I was told by a dealer the cost of replacing the doors is about £5.5k. That is trade prices, so with VAT you are looking at around £6.6K for retail. If you also needed to have the rear 3/4 panels and tailgate done it could easily be well over £10k. And, worst of all, there is no guarantee it won't happen again. Several people are now on their 3rd set of doors. No idea how this will shake out in the used market. It is still a hugely desirable car, relatively rare, and great value at 50 to £60k. But, make no mistake, it is going to be a very painful issue for some owners out of warranty.
I believe all contributors to this subject are to be thanked and commended. Even though, with a late 2024 model, I have not noticed the paint bubble problem (here in Australia) I am watching like a hawk and nervous as a mouse.
Geoffbland, you appear to have a very good ‘handle’ on the situation you yourself and many others are facing. I agree with your comment that Teijin particularly are a huge company and like Lotus will by now have worked out wherein lays the problem.
So what have Lotus done to alleviate the problem? Continued to supply the same faulty parts to replace the previous faulty parts. If only they would come clean and, even if there is a reasonable time constraint, supply fault free replacements. Coming clean with us, (supporters of the Lotus brand) is not an admission of guilt per se. Admission was acknowledged when the first of hundreds of replacement panels were provided to try and satisfy claims..
What else have Geely/Lotus done to advance a workable solution? They have attempted to enforce an NDA upon claimants. Add to that, attempted to reduce warranty periods on items directly affected by poor manufacturing practices.
Which brings to the fore a very insightful comment made also by Geoff, to the effect that trying to dishonour warranty’s on existing and replacement parts will be ineffectual. After all supplying replacement, parts, faulty or not, is the trigger for admission.
None of the aforementioned undertakings by Geely/Lotus/Teijin bodes well for them when, down the track someone starts a class action. How fortunate Teijin have deep pockets.
Please listen and work with us Geely/Lotus. Just come clean and give us the incentive to support you in what will become a long lasting congenial relationship.
). One now for sale privately for £60K but other than the they range from £62K to £72K, so close to 10K more on average compared to this time last year. This time last year there were the 100 odd rejected/returned cars Lotus dumped on Auto100.
