MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ELISE MK2

MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ELISE MK2

Author
Discussion

ahagerty

Original Poster:

37 posts

278 months

Monday 29th April 2002
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Guys, any ideas what my rights are due to the following major problems happening with my car which I picked up new on March 13th:

1. Speedo faulty since day one... reading double speed, double mileage! Took two trips (six days back at dealer) before it got 'fixed'.

2. Tonight the speedo stopped working completely, and the engine cuts out whilst I was sitting at traffic lights and wouldnt come back on. Both the battery and the oil warning lights were flashing. ( the car had last been driven for two hours 4-5 days previous). The AA guy couldnt get the car started either.

3. ...and a host of other faults ie..unable to get into car due to locks sticking, petrol cap central barrel / lock was broken, roof leaks, speakers rattled, steering wheel off centre, window winders coming loose.....

What are my rights here regarding getting a refund / replacement car? To my knowledge, I know you must give the manufacturer / dealer a chance to fix the problem, which they have had, but the faults are persisting and actually getting worse!

I am so pissed off with the whole f@cking thing. The Elise was my dream car and its been nothing but one big hassle!

To be honest I would rather get my money back.

Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers

Andy

adeewuff

567 posts

275 months

Monday 29th April 2002
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ahagerty,

I feel really gutted for you, all that time waiting for your dream car and it turns out to be cr@p. The persistant basic problems don't say much about the competance of your dealership. If they can't get basic driving instruments like the speedo working then they shouldn't be selling let alone servicing sports cars

If I were in the same position as you I would contact Lotus directly and explain the situation and demand something be done about it immediately. With these hand made, low volume sports cars it is expected for there to be a few niggles. But it is totally unacceptable for it to be a complete clown car and fall to bits everytime time you drive it down the road.

If anything it's a liability and you are risking your safety by driving the car at all, because you don't know what is going to fail next.

Good luck and I hope you get the whole situation sorted one way or the other.

>> Edited by adeewuff on Monday 29th April 22:43

ptc

80 posts

276 months

Tuesday 30th April 2002
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Andy

See my thread on S2 Brake Noise, I could not get satisfaction out the dealer for this one hopefully basic issue of getting the pads adjusted properly.

Not sure if you have purchased from the same dealer as me, but if you are not getting anywhere fast drop Dave Massey, the Technical Services Manager an e-mail Technical@lotuscars.co.uk, he can intervene to get a response from the dealer to help resolve your mechanical problems.

The car should come under the Lotus Warranty if you have bought it from new, but it sounds as if the dealer has failed to fix the problems even under warranty. You can reject the car under one of the consumer laws, but you will have to find someone with greater knowledge of the subject and therein the mechanics of making it happen i.e. getting the dealer to accept the car back.

I must admit I have had my fair share of problems, but it has been worth it, the car never ceases to put a smile on my face, well 90% of the time.

What really does p@ss me off is the attitude of the dealers wholesale who expect the customer to be happy with half hearted attempts at rectifying problems. The does not do the car's brand any good nor the reputation of the dealers who do not offer the level of even basic service and attention that these cars require. A shame and if not looked into long term will lead to the demise of both if attitudes persist.

I shall now fall of my soap box!!

Pat

pointysquirty

44 posts

269 months

Friday 3rd May 2002
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I try not to lump all my problems together.

For example, I WD40 the locks every once in a while, and I go round with the allen key and do up the various loose bolts.

I have been back to my dealer quite a bit though (Williams). The only things that they haven't been able to do something about are the poor lights on dipped, and a rattle from the engine cover at 3,000 rpm.

Justin