Paint problems with Lotus Emira built Q1 2025?

[carl-johan]

I have read everything at the forum about the paint issues that Emira is attached with. What I can understand this is more or less cars from 2022, 2023, 2024 affected by this. I am close to bying a brand new Emira, 2025 built in Q1. My question is; Have anyone heard about a Lotus Emira built in Q1, 2025 with paint issues?
/ Carl

 

[Foxy87]

No but on a facebook group some owner stated in the comments that his replacement doors bubbled again…

 

[cryptovince]

No but on a facebook group some owner stated in the comments that his replacement doors bubbled again…

This is what I'm really afraid of, but fortunately so far I've had no issues on my original doors, July 2024 build.

 

[Biggles of Norwich]

I have read everything at the forum about the paint issues that Emira is attached with. What I can understand this is more or less cars from 2022, 2023, 2024 affected by this. I am close to bying a brand new Emira, 2025 built in Q1. My question is; Have anyone heard about a Lotus Emira built in Q1, 2025 with paint issues?
/ Carl

Unlikely to show up this soon, usually takes a while before bubbles appear. 1 year on mine, July 2023 car which sites outside all year.

 

[SimonT]

I have read everything at the forum about the paint issues that Emira is attached with. What I can understand this is more or less cars from 2022, 2023, 2024 affected by this. I am close to bying a brand new Emira, 2025 built in Q1. My question is; Have anyone heard about a Lotus Emira built in Q1, 2025 with paint issues?
/ Carl

I really would avoid the Emira at all costs. Porsche GT4 2 yrs old from Porsche with 2 yrs warranty (extendable) with less than 5k is still £20k cheaper. No fear of paint problems and depreciation way less.

 

[geoffbland]

I think it is too early to tell. Lotus are being very, very quiet about it and not providing any information. This suggests to me they still don't know the cause and so don't know themselves if it is fixed.

The closest you are going to come to an answer would be in this thread here which you may have already read.

I bought mine expecting to have the issue - and so was not surprised when the issue occurred - it'll be fixed under warranty. I'll be without the car for a while and the issue may re-occur. But the time I've had with the car so far has made it worth it.

If you buy it fully expecting to have the same issue - and you don't get it then that's a bonus.

After all, the worse that can happen is you end up buying a Porsche

 

[robrmon]

I think it is too early to tell. Lotus are being very, very quiet about it and not providing any information. This suggests to me they still don't know the cause and so don't know themselves if it is fixed.

The closest you are going to come to an answer would be in this thread here which you may have already read.

I bought mine expecting to have the issue - and so was not surprised when the issue occurred - it'll be fixed under warranty. I'll be without the car for a while and the issue may re-occur. But the time I've had with the car so far has made it worth it.

If you buy it fully expecting to have the same issue - and you don't get it then that's a bonus.

After all, the worse that can happen is you end up buying a Porsche

I’d rather have paint bubbles!

 

[SimonT]

I’d rather have paint bubbles!

If only it was restricted to 'paint bubbles'.

 

[Beachbum]

If only it was restricted to 'paint bubbles'.

Do you ever get the feeling, your time here is wasted ?

 

[SimonT]

Do you ever get the feeling, your time here is wasted ?

If I can help anyone avoiding the pain of owning an Emira I'll continue.

 

[NJemira85]

If I can help anyone avoiding the pain of owning an Emira I'll continue.

Respectfully, I’ve been in your shoes with McLaren. I understand being angry at the brand, the dealer, etc. wanting to protect others from similar bs.

That said, there are many (ie most) who won’t be subjected to equivalent negligence either way.

Remaining as a scarecrow then becomes, more than anything else, and certainly unintentionally, a buzz killer.

I quietly showed myself the exit after telling everyone what happened so they could be informed.

Regarding porsche, every porsche since the 997.2 steers like dogshit. You know it, I know it.

It’s why I ended up with a 600lt instead of a 992.1 gt3 6mt.

Porsche are wonderful cars, reliable, measurably performant. If that’s all there is to life, gt4 or gt3 is clearly the best and perhaps only rational choice available.

But the existence of Ferrari, lambporcini, McLaren, aston martin, Lotus etc suggests that many (who have all already owned one or more porsche) Find porsche to be sterile, lifeless, monotonous, or simply too common to be sufficient.

Not hating on porsche or you.

Appreciate you for sharing your negative experience. But unsolicited lobbying of everyone to avoid an emira on an emira forum is more than just protective.

 

[SimonT]

Respectfully, I’ve been in your shoes with McLaren. I understand being angry at the brand, the dealer, etc. wanting to protect others from similar bs.

That said, there are many (ie most) who won’t be subjected to equivalent negligence either way.

Remaining as a scarecrow then becomes, more than anything else, and certainly unintentionally, a buzz killer.

I quietly showed myself the exit after telling everyone what happened so they could be informed.

Regarding porsche, every porsche since the 997.2 steers like dogshit. You know it, I know it.

It’s why I ended up with a 600lt instead of a 992.1 gt3 6mt.

Porsche are wonderful cars, reliable, measurably performant. If that’s all there is to life, gt4 or gt3 is clearly the best and perhaps only rational choice available.

But the existence of Ferrari, lambporcini, McLaren, aston martin, Lotus etc suggests that many (who have all already owned one or more porsche) Find porsche to be sterile, lifeless, monotonous, or simply too common to be sufficient.

Not hating on porsche or you.

Appreciate you for sharing your negative experience. But unsolicited lobbying of everyone to avoid an emira on an emira forum is more than just protective.

I tried telling a member on here in March when he was looking, ignored me and has had no end of problems. That anyone is prepared to spend £106k (the cost now of a 3.5ltr, manual with 1st Edition spec) on a car riddled with problems, a company with terrible CS and is close to bankruptcy is madness.

I cite the Cayman as a comparison as that was the Emiras supposed competition, that it now competes with a GT4 rather than a base Cayman as announced is crazy. Looks and steering are the only wins for the Emira.

I'm afraid Lotus deserve all the negativity coming their way, just as I'd inform someone of a mobile phone riddled with inherent problems I'll inform of the Emiras extensive list of problems. I've had to book up to 6 weeks in advance at the dealers due to the number of Emiras in for warranty work, they are running out of space to store defective doors that Lotus refuse to take back. I've met 2 owners who bought the car but had no idea about the problems and were starting the process of door replacement and other faults, both '24 models.

No clear cut policies from Lotus, some get courtesy cars, some don't. PPF fitted, they might reimburse, might not. Reimbursement for tax/insurance while the car is undriveable, depends if they want to give it at that time. Extended warranty, nope.

I'll be getting rid of it ASAP after I get it back (another 8 weeks at the dealers) and put it down to a bitter experience.

 

[NJemira85]

I tried telling a member on here in March when he was looking, ignored me and has had no end of problems. That anyone is prepared to spend £106k (the cost now of a 3.5ltr, manual with 1st Edition spec) on a car riddled with problems, a company with terrible CS and is close to bankruptcy is madness.

I cite the Cayman as a comparison as that was the Emiras supposed competition, that it now competes with a GT4 rather than a base Cayman as announced is crazy. Looks and steering are the only wins for the Emira.

I'm afraid Lotus deserve all the negativity coming their way, just as I'd inform someone of a mobile phone riddled with inherent problems I'll inform of the Emiras extensive list of problems. I've had to book up to 6 weeks in advance at the dealers due to the number of Emiras in for warranty work, they are running out of space to store defective doors that Lotus refuse to take back. I've met 2 owners who bought the car but had no idea about the problems and were starting the process of door replacement and other faults, both '24 models.

No clear cut policies from Lotus, some get courtesy cars, some don't. PPF fitted, they might reimburse, might not. Reimbursement for tax/insurance while the car is undriveable, depends if they want to give it at that time. Extended warranty, nope.

I'll be getting rid of it ASAP after I get it back (another 8 weeks at the dealers) and put it down to a bitter experience.

Im sorry you’ve had such a nightmare experience. That truly sucks. I don’t blame you, I’d be livid too.

I’m not discounting your experience.

That said:

I’ve been to several local lotus dealers, there are 5 within 100 miles, and their shops are not replete with broken lotus. Maybe the cars sent here (east coast US) were luckier batches, or maybe the dealers have been more efficient, or maybe my anecdotal data set is simply not representative. I’m sure what you’re saying is true and it’s shitty regardless.

If you want to be the “buyer beware!” guardian of all potential emira buyers on here, its a free-ish world, but I’d expect to not always be very popular

Regarding Porsches:

A base cayman makes much less (-20%) power than even the most watered down amg i4 emira. Emira was never a competitor with base cayman. Cheapest emira Interior is also far nicer than base cayman. The full leather cayman interior is roughly comparable. Not a cheap option.

Cayman gts/gt4 were always the competitors. Those cars have similar or higher base price. (At least in US)

Shockingly, evora/emira residuals historically are stronger than cayman 718, with the exception of the gt cars, which have appreciated if driven lightly.

There is nothing wrong with a gt4/gt4RS, other than the 4rs transmission and the steering system. If porsche had made a 987 gt4RS 6mt, I’d likely own it!

One of the things I’ve personally learned (the hard stubborn way) thru this porsche>McLaren>ferrari>lotus voyage, is that Porsche’s superpower is reliability. It can be your only car, year round, all weather. It truly can. The others cannot. Neither can Aston.

Ferrari came pretty damn close. Impressively so.

Modern non v12 lambos are pointy audis marked up, so they can absolutely be your only car.

We switched to 3 cars, as part of Ferrari to lotus swap. Im going to punish my emira, while it’s working, at least as much as it punishes me while it isn’t. the rest of the time I’ll drive the other cars.

My current thinking: if its gotta be your true only daily, then all English brands are disqualified, and Ferrari is a bit gutsy but not fully insane.

I don’t blame you for writing off the brand.