Spec'd up Base OR FE -Is there much in it?

[ARA]

im bored...so thinking

I have placed my deposit for a V6 FE (manual). However, I do wonder what the alternative base car numbers and package look like overall . Is the difference too close to call once the desired options box is ticked. I read that there is a 3k saving on the FE, but I presume that is a like for like 'all boxes' ticked comparison.

If i picked a base, the essentials that I would want:

Performance: V6, Manual, LSD, drivers pack
Exterior: white car, choice of colours on brake calipers, lower black pack, black badges, forged alloys
Interior: 4 way seats, alcantara everyewhere for the race feel/look, alcantara wheel, not bothered about a sound system or cruise control etc, (some of the convenience pack not all in an ideal world for me)...as i type this it sounds like i want the basic but have to pick all 3 packs to get the bits i want on top

So the FE does sound like a good deal if the 3k is a real saving. Is the 3k worth the wait for a white car?

I guess you have already had this debate..im new to the party so please forgive me and point me in the right direction of the thread


thanks

 

[Leonard]

Geely are wanting to grow Lotus into a true premium global brand. If they have to take a hit early on to transition Lotus and take market share and attract customers for share price gains down the road I don't doubt they will

 

[TomE]

im bored...so thinking

I have placed my deposit for a V6 FE (manual). However, I do wonder what the alternative base car numbers and package look like overall . Is the difference too close to call once the desired options box is ticked. I read that there is a 3k saving on the FE, but I presume that is a like for like 'all boxes' ticked comparison.

If i picked a base, the essentials that I would want:

Performance: V6, Manual, LSD, drivers pack
Exterior: white car, choice of colours on brake calipers, lower black pack, black badges, forged alloys
Interior: 4 way seats, alcantara everyewhere for the race feel/look, alcantara wheel, not bothered about a sound system or cruise control etc, (some of the convenience pack not all in an ideal world for me)...as i type this it sounds like i want the basic but have to pick all 3 packs to get the bits i want on top

So the FE does sound like a good deal if the 3k is a real saving. Is the 3k worth the wait for a white car?

I guess you have already had this debate..im new to the party so please forgive me and point me in the right direction of the thread


thanks

The FE was definitely a £3k saving over Base Edition + same options last July, and in January when I asked again. I think that's roughly equivalent to getting the KEF audio for free.

Whether Lotus can hold the £60k i4 Base price remains to be seen. Costs of raw materials, components, shipping, energy, labour all going up significantly. But Lotus/Geely could choose to absorb the cost and maintain the price, at least for the headline £60k. They could recoup some by increasing the option prices on Base, as most people won't get a zero options car.

It'll be interesting to see how they pitch the i4 FE price. We have hunches about where that should sit based on info so far - my guess was around £70k + OTR compared to £76k for the V6 FE.

From talking to Lotus folks, I think you could get a reasonable car for £4-5k on top of Base - the base seats, base interior materials, a non-base paint eg a metallic, a pack or two (tech and/or drive), base wheels, maybe coloured calipers. I expect "the market" will determine which packs are must haves for re-sale. On the launch Evora the Tech and Sport packs were desirable and Premium pack was nice but not essential. I expect it'll be similar on the Emira.

 

[hagen111]

Traditionally the FE editions come packed with options at a reduced rate, as in you get them almost for nothing!

Given current inflation levels and geo political environment (shortages/war) you can bet the FE will be a bargain compared to cars in the coming years. I expect base next year to start same price as FE today.

 

[Wizardwings]

Traditionally the FE editions come packed with options at a reduced rate, as in you get them almost for nothing!

Given current inflation levels and geo political environment (shortages/war) you can bet the FE will be a bargain compared to cars in the coming years. I expect base next year to start same price as FE today.

I highly suspect the same. The auto industry is getting hit a lot harder by supply-side issues/inflation than the average consumer inflation rate suggests. A lot of raw material/chip costs have increased well into the double digits over the past year.

 

[Tonyshepp]

I highly suspect the same. The auto industry is getting hit a lot harder by supply-side issues/inflation than the average consumer inflation rate suggests. A lot of raw material/chip costs have increased well into the double digits over the past year.

Yes agree even on cars in the Uk you could have got a good discount on but now there’s no discount.