Search results

It may be possible to disconnect but wouldn’t that void the type approval and be illegal?

If the issue with UK cars is type approval, as suggested by @TomE and expanded upon by @JohnHoward, if Lotus missed the July 1st cut off for approval, will the Emira be fitted with a speed limiter and lane assist etc? I imagine that would be a deal breaker for a number of people, including...

Yes it is. We had an overnight in Broadstairs towards the end of March and it was sunny and warm.

Stunning! Enjoy it whilst the weather holds.

You're right, of course. I've let the frustrations get the better of me. I should remember being stuck on a motorway because of an incident , being unable to do anything about it so listening to music and keeping cool.

It occurs to me that the reason why Lotus communications have been so poor is that after the decision was taken to prioritise Europe, USA and Asia, it was better to say nothing rather than be untruthful. Windle rather let the side down with his leaving the EU comment on the video. Let's see...

There's a large part of me which is hoping that close inspection of the build quality and test drive of the Emira are going to be disappointing. I love the look of the thing, the performance will be adequate for my needs but I find Lotus treatment of the UK depositers shockingly poor, so much...

Perhaps the reason for setting up the LCC operation separate from the factory was so that they don't have accurate and up to date information, and, can't verify anything by walking into the factory. They presumably only have online and phone contact.

Does that mean I have to find a mistress for Sunday morning, to get me out of the house? Oh errrr! 😊

I'm same deposit date as you, was told October build November delivery. I think that you're right about Q1 next year because, as @emiraspain says, the logistics of getting a car to us before Christmas will be nigh on impossible. I've been telling my wife this for ages but I'd like to be...

And, in political terms, today was a good day to bury bad news. The thinking is that we in the UK are going to be euphoric about Harry Metcalfe's video.

No, but it's about raising brand awareness for the EVs to follow.

It may well be easier to get EU type approval first, followed by UK, but that wasn't the original plan when @TomE visited Hethel in January. The only thing that leaving the EU has done is to require separate applications. It's disingenuous of Windle to suggest that leaving the EU is to blame...

I should add that the cars destined for Northern Ireland are subject to an EU approval EU (NI), to comply with the Protocol, and, as we can imagine, and, with all due respect to those depositers, a large percentage of production is going there. 😀

I don't think that it's necessary to get EU approval before the UK. Yes, they are now separate applications but one isn't dependent upon the other. Metcalfe is surely just repeating what Windle implied, not what is true.

Not as pretty as the late 60s early 70s car, 4 cylinder auto as you say, but definitely worth an enquiry. I could certainly live with it and the reviews have been good.

My take from the interview is that Windle tried to hide behind leaving the EU as the delay in gaining type approval, whereas the reality is that they decided to go for EU approval first, ahead of the UK, which was a separate application. Which would then explain why LHD parts were prioritised...

What colour is your sky today? 😀 It's a nice thought but we're not party to the cost increases Lotus is facing and what leeway they have.

It's an interesting point, which I hadn't considered and for which I have no answer. If the FE is a premium offering, why not limit the UK market too? My conjecture was that Lotus can only build primarily LHD cars if they prioritised LHD parts when ordering.

If Ant & Dec and Willoughby & Schofield can pick up entertainment awards on an annual basis why shouldn't Lotus? It clearly requires an enormous talent! 😀

Aftersales service has been on my mind for quite a while too, but look on the bright side. Now that Geoff Dowding has mastered the keyboard, who knows what's possible! 😀

I agree with that. I'm fond of conjecture, probably because a career in corporate sales and marketing has led me to ponder client actions and what they might or might not do, given various alternative scenarios. Often necessary when the full picture isn't clear. Geely bought a majority share...

I'd mentioned what could be LHD priority, for the Chinese and European markets. It will be interesting to see if this also applies to the US market given that they already have a demonstrater doing a tour and I believe that more cars have now arrived there for that purpose. Meanwhile, the UK...

Absolutely. Here today gone tomorrow...........

Did you ever see the Big Bang episode where they were camping out in the wilds and consumed some magic mushrooms? You should consider changing your forum name to Adonis 😀

You'd also think it's jacked well inboard of the jacking point.

I had suggested before that LHD cars were being prioritised for markets where the Eletre was hoped to be a big seller, including Europe. I haven't changed my thoughts on that.

Thanks Tom and Bibs for posting. Easily the most positive post for a long time.

The internal operations at Hethel which can ship cars to Europe, but can't email the documentation to go with them beggars belief.

Is eventually a word that Lotus have allowed you to use? I can imagine the promised forthcoming emails shifting from soon to eventually too. 😀

If you look at a Ferrari 296 the wheel gap is larger, presumably because you'd be paying three times the price. Perhaps you need to get a grip.

I had a 1930 version of this which was eccentric in the extreme. The S1 Elise is similar power and weighs only 100kg more, but manages to keep all four wheels on the ground, most of the time. I know which one I prefer. 😀

Good that you also used the US spelling for offence. You're trying very hard.😀

I'd seen the PS4s a couple of weeks ago but not the LTS Goodyears. As you say, reasonably priced. I wonder whether a geo adjustment ( camber and toe out) to sharpen the turn in on the Emira will make the PS4s more suitable. We'll have to wait and see.

Incidentally, without wishing to offend, do you speak Spanish with a Midlands accent? I ask because I knew a Flemish Belgian lady in Spain who spent a number of years running a cafe in the Midlands, had excellent English, but with a Midlands accent! I've always wondered whether her Spanish...

Plus ca change...........

Indeed. I'm also hearing stories about Lotus being unable to supply parts for the late model E cars too. It doesn't bode well for the Emira.

Three and a half years on, I admire your optimism, and, I hope that it works out for you.

I made this point some time ago and the apologist accused me of abuse.! Sooner or later Geely will have to conclude the same thing. Let's hope it's the former.

Great photos. Can you imagine what it was like charging up there in a sprint car when it was dirt?