Forget similar dealer experience but remember it's a Toyota drivetrain.....very reliable. Easy to work on and plenty of support here on LT. If not a DIYer then locate a indie or shop nearby willing to work on them before purchase.
I did the same before getting my Macan GTS found a great indie before I bought. I saw the level of expertise and support here on LT and immediately knew I could do everything on the Elise myself.

 

You're 1/3 the distance from the dealer than I am in Minneapolis, what are you worried about . The truth is, every individual car is different and you could get a car with absolutely not problems, or you could get one that needs things. It's the case with any car, not just Lotus. Being far from a dealer sucks but if there is something that disables the car and it is a warranty item Lotus will flat bed it on their dime. With non-disabling things, you let them add up and then take the 2 1/2 hour trip to have it all done at once. Otherwise it's going to be easier albeit a little more expensive to have a local shop do the work.

But the experience of owning and driving a Lotus is totally worth it IMO.

 

I have an Emira and have had a few lotus cars in the past and realistically, having a dealer a few hours away is a killer. The new Emiras drivetrain is Toyota and is reliable for sure, but where things get dicey is the the software. There are still bugs that pop up where I wouldn’t want to drive it as my daily. I can’t have a super important meeting in the AM and then the car decides it doesn’t want to start. Look at Todd from everyday driver, he did a massive road trip in the US and one day the car did not want to start due to software and needed an software update.

I think in time lotus will figure out the bugs but I’d recommend keeping it as a weekend car. I’m at 10k miles in under a year and it’s a wonderful car but I’ve visited the dealer for several issues (none show stoppers but still!).

 

Look at Todd from everyday driver, he did a massive road trip in the US and one day the car did not want to start due to software and needed an software update.

As I understand it, the car didn't start, then it did and it's never had that issue again. I don't recall him saying he went in for an update.

 

Mine is my daily and just finished putting on ~8000 miles in about 9 months. The only issue that I've had is the t/c issue where it lowers the rev limit to 4k. It's happened somewhere around 6 times, although annoying it's a simple restart and it goes away. Hopefully it'll be fixed once I go in for service soon. But other than that, the car has been dead reliable.

 

The only issue that I've had is the t/c issue where it lowers the rev limit to 4k. It's happened somewhere around 6 times, although annoying it's a simple restart and it goes away.

It's crazy to think modern day Lotus cars are still exhibiting random "limp mode" issues that magically get sorted after a reboot. They're nothing if not consistent! 😂

 

If you plan on going to the dealer about twice per year, you’ll be fine. I’ve been using my 2009 Elise as a daily driver for 15 years and have over 200,000 miles on it. I’ve had a few issues but no worse than any other brand.

 

They're actually very dependable mechanically.
It's the electronics I worry about. (Holds true for most British cars these days)
Overall very reliable for a semi exotic.
Go for it.

 

I'm new here so be kind
Contemplating purchase of a 24 with less than 1,000 miles....would be my 1st Lotus.
I come from Porsche/Mercedes and my track car is a Pcar.
I drive my cars daily....no garage queens.
I realize the Emira is not a Lotus of the 60s or 70s but with the nearest dealership 150 miles away I'm trying to be realistic about what the future would hold.
Granted I'm spoiled with Porsche dependability and also with two great sources for support here in Mad Town (Kelly Moss & Zimbrick) support for anything from simple warranty work to engine rebuilds/replacements are good.
Can anyone share, good or bad, how my life may change with this Emira?
Thanks in advance.

My Emira has not worked properly almost at all. It arrived on Oct 4th 2024 with a CEL and went into limp (Gearbox Malfunction/Camshaft Overrun/and 3rd code I cant remember at the moment) on my first drive. On my 3rd visit to the dealership for repairs the engine was replaced, got it back last Monday and it went into limp mode again the next day. It goes back to the dealership for the 4th time this coming Monday 5/5. No aftermarket work has been done. All stock. I love the car, doing my best to not give up on it. But im seriously out of patience.

 

It's possible you got a lemon, which is why lemon laws exist (in some places).

 

To add to the suffering, most locales Lotus dealerships are not very inspiring or confidence assuring.

 

Because most of them have no experience with Lotus till they signed up when the Emira was introduced. I'm fortunately that my dealer have been around at least since the Esprit days.

 

It's possible you got a lemon, which is why lemon laws exist (in some places).

It's possible you got a lemon, which is why lemon laws exist (in some places).

Yes, I've had the demand letter sent by an attorney. I

 

I honestly don't fault the guys at the dealership. I think highly of them and respect the work they do. The Emira is a phenomenal car. Just need to get it to run as intended. Lotus really did make an incredible car though. Just frustrated.

 

Have had my Emira for 1 year and over 10k miles. It’s been pretty solid thus far. A few issues like tailgate actuator going bad, o2 sensors needing replacement but no issues have been been serious or left me stranded. The engine and trans are solid. Over time software updates will make this car more reliable. Can’t stop driving this thing!

 

I love hearing this. It gives me real world hope.

 

If you're excited by the excellent driving qualities, uniquely satisfying design and fundamentally solid chassis and engine, a new Lotus is probably the least expensive and most prudent way to get a thoroughbred European exotic (that isn't a 911 or a GT4) on the market today.

I don't daily my car...an Evora, not even an Emira..... because I don't wish to add (what are for me) pointless miles to the car I intend to be buried in. In the seven years I've owned it, I have caused more mayhem than it has. I've had a great ownership experience entirely down to the fundamental qualities of the car. The Toyota engine and lowly Aisin? Not a peep. Electronic glitches? One $20 brake switch and a propensity to hate low voltage conditions. Apart from that, one should be rigorous about annual maintenance and dote on it too much. I'm that guy and consequently have had no major issues and trust my car completely. But it's not my daily.

These are semi-series production cars turned out in low numbers by a small factory with a limited service outreach in the USA. However, all the most important parts are of high quality and will make the car durable and reliable if you do your part. If you're ready for something truly special, this is the most cost effective way to obtain that from new. Strike a fair price with your dealer and you'll be stoked as long as you understand that this is an exotic car from a specialist manufacturer.

I love mine. An Emira should deliver a more refined daily experience and there you have it. Having said that, let me be clear. Considering the 24000 fun miles I've enjoyed since new, my car isn't a garage queen. It just doesn't go shopping at Target.