Graeme @ Lotus (!) here - what I'm up to part 2.1

[GraemeLotus]

Hello peeps

ta for the birthday wishes yesterday, and yes it was my first day at Hethel. I've been coming here at least 2-3 times a year for over ten years - suffice to say it's changed more in the last 12 months than the previous 12 years....it remains an excellent place full of very clever people, and, contrary to Scottish beliefs, I've never seen turnip in the canteen.

My new job is quite complex (to describe) and will evolve over time; it's very simple in concept, and let's not muddy the waters, I'm here to help Lotus sell cars. I can't say too much on it really - initialy a kind of "sales-coaching" role, and moving on from that - let's just say it has an international dimension...!

But for now, I'm in the UK - and have unprecendented access to Lotus cars, both new and pre-owned. SO - it goes without saying - I can sell you a car still; it will be less than a year old, and fully prepped; and there will be a much larger choice of Evoras than before (we couldn't stock many at a time at MMC due to funding etc etc - rather different here!).

A lovely guy called Scott Walker - very highly rated Lotus salesperson who ran Bell and Colvill for years (he was always number 1 and I was number 2, but apart from that he's alright really) - is now working for himself, and will be selling Evoras on behalf of the factory - a kind of "direct sales" operation, and I'm working with various colleagues here to help with that. Scott can offer factory-prepped cars with national delivery - and organise finance and take trade-ins etc - his mobile is 0 7 8 8 9 4 0 5 0 7 1, his email is scott@scottwalker.eu.

Blatant plug and kryptic updates over - I'm away to look for turkey/pork/turnip at my Norfolk hostelry.



(PS PLEASE let me know if anyone goes into MMC Lotus, my curiosity is killing me)

[mwmackenzie]

Nice one Graeme! Best of luck in your new job and in the new year!

[iLotus]

Hello,

Will your international role get you down under? Lotus Oz could do with a hand / shake up / taken out back and shot.

Lindsay

[j2 lot]

Glad the cat is now ( mostly) out of the bag. Once again my congratulations on what sounds like a fantastic job And the international bit will be great when it happens. You deserve it
And I will be in touch to scratch the Evora itch later this year.

[Mikie711]

Just glad you won't be completely out of the picture and still around to sort out the odd good deal . Sounds like your dream job so many congrats and best for the future.

Also just realised that means we have our very own Lotus Rep on the forum now..............cool

[SAJ]

Congrats Graeme. Wish you all the best in your new role.

[shooomer]

persuade them to sell me that GT3? Thanks

[r10crw]

Congrats Graeme quite an exciting venture.
Curious as to what happens when you sell a car direct, ie who looks after aftersale? Surely MMC wont touch a car they did not sell and scotland is not that close to the factory?
Craig.

[Shug]

Congrats Graeme quite an exciting venture.
Curious as to what happens when you sell a car direct, ie who looks after aftersale? Surely MMC wont touch a car they did not sell and scotland is not that close to the factory?
Craig.

If it's got a Lotus Warranty, any Lotus dealer will honour that warranty, no? I'd assume it would have if supplied by manufacturer - does the used MMC warranty limit you to one dealer? Didn't think it did?

[r10crw]

Thats what I mean shug. Certainly in my field the manufacturer is constantly trying to get out of any warranty costs by picking up on stupid things to the extent we have been out of pocket several times but since you sold the customer a unit you rely on the original profit to cover some of the costs. Big issues such as engine gearbox failures is not an issue but what about things like broken switch gear etc?

[GraemeLotus]

As with every car sold in the UK, manufacturer warranties are valid at every UK Lotus dealer - I sold many many cars into England/Wales/N Ireland and the customers were subsequently looked after by their local dealers (or in the case of Ulster usually back to us!) At MMC we worked on a number of Lotii not sold by us new; the dealer fixing the car invoices the necessary work to the manufacturer's warranty department.

Bear in mind that Evora - and MY11 Elises - have a three year warranty (in line with most, and a year longer than Porsche ); so, given that the earliest Evoras are July 2009, all are under manufacturer warranty until at least July 2012, so where they are sold from is irrelevant. In terms of the factory being miles away - we can of course deliver by covered transport, with the cars being fully prepped/taxed etc before delivery - I'll use the same reliable Scottish driver I used to deliver cars to the south of England, just this time via the return journey....!

When cars have a used car warranty (at MMC, our cars out of manufacturer warranty included 12 months' warranty from Autoprotect, one of the UK's larger providers), these warranties are valid at any VAT registered garage; it's just that most of the customers only trust Craig's MMC department to get it right and hassle-free (and rightly so).

And Paul - you would be fairly thrilled by the Evora GT cars I was having a nosey at today...Lotus Sport is quite a place these days....

[woza]

congrats Graeme, i'll have to come and pay you a visit sometime now that your in my neck of the woods.....

[gorrie]

Congrats on the new role Greame... sounds like a good gig & must be pleasing to know that your good work at MMC & enthusiasm for the brand hadn't gone un-noticed by the big boys.
Onwards & upwards

[dirkpitt]

Congratulations on your new roll graham...sounds like the cat got its milk

keep us up to date and informed on any exclusives from HQ?