Stirling_Villeneuve

So what's the expected first delivery on i4's now?

I've had McLaren' for almost 6 years now, many Lotus cars before that... It's a tough call, the McLaren's a whole different machine, carbon chassis, lots of tech, bepsoke v8 etc. Touch wood I've had very few niggles over that time, probably less than with my Lotus cars so no big deal, add to that I get my servicing done by Bell & Colville who used to look after my Evora...it's just like old times! That said... I've been thinking of a change for a while now, I had deposit on an Emira right at the start but wanted the 4pot and even way back in was apparent deliveries of those would be 2023... and that was before all hell broke loose in the world! I thought about the Artura, again long delays and big ticket too, even if I wanted to fork out, lease, sell a kidney I'm not convinced I could justify it! I'm a little in limbo right now, the McLaren's an amazing car, but in all honesty if Lotus had an EV version of the Emira I'd be biting their arms off right now, even if the lead time would be massive... in fact if anyone had a decent EV sports I'd be keen! The SUV doesn't appeal but I get it. As for talking the OP out of a McLaren I wouldn't discount a 570's, there's a bunch around at almost 'reasonable' prices , they're mostly well sorted cars, all the usual FSH stuff applies and does the extended warranty.

It's not for me either, despite actively looking for an EV/SUV, pricing's probably 'cheap' for a hyper SUV, ( whatever that is! ), but more than's required for our daily muddy drive, trips to the dump etc. I'd have been camping outside Hethel if they'd offered the Emira with an EV option, this is exciting though, the new EV/Esprit/Emira's got to be around the corner...

Have no fear, there's zero chance of that!

That was an option but with delivery's for the i4's at least a year off I knew I'd get itchy, especially as the warranty's up on my current car in the months so I'll probably end up actively looking around or pay the extended cost. I feel sad about it but I've no doubt I'll be back in a Lotus sometime, soon..... ish.

I just had a call from Lotus, all very helpful but a year's too long to wait for the AMG engined car so I've asked for the deposit back. Lotus have sent an email asking for confirmation and the order number, seems simple enough. It's a shame, I'm sure it'll be a great car.

DCT and V6 isn't an option right? This could be an issue... don't really fancy going back to the same power/transmission combo I had in my Evora S, although once I'd got my head around my first auto box and had a few software updates it was pretty good, but after 5 year with a 'Top Quality DCT'...

No DCT with the V6 though right, would that mean the same configuration as the Evora? I never had an issue with it but hoping it's been breathed on over the years,

V6 appeals, shame the dual clutch system look like being on the 4 pot only, which means the old Evora engine/gearbox combo unless they've given it an extra tweak? I was intrigued to see the central screen BHP showing up to 480 on Shmee's walk around video, these things don't happen by accident, maybe a teaser? Carbon brakes would be a huge plus, I got so bored of unsticking the Evora brakes. The configurator does seem a little basic, seems there's a lot of options mentioned but not showing yet, KEF ICE for example, hoping for more info as time passes. Big fan of the dark verdant look, yellow callipers... what's the rumour on the heritage paint? Love the car, still looks like an Evora to me, but it's by far the best looking of the bunch.

Agreed, it's got to be right from the off too, I'm sure most folks will forgive the occasional niggle but it needs to feel well built without previous launch series issues. I have faith though... still thinking about a deposit, I still think it's a shame Lotus didn't bite the bullet, wave goodbye to the old tech with the last of the Elise/Exiges, but hey... I'm very keen to see what Lotus have been up to.

Interesting perspective. My first semi-auto, flappy paddle box was on my Evora S, at first I started to question my decision but eventually it grew on me. The past few years with McLaren's double clutch system is something else though. I've never experienced gear shifts like those before, seamless, blindlngly quick and yet I don't feel I'm missing out on any engagement with the car, quite the opposite in fact. That box is part of the nature of the car, it's vital to the enjoyment and the experience of really driving it, in comes alive in Sport mode, it's nothing sort of brutal in Track mode, yet makes the car so easy to live with on a daily basis in normal mode. I honestly don't miss stiring a box of cogs while pumping away on the clutch with my left foot, least of all on the M25. If Lotus can build a box as engaging and exciting as McLaren's I don't think many people would miss a manual box. I'm very excited about the Emira, 12 years since Evora, I'm sure a lot will have changed...

Definitely watching with interest here, can't wait to see it!

2022... is that the projected launch for the new Esprit? Can they please hurry up as I'm not getting any younger!

I bought my first Lotus in '87, a '67 Elan S3 SE, lovely car. After that I had a Caterham ( almost a Lotus, I loved it but not in the wet! ), then after a long gap came a Series 1 Elise, followed by an S2 111 and finally an Evora S IPS, which again I absolutely loved. None of them were trouble, like Neal H, I never got stranded once, don't even recall needing the AA/RAC. One had a few more niggles with one than the other's, the S1 Elise used to fill up with water in the rain but I was younger and didn't mind the foot bath. The only car that refused to budge on one occasion was the Caterham. Not a bad record...

We bought a Nissan Leaf a year ago, really just as a toe in the water EV, see how we feel about it... honestly it's been amazing. The range in something like 150 miles, not great for a long trip but day to day pottering around it's perfect, zero anxiety after the first couple of weeks once we gave up obsessing over the range read out! We'd not realised there's a wait for the fast charger to be installed so we started charging it off the standard 3 pin socket and it's fine, charges up overnight, never a problem. Plan A is to consolidate the runabout and the Mrs's 4x4 ( proper rural we need one honest ), into a single EV 4x4 with a decent range. There's a few on the horizon, Nissan have something coming along at the beginning of next year as does VW. It's exciting, makes me feel almost clean... sort of. After that I won't feel so bad about selling the house, the kids and both kidneys for an Evija...

I've always fancied an S3 Esprit, I just love the clean lines of the n/a cars. A Ferrari 246 Dino has always been up there , I can't see that one happening given the £300k price tag, I met a guy bought 2 for restoration in the 80's, £14k the pair... right place, right time I guess! Beyond that a nice E-Type wouldn't be a bad thing, maybe an XK140, Roadster in Racing Green, a nice Austin Healy 3000, something for the weekend Sir? Too many more to list...

So it would seem! The video was taken down a few days ago and an apology posted on the MOC, word is only 4% of members responded to the posters enquiry. It's a shame though, I never let the small talk put me off countless years of Lotus ownership and McLaren have worked hard over the past few years to improve things, sadly it's a lot easier to tarnish a reputation than to build one up.

That's the overall feeling... think of the rep Lotus had, or perhaps still do in some circles, it's hard to shake off, even more difficult in this day and age. The cars are solid though, hand built so not without the occasional niggle, nothing that's ever stopped me driving or enjoying them, very similar to my Lotus experiences. As for that vid, I guess I stick out like a 'sore thumb'... likewise most owners I've met, I've not sure what to make of it, certainly not my experience in over 3 years of ownership.

Very true, I loved my Evora, just couldn't resist that extra stretch to a McLaren though. I'd love to see the companies pool resources, they're so similar in many ways, ethos, heritage. It'll never happen but hey...

Nope, I've had 2 Mac's both from new so in warranty. I've never had issues with alignment, my dealer's been good too with big improvements made over the past few years, it's great to see the independents coming onboard too, McLaren need that, so many cars out there now, the dealers are a bit swamped. I wouldn't want to own one without a warranty or taking out the annual once the original's run out, things can get out of hand very quickly if you're unlucky. Honestly though, I loved my Evora S and was apprehensive at first, I got in with the entry level 540 but I got hooked, I love the company, it's hard not to miss Lotus cars after 30+ years of obsession, I'm excited to see what new Esprit's all about.

All I can say is I'm on my 2nd Mac, no real issues with either, the current one's cheaper to run and far more reliable than the wife's Audi... stunning cars but could be tempted back to Lotus someday.

To be fair whoever bought one back in day has made a mint, but there's no cheap way to run a £15m hyper car. 'Normal' Mac's are a lot more reasonable to service though... courtesy of B&C too these days!

I just bought one... the mag not the car, ( for now at least! 😎 ).

Tyres being a big thing at that level of performance. McLaren reckon with the Speedtail, above 250mph the tyres required would make the ride far too harsh to fulfill it's GT, hyper car brief.

Has to be... it's something Lotus can lead the field on, very excited to see where this leads.