Greeting from Raleigh, NC, USA

[K_Squared]

Hey everyone,

I just recently learned about the Emira after looking at the Evora for awhile and thinking it was an amazing car. My first two vehicles when I was a young lad were Toyota MR2s (a 1987 NA followed by a 1992 turbo) and I've always have a soft spot in my heart for mid-engine two seaters ever since.

I currently drive a 2018 BMW 340i ZHP edition which I love as a daily but I've been feeling a strong pull from this new Emira First Edition. I'm a little concerned about it being a bit underpowered (my 340 is putting down about 400whp and 400ft lb) but the looks and handling of the car seem second-to-none in my opinion although I've yet to be able to test drive one.

Anyways, strongly considering an Emira here in the (hopefully not so distant) future but want to stick around and get more feedback about it. Unfortunately there is nowhere to even look at one here on the east coast from what I've found so far.

Happy to be here and thanks!

Kevin

 

[VL3X]

Hey everyone,

I just recently learned about the Emira after looking at the Evora for awhile and thinking it was an amazing car. My first two vehicles when I was a young lad were Toyota MR2s (a 1987 NA followed by a 1992 turbo) and I've always have a soft spot in my heart for mid-engine two seaters ever since.

I currently drive a 2018 BMW 340i ZHP edition which I love as a daily but I've been feeling a strong pull from this new Emira First Edition. I'm a little concerned about it being a bit underpowered (my 340 is putting down about 400whp and 400ft lb) but the looks and handling of the car seem second-to-none in my opinion although I've yet to be able to test drive one.

Anyways, strongly considering an Emira here in the (hopefully not so distant) future but want to stick around and get more feedback about it. Unfortunately there is nowhere to even look at one here on the east coast from what I've found so far.

Happy to be here and thanks!

Kevin

Welcome to the forum Kevin! Lots of useful info here.

You missed the US demos that were running around the past few months. Winter of 2021 there was a shadow grey Emira that toured certain dealers in the US. This wasn't a full production model and folks were only allowed to sit inside and hear it start up. Then, more recently this last autumn-winter, 4 or 5 Euro Spec production model Emiras toured the North America dealers and many with deposits and orders in were invited to test drive. There's a lengthy thread with our experiences and feedback here.

 

[Aero]

Welcome. I had a 93 MR2 turbo as well. Fun car.

The dealers should be getting their Demo cars after they start getting customer cars. Maybe you can go check one of those out.

 

[morphious]

I had an 1990 1/2 (early 90 delivery 91) MR2 Turbo and loved that car. Been through many cars since and none have ever felt the same. I have driven the Emira and it will make the perfect replacement and upgrade to that car.

 

[supersix]

Welcome to the forum @K_Squared

 

[DPB]

Welcome @K_Squared ! I'm in Raleigh as well. Placed deposit in early Dec 2021 but missed FE cutoff. I'm waiting patiently (well, maybe not so much) for any news on the Base Edition and will place my order within a nonosecond of my turn coming up. Lots of good info and excitement on this forum, as well as a good dose of rightful frustration. All part of the journey.

 

[TomE]

Welcome to the forum. You’ve missed 18 months of the “waiting room” but we’ve now got cars being delivered and feedback from owners.

US demo cars will be arriving in a few months with the first US customer cars. So you should have plenty of time to get a test drive and see early customer cars before you have to finalise an order.

In the meantime enjoy hearing about the adventures of new owners. The Owner Journals sub-forum is a good area to follow:

Lotus Emira Journals

Member journals where owners can document their journey of Emira ownership.

www.emiraforum.com

 

[K_Squared]

Welcome @K_Squared ! I'm in Raleigh as well. Placed deposit in early Dec 2021 but missed FE cutoff. I'm waiting patiently (well, maybe not so much) for any news on the Base Edition and will place my order within a nonosecond of my turn coming up. Lots of good info and excitement on this forum, as well as a good dose of rightful frustration. All part of the journey.

Hey DPB! Awesome to hear you're in Raleigh. May I ask where you put your deposit with in terms of dealers? I've spoken with Lotus of Charlotte, Flow lotus in Winston-Salem, and now talking to the new one in Wilmington (Cape Fear) that just opened and said they have a Lotus store opening in Raleigh next year.

Maybe one day we can meet up and take the Emiras for a drive on some fun roads around here

 

[DPB]

Hey DPB! Awesome to hear you're in Raleigh. May I ask where you put your deposit with in terms of dealers? I've spoken with Lotus of Charlotte, Flow lotus in Winston-Salem, and now talking to the new one in Wilmington (Cape Fear) that just opened and said they have a Lotus store opening in Raleigh next year.

Maybe one day we can meet up and take the Emiras for a drive on some fun roads around here

My deposit is with Lotus Charlotte. Daniel has been good to work with, but I have only spoken with him a few times. They don't have much more info than we get here in this forum, so I don't bother him unless I have something specific. Where did you hear about Lotus opening a Raleigh location? That is news to me. Good luck with your journey and I very much hope that we are tooling around North Carolina in our Emiras very soon!

 

[K_Squared]

My deposit is with Lotus Charlotte. Daniel has been good to work with, but I have only spoken with him a few times. They don't have much more info than we get here in this forum, so I don't bother him unless I have something specific. Where did you hear about Lotus opening a Raleigh location? That is news to me. Good luck with your journey and I very much hope that we are tooling around North Carolina in our Emiras very soon!

I received an e-mail from a gentleman named Shane at the Cape Fear Lotus dealership in Wilmington and he mentioned that they had an agreement with Lotus for a Raleigh dealership next year. Not sure if that's a done deal yet but that's what I heard. Will update whenever I get more concrete information about that.

Here's to zipping around NC in our Emiras in the hopefully not-too-distant future!