I say baby because its really not all that powerful, but its got the looks and the handling is amazing. I can't wait to get this car on Road America, Autobahn CC, and Blackhawk Farms.

I finally had the chance, and opportunity to purchase a dream car. I've been searching for a long time now for the car to satisfy my urge for a new sports car. More power, better handling, less compromises. The Focus RS has been an amazing car to own, and I've never driven another 4 door hatch like it. Its handling ability puts cars costing twice as much to shame at times. But its always been held back a bit because much of that handling comes in the form of technologic aid from the Rear Drive Unit which is an incredibly trick system capable of shuffling engine torque to either rear wheel, about 50% of the power goes to the rear, though 100% of that can be directed to either wheel, however the front wheels ALWAYS have 50% of the power. I also bought the car when I needed a ride that could satisfy all season daily driver duties. Now with a house, and the Plaid for Daily duties, I no longer needed a 4dr Hatch.

Growing up, my dad always talked about the Lotus he was never able to buy, and because he loved the Espirt so much Lotus rubbed off on me. And I've always wanted a Lotus. When the Exige, and the Evora came out I thought I wanted one so much, but just couldn't swing it. Just like the Focus, they compromised too much, this case in the form of comfort and civility for all out lightweight. Great on track, terrible on road trips. So when the Evora came out in the early 2000's that was the one I wanted.

However, I've finally reached a point in my career where I can afford one, and its as amazing as drive as I ever dreamed.

The shape and color grabbed my attention immediately, and the way it drives is phenomenal. The v6 is also the greatest sounding V6 of all time, even though kind of started live as a V6 out of a Toyota Avalon. It howls and sounds more exotic car than just about any car I've ever owned.

2024 Lotus Emira

• 3.5L Supercharged V6, 400hp, 310lb/ft 6spd Manual
• Sport Suspension option.
• Seneca Blue
• Has the full blacked out pack that gives you a black roof, and gloss black trim everywhere.
• Black Alcantara interior with yellow stitching (because its a LOTUS!)
• Ultra-light 20" wheels with Cup 2 tires, 245/35r20 Front, 295/30r20" rear
• KEF upgraded Audio.

Mods: It came with the 3rd cat already deleted and replaced with a straight pipe. This doesn't throw any codes because the 3rd cat doesn't have any O2s. Car still has its primary Cats which re integrated into the exhaust manifolds.The feedback through the wheel is so good, and I can feel the chassis begin to dance when it gets close to the edge. It stays very neutral, even slightly understeers, but not in a bad way. You can lift slightly to induce rotation, and so long as you don't completely lift and panic brake, the rear weight bias won't snap and kill you. As long as you aren't in track mode, the ESC is there to help you keep the rubber side down.

The sound of the engine is incredible. It screams and sounds like it's spinning so much faster than it is, very exotic for an engine from a RAV4. The rev limit comes all too soon and just 500rpm before redline it feels like there is a surge of power and you should keep going, but do so and you'll hit the fuel cut and its a HARD wake up call that you should have shifted. Stock the car sounds great. Remove the 3rd catalytic converter and it rumbles on over run, but not like a burble tune. It doesn't sound like the trigger got stuck on an AK-47, but way deeper and much more pleasing without being obnoxious. With a set of a headers, and a cat-back the sound goes from great, to pure exotic.



___________________________

Finding the car

Initially a Lotus Emira wasn't in the search, as I was looking at used cars further down the depreciation path. However, many of those cars while being what I wanted, had faults that I found unacceptable in the price range, and some of those cars (C6's and C7's especially) were higher than they should have been. So I started shifting my focus (hah!) to newer cars. I started looking at C8 Z51 cars, but found I couldn't find a used one that had all of the options I wanted, and I was pretty picky. So I started looking at new cars. I considered a C8 Z06, but honestly, unless I could obtain one with the Z07 package, competition seats, in the right color/interior color combo, I kept finding cars that had some of what I wanted, but they were way over priced. And to spec a C8 Z06 out like I wanted was damn near $150k, and I wasn't ready to spend that much (yet!). I ran into worse problems when I looked at C8 Z51s.

I also started looking at 718 Cayman GTSs, 2020 and newer because I WANTED that 4.0L flat six. But, I couldn't find a single one under $100k, and considering that I could order a brand new one for the price of the new ones I had no idea what was propping the used market up. So because money wise, they were out. I also shopped around for used 718 GT4's as well, but again, it was the same story as the Z06.

So I started looking at what I could find, and while I didn't want to spend new money on an Emira, I was fine with a very gently, slightly used one. I shopped around and found a few, I even found a local one, Black with Tan interior for a good price. But it was high miles, 2024 and had 14,000+ on it. I wasn't sold on Black, but the price was good, so I went and test drove it. It drove great. I wasn't sold on the Black exterior, I felt it hid the gorgeous shape of the car; but the Tan interior was horrible. It reflected off the infotainment screen horribly. And combined with the default theme's black with white/gray text, the reflection made reading it near impossible. Also, the interior had several broken items, notably the driver side power seat controls were broken off the seat. Simple fix, but I spotted other things. It was clear that the PO was a very FAT man and it beat up the car. So, while I liked the car, this was not the car for me. I said I needed to think about it. The dealership was up front and great to work with. They knew I was a serious buyer and weren't pushy at all, even agreed to drop the price further and fix the issues. But the color combo wasn't for me.

I also found several 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE in Fon du Lac WI. Very low miles, looked clean as hell and even in the right color combos. But as much as I love the concept of the ZL1 1LE, I think the suspension would have been too hard core, even for me. There is also that it wouldn't fit in my 3rd garage spot at 188". Maybe in the future as a replacement for the TransAm GTA.

I found the car at Toy Barn in Dublin OH. A private dealership, and those can be sketchy at times, both in the actual condition of the cars, and the sales practices. It was basically EXACTLY how I'd order one down to the stitching on the seats. It was perfect. Low miles, color combo I wanted, only bad part was it was pretty far away so I couldn't just casually go look at it, I had to get serious. So I called the dealership and prepared for the onslaught of And the experience was a good one, though they did low ball me on the RS at first, and we had to negotiate. They were very detailed in the what they wanted. Pictures of every defect, tire tread depth in multiple spots per tire. I was offered under KBB trade-in value, but at the same time they wanted not only the FC04 rims and newish PS4S tires, but the original Forged 19"s with Rubber. I countered, and specifically asked high, but not unreasonably so, and as expected they rejected the first offer, but after about 30m of back and forth I got them to agree to a value I could live with. I kept my original Ford 19" Forged OEM rims + Rubber, and the Snow tires, so I can sell those to make up the Trade-In difference.

Color wise, Seneca blue was my first choice, though I also love Magma Red, and of course, Dark Verdant, because Green and Yellow is a Lotus staple. I wouldn't change a thing on this spec, its perfect.



I tentatively reached an agreement over the phone, got the trade-in in writing, and the final price of the car negotiated. So thats when I called up a friend and asked if he wanted to be my Road Trip buddy. I called in some PTO time and then it was time.

Friday morning I woke up at 2:30AM, showered, fed the animals, and then snapped this pic of the RS, the last time it would ever be at my house.




Then I picked up Jim and off we went. Took us about 5hrs to drive there and about 3hrs to buy the car.


It only took about 30 minutes to finalize the decision and sign the paper work, however, it took another 2.5hrs because they wouldn't let us leave with the car until the Wire Transfer had been completed. Which is a bit frustrating as they already have not only my Finance Check, but also my DL, Social Security, Focus RS Registration, and even my insurance information. There was no reason we couldn't have finalized the deal and left while the wire transfer cleared in the next few hours.





We finally left around 3:30PM, and spent the time driving back.




Finally dropped my friend off at his house, then left for home.

Made it home around 10PM, then crashed.

 

First mod purchased. And custom plate acquired.



Purdy and lightweight. Can't wait to install it. Going to pick up headers and a CAI early next year to complete uhmazing noises.

 

Be interesting to see if the mods leave this thread alone since it has absolutely nothing to do with thirdgens.

 

Its in a regional forum, not a tech or other forum.

 

Dude, it's a cool car. Noting wrong w posting about it. I actually was looking at these when they came out. They are really cool.

That exhaust looks nasty

 

Yeah. They finally cracked the PCM too, and it looks like with a tune and the bolt-ons its should be around the 460-480whp range, depending on dyno of course. For this car, thats going to be fun.

Handling wise, it's so responsive. Love driving it. That said, it only has enough luggage space to hold a toothbrush. You are limited to soft luggage, no frunk, tiny trunk. You could do 2 people in a road trip with limited soft luggage.

I'm adding headers to the mix and a CAI, so this is likely what it will sound like. The exhaust and headers will drop about 45lbs off the car.


And the CAI:

 

That's awesome. It's convenient that it has space for a toothbrush. You need to keep those pearly whites looking good when your smile is ear to ear!

 

buddy had an older one, but had some bolt on parts as well
fun car, little, too little for me.
getting in and out of it was no fun at all.

head turners though, cool cars, im happy for you, love the blue.

just too small for me to like one. Id have to get a vette, and i almost hate to say that as well.

 

A C8 Z06 Z07 was in the cards, but parts shortages made me jump ship. I could always trade up later.

 

What do you do for a living lol

Nice car though, enjoy

 

enterprise it for a retail company.

many years underpaid. Left to work for a startup for almost double the money. Startup went bankrupt.

best decision I’ve ever made because I found another job paying even more money doing stuff I love. Even if the workload can be a bit much at times. But they pay very well. And working hard actually results in a real bonus.

 

Friend sent me some footage he took on a road trip last summer. Can’t wait to put the e exhaust in the car. It’s too quiet!

but it still sounds pretty good stock.