Lotus launches 'Handmade in Hethel' experience

[Doc883]

Not cheap but if it means you don't pay delivery charges then it may interest buyers
"The Handmade in Hethel experience costs £832.50 or £999 with the track time".

http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/defaul ... ryId=31014

[Rag_It]

£1500 if you want Mr Robertson to give up his time to shake your hand and take your cash!

[Mikie711]

£1500 if you want Mr Robertson to give up his time to shake your hand and take your cash!

That was exactly what I was thinking. Were as now if you go for factory collection you save £500 because the car doesn't need to be delivered to the dealer

[Justin]

Agree with most of Pistonheads. Great idea, although this can't cost Lotus much, and would be a great incentive to be included when buying a car.

Maybe they should charge potential customers, then refund if they buy a car.

[mxvx]

When I do decide to spend a chunk of money on a driving experience, it will be for palmersport which is a very similar price.

[Corranga]

Sounds like a great idea, and really, what's an extra grand on top of the cost of a new Lotus, especially if it's costing you less than delivery to a dealership would anyway

Someone posted that you can have a look around on google maps, the carpark must be circa May 2008 given that 10 (1 around the front, 9 at the back) of the 25 Jim Clark 25 SCs are in the carpark, and a set of painted clams for another inside the factory.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.56072 ... !3e5?hl=en

The yellow over white and blue over white Exige 'sprint' look great, but that black Elise with bright green and read leather is horrid

Niced to see the google maps car having a play with a couple of Evora's, a 2-11 and an Exige on the test track too

[GraemeLotus]

£1500 if you want Mr Robertson to give up his time to shake your hand and take your cash!

[GraemeLotus]

£1500 if you want Mr Robertson to give up his time to shake your hand and take your cash!

You all know I'm much cheaper than that

[Dark]

Oct 2008 according to the date stamp on Streetview.
You can actually explore the entire track, dodging the camera car must have been interesting for those on track!
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.56628 ... !3e5?hl=en

[Stevoraith]

When I do decide to spend a chunk of money on a driving experience, it will be for palmersport which is a very similar price.

You're missing the point I think- it's not a driving experience.

It's collection/handover of your new Lotus at the factory- track time can be added for an additional £170ish. If you can get a Palmersport day for £170 let us know where

If I were fortunate enough to be ordering a new Lotus factory collection sounds like an ideal way to make it even more special.

[mxvx]

When I do decide to spend a chunk of money on a driving experience, it will be for palmersport which is a very similar price.

You're missing the point I think- it's not a driving experience.

It's collection/handover of your new Lotus at the factory- track time can be added for an additional £170ish. If you can get a Palmersport day for £170 let us know where

If I were fortunate enough to be ordering a new Lotus factory collection sounds like an ideal way to make it even more special.

Indeed - that's what I get for not reading it properly.

I am sure it is worth every penny, and more.

etc

[Fluoxetine]

Porsche have ran something similar for a while (When I had money back in 2004 and was going to buy a new Carrera S, it was one of the options I'd picked out )

They charge around £1900, but that's for two people & includes flights / hotel / German plates & insurance to get you back to the UK.

Good move by Lotus, I reckon - Enjoyed my day at the factory a couple of months back on the SpaZ trip, and it would have been made even better if I were collecting a nice new V6 Cup R at the end of it...

Slight thread drift, but speaking of Palmersport days, did anyone see the new experience day being offered in Autosport the other week?

Takes place at Donington - You get to drive:

Clio Cup Race Car
Ginetta GT4
Formula TRS single seater (Toyota Racing Series - 115 bhp)
911 Carrera Cup car
And finish off with an NGTC Honda tin top from the BTCC (probably slower than the two cars listed above )

Costs £849 - Lots of money, but where else would you get the chance to drive half the BTCC entry card?

(http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/ ... rience.asp, if anyone's feeling flush - I'd love to, but am in 'saving up for house' mode at present )

[Mikie711]

I agree that it is a good move and long overdue TBH. Porsche, Audi and Merc all do the same and it is a good way to encourage brand loyalty, just not sure it's much of an attraction to seasoned Lotus owners but the I guess not all will have had the factory, team tours or been out on track. It's almost worth it for a copy of the build book to be fair.

Graeme, would love one of those for the Exige, build book that is, not the rest