slip differential too?
Mechanical slip diff on v6 only I think - good question
Really enjoyed Charlie's input. Brought an extra dimension to the comments.
The additional colors are available on the V6 as well, starting with the higher-priced second batch of the First Edition, that they announced a while back.
More father and son interviews please! I recommend just like you did here - 75% old Harry, 25% young Charlie + Harry. Well done!
Great to see the father-son interaction.
I like the Harry & Charlie show, great insights and Charlie pulls no punches, both cars have good and bad points and the little things like the gear selector can be immensely annying over time.
Guess sleep has to wait for another 29 minutes!
I have vacation. A beer and Harry.
I always watch at 1.5x speed and get through more videos.
Hitting the rev limiter while you shift 'on time' is something I also experienced in more Mercedesses, even with the SLS AMG back in the day.
Charlie is right about the auto being practical in the traffic commuting and all that but you will never have the same control as you do with a manual. I'm sure there is an art to using the paddles and you can get good at it but the more direct involvement you have with a sports car the better so I would be the same as Harry and go for the manual V6. If there was a manual version of the x4 turbo, then I would have a difficult choice. Old story, manual geared towards the very important American market QED. Roger (Dublin) ps if you are rich enough buy both of them in different colours.
Agree. And it’s not really a commuter. I’d go a Toyota Corolla for clocking work miles. Keep the v6 for the weekend.
I wish my dad had a channel like this!
Was pleasantly surprised by the lovely engine note of the i4 and feel Lotus have judged this very well. For me though, you still can't beat that great v6 sound and so that would be the one for me. Great video as usual Harry, and including your son was a really good thing in getting the younger generation insight and would be very interesting on some future posts, certainly with newer cars.
The grey one is my favourite.. It’s great to see Charlie with Harry. Great team. .
Great review Harry. I look forward to trying an i4 but like you I absolutely love my v6. The noise and the connection I think will keep the car feeling more 'special'. Also, I paid the same price as you so think we now got a bargain. I went DV but the Nimbus looks great.
Great to see these two in a direct comparison Harry, thanks for sharing
Interesting comment on the lower centre of gravity. I helped a friend install a Duratec in his S1 Elise and we managed to drop the crank centreline by 30mm as well as pushing it forwards about 15mm and the transformation was quite remarkable compared with a standard K-series at pretty much the same weight.
Clever stuff. CoG is a critical factor in how a car feels when being pushed hard. Hence why cars like the Audi R8 and most Ferrari are dry-sumped.
I hope you put some nice cams and a header on that duratec!
Great video and good to have father and son review! I had noticed the fan on the video which if you can hear when driving is a shame, but I'm sure it wont detract from the driving experience too much!
I wonder if the Audi 5 cylinder RS3 engine would fit? With 400 bhp and that 5 cylinder growl... 🤔😎
Nice idea.
Another great , Honest, Review with a new added generational twist. Lotus have really put a very difficult choose for the buyer, but ultimately it sounds like they will be happy with whatever they choose. I think I would go i4 for just get in and go but fully understand Harry’s choose based on what his planned use would be. Excellent watching 👏🏼👏🏼
Great review. Love them both. Two perfectly complementary cars. And a bargain. McLaren or Ferrari thrills and looks for 1/3 of the price.
what a lovely review. not just beautiful cars but a lovely father/son dynamic
That road is turning into the Nurburgring of England.
Excellent content. Really nailed the key differentials between both cars and importantly both drivers. Horses for courses. V6 for us old timers.
Dear commenters who are very very excited to tell us what L.O.T.U.S stands for. Thank you so much for your very funny joke. We have heard it many times. But it’s very funny and we appreciate the value you bring to the discussion.
My Audi S4 has a supercharged v6. I did a resonator delete and it sounds incredible. I heard an Evora V6 at a track day and it sounded great too. Also V6 is far less complex.
Mad money for an I4😮 but likely the best I4 on the market currently😂
Yes thank you! I have been waiting for an I4 verse V6 review. Great job you guys. Love this car. Putting order in for V6 ASAP!
🔴 Just say it already -- *Lotus broke their promise and betrayed themselves crossing into 911 money!* _What's even the point now?_
As an ex lotus employee... I'm so glad to see them stepping up their game with the Emira. It's a really good car imo.
@Landon-si5xc doesn't Allah translate from Arabic to God in English?
Sorry based on this, I'm out.