Lotus Dealers god love 'em
Discussion
Hello to all,
I have recently purchased a used Lotus Elise s1. I soon encountered the "windows very stiff/drop down if tried to move" problem. After some research and a few phone calls, I understood that I needed to (amongst other things)replace the vertical "door felt runner strips".
My gripe was the manner in which I was treated and I would be interested to know other member's experiences. My first phone call was to directly to Lotus. They asked my location and gave me the number of the nearest dealer and the name of the parts specialist.
I don't want to name them because, hopefully, this was a one off, however...
After briefly explaining I had just bought this Elise and I that did not know the specific name lotus have given this part, I explained what I needed. The dealer specialist immediately made me feel like a 16 year old apprentice asking for a bucket of steam from the stores.
"What do you mean felt window seal?" he snapped,"no such part
"
"The side windows? , you don't know what you're talking about"
Again I explained that it was the door window seal, the one that the felt wears out on and becomes sticky, causing the window winder to become very stiff.
Again he sniffed and snorted and said he'd have to check the service manual, eventually coming back to tell me they had 4 left, which is exactly the amount I needed.
I drove down on my lunch and after waiting 10 minutes at the sign saying "Parts", was asked by a woman hunched over a document if I wanted parts. "Yes, I phoned about an hour ago" I replied.
"He's on his lunch, you'll have to wait, he'll be back in an hour." she said.
Instead of screaming to see the manager, I'd had the foresight to have mr nasty parts specialist agree to leave the parts at the counter, after explaining this, the woman begrudgingly rummaged through a very cluttered desk and found my door felt door runners.
Overall, very dissapointing.
I have recently purchased a used Lotus Elise s1. I soon encountered the "windows very stiff/drop down if tried to move" problem. After some research and a few phone calls, I understood that I needed to (amongst other things)replace the vertical "door felt runner strips".
My gripe was the manner in which I was treated and I would be interested to know other member's experiences. My first phone call was to directly to Lotus. They asked my location and gave me the number of the nearest dealer and the name of the parts specialist.
I don't want to name them because, hopefully, this was a one off, however...
After briefly explaining I had just bought this Elise and I that did not know the specific name lotus have given this part, I explained what I needed. The dealer specialist immediately made me feel like a 16 year old apprentice asking for a bucket of steam from the stores.
"What do you mean felt window seal?" he snapped,"no such part
"
"The side windows? , you don't know what you're talking about"
Again I explained that it was the door window seal, the one that the felt wears out on and becomes sticky, causing the window winder to become very stiff.
Again he sniffed and snorted and said he'd have to check the service manual, eventually coming back to tell me they had 4 left, which is exactly the amount I needed.
I drove down on my lunch and after waiting 10 minutes at the sign saying "Parts", was asked by a woman hunched over a document if I wanted parts. "Yes, I phoned about an hour ago" I replied.
"He's on his lunch, you'll have to wait, he'll be back in an hour." she said.
Instead of screaming to see the manager, I'd had the foresight to have mr nasty parts specialist agree to leave the parts at the counter, after explaining this, the woman begrudgingly rummaged through a very cluttered desk and found my door felt door runners.
Overall, very dissapointing.
This is very annoying to read and makes my blood boil. I don't think this is just limited to Lotus but to a lot of car dealers in general. There main purpose is to sell cars. Once they have sold you the car, they have no interest. I also had the same problem when I went looking for my Lotus, 3 times did I get completly ignored, twice at the same dealer. I was looking all over the S1 cars, showing lots of interest and not once did they come up to me and say if I needed any help. I would not had minded if they were busy and said if you need any help just come and ask. Nope, they just stayed in the showroom, either sitting by their desks or just standing and talking. I even went into one showroom to make it easy for them and hanged about. After about 5 mins I was just about to give up after sticking my nose so far into an S2 that I finally got some attention. This guy came up and said can I help and I said yes, I would like to buy an S1 and I am interested in one of the four you have, do you have any more information on them. He said all the information is on the ticket in the window. Which is bollox as it has price, mileage, colour and year and thats it. I said so what about service history, what about owners, what about modifications (I knew some had mods done to them), what about boot size. Oh erm, well i don't deal with the S1 but I can get some keys if you wanted to look at one. I said that would be helpful. So it went on, not really interested and when I asked about a test drive he said well your have to come back next week sometime. So very dissapointing especially as this was the main dealer in Leatherhead (not mentioning any names). OK, I may look young for my age, maybe looking in my late 20's early 30's (I am actually 36) but still, the service was appauling, especially as I was a genuine customer.
Linus27 said:
This is very annoying to read and makes my blood boil. I don't think this is just limited to Lotus but to a lot of car dealers in general. There main purpose is to sell cars. Once they have sold you the car, they have no interest. I also had the same problem when I went looking for my Lotus, 3 times did I get completly ignored, twice at the same dealer. I was looking all over the S1 cars, showing lots of interest and not once did they come up to me and say if I needed any help. I would not had minded if they were busy and said if you need any help just come and ask. Nope, they just stayed in the showroom, either sitting by their desks or just standing and talking. I even went into one showroom to make it easy for them and hanged about. After about 5 mins I was just about to give up after sticking my nose so far into an S2 that I finally got some attention. This guy came up and said can I help and I said yes, I would like to buy an S1 and I am interested in one of the four you have, do you have any more information on them. He said all the information is on the ticket in the window. Which is bollox as it has price, mileage, colour and year and thats it. I said so what about service history, what about owners, what about modifications (I knew some had mods done to them), what about boot size. Oh erm, well i don't deal with the S1 but I can get some keys if you wanted to look at one. I said that would be helpful. So it went on, not really interested and when I asked about a test drive he said well your have to come back next week sometime. So very dissapointing especially as this was the main dealer in Leatherhead (not mentioning any names). OK, I may look young for my age, maybe looking in my late 20's early 30's (I am actually 36) but still, the service was appauling, especially as I was a genuine customer.
I use the dealer you're mentioning and have found them extremely helpful and friendly. Nothing too much trouble, test drove however many I wanted when looking - maybe you were travelling in some sort of parallel universe that day where everything is back to front??
Perhaps you should let Lotus know how much they're being let down by this particular dealer. It might not do much in itself, but it is in their interest to have a supportive dealer network and regular complaints might encourage them to improve things.
They can't say that it's out of their hands - they appoint dealers who whether or not they wish it represent the marque.
They can't say that it's out of their hands - they appoint dealers who whether or not they wish it represent the marque.
Tuna, you know what? I think I will write and let Lotus know. The key here, as for any complaint, is for me to know what outcome I would be happy with. An apology for appalling customer service would help, but I think that should come from the local dealer. Again, I'll refrain from naming them as an advert for them regularly pops up on this site (conflict of interests? Would I get kicked off forums or threatened with it if they flexed their financial muscle?.
I've heard stories of unhappy customers berating under par dealers and encouraging others to vent their displeasure only to receive threats of legal action (not Lotus as far as I know). On what legal grounds I'm unsure, as long as you stick to the facts, how can you be threatened?
I've heard stories of unhappy customers berating under par dealers and encouraging others to vent their displeasure only to receive threats of legal action (not Lotus as far as I know). On what legal grounds I'm unsure, as long as you stick to the facts, how can you be threatened?
Just to let you know that I needed to email the Parts department of the Lotus dealer in leatherhead and they have not bothered to get back to me. To be honest, I was not expecting them to but I thought I would give them the benifit of the doubt and see if they did but nope, not a reply to a simple one line question which was basically, do you stock this part and if so how much and do you have any in stock.
Oh well.
Oh well.
Linus27 said:
hehehe true. I did use there contact page on their webpage but they may not had got it. In contrast, I emailed Eliseparts about 11pm last night and they emailed me back by 8.30am this morning 
Yeh but this is Leatherhead - they might not have put any coal in the back for a while.
This is not a Lotus dealer issue. You guys should give Volvo a go... The Mazda BMW dealer in my city is a bit on the poor side as well... but just over the bay a new Mazda dealer opened and I have had people say that the piper is getting paid on this side of the bay! 10 miles for better service and prices... no problem.
Trouble is, Lotus had a dealer in every ten states... you want the dealer to do it... you are stuck. I just do any work myself and shop parts from the best priced source as needed.
But... as stated... this is not a Lotus issue exactly. As stated above, The profit margin set up is in favor of the point of sale and not the residual service.
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
Trouble is, Lotus had a dealer in every ten states... you want the dealer to do it... you are stuck. I just do any work myself and shop parts from the best priced source as needed.
But... as stated... this is not a Lotus issue exactly. As stated above, The profit margin set up is in favor of the point of sale and not the residual service.
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
Can anyone recomend a good supplier for a set of parts to rebuild the suspension of a 1979 Lotus Esprit?
More interesting can anyone offer any recomendations on improving the suspension?
I already have plans for 18" wheels with lower profile tyres, 330mm front discs & 300mm rear discs with monoblock 4 pot calipers from AP.
Was wondering if there are any recomended damper / spring combinations for a fast road and occasional track setup?
Cheers, carbuilder2002
More interesting can anyone offer any recomendations on improving the suspension?
I already have plans for 18" wheels with lower profile tyres, 330mm front discs & 300mm rear discs with monoblock 4 pot calipers from AP.
Was wondering if there are any recomended damper / spring combinations for a fast road and occasional track setup?
Cheers, carbuilder2002
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