[RobertinArgyle]

Talked to Sales Manager at Overseas Motors today. He stated that they had been told to expect their demo in late June and 4 customer cars per month for the first several months starting in July!! AAAAAAAGH!! At #23, I am now looking at Dec/Jan 2005. I just sold my pristine 90 M3 to make room in the garage. I am bummed out!! Sorry for the venting.

 

[Randy Chase]

First customer cars AND demo cars will arrive at the same time, very late June or early July.

 

[cantwaitforelise]

Talked to Sales Manager at Overseas Motors today. He stated that they had been told to expect their demo in late June and 4 customer cars per month for the first several months starting in July!! AAAAAAAGH!! At #23, I am now looking at Dec/Jan 2005. I just sold my pristine 90 M3 to make room in the garage. I am bummed out!! Sorry for the venting.

I thought I was going to get mine sometime in Jan 2005. I'm mid 40s at Overseas Motors. Guess I got about a year now.

 

[Donovan]

When you say "first customer cars" how many do you believe are coming? 4 like Mr. Argyle said? I didn't understand your other post about original plan to slowly revamp being revised. Revised to increase the numbers or ???

 

[Hans Stuck]

Talked to Sales Manager at Overseas Motors today. He stated that they had been told to expect their demo in late June and 4 customer cars per month for the first several months starting in July!! AAAAAAAGH!! At #23, I am now looking at Dec/Jan 2005. I just sold my pristine 90 M3 to make room in the garage. I am bummed out!! Sorry for the venting.

Tell me a little about your M3.

A guy from Kansas City just offered me $22.5k for mine. I'm not in must sell mode - so I turned him down. I want $25k because I know I will really miss it.

 

[Randy Chase]

Just because the first batches or cars were delayed, does not mean that subsequent cars, specially later in the year, will also be delayed.

In fact, if Lotus planned on a slow ramp up of cars and is now going to ship more cars, I don't see why anyone would be too concerned about a delay later.

Not to say it will not, or could not, happen. Just that the change in initial shipments is not the cause.

 

[RobertinArgyle]

My M3 is pristine. I am the second owner. It has 64k miles, always garaged, Mobil 1, etc. Never tracked. White with natur interior. I was asking $15,800, but I think I am a couple of thousand low based on the response I've had. Maybe the guy won't show up today with the money. I think I'll take it off the market until next year if that happens. ANYWAY, I hope Overseas is incorrect about the number of cars they will be getting per month.

 

[Surferjer]

I have to remind myself that I've been waiting five years, three with a deposit, so what's one more month? It's been tough, though, because I felt so close being #1 here. I suppose as long as I don't see others toodling around in them it'll be okay.

Hang in there, y'all. Remember: Lotus has no reason to WANT to delay them. After all, cash flow is a b*tch and they need the sales....

 

[James A]

I'm with Jer, I've been waiting so long another month is no problem, besides the Caterham is so entertaining let Lotus take another month.
If they are buiding cars now and not selling them until July that is a lot of cash tied up.

 

[Hans Stuck]

My M3 is pristine. I am the second owner. It has 64k miles, always garaged, Mobil 1, etc. Never tracked. White with natur interior. I was asking $15,800, but I think I am a couple of thousand low based on the response I've had. Maybe the guy won't show up today with the money. I think I'll take it off the market until next year if that happens. ANYWAY, I hope Overseas is incorrect about the number of cars they will be getting per month.

If it's that pristine, I'd get some more money for it. I think $19k is more like it.

I really tortured myself with the idea of selling my M3 for an Elise ... but then I regained my senses. In 5 years the E30 M3 will be worth even more (pristine ones, anyway) and the Elise will be worth maybe $25k.

Besides, my M3 doesn't stall out, leak rain, and the heater control knobs don't fall off. With my closest Lotus dealer being out-of-town, the idea of a very needy Elise will get old very quickly.

Some may say "sour grapes" or "nice rationalization" or "he'll regret it when he sees his first Elise", but I have no regrets with decision to get an '04 S2000. It doesn't have the flash of the Elise, but I've made it my summertime daily driver and everything has been flawless with the car so far (1000+ miles). Best feature? The top that goes up and down in 6 seconds. That Elise top is going to be a major pain in the ass....and there is no way I'd be parking it with the top off (crime, weather, pollen, sun damage, etc.).

Anyway, I'll shut up now. I'm not about to totally badmouth an Elise on this forum. It's a very cool car -- I'd like to own one -- but not if it means selling an E30 M3. I'm very curious to see the Elise frustrations when these cars come in with minor and major problems.

Final suggestion: Keep the M3 if you're only going to get $15k for it. Buy a new S2000 for about $15k less than an Elise. You'll have a blast and you'll keep your pristine M3. In 3 years, you'll thank me. You'll still have your M3...... a car that is a true classic even though it's not yet all that old. You'll also get your 2 seat roadster fix. Two fun cars for the price of one!

 

[agent.5]

I thought you are going back to law school in So. Cal? What are you going to do with these many vehicles? Parking is a big problem out here.

 

[_JD_]

Besides, my M3 doesn't stall out, leak rain, and the heater control knobs don't fall off... That Elise top is going to be a major pain in the ass....

I'm not about to totally badmouth an Elise on this forum.

Don't look now, but you just did. How have you gained this knowledge of all these shortcomings on a car that no one has yet?

 

[Hans Stuck]

I thought you are going back to law school in So. Cal? What are you going to do with these many vehicles? Parking is a big problem out here.

I'll be selling the S4 by next Spring and storing the M3 & the Ducati at my parents' house (unless someone wants to offer top dollar). The S2000 and my fiance's 325xiT go to San Diego.

After the LLM program, it'll be time to sell the S2000 (or M3...if the price is right - or Ducati if I no longer have the desire to ride), buy another home somewhere, AND THEN -- I'll look to get a Boxster S Coupe or Exige or something to replace the dearly departed.

That's the plan.

 

[Hans Stuck]

Don't look now, but you just did. How have you gained this knowledge of all these shortcomings on a car that no one has yet?

I'm aware of that mini-bashing ... but this is all stuff that Lotus enthusiasts expect. Did you read the thread about the 111R the guy just got? He still loves it ... but I think shifting into reverse when you intend to move forward, constant unexplained stalling, and major roof-leaking that can't be fixed with a the supplied allen wrench, and knobs falling off .... that stuff would bother me. Maybe I'm too picky though.

This is all in line with what AutoWeek said about the car a couple of years ago. Remember the article that praised the car's performance abilities but also complained that the windows rattled, the Lotus emblem peeled off the gearshift knob onto his hand, and the radio went to max. volume and stayed there? Maybe the Fed. Elise won't have all of these problems ... but only a fool would expect a trouble-free Lotus. I'm just very interested to read all the bitching when the Elise problems present themselves.

Despite all of that -- I still love the Elise. I think I like the concept better than the execution though. I'd buy one if I had a ton of money to burn and didn't want / expect to use it all the time. Heck, I bought a Ducati knowing that it would be high-maintenance. I don't ride that often -- so I can deal with it's quirks. With the two-seat roadster thing -- I wanted to use it daily -- so I am not willing to live with niggling problems (or major flaws). Hence, I bought the Honda. The clincher was that I didn't have to sell my M3 to get my roadster ... and I got a car that does what I want it to do better. It's just a better fit FOR ME.

and FYI -- I haven't asked for my $500 deposit back yet -- just in case the Elise blows me away and my living situation and plans change. Besides, I want my test drive!

 

[Randy Chase]

I have to remind myself that I've been waiting five years, three with a deposit, so what's one more month?

Exactly. And for me, I needed that month to get together enough cash to pay for the car. June is a problem. July 1 is perfect.

It's been a long wait since 2001. A few more weeks. It will still be summer. It will be good.

 

[CrashTestDummy]

I am about tired of waiting for this damn car. All I have to say is that it better be worth it.

I cant believe the delivery date is getting pushed back again.UGH

 

[piple]

I am about tired of waiting for this damn car. All I have to say is that it better be worth it.

I cant believe the delivery date is getting pushed back again.UGH

I can't believe that you are in a such hurry to get the car. As the car started to sell in Europe we had to wait 18 month just cause of porduction delay. And we got a car with a lot of TADTS.

Myself had to wait an extra 2 month, cause the S was introduced into the english market.

You have the delay, cause Lotus tries to solve these TADTS in advance.

where is your patience?

Piple

 

[CrashTestDummy]

I am looking forward to getting the car to race it(we have been waiting two years). I dont look at it as a new pair of shoes. I have sold off all of my autocross cars to help get the Elise and have missed the season so far.

I do not see that waiting two more weeks or months are going to get any of the bugs out of the car, its not going to happen.



And the only patience in my crazy busy life is exhibited on the autocross course.


I want my bloody car.

 

[Derek]

Final suggestion: Keep the M3 if you're only going to get $15k for it. Buy a new S2000 for about $15k less than an Elise. You'll have a blast and you'll keep your pristine M3. In 3 years, you'll thank me. You'll still have your M3...... a car that is a true classic even though it's not yet all that old. You'll also get your 2 seat roadster fix. Two fun cars for the price of one!

I’m sure the S2000 is a great car… However IT IS A HONDA. Not exotic by any means. Now I’m gonna let you in on a big secret. ALL EXOTICS ARE TEMPRAMENTAL, usually very expensive to repair and for the most part nowhere near as reliable as run of the mill Japanese cars. An oil change on a Ferrari cost almost $800 for goodness sakes. When compared to other exotics the Liz is very affordable… but make no mistake of it, it is nonetheless an exotic, so don’t expect totally carefree ownership.
Some people place carefree ownership above all other things. Lotus owners place breathtaking performance above all other things. Look at it this way: you buy a Honda for reliable transportation, whereas you buy an Elise for entertainment. Like any other exotic, the Elise is not merely the means by which one gets from A to B… It is the reason.

 

[_JD_]

Some people place carefree ownership above all other things. Lotus owners place breathtaking performance above all other things. ... the Elise is not merely the means by which one gets from A to B… It is the reason.

:clap: Well said Derek