Hi from the Alps

[mayak]

Hello everyone,

I registered in July last year, as my Lotus Exige Sport 390 was supposed to arrive in August/September last year. Since it didn't, I decided to wait with my introduction.

After waiting for a full year (ordered on March 30th) my car finally arrived - in the wrong config, without air-con...
I currently don't know how long it will take and if I even want the car at all. It's pretty sad and frustrating, considering it is the first car I ever ordered brand new in my own spec.

The Lotus Exige has always been the childhood's dream car of mine, apart from the Gumpert Apollo and Ford RS200. So if funds ever allow, I obviously had to own one. About 10 years ago, I bought my first, used "Lotus". As I was at the beginning of my career, I had to settle for an Opel Speedster 2.2. While I really enjoyed the driving experience, it had no air-con. It was unbearable, something I would never want to have again...

Anyway, fast forward to today. I finally managed to save up enough for a new sports car. I drove a couple of BMWs in the years, but they never came close to this pure and manual drivers experience. It obviously had to be a Lotus again.

I regularly looked at used cars for sale, but somehow couldn't get rid of the thought of ordering one brand new. Just once in my life... So before the Final Editions were even announced I was regularly spec-ing 350s. But I never dared to pull the trigger until Lotus eventually did. It was my last chance to ever order one in my own spec - with air-conditioning!

You'll find my last two 350 configurations in the attachment and then the one of "my" 390.

At this point, I don't know whether I will ever own a brand new Exige. It's a pity, but not the end of the world - as I happen to own the Elise below... Crazy I know, but there isn't anything comparable to a Lotus (in my world). And seeing Lotus abandoning the Elise and Exige just meant I finally had to own one (or two).

Since I mostly drive in the Alps, consider saying hi if you ever plan a trip from the UK

Cheers and never stop driving.

Exige-Sport-350-Vortex-Grey.pdf Exige-Sport-350-Dark-Grey.pdf Exige-Sport-390-Grey.pdf

Edited April 13, 2022 by mayak

[jep]

Welcome. How very frustrating and annoying but your perspective view is wise.

Hopefully you get your Exige, one of the greatest Lotus road cars.

Justin 

[Bibs]

Hi and welcome. Are the factory dealing with this, can I have a chat with them about it for you? 

[mayak]

1 hour ago, jep said:

Welcome. How very frustrating and annoying but your perspective view is wise.

Hopefully you get your Exige, one of the greatest Lotus road cars.

Justin 

Thanks Justin and yes, I totally agree.

47 minutes ago, Bibs said:

Hi and welcome. Are the factory dealing with this, can I have a chat with them about it for you? 

Hey Bibs and many thanks. That is very kind of you. I am currently waiting for a confirmation/call on whether the retrofitting can be done 100% to factory standard.

I will keep you updated here, and would very much appreciate your help in case.

[exeterjeep]

What does your supplying dealer say, they should have checked the spec before you collected it.

[mayak]

Just now, exeterjeep said:

What does your supplying dealer say, they should have checked the spec before you collected it.

My dealership did check the spec when the car arrived. That's how they learned about the mistake. I haven't seen (or driven) the car in person yet.

[jep]

Bizarre mistake by the factory or your ordering dealer. Such frustration, hopefully Lord Bibs can assist with a swift solution.

Thankfully, you have Elise to ease some of the pain. Stick with it, Exige definitely worth the (long) wait.

Justin

[Cdm2018]

I hope you get this frustration sorted satisfactory and you accept people make a mistake now and then ?

I seldom use my A/C and to be honest it’s not brilliant anyway then again in our UK climate we seldom get a row of sunny hot days ! Lol 

hope you get to enjoy the car 👍🏻

[mayak]

6 hours ago, jep said:

Thankfully, you have Elise to ease some of the pain. Stick with it, Exige definitely worth the (long) wait.

It's exactly as you say. I am really happy to be driving the Elise. Apart from the power it is probably just as fun.
 

5 hours ago, Cdm2018 said:

I hope you get this frustration sorted satisfactory and you accept people make a mistake now and then ?

I seldom use my A/C and to be honest it’s not brilliant anyway then again in our UK climate we seldom get a row of sunny hot days ! Lol 

hope you get to enjoy the car 👍🏻

Yes, absolutely. My contact at the dealership is a big Lotus enthusiast as well. He totally understand my frustration and so do I for mistakes to happen. It's not the end of the world, just a tiny bit sad.

@Bibs I got a call from the sales manager at my local dealership today. After all it seems like there was a mistake in the order (not Lotus forgetting about the AC). By the time, I visited Lotus to order my Exige, they had an allocation of 5 cars left. It was the only one to be freely specced though. Maybe from a client who stepped back (I am not sure about this part). Apparently, the car was previously specced without air-con and that lead to the mistake. I hope I got this right.

Anyway, they really do understand my frustration and will try their best to find a satisfying solution. Maybe it has to go back to the factory or the AC can be retrofitted in 100% factory standard. They are in contact with Lotus Hethel I suppose.