981 Boxster GTS MT owner here. I chose the Porsche because having support for maintenance, spares and repairs is critical for long term ownership. 0 Lotus dealers here, and no independent shops that work on Lotus that I know about within 100 miles.
@@paulricketts1089 I know that the Lotus Exige used a supercharged derivative of the 2GR Toyota engine that is also present on my Tacoma. But it had many bespoke parts, and a supercharger. It is different enough that a Toyota dealer or independent Toyota shop will refuse to touch it. The only car/truck that Toyota/Lexus sells with a manual transmission with the 2GR engine is the Tacoma. I doubt Lotus put a truck transmission in a sports car. Even then, a mid engine car requires transaxle instead of a traditional transmission that outputs to a drive shaft, and Toyota doesn't make one. The whole conversation about the Exige is moot, because they couldn't sell it in the US. I don't know what engine Emira is running, but it will be hard to buy and maintain in much of the US. Porsche engines and trans are some of the most reliable in the performance car market. You will see them handle the abuse of trackdays like a champ. They may be more sensitive to lack of maintenance, and maintenance and parts are more expensive. But if you take care of a Porsche, they last a real long time.
(In France) we have some extra tax for emissions so it’s a no brainer, the A110 ends up 30K cheaper than the (4 cylinder) 718. Also, in your test, you came to the conclusion that you wanted something that is already offered by Alpine, namely the A110 GT with the soft damping of the Pure and the engine of the S. Obviously a 4.0 liter Porsche or the brand new Emira have a lot of appeal but the A110 (maybe not the S) is still a sensible choice and by far the best bang for buck 😊
low miles near new: A110 are £37k, gts 4.0 £60k, emira £64k. Me..981 S for £35k, sounds the best, handles amazingly, reliable, wont lose much £ and performs as well on the road as the others.
@@autodigitvlogs what issues does the A110 have? It's already £35k with low miles near new. The Emira has ongoing issues, you'll want an extended warranty and acess to a dealer nearby. The gts 4.0 and the 981 generation are proven, issues are minor and well known by now.
@@georgesheffield1580 while I wish it was available in Norway. For some reason Renault refuses to bring it into the country, even though they sell it all over the rest of europe😞
As a previous owner of Exige, Cayman and Boxsters I would say the Porsche is probably the best overall package and more well rounded product, but the Lotus kills it on looks and excitement factor.
Since when is a 400bhp not powerful enough? In a world where electrics get 1000bhp, people are seemingly forgetting most places in the world you can drive at what? 50km/h inside cities and 120km/h in highways? Yeah, 400bhp is more than enough.
They should've compared the other 2 with the A110GT. That's hands down one of the best cars ever. The S is more a track car. I would choose the A110 everytime - the lightness, the handling, the looks..... it's a class apart. The GT is the sweetspot; the sublimeness of the Pure, with the power of the S.
I would have to go with the Lotus the Porsche is amazing but you see them all over the road. The lotus is unique and driving a lotus is just so engaging and purist
Not looking for practicality, I'm looking for an beautiful exotic looking car with wonderful steering feel that stands out in a crowd. Lotus is my vote based on being "the most exciting of the three" to quote the host. .
@@ianstallings go up in value like previous Lotuses or McLarens or most Porsches or even Ferraris? Caterhams are even rarer and exciting and they depreciate too.
It's a hard one but owning a Porsche myself (a 981 with the NA engine) I can say that it's REALLY hard to beat in terms of driving experience, engine "specialness", sound, chassis, gearbox (tall gears but super sharp and precise shiftings) and seating position...AND, it's also practical with two boots making it even more usable and enjoyable (the difference between taking a car for a spin and back home or taking a car for a weekend and enjoying it over different driving conditions). I Love (absolutely love) the old Exige S with the 1.6 Toyota engine and i've driven one for a while: an unforgettable experience. I hoped the Emira to be a new Elise, more comfortable but still with that pure experience...the problem is that while I love the look of it, this Emira is lacking in some other important areas. The engine is good but that rev limiter at 6.5k is way too low for a sport car like this and all the reviews are saying that the gearbox is not the best (possibly spoiling the connection with the car and its driving experience). Those who are saying "Emira all day" are basing it just on the look which I agree is better compared to the "honest" but almost 10yrs old Cayman (it will always look good anyway). They should try a Porsche and understand why is so capable and good compared to the Emira. I hope Lotus will have more funds in the future to adopt a better engine and a sharper gearbox.
I own a Cayman as well and there is just something about the Way the Cayman drives . It’s hard being the measuring stick that all other sports cars are out to beat . It speaks volumes as to just how special a Porsche Cayman is .
I definitely agree with your point, the 2gr being limited to 6.5 is underwhelming, but it's aftermarket support is been on a sharp incline for a while, hence with just a pair of camshafts this engine revs to 7.5 or 8 extremely freely, and having that supercharger increases its power potential even more. I also agree that power isn't everything, but it also acts as a catalyst to add other components such as coilovers, adjustable control arms/camber plates and much more. Hence, i think for someone who tinkers with there car the emira would be a better choice, whereas the Cayman is almost perfect cat from the get go.
@@taarunjain6012 I perfectly understand your point but people shouldn't buy a car and tune it to make it "different", you should tune it to make it "better". Doing what you said, so to work on the engine with aftermarket parts to increase the rev range and other things is not like changing a cat or a damper...it can be done, for sure, but if you consider the cost and everything else included, my question is "is it worth it"? you would end up spending quite a fair amount of money which will add up to the Emira's price which is already not cheap - hence you will end up spending a budget which will buy you superior cars on the market. If you buy a car and you change the exhaust, map, or dampers is perfectly fine and I would do it as well..but if I have to buy a car to change it "in a big way" then I'm doing something that the manufacturer should have done, not me.
@@fastdays_1 You are accurate, sir, but I feel tuning an automobile has never been a financially advantageous decision; if we go too far, it becomes a money trap. I'm not advocating that everyone should rev it to 8k; in reality, very few people would go that far. However, a simple tune that lifts the redline to 7k would not be expensive and, in my opinion, would go a long way towards improving the driving experience. And we know it won't lose power based on past dyno charts. Small things such as lowering springs, tune, a nice set of spacers to improve stance and track width, and so on would go a long way toward putting the Emira on par with the Cayman.
@@1183newman The manual in the Emira isn't great. The manual in the Cayman is arguably too long. Neither reviewer seemed to miss the manual in the Alpine. My impression was they actually preferred the DCT.
The A110 is a little more true to the lotus spirit isn't it? If they offered it with a manual and it came to the US of truly have one. Even ss a lotus super fan.
Best review yet on the Emira. All 3 cars are incredible. The Cayman is perfection but the Lotus has that specialist car feel which I really love. Can’t really go wrong with any one of these.
I think I would choose the lotus expecting lower ownership costs while still being more interesting than the Cayman at some aspects that were mentioned: exterior design, steering feel, suspension, more exotic brand
What? Why would you expect lower ownership costs from Lotus? Do you know how difficult it is to get them serviced? I had a Lotus Elise and now have a 718 Cayman S and as much as I miss the Elise, it was a dinosaur with little daily livability compared to, well, *any* Porsche.
Love this young guy, he has a real feel and passion for the cars. Hope we see much more of him going forward. The Porsche has to win, more refined and practicle than the competition.
Most folks, including myself would buy any of these cars as a 2 nd or even 3 rd car. So, which one would you pick? The car that excites me the most is without doubt, the Lotus. The car just looks perfect, the proportions are perfect. I own a 2016 Porsche GTS and it is a fantastic vehicle, yet i would choose the Lotus if i were to buy another one to replace my GTS. Having said that, i dont think you can go wrong with either car.
But what if its your only car? The problem with the Lotus is that its still very much a 2nd/3rd car. I don't have kids. But I own a 987.2 Cayman as my only car and its perfect for just me and my wife and dog. While at the same time I can fit my 2 person drop stitch kayak plus all the kit that comes with it. You simple cannot do that in the Emira/4C/Alpine. That's what sets the Cayman apart. You can say the same thing about the 911. But those are for rich people.
@@ForgetfulFoot I haven't shopped or driven these cars, but I suspect what you say is true. One car, Porsche. Second car, Lotus. Second car you intend to track on occasion, Lotus with the track set up as an easier decision. It's really hard to deny the looks of Lotus. I can't think of a better looking car for the money... possibly, ever.
16 Cayman GTS owner here too. I recently drove a 718 spyder with the 4.0 and I will say that engine is quite a bit different than the 3.4 we have, IMO it lacks some of the character that we have. So as a weekend proposition, the lotus seems far more special.
@@Poorschedriver 718 GTS 4.0 owner here and even though I love the sound of 981, the new engine itself is way better. Not only is it faster, but the torque and overall powerband is a lot better, and makes the car much more of a joy to drive.
I have a 2013 911S and it has been trouble free for 8 years. That said, if we had a dealer network for Lotus in Colorado, I would consider it. It's a spectacular looking car.
This is the reason, why I didn't order the valved "sports" exhaust for my Alpine. The pops are one thing. The fake induction noise via snorkel from engine bay to cabin is another one. That snorkel can however be removed easily, so you don't have to put up with this at least.
+1.. The exhaust pop-pop intrusion is obnoxious. An easy fix I'm told.. Gotta luv the Alpine A110... For now I'll keep my time-honored '98 Carrera S (993) ..
Me too. Ironic really that the car most loyal to the Lotus lightweight mantra is not the Emira but the Alpine. I don’t think it serves Lotus well to have come out with such a relatively heavy car
I have a 987 Cayman S, and am really leaning towards an Emira for my next car - the looks just blow the cayman away, and I am sure it will drive amazingly. Hoping a slightly higher HP version comes out though! Like the evora GTs.
Lotus by a mile. You both agree it has great steering. Maybe it's just short on powertrain, but the looks are magnitudes better. I don't even notice the Porsches on the road. When my teenagers and I passed an Emira last week, they lost their minds. "What the heck was that?!"
Great episode. Very well done. Thank you. These are 3 amazing cars. Sadly, the Alpine is not even an option for us here in the States but with that said, it is the Lotus Emira in that manual with that bulletproof Toyota sourced supercharged V6 engine all day long. With this being the last gasoline powered Lotus, reliability is huge factor for me and reliability is baked into the very DNA of that engine. Also, there are just the looks. The GTS is an amazing car but it looks too common whereas the Lotus just looks the business. You just want to look at it all the time and I know if I woke up and saw that Lotus sitting in my garage could not help but smile. Hopefully I will be able to add that Lotus to the stable very soon. Keep up the good work!
Likely going to choose from a used 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, 981 GT4 or Lotus Emira early next year and really struggling to pick but think ill likely go Cayman GTS 4.0
AFAIK the S and the GT have identical chassis tunes. Only the "no letter" version that used to be the Pure has the "original" suspension that Gordon Murray found good enough to look at it as his benchmark for his GMA T.50 There is a great Carfection comparison in which the Alpine Pure and the S are compared on a Spanish or Portugese road by Henry Catchpole. Again the Pure gets the vote.
@@fritzbrause6332 Nope, the GT has identical engine setup of the S, but the chassis of the base version. Wouldn't make sense to slap a GT badge on a track suspension car after all
@@fritzbrause6332 There are two distinct upper models for good reason. The S and GT have completely different chassis setups. S is for Sport (smooth roads/track); GT is for grand touring (soft/comfortable). S also has more sport oriented interior; GT has luxury oriented interior. Both have uprated power.
I own a Légéndé (252 hp) with the springs and rolling bars of the S on it Not stiffer but deff more settled in high speed turns and changes of direction. The best of two worlds and indeed a diabolical tool. Can’t be happier!
Exactly true. One of the most articulate motoring journalist I've listened to for a long while and actually understands the machines he's presenting. Excellent work.
I test drove a Boxster GTS and A110 GT before putting an order in for a Giulia Quadrifoglio which is much better than both. Actually preferred the A110 over the Boxster GTS which really surprised me. I haven't driven the Lotus yet but I think my choice would be Emira, A110 (GT not S) and then Cayman.
The Giulia is an all-round utterly brilliant car, the design process being the opposite way around to the Germans with the Quadrifoglio being designed first by Ferrari engineers seconded to Alfa and the lower models being derived from it which is why they all have a carbon-fibre prop-shaft for example. The GQ has perfect 50/50 weight distribution so it behaves like a mid-engined car most of the time with loads of grip from a sublime chassis and yet it is RWD with loads of power so you can have a different kind of fun should you feel like it. It is a saloon and looks awesome, even better in real life than in any photos or videos. The sense of occasion is just as strong as in the other cars mentioned. I also love the rarity and the fact people don't know what it is. I have driven the Emira since the comment above and my expected order of preference was correct. They are all great cars although if you choose a Porsche the 981 generation is much more enjoyable than the 718 in my experience and I did end up buying a 981 Spyder whilst waiting for my Giulia. I hope that helps a bit and good luck with your choice! @@a.h.403
@@memo3872 Thanks for your reply ! Very helpful indeed, we can clearly see how you like this GQ ! Now I really hesitate between GQ, Lotus Evora GT410 sport and Alpine A110S. Living in the Alps, I just fear the GQ would be a little too heavy despite all its qualities and Lotus pr Alpine would make more sense.
You're a very lucky chap/chapess with all those Alpine passes on your doorstep! I guess if it's compact and light you're after and I wouldn't blame you as some of those hairpins can be three-point-turn sharp then I guess the Alpine wins but I think I would still choose the Evora which is a great car, not to discount the GQ which carries its extra weight with much aplomb@@a.h.403
A car journalist that says that a sports car makes too much noise isn't a car journalist imho. With the end of the ICE cars at hand, vehicles like this should be celebrated.
Just to qualify your comment on cost, to get a decent spec the Cayman GTS is £85k all day long. I always love the fact that you have to pay a few grand to get the GTS interior on the GTS!?
Porsche with way too long geared manual gearbox is the worst car of those three. Based on looks Emira wins, probably by driving sensation too, but A110S was made by Lotus philosophy of lighteness, so it would be a very difficult choice between the two for me.
For a one car garage the Porsche. For a two car garage the Alpine: 1100kg, 97% Aluminum, double wishbone suspension, an almost perfectly executed back to the basics concept.
The problem with the Lotus is that its still very much a 2nd/3rd car which puts it well out of reach for the normal person with an above average wage. I don't have kids. But I own a 987.2 Cayman as my only car and its perfect for me and my wife and dog. While at the same time I can fit my 2 person drop stitch kayak plus all the kit that comes with it. You simple cannot do that in the Emira/4C/Alpine. That's what sets the Cayman apart. Which is why my dream car is the 718 GTS 4.0L.
Honestly, try the 981S, you'll probably get good money for a 987.2. The 981S can be safely tuned to 350bhp, but it doesn't need it. The steering software can be changed to the gt3, for more feedback. The 981 sounds better than the gts 4.0, with or without the filter. They are on the same platform, the 981 looks better from the front to me, it's also half the proce of the gts 4.0. You can upgrade the infotainment, but I just bought a Bluetooth receiver instead. The car is reliable and a safe bet for your money, esp as the boxster/cayman will be replaced with EVs later this year.
@Jay-xr3sb I actually sold my 987.2 base manual just before the covid prices tanked. Then a few months later got a 981 Base PDK for the same price I sold the 987.2 base manual for. The 981 is an amazing car. So much better looking and way better put together on the inside. I found a used aftermarket AWE exhaust thats going on the car next week. The steering software is also on my to do list. I really like PDK. The cable operated manuals felt pretty average. If i ever get another porsche manual. A numeric upgrade is mandatory. I really want a 981 GTS. Or a high spec 981 S. But with the interest rates. Prices are still too high for me. Hopefully I can get one in a few years before they become true collectors items
@@ForgetfulFoot nice, congrats. Is the steering feel really that much better in the 987? The 981 S offers much more value than the gts, I got mine for £31k, the same condition gts would be £45k. I don't think the sport chrono os really needed. I considered the base, it actually revs more freely and sounds a touch better. I have a tycan on loan while mine is in the shop (padm failure under warranty), its blistering fast but nowhere near as fun as the 981
@@Jay-xr3sb There steering feel is better in the 987. 981 feels a bit unnecessarily heavy. However just like any steering rack (hydraulic or electric). You get used to it over time. The whole steering feel argument is definitely a bit overblown. I will be looking into the GT3 steering software. The benefits of the 981 far outweigh any negatives. Only complaint I have is that the boot area is slightly smaller then the 987. The 981 isn't as good for golf bags or blow up kayak. Agreed. Sport chrono is not required. Sport mode is enough. Especially out of warranty. The dynamic engine/trans mounts will be expensive to replace. And I have no interest in launch control. Manual would be good for rev match though! I wish I had the sports design paddle shifter wheel. But honestly, I have been quite happy shifting manually via the gear selector. The gear selector has a nice damping to its shifts. PSE would be good. But the stock exhaust is great. And the used aftermarket exhaust should satisfy. Retro fitting a PSE is too expensive. And the carnewall mod too inconvenient for me. In Australia I paid $76000 AUD ( £39.5k) for my base 981 (only options are PASM, PDK and satin black carrera S wheels, rhodium silver). An S now would roughly set me back about $100,000 AUD (£52.5k). GTS even more at around $120,000 AUD (£62.5k). I bought mine after the post covid dip. Prices previously were about 20% higher then what I paid. Previous owner purchased mid covid for about $100,000 AUD (£52.5k). He lost 24k in the 2-3 years before selling to me. You get 90% of the fun with the base. However the extra power/torque of the S would be nice. If I ever buy another one. I will be trying to get an S/GTS. Interest rates are just too painful atm. Not worth it.
@@ForgetfulFoot I hear you, prices are wild your way, but it's all relative. I've got a failed mount right now, warranty will deal with it. If I jeep it long term out of warranty, then I'll replace with passive mounts and find a way to clear the fault. I'd love a rev match manual, but gears are too long to bother, it's mainly a constant cross shift between 2-3 for the power. Can't wait for it back
I don't understand how one of the up sides of the long gearing in the Cayman is a chance to really hear the engine sing? Surely it's the opposite as you can only do that in 1st or 2nd, whereas if it had shorter gearing you could rev it out more?
@@gurujojo8992 Thanks for that patronising reply. I've a owned a number of manual sports cars including Porsche, Lotus and Ferrari, so I think I'm OK with that thanks. Nothing in your reply has anything to do with long/short gearing.
@@gurujojo8992 I know what I’m talking about, do you? Maybe you can explain how a car with longer gearing gives you the opportunity to rev it out more than a car with shorter gearing (as implied by the reviewers comment).
Wonderful, insightful, review you guys. Porsche is a superb drive and scores big on practicality, but Emira’s looks and exotic charm make it simply irresistible.
TO BE THE MAN;YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE MAN! Porsche is the king. So, you have to get really exceptional or you run second. You do not dethrone anyone with a countout or disqualification. Beside, first iterations are always a learning car. Great effort. Just come back with version two. That being said, they all are very, very good cars. Good comparison!
Lotus all the way for price , reliability , Toyota engine the other won’t stand a chance breaking down so often won’t let you enjoy it for years kiddos to lotus great job as always
So glad Porsche won, mines on its way from the factory and always wondered whether should have gone for Alpine or Lotus. Defo would have gone Alpine if it was more like 50k
All three would be a blast own or even try out, but I bought the Boxster GTS 4.0. If I'm going to have a car this special, I want to be in it as much as possible and that is why the Boxster checked all the boxes for me. Amazing style, flexibility, every day'er (just about), and forgiving enough for my wife and exciting enough for me on my own. If you can afford multiple cars for multiple occasions, great, but I'm thrilled with this one.
I bought a 718 Cayman Boxster and been really pleased with it. The more you drive it, the greater the appreciation. I agree in a way it’s not the most ‘exciting’ option, but it handles brilliantly, easy to drive. Doesn’t feel awkward at slower speeds and loves to pick up the pace. The cabin isn’t high tech with whizzy extras, but it’s done very well. I know it’s not why you buy a sports car but it’s also practical. Two boots both very useable. Roomy inside with a passenger, soft too takes up no storage space when down. Personally I’m happier with it now then when I first purchased the car.
How have you found the GTS gearbox? If u rev it out.... you are over speed limit in second, sometimes first. Find it frustrating. Would be great to be able to shift a couple of times to get up to motorway speed....
So you test the Emira and Cayman with only one adult inside, and then ruin your comparison by having 2 adults in the 110S, which its greatest strength is its light weight! Where's the logic in that?! I'd love to hear your opinion on the 110S without a passenger, which is how many of us would use this car.
How can you compare an Alpine with other 2 cars ... They are not on the same range and same price... Of course it is less good, compare the Alpine to the CaymanS you see who's the best ..
I placed an order on Cayman GTS in April, but was sitting on an edge of a chair, biting my nails thinking that maybe Emira would have been a better choice, but there were no reviews and barely any information about the car at that time. I was wondering how supercharged V6 compares to flat 6. GTS 4.0 felt a bit dull in regular city driving as the engine could not rev up high enough to the sweet spot where the most of the torque is. Turbocharged GTS 2.5 felt a bit more exciting at times with the low end kick, but overall enjoyment and connection suffers a bit compared to naturally aspirated, especially outside of the town. I thought that maybe Emira could have the best of both worlds... In the end the deciding factor was availability and inflation. I just could not sit waiting for another year to buy a car.
But they didn't raise significant concerns over the Emira's Sport suspension. What they did need was the Alpine A110GT, but they didn't even acknowledge its existence. Anyway, I suspect the AMG-powered Emira will be compelling vs the Cayman S.
I really enjoyed the first presenters thorough breakdown of the Emira, he talked about the ergonomics of being in the car, its controls, the feedback it provides and how these all work together. In terms of the verdict from the three cars, I wonder if the Touring suspension on the Emira would make it a bit more playful like they described the Cayman as being. And thanks for a great video with presenters that know how to discuss the driving experience of cars in a meaningful way.
Bear in mind the Emira was a left-hand drive pre-production hack as well. Harry Metcalfe has just bought one, so it will be interesting to follow his ownership experience.
My choice would be Alpine A110. There is something quirky about it's design and the lightest of the lot with double wishbone suspension all around. I think Lotus has lost it's lightweighting ethos somewhere along the line. Cayman, though a perfect mid-engined RWD car, it is too perfect to be having fun.
Have a Porsche Boxster GTS practically be damned, I am purchasing a LOTUS V6 Manual. I am keeping the Porsche but the LOTUS is a dream, so happy the that lotus nailed it! the young guy loved it and the older dad wanted the more practical car. Personally I want a beautiful mistress, a lover to enjoy life " the Exotic "
Having owned a few cayman S/GTS’s I can’t leave the Porsche but I’ll admit this car has me shopping for one. I no longer have a cayman since “I’m all grown up” but nothing wrong with owning one of these.
My money went on … the Emira … but AMG engine with DCT and touring spec and I think that round 2 will be interesting as that’ll be the spec that most Lotus owners are looking at currently. My S1 Elise is going nowhere however … 😊👍
Interesting: TG puts them the complete opposite way around. I guess it shows the importance of a test drive to determine which one is best for you (instead of relying on YT reviews!).
I'm sure they are all wonderful drivers cars but there isn't a bad car these days so my choice would be mainly to do with aesthetics, and the lotus wins this test for me 👍
Cayman GTS. My vote was cast last year, as we have one at home already 😀 I’d love the Lotus to drive I know, but a Cayman is just SO practical! Road trips for two with luggage space to spare. And THAT 4.0 engine is amazing 🤓
Yes, even though it doesn't look as good, at least to me, and is undoubtedly ageing, the GTS 4.0 is still a true thoroughbred, and residuals will almost certainly be in its favour in the medium term. However, in the short term, for those with early build slots, I suspect they will be able to flip their cars for profit, likely in the region of 10k.
Cayman is a big money maker for the far larger Porsche company. Lotus was never going to outsell it. Better to offer something different. All the Emiras sold out quick so it looks as if they achieved their objective.
Totally agree with the conclusion, it almost feels like they are deliberately limiting the car at some point for instance, the 2gr being limited to 6.5 is underwhelming, similarly with the shifter and so on. Although i would say, it's (the engine) aftermarket support is been on a incline for a while, hence with just a pair of camshafts this engine revs to 7.5 or 8 extremely freely, and having that supercharger increases its power potential even more. I also agree that power isn't everything, but it also acts as a catalyst to add other components such as coilovers, adjustable control arms/camber plates and much more. Hence, i think for someone who tinkers with there car the emira would be a better choice, whereas the Cayman is almost perfect cat from the get go.
I'm not sure how much Lotus change out on the engine, but Lotus are not going to be allowed to operate the engine beyond the OEM design parameters set by Toyota. Tuners can take a risk, whereas Lotus as an OEM respecting Toyota's wishes and their agreement, as well as offering a warranty, cannot. (AFAIK Lotus change out nothing on the engine internals and are already stressing the engine more than a standard Camry V6/GS350 by way of the supercharger, but if Lotus indeed change out the oil pump, conrods, valve springs and so forth to support high rpm then fair enough, in that case it would be strange that Lotus wouldn't operate the engine up to the rpm to what it's capable of.) Edit -- from reading forums, it seems the exhaust camshaft is the only internal engine part which Lotus change from the original engine (the injectors and intake manifold are also different). So if the engine cannot turn to 8000rpm within OEM reliability requirements in a Lexus GS350 or Toyota Camry, I don't see how it can suddenly turn to 8000rpm within OEM Toyota reliability requirements in a Lotus? :)
@@TassieLorenzo Yes you are correct Toyota won't let lotus rev it part the OEM spec, but I'm trying to approach this from an aftermarket perspective. The thing is, the 2gr generally has low to mid range power in our Camrys, not high end power, and we know that Toyota reliability targets have always been very high and they over engineer their engines(same is the case with the gr Yaris). If you look at the dyno graphs from any evora with the supercharged v6 we know that it produces it's until the redline, and they don't lose power even when redline is raised to 7k. I'm not saying change every part of the engine, but these small changes go a long way on improving the driving experience.(although it's my personal opinion)
Sometimes it’s the subjective and emotional aspects of a car that set it apart. For example, the Ferrari 308 is a classic design and just a very cool car to look at and drive, but quite frankly is a poor performer, yet still desirable. Certainly the Porsche wins on points, but the lotus has that special something about the way it looks and sounds and feels, that differentiates better than the Porsche, is a more involving experience. It’s the kind of car that others like to look at, and the kind of car that when you get out of it, you can’t help but look back at it. The Cayman is attractive, but quite frankly common. Kudos to Porsche for building such a fun car, but my heart will be with the Lotus.
Lotus for me, just is a much more special car, Cayman as awesome as it is, the Lotus looks better, sounds better and hydraulic steering it is just for me the more fun car to drive too and an interior that is nearly as good as a Porsche is still a superb interior.
The emira sounds just amazing. You want that from a sportscar. For daily driver the cayman is the business. I drove the alpine. I would chose that one. However it misses classic dials and finish...
Long gearing kills GTS from the start, you are always stuck in 2nd gear on the streets. Lotus with all the little imperfections is the winner for me, if the car is too perfect, its no longer fun! I currently own a 981 boxster gts and that car is a lot of fun to drive. I will buy lotus at some point next year.
Did you even drive that 4L engine? Sure as hell sounds like no cause it's got so much mid range torque that you are more than just fast enough even if you remain below 4000rpm. Let's not act like a gearing that revs the 2nd up to 110kph instead of 130kph would be any more public road friendly lol, you'd still remain in 2nd gear if you want to rev it out, just like 99,99% of all cars who go up to anywhere around 90-100kph.... If you want Canyon carving and you feel the need to push a 400hp car to the limiter nonstop on public roads use the first gear. The whole argumentation is completely pointless though, cause unlike its predecessors you don't have to rev the GTS 4.0 to 6500/7000+ for it to actually get fast. If the only point left is sound and emotion and revving it all the way, then the same applies for all performance cars: you're past the legal limit when, you want to shift into 3rd gear.
@@dantesparda2016 I don't agree with everything you said, but there's a lot in what you say. What I don't think you said is that the 4L sounds very good in the mid-range so you don't need to rev it to the max for it to deliver aural pleasure.
@@nigel.w it sounds nice on the inside at mid range, just the valve control is annoying as it opens/closes at 3800, which you don't really notice cause it sounds more mechanical inside like they said in the clip, exept for the downshifts. In general you hear a lot of intake etc. No need to agree with everything I stated, it's not a general opinion but rather to give a different perspective cause you see the same complaints about the gearing (it's one of the few negative points so sure gets repeated a lot) online and 90% of the time it's just people repeating what they heared without actually having driven the car themselves. Comparing it to the 3.4L from the 981 is a joke cause it pulls even better than the 981 GT4 with the 3.8L... I owned and drove a lot of performance cars, ripping through more than 2 gears always brings you to speeds that are illegal everywhere except the Autobahn so while yes, you can't enjoy hitting the 7800rpm in 2nd/3rd/4th you can't do that in any other car either unless you take it to the track. When the car pulls properly long before that I don't see what you'd complain about. You want that screaming sound? Max 1st and hit high range on 2nd or go to the track. Even the gt4rs with it's much shorter gearing wont let you hear the 9000 beyond the 2nd gear.
All great comments below. I'm surprised the statement; "Tesla is faster" hasn't been posted as of yet. Maybe, that is just reserved for C8 Stingray reviews. Anyway, how was the understeer between these 3 vehicles? How about the braking. Did the Lotus have the optional CUP tires? Was the leather top tier in all 3 cars?
Lotus for me please. It will be interesting to see what will happen with the AMG 4 cyl which is tunable to silly horsepower. That promises to be quite a car.
I really enjoyed this video - the presenters are like two friends you lent your cars to for a review. My only suggestion would be to have at least one front facing cam inside the car that'll allow the viewer to review the cockpit a bit more. I am amongst the poor souls that live in a country where we are not allowed to buy Alpine cars.
I’ve got a GTS 4.0 and will definitely look at the Lotus when I’m ready to change, I’ve had an Elise so not against a Lotus. When my 73 at the time mum was looking to buy a car years ago I said ‘look at everything else and buy the Jazz’, it was just better for her needs. I feel the same, I will look at everything else and buy the Porsche, hopefully a GT4 for that little bit extra.
I had a gts and now have a gt4. Great car but a little less comfortable as a daily driver than the gts. I have the carbon buckets which I love but make it pretty tough to get in and out of. Styling wise it has a lot more presence
@@pabs5581 Couldn't live with GT4 for street driving and the buckets in general. Rented one for a week and knew on day 1 it would have to be the GTS for me. Sadly, in the US dealers are allowed to mark them up and mark them up they do by $25K+
Now that the final factory bits have been decided, i'd like to see if there's any difference in the decisions. Mr Metcalfe seems well chuffed with his newly delivered Emira.
ngl even as a fan and owner of the Porsche Cayman, i'd find it extremely hard to decide between the Cayman GTS and the Emira. As a Cayman owner, I can confirm that the steering and handling is something that makes you feel like an absolute hero. And even tho it might not be the fastest, if it's your first sportscar (as mine is), it has more than enough power to satisfy. Also that practically of having two trunks makes it soo usable as a daily car. I can go out, do full shopping, and both the front and back spaces are enough to take it all. I've only had to do that maybe once or twice, most of the time i'm just getting a few bags and a box of coke and putting it in the frunk. But to have that extra space on hand, it's just excellent. As for the Emira, in terms of looks, you're basically getting a smaller Maserati MC20. So from the get-go, you've got an absolute looker and head turner. Whether that's good or bad is up to you. The steering and power delivery is basically the same as the GTS, though you look to get slightly more power but less steering feel than the GTS. The only one true complaint I would have the with Emira is the lack of practicality, the lack of a even a frunk especially, just seems really odd to me. Though I totally understand how that can make the Emira feel more like an occasion than the Cayman. But for me personally, I want that added practically lol Either way, you're still getting an absolutely fantastic sportscar for your money, albeit for different reasons. I don't think anyone can complain if they got either car.
So, which car gets your vote? Answers below...
Lotus all day long
Lotus for sure
Lotus, without a second thought
Lotus
Lotus. You buy a sports car based on emotion and the sense of occasion when getting in the car, not how much luggage space it has…
Given there’s so little to choose between the Emira and the GTS, I’d take the Emira on looks alone.
The gts ain’t a bad looking car at all but imma have to agree with you
981 Boxster GTS MT owner here. I chose the Porsche because having support for maintenance, spares and repairs is critical for long term ownership. 0 Lotus dealers here, and no independent shops that work on Lotus that I know about within 100 miles.
@@electric_boogaloo496 Underrated comment. This is something Lotus needs to focus on if they are going to attract buyers new to the brand.
@@electric_boogaloo496 ....traditionally, Toyota engines and trans are bulletproof. You can't say that about Porsche.........
@@paulricketts1089 I know that the Lotus Exige used a supercharged derivative of the 2GR Toyota engine that is also present on my Tacoma. But it had many bespoke parts, and a supercharger. It is different enough that a Toyota dealer or independent Toyota shop will refuse to touch it.
The only car/truck that Toyota/Lexus sells with a manual transmission with the 2GR engine is the Tacoma. I doubt Lotus put a truck transmission in a sports car. Even then, a mid engine car requires transaxle instead of a traditional transmission that outputs to a drive shaft, and Toyota doesn't make one.
The whole conversation about the Exige is moot, because they couldn't sell it in the US. I don't know what engine Emira is running, but it will be hard to buy and maintain in much of the US.
Porsche engines and trans are some of the most reliable in the performance car market. You will see them handle the abuse of trackdays like a champ. They may be more sensitive to lack of maintenance, and maintenance and parts are more expensive. But if you take care of a Porsche, they last a real long time.
(In France) we have some extra tax for emissions so it’s a no brainer, the A110 ends up 30K cheaper than the (4 cylinder) 718.
Also, in your test, you came to the conclusion that you wanted something that is already offered by Alpine, namely the A110 GT with the soft damping of the Pure and the engine of the S.
Obviously a 4.0 liter Porsche or the brand new Emira have a lot of appeal but the A110 (maybe not the S) is still a sensible choice and by far the best bang for buck 😊
Thanks for your comment Cooper
Lotus and the GTS are €150k in the Netherlands. Alpine S is €92k.
low miles near new:
A110 are £37k, gts 4.0 £60k, emira £64k.
Me..981 S for £35k, sounds the best, handles amazingly, reliable, wont lose much £ and performs as well on the road as the others.
A110 has issues. GTS wont lose value much..Emira will be 55k by next summer
@@autodigitvlogs what issues does the A110 have? It's already £35k with low miles near new.
The Emira has ongoing issues, you'll want an extended warranty and acess to a dealer nearby.
The gts 4.0 and the 981 generation are proven, issues are minor and well known by now.
The gts was lauded as a brilliant sports car from day one so for the Lotus to get close is an achievement in itself.
The Emira is the gold standard for steering feel.
@@Asiansxsymbol hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha that's hilarious
Dans le célèbre magazine EVO DE DÉCEMBRE 2020 ils ont jugé le gets ennuyeux
Would still prefer the Alpine. Lightness and simplicity above power and complexity is the correct recipie.
...it's a renault......that's scary enough............
I wish it was available in the US
Being a Renault means it's not Ford ,Chrysler, or Chevy ( Detroit dinosaurs )
@@georgesheffield1580 while I wish it was available in Norway. For some reason Renault refuses to bring it into the country, even though they sell it all over the rest of europe😞
Isn’t that the Lotus / Chapman ethos?
The Alpine is the real Lotus here
As a previous owner of Exige, Cayman and Boxsters I would say the Porsche is probably the best overall package and more well rounded product, but the Lotus kills it on looks and excitement factor.
L’alpine est meilleure que les 2 autres
They Alpine is a neat little car. Very unique.
Since when is a 400bhp not powerful enough? In a world where electrics get 1000bhp, people are seemingly forgetting most places in the world you can drive at what? 50km/h inside cities and 120km/h in highways? Yeah, 400bhp is more than enough.
They should've compared the other 2 with the A110GT. That's hands down one of the best cars ever. The S is more a track car. I would choose the A110 everytime - the lightness, the handling, the looks..... it's a class apart. The GT is the sweetspot; the sublimeness of the Pure, with the power of the S.
I would have to go with the Lotus the Porsche is amazing but you see them all over the road. The lotus is unique and driving a lotus is just so engaging and purist
The sound of the Lotus is amazing. I hope they don’t mute that with regulations. It’s sad when car reviewers find it too loud. Changed days.
Non-issue. Anything muted can be easily unmuted in the aftermarket.
Looks too much like a 488
Especially with the AMG one.
@@emanuelefasanofasano3814 ......like that's a bad thing??................
They will mute it, but you can always get an aftermarket exhaust.
Love how in depth you guys are with car handling! Not enough TH-cam reviewers do this and I think it could be a great niche for CAR magazine!
Thanks!
Not looking for practicality, I'm looking for an beautiful exotic looking car with wonderful steering feel that stands out in a crowd. Lotus is my vote based on being "the most exciting of the three" to quote the host. .
@@ianstallings I totally agree. I'm in it for the feel and emotion rather than the perfection.
@@ianstallings go up in value like previous Lotuses or McLarens or most Porsches or even Ferraris? Caterhams are even rarer and exciting and they depreciate too.
@@oliveroshea5765 well if you have a look at the alpine, it has risen in value (mainly because of inflation tho)
@@manuelight most used cars have risen in value recently
It's a hard one but owning a Porsche myself (a 981 with the NA engine) I can say that it's REALLY hard to beat in terms of driving experience, engine "specialness", sound, chassis, gearbox (tall gears but super sharp and precise shiftings) and seating position...AND, it's also practical with two boots making it even more usable and enjoyable (the difference between taking a car for a spin and back home or taking a car for a weekend and enjoying it over different driving conditions). I Love (absolutely love) the old Exige S with the 1.6 Toyota engine and i've driven one for a while: an unforgettable experience. I hoped the Emira to be a new Elise, more comfortable but still with that pure experience...the problem is that while I love the look of it, this Emira is lacking in some other important areas. The engine is good but that rev limiter at 6.5k is way too low for a sport car like this and all the reviews are saying that the gearbox is not the best (possibly spoiling the connection with the car and its driving experience). Those who are saying "Emira all day" are basing it just on the look which I agree is better compared to the "honest" but almost 10yrs old Cayman (it will always look good anyway). They should try a Porsche and understand why is so capable and good compared to the Emira. I hope Lotus will have more funds in the future to adopt a better engine and a sharper gearbox.
The 981 Boxster is brilliant and far more practical than the lotus. I have a 2014 981 Boxster S and I love it
I own a Cayman as well and there is just something about the Way the Cayman drives . It’s hard being the measuring stick that all other sports cars are out to beat . It speaks volumes as to just how special a Porsche Cayman is .
I definitely agree with your point, the 2gr being limited to 6.5 is underwhelming, but it's aftermarket support is been on a sharp incline for a while, hence with just a pair of camshafts this engine revs to 7.5 or 8 extremely freely, and having that supercharger increases its power potential even more. I also agree that power isn't everything, but it also acts as a catalyst to add other components such as coilovers, adjustable control arms/camber plates and much more. Hence, i think for someone who tinkers with there car the emira would be a better choice, whereas the Cayman is almost perfect cat from the get go.
@@taarunjain6012 I perfectly understand your point but people shouldn't buy a car and tune it to make it "different", you should tune it to make it "better". Doing what you said, so to work on the engine with aftermarket parts to increase the rev range and other things is not like changing a cat or a damper...it can be done, for sure, but if you consider the cost and everything else included, my question is "is it worth it"? you would end up spending quite a fair amount of money which will add up to the Emira's price which is already not cheap - hence you will end up spending a budget which will buy you superior cars on the market. If you buy a car and you change the exhaust, map, or dampers is perfectly fine and I would do it as well..but if I have to buy a car to change it "in a big way" then I'm doing something that the manufacturer should have done, not me.
@@fastdays_1 You are accurate, sir, but I feel tuning an automobile has never been a financially advantageous decision; if we go too far, it becomes a money trap. I'm not advocating that everyone should rev it to 8k; in reality, very few people would go that far. However, a simple tune that lifts the redline to 7k would not be expensive and, in my opinion, would go a long way towards improving the driving experience. And we know it won't lose power based on past dyno charts. Small things such as lowering springs, tune, a nice set of spacers to improve stance and track width, and so on would go a long way toward putting the Emira on par with the Cayman.
A110s for me thanks 300 kilos less is what makes it a better Lotus than the Lotus
except for no manual transmission
@@1183newman The manual in the Emira isn't great. The manual in the Cayman is arguably too long. Neither reviewer seemed to miss the manual in the Alpine. My impression was they actually preferred the DCT.
@@nigel.w You are spot on. I had the choice of all three and went A110S
The A110 is a little more true to the lotus spirit isn't it? If they offered it with a manual and it came to the US of truly have one. Even ss a lotus super fan.
@@SpencerPlanton Clearly without driving an Emira
Best review yet on the Emira. All 3 cars are incredible. The Cayman is perfection but the Lotus has that specialist car feel which I really love. Can’t really go wrong with any one of these.
Thanks so much K Ahmed! Let us know what you think to our upcoming videos :)
Alpine A110 all the way !
Of course
I think I would choose the lotus expecting lower ownership costs while still being more interesting than the Cayman at some aspects that were mentioned: exterior design, steering feel, suspension, more exotic brand
What? Why would you expect lower ownership costs from Lotus? Do you know how difficult it is to get them serviced? I had a Lotus Elise and now have a 718 Cayman S and as much as I miss the Elise, it was a dinosaur with little daily livability compared to, well, *any* Porsche.
the lotus just looks too beautiful especially in that color!
Love this young guy, he has a real feel and passion for the cars. Hope we see much more of him going forward. The Porsche has to win, more refined and practicle than the competition.
For me, it was the Lotus Emira. It's the full package - looks, performance and price
but C8 is better
Price? I think this is still very expensive in terms of a credit from Lotus. The monthly costs were about 1.2k. It’s quiet a lot for a 90k car.
@@Howdy762 hmmm does the C8 come with a manual transmission?
@@chris_4044 In AUD terms on road the I4 version comes out to be just over $190K
@@Howdy762 the Corvette C8 is a very nice car
Most folks, including myself would buy any of these cars as a 2 nd or even 3 rd car. So, which one would you pick? The car that excites me the most is without doubt, the Lotus. The car just looks perfect, the proportions are perfect. I own a 2016 Porsche GTS and it is a fantastic vehicle, yet i would choose the Lotus if i were to buy another one to replace my GTS. Having said that, i dont think you can go wrong with either car.
But what if its your only car? The problem with the Lotus is that its still very much a 2nd/3rd car. I don't have kids. But I own a 987.2 Cayman as my only car and its perfect for just me and my wife and dog. While at the same time I can fit my 2 person drop stitch kayak plus all the kit that comes with it. You simple cannot do that in the Emira/4C/Alpine. That's what sets the Cayman apart. You can say the same thing about the 911. But those are for rich people.
@@ForgetfulFoot I haven't shopped or driven these cars, but I suspect what you say is true. One car, Porsche. Second car, Lotus. Second car you intend to track on occasion, Lotus with the track set up as an easier decision.
It's really hard to deny the looks of Lotus. I can't think of a better looking car for the money... possibly, ever.
16 Cayman GTS owner here too. I recently drove a 718 spyder with the 4.0 and I will say that engine is quite a bit different than the 3.4 we have, IMO it lacks some of the character that we have. So as a weekend proposition, the lotus seems far more special.
@@Poorschedriver 718 GTS 4.0 owner here and even though I love the sound of 981, the new engine itself is way better. Not only is it faster, but the torque and overall powerband is a lot better, and makes the car much more of a joy to drive.
4cyl abortion of a Porsche. Sell it
I have a 2013 911S and it has been trouble free for 8 years. That said, if we had a dealer network for Lotus in Colorado, I would consider it. It's a spectacular looking car.
Love the Alpine but the exhaust pops on overrun would drive me mad.
they did both in real life when I test drove it and in this video, sadly
This is the reason, why I didn't order the valved "sports" exhaust for my Alpine. The pops are one thing. The fake induction noise via snorkel from engine bay to cabin is another one. That snorkel can however be removed easily, so you don't have to put up with this at least.
+1.. The exhaust pop-pop intrusion is obnoxious. An easy fix I'm told.. Gotta luv the Alpine A110... For now I'll keep my time-honored '98 Carrera S (993) ..
Suspect the mic was also picking up more than other noises - road engine wind, as it sounded strange.
Not really a thing. I drive it daily and it's absent in normal mode and fun in sports mode.😉
I'll take the Alpine
Me too. Ironic really that the car most loyal to the Lotus lightweight mantra is not the Emira but the Alpine. I don’t think it serves Lotus well to have come out with such a relatively heavy car
@@fb30xhk My thoughts exactly. With a mantra "add lightness", people expect it to be at least on par with a Cayman if not significantly lighter.
I have one, lowered, geo setup and mapped to 300ps, and this is the correct answer 10/10 comment
Wouldn’t touch a french car
Agreed, despite the French are fart sniffers
I'm a Porsche guy, but was really rooting for the Lotus. Anything less than the 4.0 and Lotus would have won.
The exotic beauty the lotus gets my nod of these three. These three are all fabulous so no wrong choice here
I have a 987 Cayman S, and am really leaning towards an Emira for my next car - the looks just blow the cayman away, and I am sure it will drive amazingly. Hoping a slightly higher HP version comes out though! Like the evora GTs.
If I get one I plan on having it retuned to hopefully getting closer to 500hp without having to add any mods. Think that would be ideal
@@mattjubie I had the same thoughts myself!
Lotus by a mile. You both agree it has great steering. Maybe it's just short on powertrain, but the looks are magnitudes better. I don't even notice the Porsches on the road. When my teenagers and I passed an Emira last week, they lost their minds. "What the heck was that?!"
Great episode. Very well done. Thank you. These are 3 amazing cars. Sadly, the Alpine is not even an option for us here in the States but with that said, it is the Lotus Emira in that manual with that bulletproof Toyota sourced supercharged V6 engine all day long. With this being the last gasoline powered Lotus, reliability is huge factor for me and reliability is baked into the very DNA of that engine. Also, there are just the looks. The GTS is an amazing car but it looks too common whereas the Lotus just looks the business. You just want to look at it all the time and I know if I woke up and saw that Lotus sitting in my garage could not help but smile. Hopefully I will be able to add that Lotus to the stable very soon. Keep up the good work!
Likely going to choose from a used 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, 981 GT4 or Lotus Emira early next year and really struggling to pick but think ill likely go Cayman GTS 4.0
Given the reviewers' dislike of the A110S chassis setup, I note there's the A110GT.
AFAIK the S and the GT have identical chassis tunes. Only the "no letter" version that used to be the Pure has the "original" suspension that Gordon Murray found good enough to look at it as his benchmark for his GMA T.50
There is a great Carfection comparison in which the Alpine Pure and the S are compared on a Spanish or Portugese road by Henry Catchpole. Again the Pure gets the vote.
@@fritzbrause6332 Nope, the GT has identical engine setup of the S, but the chassis of the base version. Wouldn't make sense to slap a GT badge on a track suspension car after all
@@fritzbrause6332 There are two distinct upper models for good reason. The S and GT have completely different chassis setups. S is for Sport (smooth roads/track); GT is for grand touring (soft/comfortable). S also has more sport oriented interior; GT has luxury oriented interior. Both have uprated power.
I own a Légéndé (252 hp) with the springs and rolling bars of the S on it
Not stiffer but deff more settled in high speed turns and changes of direction. The best of two worlds and indeed a diabolical tool.
Can’t be happier!
guy in the blue shirt does a really exceptional job of conveying a car's qualities, would love to hear and see more from him.
I thought that too.
Exactly true. One of the most articulate motoring journalist I've listened to for a long while and actually understands the machines he's presenting. Excellent work.
I enjoyed watching the Video Comparison. The Lotus Emira Is the Model I would choose
I didn't expect to say this, but Alpine for me. Apart from the pops and bangs.
They’re not very noticeable in reality, especially in normal mode…
I test drove a Boxster GTS and A110 GT before putting an order in for a Giulia Quadrifoglio which is much better than both. Actually preferred the A110 over the Boxster GTS which really surprised me. I haven't driven the Lotus yet but I think my choice would be Emira, A110 (GT not S) and then Cayman.
Interesting comment, these cars are actually on my short list, how would you describe your experience and how is the Giulia much better?
The Giulia is an all-round utterly brilliant car, the design process being the opposite way around to the Germans with the Quadrifoglio being designed first by Ferrari engineers seconded to Alfa and the lower models being derived from it which is why they all have a carbon-fibre prop-shaft for example. The GQ has perfect 50/50 weight distribution so it behaves like a mid-engined car most of the time with loads of grip from a sublime chassis and yet it is RWD with loads of power so you can have a different kind of fun should you feel like it. It is a saloon and looks awesome, even better in real life than in any photos or videos. The sense of occasion is just as strong as in the other cars mentioned. I also love the rarity and the fact people don't know what it is. I have driven the Emira since the comment above and my expected order of preference was correct. They are all great cars although if you choose a Porsche the 981 generation is much more enjoyable than the 718 in my experience and I did end up buying a 981 Spyder whilst waiting for my Giulia. I hope that helps a bit and good luck with your choice! @@a.h.403
@@memo3872 Thanks for your reply !
Very helpful indeed, we can clearly see how you like this GQ !
Now I really hesitate between GQ, Lotus Evora GT410 sport and Alpine A110S. Living in the Alps, I just fear the GQ would be a little too heavy despite all its qualities and Lotus pr Alpine would make more sense.
You're a very lucky chap/chapess with all those Alpine passes on your doorstep! I guess if it's compact and light you're after and I wouldn't blame you as some of those hairpins can be three-point-turn sharp then I guess the Alpine wins but I think I would still choose the Evora which is a great car, not to discount the GQ which carries its extra weight with much aplomb@@a.h.403
Yellow Emira, with Black Roof, Silver Wheels and Touring Suspension please
Black wheels
the coolest car review intro ever. awesome jerb!
Wow, thanks so much mihai p - I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
- Grant Lester (Director & Editor)
Let us know what you think to our upcoming videos too!
I raced the 981 Cayman GTS around Speedvegas and it is the best car I have driven.
I raced a Ferrari 458 there I’ll take that. But I’d buy a C8 Corvette over all of them.
A car journalist that says that a sports car makes too much noise isn't a car journalist imho. With the end of the ICE cars at hand, vehicles like this should be celebrated.
Just to qualify your comment on cost, to get a decent spec the Cayman GTS is £85k all day long. I always love the fact that you have to pay a few grand to get the GTS interior on the GTS!?
Alpine A110 R the best !
As an average Joe, who loves sports cars, yet have never driven any of these, I would gladly take either one and be happy for eternity.
We completely agree Ary! They're all amazing!
Porsche with way too long geared manual gearbox is the worst car of those three. Based on looks Emira wins, probably by driving sensation too, but A110S was made by Lotus philosophy of lighteness, so it would be a very difficult choice between the two for me.
For a one car garage the Porsche. For a two car garage the Alpine: 1100kg, 97% Aluminum, double wishbone suspension, an almost perfectly executed back to the basics concept.
The young guy is a breath of fresh air. Well done 👍
Thanks Werner!
The mid-engine flat-six is just an excellent formula, from 986 to 982, they all have that controllable, balanced feel
Which one would make me smile when I look at my car? The Lotus.
What an awesome review guys.. really liked the format. Well done.
The problem with the Lotus is that its still very much a 2nd/3rd car which puts it well out of reach for the normal person with an above average wage. I don't have kids. But I own a 987.2 Cayman as my only car and its perfect for me and my wife and dog. While at the same time I can fit my 2 person drop stitch kayak plus all the kit that comes with it. You simple cannot do that in the Emira/4C/Alpine. That's what sets the Cayman apart. Which is why my dream car is the 718 GTS 4.0L.
Honestly, try the 981S, you'll probably get good money for a 987.2.
The 981S can be safely tuned to 350bhp, but it doesn't need it.
The steering software can be changed to the gt3, for more feedback.
The 981 sounds better than the gts 4.0, with or without the filter.
They are on the same platform, the 981 looks better from the front to me, it's also half the proce of the gts 4.0.
You can upgrade the infotainment, but I just bought a Bluetooth receiver instead.
The car is reliable and a safe bet for your money, esp as the boxster/cayman will be replaced with EVs later this year.
@Jay-xr3sb I actually sold my 987.2 base manual just before the covid prices tanked. Then a few months later got a 981 Base PDK for the same price I sold the 987.2 base manual for.
The 981 is an amazing car. So much better looking and way better put together on the inside. I found a used aftermarket AWE exhaust thats going on the car next week.
The steering software is also on my to do list.
I really like PDK. The cable operated manuals felt pretty average. If i ever get another porsche manual. A numeric upgrade is mandatory.
I really want a 981 GTS. Or a high spec 981 S. But with the interest rates. Prices are still too high for me. Hopefully I can get one in a few years before they become true collectors items
@@ForgetfulFoot nice, congrats. Is the steering feel really that much better in the 987?
The 981 S offers much more value than the gts, I got mine for £31k, the same condition gts would be £45k.
I don't think the sport chrono os really needed.
I considered the base, it actually revs more freely and sounds a touch better.
I have a tycan on loan while mine is in the shop (padm failure under warranty), its blistering fast but nowhere near as fun as the 981
@@Jay-xr3sb There steering feel is better in the 987. 981 feels a bit unnecessarily heavy. However just like any steering rack (hydraulic or electric). You get used to it over time. The whole steering feel argument is definitely a bit overblown.
I will be looking into the GT3 steering software.
The benefits of the 981 far outweigh any negatives. Only complaint I have is that the boot area is slightly smaller then the 987. The 981 isn't as good for golf bags or blow up kayak.
Agreed. Sport chrono is not required. Sport mode is enough. Especially out of warranty. The dynamic engine/trans mounts will be expensive to replace. And I have no interest in launch control. Manual would be good for rev match though!
I wish I had the sports design paddle shifter wheel. But honestly, I have been quite happy shifting manually via the gear selector. The gear selector has a nice damping to its shifts.
PSE would be good. But the stock exhaust is great. And the used aftermarket exhaust should satisfy. Retro fitting a PSE is too expensive. And the carnewall mod too inconvenient for me.
In Australia I paid $76000 AUD ( £39.5k) for my base 981 (only options are PASM, PDK and satin black carrera S wheels, rhodium silver).
An S now would roughly set me back about $100,000 AUD (£52.5k). GTS even more at around $120,000 AUD (£62.5k).
I bought mine after the post covid dip. Prices previously were about 20% higher then what I paid. Previous owner purchased mid covid for about $100,000 AUD (£52.5k). He lost 24k in the 2-3 years before selling to me.
You get 90% of the fun with the base. However the extra power/torque of the S would be nice. If I ever buy another one. I will be trying to get an S/GTS. Interest rates are just too painful atm. Not worth it.
@@ForgetfulFoot I hear you, prices are wild your way, but it's all relative.
I've got a failed mount right now, warranty will deal with it. If I jeep it long term out of warranty, then I'll replace with passive mounts and find a way to clear the fault.
I'd love a rev match manual, but gears are too long to bother, it's mainly a constant cross shift between 2-3 for the power.
Can't wait for it back
Nothing wrong with a lot of noise, especially considering it's the last engineered (as opposed to programmed) car they'll make.
Lotus, with it’s full on super car looks and superb performance and driver involvement. Plus it’s British (obviously not the owner).
This is of all of them one of the best reviews of the Emira. Thanks guys and the rest of the team behind the camera 👍👍👍
That's very kind of you swiper1818 and always nice to hear! We're always striving to bring our A-game for our audience, so thank you!
I don't understand how one of the up sides of the long gearing in the Cayman is a chance to really hear the engine sing?
Surely it's the opposite as you can only do that in 1st or 2nd, whereas if it had shorter gearing you could rev it out more?
@@gurujojo8992 Thanks for that patronising reply. I've a owned a number of manual sports cars including Porsche, Lotus and Ferrari, so I think I'm OK with that thanks.
Nothing in your reply has anything to do with long/short gearing.
@@gurujojo8992 so maybe you can explain what the ‘art of driving’ is and how it relates to long or short gearing?
@@gurujojo8992 I know what I’m talking about, do you? Maybe you can explain how a car with longer gearing gives you the opportunity to rev it out more than a car with shorter gearing (as implied by the reviewers comment).
Wow! First time here, and two very very "easy to listen to" reviewers. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed Anders and welcome! We'll be sure to let James and Ben know!
Wonderful, insightful, review you guys. Porsche is a superb drive and scores big on practicality, but Emira’s looks and exotic charm make it simply irresistible.
Thank you!
TO BE THE MAN;YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE MAN! Porsche is the king. So, you have to get really exceptional or you run second. You do not dethrone anyone with a countout or disqualification. Beside, first iterations are always a learning car. Great effort. Just come back with version two. That being said, they all are very, very good cars. Good comparison!
We totally agree Ernie, they're awesome! Keep your eyes peeled for more of our future comparisons :)
Lotus all the way for price , reliability , Toyota engine the other won’t stand a chance breaking down so often won’t let you enjoy it for years kiddos to lotus great job as always
Thanks for sharing your take Jose!
So glad Porsche won, mines on its way from the factory and always wondered whether should have gone for Alpine or Lotus. Defo would have gone Alpine if it was more like 50k
All three would be a blast own or even try out, but I bought the Boxster GTS 4.0. If I'm going to have a car this special, I want to be in it as much as possible and that is why the Boxster checked all the boxes for me. Amazing style, flexibility, every day'er (just about), and forgiving enough for my wife and exciting enough for me on my own. If you can afford multiple cars for multiple occasions, great, but I'm thrilled with this one.
I bought a 718 Cayman Boxster and been really pleased with it. The more you drive it, the greater the appreciation. I agree in a way it’s not the most ‘exciting’ option, but it handles brilliantly, easy to drive. Doesn’t feel awkward at slower speeds and loves to pick up the pace. The cabin isn’t high tech with whizzy extras, but it’s done very well. I know it’s not why you buy a sports car but it’s also practical. Two boots both very useable. Roomy inside with a passenger, soft too takes up no storage space when down. Personally I’m happier with it now then when I first purchased the car.
How have you found the GTS gearbox? If u rev it out.... you are over speed limit in second, sometimes first. Find it frustrating. Would be great to be able to shift a couple of times to get up to motorway speed....
@@gymbeats6050 I’ve got the automatic gearbox. I find it okay, feels a little heavy at lower speeds but that helps keep within city limits.
@@paulcain9442 enjoy bossman 👍
Emira for me, a perfect package. Great style, impressive performance, superb handling and certainly much more visual appeal
So you test the Emira and Cayman with only one adult inside, and then ruin your comparison by having 2 adults in the 110S, which its greatest strength is its light weight! Where's the logic in that?! I'd love to hear your opinion on the 110S without a passenger, which is how many of us would use this car.
Yeah! That's not serious......no logic in this test.
How can you compare an Alpine with other 2 cars ... They are not on the same range and same price... Of course it is less good, compare the Alpine to the CaymanS you see who's the best ..
I placed an order on Cayman GTS in April, but was sitting on an edge of a chair, biting my nails thinking that maybe Emira would have been a better choice, but there were no reviews and barely any information about the car at that time. I was wondering how supercharged V6 compares to flat 6. GTS 4.0 felt a bit dull in regular city driving as the engine could not rev up high enough to the sweet spot where the most of the torque is. Turbocharged GTS 2.5 felt a bit more exciting at times with the low end kick, but overall enjoyment and connection suffers a bit compared to naturally aspirated, especially outside of the town. I thought that maybe Emira could have the best of both worlds...
In the end the deciding factor was availability and inflation. I just could not sit waiting for another year to buy a car.
It's too bad you didn't have an Emira with the touring suspension. I think having that might put it over the Cayman as the better road car.
Gonna depreciate mate
But they didn't raise significant concerns over the Emira's Sport suspension. What they did need was the Alpine A110GT, but they didn't even acknowledge its existence. Anyway, I suspect the AMG-powered Emira will be compelling vs the Cayman S.
Lotus all day. Fresh design, great handling.
@@SkyrimCZtutorials Lotus buyers buy with the heart, not their head? That is why this is all sold out?
@@SkyrimCZtutorials 😂 have you checked used Lotus prices?
I really enjoyed the first presenters thorough breakdown of the Emira, he talked about the ergonomics of being in the car, its controls, the feedback it provides and how these all work together.
In terms of the verdict from the three cars, I wonder if the Touring suspension on the Emira would make it a bit more playful like they described the Cayman as being.
And thanks for a great video with presenters that know how to discuss the driving experience of cars in a meaningful way.
Bear in mind the Emira was a left-hand drive pre-production hack as well. Harry Metcalfe has just bought one, so it will be interesting to follow his ownership experience.
I'm very curious to hear some reviews of the AMG powertrain in the Emira meanwhile I love the Porsche but am looking at an Alpine to buy ...
My choice would be Alpine A110. There is something quirky about it's design and the lightest of the lot with double wishbone suspension all around. I think Lotus has lost it's lightweighting ethos somewhere along the line. Cayman, though a perfect mid-engined RWD car, it is too perfect to be having fun.
Have a Porsche Boxster GTS practically be damned, I am purchasing a LOTUS V6 Manual. I am keeping the Porsche but the LOTUS is a dream, so happy the that lotus nailed it! the young guy loved it and the older dad wanted the more practical car. Personally I want a beautiful mistress, a lover to enjoy life " the Exotic "
I’d take the lotus - what’s the point of a GTS when the gearing is so tall you can be doing over 60 in second gear?
All 3 are very nice cars
Having owned a few cayman S/GTS’s I can’t leave the Porsche but I’ll admit this car has me shopping for one. I no longer have a cayman since “I’m all grown up” but nothing wrong with owning one of these.
My money went on … the Emira … but AMG engine with DCT and touring spec and I think that round 2 will be interesting as that’ll be the spec that most Lotus owners are looking at currently. My S1 Elise is going nowhere however … 😊👍
Enjoy that detuned engine with the locked ECU. Lotus got you to pay 2x the price of a CLA for a neutered engine. Crazy
Lotus is the most fun & strikingly beautiful. Enough said, no contest.
Interesting: TG puts them the complete opposite way around. I guess it shows the importance of a test drive to determine which one is best for you (instead of relying on YT reviews!).
I'm sure they are all wonderful drivers cars but there isn't a bad car these days so my choice would be mainly to do with aesthetics, and the lotus wins this test for me 👍
Cayman GTS.
My vote was cast last year, as we have one at home already 😀
I’d love the Lotus to drive I know, but a Cayman is just SO practical!
Road trips for two with luggage space to spare. And THAT 4.0 engine is amazing 🤓
Yes, even though it doesn't look as good, at least to me, and is undoubtedly ageing, the GTS 4.0 is still a true thoroughbred, and residuals will almost certainly be in its favour in the medium term. However, in the short term, for those with early build slots, I suspect they will be able to flip their cars for profit, likely in the region of 10k.
Cayman is a big money maker for the far larger Porsche company. Lotus was never going to outsell it. Better to offer something different. All the Emiras sold out quick so it looks as if they achieved their objective.
I’ve had a 4.0 GTS for over a year now. They are very good for everything.
@@mrlotusmic
….and on all roads too 😀
i daily my evora (emira-old) and have 85,000+ on 3 of them. I drive it everywhere and haul lots of kids and stuff.
How nice to say, with no buts, among 3 talented cars - I'd choose a Lotus.
Emira's more car even though it's less storage. I bet it's the most comfortable to take on a trip, esp. with touring package. And that look!
Totally agree with the conclusion, it almost feels like they are deliberately limiting the car at some point for instance, the 2gr being limited to 6.5 is underwhelming, similarly with the shifter and so on. Although i would say, it's (the engine) aftermarket support is been on a incline for a while, hence with just a pair of camshafts this engine revs to 7.5 or 8 extremely freely, and having that supercharger increases its power potential even more. I also agree that power isn't everything, but it also acts as a catalyst to add other components such as coilovers, adjustable control arms/camber plates and much more. Hence, i think for someone who tinkers with there car the emira would be a better choice, whereas the Cayman is almost perfect cat from the get go.
I'm not sure how much Lotus change out on the engine, but Lotus are not going to be allowed to operate the engine beyond the OEM design parameters set by Toyota. Tuners can take a risk, whereas Lotus as an OEM respecting Toyota's wishes and their agreement, as well as offering a warranty, cannot. (AFAIK Lotus change out nothing on the engine internals and are already stressing the engine more than a standard Camry V6/GS350 by way of the supercharger, but if Lotus indeed change out the oil pump, conrods, valve springs and so forth to support high rpm then fair enough, in that case it would be strange that Lotus wouldn't operate the engine up to the rpm to what it's capable of.)
Edit -- from reading forums, it seems the exhaust camshaft is the only internal engine part which Lotus change from the original engine (the injectors and intake manifold are also different). So if the engine cannot turn to 8000rpm within OEM reliability requirements in a Lexus GS350 or Toyota Camry, I don't see how it can suddenly turn to 8000rpm within OEM Toyota reliability requirements in a Lotus? :)
@@TassieLorenzo Yes you are correct Toyota won't let lotus rev it part the OEM spec, but I'm trying to approach this from an aftermarket perspective. The thing is, the 2gr generally has low to mid range power in our Camrys, not high end power, and we know that Toyota reliability targets have always been very high and they over engineer their engines(same is the case with the gr Yaris). If you look at the dyno graphs from any evora with the supercharged v6 we know that it produces it's until the redline, and they don't lose power even when redline is raised to 7k. I'm not saying change every part of the engine, but these small changes go a long way on improving the driving experience.(although it's my personal opinion)
Sometimes it’s the subjective and emotional aspects of a car that set it apart. For example, the Ferrari 308 is a classic design and just a very cool car to look at and drive, but quite frankly is a poor performer, yet still desirable. Certainly the Porsche wins on points, but the lotus has that special something about the way it looks and sounds and feels, that differentiates better than the Porsche, is a more involving experience. It’s the kind of car that others like to look at, and the kind of car that when you get out of it, you can’t help but look back at it. The Cayman is attractive, but quite frankly common. Kudos to Porsche for building such a fun car, but my heart will be with the Lotus.
This Lotus is sick, its like a baby Ferrari (in a good way)
The emira have the same problems trasmition cluch replacement like evora?????🤔😊😊😊
Great honest review guys - really enjoyed this video, probably the best one i’ve watched for a quite a while.
Thank you!
Lotus for me, just is a much more special car, Cayman as awesome as it is, the Lotus looks better, sounds better and hydraulic steering it is just for me the more fun car to drive too and an interior that is nearly as good as a Porsche is still a superb interior.
Exactly my thoughts, who really cares if a Cayman goes by. Same problem for Porsche's interior, it's dated now.
you sat in 1 porsche interior you sat in them all.
Alpine is different class of car really makes much less power and is far lighter
The emira sounds just amazing. You want that from a sportscar. For daily driver the cayman is the business. I drove the alpine. I would chose that one. However it misses classic dials and finish...
I would like to see a drag race between the v6 and r4 Emira!
Great video. Just to note too much hand movement when presenting is distracting!
Long gearing kills GTS from the start, you are always stuck in 2nd gear on the streets. Lotus with all the little imperfections is the winner for me, if the car is too perfect, its no longer fun! I currently own a 981 boxster gts and that car is a lot of fun to drive. I will buy lotus at some point next year.
Did you even drive that 4L engine? Sure as hell sounds like no cause it's got so much mid range torque that you are more than just fast enough even if you remain below 4000rpm.
Let's not act like a gearing that revs the 2nd up to 110kph instead of 130kph would be any more public road friendly lol, you'd still remain in 2nd gear if you want to rev it out, just like 99,99% of all cars who go up to anywhere around 90-100kph....
If you want Canyon carving and you feel the need to push a 400hp car to the limiter nonstop on public roads use the first gear.
The whole argumentation is completely pointless though, cause unlike its predecessors you don't have to rev the GTS 4.0 to 6500/7000+ for it to actually get fast.
If the only point left is sound and emotion and revving it all the way, then the same applies for all performance cars: you're past the legal limit when, you want to shift into 3rd gear.
@@dantesparda2016 Then make the redline at 4000 rmp. Not in the PDK 3.4L.
@@dantesparda2016 I don't agree with everything you said, but there's a lot in what you say. What I don't think you said is that the 4L sounds very good in the mid-range so you don't need to rev it to the max for it to deliver aural pleasure.
@@nigel.w it sounds nice on the inside at mid range, just the valve control is annoying as it opens/closes at 3800, which you don't really notice cause it sounds more mechanical inside like they said in the clip, exept for the downshifts.
In general you hear a lot of intake etc.
No need to agree with everything I stated, it's not a general opinion but rather to give a different perspective cause you see the same complaints about the gearing (it's one of the few negative points so sure gets repeated a lot) online and 90% of the time it's just people repeating what they heared without actually having driven the car themselves.
Comparing it to the 3.4L from the 981 is a joke cause it pulls even better than the 981 GT4 with the 3.8L...
I owned and drove a lot of performance cars, ripping through more than 2 gears always brings you to speeds that are illegal everywhere except the Autobahn so while yes, you can't enjoy hitting the 7800rpm in 2nd/3rd/4th you can't do that in any other car either unless you take it to the track.
When the car pulls properly long before that I don't see what you'd complain about.
You want that screaming sound? Max 1st and hit high range on 2nd or go to the track.
Even the gt4rs with it's much shorter gearing wont let you hear the 9000 beyond the 2nd gear.
All great comments below. I'm surprised the statement; "Tesla is faster" hasn't been posted as of yet. Maybe, that is just reserved for C8 Stingray reviews. Anyway, how was the understeer between these 3 vehicles? How about the braking. Did the Lotus have the optional CUP tires? Was the leather top tier in all 3 cars?
Great video! Greetings from Germany!
The intro of the Emira, and then Cayman. Amazing!
I suspect the AMG-powered Emira will come into its own; it will be compelling vs the Cayman S.
The Toyota sourced is more reliable.
@@Asiansxsymbol I doubt it.
Lotus for me please. It will be interesting to see what will happen with the AMG 4 cyl which is tunable to silly horsepower. That promises to be quite a car.
I really enjoyed this video - the presenters are like two friends you lent your cars to for a review. My only suggestion would be to have at least one front facing cam inside the car that'll allow the viewer to review the cockpit a bit more. I am amongst the poor souls that live in a country where we are not allowed to buy Alpine cars.
I’ve got a GTS 4.0 and will definitely look at the Lotus when I’m ready to change, I’ve had an Elise so not against a Lotus. When my 73 at the time mum was looking to buy a car years ago I said ‘look at everything else and buy the Jazz’, it was just better for her needs. I feel the same, I will look at everything else and buy the Porsche, hopefully a GT4 for that little bit extra.
I had a gts and now have a gt4. Great car but a little less comfortable as a daily driver than the gts. I have the carbon buckets which I love but make it pretty tough to get in and out of. Styling wise it has a lot more presence
@@pabs5581 Couldn't live with GT4 for street driving and the buckets in general. Rented one for a week and knew on day 1 it would have to be the GTS for me. Sadly, in the US dealers are allowed to mark them up and mark them up they do by $25K+
Now that the final factory bits have been decided, i'd like to see if there's any difference in the decisions. Mr Metcalfe seems well chuffed with his newly delivered Emira.
ngl even as a fan and owner of the Porsche Cayman, i'd find it extremely hard to decide between the Cayman GTS and the Emira.
As a Cayman owner, I can confirm that the steering and handling is something that makes you feel like an absolute hero. And even tho it might not be the fastest, if it's your first sportscar (as mine is), it has more than enough power to satisfy. Also that practically of having two trunks makes it soo usable as a daily car. I can go out, do full shopping, and both the front and back spaces are enough to take it all. I've only had to do that maybe once or twice, most of the time i'm just getting a few bags and a box of coke and putting it in the frunk. But to have that extra space on hand, it's just excellent.
As for the Emira, in terms of looks, you're basically getting a smaller Maserati MC20. So from the get-go, you've got an absolute looker and head turner. Whether that's good or bad is up to you. The steering and power delivery is basically the same as the GTS, though you look to get slightly more power but less steering feel than the GTS. The only one true complaint I would have the with Emira is the lack of practicality, the lack of a even a frunk especially, just seems really odd to me. Though I totally understand how that can make the Emira feel more like an occasion than the Cayman. But for me personally, I want that added practically lol
Either way, you're still getting an absolutely fantastic sportscar for your money, albeit for different reasons. I don't think anyone can complain if they got either car.