I'm out - the cancellations thread

[emiraspain]

There is a lot of bad feeling on this thread, and I support that totally. I cancelled a month ago as had enough of the false hope and delays, on top of that a car that is no longer a Lotus. I had my letter of intent in for the Emira in January 2019 so consider myself one of the first orders and was always told that was the case. Imagine my disappointment. I’d hoped for a minimum of 430hp and may be a little more to better the outgoing pinnacle Lotus, the GT430, of which I have owned two. Instead it was castrated and 200kg added, in the back of my mind I always knew this was a retro-step but hung on to the hope of a little Lotus magic. The wait got too long and the reality is that Lotus were making what I am sure is a great car but one that I nor I believe Chapman would approve of. It was a difficult decision to cancel given I’d had Lotus cars for more than 40 years and in the last 10 Years or so bought Upwards of £500k worth of Lotus. I never expected or asked for special treatment, just what I had been promised. Upon cancelling, I thought, perhaps some customer retention would kick in but nothing, just, we‘ll refund the money to the account you paid from.

thats a shame..... it really is
at the same time, you must remember, you are not dealing with "lotus" when you send your cancelling email...you're dealing with a new guy/girl working off site in a crappy CS job with crappy pay and crappy training. They would not give 2...... hoots and probably didnt even bother to look when your letter of intent was credited.
No, its not right, but it would be just the same at Porsche, going to a dealer and cancelling..... money back... not a big deal to them and thats the way Lotus are now they have moved on from a very low volume failing car company, to a slightly higher volume specialist car company and soon to be mass production EV company.
I hope you stick with your Evora...probably a better car anyway...

 

[TomE]

I’ve removed several posts that strayed off topic.

There is a grey area when talking about the end of ICE and rise of EVs, when the discussion stops being about car enthusiasts and starts becoming political. In many cases these discussions start out OK and gradually veer off then become more argumentative. To avoid these discussions re-starting from a partially pruned thread, all such posts have been removed right back to the root. Apologies to those who were in the less controversial part of the grey zone for the deletion of your post.

If you want to debate the transition to EVs or climate change there are other forums.

The topic on this thread is cancellations.

 

[Sizona]

It's a shame the delays have caused past owners of numerous Lotus cars to cancel because of the way the ordering list has not been actioned, as it should have been in correct date order..
Myself included, was on the list at b&c in 2019 , I am still hanging in there though! Jan del hopefully..ish

 

[TomE]

There is a lot of bad feeling on this thread, and I support that totally. I cancelled a month ago as had enough of the false hope and delays, on top of that a car that is no longer a Lotus. I had my letter of intent in for the Emira in January 2019 so consider myself one of the first orders and was always told that was the case. Imagine my disappointment. I’d hoped for a minimum of 430hp and may be a little more to better the outgoing pinnacle Lotus, the GT430, of which I have owned two. Instead it was castrated and 200kg added, in the back of my mind I always knew this was a retro-step but hung on to the hope of a little Lotus magic. The wait got too long and the reality is that Lotus were making what I am sure is a great car but one that I nor I believe Chapman would approve of. It was a difficult decision to cancel given I’d had Lotus cars for more than 40 years and in the last 10 Years or so bought Upwards of £500k worth of Lotus. I never expected or asked for special treatment, just what I had been promised. Upon cancelling, I thought, perhaps some customer retention would kick in but nothing, just, we‘ll refund the money to the account you paid from.

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for joining to share your perspective on Lotus and the changes. A shame this is the topic for your first post here.

I share similar thoughts and wonder on a daily basis if the Emira is the right car for me. It’s certainly a great car and a major step for Lotus in trying to broaden their appeal. But us long-term serial Lotus owners are sad to see some of the compromises materialising. Like extra weight to make it more daily driver friendly.

I agree the Evora GT430 is the pinnacle of the outgoing model (some will argue for the Elise and Exige Final Editions). But to be fair, it was a 60-car special and they didn’t sell all of them. The GT410 (US GT) is the more reasonable yardstick of readily-available previous Lotus to compare against the Emira.

For me the final part of that comparison is an Emira test drive, when Lotus eventually get their act together. My main alternatives are a GT430, GT410 or go over to McLaren. I’ll be making a decision “soon”.

 

[Pops68]

I’ve removed several posts that strayed off topic.

There is a grey area when talking about the end of ICE and rise of EVs, when the discussion stops being about car enthusiasts and starts becoming political. In many cases these discussions start out OK and gradually veer off then become more argumentative. To avoid these discussions re-starting from a partially pruned thread, all such posts have been removed right back to the root. Apologies to those who were in the less controversial part of the grey zone for the deletion of your post.

If you want to debate the transition to EVs or climate change there are other forums.

The topic on this thread is cancellations.

Probably me, sorry.

 

[TomE]

Probably me, sorry.

It takes two to tango … or more like seven in this case

 

[Pops68]

It takes two to tango … or more like seven in this case

Did I just hear this thing will run on corn too?!! That's great news, ethanol while less efficient is quite a bit less expensive here in Calif.!!

 

[TomE]

Did I just hear this thing will run on corn too?!! That's great news, ethanol while less efficient is quite a bit less expensive here in Calif.!!

I haven’t checked the online Emira manuals but this is the fuel guidance on the Lotus website:

Fuel Compatibility | Lotus Cars United Kingdom

Except on the Lotus Emira, Lotus recommends to use a premium high quality UNLEADED fuel, meeting EN228 standard. Find out more.

www.lotuscars.com

 

[Pops68]

I haven’t checked the online Emira manuals but this is the fuel guidance on the Lotus website:

Fuel Compatibility | Lotus Cars United Kingdom

Except on the Lotus Emira, Lotus recommends to use a premium high quality UNLEADED fuel, meeting EN228 standard. Find out more.

www.lotuscars.com

Ha doesn't sound like it does. More bad info on youtube I suppose..

 

[Hedge]

Just catching up on this forum. I’d hoped to see lots of customer cars delivered in the U.K. and elsewhere. Sadly not many anywhere. In Europe a bunch of unsold cars for resale.

U.K. customers left behind.

Suspicions it’s because U.K. market isn’t as valuable as others?

Suspicions that Lotus aren’t competent enough to get the car ready for the U.K. market?

Doesn’t matter really.

Classic lotus - the world has left them behind.

Interest rates, global economy, fuel prices, same old same old.

But this time they’ve added: crap customer service.

Oh but this time they’ve also added a new difference: launching an an overweight, aging, sub-standard, slow car.

And they’ve peed off people who have spent millions on their products.

Just because … we are legacy!

Legacy Lotus, but returning Porsche & new Alpine owner. Will just have to spend £1m with them over the next 10 years or so.

 

[Hedge]

As someone who’s bought several Lotus cars when they couldn’t give them away….

Must add, when I get the emails and calls from Lotus over the next year or 3 - which I will -asking me to buy their cars, I will just reply, “ok, I’ll take a look soon”

I’ll buy off the good guys and gals who gave great service though.

This crud show won’t be forgotten.

6,600 red line, detuned car… just for the sports car ‘drivers’

Maybe as a replacement for my people carrier

 

[VL3X]

My main alternatives are a GT430, GT410 or go over to McLaren. I’ll be making a decision “soon”.

I'll get a McLaren if you do! I have the itch.. And their customer service has been stellar even with me just window shopping for the most part.

There are a couple minor issues though.. flappy paddles only and the ones I'd want are easily 2-3x more than the Emira!

 

[Nick in Sydney]

Just catching up on this forum. I’d hoped to see lots of customer cars delivered in the U.K. and elsewhere. Sadly not many anywhere. In Europe a bunch of unsold cars for resale.

U.K. customers left behind.

Suspicions it’s because U.K. market isn’t as valuable as others?

Suspicions that Lotus aren’t competent enough to get the car ready for the U.K. market?

Doesn’t matter really.

Classic lotus - the world has left them behind.

Interest rates, global economy, fuel prices, same old same old.

But this time they’ve added: crap customer service.

Oh but this time they’ve also added a new difference: launching an an overweight, aging, sub-standard, slow car.

And they’ve peed off people who have spent millions on their products.

Just because … we are legacy!

Legacy Lotus, but returning Porsche & new Alpine owner. Will just have to spend £1m with them over the next 10 years or so.

Come on guys, I think we're working ourselves into a negative frenzy here.

I see the Emira as being, almost certainly,, the last manual ICE car I will ever buy. It's about celebrating the end of an era. In 10 years' time, no one is going to be saying, "oh, that's the one that had a little less power than an Evora." They're going to be viewing Emira as one of the last and sexiest cars of the ICE era. I want to be part of that.

 

[VL3X]

In 10 years' time, no one is going to be saying, "oh, that's the one that had a little less power than an Evora." They're going to be viewing Emira as one of the last and sexiest cars of the ICE era. I want to be part of that.

In 10 years we're still going to be waiting for our Emira to arrive.

 

[VL3X]

In 10 years we're still going to be waiting for our Emira to arrive.

Or on the Type 135 forum bitching about the simulated engine noise pumped through an underwhelming KEF system.

 

[Leonard]

Come on guys, I think we're working ourselves into a negative frenzy here.

I see the Emira as being, almost certainly,, the last manual ICE car I will ever buy. It's about celebrating the end of an era. In 10 years' time, no one is going to be saying, "oh, that's the one that had a little less power than an Evora." They're going to be viewing Emira as one of the last and sexiest cars of the ICE era. I want to be part of that.

In 10 years time Lotus will probably still be making the Emira as they were the Evora until recently

 

[T.Spec]

Emira Spain, Yes I agree with all you say there and am aware of that but still sure Lotus should do more to retain customers, although clearly the likes of me are not their target, and I accept that. The old Lotus company and the people I had a great relationship with and I still value those that remain there at Hethel. New Lotus is of course only Lotus by name and not philosophy, sadly. Lotus have done a great job of selling the Alpine to enthusiasts and a fair job of getting drivers back in to BMW’s by the sound of it.

 

[Leonard]

Emira Spain, Yes I agree with all you say there and am aware of that but still sure Lotus should do more to retain customers, although clearly the likes of me are not their target, and I accept that. The old Lotus company and the people I had a great relationship with and I still value those that remain there at Hethel. New Lotus is of course only Lotus by name and not philosophy, sadly. Lotus have done a great job of selling the Alpine to enthusiasts and a fair job of getting drivers back in to BMW’s by the sound of it.

There are no excuses for not trying to retain your old customer base as you transition into a more modern company.
But then we have all been treated the same, so it isn't like you have actually received poorer treatment. Just that you past relationship makes it feel that way

 

[Leonard]

I’m keeping an eye on 2021 Ts, last year with those options. I image one at $70k sub 10k miles CPO then BAM I can leave all this behind

I'm actually annoyed with myself every day I did grab a gorgeous one with buckets early last year for 64k gbp Prices come down! Come to daddy!!!!

 

[BeHappy]

There is a lot of bad feeling on this thread, and I support that totally. I cancelled a month ago as had enough of the false hope and delays, on top of that a car that is no longer a Lotus. I had my letter of intent in for the Emira in January 2019 so consider myself one of the first orders and was always told that was the case. Imagine my disappointment. I’d hoped for a minimum of 430hp and may be a little more to better the outgoing pinnacle Lotus, the GT430, of which I have owned two. Instead it was castrated and 200kg added, in the back of my mind I always knew this was a retro-step but hung on to the hope of a little Lotus magic. The wait got too long and the reality is that Lotus were making what I am sure is a great car but one that I nor I believe Chapman would approve of. It was a difficult decision to cancel given I’d had Lotus cars for more than 40 years and in the last 10 Years or so bought Upwards of £500k worth of Lotus. I never expected or asked for special treatment, just what I had been promised. Upon cancelling, I thought, perhaps some customer retention would kick in but nothing, just, we‘ll refund the money to the account you paid from.

Says it all, were all just a number and a number that Lotus have no conscious or willingness to honour deposit order for the loyal hard core Lotus fans - I’m not one affected but this to me shows this Companies morals and code. Like the person yesterday said that raised it to Scott and the response was do you want to cancel !