Dealer Demo cars in Europe and UK

[eriegz]

Germany too!

 

[Dabjbr]

Why is that every Emira I see has the license bracket mounted? They’re not delivering it that way from the factory right?

Law or not, I fully intend to run without a front plate and I’m hopeful the car isn’t delivered with holes already drilled

 

[digilotus]

Why is that every Emira I see has the license bracket mounted? They’re not delivering it that way from the factory right?

Law or not, I fully intend to run without a front plate and I’m hopeful the car isn’t delivered with holes already drilled

My understanding is that the license bracket will be pre-installed at factory for cars being delivered to markets that legally need a front plate installed. Potential exception being delivery for markets that don't legally need a front plate.

But best to confirm this with your dealer!

 

[DJS]

Is it me or am I the only one from the UK that’s pissed off at customer/demo cars turning up all over Europe? Something better happen here in the UK this week or I’m going on a serious rant.

I know some of you are happy to see something happening but now this with no warning.

This circus just gets better and better.

 

[digilotus]

Is it me or am I the only one from the UK that’s pissed off at customer/demo cars turning up all over Europe? Something better happen here in the UK this week or I’m going on a serious rant.

I know some of you are happy to see something happening but now this with no warning.

This circus just gets better and better.

If they can't produce RHD cars due to parts shortages then its better to get some LHD ones out there wouldn't you think?

 

[DJS]

I guess that’s what they are doing and yes it makes sense as they clearly now need the revenue, but it just frustrates me how they can get it so wrong, I think im angry in anticipation of being let down again this month.

BTW that’s nothing against anyone in Europe if they have jumped the queue then good luck to them and congratulations.

 

[digilotus]

I guess that’s what they are doing and yes it makes sense as they clearly now need the revenue, but it just frustrates me how they can get it so wrong, I think im angry in anticipation of being let down again this month.

BTW that’s nothing against anyone in Europe if they have jumped the queue then good luck to them and congratulations.

Dealers getting demos isn't jumping the queue!

 

[DJS]

Dealers getting demos isn't jumping the queue!

Yes they are, jumping the queue is exactly what they are doing, jumping in front of the UK dealerships

 

[digilotus]

Yes they are, jumping the queue is exactly what they are doing, jumping in front of the UK dealerships

To my knowledge, there wasn't a dealer demo queue. Even if hypothetically there was, and UK demos were #1 in that queue, reality is that RHD demos are delayed due to parts availability so LHD dealers get demos first. Sensible approach I would think.

An added factor is transport/shipping timeframes and the customs processes of each recipient country. Looks like the Belgians got their demos first due to their "On Time" logistics provider!

 

[DJS]

To my knowledge, there wasn't a dealer demo queue. Even if hypothetically there was, and UK demos were #1 in that queue, reality is that RHD demos are delayed due to parts availability so LHD dealers get demos first. Sensible approach I would think.

An added factor is transport/shipping timeframes and the customs processes of each recipient country. Looks like the Belgians got their demos first due to their "On Time" logistics provider!

Lotus is a British company and to not get the RHD versions ready first to me is an embarrassment especially when they said that was the case, if you ready my first post on this is says “Customer/Demo” queue. The frustration is down to this coming out of the blue yet again with no communication, surely you can sympathise with that?

I certainly wouldn’t be congratulating dealers on receiving their demo cars lol

 

[digilotus]

Lotus is a British company and to not get the RHD versions ready first to me is an embarrassment especially when they said that was the case, if you ready my first post on this is says “Customer/Demo” queue. The frustration is down to this coming out of the blue yet again with no communication, surely you can sympathise with that?

I can sympathise with that, but it doesn't make me angry or frustrated as I understand why that's the case.

 

[DJS]

I can sympathise with that, but it doesn't make me angry or frustrated as I understand why that's the case.

It’s Monday morning here my angriest time of the week.

 

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

Is it me or am I the only one from the UK that’s pissed off at customer/demo cars turning up all over Europe? Something better happen here in the UK this week or I’m going on a serious rant.

I know some of you are happy to see something happening but now this with no warning.

This circus just gets better and better.

I'm also fuming,for a UK manufacturer not to deliver in its own country first,especially when I presume most early deposits were UK also.

I am seriously contemplating downgrading to base spec at this rate, the excitement has completely gone now....

 

[emiraspain]

It’s Monday morning here my angriest time of the week.

Im not angry, and it is obviously the correct decision; if they have cars ready they need to move them and not start storing them.
However, you are, as most of us all are, 100% correct at the same time. How and why would Lotus yet again confirm cars in July to be at dealers in August when they did, yet again, not actually have the parts in hand to make them, UNLESS they did and there was an issue with them, OR they are actually stuck at a port somewhere on their way to Hethel. However, from recent experience, I think we know its that they simply did not arrive... ie manufacturer not fulfilling promises, and Lotus fall into the old trap of basing their promises on other's promises!
It would now seem logicial to me that in fact LHD customers will get their cars first also, hence whatever LHD/RHD queue there was or wasn't could be inverted and again, I don't mind that, irrelevant of me having one of each as I am not 100% sure which car I will sell and which car I will keep. Lotus have to do whats right for the business, BUT again, they need to damn well tell us.
This raising expectations with videos, emails, phone conversations, then 100% changing / altering what has been said without any further communication is now way beyond unprofessional and as you say, its embarassing.
UK company getting RHD cars out first is not the point for me, its yet again the way Lotus handle or rather dont handle it at all. SOOOOoOooooooo disappointing ... did I really just say that. I promise never to say it again.
On a more depressing note, I am guessing Spain still wont get their demo for another month or so, always last in EU the queue, it was the same for the iPhone...

 

[TomE]

My understanding is that the license bracket will be pre-installed at factory for cars being delivered to markets that legally need a front plate installed. Potential exception being delivery for markets that don't legally need a front plate.

But best to confirm this with your dealer!

I was told this by Lotus. The bracket will be pre-installed where legally required. For the US, where some states don't require a front plate, the bracket will be supplied separately and fitted by the dealer if required. It'll then be down to you discussing with your dealer if you want them to leave it off in a state where it's legally required.

 

[digilotus]

I was told this by Lotus. The bracket will be pre-installed where legally required. For the US, where some states don't require a front plate, the bracket will be supplied separately and fitted by the dealer if required. It'll then be down to you discussing with your dealer if you want them to leave it off in a state where it's legally required.

Thanks for confirming @TomE.

 

[TomE]

Is it me or am I the only one from the UK that’s pissed off at customer/demo cars turning up all over Europe? Something better happen here in the UK this week or I’m going on a serious rant.

I know some of you are happy to see something happening but now this with no warning.

This circus just gets better and better.

I'm disappointed for the UK dealers and customers who have been waiting for test drives and first deliveries.

Lotus had said in July demos would be available in August, then were saying which week in August, then no updates, then at end August said now mid Sept. Then without warning (to the UK dealers) demo cars started appearing in Europe last week. As far as I can tell, the dealers found out via social media, not from Lotus. And they still don't know their own delivery dates.

It's good to see cars getting out there and understandable for Lotus to build what they have parts for, but I can see how it's disappointing and frustrating for UK dealers and customers.

I'm expecting the first customer deliveries will be in Europe too, including to customers who placed deposits after folks who are in theory ahead of them in the UK queue. It's clear Lotus' previous intention to deliver in deposit date order has been abandoned. We know why, but it's the lack of transparency that's disappointing.

 

[TomE]

To my knowledge, there wasn't a dealer demo queue. Even if hypothetically there was, and UK demos were #1 in that queue, reality is that RHD demos are delayed due to parts availability so LHD dealers get demos first. Sensible approach I would think.

An added factor is transport/shipping timeframes and the customs processes of each recipient country. Looks like the Belgians got their demos first due to their "On Time" logistics provider!

There was a dealer demo queue. RHD demo cars were due to be delivered first, with first LHD cars following about a month later; similar for RHD and LHD customer cars. That's clearly been abandoned, sometime during the various delays but probably only decided in the last 4-6 weeks when the LHD and RHD parts supply situation became clearer.

 

[Leonard]

I'm disappointed for the UK dealers and customers who have been waiting for test drives and first deliveries.

Lotus had said in July demos would be available in August, then were saying which week in August, then no updates, then at end August said now mid Sept. Then without warning (to the UK dealers) demo cars starting appearing in Europe last week. As far as I can tell, the dealers found out via social media, not from Lotus. And they still don't know their own delivery dates.

It's good to see cars getting out there and understandable for Lotus to build what they have parts for, but I can see how it's disappointing and frustrating for UK dealers and customers.

I'm expecting the first customer deliveries will be in Europe too, including to customers who placed deposits after folks who are in theory ahead of them in the UK queue. It's clear Lotus' previous intention to deliver in deposit date order have been abandoned. We know why, but it's the lack of transparency that's disappointing.

My biggest disappointment is wasting a whole summer (the best one for years), waiting for a car to turn up that was never going to arrive.
Sad 1st world problems I know.
Next year I imagine my holiday fund will be offsetting my energy bills! So currently considering turning the Emira into Campervan and keeping the Yaris for general b road hoonary. Who would have thought a VW van would cost exactly same as an Emira, the world has gone mad and us as consumers as well

 

[digilotus]

There was a dealer demo queue. RHD demo cars were due to be delivered first, with first LHD cars following about a month later; similar for RHD and LHD customer cars. That's clearly been abandoned, sometime during the various delays but probably only decided in the last 4-6 weeks when the LHD and RHD parts supply situation became clearer.

Fair enough, mea culpa!