Had the Emira 3 months it’s been in for repairs most of that time

[Steve24]

Again. Thread is about car being broken more than driven. That’s not what I’d call positive. I still have a deposit down. Do I still window shop? Yes I do. I have 0 issue grabbing another exotic that comes CPO and with a warranty (like McLaren). Spare the McLaren bashing, lifetime power train, lifetime body, 5/60k on the rest- that’s a 2yr old car.

I still want a Lotus - just one that works, and drives fast, looks good, sounds good, feels good.

In your own words you described the Emira as “junk” and “too slow”, yet you still have a deposit down?

How odd.

 

[DJS]

For everyones information this car is going to be a success and I say that as I have one of the latest builds and have just come back from driving it, again no issues whatsoever and I can honestly say coming from a Porsche only back ground that this car is special i'm so pleased with it. it's sad to see people on the forum turning on each other when they have yet to taste the car in real. My advice to everyone on the fence stay in and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Toomanyloti]

For everyones information this car is going to be a success and I say that as I have one of the latest builds and have just come back from driving it, again no issues whatsoever and I can honestly say coming from a Porsche only back ground that this car is special i'm so pleased with it. it's sad to see people on the forum turning on each other when they have yet to taste the car in real. My advice to everyone on the fence stay in and you won't be disappointed.

yep this

 

[ChrisW]

Matt Windle is is on LinkedIn and he is actually on there frequently, posts, and replies to messages. I’d punt your disaster right to the top.

Thanks - I did that and he sent it on to the same customer services representative that’s not been particularly customer focussed sadly

 

[ChrisW]

Sorry to hear this @ChrisW

I took delivery last month, the car is currently with Lotus after a breakdown. Added to other issues and I have lost confidence in the vehicle. Today, I submitted a request for a full refund, under the consumer rights act 2015. The refund request must be submitted within 30 days (today is 30 days for me).

I’ve heard that others have received a full refund beyond 30 days so I don’t think Lotus are strictly adhering to it. But it might be worth checking when you first emailed.

Good luck!

Thanks yes reported faults all from first week of purchase and thereafter well documented - the vehicle has been in repair for almost 5 weeks over the last 6 weeks with no courtesy car provided

 

[ChrisW]

Any chance the passenger seat, passenger window, and the passenger mirror are all coming from the same wiring loom? I wonder.

Yes think that was the problem - that one is now sorted, the ECU and the passenger seatbelt inoperable from tensioner are all that’s remaining to repair - but car has been in the repair shop for 5 full weeks out of the last 6 weeks - and no courtesy car provided - nor updates unless I chase them to see when parts are likely to arrive

 

[ott]

My car has now been at the dealer for 11 weeks with engine fault issue. Lotus has stated that they do not know what exactly is the problem ? Therefore no idea, when and how it gets sorted ? Hope they will do better with yours.

 

[denk0815]

My car has now been at the dealer for 11 weeks with engine fault issue. Lotus has stated that they do not know what exactly is the problem ? Therefore no idea, when and how it gets sorted ? Hope they will do better with yours.

Without wanting to snitch here, I spoke to someone from my regional office a few weeks ago.
He told me that at that time about 20% of the vehicles they delivered were back in the workshop at some time. Almost all of the problems, however, were due to software and that their hands were therefore tied.
Since I myself have roots in software development, this sounds plausible to me because
many in the industry currently deliver banana software and let it ripen at the customer.

 

[ott]

Without wanting to snitch here, I spoke to someone from my regional office a few weeks ago.
He told me that at that time about 20% of the vehicles they delivered were back in the workshop at some time. Almost all of the problems, however, were due to software and that their hands were therefore tied.
Since I myself have roots in software development, this sounds plausible to me because
many in the industry currently deliver banana software and let it ripen at the customer.

I have been told, that Lotus will release new software and only after its installed they will investigate other possibilities in case the error messages stay. Therefore I'm development driver for Lotus, paying for the pleasure. What I don't get is how its possible that many cars running same version of software are fine ? Reply to my question about this was literally "no-one knows".

 

[Kimmax]

I have been told, that Lotus will release new software and only after its installed they will investigate other possibilities in case the error messages stay. Therefore I'm development driver for Lotus, paying for the pleasure. What I don't get is how its possible that many cars running same version of software are fine ? Reply to my question about this was literally "no-one knows".

Curious: What exactly doesn't work? Do you have any OBD messages or something?

 

[Porter]

I have been told, that Lotus will release new software and only after its installed they will investigate other possibilities in case the error messages stay. Therefore I'm development driver for Lotus, paying for the pleasure. What I don't get is how its possible that many cars running same version of software are fine ? Reply to my question about this was literally "no-one knows".

There are differences in build though, we already know they changed wiring loom supplier early in production due to the Ukraine war. I don't know if they kept records about which cars got which parts, but that would be interesting to track. There have been reports of a number of wiring looms being replaced, and for a few specific issues (O2 sensors) there seems to be some correlation with water following a spray wash of the car. So there may be a problem with the weather-resistance some of the connectors in the wiring loom, which could create some very unpredictable outcomes with cars out in the real world if it does prove to be a widespread issue.

Also, the primary electrical variable between different cars that are otherwise built with identical parts is the one "variable-state" component in the system - the battery. I have a suspicion that MANY of the early builds were built with batteries that were either defective, or were damaged by some condition that they experienced in storage. The subsystem warning messages that many owners have experienced (that disappear after a reset or a long wait in the Off state) sound like issues I've seen in other vehicles when a voltage drop or voltage sag condition occurs, when the alternator can't keep up with the simultaneous current demand of the charging battery and the running vehicle systems. The fact that these errors seem to disappear on cars that are kept on trickle chargers reinforces this guess for me.

 

[ott]

There are differences in build though, we already know they changed wiring loom supplier early in production due to the Ukraine war. I don't know if they kept records about which cars got which parts, but that would be interesting to track. There have been reports of a number of wiring looms being replaced, and for a few specific issues (O2 sensors) there seems to be some correlation with water following a spray wash of the car. So there may be a problem with the weather-resistance some of the connectors in the wiring loom, which could create some very unpredictable outcomes with cars out in the real world if it does prove to be a widespread issue.

Also, the primary electrical variable between different cars that are otherwise built with identical parts is the one "variable-state" component in the system - the battery. I have a suspicion that MANY of the early builds were built with batteries that were either defective, or were damaged by some condition that they experienced in storage. The subsystem warning messages that many owners have experienced (that disappear after a reset or a long wait in the Off state) sound like issues I've seen in other vehicles when a voltage drop or voltage sag condition occurs, when the alternator can't keep up with the simultaneous current demand of the charging battery and the running vehicle systems. The fact that these errors seem to disappear on cars that are kept on trickle chargers reinforces this guess for me.

This makes sense. My car was was built in Sept '22. Did run fine last year over 1600 km's, was then stored indoors for winter. New software in April '23 and then problems started, engine goes into safe mode. Don't know what codes it throws ? Dealer has checked wiring and didn't find anything wrong, but said that it still may-be an issue needing further investigation. I would expect that Lotus or dealer would figure it out if its just weak battery, but will ask for any case.

 

[firstedition]

My 3 month old emira wouldn't start last week and then the yellow engine symbol came on. Lotus (the AA) came out to look at it twice and couldn't fix it. Now its got to go back to lotus on a trailer and will probably be stuck there for weeks doing nothing. Miserable experience. I would love a refund tbh.

 

[Toomanyloti]

My 3 month old emira wouldn't start last week and then the yellow engine symbol came on. Lotus (the AA) came out to look at it twice and couldn't fix it. Now its got to go back to lotus on a trailer and will probably be stuck there for weeks doing nothing. Miserable experience. I would love a refund tbh.

Stupid suggestion (maybe) but is it full of fuel or have you tried adding at least a gallon?
I would think you would know by now if your fuel level sensor was knackered but it could have just failed.
I feared the worst and 10l fixed it........
Threw all manner of codes first time and worse second time as I was actually moving.
Codes all gone now (oh Lordy why did I type say that )

 

[FlashingBlade]

It seems like the Emira should could delivered with a box of essentials:

1) OBD unit
2) Spare gallon of fuel
3) Battery booster pack
4) trickle charger

 

[koorby]

There are differences in build though, we already know they changed wiring loom supplier early in production due to the Ukraine war. I don't know if they kept records about which cars got which parts, but that would be interesting to track. There have been reports of a number of wiring looms being replaced, and for a few specific issues (O2 sensors) there seems to be some correlation with water following a spray wash of the car. So there may be a problem with the weather-resistance some of the connectors in the wiring loom, which could create some very unpredictable outcomes with cars out in the real world if it does prove to be a widespread issue.

Also, the primary electrical variable between different cars that are otherwise built with identical parts is the one "variable-state" component in the system - the battery. I have a suspicion that MANY of the early builds were built with batteries that were either defective, or were damaged by some condition that they experienced in storage. The subsystem warning messages that many owners have experienced (that disappear after a reset or a long wait in the Off state) sound like issues I've seen in other vehicles when a voltage drop or voltage sag condition occurs, when the alternator can't keep up with the simultaneous current demand of the charging battery and the running vehicle systems. The fact that these errors seem to disappear on cars that are kept on trickle chargers reinforces this guess for me.

Yep, I had the water-into-wiring-loom issue too. The junction box got corroded at three points and it basically affected my engine cooling (got to 119c!!), engine coolant warnings, air conditioning (stopped working) and random ESC/ABS failure messages.

The Lotus dealer Jerry-rigged a fix (clean up, electrical paste and tape) but Lotus couldn’t tell them what part numbers to order to replace the loom. So waiting to hear back on that.

So far it’s all still working but I’m going to avoid jet washing the car for now.

 

[Porter]

Yep, I had the water-into-wiring-loom issue too. The junction box got corroded at three points and it basically affected my engine cooling (got to 119c!!), engine coolant warnings, air conditioning (stopped working) and random ESC/ABS failure messages.

The Lotus dealer Jerry-rigged a fix (clean up, electrical paste and tape) but Lotus couldn’t tell them what part numbers to order to replace the loom. So waiting to hear back on that.

So far it’s all still working but I’m going to avoid jet washing the car for now.

That's very interesting info. Where is this junction box on the car?

 

[koorby]

Under the bonnet (hood). Basically you can’t get to it without taking the bonnet off.

 

[Porter]

Under the bonnet (hood). Basically you can’t get to it without taking the bonnet off.

Ok it's in the front under-bonnet area though. That's great, hopefully some owners can do their own checking and see if there is water intrusion on their own cars, without waiting for a major failure.

 

[kitkat]

It seems like the Emira should could delivered with a box of essentials:

1) OBD unit
2) Spare gallon of fuel
3) Battery booster pack
4) trickle charger

5) spare o2 sensors
6) towel
7) spare power steering unit