RE: Lotus Exige Sport 410: Driven

[kambites]

Tuna said:

Lotus are just not in a position to be a mass market manufacturer - wrong public perception, wrong dealer and service network, wrong vehicle architecture, wrong production line... they aren't in a position to make a Boxter or MX-5 competitor. Can't be done.

If they were to do such a thing I strongly suspect it would not be aluminium/GRP and it would not be made in Norfolk. If Geely decide the right thing for Lotus to do is build a cross-over based on a Volvo platform (as Porsche did with the Cayenne and Mecan and VW platforms) that's what they'll end up doing; and it'll almost certainly be built in either a Volvo factory or in China (or both).

Not sure about market perception. The huge majority of mainstream car buyers won't realise Lotus still exists as a car manufacturer and most probably won't realise it ever existed... the Lotus brand's strongest connotations outside of enthusiast circles probably come from the F1 team(s) not the road car manufacturer or engineering division. Especially outside of the UK.

[Tuna]

kambites said:

If they were to do such a thing I strongly suspect it would not be aluminium/GRP and it would not be made in Norfolk. If Geely decide the right thing for Lotus to do is build a cross-over based on a Volvo platform (as Porsche did with the Cayenne and Mecan and VW platforms) that's what they'll end up doing; and it'll almost certainly be built in either a Volvo factory or in China (or both).

I can't see them doing that (doesn't mean they won't, I know). If they just wanted badge engineering, there are a dozen marques they could buy off the shelf right now that don't come with the overhead of an inconvenient factory and existing customers to please. They've already created a new brand for their electric range, so why badge engineer the hard way?

As DRB-Hicom found out, the only way to make Lotus pay is to get Lotus building little engineering miracles. Hoping for some kudos to rub off onto your other brands is going to get you nowhere.

[DonkeyApple]

Helicopter123 said:

A very well balanced argument - chip on both shoulders.

It's the profit from selling the 'vans and debt packages' that lets Porsche produce the halo cars, GT3 and GT4 plus more exotic stuff.

Lamborghini have sold out 2 years production of its 'van' already - 9,000 of the things!

I'm struggling to grasp your argument? Would you rather Lotus stuck to its principles and went bust, denying enthusiasts the opportunity to drive this type of car?

You’re struggling to grasp the argument because you’ve grasped the wrong end of the stick and are running as fast as you can.

And secondly, both Porsche and Lamborghini are part of VW Group. They have absolutely no need to flog vans in order to finance sports cars. A day’s net revenue from VW Finance one of the largest banks in Europe would finance both for a year. That argument has always been wrong. Wrong for a decade and it’s always amazing to see it still being trotted out.

Lotus on the other hand does need to prove financial sustainability to its owners and the mass sales of an SUV is almost certainly the only means it has to achieve that.

As for chips on shoulders, I am remarkably free of chips which is what allows me to see the blatantly obvious.

[D.no]

HeMightBeBanned said:

To be clear: I love Lotus. I’ve owned 4 and have two in my garage right now. But the problems with the cars they’re charging £80k+ for are not hearsay. Materials quality is poor. Fit and finish is poor. Stupid niggles are manifest. And the V6 drivetrain is a bodge.

I want Lotus to succeed more than any other manufacturer, because they make cars that make even the most mundane of drives a memorable experience. Sadly, I just can’t overlook the very obvious flaws given what they’re charging for what is bordering on a 2nd rate product.

Agree entirely.

I too love Lotus, but it'll be a long time before I stump-up for another. Half of the mileage that I put on my Exige V6 was accrued in travelling to and from the dealer to have silly problems rectified (and a few more serious problems investigated, that were never got to the bottom of) My car may have been exceptional though, and I may have been unlucky, but I'm afraid my experience bolsters the notion that the drivetrain was ill-conceived. I care most about how a car feels, and how it responds to inputs, so the Lotus should have been my keeper but sadly the reality is that my older 911 is (for me) a sharper, more enjoyable driving tool - something I still find unfathomable. The fact that it also has slightly more engineering integrity is a bonus.

[saaby93]

Helicopter123 said:

Lamborghini have sold out 2 years production of its 'van' already - 9,000 of the things!

These things are popular too


Spotted a black current Exige with a wing on the back the other day
If anyone doesnt think current Lotus look the business, check one out