No one "needs" an Emira. Its a 2nd, 3rd or umpteenth car. So what if there's a wait and Lotus' delivery process has been disappointing. I look at it this way. ICE cars are dying and the Emira is the end of an era. To have the last ICE Lotus is worth the wait. Besides my other several cars work just fine. Its not a hardship to wait for the Emira to arrive.
True, the Emira may be a 3rd or 4th car......a 5th for me. I have had 5 Lotus cars in the past and just loved the looks and size of the Emira. I was an I4 enthusiast and placed a deposit on an I4 three tears ago ( accidental sp error...years .... but how true ). The first and only I4 deposit at my dealer, Lotus of Western NY.
Wait, Wait and wait some more....... interspersed by breaking news every now and then, mostly incorrect.
When I found out last fall that the US I4 was going to be delayed until the summer of 2025, I cracked and called Matt, my dealer and decided time was slipping away......just couldn't bear the thought of waiting another year or more for an I4. So, i switched to the FE V6. My V6 came in equipped as ordered 2 weeks ago. At the same time I learned Lotus was "SAYING" US I4 production was going to start this Sept and possibly I could have the car for this Winter in Florida.
The dilema; take the V6 NOW or wait a few more months to get what I really wanted all along....the I4 with 8 speed DCT. I had already waited almost 3 yrs so I reasoned what's another 4-5 months. AND obviously the price of the Emira had increased during that period from screaming bargain to WHAT !! ......lets just say, no longer a screaming bargain .....no longer even a bargain......but serious money. So I decided to turn down the V6 and if I was now to spend that much money, I was going to wait for exactly what I wanted all along....the I4. Matt, the dealer, was very understanding and placed the order for the FE I4.
So Lotus of Western NY has an orphaned V6 to sell. Good for someone else who comes late to the party.
For a deposit on a car 2-3 years ago you must realize life changes in 2-3 years.....supply chain disruptions change over 2-3 years....prices change in 2-3 years...options for other sports cars change in 2-3 years.
I think given the circumstances , there are relatively few orphaned or almost new Emiras for sale. Of course, you have those hustlers thinking they would flip their Emira for a profit ........hope they lose their rears. But it is very understandable to me. that given the VERY long wait from order to actually seeing the cars even reach our shores, and the price increases , that a fair number of depositors would change their minds.
Of course, your mileage may vary !