Diaries of the first Lotus Emira picked up from Hethel - V6 FE - yellow / ice / silver / sport

[Stonecutter]

This is really so cool. I have to say, not only can you sense the joy in your photos, but picking up from the factory, from the main guys, pretty special for the price. So many things are 100 grand and it’s like buying a bag of groceries. I am not a materialistic spender and I am usually a deal hunter and seek the diamond in the rough, but that is what buying new should be about. You supported them, they make you feel special in return. As a business of passion should be. Really awesome share. My favorite post here so far!

 

[Cachaco131]

Yeah, I remember my mom worked at Mercedes and she had clients who'd opt for Euro delivery from the US. They'd get to fly out and drive their brand new car right out of the factory and onto the Autobahn to put the first miles on it! Always sounded really exciting to me. BMW also currently offers something similar but US buyers can do pickup in Atlanta and have a track day experience on Road Atlanta (or maybe some other BMW affiliated track down there).

I picked up my F80 in Germany and was a great experience. 7pct discount , two weeks of insurance and a great delivery process. Shame it's not available anymore.

 

[VL3X]

I picked up my F80 in Germany and was a great experience. 7pct discount , two weeks of insurance and a great delivery process. Shame it's not available anymore.

Sounds like an unforgettable experience!

 

[Cachaco131]

Sounds like an unforgettable experience!

Super fun, driving in the autobahn, enjoying Europe, Nurburgring, etc. Hard to believe so many people were unaware. The discount would pay for tickets easily.

 

[shaank]

This is really so cool. I have to say, not only can you sense the joy in your photos, but picking up from the factory, from the main guys, pretty special for the price. So many things are 100 grand and it’s like buying a bag of groceries. I am not a materialistic spender and I am usually a deal hunter and seek the diamond in the rough, but that is what buying new should be about. You supported them, they make you feel special in return. As a business of passion should be. Really awesome share. My favorite post here so far!

Appreciate this, thank you I wasn't just posing for pics, I was super excited, hyper on red bull and no sleep -and basically a 6 year old at Christmas!

 

[VL3X]

Appreciate this, thank you I wasn't just posing for pics, I was super excited, hyper on red bull and no sleep -and basically a 6 year old at Christmas!

I can't wait for my own joyous pickup day! I'm sure it was genuine.

 

[neonate]

Lotus confirmed several months ago that they won't be offering this. Apparently it involves way too much paperwork to use it on the road in the UK/Europe and then ship it to US.

If you just wanted to do the handover at Hethel before they stick it on the boat and not drive it, then I'd have thought that would be possible.

Thank you Tom. I would be pretty awesome to coordinate brief handover and a day at Hethel (Track experience and factory tour) for US customers before they pick the cars at local dealers. No harm in asking CS at Hethel. I will write to CS and hope other like minded people do the same. May be they can work something out before next year ROW deliveries. Good for PR and brand loyalty!

 

[shaank]

Harry's collection video is now live - very similar experience to my pickup (mine was on the Friday, his the following Monday) - and it was quite cool to see his car in the same spot I saw it on the Friday behind where mine was collected from.

I've filmed a stack of gopro stuff, full walkaround of the car, so just need to edit it and upload for everyone. Also covered 1000 miles now and will post my writeup when I link the vid 'Soon' obviously

 

[benjh1028]

Thank you Tom. I would be pretty awesome to coordinate brief handover and a day at Hethel (Track experience and factory tour) for US customers before they pick the cars at local dealers. No harm in asking CS at Hethel. I will write to CS and hope other like minded people do the same. May be they can work something out before next year ROW deliveries. Good for PR and brand loyalty!

Volvo does this to rave reviews.

 

[shaank]

Took it out in the snow today - drives pretty well for a RWD (goodyear tyres, sport chassis) in the slippy conditions, definitely not as twitchy as my tuned M4. More YouTube stuff filmed, I'll try to edit it all tonight and post.

 

[shaank]

Ok - finally finished the edits, will upload this evening and post. Also had a great photoshoot today with one of best local car photographers, some excellent pics and rolling shots to come asap!!! This car is insanely photogenic

 

[shaank]

Video walkround of the car, and now it's done 1000 miles, some exhaust revving / noise for you guys, in each mode - Tour, Sport, Track. Please watch in a hi-res like 4k.


Overall absolutely loving this car. It looks great, goes great, and is an amazing package. The attention it gets is unreal too.
The weather (as you can tell from the video) isn't the best in winter time in Scotland, but it's very capable. Some good drives to come!

A few downsides / observations though, all pretty minor!

The Ice Grey leather does show dirt very quickly, it's now been ceramic coated so quickly comes off - it'll just need a weekly damp cloth wipe down I think.
The yellow calipers, obviously no longer match the Hethel Yellow like they did on the demo car. I'm not sure if they are growing on me or I'll repaint them Hethel Yellow.
The exhaust tips, when no black pack, aren't shiny, they are a matt finish which is odd - personally shiny tips would have been better IMO
The lower black sills will stone chip easily - I think these need PPF protection asap.
The actual PPF on the rear arches isn't great, starting to peel slightly already and is super thin, I'll likely uprate these asap.

 

[Eagle7]

Video walkround of the car, and now it's done 1000 miles, some exhaust revving / noise for you guys, in each mode - Tour, Sport, Track. Please watch in a hi-res like 4k.


Overall absolutely loving this car. It looks great, goes great, and is an amazing package. The attention it gets is unreal too.
The weather (as you can tell from the video) isn't the best in winter time in Scotland, but it's very capable. Some good drives to come!

A few downsides / observations though, all pretty minor!

The Ice Grey leather does show dirt very quickly, it's now been ceramic coated so quickly comes off - it'll just need a weekly damp cloth wipe down I think.
The yellow calipers, obviously no longer match the Hethel Yellow like they did on the demo car. I'm not sure if they are growing on me or I'll repaint them Hethel Yellow.
The exhaust tips, when no black pack, aren't shiny, they are a matt finish which is odd - personally shiny tips would have been better IMO
The lower black sills will stone chip easily - I think these need PPF protection asap.
The actual PPF on the rear arches isn't great, starting to peel slightly already and is super thin, I'll likely uprate these asap.

Very nice. I'd recommend turning down the volume on the music part of the soundtrack, so more of the car can be heard, although you do have a good amount of that after the music goes off. Ice interior looks very clean and modern. Do the seat heaters work very well?

Do the windows defrost quickly, and do the windshield wipers do a good job of clearing the windshield?

I completely agree the exhaust tips should be shiny, something I'll probably fix on mine.

Beautiful car; congrats!

 

[VL3X]

Cool vid! Appreciate the exhaust mode samples and general review update too. Besides the minor items mentioned, has there been anything that seems not to work properly? Climate control, windows, cruise control, headlights, infotainment, power memory seats all working as expected?

Do the seat heaters work very well?

Worked great when I tested them in my demo drive.

 

[frazzer]

Video walkround of the car, and now it's done 1000 miles, some exhaust revving / noise for you guys, in each mode - Tour, Sport, Track. Please watch in a hi-res like 4k.


Overall absolutely loving this car. It looks great, goes great, and is an amazing package. The attention it gets is unreal too.
The weather (as you can tell from the video) isn't the best in winter time in Scotland, but it's very capable. Some good drives to come!

A few downsides / observations though, all pretty minor!

The Ice Grey leather does show dirt very quickly, it's now been ceramic coated so quickly comes off - it'll just need a weekly damp cloth wipe down I think.
The yellow calipers, obviously no longer match the Hethel Yellow like they did on the demo car. I'm not sure if they are growing on me or I'll repaint them Hethel Yellow.
The exhaust tips, when no black pack, aren't shiny, they are a matt finish which is odd - personally shiny tips would have been better IMO
The lower black sills will stone chip easily - I think these need PPF protection asap.
The actual PPF on the rear arches isn't great, starting to peel slightly already and is super thin, I'll likely uprate these asap.

Showing remarkable restraint not doing doughnuts in the snow

 

[shaank]

Showing remarkable restraint not doing doughnuts in the snow

Not everything is in the video

 

[CDM1855]

Video walkround of the car, and now it's done 1000 miles, some exhaust revving / noise for you guys, in each mode - Tour, Sport, Track. Please watch in a hi-res like 4k.


Overall absolutely loving this car. It looks great, goes great, and is an amazing package. The attention it gets is unreal too.
The weather (as you can tell from the video) isn't the best in winter time in Scotland, but it's very capable. Some good drives to come!

A few downsides / observations though, all pretty minor!

The Ice Grey leather does show dirt very quickly, it's now been ceramic coated so quickly comes off - it'll just need a weekly damp cloth wipe down I think.
The yellow calipers, obviously no longer match the Hethel Yellow like they did on the demo car. I'm not sure if they are growing on me or I'll repaint them Hethel Yellow.
The exhaust tips, when no black pack, aren't shiny, they are a matt finish which is odd - personally shiny tips would have been better IMO
The lower black sills will stone chip easily - I think these need PPF protection asap.
The actual PPF on the rear arches isn't great, starting to peel slightly already and is super thin, I'll likely uprate these asap.

Definitely sounding a bit better in track mode

 

[Evotion]

The actual PPF on the rear arches isn't great, starting to peel slightly already and is super thin, I'll likely uprate these asap.

That is a privately added PPF though right?
Getting mine PPF'd. Is this an area requiring more specific attention?

 

[shaank]

That is a privately added PPF though right?
Getting mine PPF'd. Is this an area requiring more specific attention?

No, it comes from the factory with a small amount of PPF on the rear arches before the rear wheel, and just behind the front wheel also.

 

[EspritGuy]

Video walkround of the car, and now it's done 1000 miles, some exhaust revving / noise for you guys, in each mode - Tour, Sport, Track. Please watch in a hi-res like 4k.


Overall absolutely loving this car. It looks great, goes great, and is an amazing package. The attention it gets is unreal too.
The weather (as you can tell from the video) isn't the best in winter time in Scotland, but it's very capable. Some good drives to come!

A few downsides / observations though, all pretty minor!

The Ice Grey leather does show dirt very quickly, it's now been ceramic coated so quickly comes off - it'll just need a weekly damp cloth wipe down I think.
The yellow calipers, obviously no longer match the Hethel Yellow like they did on the demo car. I'm not sure if they are growing on me or I'll repaint them Hethel Yellow.
The exhaust tips, when no black pack, aren't shiny, they are a matt finish which is odd - personally shiny tips would have been better IMO
The lower black sills will stone chip easily - I think these need PPF protection asap.
The actual PPF on the rear arches isn't great, starting to peel slightly already and is super thin, I'll likely uprate these asap.

Great video. I would have thought Ice Grey leather performed well in the snow?