USA/Canada Delivery Thread

[seriously]

Ok, I’ve had all of two hours driving it, but honestly, and I’m a pretty critical guy, it’s like nothing else. The handling and road connection is just unmatched. It’s fun at low speeds with gearing requiring quick shifts that keep you involved (very annoying you have to switch to Sport mode every time you start the car though.). Lotus has made a shot across the bow of Porsche saying drivers don’t want all your heavy electronic steering cars with too many unpurchased options leaving glaring empty spaces in my dash. And they don’t want to pay extra for simpler “limited edition” manual versions with more angular looks.

The Emira has an absolutely excellent design all around interior and exterior. And feature wise it is a welcome throwback to pre-nanny era cars. Just enough luxury features but not too many. I think it’s a balanced wake up call to the world in general.

As far as negatives go: I’m used to much smoother shifters (in my BMW 135i and high school Honda Prelude Si) so I thought the old clunky shifter in the Emira would be it’s biggest drawback (which it is) but it keeps you involved and adds character and not as bad as I thought it would be. Also as expected the KEF stereo is crappy by today’s standards (we didn’t need a throwback on this), which is an annoyance.

Great review and congrats! I am so curious to try the manual! We are hearing feels like s2000, better than porsche and worse than a 135i. What’s one to believe? Surely there is a lot of subjectivity on preference for ”feel”.

 

[FlyNavy01]

Another data point for the NW folks:

Park Place in Bellevue just emailed 20 minutes ago informing me my FE2.0 was on a truck enroute to WA and should arrive next week. Ironically, I STILL haven't been given a VIN, so I asked them (for the third time) now that they can't deny my car exists...

They also offered XPEL and ceramic coatings for those interested.

Deposit: Dec 1st, 2021
Order: Aug 10th, 2023

 

[VroomPop]

Another data point for the NW folks:

Park Place in Bellevue just emailed 20 minutes ago informing me my FE2.0 was on a truck enroute to WA and should arrive next week. Ironically, I STILL haven't been given a VIN, so I asked them (for the third time) now that they can't deny my car exists...

They also offered XPEL and ceramic coatings for those interested.

Deposit: Dec 1st, 2021
Order: Aug 10th, 2023

Too funny. I've heard no such thing about my FE 1.0 that landed on 3/29. I did send an email to make sure I know how much to bring to pay then called yesterday. Even talked to someone who said they'd let me know. Crickets. This process is wild!

 

[VroomPop]

Too funny. I've heard no such thing about my FE 1.0 that landed on 3/29. I did send an email to make sure I know how much to bring to pay then called yesterday. Even talked to someone who said they'd let me know. Crickets. This process is wild!

I just called. Not the next truck but maybe the one after...? I'll just enjoy the reviews here while I wait. Also should drive the cars I'll be neglecting when the Emira gets here

 

[DF_Toronto]

Dear Diary,

Day 1015…will this thread hit 666 before I have my car?

 

[Balboa]

Great review and congrats! I am so curious to try the manual! We are hearing feels like s2000, better than porsche and worse than a 135i. What’s one to believe? Surely there is a lot of subjectivity on preference for ”feel”.

I didnt love it on my test drive. Owned Miata, RX7 and Honda Accords. Hard to beat those. Also had a clunky Viper and Ferrari 348. Id put Emira somewhere between the Japanese boxes and these 2.

 

[LotusNewbie]

Too funny. I've heard no such thing about my FE 1.0 that landed on 3/29. I did send an email to make sure I know how much to bring to pay then called yesterday. Even talked to someone who said they'd let me know. Crickets. This process is wild!

i wonder what the process is. seems like mayhem. cars from 3/29 and 4/7 and even earlier just sitting at the port. no clear process for which ones get picked up first, etc.

 

[martinot]

i wonder what the process is. seems like mayhem. cars from 3/29 and 4/7 and even earlier just sitting at the port. no clear process for which ones get picked up first, etc.

Yes. Correct. I just talked to my sales guy he said there is like 700 Emira cars in the container and they are just taking what's in front of them. there is no system or process. It's disorganized Chaos. I'm #3 at my dealership and later deposit holders are getting their cars before me. Astonishing!

 

[DF_Toronto]

Yes. Correct. I just talked to my sales guy he said there is like 700 Emira cars in the container and they are just taking what's in front of them. there is no system or process. It's disorganized Chaos. I'm #3 at my dealership and later deposit holders are getting their cars before me. Astonishing!

Yup, my dealers #2 car is MIA and they’ve got some #50s or something like that lol. FE2s before FE1s sounded like a bad joke while we were waiting on CARB but everything that’s possible is likely with Lotus LOL.

 

[24EmiraUS]

With all the trash talk I have done on here, I hope not. Lol

But seriously, my dealer has been really good. Not much updates but they have always contacted me when they had news. Ray at Summit NJ Lotus is a top notch sales guy. Definitely one of the better ones I have dealt with. I am not just saying this because I want him to deliver my car ASAP.

I’ve been working with Ray. He has been straight up the whole time. Deff recommend the guy.

 

[ameeriklane]

And your dealer is?

Gator. Quote from their email dated 3/15/24:

I know many, if not most of you, have contacted us over the last week or two, and our current
reality is that we cannot keep up with the influx of inquiries and deliver Emira to
customers at the same time.

 

[RTM]

Eagle7, when you get your car (or at least after 1,000 break-in miles ), it would be great to get together with others in the SeaTac area for a drive. The car is amazing, and it has been fun taking it out on some of the roads up on the peninsula. I’ve already met some other great local Emira fans who noticed it sitting in the driveway. Will plan to be at Griots Caffeine and Gasoline in May.

That sounds like a fun idea.

Long time lurker on the forum, have found it incredibly helpful given the near radio silence of updates.

Deposit placed in July 21 at Park Place (Bellevue WA), order confirmed May 22

FE1.0 - Dark Verdant, Touring, tan leather, diamond cut wheels with yellow calipers and let's see how the double negative privacy glass turns up

 

[seriously]

I didnt love it on my test drive. Owned Miata, RX7 and Honda Accords. Hard to beat those. Also had a clunky Viper and Ferrari 348. Id put Emira somewhere between the Japanese boxes and these 2.

Strangely the Honda accord manual is pretty good!

 

[EspritGuy]

That sounds like a fun idea.

Long time lurker on the forum, have found it incredibly helpful given the near radio silence of updates.

Deposit placed in July 21 at Park Place (Bellevue WA), order confirmed May 22

FE1.0 - Dark Verdant, Touring, tan leather, diamond cut wheels with yellow calipers and let's see how the double negative privacy glass turns up

Yep, the wording wasn't clear.

 

[Hell4Leather]

Gator. Quote from their email dated 3/15/24:

I know many, if not most of you, have contacted us over the last week or two, and our current
reality is that we cannot keep up with the influx of inquiries and deliver Emira to
customers at the same time.

Wow. I appreciate the proactive approach but how about including some more detailed and useful information? Oh wait, Lotus.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

Everyone already knows what communication and delivery is like. No point in complaining tbh, just wait for the call to pick up your car.

 

[Dr.JDK]

My car was on the 4/7 ship and my guy at Park Place said it's on the truck on its way, and should be there Monday. I think it's reasonable to expect the cars that have to be transported all the way across the country, like the west coast dealers, to arrive sometime next week.

Damn that is so fast. Mine is on the 3/29 boat. I checked with my guy at PP yesterday, and he said my car is still at the port.

 

[VroomPop]

That sounds like a fun idea.

Long time lurker on the forum, have found it incredibly helpful given the near radio silence of updates.

Deposit placed in July 21 at Park Place (Bellevue WA), order confirmed May 22

FE1.0 - Dark Verdant, Touring, tan leather, diamond cut wheels with yellow calipers and let's see how the double negative privacy glass turns up

All same! Great choices. Great car. Still excited despite all the shenanigans.

 

[Porter]

dealers are starting to call about cars on lot that they need sold. it will be interesting to see the take rate for these first edition arrivals.

I don't understand what you're trying to say here. The "take rate"?

Every single car arriving is tied to a depositor that has had money tied up in this for literally years now. The idea that people would walk away after the car arrives when they could have done so at any point in the last 2+ years doesn't make any sense at all.

The few people that have seen doing that are either throwing a little adult tantrum, or have such a level of absurd money that they threw a deposit on a car years ago and then forgot about it and are now too busy driving their GT3 RS or 812 Superfast or whatever.

 

[Balboa]

I don't understand what you're trying to say here. The "take rate"?

Every single car arriving is tied to a depositor that has had money tied up in this for literally years now. The idea that people would walk away after the car arrives when they could have done so at any point in the last 2+ years doesn't make any sense at all.

The few people that have seen doing that are either throwing a little adult tantrum, or have such a level of absurd money that they threw a deposit on a car years ago and then forgot about it and are now too busy driving their GT3 RS or 812 Superfast or whatever.

Life changes. Some people just cant go thru w it financially. Why cancel preemptively when you hope things may improve for you. But when car arrives and it's time to pony up they will have to. Plus in Calif you can put a deposit down amd get a full refund at any time. Some may have gotten caught up in the moment but back out upon arrival. My prediction is we will see a little inventory sitting on lots selling for 2.0 MSRP