Buying a lotus, should I be worried, would you be?

Buying a lotus, should I be worried, would you be?

Author
Discussion

LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

195 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Simple fact is, an evora really should be my next car. It does everything that I need & is perfectly suited.

Apart from the fact that I'm worried that this time next month they'll be bankrupt & my car will have no warrenty & be worth peanuts.

Views?

Codswallop

5,250 posts

193 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
You can get an aftermarket warranty easily enough, and I can't imagine used prices taking too much of a hit either on a used example (though that's just me speculating).

Go try one and decide for yourself driving

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
I'm going on a factory tour in a couple of weeks, so I hope they don't go bankrupt. I want it to be open! In all seriousness, buy the Evora - it'll be awesome!

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Lotus have been on the verge of going under practically since the company was founded; I genuinely can't see any reason to believe that this time will be any different.

Of course I might be wrong, but that's always a risk you take buying a car from a small volume manufacturer. It's just a question of whether you'd rather take that risk or drive a bland German thing for the rest of your life. smile

LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

195 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
A few points, re the evora, I have driven one & it's the best handling car I've driven in years cloud9 it really is that fantastic.

The point about lotus always being in the st, well yes they kind of have, but this time it looks like they're on the brink. Not paying suppliers? I'm not sure how they intend in building more cars if that's the case.

As kambites says what are the other options, they may not be bland or German but then they may not be as stupendously fantastic as the lotus evora.

But, if they do go under who wants to be stuck with an obsolete car with limited parts availability & no warrenty?

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Have you ever actually heard of parts availability being a problem when a manufacturer goes under? I don't think I have.

LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

195 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
kambites said:
Have you ever actually heard of parts availability being a problem when a manufacturer goes under? I don't think I have.
I'm not sure, I think I just assumed it with a low volume seller like lotus, what was the situation like with tvr?

EB89

799 posts

190 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
David87 said:
I'm going on a factory tour in a couple of weeks, so I hope they don't go bankrupt. I want it to be open! In all seriousness, buy the Evora - it'll be awesome!
You're not going on the 31st are you?

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
LaurasOtherHalf said:
kambites said:
Have you ever actually heard of parts availability being a problem when a manufacturer goes under? I don't think I have.
I'm not sure, I think I just assumed it with a low volume seller like lotus, what was the situation like with tvr?
Good question, I don't know.

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
i wouldnt worry

look at what many TVRs are going for now, appreciating classics

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
EB89 said:
You're not going on the 31st are you?
Well yes, I'm supposed to be. hehe

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Agreed.

The major mechanical bits from Toyota ought to be dependable. As regards the rest of the car there will surely be enough Lotus specialists still in existence to keep things rolling along. Don't panic.

Edited by Ozzie Osmond on Friday 12th October 21:23

Kolbenkopp

2,343 posts

150 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
Agreed.

The major mechanical bits from Toyota ought to be dependable. As regards the rest of the car there will surely be enough Lotus soecialists still in existence to keep things rolling along. Don't panic.
Some stuff might even get cheaper with no fear of legal action. Bodywork should be easy enough to copy in GRP or CF and the specialists can have a go at that market in earnest.

Biggest worry would be the chassis IMO, these will have to keep coming from whoever is doing them now (is that still Hydro?) or someone will have to invest a good amount to get that production process right.

I really doubt they will go under though. Cmon, Tony. You know you want to wink.

Cotty

39,389 posts

283 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
LaurasOtherHalf said:
A few points, re the evora, I have driven one & it's the best handling car I've driven in years cloud9 it really is that fantastic.

The point about lotus always being in the st, well yes they kind of have, but this time it looks like they're on the brink. Not paying suppliers? I'm not sure how they intend in building more cars if that's the case.
Lots of people on PH drive cars where the manufactuer no longer exists. There is always specialists stepping into the gap to keep the cars going.

wessexrfc

4,326 posts

185 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
I would ask the cost for replacing the clutch, as these cars are getting to that second hand milage point where the clutch might need replaceing it might be worth checking.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
wessexrfc said:
I would ask the cost for replacing the clutch, as these cars are getting to that second hand milage point where the clutch might need replaceing it might be worth checking.
Really? I've never replaced the clutch in a car at under 100k miles. Suspension is more likely to be on the way out, I'd imagine, at least if the Elise is anything to go by.

justin220

5,331 posts

203 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
wessexrfc said:
I would ask the cost for replacing the clutch, as these cars are getting to that second hand milage point where the clutch might need replaceing it might be worth checking.
Utter garbage. Why would a 30k mile car need a clutch replaced?

Lotus has a huge support network behind it and loads of specialists. Warranty may be an issue though if they do go under. Buy one thats had all the initial niggles ironed out.

Or a 997GT3?


LaurasOtherHalf

Original Poster:

21,429 posts

195 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
wessexrfc said:
I would ask the cost for replacing the clutch, as these cars are getting to that second hand milage point where the clutch might need replaceing it might be worth checking.
Apparently they are extremely expensive to change, not sure how many miles is average for one to last however?

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

188 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Dave Hedgehog said:
i wouldnt worry

look at what many TVRs are going for now, appreciating classics
Really?

TheOtter

3 posts

137 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
I had one of the first elises and a 340R from new (no 22) and they are great. I am looking at a new elsie, can't wait. Get one.