Used 24 FE V6 vs new 25 vs new 26

[randfunction]

Hi all. New here. I saw a 24 First Edition is availble near me with only a few hundred miles on it for a little over 90k. Is it worth the 15-20k premium for the 25s I see at my local Lotus? Those would also come with a full warranty. How about the 26? I searched around here and see the 26 will have the following improvements (copy pasting from another thread here)

• New manual transmission compression mounts (V6)
• Damper and wheel alignment changes
• Simpler, lighter cooling system with recalibrated engine thermostat to improve performance in severe conditions
• Blind spot, adaptive cruise (I4) and other driving aids
• Recalibrated air-conditioning control system for more stability

Are these meaningful to the reliabiity for everyday driving? Or just like, better but not critical kind of things. I couldn't find much on if there are similar changes from 24 to 25. Are there any?

I've read of a fair number of QC issues with the FEs (paint bubbling/etc) and I will say at first I was only considering a 26 as I'd really like blind spot monitoring (I know it's not strictly necessary but I find it useful in rain/dark). But from what i know the 26 will be 130K-ish so like 40K premium over this used model whcih is like 1/3 the cost.

The background is I'm toying with the idea of getting a purely fun car before end of year as Washington will impose an extra 8% tax on purchases above 100k starting in 26. I'm looking at a few things including the Emira, Maserati MC20 (you can find some lightly used ones for 185k) or possibly even a Huracan or 488 GTB.The tax wouldn't even affect the used Emira but could be sizable on the others, hence my attempt to make a call. I know the others ones are in another class, but if folks have thoughts they are welcomed. I lke the idea of those other cars, but my test drives of the Emira were some of the most fun I've had in a car.

I just got an Audi 25 RS6 performance earlier this year and it's handles great and brutally fast but at 5k pounds not a pure sports car. Still, I'll just try to content myself with that until I move on in a few years but def tempted esp by what seems like a good deal on the used 24. Thanks for any input!

 

[Blackthought_]

I haven’t heard or met a single person talk about the differences of the new model. Lotus swears they did upgrades but no one really knows. Unless your crazy about a specific color, get the older model. Word on the street is they still haven’t fix the paint QC issues

 

[fourarmo]

Not seeing anything that makes me feel like the driving experience will be improved enough to justify the $40K over used. Hopefully there will be some reviews soon.

 

[Milk242]

If you don’t have any curvy roads then the emira is somewhat boring. I’m facing that problem in TX and planning to mitigate that by moving to CA (well main reason is to be closer to family).

I have 2024 i4 since April 2025 with a September 2024 build date and so far have not had any issues besides an annoying squealing sound from the electro hydraulic steering. If you get the v6, you won’t have the same problem.

I can’t really think of any major problems unless you consider interior creaks and wind noise big problems.

Regarding blindspots, if I adjust my side mirrors correctly and periodically scan my rear and side mirrors, I’ve had no problems. If I used it as a daily, I might get lazy and forget to scan my mirrors. Either way, I’m hoping for an ability to retrofit blind spot monitoring.

 

[AZemira-i4]

I purchased a new 2024 early this year and already have 5000 miles on it. It’s a FE i4 and near perfect so far. I’m loving the drive … very special and fast. Previously, I’ve owned various Porsches for the last 3 decades. The Emira handling is a notch or two better than my 2008 RS60 Spyder. Blind spot warning would be nice … but otherwise content.

 

[allenyao09]

Interesting combo. I have an Emira and a RS6 as well.

2026 models have some meaningful upgrades but can't justify the 40k premium imo. You should be able to retrofit the blind spot monitoring, transmission mount and cooling hoses to the FEs for much less than that.

In general, most of the FE owners have been reporting good reliability, so is my experience. I don't think the new models will have better quality although that is the hope lol.

 

[randfunction]

Thanks all for you input/feedback, really appreciate it. Sounds likely that the FE is a good bet if I go the Emira route.

I'm still hemming and hawing about getting anything. I'd have to park my RS6 outside, which I don't love, as I am out of garage spaces. And in terms of the Emira I do find the MC20 tempting but that may be the butterfly doors and relative rarity more than the actual driving experience. It was good but Ihaving test driven both, the Emira was more involving, esp with a manual. And about half the price.

Love to see the RS6 and Emira combo allenyoo09. I do love the RS6. It's only weak bit was the audio and I had an aftermarket sound system installed. Blindingly fast (fastest car I've had since my e92 M3 15 years back) and even fun on twisty backroads, but the Emira is def at a totally different level in terms of driver involvement. Here's mine fitted with 21" winter tires.

 

[V6 6MT]

New features are nice to have but not a necessity for me. I’d take whatever I can get a better deal on.

 

[netsinah]

The drive is your best reward with the Emira. Newer Emiras even if they come with options you like, won’t improve the “Lotus drive” so unless you’ve money to burn, I think your choice is clear. I too have a 2024 FE with no issues after almost 2 years, so reliability isn’t an issue from my perspective, but you have that same reliability question mark with a 2025 or 2026. Each one is a hand assembled limited production vehicle, w/o the reliability reputation of a Toyota or Honda, neither of which give you half the driving fun IMO. My 2 cents.