Main reason for that is because they closed the Glasgow branch practically at the same time I bought the car. I can't just jump on a bus to MMC in Edinburgh, and this has been the single biggest frustration about owning the Elise. A knackered relay and a coolant leak aren't the end of the world, but when the service center is at the opposite end of the country and they often can't give you a courtesy car for a few weeks this really hacks me off.
When my mate puts his Boxster in for a service they give him a 911 straight away. And he pays about the same for a service, so it's not like he's being fleeced for the courtesy car. This again is a major weakness.
I've spoken to Graeme about this, and the problem with a service center in Glasgow and Aberdeen (their two proposed sites) is with Lotus wanting it to be a dedicated building with dedicated staff. They are working on it, but of course it isn't helping me.
If I had a service center I could drop the car off at, and could get a decent courtesy car at short notice, then my main reason for hating the car would go away. Minor problems quickly turn into big ones when they aren't fixed first time, and when they leave you at a major inconvenience either to pick the car up again or to do without a car while it's in.
Phraze, don't be misled that the car is particularly unreliable - it isn't. I've had just as much bother with other cars, my last one was a Honda S2000 with supposed award winning reliability. The difference was that the dealer was on my doorstep and they always gave me a courtesy car, even if it was just a Jazz or a Civic.
If I can get a decent price for an extended Lotus warranty, I will keep the car until spring and re-evaluate. If they have a service center in Glasgow, or can at least guarantee me a decent courtesy car if it goes wrong I will probably buy an Elise SC. If not, I'll either take my money to Mr Porsche (meaning mega expense cos all I'd want would be a Carrera S and I'd also need to part with my savings to do, which I loathe) or give up all together.
Thanks for the advice and comments. I also need to get out with you lot more. I haven't done so to date because the first meet I went to there was tons of you and I could only remember about 2 names, so felt embarrassed!
.... just as a 'touch wood' thing 
