[zvezdah1]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they don't bring any 07s in, the factory is probably wanting to focus on the esprit and europa, they've skipped model year importation before.
Chris

 

[imoz]

Yeah I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if they skip a year either. If there is that much '06 stock still around, why would a dealer want to order more '07s. Lotus can't force the dealers to buy the '07s. I wouldn't be surprised if the market is already almost saturated for this car, its not like they are selling Ford Mustangs with mass market appeal. There is only so much demand to be satisfied.

A dealer wanting to sell out all their existing inventory first...seems logical to me. Actually I'm surprised that the opposite would be true, especially with such a small boutique make.

 

[Scott]

I was at Valenti Motors in Watertown, CT where I bought mine. I was there yesterday getting my shifter recall done. They still have a boat load of 05's left... nevermind 06's!!! They do have a new Yellow Sport Elise, as well as a nice CO Exige. But... there are several 05's that just aren't moving.

 

[Porcupine]

I really hope they import the 07's as I have been saving for one for awhile and was planning on finally purchasing around January. After seeing threads like this: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11034&highlight=invoice+cost im a bit leery of getting an 06 seeing how high the damage costs are even for the slightest bump. Im hoping the 07's with the DOT-compliant bumpers will at least result in a lesser bill if someone tags me in a parking lot and decides to run instead of fessing up to it and sticking me with a higher insurance rate. This is my biggest worry with the current Elise and Exige and id imagine plenty of people have opted for a boxster or z4 because of this issue alone. And im sure there are plenty of people like me waiting for the 07's and holding off on the 06's for this reason too.

 

[Yeti]

Don't think bumpers are a panacea. How many 2.5 MPH bumps have been an issue. Bend in your bumper cover and you have a $700-800 repair. Hit it any harder and you are in the same boat for repairs Maybe even worse now that your insurance needs to replace the bumper too. Buy a 2006 at a discount in January and use the savings to buy good insurance.

 

[dododge]

Don't think bumpers are a panacea. How many 2.5 MPH bumps have been an issue.

I get the impression that there have been plenty of slow but damaging bumps between stopped or parking cars. But I agree that the bumpers are not likely to solve the problem completely. It will probably help for damage to the rear, but the front is so low to the ground that another car may pass right over the bumper and hit the top of the clam anyway -- especially if the other vehicle is an SUV or truck.

It's a bit of an extreme comparison, but see the picture of an Elise and an H2 nose-to-nose over in the "Best Picture" thread.

 

[Porcupine]

Im not expecting it to fare well in a traffic accident of any speed at all, just hoping the new bumpers will at least raise the level of protection to help out with smaller parking lot accidents. Then again how much more protection do cars like the Cayman or Miata have over the Elise? With so many of these cars on the road doing seemingly fine im not sure if there really is as big a difference as im thinking between this and other cars in similar classes. Or am I just being paranoid?

 

[jlee]

I was at Valenti Motors in Watertown, CT where I bought mine. I was there yesterday getting my shifter recall done. They still have a boat load of 05's left... nevermind 06's!!! They do have a new Yellow Sport Elise, as well as a nice CO Exige. But... there are several 05's that just aren't moving.

Is there a salesperson you can recommend at Valenti ?

 

[Yeti]

paranoid is good! Especially when driving these cars...

 

[DragonRider1]

If Lotus has set a date I'd bet they'll move it.

Of course they will. Even if they don't want to! This is precedent. How many times was the original U.S. date delayed, moved, bumped, and moved again?
:nanner:

 

[thetoast]

although... with canada requiring essentially a different version of the car with little modifications and whatnot, and low dealer stock (eight cars, new OR used, spread across our three dealers), i wonder what will happen up here?

 

[wallabyguy]

2 senarios are that the 07's arrive in September or October as promised or the skip 07 and declare the bumpered cars 08's after the first of the year. The second thought, while I've heard nothing to that end, makes more sence as Lotus must complt with federal regs after the 1st and it allows them extra time to sell 08 models as the model year would run 18-20 months.

 

[Ram]

although... with canada requiring essentially a different version of the car with little modifications and whatnot, and low dealer stock (eight cars, new OR used, spread across our three dealers), i wonder what will happen up here?

Realistically (and no offense) Canada will take a back seat to the US.

If I were Lotus I'd be figuring out how to do the "minor modifications" (not sure what they are) at the port and ship the stock up there.

 

[elise24fps]

Does it really matter whether the 07 comes soon or not?
If you want an Elise and you have the money, then buy it now. Where's the logic of waiting six months versus driving one today? You either want one or you don't.

As for Canada, I only see five 2006 Elise available at the dealer's web sites. Pickings are slim, you take what you can get. Again, you want one? Buy it now.
There may not be a 2007 model, this is Lotus we are taking about, not Honda.

My Chrysler land yacht is no match against a Hummer or an 18 wheeler, why would I expect an Elise with bumpers to be any better? This is my fifth Lotus, why would I be paranoid? Doesn't matter what you drive, there's always someome bigger.

 

[xtn]

It is silly to imagine that the bumpers will in any way reduce the cost of repairs. The purpose of the federal bumper requirement is NOT aimed at reduced damage to the vehicle. The purpose of the bumper requirement is aimed at absorbing a bit more energy instead of transferring it to the occupants. I don't think Lotus can make a bumper that deforms without damage, fits the vehicle, AND doesn't deface the nose of the car. With that in mind, their bumper design is likely to be sacrificial in nature.

xtn

 

[wallabyguy]

The front end is easy to accomplish a bumper design (see M100 Lotus Elan). The rear is much more difficult without making significant design changes. It could be accomplished with the rumored "bumperettes" (most likely) or by the seperation of the rear clam into 3 separate sections ala Tesla or M250. This would be much more expensive and while representing a better packaging option, is unlikely to be realized in this series.

 

[dododge]

The purpose of the federal bumper requirement is NOT aimed at reduced damage to the vehicle.

Incorrect. The only purpose of the bumper is to protect the car. it's got nothing to do with the people in it. Here it is straight from NHTSA's mouth (emphasis theirs):

2) What is the purpose of bumpers?

The car bumper is designed to prevent or reduce physical damage to the front and rear ends of passenger motor vehicles in low-speed collisions. Automobile bumpers are not typically designed to be structural components that would significantly contribute to vehicle crashworthiness or occupant protection during front or rear collisions. It is not a safety feature intended to prevent or mitigate injury severity to occupants in the passenger cars. Bumpers are designed to protect the hood, trunk, grille, fuel, exhaust and cooling system as well as safety related equipment such as parking lights, headlamps and taillights in low speed collisions.

 

[KingOfJericho]

The salesman wants to sell a car NOW. If this were the case then why are there still new '05's all over the country still? It's total BS!

 

[KingOfJericho]

It should also be noted that HRM has the Lotus Sport Elise #01 for sale.

 

[zcar222]

They should wait a year before production if you ask me. The market although extremely limited is still saturated. They should focus on the new Esprit. Lotus will then have a flagship car and a larger target audience. Plus, not too many people will be turning down a lambo/ferrari killer at half the price! (If I had the bread, I wouldn't)

-Whit