“Lotus’s traditional V6 sports car finally meets the Autocar (UK) timing gear”

Emira FE finally given the full six-page UK Autocar mag test and scores a wholesome four and a half out of a possible five stars. 2nd April 2025 issue, out now.

“A true Brit sports car”

“The British sports car is alive, well and expensive”

Even with the odd ‘howler’

 

[RobR]

Is this right?

As with the Evora, suspension is by double wishbones all round with fixed-rate dampers. On the V6, customers can choose between a softer, more road-biased Tour set-up and a more tied-down, track-ready Sport one. The latter comes with the Driver’s Pack, which includes a switchable exhaust, ESP Track mode and, on the automatic, launch control. Confusingly, our First Edition test car had the Tour suspension with the Driver’s Pack, a combination that is no longer sold.

 

[Jinba ittai]

Is this right?

No, these “drivers pack” options are included on both the touring and sport versions of the FE.

 

[Teshoo Lama]

Is this right?

It's true in the UK at least. You can only option the Driver's Pack (switchable exhaust, etc) with Sport suspension on the V6. With the I4, it's available regardless of chassis choice.

 

[Jinba ittai]

Yeah must be market dependent then. Here is what the Canadian configurator is currently showing

 

[EspritGuy]

But the US is a LHD market and the UK is RHD?

Clearly, in that case the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing on imports.

 

[seriously]

At 37k it might actually make sense to pick up a second Emira! With increased smog regulation, tariff wars and inflation- it might actually be a decent investment.

 

[RoryBellows]

Lotus simply made too many for the UK.

 

[RobR]

It's true in the UK at least. You can only option the Driver's Pack (switchable exhaust, etc) with Sport suspension on the V6. With the I4, it's available regardless of chassis choice.

Ah OK thanks fellas, it's standard in the US with both suspensions.

 

[RoryBellows]

Ah OK thanks fellas, it's standard in the US with both suspensions.

the US configurator was like that for awhile but they fixed it to allow both. Although in the US the drivers pack is standard and you are just picking suspension

 

[Enut]

Lotus simply made too many for the UK.

I think they made the right amount considering the deposits they had, then the economy fell apart, interest rates went up and many, many people pulled out.

I think the review is good but the 3 year value? If they go down as low as that after 3 years they will be an absolute steal.

 

[Nick in Sydney]

I think they made the right amount considering the deposits they had, then the economy fell apart, interest rates went up and many, many people pulled out.

They also pulled out because Lotus took 2+ years to deliver on some of those deposits!

 

[Enut]

They also pulled out because Lotus took 2+ years to deliver on some of those deposits!

That's true, although there were reasons for that which were mostly beyond Lotus control.

 

[m33Porsche]

Right now two year old v6 with 3.5k miles at 65k. Absolute bargain. It’s not a 100k car

 

[m33Porsche]

Of course anything can happen yet… times are changed, Emira supply is greater than historic models, and it’s an interesting conversation rather than a reason to buy or not to buy, but allowing for 3 year depreciation of 50% on the Emira (which is double historic Lotus depreciation values) and going by current 2 year residuals, I’d be expecting values of around £50k+ at year 3. I could be very wrong though.

Feels about right looking at AT

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Feels about right looking at AT

I've been keeping an eye on AT prices (UK) for a year now and other than an odd private sale now and then prices are hovering around the £60+ mark. We must ignore the Auto100.co.uk cars as they are running out of stock and got a great deal on them from Lotus. This is pretty much what they were last year but with cars with higher mileage.

There are also fewer available too, this time last year there were 87, mainly 3.5 manuals, and now 47 (33 manuals) with less than 5k miles.

This may be wishful thinking on my part as I'm looking to sell July time, but We Buy Any Car raised their offering by 10% over the last 4 months and they are the standard dealers look at at the moment for trade ins.

 

[Beachbum]

I've been keeping an eye on AT prices (UK) for a year now and other than an odd private sale now and then prices are hovering around the £60+ mark. We must ignore the Auto100.co.uk cars as they are running out of stock and got a great deal on them from Lotus. This is pretty much what they were last year but with cars with higher mileage.

There are also fewer available too, this time last year there were 87, mainly 3.5 manuals, and now 47 (33 manuals) with less than 5k miles.

This may be wishful thinking on my part as I'm looking to sell July time, but We Buy Any Car raised their offering by 10% over the last 4 months and they are the standard dealers look at at the moment for trade ins.

Had enough of it already ?
Interested in hearing why you want to sell so soon

 

[Man.v.Cars]

Had enough of it already ?
Interested in hearing why you want to sell so soon

The list of things repaired/replaced/to be repaired means I am now concerned over what will go wrong next, especially once it is out of warranty. Mine is one of the early cars, registered one before Harry Metcalfes I noticed the other day, so has been full of problems.

The next owner will no doubt have a trouble free experience due to everything being sorted in my ownership. It spends far too much time in my drive looking pretty because I am no longer bothered about driving it. I won the car 1 year ago and wish I'd taken the cash alternative, I could have put the cash towards a GT4 Cayman as I was intending to get at the time.

Tailgate on order for replacement, booked in for USBs no working and a couple of other things in May.