UK dealer demo cars - specifications

[Mctaff]

Cool. Looks like you are 7 miles away from me. When is yours due? I’m December at the moment. Any idea what Bristol are getting as a demo?

Perhaps we can go for a spin when the cars turn up… soon

I’m oct build at the moment

 

[695 to Emira]

That's good news, I was hoping for a HY especially as we saw the Seneca Blue during the reveal.
I can't complain, Solihull isn't too far

I went to Solihull for the ‘event’ and would possibly be my choice over Bristol just because of the drive over the Cotswolds via Stow etc. v the M5. But likely to do factory pick up. Fancy a few beers in Cambridge on the way back.

 

[EspritGuy]

No! He looks as cool as my avatar tho

He's trapped inside and trying to escape his misspent youth

 

[Scruff111S]

I really hope so for everyone that has been so keen and enthusiastic for such a long time.
I have 3 competitor test drives booked in for next week. Couldn't have been a different Customer Experience and hence I'm really looking forward to them!

Yes, me to. As you say the customer experience with the 4 dealers I visited is night and day different to Lotus. They were bending over backwards to be helpful and giving great advice. One even wanted me to go there for a consultation and test drives to understand which model best suits my needs. To say I was blown away by this is a major understatement.

 

[emiraspain]

I'm having to do the opposite, my nearest dealer is Bristol but I have ordered HY and haven't seen it in the flesh yet. I don't mind the test drive in any colour, but I need to see HY in the flesh before locking in my I4 order.
I'm regularly in Birmingham on business, I will have to plan my work commitments around the dates they wil have the car.
Do we know how long they will have the cars in the showrooms, is it a set period ?

We / they dont know, but I guess they will have them for quite a while... maybe selling them later when i4 released

 

[TomE]

I'm having to do the opposite, my nearest dealer is Bristol but I have ordered HY and haven't seen it in the flesh yet. I don't mind the test drive in any colour, but I need to see HY in the flesh before locking in my I4 order.
I'm regularly in Birmingham on business, I will have to plan my work commitments around the dates they wil have the car.
Do we know how long they will have the cars in the showrooms, is it a set period ?

The dealers I asked reckoned it would be up to 6 months. But I think these first demo cars are going to be heavily used, so Lotus may swap them out based on mileage rather than age.

Also, I suspect Lotus won’t want to be putting lots of ex demo cars into the used market early on, as that could impact residuals.

 

[Mctaff]

We / they dont know, but I guess they will have them for quite a while... maybe selling them later when i4 released

" once the first demonstrator has covered 7000 miles, we can register the showroom car as a demo."

... sounds like they will be keeping them for a fair while


and my favourite bit of the dealer's email

"I have seen verdant in the flesh and it's very dark, from a distance it certainly looks black but when up close and the light is shining, it's certainly the nicest colour on offer in my opinion, certainly the colour I'd spec!"

 

[emiraspain]

" once the first demonstrator has covered 7000 miles, we can register the showroom car as a demo."

... sounds like they will be keeping them for a fair while


and my favourite bit of the dealer's email

"I have seen verdant in the flesh and it's very dark, from a distance it certainly looks black but when up close and the light is shining, it's certainly the nicest colour on offer in my opinion, certainly the colour I'd spec!"

haha.. yes, under the right light, at the right angle, just at the right distance, facing the right way, with the right background and closing the right eye, its certainly the best colour you could chose haha...

Ive seen it in natural light, it looks...... .... ... .. . like verdant

 

[Mctaff]

With my rose tinted glasses on it’ll look magnificent!

 

[BeHappy]

I’m sat in Mexico enjoying ickle cocktails - do we know yet when the demo rides will begin…… we’re September tomorrow- it’s never ending surely we must have some movement by now ….. it will be quite a disappointment if this car was never even worth this long and never ending wait. I think I’m going to be in for such an anticlimax …… Looks is certainly not good enough for me …..

 

[Scruff111S]

I’m sat in Mexico enjoying ickle cocktails - do we know yet when the demo rides will begin…… we’re September tomorrow- it’s never ending surely we must have some movement by now ….. it will be quite a disappointment if this car was never even worth this long and never ending wait. I think I’m going to be in for such an anticlimax …… Looks is certainly not good enough for me …..

Have you seen the Audi R9. I can only imagine the looks of this car will be good enough for you.

 

[Lotustoronto]

The dealers I asked reckoned it would be up to 6 months. But I think these first demo cars are going to be heavily used, so Lotus may swap them out based on mileage rather than age.

Also, I suspect Lotus won’t want to be putting lots of ex demo cars into the used market early on, as that could impact residuals.

Or Lotus takes them back because they don't have full production parts everywhere? IMO these Demo's are probably production level on the surface...

 

[NicolasB]

I’m sat in Mexico enjoying ickle cocktails - do we know yet when the demo rides will begin…… we’re September tomorrow- it’s never ending surely we must have some movement by now ….. it will be quite a disappointment if this car was never even worth this long and never ending wait. I think I’m going to be in for such an anticlimax …… Looks is certainly not good enough for me …..

First, what is an "ickle" cocktail? Also, glad to know it's not just a superficial, looks kind of a thing for you

I am trying to stay neutral right now until I drive one. Making up your mind before something happens can be a bad thing. Unless it's about trying crack; just decide now that crack is bad.

 

[BeHappy]

First, what is an "ickle" cocktail? Also, glad to know it's not just a superficial, looks kind of a thing for you

I am trying to stay neutral right now until I drive one. Making up your mind before something happens can be a bad thing. Unless it's about trying crack; just decide now that crack is bad.

Lol “ickle” = little, little and often cocktails working our way thro the list - i do hope this car will live up to expectations- just with everything I have read and watched so far tbh I’m not convinced and if she does fall short I’m then stumped what to get without spending and arm and a leg done that got that T shirt.
This car is just for w/e Fun and thrills so defo not just be a looker

 

[NicolasB]

Lol “ickle” = little, little and often cocktails working our way thro the list - i do hope this car will live up to expectations- just with everything I have read and watched so far tbh I’m not convinced and if she does fall short I’m then stumped what to get without spending and arm and a leg done that got that T shirt.
This car is just for w/e Fun and thrills so defo not just be a looker

In the same boat, if this doesn't work, then what? I am think there are not many good cara in this field. New M4 with 6 speed is probably my alternate...

 

[MaybeNeedEmira]

Lol “ickle” = little, little and often cocktails working our way thro the list - i do hope this car will live up to expectations- just with everything I have read and watched so far tbh I’m not convinced and if she does fall short I’m then stumped what to get without spending and arm and a leg done that got that T shirt.
This car is just for w/e Fun and thrills so defo not just be a looker

Enough "ikkle" cocktails and even superficial looks go out the window.

Q: How many does it take for even a Lotus fan think it might be a Ferrari?

 

[Matt]

The suspension argument is insignificant. I don't know the setting of EVORA GT410 or EXIGE, but they are so good in terms of suspension and chassis, real sports cars. Why bother about suspension ? If there is anything wrong with the setting, or someday I get tired of the factory suspension, I will try OHLINS or KW.

 

[DJS]

I’m sat in Mexico enjoying ickle cocktails - do we know yet when the demo rides will begin…… we’re September tomorrow- it’s never ending surely we must have some movement by now ….. it will be quite a disappointment if this car was never even worth this long and never ending wait. I think I’m going to be in for such an anticlimax …… Looks is certainly not good enough for me …..

I’m the same as you enjoying a cocktail in dubai big difference this year no one is here I guess the cost of living crisis really is kicking in.



Anyway anyone from the UAE think it’s worth visiting the Lotus dealership here in Dubai?
Drove past it in a taxi yesterday it looks massive.

 

[DJS]

Sorry that’s a really bad picture you can just abut see the Lotus sign

 

[SweptVolume]

Lol “ickle” = little, little and often cocktails working our way thro the list - i do hope this car will live up to expectations- just with everything I have read and watched so far tbh I’m not convinced and if she does fall short I’m then stumped what to get without spending and arm and a leg done that got that T shirt.
This car is just for w/e Fun and thrills so defo not just be a looker

I will say with some confidence that you will love it when you get to drive it... Andrew Frankel said as a road car its outstanding, I trust his judgment.. the v6 might be a bit older, but its got character and sounds great, and my exige has a similar gear change, and its very satisfying.. not rubbery, mechanical and positive. The reviews have said it feels like a Lotus - for me, that says what I need to know