GOT A TEST DRIVE!! YAHOO! First (?) customer test drive at Palm Beach Motor Cars

4773 Views 50 Replies 26 Participants Last post by BrokenR1, Jul 22, 2004

Andreas

Discussion Starter · Jul 20, 2004

Holy smokes! THIS CAR IS AMAZING! This is the first time I had the privilege^D^Dhonor of driving one. I'm #24 on their wait list and Ryan Moore was kind enough to let me drive the car today since I leave for Europe tomorrow.

Top noch communcation and they seem to love the brand. Ryan gave me a call Friday morning telling me that the cars were 'released' and went out of his way to let me have a test drive today. I'm from Miami and skipped over the two local dealers to go with these guys. =) No, I'm not getting paid by Palm Beach Motor Cars, just a bit giddy right now!!!

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-107FF48FDA9E11D8.jpg">

I'm 6'3" and easily fit in the car.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-107FCEFCDA9E11D8.jpg">
Getting in was a bit of a challenge. =) I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-107FE28FDA9E11D8.jpg">

Snug as a bug! There really is a lot of space and I had plenty of head clearance.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-10802C86DA9E11D8.jpg">
Pic 1 of Lotus Logo watermark on 3M Clearbar.
<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-10803E36DA9E11D8.jpg">
Pic 2 of Lotus Logo watermark on 3M Clearbar.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-1080630CDA9E11D8.jpg">
You can barley notice the 3M clearbra.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-10807492DA9E11D8.jpg">
Side view, I can't see the clearbra.

If you want a test drive they are starting starting Friday morning.

Contact Info:
Ryan Moore
Palm Beach Motor Cars
561-659-6206
http://www.palmbeachmotorcars.com/

1 - 20 of 51 Posts

m100 Sean

· #2 · Jul 20, 2004

All the demos are MY color!

Kidding, but this makes me wonder- if all the dealers are getting their demos, are the first few customer cars delivered with them? Or is it a separate shipment?

zvezdah1

· #3 · Jul 20, 2004

Never could get any clear pics of the clear bra on my car, great work Andreas, an impressive car isn't it?

Chris

_JD_

· #4 · Jul 20, 2004

C'mon man, we need a better description than that. What kind of revs did you get it up to, sounds, etc....

Derek

· #5 · Jul 20, 2004

Wow... Lucky you. The trunk looks better finished in that picture. Is it now fully lined?

mikester

· #6 · Jul 20, 2004

Nice one, thanks, now we need more details !

samberken

· #7 · Jul 20, 2004

Andreas

Nice pictures. TS wasmy first choice but I changed my mind due to safety reason. Can anybody tells me if the driving lights are an option? my dealer told me there is no driving light option. They are on Chris's car bu not on this one...
thanks

Vantage

· #8 · Jul 20, 2004

Thanks very much Andreas. The wait is harder now isn't it?

Kudos for the clear bra shots. Now that you have seen the clear bra material in person, how would you evaluate the aesthetics of it in terms of overall visibility and cost benefit to that effect (which is worse, rock chips or the bra visibility)? Also, does the bra areas look noticeably different (less dull possibly)?

Sorry for the obsessing over the bra, but I'm having a tough time deciding.

Too many demos are in my color as well.

BrokenR1

· #9 · Jul 20, 2004

Since I was overseas at the time I put my deposit down at LOA. I've heard great things about them but I sure wish I was closer so I could test drive their demo.

Derek

· #10 · Jul 20, 2004

Vantage said:
Thanks very much Andreas. The wait is harder now isn't it?

Kudos for the clear bra shots. Now that you have seen the clear bra material in person, how would you evaluate the aesthetics of it in terms of overall visibility and cost benefit to that effect (which is worse, rock chips or the bra visibility)? Also, does the bra areas look noticeably different (less dull possibly)?

Sorry for the obsessing over the bra, but I'm having a tough time deciding.

Too many demos are in my color as well.

What Clear-bra, I can bearly even see it. Only seems to show up in the most extreme shots. Now I know that Clear-bra is the way to go

rtking

· #11 · Jul 20, 2004

Thanks Andreas! I'm a big fan of the clear-bra and had planned all-along to get it (though before, I thought I would need to get my local installer to do it.) I think the factory clear-bra looks fantastic!

I'm just DYING to drive a demo! Sadly Newport European doesn't know (or won't tell me) when they're getting theirs...

Bob

zvezdah1

· #12 · Jul 20, 2004

rt,
You'll be very happy with the port installed clear bra.

Andreas,
My car doesn't have the front driving/fog lights (that's the car in the press photo on the front page. I think it clutters the front too much.
Chris

Andreas

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 20, 2004

zvezdah1 said:
Never could get any clear pics of the clear bra on my car, great work Andreas, an impressive car isn't it?

Chris

It really is hard to put into words how amazing this car is. I have never driven anything like it before.

I'm still on cloud 9!!!

Palm Beach Motor cars has a very nice Lotus store. I picked up a 1/18th JADI model. =)

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/aschobel/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-20%2015.47.55%20-0700/Image-10808629DA9E11D8.jpg">

One more shot of the side.

I uploaded the raw 1.5MB pictures to give you an idea what the clearbra looks like at full rez. You really can't notice it.

<a href="http://ihatelawr.com/lotus/FrontHigh.jpg">Front - High Angle</a>
<a href="http://ihatelawr.com/lotus/FrontMid.jpg">Front - Mid Angle</a>
<a href="http://ihatelawr.com/lotus/FrontLow.jpg">Front - Low Angle</a>
<a href="http://ihatelawr.com/lotus/SideShot.jpg">Side - Above Picture</a>

Please don't mind the vulgar web site, it's a joke site a canadian friend put up. Don't even ask.

See less See more

Derek

· #14 · Jul 20, 2004

zvezdah1 said:
rt,
You'll be very happy with the port installed clear bra.

Andreas,
My car doesn't have the front driving/fog lights (that's the car in the press photo on the front page. I think it clutters the front too much.
Chris

Chris, did they fully line the trunk in the finished cars?

mact3333

· #15 · Jul 21, 2004

andreas, was there alot of wind noise in cabin with hardtop on?..or does the engine take over??

xxxotic

· #16 · Jul 21, 2004 (Edited)

BrokenR1 said:
Since I was overseas at the time I put my deposit down at LOA. I've heard great things about them but I sure wish I was closer so I could test drive their demo.

If you are in Miami check with the Collection or Prestige. I heard that the truck that delivered to West Palm had two other cars on it that were going to other dealers. One was red, and if I recall correctly, I think that was the color that the Collection is getting for their demo.

Note to self: Get to Palm Beach Motorcars before Transio gets there for his test drive...I've seen pictures of his totalled BMW!

Seriously, to avoid disapointment please call Ryan first instead of rushing to the dealershipon Friday morning since I think they may be having a preview party before allowing test drives.

They did this last time they had a demo, and didnt allow any drives beforehand since they wanted to keep the car spotless on the showroom floor so thatl the local papers could take pictures.

Andreas

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 21, 2004

Derek said:
Wow... Lucky you. The trunk looks better finished in that picture. Is it now fully lined?

Honestly I didn't take a close enough look.

It looks like an incredibly clean finish. The quality was on par with my Audi A4.

One thing that amazed me is how good the interior is. Everything looked well settled.

This car has the touring pack on it and at the bottom of the pic you can see the soft-top stowed away.

Andreas

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 21, 2004 (Edited)

Vantage said:
Thanks very much Andreas. The wait is harder now isn't it?

Kudos for the clear bra shots. Now that you have seen the clear bra material in person, how would you evaluate the aesthetics of it in terms of overall visibility and cost benefit to that effect (which is worse, rock chips or the bra visibility)? Also, does the bra areas look noticeably different (less dull possibly)?

Sorry for the obsessing over the bra, but I'm having a tough time deciding.

Too many demos are in my color as well.

The clear bra is a bit pricey but you can't notice if you don't stick your nose close to the car. =)

You really need to pay attention to see it.

With a car this low it would make sense to get it. You are going to have rocks flying at you left and right.

EDIT: The wait IS TERRIBLE!!! I bought myself the a yellow (lightning) 1/18th model when I was there which I'm zooming around with right now.

Sadly this isn't a substitute for the real thing.

Andreas

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 21, 2004

mact3333 said:
andreas, was there alot of wind noise in cabin with hardtop on?..or does the engine take over??

We were driving around with the windows down and we could easily hear each other.

The car is very well mannered.

We didn't get a chance to hit the highway but cursing around town it is no different than my Audi A4.

The AC also works very well. It was bloody hot outside and it did it's job.

The one thing I'm bummed about is that there is only one light for the blinker on the dashboard. You don't know if you have the left blinker or right blinker.

How is that for nit-picking? =)

zvezdah1

· #20 · Jul 21, 2004

Derek,
Only the floor and the bulkhead behind the engine is carpeted. Wheel housings and the rear where taillights are are not carpeted. The battery stores on left side of trunk.
Chris

1 - 20 of 51 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.