new 2024 Meridian for 5 K off sticker

[Kalel]

Okay, help please if you don't mind.

My dealer texted me today and offered to sell to me this car for 99K. It's the i4 with sport suspension and full black pack. The sticker is 104,180. It's a new 2024. I have been planning on ordering an Atlantis blue with the same Ice Grey interior but was going to do the touring suspension.

Is this a good deal in today's market? I always thought when I bought a dream car I would order it to my exact spec but I do think this is pretty cool looking! And I wouldn't have to wait.

What issues are still there in this model year? Water leaking into the AC control unit? Paint Blistering? Door alignment issues?

Thank you! Oh yes, it comes with Sport Cup 2s and I would have preferred a less track focused tire.

 

[Jinba ittai]

Further to Benjh’s comment on the other thread, how important are these spec differences to you? That’s probably the main reason to pay for a 2025. Some people have had trouble, but for the most part the 2024s seem to be well sorted.

 

[Kalel]

Further to Benjh’s comment on the other thread, how important are these spec differences to you? That’s probably the main reason to pay for a 2025. Some people have had trouble, but for the most part the 2024s seem to be well sorted.

Thanks Jinba, I thought Benjh's comments were to the OP and I didn't want to hijack that thread. So I started a new one.

I think I could live with these slight differences if the 2024s have been sorted out for the most part.

 

[Rcktmn]

Could tell them it’s not quite what you want and see if they’ll go lower. Those cars have been sitting there for a while now

 

[Jinba ittai]

All good. I’ve had zero problems after 1 year and 5000 km, but others have not. It’s good you are doing the research and know some of the things to look for. Check for paint bubbling, door alignment, seal the ignition coils, etc.

 

[F1 SML8R]

@Kalel Not a good deal.

For starters, dealers were already giving 5-7K off prior to Lotus's trunk money offer ($2.5K-3K) that started a month or two ago. If you start with the lower end of the discounts that were being offered months ago which is $5k and add another $2.5K of the Lotus trunk money/incentive, you are at $7.5K off.

Also, please know that Lotus of SLC (I recognized the pic background) is also going to add a bunch of bogus fees starting with a "$1k doc fee". When I was shopping, I called every dealer in the country. These guys were at the top when it came to shady fees along with several FL dealers. Can't blame them for trying, but as an informed consumer, it would be just silly to pay any of these bogus fees to any dealer. Hope that helps...

 

[Medic518]

My i4 has be 100% trouble free, even before the most recently applied 7 updates. Only thing I have found that Lotus Engineering is still trying to sort is the "Rear Indicator Fault" light comes on (very, very rarely), and it does not affect indicator function. To make it go away - just turn the indicator on a second time quickly.

The AC water ingress issue has all been fixed, prior to the 2024 model. Mine came with the fix from the factory (Sept. 24 build). I haven't had any blistering - not to say it wont happen, but that could affect any Emira. No, panel or door alignment issues at all, and I was looking, due to earlier builds having those issues. Seems they stepped up their quality control on that issue.

The only thing I would caution you on is the Sport/Cup2 set up. I have driven both i4 and v6, the touring setup on the i4 seems stiffer than the touring on the v6. I believe that stands to reason due to different rear-end setups for the different platforms. That being said, my touring suspension is good and stiff enough, I just wonder if Sport would be too stiff - just something to think about.

Its a beautiful spec, I would seriously think about it --> I am with @Rcktmn and @F1 SML8R though, see if you can't get a little more because its not EXACTLY what you were going to order, and the discounts..

 

[Kalel]

@Kalel Not a good deal.

For starters, dealers were already giving 5-7K off prior to Lotus's trunk money offer ($2.5K-3K) that started a month or two ago. If you start with the lower end of the discounts that were being offered months ago which is $5k and add another $2.5K of the Lotus trunk money/incentive, you are at $7.5K off.

Also, please know that Lotus of SLC (I recognized the pic background) is also going to add a bunch of bogus fees starting with a "$1k doc fee". When I was shopping, I called every dealer in the country. These guys were at the top when it came to shady fees along with several FL dealers. Can't blame them for trying, but as an informed consumer, it would be just silly to pay any of these bogus fees to any dealer. Hope that helps...

Thank you! I did ask him for a breakdown showing all fees so I could start picking away at those as we potentially make a deal.

And this is very helpful to know that 8-9K off sticker might be achievable elsewhere.

 

[cyanmauve]

I’d say if you’re planning on keeping it forever, get the exact color you want. Don’t compromise for a small percentage of disposable income.

 

[Rainier]

...
What issues are still there in this model year? Water leaking into the AC control unit? Paint Blistering? Door alignment issues?
...

Based on personal experience I would advise any purchaser of an I4 to insist the coolant be inspected for any signs of contamination as part of PPI.