New Schmee Video

[GarrethN]

What are you smoking? Your 10 yr old XJ has G meters, lap time charts, graphs, full bluetooth connectivity, etc?

I was just demoing a 2021 BMW X5 earlier today and honestly its infotainment isn't too dissimilar to what's shown in this video.

Thankfully, because I don’t smoke, I can see perfectly well what’s on the screen in front of me.

My XJ has screens that are relevant to its use, so clearly not intended to have G meters, but the satnav is full colour, including the display that appears in the drivers screen, and yes, it has full bluetooth connectivity. It certainly doesn’t have a plain white line reminiscent of graphics from a Sinclair ZX81.

I can’t believe after seeing the virtual cockpits in the audi’s and latest BMW Z4 that the X5 is much different unless it’s due a facelift.

This car is supposed to be competing with Porsche, take a good look at what is on their infotainment system.

 

[CanadianEmira]

Thankfully, because I don’t smoke, I can see perfectly well what’s on the screen in front of me.

My XJ has screens that are relevant to its use, so clearly not intended to have G meters, but the satnav is full colour, including the display that appears in the drivers screen, and yes, it has full bluetooth connectivity. It certainly doesn’t have a plain white line reminiscent of graphics from a Sinclair ZX81.

I can’t believe after seeing the virtual cockpits in the audi’s and latest BMW Z4 that the X5 is much different unless it’s due a facelift.

This car is supposed to be competing with Porsche, take a good look at what is on their infotainment system.

I think your main complaint here is about aesthetics, not actually about an out-of-date infotainment system. Lotus is obviously going for simplicity and elegance. But again, not much difference from a brand new BMW cockpit. Picture is from tonight in a 2021 X5. Note the navigation.

 

[New to Lotus]

I think its too early to say what the infotainment will be like it's an early rig to show how they interact with each other as for the sat navigation we haven't seen it yet and as the car comes with apple car play and android auto 95% of people will use Google maps or waze the best navigation out there.

 

[Billyidoliser]

I'll have to wait for a video that doesnt have someone referring to Shmeemobiles and Shmuseum. Makes me want to throw up. (as above, I know youtube is the new free advertising platform, but there are plenty of decent/respectable youtubers out there who they can ask!)

Absolutely, JayEmm for one, I do believe he may have caused a small amount of upset with some of his Emira comments at launch, but has vast knowledge of the Evora and has my vote! This whole Smee thing is just childish and extremely annoying....... coupled with the fact he has cars I cant afford!

 

[PaulP]

I think its too early to say what the infotainment will be like it's an early rig to show how they interact with each other as for the sat navigation we haven't seen it yet and as the car comes with apple car play and android auto 95% of people will use Google maps or waze the best navigation out there.

Yes everyone needs to be using WAZE! I rely on you all to mark the police speed traps!!

 

[Auto Smiler]

Interesting vid, thanks for posting. Fortunately Shmee himself isn't in it. He has a lot of strong competition, but the man is a top contender for the title of most irritating person on the internet .

This has helped cement my choice of sports suspension. The touring car is still clearly very capable on track, but there looked to be a tad too much roll for my liking.

Damnit! I started watching as Shmee isn't in it, but this guy brought on a similar irrational rage with his Shmuseum and Shmark comments (Mark looked like he wanted to chin the guy and I don't blame him).

Shmee's involvement was almost enough to put me off Lotus. The guy is irritatating, not just because of the way he talks - he knows sod all about cars and has terrible taste.

Sorry, rant over. I'll try to watch the video again later after a glass of wine!

 

[Auto Smiler]

Yes everyone needs to be using WAZE! I rely on you all to mark the police speed traps!!

Agree with this. I haven't used anything other than Waze for years. All manufacturers Sat Nav systems are rubbish, I couldn't care less if the lotus had it or not. The Emira supports Apple CarPlay, which in turn supports Waze. That's good enough for me.

 

[New to Lotus]

I dont think you can completely disregard what these guys had to say about the handling of the emira, whether they can really drive or have great engineering knowledge is not everything here. What they both certainly have is the ability to drive some of the best and most expensive cars in the world so that must count for something

 

[Tonyshepp]

This is pretty much my thinking regarding Sport suspension, although I may go for Cup 2s. Initially I was concerned that Sport might be too stiff for road use, but the best advice seems to be that it is close to the Evora GT410 Sport. When I took one of those for a test drive I thought the ride quality wasn't far off my daily BMW F31 (Msport suspension, 19" wheels but not the horrible run flats). A lot depends on your intended use and where you live though. I am lucky enough to live in the Scottish Borders with miles of quiet, sinuous, generally reasonably surfaced roads on my doorstep. If I lived in nearby Edinburgh where the roads are pretty dire I would probably go for Touring.

I’m used to an m3 e93 with edc left in normal. So if Sport suspension on Goodyears is as good/dire as my m3 in absorbing normal bumps I’ll go for sports suspension. It’s not my daily.

 

[TXEMIRA]

On the topic of Sport vs Touring is there any consideration to resale value?

Could there be a cost to one or the other in post FE releases?

Is one or the other even going to be a consideration to an FE buyer down the road considering how limited they’ll be?

Unlike Manual vs Automatic where some folks can’t even drive a stick…

 

[Tonyshepp]

On the topic of Sport vs Touring is there any consideration to resale value?

Could there be a cost to one or the other in post FE releases?

Is one or the other even going to be a consideration to an FE buyer down the road considering how limited they’ll be?

Unlike Manual vs Automatic where some folks can’t even drive a stick…

I think its fair to say that touring will be standard and sport an option as part of the Lotus Drivers pack. If you look at Porsches marketing , anything that is a limited edition like GT3, 981 GT4 and has upgraded suspension, is more money. I've never seen a review that says a GT4's rode is crashy compared to a normal Cayman 718 and i don't expect the Lotus to be any different.

 

[Leonard]

I think its fair to say that touring will be standard and sport an option as part of the Lotus Drivers pack. If you look at Porsches marketing , anything that is a limited edition like GT3, 981 GT4 and has upgraded suspension, is more money. I've never seen a review that says a GT4's rode is crashy compared to a normal Cayman 718 and i don't expect the Lotus to be any different.

That's a good analogy. You have me looking at Sport and Goodyears again now. If I get it wrong tho it will really feck up my purchase, living where I do in the Peak with some quite terrible roads ...

 

[Tonyshepp]

That's a good analogy. You have me looking at Sport and Goodyears again now. If I get it wrong tho it will really feck up my purchase, living where I do in the Peak with some quite terrible roads ...

I live in Chesterfield so the peaks are on my doorstep and there are some bad roads granted, but then there are some good roads. You will always doubt your decision no matter what suspension you get - wish i could have gone sports , or would touring have been more comfier on this road. I'm of the opinion that if people aspire to the sportiest Porsches with sports suspension then surely the same is true for Lotus. And lets be honest unless you have a really soft sprung car you are going to feel the bumps. How gutted would you feel if you found out sports suspension was a £1000 option on a base car but touring was free

 

[Tonyshepp]

I have mentioned before that I am not keen on the approach that Lotus are taking cutting out their dealer network and wanting to organise everything themselves. Perhaps I am just getting old and past it, but I do have £80K to spend.

I feel that they are trying to do too much, design, build and launch a brand new car in what is a very competitive market and take complete control of the sales side. They have plenty of experience in design and build, but are new to sales and marketing. I think this shows by choosing this Youtube platform to tease out more information. I think this makes the whole thing seem very amateurish, I can’t imagine the brands they are competing against would use such tactics.

I have nothing against Tim (Schmee150) and I wish him continuing success in the business that he has built from originally just filming cars around London. I don’t think this was the right platform and may have been better if Tim had been in it himself, but I think he has overseas commitments currently, so obviously not possible.

I did ask Lotus at one of the reveal events why they are cutting the dealers out and they said that they wanted to stop the dealers doing ’deals’ and do away with part exchanges and have one fixed price that they can sell at ‘pop-up’ events and such like.

For me, part of the excitement of buying a new car was seeing how much you could squeeze out of the dealer, it was almost like a sport!

But then you run the risk of increased depreciation by having variable discounts and the sentiment thinking someone got a better deal than you and no one pays list price etc.

 

[Leonard]

I live in Chesterfield so the peaks are on my doorstep and there are some bad roads granted, but then there are some good roads. You will always doubt your decision no matter what suspension you get - wish i could have gone sports , or would touring have been more comfier on this road. I'm of the opinion that if people aspire to the sportiest Porsches with sports suspension then surely the same is true for Lotus. And lets be honest unless you have a really soft sprung car you are going to feel the bumps. How gutted would you feel if you found out sports suspension was a £1000 option on a base car but touring was free

True very true. I'm only in Matlock! If we choose different, will have to compare and see who 'lost out'

 

[Tonyshepp]

True very true. I'm only in Matlock! If we choose different, will have to compare and see who 'lost out'

Look forward to exchanging glances in Matlock bath one saturday or Sunday as we cruise past the bikes. I'll be the one with no teeth fillings

 

[ADC]

I think i'm ending up on the same page as a few of you here... sport + Goodyears might be what I go for, as this is meant to be my midlife-crisis-mobile, and I've never really been one to shy away from a firm ride (and it is still likely to ride better than the "sporty" stuff from some of ze Germans I have owned that were sprung for "autobahns or GTFO"). I'll just grimace a bit and carry on, as I currently do when crashing over any particularly bad surfaces.

Being a Lotus virgin, sounds like I should go and ride in an Evora GT to calibrate by arse brain.

 

[TXEMIRA]

I think i'm ending up on the same page as a few of you here... sport + Goodyears might be what I go for, as this is meant to be my midlife-crisis-mobile…

There are a few of us aiming for the FE MLC spec. Glad to see there are more.

Definitely grab an Evora!
Strongly recommended.

 

[ADC]

I'm starting to get the feeling getting a batch of custom MLC Edition badges could be a winner...

 

[cjtangmi]

Is it just me or it seems like both Harry (Harry's garage) and these folks seem a little underwhelmed by the performance of this car?