customer cars in production?

[Beady]

So I have heard...

Anyone have any more info?

[Bibs]

I can confirm that this is true if that helps.

[bolly girl]

First one off the line, any idea when Bibs?

[amoss]

Does this mean that they have fixed the problems which have been causing the delays?

[Bibs]

Can't say when the first will be off the line and passed to sales. I would assume that as they are making customer cars, all problems have been rectified.

[Andrew]

Production is well on

Not long now

Andrew

[Al]

Well at few minutes after Andrews Burnt Orange (other thread) was being photographed outside factory, photos were taken of mine on the line at 09:50 on Thursday. (Info taken only from model of camera used and time photo taken) Looks like Aquamarine is popular from cars in front and behind!

2 can be seen in front and 1 behind and no other colours visible. I have been given chassis number - so it must be true! If these were in numerical order it is car 45 down line but I am told this isn't the case. All in all, a pleasant surprise although no information when I might be able to collect. Photos are of a well advanced car with forward body panels only missing and some electrics and interior + rear hatch.

Yabadabadoo its happening!! Can't wait!

[Guest EBORA]

I read above that customer cars are now being built because all the problems have been rectified.

Does anyone know what the problems were?

Are the dealer demo cars not free of the problems?

[M100 TWO]

Business going bust, and having to resource components from new suppliers.

diff

[amoss]

Some problems with Air Con; issues with door locking/sticking; I have seen rust (yes really!) on bolts on a demonstrator. Minor perhaps but I understood MJK had required these to be fixed before customers got their cars.

The supply issues have been a challenge.

Last I heard not all of the dealers had their demonstrators.

[Mischi]

issues with door locking/sticking

Oh my, what a surprise

[Senior]

Apparently it's the 2 week shut down at the moment so no cars for a while, I reckon most would wait for 1st Sept now any way.

[Al]

Apparently it's the 2 week shut down at the moment so no cars for a while, I reckon most would wait for 1st Sept now any way.

Damn! Hadn't factored that one in! I had started getting my hopes up about a delivery offered before mid month. I had decided I would go for it and try and ignore the alarm bells ringing in my brain (not to mention SWMBO ) about the 09/59 plate thing as going onto a private plate anyway. This will mean much later in August is the earliest by the sounds of it. Which unfortunately in my case means I cannot take delivery until weeks later as I return to Brazil on the 1st September for 4 weeks.

[mail@stefan-boehm.de]

Apparently it's the 2 week shut down at the moment.

huh, I thought this applies only to active F1 teams ?

seriously, yes - summer factory closedown week 32/33 as far as I know.

[ads_green]

Last I heard not all of the dealers had their demonstrators.

Yep - Silverstone Lotus still haven't got theirs yet.

[mail@stefan-boehm.de]

on a more positive note - last Friday saw the highest daily output this year with a massive load of signed-off cars leaving Hethel. Including 11 EU dealer demo Evoras. They surely cleaned up premises before leaving for the beaches

[x6gas]

Hmmmm...

Hand-built cars rushed through the final stages of production not just on any Friday afternoon, but the Friday afternoon before a two week holiday.

Thinks: is this really 'a more positive note'?

I'm just sore coz it looks like I won't be ordering one anytime soon...

[mail@stefan-boehm.de]

its a positive note because all of them had been passed from production to sale days or weeks before friday. It was just somebody shouting "clear the premises NOW"

[Guest EBORA]

Theoretically if a dealer car came up for sale this year, it would be an unwise decision to purchase it as it left the factory without all of the problems fixed?

[amoss]

"Demonstrator" cars have to be retained by the dealer for 6 months - it is about tax and all that - so the earliest they might be available is December. I suspect that the demonstrators that have not had the minor stuff fixed will be done; it would not make sense to leave them and the dealers will want them done.

[mail@stefan-boehm.de]

"Demonstrator" cars have to be retained by the dealer for 6 months - it is about tax and all that - so the earliest they might be available is December.

Are you sure about this ? I cannot believe it in case of Lotus - there are several demo Evoras listed for sale right now. And I have seen invoices to EU dealers, there isn't even a special rebate for the demos.

[Guest EBORA]

I cannot believe it in case of Lotus - there are several demo Evoras listed for sale right now.

Where Stefan?

[amoss]

I was referring to the UK and it is concerned with tax concessions of some sort.

I am not saying that the car could not be sold, but there are definitions covering demonstrators and courtesy cars.

I understand that some large dealership groups have recovered large amounts of tax in the past.

This link might explain.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/sectors/motors/buying-cars.htm

Castle at Stansted, Frosts in Sussex and Williams in Bristol are all advertising their Evoras on Pistonheads.

Why? how will they do a demo or is there some other reason?

Edited August 5, 2009 by amoss

[TomE]

Some dealers are advertising on Pistonheads and ebay Classifieds simply to publicise that they have a demo car and are taking orders on new cars. It doesn't necessarily mean that the demo car is available for sale yet, although confusingly that is what it looks like.

[Guest EBORA]

Yes Tom, thats how I understood it, especially as some dealers had their adverts up since Christmas!

Edited August 6, 2009 by EBORA