Anyone received their 30 day notification yet?

[richbrown]

I have always thought the lack of flexibility on configuration was not completely necessary, considering the vehicles are still so far from production, especially for something as minor as glass, wheel colour etc.. Your lock in was probably for Spring production, maybe four of five months ahead of delivery, mine is August lock in for possibly December delivery, so not too dissimilar timings, the slip in production has exasperated the situation of course.

My friend who has a Boxster GTS4.0 on order for 18 months has just heard his order, for delivery in October, is no longer possible with no estimate available, the price has risen and will rise again. Porsche offered him another car without many of the options he has ticked!

At least Lotus have kept their specifications and price constant, the delay is frustrating and the level of communication has irked some deposit holders, it cannot have been an easy time for Lotus as they move to being a higher volume manufacturer.

We have to continue to be patient or go elsewhere

Totally agree. This is a 1st world problem and we are all lucky to be able to have the means to buy this beautiful car. The forum has turned into a bitching session against Lotus since I joined over a year ago. I’m a new customer to Lotus and all the engagement I’ve had at Hethel, the HAC event and Customer service has been positive. The choice is stick with it or buy another car. I’m not defending the Lotus team but a few months delay isn’t going to materially change my very fortunate position.

 

[ksegg]

Totally agree. This is a 1st world problem and we are all lucky to be able to have the means to by this beautiful car. The forum has turned into a bitching session against Lotus since I joined over a year ago. I’m a new customer to Lotus and all the engagement I’ve had at Hethel, the HAC event and Customer service has been positive. The choice is stick with it or buy another car. I’m not defending the Lotus team but a few months delay isn’t going to materially change my very fortunate position.

We're just trying harder to be like Rennlist.

In all seriousness, I think it's not so much the delays (I'm fine with it, though I love poking fun at it), it's more:

1.) Lack of any sort of organized and cadenced communication from both Lotus and Lotus dealers.
2.) Inconsistency across what little communication is received. What one person is told, another person is told something completely different.

Delays I can understand; I get it - supply chain blah blah. But communication is something that is completely within Lotus' control.

I'm perfectly fine with just having regular emails just saying "Hey, really sorry but we're still held up with supply. But hang in there, it's worth the wait!"

That simply isn't happening for ALL deposit holders.

 

[richbrown]

We're just trying harder to be like Rennlist.

In all seriousness, I think it's not so much the delays (I'm fine with it, though I love poking fun at it), it's more:

1.) Lack of any sort of organized and cadenced communication from both Lotus and Lotus dealers.
2.) Inconsistency across what little communication is received. What one person is told, another person is told something completely different.

Delays I can understand; I get it - supply chain blah blah. But communication is something that is completely within Lotus' control.

I'm perfectly fine with just having regular emails just saying "Hey, really sorry but we're still held up with supply. But hang in there, it's worth the wait!"

That simply isn't happening for ALL deposit holders.

Fair point and it is a shambles. The thing I admire about them having had zero interaction or visits to factories at Merc, Audi, Porsche when buying their cars is how accessible the key lotus team are and how endearing they are. Sounds corny but I personally feel I’m not a transaction even with the ongoing comms issues. If you’ve sold your car assuming a delivery date it must be incredibly frustrating and I pushed my delivery back from oct 22 to April 23 before all the delays with semi con supply chain. I can only think they are still not there with the huge response and order book they’ve not had previously. Again not excusing them but having sat in an Emira and been up close it is worth the wait..

 

[Scruff111S]

We're just trying harder to be like Rennlist.

In all seriousness, I think it's not so much the delays (I'm fine with it, though I love poking fun at it), it's more:

1.) Lack of any sort of organized and cadenced communication from both Lotus and Lotus dealers.
2.) Inconsistency across what little communication is received. What one person is told, another person is told something completely different.

Delays I can understand; I get it - supply chain blah blah. But communication is something that is completely within Lotus' control.

I'm perfectly fine with just having regular emails just saying "Hey, really sorry but we're still held up with supply. But hang in there, it's worth the wait!"

That simply isn't happening for ALL deposit holders.

Yes I agree with you. The way I am thinking is an email perhaps every fortnight, explaining what the current state of play is. IE supply chain or whatever the reason. But just be straight with us. Telling me 2 years ago that I will get the car in March 2022. Do they really think I am not going to notice it is now delayed till October. Please, just be straight with us!

 

[ksegg]

Fair point and it is a shambles. The thing I admire about them having had zero interaction or visits to factories at Merc, Audi, Porsche when buying their cars is how accessible the key lotus team are and how endearing they are. Sounds corny but I personally feel I’m not a transaction even with the ongoing comms issues. If you’ve sold your car assuming a delivery date it must be incredibly frustrating and I pushed my delivery back from oct 22 to April 23 before all the delays with semi con supply chain. I can only think they are still not there with the huge response and order book they’ve not had previously. Again not excusing them but having sat in an Emira and been up close it is worth the wait..

Yeah, I don't think anyone here is being unreasonable or intentionally daft. We're all just kind of annoyed with lack of comms.

Absolutely agreed with your points about the overall customer experience; when I ordered my M2C back in 2019, I really appreciated the seemingly constant communication from both BMW and the BMW dealership. It doesn't seem like much, but it makes a customer feel valued, which goes a long way.

If I were Lotus, I would:

1.) Have a more centralized Customer Care Team and set up cadenced email communications, and network with all of their dealers to ensure important updates and messages (or even just "hey sorry, we're STILL waiting on our end too!) emails.

2.) Do something engaging for all deposit holders; - periodically send Lotus swag with a nice note "Yep. Supply chain issues...........sucks. In the meantime, here's a nice LOTUS tshirt to soak up your tears!" Or send all deposit holders a 1:18 model of the EXACT car they ordered, with signatures from the folks who BUILT your car.

Stuff like that would actually make me love Lotus even MORE, because it shows they're trying to make a difficult process better.

 

[TomE]

Fair point and it is a shambles. The thing I admire about them having had zero interaction or visits to factories at Merc, Audi, Porsche when buying their cars is how accessible the key lotus team are and how endearing they are. Sounds corny but I personally feel I’m not a transaction even with the ongoing comms issues. If you’ve sold your car assuming a delivery date it must be incredibly frustrating and I pushed my delivery back from oct 22 to April 23 before all the delays with semi con supply chain. I can only think they are still not there with the huge response and order book they’ve not had previously. Again not excusing them but having sat in an Emira and been up close it is worth the wait..

Goodwood 2021 was great (if you got there early to avoid the queues!), UK dealer roadshows in autumn 2021 were great, meeting people at Hethel and seeing the new production hall was very interesting. Goodwood 2022 was excellent - multiple Emiras in most colours and you could crawl all over them, dozens of Lotus employees from the Emira development and production teams (not sales staff). I wish people in other countries could have that kind of interaction.

All great engagement and done in a very Lotus way. All let down between these big events by everything people have mentioned about poor comms and inconsistency.

They had a brilliant opportunity to engage with people through this pre-delivery phase in a genuine, interesting and Lotus-like way. But have sadly missed that.

 

[NWFL]

Yeah, I don't think anyone here is being unreasonable or intentionally daft. We're all just kind of annoyed with lack of comms.

Absolutely agreed with your points about the overall customer experience; when I ordered my M2C back in 2019, I really appreciated the seemingly constant communication from both BMW and the BMW dealership. It doesn't seem like much, but it makes a customer feel valued, which goes a long way.

If I were Lotus, I would:

1.) Have a more centralized Customer Care Team and set up cadenced email communications, and network with all of their dealers to ensure important updates and messages (or even just "hey sorry, we're STILL waiting on our end too!) emails.

2.) Do something engaging for all deposit holders; - periodically send Lotus swag with a nice note "Yep. Supply chain issues...........sucks. In the meantime, here's a nice LOTUS tshirt to soak up your tears!" Or send all deposit holders a 1:18 model of the EXACT car they ordered, with signatures from the folks who BUILT your car.

Stuff like that would actually make me love Lotus even MORE, because it shows they're trying to make a difficult process better.

Things were a lot different back in 2019, a whole lot different and my BMW buying experience on a 2021 X3M in early 2021 was a whole lot different than what you have described in 2019 or my prior BMW buying experiences on 2 other new BMW's from the same dealer in the past. Did I blame BMW at the time, no and I won't blame Lotus now as it's neither of their faults in regard to the way things are nowadays. Buying a Lotus Evora back in 2019 went pretty smoothly too, at least that's what I have heard from my dealer.

 

[Scruff111S]

Just been watching some videos of Lotus In The Peak 2022. Am I being somewhat optimistic even thinking about entering the July 2023 event.

 

[Leonard]

Just been watching some videos of Lotus In The Peak 2022. Am I being somewhat optimistic even thinking about entering the July 2023 event.

Oooo links to Videos?
Sure you will be OK..

 

[Scruff111S]

Oooo links to Videos?
Sure you will be OK..

My auntie just said she thinks i should get the car this year. She said that having never had dealings with Lotus. But we have, haven't we.

 

[jamesbxxx]

Surprise call from CS this week: They have found me a November build with December delivery! Original deposit July 12th, bumped to a “sometime in 2023” slot due to a spec change a week after lock-in day.
Very happy with this news!
Nimbus + BP
DC wheels
Yellow calipers
Alcantara with yellow
Tracker
No privacy glass

 

[Scruff111S]

Surprise call from CS this week: They have found me a November build with December delivery! Original deposit July 12th, bumped to a “sometime in 2023” slot due to a spec change a week after lock-in day.
Very happy with this news!
Nimbus + BP
DC wheels
Yellow calipers
Alcantara with yellow
Tracker
No privacy glass

That's great news. Mine is same except Seneca Blue, no black pack and no tracker. I was told delay possibly due to lake of dc wheels and yellow calipers. But as your car has them, seems to be not a problem. I am in Telford, where in the West Midlands are you? As there are a few around our area. Perhaps we could arrange a get together/run out when we do eventually get our cars. Any other in the area fancy it?

 

[Eagle7]

What are your wheel and caliper choices? I've got DC wheels and black calipers. I know others with the same who are getting delivery a month before me, despite later deposits. We've seen cars already with these components on.

My hunch is Homelink is affecting mine, but I don't think you have it?

You know since Homelink is standard on all the North America cars, it may be that they're giving priority to the Homelink assemblies for the U.S. If those units are in short supply. That could be a possible explanation as to the hold-up for those of you in the U.K. that ordered it as an option.

 

[Ian C]

That's great news. Mine is same except Seneca Blue, no black pack and no tracker. I was told delay possibly due to lake of dc wheels and yellow calipers. But as your car has them, seems to be not a problem. I am in Telford, where in the West Midlands are you? As there are a few around our area. Perhaps we could arrange a get together/run out when we do eventually get our cars. Any other in the area fancy it?

Truth is we don't know what the issues are , I offered to change my spec to suit Lotus , if they have not got yellow calipers then not an issue, the fact that no cars have been delivered leads me to the conclusion that it is nothing to do with spec , there are generic parts not available which is holding up everyone's order

 

[Scruff111S]

Truth is we don't know what the issues are , I offered to change my spec to suit Lotus , if they have not got yellow calipers then not an issue, the fact that no cars have been delivered leads me to the conclusion that it is nothing to do with spec , there are generic parts not available which is holding up everyone's order

Yes I thought that. If there was a problem with my spec, as an example but probably not, the wheels, then Lotus should have contacted me, explaining the issue and give me the option of changing to suite parts availability. But as you say, which is a good point, it maybe parts common to all cars, irrespective of spec.

 

[Scruff111S]

Oooo links to Videos?
Sure you will be OK..

I see you are from Derbyshire. Have you attended the Lotus in the Peak events in the past?

 

[emiraspain]

I see you are from Derbyshire. Have you attended the Lotus in the Peak events in the past?

leonard is very anti social, he wouldnt attend his own funeral if they didn't make him.....

He's also test driving a porsche this coming week, so best leave him out of any get together until he's a 1000% lotus guy.. haha.
I am westmidlands, when Im not in barcelona, but the UK car will probably not be with me long enough to meet in it, we shall see.... then depends a little on when the spanish car arrives, which I am assuming middle of the winter at this point.

 

[Scruff111S]

leonard is very anti social, he wouldnt attend his own funeral if they didn't make him.....

He's also test driving a porsche this coming week, so best leave him out of any get together until he's a 1000% lotus guy.. haha.
I am westmidlands, when Im not in barcelona, but the UK car will probably not be with me long enough to meet in it, we shall see.... then depends a little on when the spanish car arrives, which I am assuming middle of the winter at this point.

I am sure Leonard is not that bad. There is nothing better than having a run out with other Lotus enthusiasts. I have taken part in many over the years with my S2 Elise. It was just a thought. There is a another deposit holder in Telford, when we both have our cars we will arrange a run out i think to, in part at least, celebrate getting our cars.

 

[EspritGuy]

leonard is very anti social, he wouldnt attend his own funeral if they didn't make him.....

He's also test driving a porsche this coming week, so best leave him out of any get together until he's a 1000% lotus guy.. haha.
I am westmidlands, when Im not in barcelona, but the UK car will probably not be with me long enough to meet in it, we shall see.... then depends a little on when the spanish car arrives, which I am assuming middle of the winter at this point.

Loved the first sentence.
Sounds like he wouldn't be caught dead going there..
Grave situation, to be sure.

 

[Leonard]

I see you are from Derbyshire. Have you attended the Lotus in the Peak events in the past?

I went to this year's. Was really good! Even better if you are involved over the weekend I'm sure