Press Release from Lotus, Lotus Elise Hits USA Rental Fleets

[OneFastLotus]

There's a gentleman who owns some rental fleet in Chicago on this board. I believe he said he was planning on charging $199 a day, three day minimum.

[ivan1]

I cant wait to see the ecu dumps on those cars...

[OneFastLotus]

Wonder what sort of tires they'll be shod in?

[zen garage]

Originally Posted by LARRY22331

STUPID IDEA THAT WON'T LAST ONE MONTH!

I have been called alot of things but never stupid. I happen to own a few car rental companies, Budget Rent a Car Chicago. I currently have a few on order for fleet and one for me. I have always prided myself on having some out of the ordinary cars in my fun fleet. I rented the new Beetle when they first came out and were impossible to get. I had one of the first Cooper S's in the states in my rental fleet. In addition to the elise, I have a few smart cars that should be delivered next week.

As the owner of a car rental company I am a gambler. I self insure my entire fleet. Illinois even has a damage cap where I can only charge 12grr if someone wrecks one of my cars. But at the end of the day, this is what I do. I play the numbers and hopefully make a few bucks so I can put food on the table.

It also doesnt hurt that I own one of the biggest body shops in the midwest.

[zen garage]

Originally Posted by OneFastLotus

There's a gentleman who owns some rental fleet in Chicago on this board. I believe he said he was planning on charging $199 a day, three day minimum.

they will run 149 to 199 per day. weekends will require a two or three day minimum. i need to keep rates high to weed out some of the more unsavory renters.

I am well aware that these cars will be tracked. As a car guy, and a small business person, I want to sit down with every customer who rents one from me. I want them to know whos car they are about to beat the livin snot out of, and maybe they will take a little more care knowing that there is a real person who owns this "Crappy Rental" who has kids to feed and a mortgage to pay.

My buy on the cars was smokin. I turn these cars back to Lotus in 10 moonths and they buy them back at a set amount. I will revive this post than and let you know if this was a utter disaster or a stroke of genius.

[zen garage]

Originally Posted by SnowSnake

Can anyone explain the choice of initial states? California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada I can understand. But why Pennsylvania?

Believe it or not, there is a guy in Alaska that ordered a few too.

[OneFastLotus]

Zen, I don't think Larry meant that personally towards you. I believe Larry has a friend ( or some such situation, I cannot remember exactly) in Los Angeles who attempted to rent Elises and they all got torn up in just a few weeks.

I recall you saying you've not driven an Elise yet?

It's just that we as owners have seen the little quirks these cars have, and I have to admit I'm somewhat curious myself as to how these cars are going to work out as a rental item.

I think owning a body shop would be a plus for the inevitable clam damage, but since you can literally total this car by curbing it ( pushing in the suspension), Im not sure that it's quite like fixing a normal car. You can't just pull the frame back out, put on a new A-arm and suspension and call it a day. That's what would worry me.


To me $149 or $199 a day seems pretty inexpensive for one of these little cars so I figured you'd be getting some riff raff renting.

I hate to hear that Lotus is giving smokin deals on these cars to rental companies. I guess their logic is that this will "get the car out to the masses". No offense to you or your business, but I think this cheapens the brand somewhat. Being able to go to Hertz or Budget and rent a Lotus...I dunno, I guess it just seems cheap and pedestrian to me. I wonder what Lotus will be doing with the cars when they buy them back in 10 months.


I have to admit that I think offering Elise for rental fleets was a mistake on the part of Lotus... for more reasons than one. But then again, I don't work for Lotus, nor am I a marketing guru, so my opinion counts for nil.

[zen garage]

So far I have about 30 reservations. All friends, all car guys. Most of them are renting as an extended test drive. To see if they like them prior to purchase. I honestly feel this will be a boost to sales of the car.

As far as damage is concerned, it is part of the cost of doing business. If I increase my rate, I can drop my utilization which in turn will lead to less damage. Perhaps the 149-199 is in fact too low.

My business is not an exact science. I have made my share of mistakes, hopefully this will not be one of them. I know I wont become rich renting these but at least I will have a fun time along the way.

[ivan1]

Originally Posted by OneFastLotus

I wonder what Lotus will be doing with the cars when they buy them back in 10 months.

hopefully they will use them in a Lotus Driving school program here in the US

[swistun]

My wife just called me to let me know when she was in the La Jolla (San Diego) post office today, she passed by a hotel there that had a bunch of exotics in the front driveway - all for one day rental. A Ferrari was going for $150 an hour, and an Elise for $75 an hour. I don't know if that included insurance...

luke

[pete k]

I question this move. It could do Lotus more harm than good. These are pretty fragile cars, and the renting public is not gentle. When Hertz rented out the original Ford 350 GT's, burned clutches and other problems cursed the plan. The new Hertz special Mustangs are all automatics, to save the reliability issues of the past. The Elise has the weakest clutch of any modern car. What is going to happen when someone "bumps the front clam" and someone or some insurance company gets stuck with a huge bill. If you don't own the car, are you concerned about parallel parking??? I hope the reputation of the car survives this.

[dododge]

Originally Posted by ivan1

I cant wait to see the ecu dumps on those cars...

If these are 2006 models see if they can get the firmware update before they go out on the street; the ECU will not report/track anything useful until that's done. If these are going to be rented out before the first 600 miles is up, that may also be unhealthy for them.

In any case, +1 for seeing some ECU dumps after a month or two. I'm very curious as to how they actually get treated.

[ChrisStarrUSA]

Originally Posted by LARRY22331

STUPID IDEA THAT WON'T LAST ONE MONTH!

*ding*

[EburgE]

Can anyone offer a historical perspective?

Did Lotus ever create rental fleets for Esprits, 90's Elans, or even earlier, Europas, etc?

[Zero]

Originally Posted by SnowSnake

Can anyone explain the choice of initial states? California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada I can understand. But why Pennsylvania?

POCONO

[Allan Gibbs]

After the 10 months, I suspect these cars will appear at dealers as low price demo models or "factory bought back" cars. Of course, their ECU's would be reflashed.

[dk10438]

Originally Posted by LARRY22331

Letter given at car rental office to person renting a Lotus Elise:


Dear Hertz renter:

Congratulations! You are renting a Lotus Elise, one of the most incredible sports cars in the world!

Just a few things to look out for:

Your trunk will hold one (1) overnight bag. That's it. Sorry. Be sure the bag is totally secure or it will ram a hole in the tender skin of the Elise. Damage could run as high as $1000.

If you know what's good for you you will exit driveways and enter driveways at no more than 2 mph. Any faster and extreme damage can occur to the front of the car, known as the front clam. Damage could run as high as $2700

Do not exceed the rpm limit in any gear. Over revving the engine will cause the rev limiter to cut in, but you may have already done EXTREME DAMAGE to the engine. Damage could run as high as $2000.

Check oil and water levels yourself. DO NOT trust this to the rental guy, as he has no idea how to service a Lotus and could care less if the engine explodes from misuse. Damage could run as high as $3500.

Do not attempt to remove the top yourself as you have no idea what you are doing. Failure to do this correctly could result in tremendous damage to the car or the interior. Damage could run as high as $2500.

If the top is off and it starts to rain do not attempt to put the soft top on. You have no idea what you are doing. Get the car into a garage area and WAIT for the rain to stop. Damage from rain could destroy the interior and run as high as $2000.

If you are going to park the car overnight DO NOT let anyone else drive it or park it. We are sorry for the inconvenience. You and you alone are the only one who can drive the car and be responsible for it. Believe us, you do not want anyone else driving/wrecking this car. Damage could run as high as TOTALED.

Do not take this car into a car wash. If you want it clean, stop and buy rags and borrow a hose and wash it yourself. The car will be extremely damaged in an automatic car wash. Damage to the finish could run as high as $2000.

Do not let a small child ride with you, even if you promised him/her that they could. They could be killed by the air bag. Damage could be as high as LIFE IN JAIL for attempted murder.

Please read over 100 areas of the car that could be instantaneously damaged by a simple mistake. And don't forget the small print that states that you are responsible for any SUV's that plow into the back of the car. Oh yes, and remember, if anyone eggs the car -- YOU pay to get the car repainted.

Thank you and enjoy your Lotus rental experience.

nice one!
although totally true, got a good laugh, you should post this in the joke section..

[LW Elise]

Originally Posted by zen garage

I have been called alot of things but never stupid. I happen to own a few car rental companies, Budget Rent a Car Chicago. I currently have a few on order for fleet and one for me. I have always prided myself on having some out of the ordinary cars in my fun fleet. I rented the new Beetle when they first came out and were impossible to get. I had one of the first Cooper S's in the states in my rental fleet. In addition to the elise, I have a few smart cars that should be delivered next week.

As the owner of a car rental company I am a gambler. I self insure my entire fleet. Illinois even has a damage cap where I can only charge 12grr if someone wrecks one of my cars. But at the end of the day, this is what I do. I play the numbers and hopefully make a few bucks so I can put food on the table.

It also doesnt hurt that I own one of the biggest body shops in the midwest.

What is your read on who your Elise renters will be? Is it going to be people who go straight to the track, ala the new Hertz Ford Mustang GT500? Or people looking to buy one who need a few days of living with one to determine if it is for them? Or the idiot who promptly goes off the side of a cliff lifting off throttle when he comes into a turn too fast?

Interesting to have the opportunity to find out the thinking from someone who is putting their money where their mouth is.

[ace]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

After the 10 months, I suspect these cars will appear at dealers as low price demo models or "factory bought back" cars. Of course, their ECU's would be reflashed.

Maybe Lotus will add to the mystique by unloading them at Carmax.

[InTheRed]

There will not be fleets of these available at you local Enterprise or Hertz. They will be available through exclusive outlets that cater to exotic cars. There are a few here in LA that I could see stocking a few Elise. The rental agreement would be similar to any other exotic as would the liability. As for the ability of the driver, I guess that the companies that rent exotics must have some way to vet the potential clients. I think it's a good idea overall and I don't see any harm to the brand (the brand will not be lessened) since the cars will have limited availability as a rental.