Hey everyone, new owner of an '05 Storm Titanium Elise here. I've been loving it so far, however, it's always the dealerships that ultimatley end up ruining my experience with my vehicles.
Im sorry my introduction comes in this way, but I need some advice from some veteran Lotus owners! I need to rant a little bit to give you the background. Bare with me please!
I had the car for about a month when the A/C blower died out on me. Did some searching, found the TSB on it, and also found my car was still under warranty.
- August 11th, late in the day, the car is dropped off to the nearest dealership, 137 mi / 3.75 hours away. Dealer assures me it won't take anymore than a week for parts and repair, so I chose this day as I left for vaca for a week and wouldn't miss the car.
- August 22nd, morning. Parts finally arrive: New Steering Rack and A/C components. Advised car probably not done today, but will most likely be done Monday. I make arrangements and take 1/2 day to pick it up on the 25th.
- August 25th, afternoon, No call, so I call the dealer to have them tell me the vehicle won't be ready, but will be by the 26th afternoon. I take a 1/2 day to make arrangements to pick it up on the 26th.
- August 26th, afternoon, no call so I call them. Dealer is confident car will be completed by 5:30 PM, so I take my half day. Evening, I call dealer and they tell me vehicle won't be finished until 27th.
- August 27th, before noon they finally tell me the vehicle will be ready by 1. I arrive at dealership at 5:00 and they are JUST finishing it up, but they get the car to me.
On the drive home, the A/C is working great, and I notice they snapped a tab on my "Engine Start" and "Headlight button panel" and that it is hanging crooked. Whatever, no big deal... I can live with it. Then I start to notice the directional no longer resets either. Ok, still not a big deal. Im just happy to get my car back right?
By the next day, the A/C doesn't blow cold air, at all. Then my friend tries to get into the car at the passenger side, and when she opens the door, it makes a loud snap. They shimmed the front clam wrong, causing the door to rub the fender which ends up taking a gash and the paint off both. A little more investigation looking under the car, and I notice the splash guards in the fender wells don't match up, leaving big gaps.
Now im pretty mad. I call the dealer, and being very civil I tell them they should make arrangements to flat bed my car out there at their cost, seeing as how it's an unnecessary inconvenience and cost to me by their own negligence to get it back out there. They pretty much refuse but tell me they will take it in ASAP, when I get it to them... I called Lotus HQ with the number supplied on the website and I get an answering machine. I leave a message last Friday, and another today. Haven't heard anything.
I've been more then patient. I don't think its too much to ask for Lotus to pick up the tab and get the car back to the dealer for full repairs at my convenience, or at least put the owness on the dealer. The TSB for a steering rack is 1 hour. The A/C I beleive he told me is 9. That's 10 hours, and they had it for 27.5, then returned it to me with more problems!
So Lotus Vet's, do you think im p*ssing up a rope here? I kind of get that feeling when their customer hotline is just an answering machine
Thanks for listening, end rant!