I think the styling and lack of creature comforts scares off many older rich guys who are looking for a two-seat, open-top runabout; these folks enter the Boxster/Z4 camp.

What I don't get is the number of self-defined track junkies who aren't interested in the car. I these these folks simply can't intellectually resolve a four-banger engine that does just 190HP.

And then there are the multitude of people who are simply too tall and large for the car.

 

Seems to be selling fine, but I have noticed a lot of available cars.

Most people who wanted one already have one. Lotus may have allowed dealers to order a few too many cars and some people may be waiting for the next model year. Lotus could pinch the supply a bit and make them harder to find, but I don't think they care about the exclusivity. How many Fed Elises did they sell this year? 2000? That's pretty good IMO.

The Elise doesn't exactly have broad appeal. People you meet think the car is cool, but I'm not sure how many would buy them. So look at sales figures at the end of next quarter and see how the Elise is selling. Lotus has to look for new customers, now that they have sold so many in 2005. I wonder what the rate at which they were selling Elises around the beginning of 2005 would calculate out to for the entire year. More than 2500?

- J

 

Yeah I thought the Elise would be selling better. Guess it is just too expensive.

Many (not all) who spend $50K or more on a car want to impress people and other cars with more familiar names like BMW, Porsche and Ferrari do that much better.

 

Car available are from people that didn't take ownership, These are available to listed customers but those listed customer might be waiting for their exact speced Liz instead of taking someone else's spec.

New colors and new options available for 06 might make others wait too.

 

The reasons above... plus I think most people still are not aware of the car, the price and the availability. Those that do know about the Elise still perceive that a waiting list is the norm. Those that don't know that much about the car assume it costs a lot more.

But in the end, its still a niche car. Nobody should be thinking this car will appeal to most people to own.

 

Not selling!? We all bought one!
They seem to be doing good down here. Maybe they are moving and they are replacing their spot with the next car in the same color- and tricking you.

When I picked mine up there were 2 orange ones so if my spot in the showroom window got replaced by the next orange one it would look as if they weren't selling.

Or maybe it's just a supply and demand thing. Maybe the demand has been met in your area. This car is not for everyone. Half the people are probably put off just trying to get in and out of the thing. For most people it's going to be just a toy- not their everyday transportation. For me, I just can't bring myself to drive anything else now.

 

Also, on an almost related side note: I often think that when I meet a new great girl "If you're so special how come no one has married you yet?" haha. I actually said it once, it really didn't go over so well.

 

If?

The 111R is a great car

 

Here's a question. How much off MSRP can you get for an Elise now? (honestly, I don't know). I think that may be the determination of how well they're selling. If cars sit in showrooms long enough, dealers will have to start discounting.

Also, are there still people on the waiting list? If there are cars available, I don't understand why they would wait unless they have to have Aztec. It's not like the Elise's option list is 10 pages long (cough-porsche). Perhaps, they're waiting for a 2006.

Also, how much are used Elises selling for (and I don't mean eBay auction starting bid prices). I suspect there are a lot of people who would love to have a narrow focused sports car, but the $45K for a new one is just too steep.

So, I guess before we can say the Elise is not selling well, we can't just look at how many cars are on the lot. We have to factor in dealer's motivation to get rid of inventory, people still waiting for cars or waiting for changes, and how are used Elise selling on the secondary market.

 

At the moment, there are more Elises readily available than ever before, and this will end and won't return. They made some extras to fill the pipeline and dealers are not receiving many more. When things settle down, the car will basically be ordered with a few month waiting period. So the present bubble will evaporate and not come back. It is expected that a few months from now, the new car availability will greatly change compared to now. This is the business model Lotus is trying to achieve and which works well for this sort of car. I noticed at my nearest dealer (Valenti) that they appear to have ~17 Elises in stock. Should be more like 1-2-3 cars. When this group of cars is gone I don't expect it will be duplicated.

 

Southern California received a big injection of Elise inventory due to a reallocation of stock from a dealer in Hawaii; so it's probably going to take a while for all that stock to be absorbed around here. But I agree with Randy, the Elise isn't going to be a mass-appeal car. People love to look at it, but it's just too quirky for most, even die-hard enthusiasts.

 

One other factor hurting new car sales are those who bought the car and are selling it with low mileage because it isn't for them. That has to hurt the dealers, but once than initial bubble of transactions clears itself out a bit it might help.

 

Also, are there still people on the waiting list? If there are cars available, I don't understand why they would wait unless they have to have Aztec. It's not like the Elise's option list is 10 pages long (cough-porsche). Perhaps, they're waiting for a 2006.

I'm waiting for an 06 with LSD/TC. Financial reasons can mean that some people cant afford to drive one of the dealers lot now but can arrange to have the $$$ ready at delivery time.

I also like the thought of having a car built to MY spec rather than one of the lot(even if both specs are the same) - I know it isnt that big a deal but it just makes me feel good

 

I'm waiting for an 06 with LSD/TC. Financial reasons can mean that some people cant afford to drive one of the dealers lot now but can arrange to have the $$$ ready at delivery time.

I also like the thought of having a car built to MY spec rather than one of the lot(even if both specs are the same) - I know it isnt that big a deal but it just makes me feel good

Ding!

Makes me feel good to be validated

j/k I know is only one person but hey! :nanner:

 

It's a niche car. Lots of people are attracted to it by it's looks but find that it is too small, too raw, too loud, too hard-core for them. Or they are primarily bench racers that are more interested in numbers than a real driving experience (so they buy a Corvette). It amazes me how many people dismiss the car because it only has a 190 hp 4 cylinder. I'm glad the car dosn't have more universal appeal.

 

The Elise is simply designed for a very small niche.

Those of us who waited for this car for years, who love it now, and that continue to marvel it's amazing ride and engineering......DRIVE CARS FOR THE JOY OF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

For 99+% of car buyers, cars are a form of transportation, or for image. They are looking for the comforts that the Lotus does not provide. For them this is a horribly uncomfortable, impractical car. I'm sure that some in this catagory bought the Elise for the image . They are now dumping thier car after a few thousand miles (not meeting thier comfort needs).

Lets be thankful that we now have such a wonderful pure sports car the we drivers appreciate. Most will never "get" the true enjoyment of the ride!

 

well I waited untill the $ came to MSRP, I know I wanted the car..but to pay more $$$ did not sit with me.
But to tell the truth, I don't want too many people to have this car, then it will loose its uniqueness just like the MINI, it is everywhere now...I think we will see more or Elise on the road but I hope not too many?

 

And then there are the multitude of people who are simply too tall and large for the car.

I'm 6'2" and I'm comfy in it. and I don't see very many people that are taller than me. For a multitude of large people I have no comment.


I'm waiting for the car with the color and options I want. I could go down to lotus of Scottsdale and drive one off the lot. It wouldn't be the color I want. I'm waiting for the color I want.

as for the 06's with LSD/TC its tempting to wait but TC is one more button/switch and I don't want more buttons and switches. The radio delete is tempting though.

 

This thread is a good summary of reasons

I would add:
1. There are no attractive lease deals available.
2. A small manufacturer can't offer 2.9% rates like VW.
4. No $7000 close out reduction deals like local Passat dealer offers.
5. This is a $48,000 toy. A big go-kart. Primary Mission: The Track.
6. There is no dealership, in say, Great Bend, Kansas.

I offer two corrections to above posts:
Old guys with money usually go a little more up-market that Boxster.

The Boxster 9 page options list. Got one yesterday. It is 49 pages.

 

I think the single biggest thing is the skimpy dealer network. It took me a long time to get past the 120 mile drive every time I need service. What if your car becomes inop? What if it needs an overnight repair? What a headache.

For a relatively unknown brand, there is great comfort in having a dealer in your town.

And then of course, the quirks. I seriously think Lotus is selling all the cars they want to, or they would fix the simple things that everybody gripes about.

Better headlight bulbs? A better AC system? Fix the leaky trunk? How much would things like these raise the sticker price?

 

Every Lotus has had the same problems the Elise does. They handle very well, are pretty quick, look pretty good, and there it ends.

$50K may be cheap for a car that performs this well but it's also pretty expensive for a car that offers zero creature comforts and can't take a set of clubs for a weekend trip. S2000, Boxster, Vette, Z4 etc all offer pretty good performance as well but also offer space for toys and are a lot easier to get in and out of when you get to 50+ years old.

I was on the Elise list and this board for a long time. I backed out due to the $2k price increase, but more so because of the unfair way it was handled. I also backed out because my wife developed health issues that made an Elise virtually unusable for her. I couldn't see putting $50K family money into a car she couldn't enjoy. I opted for an S2000. I saved $17K over an Elise. I can take weekend golf trips and carry two sets of clubs with an electric top, electric mirrors, keyless entry and cupholders. Yes I know the Elise out handles and out accelerates an S2000.

I still don't rule out an Elise or more likely a Caterham in the future.

Steve

 

There will be one less Elise on the SoCal lots as soon as I save up enough for one

 

Every Lotus has had the same problems the Elise does. They handle very well, are pretty quick, look pretty good, and there it ends.

$50K may be cheap for a car that performs this well but it's also pretty expensive for a car that offers zero creature comforts and can't take a set of clubs for a weekend trip.

Exactly it's cheap for a car that performs this well, and that's the reason we buy them.

If I wanted creature conforts I'll buy myself a used sedan. Why even consider a Z4, etc... I rather have a Chevy Impala :sheep:

 

Exactly it's cheap for a car that performs this well, and that's the reason we buy them.

If I wanted creature conforts I'll buy myself a used sedan. Why even consider a Z4, etc... I rather have a Chevy Impala :sheep:

I may be wrong but in terms of practicality, I'd think the Elise has about as much stoarge/cargo space as a Miata.

I believe the appeal of the Elise is the purist one. Rather than "evolve" the Elise into a Boxster, Lotus is/should develop a true Boxster, Z4, SLK competitor and leave the Elise for that niche market. The Elise is what makes Lotus unique.

 

The Elise is simply designed for a very small niche.

Those of us who waited for this car for years, who love it now, and that continue to marvel it's amazing ride and engineering......DRIVE CARS FOR THE JOY OF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

For 99+% of car buyers, cars are a form of transportation, or for image. They are looking for the comforts that the Lotus does not provide. For them this is a horribly uncomfortable, impractical car. I'm sure that some in this catagory bought the Elise for the image . They are now dumping thier car after a few thousand miles (not meeting thier comfort needs).

Lets be thankful that we now have such a wonderful pure sports car the we drivers appreciate. Most will never "get" the true enjoyment of the ride!

Dead on, doc. It feels like driving should feel and when I get out of it the desire to get back in has me turning to look at the garage door almost subconsciously. The experience is such that I still have dreams of driving my Elise. If you dream about the feeling of driving your car then put yourself in the Elise niche. I don't know how many of us there are though.