Are they selling?

Are they selling?

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Discussion

footsoldier

Original Poster:

2,259 posts

193 months

Tuesday 13th October 2009
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The more reviews I read, including in Car this month the more I'm struggling to resist thinking that trading in Europa is a good idea. Had a test drive, and totally sold on handling etc, but really don't want to be hit by major depreciation, especially as a supercharged one is possibly not too far away. Got Europa at perfect time last year, second owner, but wouldn't want to go other way this time.

Been watching, and I can't see that any of the demo cars in classifieds have sold yet.

Does anyone know if new sales are going well? If they would sell new launch edition spec for basic price then I'm in, just bothered that the current £10k over what it "should" cost is deterring enough people to mean they will have to shift cars cheaper in a few months. Not out of the question when Lotus reduced the price of new Europas below what dealers were trying to shift used ones for!

Deserve to sell well, but any idea if they are?


Twit

2,908 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
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I don't know how they are selling, the fact that you can still buy one of the 'first' 250 launch models may suggest that they are not flying off the shelves but anything would be pure speculation.

As for the price the launch spec, whilst expensive, isnt a million miles off. You will never get one for 48-49K, that is literally the base with zero options and you will want one or too. I would have though 55K is about on the money if you spec your own. That said, I was told by a dealer that Lotus won't do any self spec's until all the launch spec cars have gone. So there may be a wait.

Only you know if the Evora is worth the extra over the Europa. Personally I don't, when the supercharged one comes along then it may be worth a look but until then, if it were me, I'd hold off. I can see residuals holding up until a better engined one comes along, then the first cars will drop off. I saw an electric blue one on the road at the weekend... Looked horrible in that colour!

Fittster

20,120 posts

214 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
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I'm surprised that a weak pound isn't helping them shift in Europe.

evo4a

737 posts

182 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
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As far as I'm aware they are hitting targets.
I think quite a few are going abroad

Hedgerley

620 posts

269 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
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The first 5-6 months production is sold out. These are mainly the fully loaded launch edition cars. Delivery of the first customer spec cars are being quoted at around March next year I believe if ordered now. There are a few demo cars for sale - Guy Monday at Stratton has just sold his and both he and his customer are very happy with the price. My local dealer (Murray in Edinburgh) has just put his up for sale as his next one is arriving shortly. Main reason for selling is the plate change I think, as Guy's was.

You might find this thread interesting -

http://www.evoraforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/...

Go for it, you won't be disappointed. I'd be in there if I wasn't so old and waiting for the new Esprit before I sell my current one......

Edited by Hedgerley on Thursday 15th October 19:06


Edited by Hedgerley on Thursday 15th October 19:08

footsoldier

Original Poster:

2,259 posts

193 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for that link - very useful once I'd registered. One more forum to waste time on! Interesting about the waiting list, and sounds reasonable to assume residuals will hold up.

beady

21 posts

179 months

Monday 19th October 2009
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Having driven one (and also a 911 and a Cayman), i was convinced.
I then deliberated for a while - launch spec v customer spec.

Conclusion was that a 50k is not going to happen and 55k is about the lowest you can get with the right options ticked.
So another 5k for launch spec and ownership of one of the first cars seemed ok to me.

delevery at the end of this week, cant wait....

Redlake27

2,255 posts

245 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
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A main dealer I called into was apathetic when I wanted to buy my Elise in 2001 and Europa in 2008.

However, since the launch of Evora I have had two offers of a test drive, an invitation to an open day and two calls to see if I want to p/x.

Either they have had a sales training course....or they are struggling.

Let's keep an eye on this one. I concluded the car is a fabulous £35+K car in the same way as I though the Europa was a great £25K car......I hope for Lotus' sake the market doesn't think the same as me.


evo4a

737 posts

182 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
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Redlake27 said:
A main dealer I called into was apathetic when I wanted to buy my Elise in 2001 and Europa in 2008.

However, since the launch of Evora I have had two offers of a test drive, an invitation to an open day and two calls to see if I want to p/x.

Either they have had a sales training course....or they are struggling.

Let's keep an eye on this one. I concluded the car is a fabulous £35+K car in the same way as I though the Europa was a great £25K car......I hope for Lotus' sake the market doesn't think the same as me.
Well if you read the previous posts I don't think it does, as they are selling.

squirejo

794 posts

244 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
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beady said:
Having driven one (and also a 911 and a Cayman), i was convinced.
I then deliberated for a while - launch spec v customer spec.

Conclusion was that a 50k is not going to happen and 55k is about the lowest you can get with the right options ticked.
So another 5k for launch spec and ownership of one of the first cars seemed ok to me.

delevery at the end of this week, cant wait....
my thinking exactly, hence my new carbon grey launch edition + forged alloys, folding mirrors, body coloured door handles. I was not in the least bit surprised to hear B&C tell me avg customer spec car is coming in at 55k plus and the few folks who seem to want a poverty spec car are having their minds changed quite easily when told it will be worth peanuts once leaving the showroom.

squirejo

794 posts

244 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
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oh and yes they are selling, check with dealers but I was led to believe the LE cars are all sold and you're talking late Q1 / Q2 for delivery now.

Tuna

19,930 posts

285 months

Wednesday 21st October 2009
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Redlake27 said:
A main dealer I called into was apathetic when I wanted to buy my Elise in 2001 and Europa in 2008.

However, since the launch of Evora I have had two offers of a test drive, an invitation to an open day and two calls to see if I want to p/x.

Either they have had a sales training course....or they are struggling.
Or the Evora is a whole different market from the Elise and Europa.

When I looked at the Elise when it first launched, the local dealer mainly sold Esprits and was happy to throw the keys at me and ask me if I could try to bring it back in an hour or so. No proof of ID, no sales guy driving - just "here are the keys, have fun".

Wind on to the last few years and the Elise is a widely available and well known sports car. Go into a dealer and you're just one of the crowd. I rang a main dealer recently, and the hold 'music' was an advert trying to sell me Vauxhall Vans. You're right - they're really not that bothered.

Now the Evora has come along, I presume the dealer gets a better margin and a slightly more 'refined' (for want of a better word) customer. You can bet they'll be chasing down sales.

No idea what the actual sales figures are, but didn't Lotus recently take on a load more staff to build up production?

Chipper

1,315 posts

218 months

Wednesday 21st October 2009
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I rang a dealer in a major city and the person I first spoke to informed me that they had not sold one Evora yet!


evo4a

737 posts

182 months

Wednesday 21st October 2009
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and I believe that particular dealership is not exactly winning any friends at Lotus HQ.
As far as I know there is only one dealership which has not sold any.

chandrew

979 posts

210 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
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Tuna said:
No idea what the actual sales figures are, but didn't Lotus recently take on a load more staff to build up production?
Yes I think it was around 150 people. When I ordered my Elise earlier in the year it ended up being delayed by about 8-10 weeks due to high demand. Lotus issued a press release earlier this year stating that they expected a 50% increase in production this year. Doing the sums it seems like this could have materialised:

From memory Lotus was selling about 2000 of its cars a year based on the Elise platform (Elise, Exige, 2-11) and that this was down 25% this year on a world-wide basis, so down 500 units. I noted from this article that Tesla claim to have sold 1000 cars this year, which means that total Elise-based cars is up 25%. Add in the 450 LE Evoras and any customer spec cars and you're upto around 50% increease in total production as predicted.

Bibs_LEF

790 posts

208 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
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Someone just chopped in their 997 against an Evora, they are selling and very well too smile

Twit

2,908 posts

265 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
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According to SMMT the figures this year are as follows:

355 cars sold
0.02% market share (Not really relevant)

In 2008 they sold 567 cars, so year on year they are 37% down on last year with 3 months to go. Obviously this relates to UK sales and it doesnt break the figures down by model.

Not much you can interpret from that other than I guess they will do broadly the same in 2009 as in 2008 but with an extra model in the line up. It doesnt pick up the overseas sales, which are the ones that would be really interesting to see.

Edited by Twit on Friday 23 October 20:11

Sharpy1975

22 posts

181 months

Thursday 5th November 2009
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My Launch Spec is selling for mid 50's and we have had a lot of interest. With the press awards and customer feedback, the car is doing well. I just think people need to be aware of the car and why it is different to the rest of the range. What would you pay for a good spec 911?

If price is an issue for customers, they can always order a lower spec car and would be prepared to wait if necessary.

We as a dealer have already delivered customers cars.



mrdemon

21,146 posts

266 months

Monday 16th November 2009
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what does the price of a 911 have to do with sales ?
I don't think Porsche are to worriered about the evora lol.
They will sell every GT3 RS they can make and the Cayman out sells the 911 any way.

Just tell use how many you have sold, most dealers seem to say 1 or 2.

Some say all the lauch spec have sold , but they seem easy get hold of if you want one.

Sales seem very slow.

Raja

8,290 posts

236 months

Monday 16th November 2009
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they do seem easy to get hold of at list price or less don't they? i doubt this is the same for the evo awards 2nd place porsche gt3.

maybe if lotus offered the 50% now and the remainder interest free in 2 years like on some of their other cars they'd shift the rest before winter kicks in.