RGB,
didnt you hear from your Rep?
New reason is/was something with homologation, alongside the Lotus factory holidays for 3 weeks (I wonder there is no discussion on that from the US guys, as it clearly will influence their Menlo Park deliveries sooner or later).
They say they have the first german official regular registration now, which will make it "easier".
My car, ordered an US version in Feb 2008, then changed to the european Signature with new contract in May 2008, was sheduled in the good days for May 2009. Then, someday, it was June. More recent infos then were at the end of July. One call with my Rep later it was beginning of August. Next call, it was end of August. Then I went on holiday. When I called my Rep middle of august, new delivery date was End of september. I sayed NO, and now its maybe middle of september. I am frigtened to call my rep again. The roadster is no winter car for driving in the Alps, and maybe even if the car is capable of it, I do not want to do it. I have no idea what they are doing there at Hethel or somewhere else. Lotus holidays were sheduled and not a surprice, and the regulation issue is the same for a long time. For a legal matter, they could start selling cars on that special regulation exemption since May. The norwegian company Think got this homologation several month ago!
Sometimes I was #12 in europe, but that has changed. I am now #16 or #19 or something. I cant thell exactly because they dont tell me my VIN, although I have asked several times. They reserve the right to do that (delivery slots), but there are some tricks going on there I guess.
So in total, not far away from one and a half year of waiting. Not exactly the 2+ years some US guys were waiting, but very nearby in this category. Note that we europeans pay "premium", which means between 140k and 155k USD depending on the exchange rate the order was placed. One nice reasons Darryl told by discussing price issues always was "but you will get your cars sooner". It was planned to finish 2008th, and then start with EU and US formerly MY2009, now Roadster 2 models. on the same line. Now there are more than 100 Roadster 2 deliveres in the US; which means a lot more waiting in Menlo Park, and NONE european car out there, in reality (maybe that 1 in german , but thats too less to count.).
So over all: not good. It cant be on the options (like executive leather, etc., which is standard at EU signature cars), as this options are delivered in the US already. It seems they simply did not perform on establishing the processes for homologation, quality control at hethel, etc.
Brrrrr
