đź““ Journals Diaries of the first Lotus Emira picked up from Hethel - V6 FE - yellow / ice / silver / sport

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Full Milltek system with OPF bypass fitted. Quick video - full write up later tonight when I get time, plus a lot more thoughts and experiences with the car to share!

Bloody hooligan! :nod-of-approval:
 
I have a Hethel Yellow V6 FE 1.0 on order and will be having the Milltek exhaust with Cat delete pipe fitted by my Lotus dealer in the U.S. when the car arrives.

Any installation feedback/tips would be greatly appreciated.
 
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And here we are... at 1 year old.

I still have the Emira. It's still awesome. But not flawless. In the process of hopefully sorting out a few wee bits and I will write up some experiences, both positive and some less than ideal, in the next week or so.

Here's a video of the full Miltek system with OPF delete while driving....... LOVE IT.



Also thanks to Lotus for the Salon Prive tickets, awesome experience:

 
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I've been very quiet on here, with good reason unfortunately.

Since being the first to collect an Emira from Hethel, on 11th November 2022 - you can see from the above huge thread the initial issues I had. Lotus were great and did resolve all of these - however a lot of that experience was dragged out and slow.

It's away at Hethel again for the last month, and I'm getting great updates on what is being done etc, should have it back shortly with a full story and every minor quirk ironed out. Hopefully :)

Still love the car, but the issues, even the minor ones, are weighing on the ownership experience now - here's hoping Lotus make this right.
 
It's away at Hethel again for the last month, and I'm getting great updates on what is being done etc, should have it back shortly with a full story and every minor quirk ironed out. Hopefully :)

Still love the car, but the issues, even the minor ones, are weighing on the ownership experience now - here's hoping Lotus make this right.
That sucks, sorry to hear it. You seem to have been exceptionally unlucky with your Emira, and I wonder if this was partly because yours was one of the earliest cars — you were a bit of a guinea pig for the rest of us. I feel almost guilty saying that I've had mine for about six months and not a single thing has gone wrong.
 
I am surprised you haven’t ask lotus for a new car after all the production issues your Emira had. Hope it all works out - keep us posted on what the latest issues are!
 
I've been very quiet on here, with good reason unfortunately.

Since being the first to collect an Emira from Hethel, on 11th November 2022 - you can see from the above huge thread the initial issues I had. Lotus were great and did resolve all of these - however a lot of that experience was dragged out and slow.

It's away at Hethel again for the last month, and I'm getting great updates on what is being done etc, should have it back shortly with a full story and every minor quirk ironed out. Hopefully :)

Still love the car, but the issues, even the minor ones, are weighing on the ownership experience now - here's hoping Lotus make this right.
Did they give any push back with your modded exhaust or stayed professional about issues not relating to it?
 
I am surprised you haven’t ask lotus for a new car after all the production issues your Emira had. Hope it all works out - keep us posted on what the latest issues are!
Its basically a new car with all the parts they have probably replaced. QC didnt exist then, they were just pushing the cars out. Hoping thats changed.
 
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Definitely lots of new parts on it, hoping it's as good as new (or better than new for mine / as good as a new one now)

Should be a week roughly until it's completed and on it's way back to me... Updates then. Excited / apprehensive.
 
Definitely lots of new parts on it, hoping it's as good as new (or better than new for mine / as good as a new one now)

Should be a week roughly until it's completed and on it's way back to me... Updates then. Excited / apprehensive.
Amazing oddesey.
Hope they've extended your warranty.
 
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Wow, well, it's been a while.

As I approach the 2nd anniversary of picking up the first ever Hethel collection Emira, figured I'd post a decent update on all things Lotus Emira!

First of all, those following my car account on instagram will know I'm still loving it :)
www.instagram.com/yellowemira


So the Emira was taken away again in late Dec 2023 to rectify the door blistering on one side (they changed out both doors) and a few other minor software items - along with the main issue that's been my headache, and that's the electrics. Full rewiring of the car, ECUs etc to remove engine warning lights and an over-heating issue resolved, and it was returned to me in February 2024 fully working.

I should add Lotus have been nothing but great with me - I've had a courtesy car via Enterprise for the best part of a year, while for 90% of that time having a working Emira. I've had Merc GLC's, BMW 3 series and a few other random things (they keep getting swapped out to keep me in a brand new vehicle)

Further (minor) issues in early summer involved the Emira being picked up and back to Hethel again. This time I got an Enterprise hire car AND another Lotus Emira (Nimbus Grey over Red interior - see instagram for pics of this). The issues this time were the wiring to one rear light was slightly faulty, and the indicator and brake light failed twice, so I deemed the vehicle not safe to drive until resolved.

It's been back with me for a couple of months and has been amazing. Even with the issues I've had, the car brings me a massive smile every time I use it. It's not my daily driver I might add, but for the Scottish B-roads (non highway for the US peeps) it's insanely good fun. The Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe is on just now, and the tourists seem to love the car, gets a LOT of positive attention, photos, people asking what it is - even after all this time.

The Miltek full system and OPF bypass is just a MUST though. Or any exhaust setup really. The courtesy Emira I had was 'very tame' by comparison.


If your on the fence about buying one, don't be put off by the early car's issues - they are all fixable - and the car is simply brilliant fun. What more can I say?
 
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