A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Originally Posted by LARRY
"they gave a cursory glance over the car, told me to have fun and left. no explanation on how to start the car, things to look out for or even how to take the soft top off an on."
Really?
These renters decided to skip the inspection and the instructions... Oh well. Gee.
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They probably use that hole in the clam to charge numerous unsuspecting customers for fixing it... If you hadn't looked it would be interesting what might have transpired.
A small strip of duct tape is all you need to fix it though.. $0.01
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1 cent. Too expensive for this renter. They'll just rent the Lotus until it self destructs.
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I had similar holes in my first Elise. A $10 fiberglass repair kit and 2 hours of labor fixed it up good. I have scapes to repair on my new one, but not nearly as dramatic.
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Being able to rent a car like this is a great idea, I had always lusted after a viper coup, I rented one in Las Vagas and enjoyed it but knew that it was not what I wanted. The Elise on the other hand is exactly what I want.
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I just bought four and a half Ferraris and paid cash for all of them.
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SURFJER,
You've got the right idea... A little patch job is all good. While you're in there why not reinforce the area a bit as Lotus should have done with a couple of extra layers of glass.....
I can't believe how fragile the front clam is. Especially at the little splitter protrusions. I should get to work on mine while it is removed as Brett unfortunately slightly crushed both. I do understand someone doing it though that is not used to driving an Elise.
A:
Originally Posted by perryeyges
SURFJER,
You've got the right idea... A little patch job is all good. While you're in there why not reinforce the area a bit as Lotus should have done with a couple of extra layers of glass.....
I can't believe how fragile the front clam is. Especially at the little splitter protrusions. I should get to work on mine while it is removed as Brett unfortunately slightly crushed both. I do understand someone doing it though that is not used to driving an Elise.
IME, over-reinforcing (whatever that means) tends to change the flex point of the clam and makes funny things happen with the front turn signals. Pop. Pop.
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Ryan, you must be right, Alex works there too. I just remember Frank telling me the whole story about the battery.
Serebo, I think I saw your car while I was eating lunch off of La Cienega, it looks amazing.
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i was and am a contentious renter. they didnt even know the clam was damaged till i pointed it out.
also, i would have liked instruction on the top, starting and such, but none was offered.
i did no damage to the car. hell, i had to s how them how to put the soft top back on when i returned it.
the lotus is a great car. i was happy to drive one for 4 days. ill be happier when one is parked in the garage.
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You showed them how to put the soft top back on? What a riot!
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If you know the Elise, and it's your car, you know how to avoid damaging the car while you drive. The same applies to any of the low slung sports cars.
If you are renting the car and driving it for the first time, should you be responsible for the damage you are undoubtably going to cause if no one at the rental place gives you any warning?
That's one hell of picture in this thread of what can happen when the car bottoms out.
I recently spoke to a man who sells Morgan cars in Santa Monica, California. He told me that there is no way on earth he would ever let anyone "rent" his cars. They would (in his words) surely be destroyed.
Some rental outlets deserve credit for making a good attempt at not seeing their cars abused. But for the most part....how many of these cars have a hole the size of a shoebox on their underside, and no one is paying attention?
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true story. the rank and file people behind the counter dont know squat about the cars at this kind of rental place. sad but true.
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You rented one for $150 a day?!? Sweet God that is awsome. The only place I know of here in the DFW area is in Dallas and they charge $350 a day.
And from Enterprise no less, the "normal" rental agencies around here just have normal Chevy Ford and Dodge cars...and maybe a 350Z thrown in for good measure.
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Originally Posted by Rowdstar
true story. the rank and file people behind the counter dont know squat about the cars at this kind of rental place. sad but true.
my cars are only rented at one branch. they do not leave that branch unless on rent. no hikers or employees ever drive them. however, each and every employee that is in charge of rentling the elise is very well informed. infact they all have spent countless hours here reading through threads.
additionally, i try to spend as much time as possible with each customer before they leave the lot, usually 20 minutes or so. i want every lotus customer to have a safe fun time and enjoy the car the same way you and i do
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beauty of living in san diego. and yes, 150 a day. 4 days with all the tax and insurance and such came to $529.
they have at least 3 for rent. i was in the titanium, they also had a black and an ardent red.
zen garage has it down how it should be!! very good.
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I thank you zen garage. I appreciate it alot. So do the members of this website. You are one of the good guys.
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larry, i chime in on all these thread because I know how much you hate us car rental jockeys