UK dealer demo cars - specifications

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

They were around £70-75k last Spring when I was looking for a 12C or S1 Exige. I found a really good S1 Exige well below that price and figured it would be a keeper, whereas the 12C would just have been to scratch that itch for (what I thought was) 12 months until the Emira arrived. The 12Cs have appreciated more in the last year than S1 Exiges - both rare and special cars, so no regrets about the choice I made last year.

Perhaps I should get a 12C now and run it for a year while Lotus sort things out, then go into a Base Edition or make a change on my FE to push it into 2023. Emira test drive (and to some extent 12C availabilities) will influence that decision.

Exactly my line of thought aswell now,Tom,but with Ferrari.

I've lost that excitement for it now with not just the delays but the poor comms and lack of clarity, I'm closer than ever to pulling the trigger on an Italian and moving to base emira ,whilst keeping deposit in but i imagine that will still be 2024 at the current rate...

What a complete hash they've made of this

 

[VTECMatt]

What a complete hash they've made of this

Lotus is staying to its roots, which is a shame, can’t believe you thought it would be any different assuming you’ve bought a Lotus before

 

[Lotustoronto]

They were around £70-75k last Spring when I was looking for a 12C or S1 Exige. I found a really good S1 Exige well below that price and figured it would be a keeper, whereas the 12C would just have been to scratch that itch for (what I thought was) 12 months until the Emira arrived. The 12Cs have appreciated more in the last year than S1 Exiges - both rare and special cars, so no regrets about the choice I made last year.

Perhaps I should get a 12C now and run it for a year while Lotus sort things out, then go into a Base Edition or make a change on my FE to push it into 2023. Emira test drive (and to some extent 12C availabilities) will influence that decision.

Tom, I had this exact internal debate, what pushed me into foregoing the Emira is I think the final/gt/s V6 manual version is the one for me. Going out to test drive a 997.2 C4S this weekend, but since the winter is arriving I may hold off until spring and see what is around then. I think you are making a good choice switching to base. She's not ready yet in my opinion.

 

[emiraspain]

Tom, I had this exact internal debate, what pushed me into foregoing the Emira is I think the final/gt/s V6 manual version is the one for me. Going out to test drive a 997.2 C4S this weekend, but since the winter is arriving I may hold off until spring and see what is around then. I think you are making a good choice switching to base. She's not ready yet in my opinion.

no no no no and no
thats an awful decision. You cant decide with your head and logic, this is a LOTUS.. haha.
I'd only add, if you get the Emira FE, you can later upgrade...and appreciate the difference. If you wait for the GT3.4.5. version, by then Porsche will also have upped their game I am sure. The electric 718 is not going to be out for at least 18 months 2 years you would assume. Could they really leave us with the current range until then?
Surely they will do something else... I wont put words in their mouths, but something will happen to stunt the Emira's growth.....
Well, if Tom goes base model, thats fair enough, especially if they hold the price.... but if it gets up close to 70k, which is not unrealistic .... the 78k FE will look pretty good value with 2k optional diamond cut wheels, 1.5k metalic paint, 2.5k neff/keff stereo, 2k full leather, 5k FE badge that doesnt fill the space designed for it. I cant really think how they get to 78 from 60, 2.5k V6 engine.... Ahhh electric seats...1.5k....
3.5k the 15 month wait, hassle, lack of and misinformation, that will just about do it.

 

[TomE]

Lotus is staying to its roots, which is a shame, can’t believe you thought it would be any different assuming you’ve bought a Lotus before

It’s MUCH worse than before. Moved to a direct sales channel with no thought about customer experience, plus disenfranchised dealers and a lack of info.

I had a pre-reveal deposit down for a launch Evora and it was night and day better as a customer experience.

 

[ADC]

None of us owe Lotus anything, especially if the car turns out to be only average.

Not true... If it turns out to be average after all this, I owe them a slap.

 

[Bilbao-Emira]

Ive had.... I think.... 4 out fo my last five cars sold were british built..
Elise, ariel, defender (2015), westfield, .... you see the flag . 5th one being the Yaris, but that was a passing fleating fancy and it was Harry's fault.
If I still had the Yaris, we could have a Yobs day out a Rybrook next week.. haha.
Still have the backdate before u say, wont be easy to sell and not toooo fussed for the moment, although its always nice to have money in the bank to waste on other crap / cars.

haha, I am not British, but I beat you with the flag:

The last 4 out of 4:
Aston Martin DB9, Bentley Continental GTC (sold), Range Rover SVR and the latest Evora 410 Sport.
If Emira comes any of these years will be 5 out of 5

 

[emiraspain]

haha, I am not British, but I beat you with the flag:

The last 4 out of 4:
Aston Martin DB9, Bentley Continental GTC (sold), Range Rover SVR and the latest Evora 410 Sport.
If Emira comes any of these years will be 5 out of 5

not bad, BUT none are hand made, so I am supporting the "cottage industries" as we say... in the UK, not sure what you say over there.... haha. I say over there as I am still over here for the moment

 

[Quantox]

TomE:
I spoke with Parks of Hamilton yesterday and Cameron advised that the Seneca car is the demo and is on Sport and the showroom car (Magma with Ice Grey) is on Tour.
Cheers.

 

[Forlorn]

TomE:
I spoke with Parks of Hamilton yesterday and Cameron advised that the Seneca car is the demo and is on Sport and the showroom car (Magma with Ice Grey) is on Tour.
Cheers.

I spoke to my local dealer today, they have no idea of specification that will be arriving, only to say one showroom, one demo - I am desperate to test drive a sport version, but 50/50 chance at the moment.
Apparently as stated earlier a prescribed route has been set by Lotus. Mentioned 45 minute test route, so should have varied road conditions I hope!
Also, he says Lotus are to contact (priority customers )deposit holders via email to arrange, to give them first option to drive - which I hope happens.

 

[Tonyshepp]

Seems strange that they have put a lot of effort into the test drive route. It's either varied surfaces to highlight how good the chassis is or they have carefully chosen surfaces that are smooth like a snooker table. I think it's the former myself as let's be honest there's hardly any roads that have been maintained for the last 20 years in the UK...

 

[Forlorn]

Seems strange that they have put a lot of effort into the test drive route. It's either varied surfaces to highlight how good the chassis is or they have carefully chosen surfaces that are smooth like a snooker table. I think it's the former myself as let's be honest there's hardly any roads that have been maintained for the last 20 years in the UK...

Totally agree, the black tops throughout the UK are appalling. My local council have continued pot hole mitigation programme in place for years, only yesterday they where in the village filling around a manhole.
I I think of the roads around my local dealer it’s all urban. You have to drive a distance before you can get onto say the moor and dale roads. Let alone dual carriageway or motorways, having said that when I test drove an Evora400 it was mostly motorway driving. I don’t see why they should be so prescriptive, we will see!

 

[TomE]

Also, he says Lotus are to contact (priority customers )deposit holders via email to arrange, to give them first option to drive - which I hope happens.

I’ve heard this too but I’m concerned it’ll be like every other customer contact from HQ and they’ll make a mess of it. That’ll probably include contacting people out of sequence, like they’ve done with deposits, specs and delivery updates.

 

[Leonard]

Not sure if these specs have been given out. I'm too many Peronis in to check and at an air cooled night at Caffeine and Machine
Rybrook Solihull/Birmingham are getting a Yellow manual V6 Touring on Goodyears though and Rybrook Bristol a Blue manual V6 Sport on Goodyear
Cheers

 

[BeHappy]

Surely dealers must know when the cars are getting delivered by now …..it’s like a week till September- should we not of been contacted by now to get booked in everything is as slow as and then everything will be a rush last minute .com - people need adequate time to know dates for demo rides

 

[Leonard]

Surely dealers must know when the cars are getting delivered by now …..it’s like a week till September- should we not of been contacted by now to get booked in everything is as slow as and then everything will be a rush last minute .com - people need adequate time to know dates for demo rides

Nope they said they have specs but no delivery dates

 

[JohnHoward]

Surely dealers must know when the cars are getting delivered by now …..it’s like a week till September- should we not of been contacted by now to get booked in everything is as slow as and then everything will be a rush last minute .com - people need adequate time to know dates for demo rides

You are absolutey correct, people are busy and time is precious. I am lucky and being retired, I am more flexible, but I still have grandparent duties and some school runs to work round. I don't have any faith in Lotus organising this properly and there will be more disappointment and disatisfaction.

I don't think any of the senior team can have any type of customer service or service delivery targets. If they do have such targets, I don't think any bonus payments will be forthcoming at their annual appraisals at this rate.

 

[Tonyshepp]

Not sure if these specs have been given out. I'm too many Peronis in to check and at an air cooled night at Caffeine and Machine
Rybrook Solihull/Birmingham are getting a Yellow manual V6 Touring on Goodyears though and Rybrook Bristol a Blue manual V6 Sport on Goodyear
Cheers View attachment 8266

Is that your reflection in the 1st window of the VW???

 

[Leonard]

Is that your reflection in the 1st window of the VW???

No! He looks as cool as my avatar tho

 

[a.s_]

Seems strange that they have put a lot of effort into the test drive route. It's either varied surfaces to highlight how good the chassis is or they have carefully chosen surfaces that are smooth like a snooker table. I think it's the former myself as let's be honest there's hardly any roads that have been maintained for the last 20 years in the UK...

Lotus themselves haven't chosen the route - we (dealers) were just told to propose a suitable test route for them to approve - I suspect it's something to do with the trackers, but that's just my thoughts, no idea how true that is. Sadly my particular dealership has no exciting roads within a reasonable driveable loop time frame, so we've just had to make the best of it and come up with the best possible compromise. We've got a mix of urban, a couple of moderately interesting roads (including one where you can definitely get it up to speed) and then a short motorway burst too. At least you'll be able to see how it rides over potholes I suppose?

We also haven't had delivery dates and still don't know our specs aside from them being manual, so it's pretty frustrating.