4C vs Lotus Emira? Any lingering questions?

6267 Views 118 Replies 20 Participants Last post by ALPHAmole, 8 d ago

EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

In about 10 days I'm going to FINALLY have an opportunity to test drive the Emira at a new dealership in Wilmington, NC. I've missed a couple other optys due to conflicts and I put my deposit down over 18 moths ago! I will be very curious to see how it compares to my 2015 4C and my 2008 Elise.

So obviously I will use this opty to create one or two videos for my YouTube channel, but I'd also like to use it to answer any questions that maybe haven't been answered yet - or not to everyone's full satisfaction. To add to this, the Dealer Managers are all meeting with Lotus in California this week and should have the latest and best information on production schedules, etc.

So I know by now there have been plenty of Emira reviews, etc., but I was wondering if there were still any lingering questions that I should try to answer while I have this opty. The test car will be a Nimbus Gray V6 First Edition and I'll supposedly have it for 20-30 minutes.

So, any lingering questions out there?

Are any other 4C owners considering a Lotus Emira? Do you have a deposit down?

Thanks in advance, Peter

Reactions: 3

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EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #2 · 3 mo ago

EZ PZ said:
In about 10 days I'm going to FINALLY have an opportunity to test drive the Emira at a new dealership in Wilmington, NC. I've missed a couple other optys due to conflicts and I put my deposit down over 18 moths ago! I will be very curious to see how it compares to my 2015 4C and my 2008 Elise.

So obviously I will use this opty to create one or two videos for my YouTube channel, but I'd also like to use it to answer any questions that maybe haven't been answered yet - or not to everyone's full satisfaction. To add to this, the Dealer Managers are all meeting with Lotus in California this week and should have the latest and best information on production schedules, etc.

So I know by now there have been plenty of Emira reviews, etc., but I was wondering if there were still any lingering questions that I should try to answer while I have this opty. The test car will be a Nimbus Gray V6 First Edition and I'll supposedly have it for 20-30 minutes.

So, any lingering questions out there?

Are any other 4C owners considering a Lotus Emira? Do you have a deposit down?

Thanks in advance, Peter

PS pic is from Dec 2021 Emira event with my dad...it's been soooooo long!

Trousers Wheel Tire Jeans Motor vehicle

View attachment 140607

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Reactions: 4

KarlB

· #3 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

I put down $5k when I first heard they were coming. Wanted the manual 6cyl. I was hoping for a reasonable price point of perhaps <= CAD$130k all in.

Then when CDN pricing was announced I learned the out-the-door price would be approaching CAD$150k . Nope... That's when I went searching for a much more reasonably priced fun car (to replace my '09 GT-R sold in '18) and was pointed to a 4C LE with 5k kms on it for out-the-door price of ~CAD$79k - and here I am.

And yes, the $5k deposit was refunded.

As much as I'd love to have an Emira it was just not worth the out-of-pocket cost to me. On top of that the Lotus support in CAN is questionable imo, but whatever. For others with higher disposable income amounts, well, enjoy!

Reactions: 5

spdracer888

· #4 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

I drove the same car you are about to drive and here's my write up:

https://www.4c-forums.com/threads/lotus-emira.66190/page-17#post-1146293

Lotus Emira is an excellent car and IMHO Lotus underpriced it.

Here are a few quick vids and pics (only allowed to film vid from the outside):
http://instagr.am/p/CkUGNrpp257/

Reactions: 1

Carlo

· #5 · 3 mo ago

EZ PZ said:
PS pic is from Dec 2021 Emira event with my dad...it's been soooooo long!

View attachment 140608

For me , there is nothing greater than sharing your passion with your father.

Reactions: 5

Alfanut

· #6 · 3 mo ago

@Carlo , As a lad my father took me to quite a few air shows. In 1988 a Bicentennial air show was put on at Richmond airbase. My father was 75 at the time but climbed onto the pillion seat of my 850 LeMans to go to the show with me. Got a parking spot right outside the western gate of the base. A brilliant Sunday we spent together. Great to see a father and son photo enjoying a shared passion.

Reactions: 3

EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #7 · 3 mo ago

KarlB said:
I put down $5k when I first heard they were coming. Wanted the manual 6cyl. I was hoping for a reasonable price point of perhaps <= CAD$130k all in.

Then when CDN pricing was announced I learned the out-the-door price would be approaching CAD$150k . Nope... That's when I went searching for a much more reasonably priced fun car (to replace my '09 GT-R sold in '18) and was pointed to a 4C LE with 5k kms on it for out-the-door price of ~CAD$79k - and here I am. And yes, the $5k deposit was refunded.

As much as I'd love to have an Emira it was just not worth the out-of-pocket cost to me. On top of that the Lotus support in CAN is questionable imo, but whatever. For others with higher disposable income amounts, well, enjoy!

Interesting, so 150k CAD is like 20% more than the USD MSRP of the Emira (unless its changed). Is that just a difference in Canadian pricing, or taxes and things imposed in Canada? Hope after all this waiting I'm not going to face that sticker shock?!?

EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #8 · 3 mo ago

Alfanut said:
@Carlo , As a lad my father took me to quite a few air shows. In 1988 a Bicentennial air show was put on at Richmond airbase. My father was 75 at the time but climbed onto the pillion seat of my 850 LeMans to go to the show with me. Got a parking spot right outside the western gate of the base. A brilliant Sunday we spent together. Great to see a father and son photo enjoying a shared passion.

Thanks. That's one of the things Dad and I enjoy sharing. He's 88 now and tells me he hopes to see my Emira in person, though he may not be able to go for a drive.

Reactions: 2

EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #9 · 3 mo ago

spdracer888 said:
I drove the same car you are about to drive and here's my write up:

https://www.4c-forums.com/threads/lotus-emira.66190/page-17#post-1146293

Lotus Emira is an excellent car and IMHO Lotus underpriced it.

Here are a few quick vids and pics (only allowed to film vid from the outside):
http://instagr.am/p/CkUGNrpp257/

Thanks, great writeup and makes me feel optimistic. Just wish they could give me a delivery date...

Reactions: 1

KarlB

· #10 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

EZ PZ said:
Interesting, so 150k CAD is like 20% more than the USD MSRP of the Emira (unless its changed). Is that just a difference in Canadian pricing, or taxes and things imposed in Canada? Hope after all this waiting I'm not going to face that sticker shock?!?

"... out-the-door price would be approaching CAD$150k ..."
In Oct '21 I was informed by Lotus that the MSRP price for the manual 6-cyl/super would be CAD$120k. I don't know if it has changed since, but ... out-the-door pricing to me includes shipping, PDI, our 13% sales tax, perhaps some options, etc. In the end iirc I estimated it would put me out-of-pocket close to $145k - 1.5 years ago.

I recall some CDN Lotus group discussion at the time that it certainly seemed that Lotus had simply priced the CDN car by direct $-exchange rate from the US price PLUS some extra $ with no consideration for the different CDN market. Based on the Lotus forum discussions there were quite a few CDN requests for refunds triggered at that time.

Reactions: 1

scratchyratface

· #11 · 3 mo ago

Overpriced here in Australia, I really like them but they've just jacked the price up again. The V6 is now $200k (+ options) and the 4 cylinder is $193k (AUD)

Reactions: 3

EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #12 · 3 mo ago

scratchyratface said:
Overpriced here in Australia, I really like them but they've just jacked the price up again. The V6 is now $200k (+ options) and the 4 cylinder is $193k (AUD)

Holy Crud! That's like 50% more than the U.S. price (I did the conversion). Is that import tariffs, taxes, or just Lotus gouging?

scratchyratface

· #13 · 3 mo ago

Car prices in Australia are just stupidly high and a rule to themselves. There is a luxury car tax applied to pretty much every car now (not classed as luxury). We follow no other car pricing (fluctuations) around the world, they are just high or higher.
Someone once asked the Lamborghini Australia CEO why their prices here were so high and he just said 'because people will pay it'!

Reactions: 3

Flash

· #14 · 3 mo ago

I drove the Emira a few months ago here in Las Vegas, and yes, it's amazing.

My deposit has been in since July of 2021 for an FE.

The price in the US went up today from $94k to $105k.

Reactions: 1

ALPHAmole

· #15 · 3 mo ago

EZ PZ said:
So, any lingering questions out there?

Thanks in advance, Peter

Yes, why?

Why are you test driving it? Just to create YouTube content? Because you're deciding whether you want to put down a deposit on one? Because you already have your deposit in on one? Just because you want you compare it to other Lotus cars you've driven?

I'd also like to know how the purchase process works on a car like that....not the content as on other car videos where it's like "this is what I do for a living, my monthly payments are..." but rather this is how much the dealership requires as a down payment, is it refundable or non refundable, are dealers charging additional MSRP and if so how much, how long does it take to get your car, and what justifies the price in comparison to other vehicles in the same MSRP range.

Looking forward to the video!

Reactions: 2

Alfanut

· #16 · 3 mo ago

scratchyratface said:
Car prices in Australia are just stupidly high and a rule to themselves. There is a luxury car tax applied to pretty much every car now (not classed as luxury). We follow no other car pricing (fluctuations) around the world, they are just high or higher.
Someone once asked the Lamborghini Australia CEO why their prices here were so high and he just said 'because people will pay it'!

I hear, once on-roads are added, a bloody 500e, yes a friggin little electric FIAT shopping cart, will be $50,000! My wish is that everyone in the country would stop ordering new cars for 12 months and see what happens to prices.

Reactions: 2

chester

· #17 · 3 mo ago

Car prices in general are coming down in the USA. Countries that locked down hard still appear to have greater supply/demand imbalances than those who were less locked down.

EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #18 · 3 mo ago

Flash said:
I drove the Emira a few months ago here in Las Vegas, and yes, it's amazing.

My deposit has been in since July of 2021 for an FE.

The price in the US went up today from $94k to $105k.

Whoa! Seriously? That may put a kabosh on all my plans. Breaking that six-figure line is going to be a hard sell to the wife.

EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #19 · 3 mo ago

ALPHAmole said:
Yes, why?

Why are you test driving it? Just to create YouTube content? Because you're deciding whether you want to put down a deposit on one? Because you already have your deposit in on one? Just because you want you compare it to other Lotus cars you've driven?

I'd also like to know how the purchase process works on a car like that....not the content as on other car videos where it's like "this is what I do for a living, my monthly payments are..." but rather this is how much the dealership requires as a down payment, is it refundable or non refundable, are dealers charging additional MSRP and if so how much, how long does it take to get your car, and what justifies the price in comparison to other vehicles in the same MSRP range.

Looking forward to the video!

Hm, a complex post. Your initial questions sound like you did not read my original post, but you have some good questions after that.

I'm test driving it because I've had a deposit on it for at least 18 months and intend to buy it. My YouTube channel has only existed for 5 months (questioning my motives?). It's my retirement hobby and not a source of income. I'm allowed to have two cars at a time based on negotiation with my beloved - currently that's and Elise SC and an Alfa 4C. I'm going to have to sell one before buying the Emira, so creating the comparison videos is helping me make that decision. It's not an easy one because I love both cars, they scratch similar itches, yet they are different in many ways.

I've got a long list of cars on my bucket list to own one day and the Emira is one of them. I had really hoped for an FE, but alas...

Regarding the purchase process, financing, etc., not sure I'm going to be of much help there as I am an atypical buyer. I follow Dave Ramsey and retired last year at 55, so I pay cash for any cars that I buy.

I like the justification based on MSRP question...may have to do a video on that...again, this helps me collect and organize my otherwise disjointed thoughts.

I will be curious to see how long it takes to get the car, ordering process, etc. I hope Gator, where I have my deposit down, does not try to jack up price over MSRP. They're in Indiana and I'm in North Carolina, but I put my deposit in with them because they have a sterling reputation and promised not to do things like that. We'll see...

Thanks for a thought-provoking comment!

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EZ PZ

Discussion Starter · #20 · 3 mo ago

chester said:
Car prices in general are coming down in the USA. Countries that locked down hard still appear to have greater supply/demand imbalances than those who were less locked down.

Agree on used cars, but not sure this applies to new cars....especially really new ones like the Emira.

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