Would you still own a Lotus if it's owned by Porsche

[rev-erend]

With the news that Proton is thinking of selling Lotus to VW and VW having 27% of it's shares owned by Porsche.. would you still keep the Lotus.

[Mrs Trackside]

Is there a reason why I shouldn't?

[Sam_68]

So long as Lotus sticks to its brand ethics of performance through light weight and innovation, instead of adopting the Porsche brand ethics of performance through stubborn, Germanically thorough, development of fundamentally flawed ideas, then yes, sure.

I'd have quite happily bought a Lotus produced under the ownership of Proton, for heaven's sake, so why should a minority shareholding by a company like Porsche scare me?

[bogie]

why not? im buying the product, not shares in the company that owns the company that owns the company

[B'stard Child]

Makes no bloody difference to me I'm never likely to buy a new one!!!

GM owned em when mine was built

[deadslow]

I would definitely get rid immediately. Who would want to be associated with Audi, Lambo, or Porsche when you have previously been the owner of Proton empire's finest?

[marandlau]

As long as any future models stick to Colin Chapmans principles, yes.

As soon as they replace the elise/exige with a Porsche relation, bye bye.

[Catharz]

I don't own a Lotus any more, so there is no question about selling mine. And the one I did own was built when Toyota had shares in Lotus.

But the moment Lotus build anything remotely like the Cayenne, I'll vow never deal with them again. IMO the Cayenne is the most embarrassing thing Porsche ever did. It's almost as stupid at the 4WD thing Lambo built. But at least they have the tractor pedigree to justify it.

[Sam_68]

Catharz said:

IMO the Cayenne is the most embarrassing thing Porsche ever did. It's almost as stupid at the 4WD thing Lambo built. But at least they have the tractor pedigree to justify it.

Porsche built tractors, too, you know!

...and I don't want to worry you, but: www.grouplotus.com/mediactr/pr_download.php?pid=314

Edited by Sam_68 on Saturday 10th February 09:02

[Catharz]

Sam_68 said:

Catharz said:

IMO the Cayenne is the most embarrassing thing Porsche ever did. It's almost as stupid at the 4WD thing Lambo built. But at least they have the tractor pedigree to justify it.

Porsche built tractors, too, you know!

Hmm, forgot about Porsche building tractors. Now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure I've seen pics of a Porsche snowmobile too (we only get their road cars here). IMO, that doesn't excuse the Cayenne though. That thing is damned ugly and totally goes against everything I thought Porsche stood for.

Sam_68 said:

...and I don't want to worry you, but: www.grouplotus.com/mediactr/pr_download.php?pid=314

Edited by Sam_68 on Saturday 10th February 09:02

I'm not worried about Lotus building EVs. If you read my post on the thread about that car, you'll notice that I have a little experience with them. The one I've driven (T-Zero) was quicker and handled better than my previous Lotus and the Evo IX I'm driving now. But at US$100,000 for a range of 100 miles, 8 hour recharge time, max 1500 cycles on the batteries, zero boot space and crappy pop-in windows (ala Caterham 21), it was a bit too steep for something so impractical. The technology has come a long way in the last 5 years though. The latest crop of EVs have ranges hitting over 250 miles, 15,000 cycles (using capacitors) and 10 minute recharge times. The capacitors are also significantly safer than Li-On. They've been tested at temperatures 100c above where Li-On bursts into flames.

[Sam_68]

Catharz said:

I'm not worried about Lotus building EVs.

Not even electric Crossover SUV's?

Actually, I was trying to find a link for the conventionally powered Lotus APX Crossover SUV, but it seems to have been removed from their media centre as old news... must be nearing production by now, eh?

Seriously, I'm with you on this one... the Cayenne is hideous and a betrayal of Porsche values, but then Porshe seems to have wider interests than sports car manufacture, these days. Nothing short of global domination via VAG seems to be their aim. Guess that's what you get when you have a car company founded by a convicted Nazi criminal?