I'm out - the cancellations thread

[PaulP]

Not true for everyone. I actually enjoyed this forum and getting to know everyone on here the last 1.5 years. I like to see the "end of the story" for a lot of what I got involved in. Plus, the guys over at R8Talk.com can be dicks (not all of them).

I posted “I’m out” because I figured there might be others who were on the fence and considering the same things I was and might find my thoughts interesting. Otherwise why are we all here? I left for months but after test drive (didn’t really need the deposit money back so kept it in just in case) I’m now back. Yet I’m also reading this thread - I enjoy all sides of a discussion and don’t find it unusual that people want to share their reasons why.

Don’t be a fan boi and don’t $ht on people who love the car either, after all anyone taking the time to post on ANY car forum on the internet is more fanatical than 95% of car owners.

 

[Leonard]

The even better news is it arrived in time to part fund my new Ducati DesertX that arrived this morning.

Merry Xmas

 

[Mctaff]

Brand new or demos? Who here is buying an $80k new car with 250 miles and a weekend test drive under its belt?

Eh?! Who said they were buying an ex demo car as new?!

 

[Pugwash]

Old article but you get the drift

10 cars available with 24-hour test drives - Car Keys

Here are the models available with extended test drives.

www.carkeys.co.uk

That was a year before COVID lock down. Different times. Factories were running flat out and there was inventory lying around.

 

[roundincircles]

Lotus aren't so bad.......I couldn't get a test drive in this Ferrari

 

[roundincircles]

I did get a go in this one, no cupholders, Kef or luggage space

 

[lion shf]

Eh?! Who said they were buying an ex demo car as new?!

Exactly.

 

[Mctaff]

That was a year before COVID lock down. Different times. Factories were running flat out and there was inventory lying around.

Think there’s still a fair few out there… but agree probably less with more limited new car availability

The Latest BMW News | Dick Lovett

Stay updated with the latest news and events from Dick Lovett BMW. Discover exclusive offers, new launches, and automotive insights.

www.dicklovett.co.uk

 

[Mctaff]

Exactly.

I’m lost now…

Have you been drinking??!

 

[kitkat]

That was a year before COVID lock down. Different times. Factories were running flat out and there was inventory lying around.

This is a very important point, the market was very different then.

 

[scoates]

I've posted about this before (I think) but people expecting longer unaccompanied Emira test drives at the minute and getting angry that they aren't available are a bit mad. The car is brand new with only a handful of cars available and hundreds or maybe even thousands of people wanting a go. There simply isn't enough time to offer a longer test drive, or enough cars (and parts) to risk an unaccompanied drive in case of accidents. People comparing it to other manufacturers "BMW let me drive all day, Porsche gave me the car for the weekend!" etc, chances are the supply of these cars is much more plentiful and either they've been out longer, or initial demand vs supply of demonstrators much lower than the Emira.

Once more people have their cars, more demos are made, more used cars appear then the longer test drives will come. I reckon (and hope!) by Summer '23 in the UK there will be a lot more test drive flexibility, which in turn will hopefully give people on the fence a much better idea of what the car is actually like!

 

[Leonard]

I've posted about this before (I think) but people expecting longer unaccompanied Emira test drives at the minute and getting angry that they aren't available are a bit mad. The car is brand new with only a handful of cars available and hundreds or maybe even thousands of people wanting a go. There simply isn't enough time to offer a longer test drive, or enough cars (and parts) to risk an unaccompanied drive in case of accidents. People comparing it to other manufacturers "BMW let me drive all day, Porsche gave me the car for the weekend!" etc, chances are the supply of these cars is much more plentiful and either they've been out longer, or initial demand vs supply of demonstrators much lower than the Emira.

Once more people have their cars, more demos are made, more used cars appear then the longer test drives will come. I reckon (and hope!) by Summer '23 in the UK there will be a lot more test drive flexibility, which in turn will hopefully give people on the fence a much better idea of what the car is actually like!

I partly concur. BUT if they had offered test drives in deposit order rather than the free for all that it was there would have been plenty of time for everyone to get a good drive and I'd go so far as to say the conversion rate would have been better because of it.
Still doesn't solve the set route fiasco some dealers have to put up with tho. Although one of the dealers I went to let me take it wherever I want, so go figure Didn't really help mind as had zero idea where I was

 

[scoates]

I partly concur. BUT if they had offered test drives in deposit order rather than the free for all that it was there would have been plenty of time for everyone to het a good drive and I'd go do far as to say the conversion rate would have been better because of it.
Still doesn't solve the set route fiasco some dealers have to put up with tho. Although one of the dealers I went to let me rake it wherever I want, so go figure Didn't really help mind as had zero idea where I was

They absolutely should have offered it in deposit order, especially with the further delays there would have been time to get the majority of people a good go for sure!

 

[Pops68]

Can we persuade Nikki to provide some much needed customer care training to Lotus?

Dunno but should my financial position get to where I want it she will be the first person I contact for a new car! That's the value in great service and yep, Lotus would be well served to take note!

 

[lion shf]

I’m lost now…

Have you been drinking??!

Lol heading back to work in 15. I simply called out BS insinuating Lotus, who’s having a terrible time meeting demand, should provide weekend loaners to satiate their customers. My point is if you need “special treatment cause you’re special” in order to like the car, then bollacks. Did I use that correctly?
This is a hand built punk rock car, those who are use to cafes to wait in while getting their Aston’s serviced may be disappointed. Me I dig it the most

 

[BeHappy]

Lol heading back to work in 15. I simply called out BS insinuating Lotus, who’s having a terrible time meeting demand, should provide weekend loaners to satiate their customers. My point is if you need “special treatment cause you’re special” in order to like the car, then bollacks. Did I use that correctly?
This is a hand built punk rock car, those who are use to cafes to wait in while getting their Aston’s serviced may be disappointed. Me I dig it the most

Lol I think it’s getting the right level we know 24 hrs is not possible but to use your great phrasing I call out bollacks of having a full list of war n piece do’s and don’ts before you go on said restrictive demo ride ( it’s only a £80k car not an Evija ) some people travelling a long distance for demo then to go on a shit route. Buying a car is a special moment and for a lot it’s the whole experience, yes we like to get that warm fuzzy feeling, build rapport, nice cappuccino n biccie. We like to feel we getting a good deal and we have chosen the right Manufacturer n dealer to lay out our hard earned dosh that they going to look after us if issues arise. Knowing after said demo that great it’s meets our needs. Not to have buyers regret after car is delivered thinking this car doesn’t do it for me.

 

[vision]

Lol I think it’s getting the right level we know 24 hrs is not possible but to use your great phrasing I call out bollacks of having a full list of war n piece do’s and don’ts before you go on said restrictive demo ride ( it’s only a £80k car not an Evija ) some people travelling a long distance for demo then to go on a shit route. Buying a car is a special moment and for a lot it’s the whole experience, yes we like to get that warm fuzzy feeling, build rapport, nice cappuccino n biccie. We like to feel we getting a good deal and we have chosen the right Manufacturer n dealer to lay out our hard earned dosh that they going to look after us if issues arise. Knowing after said demo that great it’s meets our needs. Not to have buyers regret after car is delivered thinking this car doesn’t do it for me.

Go buy another car and stop wining!!

 

[Green]

Lol heading back to work in 15. I simply called out BS insinuating Lotus, who’s having a terrible time meeting demand, should provide weekend loaners to satiate their customers. My point is if you need “special treatment cause you’re special” in order to like the car, then bollacks. Did I use that correctly?
This is a hand built punk rock car, those who are use to cafes to wait in while getting their Aston’s serviced may be disappointed. Me I dig it the most

No offense but this might be the first time I can high five you! You just described my feelings to a T.

 

[Carbuilder]

I’m out.

This will be a long one, but I want to explain a few things and avoid the “you just have to be more patient” replies.

I had my deposit with Lotus Oakville since Sept 2021. I emailed Tony a while ago to tell him I was going to cancel unless he can give me some idea when I can expect a car. Like many others, my deposit was for an FE, but later was told that I wouldn’t get one of those. Tony said he would talk to his connections and see what the latest is. He got back to me and said they were expecting cars to arrive in the Spring and things were getting back on track and looking good. Well, that really tells me nothing since I wasn’t going to get an FE car. So they have to deliver all the FE cars to NA, then start producing and delivering non-FE cars to the world. How long until I see a car in Canada? I told him I’d be willing to bet I don't get a car in 2023 if I stick with it, so I cancelled.

My deposit came back in a day, so a pleasant surprise there.

As I’ve said, it is not the car I don’t like. It is the open-ended not having any idea when I might expect a car, and it is not being treated properly by Lotus. Those sticking with it, do you honestly think you are being treated fairly?

Minor reasons are the quality (or lack of) that seems to be present in some of the cars delivered, and concerns about support later.

I had a BMW i8 that I was going to trade in on the Emira. I just traded it in on an M4 Competition. Not really in the same category, but a very nice car.

And I just bought a Genesis GV60. Why is that significant here? I’ll tell you why. Those cars had to be ordered early this year and the orders books have been closed for months. The expected wait time now is 2 years. So how did I get one without having an order in? I noticed that dealers were starting to advertise them as in stock and ready to go, but of course at higher than MSRP. What is happening, not only with those cars but many others with long waiting times, is that people ordered them when the economy was good. You ordered with when dealer interest rates were 2% and you had a low mortgage on your house. Now your car comes in with 8%+ financing and your mortgage has increased as well. So you don’t want the car now. The dealer buys it from you and resells it. If you have a late model car in good condition you have a lot of clout with the dealer as they are desperate to get cars in to sell. So I contacted a dealer and said what I had and if they lowered the price much closer to MSRP we could maybe make a deal. And the trade-in value of cars is at an all-time high as well. I have no doubt the same thing will happen with the Emira. In fact we can see it happening already. Some people will flip to try and make money, but many will flip because financially things have changed a lot since they ordered it. So if I still want one when they start coming in, I’ll get one. But by then there will be other cars coming out as well and maybe the Emira won’t look so amazing in comparison?

I think that’s it. It was a dilemma trying to decide whether to cancel or not. It came down to me getting my money back and convincing myself that I can always buy one later. It will be really interesting to see when Canadian dealers start getting non-FE cars in.

Rick

 

[lion shf]

No offense but this might be the first time I can high five you! You just described my feelings to a T.

Your hate of the c8 design has come between us. Your fault