USA/Canada Delivery Thread

[Lotustoronto]

I know some don’t like talking about VIN numbers but those two look relatively early in the production run.

hmmmm... didn't we have a someone on the forum from the US that did a test drive and was told by the Lotus rep that his car was built or to be built that month? I think we all told him he was wrong.... I can't seem to find the post or the forum member, but maybe it is possible? That does seem to be early VIN's.

 

[Nova]

If my secret VIN decoder is correct, these are "H" cars, meaning left hand drive track-only. They are also similar in range to the four Emiras sent over in September 2022, which were also "H" cars. So it is very unlikely that these are customer cars.

 

[GetawayDriving]

Don't they need to supply cars for emissions and safety testing? Could it be something like that?

 

[Hell4Leather]

Question for any of the dealer employees out there: how are the deposits handled at the sales rep level? Does each rep get like 5 of the allotments to sell so one sales guy doesn’t pack the list with just his customers? I ask because it seems a straight FIFO may not be popular with the sales team as everyone wants to at least have a chance. I’m wondering if it’s possible to be the 50th person at the dealer but you got lucky and deposited with a junior rep who had an allotment left.

 

[DerTheDer]

Question for any of the dealer employees out there: how are the deposits handled at the sales rep level? Does each rep get like 5 of the allotments to sell so one sales guy doesn’t pack the list with just his customers? I ask because it seems a straight FIFO may not be popular with the sales team as everyone wants to at least have a chance. I’m wondering if it’s possible to be the 50th person at the dealer but you got lucky and deposited with a junior rep who had an allotment left.

I know some dealers are a solo show with 1 person running the sales floor. cant speak for them all, but I know some are a 1 person show for sales.

 

[Nova]

Its not much progresstwo whole vehicles for the USA.

Does it tell how long it took to get from port to port?!??!

This ship, named Commitment, left Southampton, UK on 27-Dec. So it took 13 days to sail. Baltimore was its first port of call after leaving Southampton. It visited Savannah, Georgia on 14-Jan, so that's where I suppose it will unload the cars for the southern states.

It's easier these days to track all of these things. I remember back in 2007 when I ordered my BMW, I saw guys on the BMW forum not only track their cars on the vessels but also figure out which port-mounted webcam they could use to see the ship and watch as the cars get unloaded. Those guys were hardcore.

 

[Nova]

Question for any of the dealer employees out there: how are the deposits handled at the sales rep level? Does each rep get like 5 of the allotments to sell so one sales guy doesn’t pack the list with just his customers? I ask because it seems a straight FIFO may not be popular with the sales team as everyone wants to at least have a chance. I’m wondering if it’s possible to be the 50th person at the dealer but you got lucky and deposited with a junior rep who had an allotment left.

I really doubt that they divvy out the slots to individual salespeople. That would significantly reduce the motivation for salespeople to bring in customers. I'd imagine that most Lotus dealers don't have a large number of dedicated salespeople - maybe one, or two? They are also very likely to be shared with other brands.

 

[Hell4Leather]

This ship, named Commitment, left Southampton, UK on 27-Dec. So it took 13 days to sail. Baltimore was its first port of call after leaving Southampton. It visited Savannah, Georgia on 14-Jan, so that's where I suppose it will unload the cars for the southern states.

It's easier these days to track all of these things. I remember back in 2007 when I ordered my BMW, I saw guys on the BMW forum not only track their cars on the vessels but also figure out which port-mounted webcam they could use to see the ship and watch as the cars get unloaded. Those guys were hardcore.

Yea, and we’re less then. Now I want to do that…..ya know sometime in 2025 when I get my car

 

[R1272]

This ship, named Commitment, left Southampton, UK on 27-Dec. So it took 13 days to sail. Baltimore was its first port of call after leaving Southampton. It visited Savannah, Georgia on 14-Jan, so that's where I suppose it will unload the cars for the southern states.

It's easier these days to track all of these things. I remember back in 2007 when I ordered my BMW, I saw guys on the BMW forum not only track their cars on the vessels but also figure out which port-mounted webcam they could use to see the ship and watch as the cars get unloaded. Those guys were hardcore.

I was one of those guys in 2003 with the M3 I ordered. You missed one thing though...

With enough research, I was able to find out the trucking company that transported my M3 to Vegas from port hueneme in CA. The front office of the company was super cool and gave me the driver's cell phone #!

 

[VL3X]

The front office of the company was super cool and gave me the driver's cell phone #!

That's amazing! Did you call and arrange to be there for delivery?

I'll never forget seeing the 300ZX I won on ebay back in ~2003 roll off the truck. I hired this company called Horseless Carriage to transport it in an enclosed trailer from Nashville. Apparently they typically haul some very expensive vehicles because there was also a GT40 and a couple Ferraris in there as well!

 

[Cory]

Don't they need to supply cars for emissions and safety testing? Could it be something like that?

The lotus rep on my test drive said the test cars were being monitored for the EPA regulations.

 

[silent cilantro]

I sent my dealer (Lotus of Austin) an email 10 days ago and haven't heard a peep.

I fully expect to not have a car until June/July (original ETA was March)

 

[Guest142]

hmmmm... didn't we have a someone on the forum from the US that did a test drive and was told by the Lotus rep that his car was built or to be built that month? I think we all told him he was wrong.... I can't seem to find the post or the forum member, but maybe it is possible? That does seem to be early VIN's.

I sent my dealer (Lotus of Austin) an email 10 days ago and haven't heard a peep.

I fully expect to not have a car until June/July (original ETA was March)

I'm sure news will be coming in short order. More importantly, accurate news.

 

[Silver Storm]

So I emailed my Lotus sales manager yesterday, and I asked him what position in the waitlist I am currently at. He said 159th place. I think confirming my order in summer of 2024 for 2025 delivery seems extremely unlikely at this point lol !

 

[Lotustoronto]

So I emailed my Lotus sales manager yesterday, and I asked him what position in the waitlist I am currently at. He said 159th place. I think confirming my order in summer of 2024 for 2025 delivery seems extremely unlikely at this point lol !

Yes that is not surprising. I imagine a few people will drop out as they end up with a different car. This will be a very long wait for most going forward.... actually it's been a very long wait for everyone...lol

 

[Hell4Leather]

So I emailed my Lotus sales manager yesterday, and I asked him what position in the waitlist I am currently at. He said 159th place. I think confirming my order in summer of 2024 for 2025 delivery seems extremely unlikely at this point lol !

Sorry if I missed it earlier, when was your deposit date? 159 probably won’t be that bad as production ramps up to x4 or more in the coming years. So FE allocations of 30, then 100 or so round 2, and 100+, round 3. ———anyone please correct me if I’m wrong. It would seem strange that if a person were to place a deposit to get on the list today that they wouldn’t get a car at all because the capacity for all production years is already spoken for.

 

[Silver Storm]

Sorry if I missed it earlier, when was your deposit date? 159 probably won’t be that bad as production ramps up to x4 or more in the coming years. So FE allocations of 30, then 100 or so round 2, and 100+, round 3. ———anyone please correct me if I’m wrong. It would seem strange that if a person were to place a deposit to get on the list today that they wouldn’t get a car at all because the capacity for all production years is already spoken for.

I gave my deposit on Jan. 9, 2023. All production years already spoken for?!?!? Are you saying I’m screwed and I won’t be allocated one even if I patiently wait?!?

 

[DerTheDer]

Nobody knows, certainly not lotus. The demand is certainly there. They probably have reservations on a sticky note lol.

 

[TomE]

I gave my deposit on Jan. 9, 2023. All production years already spoken for?!?!? Are you saying I’m screwed and I won’t be allocated one even if I patiently wait?!?

It’s only North America V6 FE capacity that is sold out. Still plenty of time to order a V6 Base or i4

 

[Hell4Leather]

I gave my deposit on Jan. 9, 2023. All production years already spoken for?!?!? Are you saying I’m screwed and I won’t be allocated one even if I patiently wait?!?

I wasn’t saying you are hosed, I was saying it would be strange if that were the case