so how easy is it to get a color matched hardtop???

They come unpainted from the factory, and your dealer paints it to code. Should be a good match, but it depends on the degree to which the paint shop employee gives a sh!t as to the quality of the job and the closeness of the color match IMO.

Are we sure about this? I was sold on the hardtop, because I was told by the dealer that it is painted WITH the car, making it an exact color match. Can anyone else add insight?

They are talking about ordering the hardtop after you have the car.

Scott said:

Are we sure about this? I was sold on the hardtop, because I was told by the dealer that it is painted WITH the car, making it an exact color match. Can anyone else add insight?

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if a hardtop isn't spec'ed at the time the order goes to Lotus, they can't paint it with your car.

The trickier colors are the ones that may benefit the most from being painted at the factory. Simple, solid colors might be easier to paint to a code than the fancier shades such as the lifestyle colors.

Apparently I was the first Fed Elise owner to order a hard top after taking delivery of a car. I got the impression from my dealer that at the time of ordering Lotus was not yet ready to handle after sales orders of hardtops. The dealer had to include the paint code on the order to Lotus, so I assume it will be shipped from Lotus already painted. If it arrives unpainted I will be royally pissed!!

I was also told that they didn't know how long it would take to get here. The dealer estimated 2-3 months. I ordered it on 9/21 and as of yesterday the dealer had no update from Lotus.

Bio,
What'd they charge for the top? Just curious.
Chris

$2660 painted & inc. freight. I got quotes from 2 dealers and my local dealer matched the lowest one. I think it would be possible to get it cheaper if you contact enough dealers.

If it comes unpainted, and you don't have a paint shop in mind, you may try contacting your auto insurance company and inquiring on what paint/repair shops are best rated in your area. (May have to explain you're not getting something "fixed"...just want advice). Color-match should be no problem if done by quality folks with the right computer matching equipment.

X101