Loquacious Lew

We'll disagree regarding Trump's effectiveness, even if one shares his goals, which to be clear change day to day according to his whims. He's ineffective at his job. Almost without exception the tasks he wishes to accomplish are counterproductive and in many cases downright stupid. The Wall will never be built. Our healthcare system is in worse shape than it was when he was first elected. Our populace is more divided, our schools and streets no safer, our international prestige tarnished, growth of extremism and hate groups unfettered, and to top it, corruption within will be shown to have reached previously unimaginable levels. His "accomplishments?" What would they be? He talks tough but it begins and ends there. That doesn't excuse your situation, it simply mirrors it, or vice versa. The proof of his failure will come in the next election cycle when he and his hand picked cronies and his nepotism will be exposed for what they are; a blatant power grab in nobody's interest but his own. Trump's failures include an inability to build his wall (a red herring wrapped in a Trojan horse anyway, entirely pointless), failure to close the Kim deal, failure to negotiate a resolution to the China trade issues, inability to staff critical government and diplomatic positions, a failed "tax reform," dismantling of our consumer and environmental protection agencies, the sewing of disillusion amongst our allies, the adoration of tyrants, the list just goes on and on. He has two laudable goals, (addressing inequities in the China trade and an effort to achieve peace in Korea) neither of which he has unfortunately made any substantive progress on. The rest of his package is either mired in irreconcilable disagreement or is bad for the health of the nation, if not completely inane. There is nothing lucky for America about Trump's ascent to power. That Britain has a mess on its hands vis a vis Brexit says nothing positive about Trump and is a sign of the times more than a question of which situation is better or worse. As respects the better angels of America's nature, they are being trampled by this president who was elected by a minority in any case while the integrity of even that result is entirely at question. Perhaps our circumstances are more alike than different since the result is gridlock here as it is in England and will remain so until the people take matters in hand and elect competent leadership with courage and vision. Our best resolution is another election. To be fair, I'm not about to suggest how Great Britain can resolve the issue but another and less contentious election will go a long way to getting us, the USA back on the right track. As a guest on a British forum, I can't suggest what your best resolution might be, but that I think protectionism and turning inward are bad for America and may not be the best approach in either case. I'm not an ends justify the means kind of guy within the context of a representative democracy but I can't endorse Trump's ends to begin with.

I've got 10K miles on my car in about 15 months but it isn't my daily. I will tell you what it is though. It's my GT. I always select it for long distance trips if those involve just the two of us. So far I've done three 1000 mile plus tours with it and nothing is more fun and cosseting to cover distance with. Even freeway miles are a pleasure and a breeze. Fast slow, fully laden, just me going out for a quick blast, all are accomplished with poise, comfort, and supreme confidence. What a car!

It's very discouraging to know 40% of our populace still support the Cheeto President (you know what Cheetos are, right?). However, with a new Democratic HoR (House) things will be looking up. Just remember, should you run into me (not literally) next I'm in England, I didn't vote for the disreputable moron. Eventually we will throw his sorry arse in jail along with his many abetters and the traitors in Congress who care more for retaining their power than they do for the country and the betterment of the world. The situation here is going to heat up even further. I trust he, his daughter, sons, son in law and the other family members who have stolen and lied for him will be wearing stripes before the end of his term. As for the spineless Republicans in Congress who have tolerated his lies, cheating, crimes and intolerable bigotry, words are inadequate to express our disgust. Greetings to all from the heartland of the USA!

Me too.

I didn't intend to predict the direction of resale prices per se but I'll kick in my 2 cents as it bears on what the immediate future holds. I'm inclined to agree with Ccd that 400 prices will remain depressed for the foreseeable future. What is "foreseeable?" I don't know but I think it extends well past the arrival of the GT. At this point we're unlikely to see a rebound in prices until the cars are no longer in production. This is an irony! I can go into detail or we can just look at the strange way supply and demand works in the extreme weirdness that is the used exotic car market. In any case, one guess is as good as another but here's why I think the GT won't help used prices. I would be delighted to be wrong. * This introduction is not being managed any better that that of the 400. If anything, it feels more disconnected. I fear the initial run of cars will not be sold out resulting in vehicles held in dealer or factory inventory, ultimately leading to price cutting to shift stock. If the differences in price between the GT and the 400 can be sustained indeed the 400 could benefit. But I don't think that's how it will roll out. *We can intuit that they are not investing in the current models or the US market which comes across as an unwillingness or inability to promote them Who knows how much support they intend to provide down the road for these last of breed vehicles? Great things may be coming but well over a year later nothing has changed. Lotus must up their game. It's not about the fundamental appeal of the Evora. It's about the ownership experience and the perception that buying a Lotus is risky business. The more expensive the cars are, the harder it will be to shift them in America unless the situation improves visibly. Lotus has to love these cars (and us by extension) as much as we do. It's not complex. Finally! My car is fine, tons of fun (well, ton and a half actually). It's at it's best when I'm driving it and not ranting on a public forum.

I will say this again. If Geely wants Lotus to have a future in the USA, they need to pick up the customer 'recognition' pace here and extend concern and support to the existing products. A proud legacy can and should be established right here, right now. That is something that takes little time to implement and only a bit of will and some seed money. The soft launch of the GT (if that's its moniker ) in the USA is a haphazard affair as far as I can tell. The dealers are, I think, not fully informed but have been given the mission to pre-sell cars without having a real handle on the final spec, hard delivery dates, etc. Here's what I think I know, but I may be mistaken on some minor points. Please forgive any errors in my script as some things are quite unclear to me. The seats are the standard Sparcos as we all knew they would have to be. That's not Lotus' fault but we don't get the CF seats. Our spec is said to be down a few HP because of the third cat. Again, perhaps not Lotus' fault but it's still a minor ding. I don't think we get fancy shocks (Nitron/Ohlins etc) so there's nothing special there that I am aware of. That last bit (shocks) is another item not entirely clear to me but I don't think the dealers were told about any changes in that department so for the moment I assume they're not included. No standard cruise control, (this on a GT spec car!). So what do we get for the money? A 400 with 22 more HP, the new front end styling, otherwise the basic interior spec of a cooking 400. I think we might get the Li battery, but I'm not sure about that. We don't get the Ti exhaust unless we plunk down another $8K. The sub (who cares, but.....) is extra. CF mirror covers? Extra. Colors are red or white unless you want to pay between $3500 to $8000 extra depending on your pick. AC is standard, (no cost delete), insulation is standard, standard forged wheels are included but no CF roof unless you buy the CF pack. I think it's fair to guess most cars will sticker at about $125 to $130K plus freight, taxes etc. with a base price of $117K. Indeed base price is $117K but that's a bit unreal as regards out the door cost given the standard equipment level. Also recall there are left over 17s, low mile demos and "used cars" going for between $75K and $80K (or less, sometimes shockingly so). Those cars are compelling and not really all that much lower spec when you cipher it all out. To cap it, we have no financing options beyond those we can suss out for ourselves not to mention an uninspiring warranty. If one already owns a 400 and was an early adopter as I was, you are going to take a big hit on the car at trade-in time because of all those 2017 leftovers, demos and low mileage used cars floating around here at (by comparison) ridiculously low prices. I reckon it could cost me as much as $50K to $60K to trade my well sorted 400 with under 10K miles for the US spec "430GT" (or whatever it will be called here). Not an attractive proposition to me so I'm on the sidelines for the moment. Lotus USA needs to consider and act on what they are asking of their loyal clients and dealers (we do exist) in making a commitment of this magnitude without having enough data to make a considered and wise decision. I think there will be very few pre-sales for the car under the circumstances. The future of Lotus would be brighter here if they took a little more time and energy to think things through and showed some real willingness to up the support for existing clients, dealers and products. I love my car, I like my dealer and I really want to like the 430 but I can't be an early adopter of another new Lotus until they get the information flow and some communications, generosity of spirit and real understanding of their clients and the market conditions sorted out in this country. Given all that, I'll let to let somebody else be the early adopter at this moment in time.

I think they became boring long before they were contracted to the Grand Tour. The penis bumping (as noted), car explosions, burnings, drownings and absurd mods are not original or unique to the new series as they started with that long ago. They've been predictably repetitive for years.

I'm here and I drive mine! Welcome to the land of the few, the proud, the brave. Right here In Nashville, even. There are a few other owners in the area, but you're the first Evora person I've been privileged to hear about. Mine's the racing green 400 that can be seen around if you keep your eyes peeled and has even been to Franklin for the C&C twice or thrice. I always get a lot of traffic when I do go there. You probably will too. We're lucky to have Carlock and TJ. It makes it a lot easier to own one here. Congrats. I'll keep my eyes peeled for you!

Curiously the Evora is something of a thumb in the eye to pretension even though it is very extravagant and extroverted at another level. But mediocre fit and finish coupled with routine minor but annoying issues (that are seemingly annoying to Lotus to deal with as well) need to be addressed with vigor. As a buyer I shouldn't need to accept excuses instead of prompt action. And there needs to be some real finance schemes for people who can't just write a check. I was told I was rare when I handed a check over for mine and I have no trouble understanding why. Most people can't or won't buy outright and that is thoroughly basic. It pains me to say this but Lotus needs to up its game if it wants to be taken seriously in America. And it should want that very much. I think your observations are spot on. Q: Does Geely have an existing ICE package in the inventory that would plug into the Evora? I think that's a problem that's been intimated here before.

It is dumbfounding and so very disturbing.

It's impossible to do anything in the USA without being prepared to invest in the market. Lotus has yet to show a willingness to do that. There is no connection to the few new car buyers who rather bravely plunked down Porsche money to invest in an invisible product. Any happy Lotus owners, (make no mistake, I am happy with my car) are only getting along because there are a few centers in the country where there are properly experienced techs and more importantly, the will to solve problems for customers. It takes will to own one of these cars in what is effectively a back water market and even more will to sell and stock them. Even though we look more and more like a third world country by the day, treating the USA as a backwater is a tremendous mistake. Nothing good can happen for Lotus here until they realize making money in the USA isn't going to happen until they do everything everybody here knows has to be done. There are no end of great ideas we as fans and owners of Lotus cars can float but first things first as far as America is concerned. They need to prove that buying a Lotus today is a different experience than it was buying one a few years ago. That process has not yet developed. Eighty new Volvo dealerships masquerading as Lotus shops is not going to fix this at the current point in time. A whole new mindset is required here. No evidence of Geely investment in the USA exists.

I've had mine for 15 months. I believe there's nothing like it at anywhere near the prices they are currently trading at. I have no plans to sell my car. It's met my expectations and still thrills.

Oops! Calling Bibbs! Not enough bandwidth to get the job done, or I'm doing something wrong, but posting images isn't happening for me.

At the 38th annual Lotus Owner's Group (LOG38) rendezvous in Cleveland OH.

Makes no sense to bring it in unless it was to be the full fat version which almost by definition it can't be. In the event, it would be wise of Lotus to save the effort.

I was told some months ago by a reliable but unnameable source that the 430 won't be coming here. I've wavered in that conviction over the months following as various rumors have swirled about but when I consider the economic realities of certifying another variant I always come to the conclusion that federalizing the 430 makes no sense. It's seems very likely such an effort by Lotus could easily go unrewarded. Which isn't to say I wouldn't like to see them brought in but what's the business case for that? I agree with James and that conclusion seems supported by the lack of urgency regarding getting the 430 here in any event. It seems the 410 was able to slip in under the wire if only in very limited quantities. The 430 gives up just as much by way of extra value features (the seats, door cards, possibly even the tune?) to get here without revisions and recertification and makes the spread in price over the standard issue 400 seem even more difficult to justify.

Remarkable how little (apparent) damage there is rear of the firewall. Looks very survivable for the occupants, but what a heartbreaking mess.

Watch out! He's infectious and the illness is chronic. You've plenty of company. You did what we all did.....passed up the Porsche to buy a truly wonderful car. As another Lotus newbie I can assure you any second thoughts will be quickly abandoned to become visible only through a tiny slit in the rear view mirror. Congratulations on making a bold choice that for many of us is also the right one.

And the AirCon and cooling systems in general are doing the job, right? We don't get as hot here as you do, typically in the 36-37 degree range getting to 40 on the very hottest days. It's cooler in shade but we have levels of humidity you'll never see in a desert climate. The AC on my car has been exemplary. I was concerned about that but it's turned out to be a non-issue and puts to bed prior concerns generated over the years. My car has proven to be a comfortable vehicle in our extreme mix of heat coupled with humidity.

I wanted the cred for posting that link! You have to be on your toes with this crowd! Thanks for posting. What a fun video for any 400 owner. He needs to buy one.

We get a lot of that here and you're right. It brightens up a lot in the sun and the metallic nature becomes quite obvious. I think it's a bit bluer at night and not nearly as sparkly. I think the car looks good in a lot of the colors they offer but green is traditional on a Lotus even if this isn't quite a traditional green. I wasn't sure about the color when I bought the car. Real happy with it now.

Nice girls don't usually lift their skirts as a come-on, but my Evora has a dose of naughty and likes to tease the boys! Got a lot of very warm reactions from the (mostly Harley biker) crowd benefit event. I was asked to bring the car and it ended up attracting more attention than the bikes. *Three of these things belong together, one of them belongs alone. (*Old Sesame Street line for those unfamiliar with American children's TV). I'm the odd man out. The bikes are worth a separate thread in the Bike section. While not my style they are seriously fussed over. They loved the car and I had a ball.

Frameless windows look nice, can offer a somewhat better field of view and I suppose are lighter but they don't usually come without drawbacks. I've noticed this in the several cars we've owned that have frameless windows and of course, any convertible. They can can make a bit of noise or leak or both. I don't think the 400s windows are bad by any stretch. They're free of most wind noise at cruising speeds and in my car, quite tight. If they start to rustle, I grease the seals with a very light coat of silicone lubricant. That quiets them entirely for a month or more. If you try this, try not to get any lubricant on the paintwork or other than the seal. It won't hurt the paint but can be a devil to get off without leaving smudges. It may leave a smear on your glass but I find it's easier to remove traces of the grease from the glass than it is from the paint. My windows sometimes exhibit al drip or two if I point a hose in their general direction. Thanks for the tip, Colin. I'll try that. A comment on progress: One should have been here when an affordable used sports car meant TR3, Sprite or MGA. Side curtains, Smith's heaters and ridiculous wipers taught you to appreciate the 'advanced' sophistication of a TR4. That's why they put frames on Morris Minor convertibles, I'm sure. They knew the potential issues with this architecture then as now. The gob smacking comfort and convenience an Evora 400 provides by comparison is absolutely regal. There's probably a way to engineer completely tight windows but it might take a frame to do it? I'm not sure the "blob on the A pillar" approach always works but if I recall, that's the usual OEM solution on a lot of frameless windows.

You all know this one!

We're hoping to drive down from Nashville to Barber in August with Jay Emm in tow as he'll be here mid-month. I'm assuming he'll want to visit the collection but that's ultimately up to him. I've previously mentioned in this thread that anyone visiting the area should feel free to contact me by PM. We'll be happy to assist in any way we can if you're touring/taking holiday in Tennessee, the Carolinas, Kentucky or northern Alabama or just need a Lotus enthusiasm fix. I realize this area isn't always the first region on everyone's list when visiting our confused land, but if you've seen the rest of the continent you're not finished nor fully informed about America until you've spent some time in the South. I've experienced the traditions and regional variations in Great Britain. Likewise the American south, for better or worse, is almost like a different country compared to the northeast or the American west. That includes fauna, flora, cuisine, landscape and a famous cultural divide as well. The South is hospitable though, probably the most "polite" region in the country. Visitors and people on holiday will enjoy it if for that reason alone although there's more to recommend it than that. Plus we have alligators!