JOE DUFFY AIRSIDE TAKE ON LOTUS

goochy

Great to hear that Lotus are returning to ireland, it appears showroom will be on same site as JLR . As irish car buyers not really into sports cars , I would imagine they are relying on Lotus future SUV models to succeed.

Always found Joe Duffys JLR dealership a bit bland compared to its competitors , so Lotus will spruce things up a bit. If it wasnt for the supply troubles with new JLR vehicles , I would say Joe Duffy would have been afraid to upset JLR by taking on JLR and possible poaching possible I PACE sales.

Lofidelity

Hopefully they bring in some used Elise and Exige from the UK to fill up the showroom.

The new Emira coupe looks great, like a mini 458 or 488 Ferrari but they're 100k sterling so it's all about the electric suv.

Montage of Feck

A lotus SUV? Colin Chapman will be spinning in his grave.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039380#Comment_120039380

Well, at least he'll have good company in Enzo Ferrari, Ferrucio Lamborghini and David Brown.

goochy

Dont think it's the same David Brown ?

With post brexit duties and high emissions don't think used Lotus imports would be viable , you only have to look at porsches sales to see Irish buyers aren't into sports cars . Taycan, panamera and cayenne are what are selling

mazdamiatamx5

Good to hear this. I knew a fella who worked for Linders when they had the franchise (for all I know he still does, ie work for Linders), I used to ask him whenever I met him if he got the opportunity to drive any of the Lotus cars, he said he was too tall to fit in any of them, lol.

mazdamiatamx5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039380#Comment_120039380

True but one could say the same of Aston, Ferrari, Porsche etc. Edit: just noticed Larbre already made same point.

Montage of Feck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039682#Comment_120039682

A Lambo and David Brown SUV wouldn't really break with their philosophy as both made agricultural machinery.

goochy

different david brown

bennyx_o

Mentioned this in the chat thread a while back. Showroom is built on the Swords site for a while but is still empty. Been listed on the Lotus site as a dealer for a couple of months now, be interesting to see when they get an Emira in how much it'll cost here

goochy

It's a corrugated building but presentable enough for temporary showroom . Big enough . Too risky building proper premises until they see how sales go .

Don't know what it is about Joe Duffy JLR but it garage doesn't feel classy more bland

mazdamiatamx5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044054#Comment_120044054

I've yet to see an Evora in Ireland let alone an Emira. Saw an Irish registered Espirit around 2012 or so on the N11 but they are a rare beast.

DaveyDave

A few dealers seem to own a number of units in particular areas, guessing this is the lowest risk way of bringing in a niche brand in a country where the most exciting car someone will own is a 2 litre diesel.

Although if the likes of Subaru are still around, selling 20-30 cars nationwide annually then maybe it's not as expensive to keep a quiet showroom going.

mazdamiatamx5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120050521#Comment_120050521

You might want to take a look at the stocklist of Beshoffs and similar dealers, plenty of exotica round these days. Porsche sold 268 cars this year (2022) up to end of November granted a fair % of those are SUV's. That said Lotus is going to be niche at the best of times.

goochy

Most of the Porsche sold are electric or hybrid.

As said if it adds some much needed glamour to Joe Duffys jaguar land rover place then it has to be a good thing .

Johnson and Perrott in Cork much more impressive dealer and loads of landys in for servicing / repairs

road_high

Can’t see lotus being my much of a seller had sort of forgotten they still existed. Did some Chinese company buy them out. It’s still a big brand so there’s probably power in leveraging that

road_high

Appears they have an electric premium SUV on the horizon so that’s likely where the opportunity lies in the Irish market. Sounds like the Jaguar I pace

https://www.lotuscars.com/en-GB/eletre

goochy

Geely also own volvo polestar and London taxis

goochy

the Eletre looks better in flesh than in photos but range supposed to be very poor .

Joe Duffy seem to be struggling to shift all the new models they have - electric and sports , no new cars listed as sold for last year - not even demo. model

ILikeBoats

We were there at the end of November, the sales fella in JLR said it wasn't open yet. Although it did look open

goochy

its been open a few months now , they are selling some used Mercs. and Teslas as well to bring in some showroom traffic.

road_high

There’s new ones up on Carzone if you search for lotus. The new suv is big money €140k ish. Mad money

goochy

yep but they arent selling

goochy

They have slashed prices of electre by about €25k ! Surely they weren't making €25k profit per car ?

Hard to see why you would buy one over a porsche

carsfan2

need to do a buy one get one free to shift one of those I reckon.

Check out the Harry’s garage review of one .
Very poor car.

goochy

It's really s Chinese car with a lotus badge