How good will the Emira's gain in value be?

[OppositeLock]

Look at all the Lotus cars from the last few decades. If you go back to the 60's, starting with the Elan, there aren't any regular production Lotus cars that have become valuable. They depreciate for a while then seem to hit a price plateau and stay there. I imagine the Emira is going to be the same. While it's a really awesome car, it's not a luxury collector item like a Ferrari, nor is it the highest performance car, nor is it the highest quality car. It's a car that drives great, has a good engine, and reasonable power for the day. The biggest thing it has going for it is that it's unique and uncommon.

 

[Jinba ittai]

They depreciate for a while then seem to hit a price plateau and stay there

Some might say that’s because a new supply was always coming down the pike. The Emira could be different if it’s seen as the end of an era.

 

[OppositeLock]

It's not going to be the last. The global delusion about the future of motoring seems to be ebbing.

 

[Jinba ittai]

It's not going to be the last. The global delusion about the future of motoring seems to be ebbing.

I’m not so sure about that. The enthusiasts are pushing back on enthusiast cars. I think the mainstream is still going electric and that will eventually dictate the rules for all.

 

[Tomwa]

I'm not particularly fussed if driving becomes a hobby, approximately the equivalent of keeping/riding horses today, as long I'm still allowed to do it.

Is this still true when your hobby, like horses, is no longer allowed on the roads?

 

[idleuser]

Hold the line until California bans higher emission cars (most likely before 2035) and prices will jump. Not that it matters since I'll be keeping this car forever.

 

[chirowolf]

My 20yr old son loves driving the manual Lotus we have.

All my kids shared a manual Saturn coupe as their first car (3 kids in 18 months, one is adopted). All 3 purchased manuals when they decided to buy their own cars. S2000, Cooper Clubman S and a Fiat 500. Both daughters have stickers on their cars that say "real chicks drive sticks"
10 years in, my youngest daughter replaced her Cooper with a manual Corola hatchback. My oldest now has a Model # but is dying to get a manual back.
Just have to bring these kids up right

 

[seriously]

It will depend on the overall market conditions, but its unique value proposition will not have faded and I think it do relatively well. I’m not expecting it to appreciate beyond msrp but it could match it in 20-25 years much like other desirable cars have done. Still not considered a real investment relative to other options.

 

[ADC]

Is this still true when your hobby, like horses, is no longer allowed on the roads?

Well, horses are allowed on the roads (with a few restrictions dictated by safety rather than climate policy), but that probably wasn't the main point of your question My level of being fussed is obviously predicated on being allowed to practice such a hobby on public roads.

I can't see the government outlawing the use of existing vehicles on publicly-funded roads without triggering some sort of uprising. Sure, they are definitely making moves to ban the sale of new combustion-engined vehicles, but there is period of at least a couple of decades after that where critical mass of vehicles on the road will gradually shift (as more utilitarian vehicles fall into disrepair and are scrapped), and a much longer tail of classic/vintage/enthusiast vehicles will be maintained and stick around effectively forever.

 

[CHEESE]

It's fun to speculate, but if you're worried about resale value when buying a car, you're probably buying the wrong car.

 

[RoryBellows]

Its going to perform like other Lotuses. Will it make you money, no. Will it recover a bit after the initial depreciation bomb, yeah. Its best to drive the cars you buy. Very few (especially in todays market) will ever be worth keeping just to sell later. Have fun and just make sure you get your moneys worth in driving experience.

 

[ebarke]

My 20yr old son loves driving the manual Lotus we have.

My 20yr old son also loves manuals, he even wants to convert his civic CVT to a manual. He bought a local Evora S from one of our local members for cheap and loves it. I tried to teach my 18 yr old and a couple of his friends how to drive a manual with my CRX (super easy shifting), but that will take more time for them to do it...hopefully they will get it and understand the value of being able to drive a manual.

 

[RPM]

Short term it is a niche brand with a limited following and people are afraid to step out of the norm. A Cayman or Vette is a safer bet if you need to sell. I don't think the Emira's value will tank like an Aston Martin or Maserati just because a Camry V6 doesn't have any terrifyingly expensive maintenance to worry about.

Long term I am guessing it will be more like the Elise. The last of a dying breed of cars with such limited production that examples are tough to find. After the initial depreciation I suspect they will rebound nicely in about 20 years.

 

[4380r]

To me, the still spotty and fluid dealer 'network' remains not only Lotus' biggest barrier to growth in the US, but also diminishes resale: both in fact and in value.

 

[Vampyre]

To me, the still spotty and fluid dealer 'network' remains not only Lotus' biggest barrier to growth in the US, but also diminishes resale: both in fact and in value.

For me, the toyota engine is the reason I bought a Lotus, I had zero issues with my Elise for the 14 years I owned it, and the same on my current Lotus cars.

 

[cdn_alien]

After owning my Evora for 14 years, I believe I did pretty good on value. Paid $67K new and just traded for my Emira. received $50k.
Depreciated $17K in 14 years. not bad.

I kept my Evora for 14 years as well. I bought it for $62k, and sold it for $34k with 77,000 miles on it. Still the best depreciation of any car I've ever owned.

Chirowolf, what was the mileage on yours?

 

[KYEMIRA]

I don't know about you, but when I see the thread entitled "How bad will the Emira depreciation be?" pop up from time to time on this Forum, I take this and some of the comments in the thread, as being too negative and focused on the short term. I know I know; it's a neutral title so I'm likely overly sensitive. However I really like my Emira, as do others who see and ride in it. I think it deserves more praise. Sure, it got off to a less than stellar launch, with production delays and some quality control issues. However those can be expected with a lower production-run vehicle and the issues seem to have been largely ironed out over time, resulting in some owners like me (driving the "second generation" V6) not experiencing any vehicle problems. No, even these newer builds aren't perfect, however unless you're talking about a Lexus/Toyota or Acura/Honda vehicle, most other vehicle manufacturers have their fair share of quality control issues. That said, read the reviews on the Lexus LS 500 for the past few years...

IMO the Emira:

1. LOOKS FANTASTIC and if nothing else, all reviewers seem to agree on that.
2. HANDLES "LIKE A LOTUS" so it maintains the Lotus reputation for cornering and that old-fashioned more raw-feeling true sport car drive.
3. Is a readily-usable "daily driver" with its enhanced interior, plentiful options (for Lotus) and wider stance.
4. May appreciate over time, with the purported advent of electric vehicles (now delayed, soon to be replaced with hybrids?) and due to #1 and #2 above. Moreso if the Emira has a limited shelf-life and Lotus/Geely stops production in the next couple years.
5. Provides (a.) a mid-engine design (which others have), (b.) the choice of a manual transmission (which few have), and (c.) double-wishbone suspension (which very few have), and (d.) it's not as heavy (lighter than many of its competitors), all of which contribute to #2 above. Those 4 attributes (a. to d.) may not be together anywhere else in one vehicle, other than the Emira?

While no one can predict the future with certainty, my money is on the Emira doing well in the long term. Let's be more optimistic, shall we?

I think there are lots of people sitting on the fence waiting to buy a Emira . The long lead time , due to delays in manufacturing have also discouraged people from putting down a deposit.
Once Lotus stop making the gas powered Emira, thats when all the people who wants one will realize it's too late and the ship has sailed.
When the interest rates start to drop to the 3~4% range , people will have more cash available to purchase new toys .
It may take 3 to 4 years , then I think we will see the increase in value of our trusted Emira.
I have had my 2024 V6 first edition for 6 months now , and love the car.
When friends ask what it's like to drive , I use the word " brutal " so exciting to drive down my local country roads.