I went to the dealership yesterday to pick up my custom-ordered 2026 Emira and sign the paperwork. I was excited and nervous at the same time. Unfortunately, after inspecting the car and taking it for a test drive, I decided not to go through with the purchase just yet.
Here’s what happened.
I had been told ( last week) that the dealership needed about a week to prepare the car, including a thorough cleaning and detailing, since it had been sitting on their lot for a while (long story, not particularly relevant here).
When I started inspecting the car, I noticed a lot of white residue between the panel gaps. My first reaction was panic because I thought they were scratches. It turned out to be leftover protective film residue from the factory.
The salesman tried removing it on the spot using a microfiber cloth and 70% rubbing alcohol. There was quite a bit of it everywhere. Most of it came off, but I also managed to find a couple of actual scratches. They said they would have their detailer take care of those.
I was honestly disappointed. If the dealership had someone clean and detail the car before delivery, how did all that leftover residue and those scratches get missed?
Moving to the interior, I also noticed some faint stains on the leather. Nothing major, and probably something they could take care of, but I was still surprised by the overall condition of what was supposed to be a brand-new car.
At this point, I felt like I had to adjust my expectations quite a bit regarding the condition of a brand-new Lotus.
We then took the car for a test drive. Everything seemed fine except for one thing.
While driving on the highway, I carefully relaxed my grip on the steering wheel to see whether the car would track straight or pull to one side. I noticed that it was gradually drifting to the right.
The salesman suggested it was because we were driving in the rightmost lane, which typically has some road slope for drainage. The highway had four lanes, so I moved into the next lane to the left and tried again. I still noticed some drifting, although perhaps not as much.
When we got back to the dealership, I took a few minutes to think about what I wanted to do.
The salesman mentioned that if I didn’t sign the deal that day, they might not be able to honor the incentive they were offering for October, since it was the last day of the month. He suggested I sign the papers and they will take care of those issues in the next few days.
I was really struggling with not being the typical people pleaser I tend to be and actually putting my own interests first.
It wasn’t easy, but I eventually told him something along these lines:
“Look, I came here today fully intending to buy this car. I’ve even added it to my insurance policy before coming here. I don’t want to waste your time, and I’m absolutely serious about purchasing the car. However, I’d like the cosmetic issues to be addressed and your mechanic to inspect the steering and make sure everything is okay before I sign the paperwork.”
He seemed disappointed, understandably, but said he understood.
My plan now is to drive my current car through that same stretch of highway to see whether it also drifts to the right. I also want to give the dealership an opportunity to address the cosmetic issues and have their mechanic investigate the steering.
I’d really appreciate some input from other Emira owners and people who have been through the new-car buying process.
I’m obviously still very interested in the car. I’ve been looking forward to this purchase for a long time. But all these little things started adding up, and I think they took away some of the excitement. I also found myself becoming hyper-sensitive to every little detail on the car after seeing those cosmetic issues.
Part of me wonders whether I’m being too picky, but another part of me thinks that when you’re buying a brand-new car at this price point, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect it to be delivered in excellent condition.
Here’s what happened.
I had been told ( last week) that the dealership needed about a week to prepare the car, including a thorough cleaning and detailing, since it had been sitting on their lot for a while (long story, not particularly relevant here).
When I started inspecting the car, I noticed a lot of white residue between the panel gaps. My first reaction was panic because I thought they were scratches. It turned out to be leftover protective film residue from the factory.
The salesman tried removing it on the spot using a microfiber cloth and 70% rubbing alcohol. There was quite a bit of it everywhere. Most of it came off, but I also managed to find a couple of actual scratches. They said they would have their detailer take care of those.
I was honestly disappointed. If the dealership had someone clean and detail the car before delivery, how did all that leftover residue and those scratches get missed?
Moving to the interior, I also noticed some faint stains on the leather. Nothing major, and probably something they could take care of, but I was still surprised by the overall condition of what was supposed to be a brand-new car.
At this point, I felt like I had to adjust my expectations quite a bit regarding the condition of a brand-new Lotus.
We then took the car for a test drive. Everything seemed fine except for one thing.
While driving on the highway, I carefully relaxed my grip on the steering wheel to see whether the car would track straight or pull to one side. I noticed that it was gradually drifting to the right.
The salesman suggested it was because we were driving in the rightmost lane, which typically has some road slope for drainage. The highway had four lanes, so I moved into the next lane to the left and tried again. I still noticed some drifting, although perhaps not as much.
When we got back to the dealership, I took a few minutes to think about what I wanted to do.
The salesman mentioned that if I didn’t sign the deal that day, they might not be able to honor the incentive they were offering for October, since it was the last day of the month. He suggested I sign the papers and they will take care of those issues in the next few days.
I was really struggling with not being the typical people pleaser I tend to be and actually putting my own interests first.
It wasn’t easy, but I eventually told him something along these lines:
“Look, I came here today fully intending to buy this car. I’ve even added it to my insurance policy before coming here. I don’t want to waste your time, and I’m absolutely serious about purchasing the car. However, I’d like the cosmetic issues to be addressed and your mechanic to inspect the steering and make sure everything is okay before I sign the paperwork.”
He seemed disappointed, understandably, but said he understood.
My plan now is to drive my current car through that same stretch of highway to see whether it also drifts to the right. I also want to give the dealership an opportunity to address the cosmetic issues and have their mechanic investigate the steering.
I’d really appreciate some input from other Emira owners and people who have been through the new-car buying process.
- Did I handle the situation appropriately, or am I being overly particular?
- Is it normal to find this much factory film residue, scratches, and minor interior imperfections on a brand-new Emira?
- For those of you who have experienced steering pull or alignment issues, is this something you’ve encountered with your Emira? Should I be concerned?
- Main question: do you think it’s okay to proceed with the deal if they take care of those cosmetic issues?
I’m obviously still very interested in the car. I’ve been looking forward to this purchase for a long time. But all these little things started adding up, and I think they took away some of the excitement. I also found myself becoming hyper-sensitive to every little detail on the car after seeing those cosmetic issues.
Part of me wonders whether I’m being too picky, but another part of me thinks that when you’re buying a brand-new car at this price point, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect it to be delivered in excellent condition.
