Here's why I sold my Lotus Emira and bought a McLaren..

[@ThorneyMotorsport]

Appreciate the shout out, glad we could help.

[@brianiswrong]

You should be congratulated for your honesty on what to look for and how much £££ a seemingly " showroom fresh " used mclaren can bite you .

[@NowGoWalkOutTheDoor]

Damn it, now I definitely know its a mclaren before the cover came off! Thanks Thorney!

[@McLaren750S]

Mclaren Legends.

[@Accountank]

Top tip, don't read the comments before watching the video, if you don't want spoilers on the video ​@@NowGoWalkOutTheDoor😅

[@folkmoot36]

@@terryreynolds582 Yes, like the small accumulators that keep failing, and there's not enough room to fit the upgrade accumulators. Still a hyper car for 100k, Harry's on to a winner.

[@pauldorset2124]

The fatal comment, “We’ll just go and have a look!” 😊

[@sjr999r]

My mother said that to me about my oldman ‘he’s just gone to look at it’ Yeah mum,but he’s taken the trailer with him 🫣

[@HQBProductions]

“….but you see it was an absolute bargain….” Yes…just having a look is a very dangerous move!😀😀😀😀

[@Mr1974tps]

my wife knows what that means now (after a few cars bought 'having a look') so any man maths is strictly reviewed before appointments are made...!

[@delewan]

Cars, bikes, puppies... its the same effect.

[@Chris-hw4mq]

Trading the lotus for the 650s will be a costly mistake

[@GTSCarLife]

This is exactly the kind of openness and personal conversation that made so many of us subscribe to Harry in the first place. Congratulations on your new McLaren!

[@markstewart7559]

Yes, exactly, Harry makes you feel like he’s telling you as a friend. This isn’t something you can just conjure up, it’s genuine.

[@Motivatorteo]

Agreed!! So down to earth.

[@MattBradshaw]

It’s a testament to Harry and the way he comes across that he can say something like, “I walk into the garage and I don’t know which car to choose” and not sound the slightest bit pretentious.

[@secretsquirrel3793]

I wonder how often the Countach goes to Tesco's, given that it's the preferred car for any trip?! "Just nipping to the shops love" ... Several hours later the red missile pulls into a small Ullapool supermarket carpark.

[@TheAlkennedy]

And then follow up with "it's nearly always the Countach" and we all nod like of course it is!

[@stevezodiac575]

And that is why we can relate to him, even though our transport options are more limited. In my case: my car, the wife's car (no thank you), the bike, or the bus. Hmm perhaps I need a motorcycle again..?

[@brusselssprouts560]

He is lucky to have that much money, so maybe he could spend some of it in extra taxes to help rebuild the UK. I doubt he would agree though.

[@robbrown289]

@@brusselssprouts560 He's probably spent a good amount on VAT for those cars.

[@911hillclimber]

Master class of presentation. No tat, no screams and whoooop whoops, just a compelling watch. Pure 'Harry' Great stuff, and look forward to more on the experiences with the car.

[@TelepartyPlays]

Really respect Harry’s openness on his full thought process, the cars he considered and the cost involved. As a viewer it’s nice to have a window into this.

[@aviator-kn8zq]

Yes indeed

[@mediocreman2]

Well, we didn't really get the full cost involved because he didn't say what the full cost of the new car was, or how much he got for the old one.

[@berger756]

I'm happy for Harry and his new ride! Now back to reality and my 2013 Volvo S60 T5 with 145,000 miles.

[@Andersdenkende]

4 cilinder ford? So sorry....

[@seanhershey3390]

xc70 owner here..

[@Canadian_Gamer]

I would rather your T5 over Harry’s new “purple” ride 😆🍆

[@explorelondon3695]

😂😂

[@sanmiguel4019]

@@Andersdenkende Wrong, T5s had the 5 pot lump, lovely engine actually!!!

[@eljayr4669]

When Britains most respected motoring journalist wants out, that is a serious kick in the teeth for Lotus. Wishing you all the best with your McLaren.

[@apb3251]

When a millionaire drops a £90k car for one that cost 4x that when new, only an idiot would think it was the fault of Lotus. Like if you trade in a Dacia Duster for a McLaren 570, not really a kick in the teeth for Dacia is it

[@eljayr4669]

@@apb3251 I am not an idiot and you have completely missed the point I was making. Incidentally if you bought a McLaren after a Dacia, it would be an upgrade and good luck to you.

[@splodge57]

So Harry didn't like the Lotus. Big deal. When he's fed up with the McLaren I suppose they will fold.

[@greenwoodys]

Or both 😏

[@apb3251]

@@eljayr4669 then you have missed my point. Lotus will sell numbers of these cars, already happened in China due to the owner. The supply issue in the UK is over and the second hand market has them near new for £68k so Harry is getting out before the loss is significant but him trading it in is not the fault of Lotus, he admits he just didn’t drive it enough to justify keeping it. Something anyone with multiple cars has faced in the past.

[@pwolsey42]

I am gutted that Harry is selling his Emira but kudos on the replacement. As a diehard Lotus fan and Emira owner I am acutely sensitive to how the vibe on the Emira is trending - and it seems that we are out of the honeymoon period when everyone was just so stoked to get their hands on one. Warranty issues and "I'm selling my Emira" style videos and posts now appearing. What is interesting are the cars replacing Emiras in the garage and the cars that Emiras get cross shopped with. Porsche, McLaren, C8 Corvettes - these are all outstanding cars that are much more expensive (in Australia) than the Emira. I'm happy to own a car with super car looks but 1/2 to 1/3 the price.

[@srenalgreen-ussing4399]

The joy of one Lotus owner, and the sales of another, is just a sign of how 'main-stream' and product oriented Lotus Cars has become. A web icon like Harry is to be respected for his thoróugh and cheerful, delightfully informative vid's, like no other.

[@rbarbetta1978]

I own an Emira here in The States. It's my 3rd Lotus and love it. I put a Larini exhaust and Eventuri intake on it. Also a carbon fiber engine shroud. It's so rare around here. Barely anyone has seen them on the road. It's beautiful and seems very special. (Lots or Corvettes, Ferrari, Lambos, etc where I live.) Constant attention wherever I go. Not that I need the attention, but it's a conversation piece and I love talking about cars and to other car enthusiasts. And of course it's a joy to drive as well and sounds glorious.

[@matauboy]

The nice thing about Harry is he takes you along with him . He's spending 50-60 K on a car and you're glad he managed the deal. 😮😊

[@stevezodiac575]

50-60k + the Lotus!

[@obsidian....]

17:35 It looks very Purple in this Video Harry 👍

[@johnandrews3568]

that's the amethyst in amethyst black.

[@obsidian....]

@@johnandrews3568 Maybe go to the timestamp and find out what I'm talking about...

[@openbabel]

@@johnandrews3568 Its at its best in sunlight, where you experience a purple light on the bodywork. I am waiting for McLaren to start making the carbon fibre body panels in coloured strands. My choice would be black with a race red weave. That will blow your sox off with a matching mc laptop p1.

[@Jim-wr9iz]

@@johnandrews3568 really?

[@opusgazelle]

When you took that 750S down through France your enthusiasm for it was infectious…nice to see a new addition to the garage.

[@TheAlkennedy]

When I saw the car covered I though he'd gone and bought one. Though he's got very close without spending nearly as much!

[@Ground53]

Forget the car, thanks Harry I have discovered the bank of England inflation calculator😂 . You learn something new everyday

[@HUMC5]

Too bad the inflation numbers are cooked. Real inflation is over 5%.

[@treystone1993]

​@@HUMC5Sadly, yes, the entire western world has decided to consider their citizens as morons incapable of understanding maths and are publishing pure fiction as their results for their inflation calculations.

[@procatprocat9647]

@@HUMC5 Explain how you get that

[@frankyork5808]

So nice to see that Harry is a mere mortal too. We have all been sucked in by the hype of a new car hitting the market and purchased something we ultimately didn't really want. The power of advertising and the associated hype. Good luck with thr McLaren. She looks a beauty.

[@patrickm4566]

That is an absolute stunner Harry, congratulations! Thank you for all the effort you go to in order to share your automotive journeys with us. Your style of presenting is top notch and I am always so excited when you upload something new. Enjoy the new addition to the garage!

[@alanwayte432]

I own an Evora 19plate, initially I was excited about replacing it with an Emira, the interior was astonishing in terms of functionality and quality, but something put me off, yes the Evora is not as civilised, but this morning I took it for a 5am trip to our cottage in Wales, traffic was light, I am still smiling at 5pm❤

[@AnagramAutoclassics]

And observed every 20 mph limit, of course. 😉

[@spencerbrowning4126]

I loved my 19 plate GT410 Sport in Monaco white. Got Emira now which I equally love

[@themidnighttavern6784]

I personally view the evora as being far more desirable. Imo, it's the best looking car lotus ever made, and they're apparently extremely reliable, at least the automatic versions are. I'm genuinely planning on getting one in the coming years. I don't think you're missing out on much with this new lotus, it looks like a lumpy frog.

[@stardogMLB]

​@@themidnighttavern6784the Evora is, indeed, a nice looking car. I personally think the Elite is the best looking Lotus with a huge nod to the mid-90's Espirit.

[@axe2grind244]

Gimme a supercharged Emira with a 6 speed and I’d need plastic surgery to remove the smile from my face.

[@MiataBRG]

I'm a bit bored of my new Astra. Might put another £50k in to PX for something else...

[@mattWallJsy]

And you’ll still only have a third of a McLaren…. 😢

[@DueGreg]

It is more than 50% of a 650s

[@beastieboy3926]

So your happy to part with £51 K. Ha,only jokin`.There`s nothin` wrong with an Astra.

[@davidfoster3814]

Good move !

[@jkutv]

😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 Haha

[@christianabandabella235]

Sign of the times: going back to old or used cars because there aren't good new ones anymore.

[@jimboh.2654]

There absolutely are but they cost 350k

[@fraserwright9482]

Yeah I think that's a bit rich, this was £350,000 in today's money and this was a £50,000 with a trade in. A 765 is what he wanted, but he isn't spending 150k

[@OldskoolCatflap]

The powers that be would rather you didn’t drive at all. If a buying a new car is uninspiring and far too costly for most, that suits them just fine.

[@Digiphex]

@@OldskoolCatflap As long as they can drive and eat lots of meat!

[@Matthew-ll9ke]

At what point in the video did he mention wanting a 765?​@@fraserwright9482

[@YouTube]

Harry's videos are always so transparent, one of the many things to love about them !

[@gmr409]

Beautiful Harry, just beautiful. All McLaren are wonderful, but this one is rare and special. A perfect addition to the garage.

[@BobTheBlue]

Looks like Mrs Harry has told him “no more new cars unless you sell one first!”😂😂😂

[@richardcarter1000]

Know the feeling

[@Adriaaan]

He's said for years he has a one in, one out policy.

[@Resist_Oppression]

A real man doesn't listen to his wife when it comes to cars

[@andrewgurney6019]

@1 Car, one handbag , a pair shoes and a holiday in the Med.

[@gnicholaus4890]

Happy wife happy life 😂😂😂. Better than wife ask for another birkin

[@Renzsu]

Wow that's quite a car, I love the yellow accents and even that large lettering on the seats. Beautiful color as well, always thought that purple made for quite a classy and confident look.

[@sheilamorrison1954]

I love the way a "sports exhaust" is an option on a hypercar.

[@lptomtom]

They'll fleece their gullible customers on everything they possibly can

[@ArmadilloGodzilla]

Should rather be called Sportier Exhaust

[@RAZGR1Z]

Ask Ferrari owners about paying thousands just to install Car Play.

[@geztaylor]

Just crazy isn't it, I saw Ferrari charging 7.5k for electric seats on a 600k car the other day.

[@kiwi335d]

Great video Harry. I see allot of people commenting on the idea that you selling the Emira is somehow a kick in the teeth for Lotus, however if one looks around at all the amazing cars in your shed, then it is easy to see why the Emira should be the one chosen to go. It was great to see the videos of you spec’ing, ordering, visiting the build at the factory, new car pick up day and the fabulous road trip abroad in the Emira. I’m not sure what else you’d need the Emira for, when you have all those other performance cars sitting there waiting in the shed, but I am sure the next owner will be as excited to take ownership of the Emira as you were. Congratulations on the beautiful McLaren and looking forward to some amazing video content with it soon.

[@Woohoo-1122]

Could tell it was a McLaren immediately but wasn’t sure which one… they all look similar to be fair.

[@Jim-wr9iz]

Fair.

[@billgordon6489]

Yeah me too when I read the effing title 😂.

[@Woohoo-1122]

Well it’s much easier to tell now it’s in the title! 😂

[@illegalmodsquad]

You are absolutely correct. They all look the same, but also have stupid names that no one can remember or keep straight, or at worst sound like a PIN code or wifi password ("MP124C" ???) , are all automatic and have THE most bland interior imaginable. Most overrated sports/super cars ever. The F1 was cool 30 years ago and bravo for that but like, jfc just about everything after that screams "I want a 'super' car but I have no taste and coherent statement design philosophy scares me". Post F1 McLaren is the Meh McNothingburger of the car world.

[@hamidq9547]

I love the story of this purchase! You’ve just described the process so many of us go through I suspect - whatever the budget!

[@navion1946]

To be honest I’m more excited about the Emira. You can always buy higher speed, but the Emira strikes a neat balance of great, accessible performance and economy.

[@rowen0fstrata]

Yeah that’s where I’m at too. Looks like he caved to the power of branding.

[@scottcrawford3745]

@@rowen0fstrata I don't believe that he "caved" at all. He upgraded. That McLaren is a hell of a car. Ride like a firm luxury sport sedan. Steer like go-carts. And accelerate like the Devil Himself is after your car's soul.

[@davidfoster3814]

Agreed. Also I think the McLaren , especially in such a dark colour, looks so aggressive . The Emira looks pure class .

[@razor1uk610]

Seems like a few comments are posted by Lotus company employees family members friends, trying to keep the hype train rolling for investors & customers of a lpoor customer care model, methinks.... I wonder how they'll bite ..?😅

[@RCDriftTok]

Great choice looks brilliant! I loved my 650s spider owned it around 18 months and would definitely recommend them!

[@lchan1977]

HG youtube is so pleasant to watch. It is like meeting someone really friendly at the bar and telling you their stories or adventures.

[@CCFerrariF1]

Not a black car lover either (despite my L322 being black) but this amethyst black is absolutely stunning! A hint of purple too. Wishing you all the best with your McLaren, Harry. Enjoy it in good health, thanks for the openness of the story - Best from America 🇺🇸

[@AntoniusTyas]

The Geely vision of Lotus is to use Lotus credential to sell Geely products. No disrespect to Chinese cars, my friend owns an Omoda 5 and it is a really good car, but I absolutely despise what Geely is doing. Those new Lotus people have been calling old Lotus fans and workers as 'bobblehats'.

[@_Ben4810]

The Geely vision is to sell cars & build a profitable brand. They're not jumping on the Lotus brand, heritage or credentials to flog other Geely products whatsoever. If they were bringing out Lotus Volvo, Lotus Polestar, Lotus Zeekr or even Lotus London Taxi variants then fair enough, but they're pushing Lotus in an unprecedented direction which Colin Chapman (& Fred Bu$hell....) could only have dreamed of. Let the cryboys cry, because had they not bought Group Lotus, continuing to build an ever decreasing 300no Elises a year would have turned Hethel into a self storage facility or a Banham Poultry chicken farm to cover the overheads.

[@mrrakalanov]

Omoda? You are from russia?

[@MrMightyytau]

I absolutely agree, To me and other old Lotus people, the last Real LOTUS's were the Elise Exige and Evora,

[@michaelbarton4787]

Sadly oldies remember brands as they used to be, so having a great big EV SUV is just goig to kill the brand in alot of peoples eyes.....

[@MrCarGuy]

The plan from the beginning was to use the brand equity to compete in the massive luxury race of China. This is why you protect your culture and Lotus is a huge part of British culture

[@Driffttt]

Congratulations Harry

[@dcartellone2659]

Went through the whole process of specing the Lotus. To get rid of it so soon. Actually Lotus looked alot better in my opinion.

[@JWL-UK]

I looked into the Emira for being available with manual transmission which is crucial for me but after all the reliability issues I settled for a manual V6 F-type and I'm super happy. The Emira pick up video was awesome!

[@Fiorano-ci6bh]

What a fantastic MSO find hiding in plain sight. And as suggested spent a few hours watching Thorney video and wow we need more experts like John in the world …so helpful and old school service 😊

[@bblair2627]

The story and the thought process from the Lotus to the Mclaren was genuinely fascinating. I went out to the drive and looked at my Civic for a few moments and my wife shouted "don't even think about it". Thing is, I was going to keep the Civic and upgrade her! hey ho

[@razor1uk610]

Civic's do have a strong and wide range of well developed thorough parts availabilities open to them, some of which aren't relativistically expensive either for the gains. Plus a lot of good & reasoned knowledge among their tuning owners clubs, forum group's, communities etc; ...with a bit of self research to spot & ignore the few egotestical fools offering bad advice within those said communities.

[@gregsheppard1457]

Congrats. You can hardly keep the smile off your face!

[@PixelVogue]

Jack at Royal Steering wheels isn't too far from you Harry, man to see to sort out the steering wheel 👍 Done afew for me over the years.

[@baronvonhoughton]

Agreed, I got mine done there. Super job.

[@rare6499]

Done a few for me in the past and always doesn’t fine job 😎

[@neilparry14]

Had mine done by Royal, great job.

[@SmallBlogV8]

Can also confirm, does a good job.

[@atom999]

100pc agree. Retrimmed steering wheen will make the car feel fresh

[@rob_lightbody]

Harry's deep understanding of both cars is the same as i have when switching cars, even if my budget is usually a tenth of his! I'm a car enthusiast who doesn't understand the appeal of a super fast car, and prefer something more like his Elan (or my mini) where you can work the car hard legally on the road. Love the colour and the special MSO history, You've done the right thing Harry!!

[@63humanbeing]

That’s why Harry is a legend within the industry… His brutal honesty, could be the best that ever happened to a manufacturer, or their worse nightmare, like the case of Lotus

[@joedesi99]

Drove an Emira on track. It’ll blow the minds of 90% of most people. Fantastic little sports car.

[@pobinr]

Oh but it's not as fast as a car costing 4x as much 🙄

[@joedesi99]

Can you really drive these cars as they are intended on public roads though? End up just getting frustrated as you never come near their limits which is when you start to connect with the car. They only work on track and even then the risk of having a very expensive accident is high so most owners don’t push it

[@jamesw1659]

I did the Lotus Driving Experience at their test track at Hethel, and I agree completely. It is a superb little sports car. It is also prettier than most of the competition.

[@StuOldroyd]

Harry - having fun a 650s Spider for 15,000 miles, the Michelins are far superior to the Pirelli’s. It’s like night and day. So much more grip, poise and feel.

[@coolguy_2997]

It’s actually hard to name a tire manufacturer nowadays that is inferior to Pirelli in terms of grip levels in their sport line series. Any pick of good Chinese, Japanese, or South Korean brands will be far better, while being cheaper

[@razor1uk610]

I could never trust tyres made in/by/for the PRC, upon any expensive and/or any high performance vehicle ever. Perhaps for a cheap runabout, but even then, so many EU & Japanese tyre companies offer better averagely cheap tyres with longer more trustworthy pedigrees of quality control and construction materials, than the future repercussions that WILL be found in time, with Mainland Chinese tyre companies products, as all PRC products eventually and inevitably do suffer from .

[@coolguy_2997]

@@razor1uk610 your ‘trust’ is your subjective feeling based on nothing actually, because many of Michelin and other EU brands actually produce a giant share of their products in China, because it’s by far the largest and most profitable car market in the world, so logistics-wise it’s well-reasoned , moreover its easier and cheaper to renew equipment in China, therefore products are produced of better quality. Moreover, if you ever were at a current track, drifting or time attack event, you would know that the majority of even track-prepped Ferraris and Porsches now run on Nankang tires, that are relatively affordable while being on par or better performing than best EU competition. The world is changing so get your knowledge up to it.

[@niosanfrancisco]

WOW ! LOVE THE COLOUR. !

[@ryanritchings2834]

I just got a 600LT and I’m in love with it. MSO spec, full ss exhaust, carbon everywhere, hurts my back after a 45min drive but it’s worth it because it puts a huge smile on my face.

[@VinderGroup3]

I’ve got huge admiration for Harry explaining his reasons, sad as they are as the Emira is a beautiful car and British. However he also shows some lessons to be learned, think very carefully before buying a car especially when the price isn’t disclosed to you as a buyer and is it really what I want? I don’t have the cash to buy without knowing the price so I’m in a different position but hats off to Harry for his honesty here. Great video as always.

[@skodakid1]

Great video- I love the fact Harry could be talking about any expensive car he has or wants but never sounds like a show off - just a proper car enthusiast ….. he consistently shows the young KZbinrs like JWW or TGE how to do it.

[@ianmuir3640]

JWW is not bad but he likes to play the rich guy show off

[@robertosacchi689]

@@ianmuir3640 Shmee150 even more so

[@spainter1985]

Very true, he's not a tosser like JWW

[@matthewcole1933]

What a find! Stunning Sir! 👏👏😎

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Bugger, I thought the Lotus was a winner? 😮 Edit; okay, makes sense now. 🤔

[@Lemma01]

Quite - as a Lotus fan, I'd swap for £50k (if I was allowed...). 🎉

[@gavinsullivan9015]

Ditto. But a 650s I’d be out the door too!

[@ArchimedeanEye]

Car seems okay, company is a dud

[@user-ug8wx5er1w]

It’s Chinese lol

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

@@user-ug8wx5er1w Company is owned by Geely, but all production is in UK.

[@D3Brian]

An enthusiast’s review can be intoxicating to watch. Regardless of the subject matter, enthusiasm shines through every time. Enjoy the car Harry!

[@nickH-worth1984]

That’s a shrewd move Harry, as the Emira will only devalue. Whereas and granted its cost a few £ to change, but in the MSO it’s safe money and most likely will retain its current value. Bravo!!

[@nigelbond4056]

Lotus are playing a dangerous game. Over priced and under delivered; their self-inflicted woes are sure to continue.

[@TheAlkennedy]

It's such a shame, they are designing really really beautiful cars.

[@treennumbers]

Lotus gonna Lotus, as the kids say.

[@davidtaylor9593]

Harry, when YOU bail on Lotus, I fear for the company.

[@hughstultz7849]

Worrying times I fear for L-o-t-u-s

[@Jay-xr3sb]

15k-20k lost on a few thousand miles of driving

[@romulus_]

@@Jay-xr3sb such is depreciation. somehow, I think he'll be okay.

[@oldmcdonald6319]

​@@Jay-xr3sbbet it earned more than that in video views though

[@cdb5001]

Geely already destroyed Volvo. They're just doing their next assassination.

[@donnyc6374]

👏 beautiful classy choice as always, Sir Harry never disappoints. Enjoy in health and looking forward to the 650 content - another epic road trip!

[@kevletmein]

It’s awesome when someone like Harry ends up finding a true gem of a car. The gods aligned for a motoring Gent. Keep the videos coming 💪🏻

[@paulbush7095]

As much as I want to I just can’t bring myself to be resentful and jealous of you. Sincere congratulations on another fine addition to your collection Mr. Harry! At least I can enjoy your incredibly tasteful compilation of autos vicariously.

[@Desertduleler_88]

A supercar with a real engine, a V8! Congratulations on your new purchase Harry...

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

‘Real’ supercars as you call them have V12s🤷‍♂️

[@Desertduleler_88]

@@Jabber-ig3iw McLaren’s beat V12’s.

[@EvoraGT430]

@@Jabber-ig3iw Carrera GT and Lexus LFA say otherwise.

[@phildavies7666]

Having seen the new Lotus saloon and the 4x4 truck i found myself feeling disappointed. They just looked like cadilacs and lacked a sport feel, which is what a Lotus should be. The Emira is lovely, but i can't get it out of out of my mind that Lotus are no longer Lotus. Why Geely bought a very specific sports car company to turn it into a run of the mill production car compantly is bejond me. I also have issues that it's a chinesse company to be frank. It is still a country run by dictators at end of the day..

[@olliet2977]

A comparative Lotus Emira alternative would be an A110 or Alfa 4C. Not a McLaren 4x the value. The emira must be very good value if this is considered a replacement

[@TheSaint491]

This is a matter of perspective: fundamentally the emira is very similar to the evora 400, which is a 50k car these days. With lotus still having qc issues, can you honestly say you’d have the looks and interior of the emira over 40k saved in your pocket with an evora? Another point to consider is depreciation, which matters to all of us, harry included. The emira has been unusual for a lotus in that they’ve lost nearly 20-25k in a small amount of time, compared to the steady residuals lotus usually have. McLaren by contrast have smoothed out the depreciation now they’ve changed their building practices with the change in management, so they’ve all slowed right down. See John thorns videos for more.

[@ManNoName-c9u]

@@danmel3978 4x value new. does that help your maths Mr.Whiz? This McLaren has 80k of extras alone which is approx the cost of the Lotus, so it does seem that it is not a like-for-like swap......

[@ManNoName-c9u]

​@@danmel3978 Far be it for me to be fighting someone elses battle but 19:00 list price + extras McClaren in 2024 would be 380k, 7:30 Lotus 90k which is >4x multiple. Seems pretty reasonable to say the McClaren cost x4 the Lotus and the Lotus should be considered excellent value if the McClaren is replacing it!!!!! Being an accountant I can tell you 'value' means whatever the person using the word wants it to as it contains 'intangible' elements and is an 'unrealised' figure. 'Cost' is what money exits your bank account - your bank manager cares about one and not the other. You may 'value' a s/h Porsche costing 20k far more than a VW Golf costing 20k. Or not if you're liquidating someone's assets. Hope that helps. Sheesh......

[@danmel3978]

@@ManNoName-c9u did someone say msrp?

[@danmel3978]

@@ManNoName-c9u i bought some gold in 2002 for 400 an ounce the value is stll 400 an ounce for some reasonbecause i dont know what value means.nmy 650s was some insane pruce at some point tjough it's value is now 117,000 its value is actually it's msrp That's how life works

[@fteoOpty64]

"I wandering into this garage and.. Oh, which one should I take?". One of a very few who has such privilege and good on you!. For others, before they set foot in the garage, they had the right key on hand... 😊😊😊

[@davidmurray3685]

Geez Harry! I absolutely love the way you tell a story. Brilliant ❤

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Got super excited when he mentioned that GT... That's the McLaren I'd choose.

[@PSUK997]

I sold one once and the client traded in a Mulsanne in that he was currently doing a serious mile road trip in. EVERYTHING from the Mulsanne fitted inside. It was remarkable and hilarious at the same time!

[@chrisjonckheere8138]

I’ve been been following your channel for ages and love your contributions very much. This one though I am in a little bit of a shock. I took delivery of my Emira 6 weeks ago and must say it is a wonderful car and achingly beautiful to look at even at standstill. I can confirm all the troubles to order the car as well as getting it delivered. I can also agree that the Geely way of using the Lotus badge for selling electric cars is not the way forward, although it certainly kept Lotus alive. Your decision, although I have to respect it, will certainly not help Lotus, since you are one of the only KZbinrs giving the best and right advice. Your Emira trip helped me with having to wait so long for mine. I am going to miss it in your garage.

[@devanshgupta9860]

That is a pretty special colour. Looks great!

[@MichaelsFJRestorationProject]

Utterly stunning Harry! Fabulous. Really look forward to seeing more of this. Michael

[@rousemotorsport]

I always love to hear Harry’s unvarnished reviews. I want Lotus to succeed. This is such a better car than the Lotus. Parent company is killing Lotus. An all electric Lotus will be fast but boring.

[@tfrowland]

Does anyone recall in his Lotus factory visit when Harry was talking to the Lotus engineer and enthusiastically described the Emira as looking like a budget McLaren?😂

[@darraghokeeffe7877]

If you didn’t know anything about McLaren and saw that car. You’d say it was brand-new. That design has not aged one second. It’s not really fair to compare it to the Lotus. They are so far apart in the marketplace, in the ethos, and in the performance.

[@FELIXTOO2]

Lovely spec on that Harry, congrats!!

[@iainsallotment-plot5245]

Brilliant video just the right amount of suspense 13 minutes in and he uncovered the car with real excitement brilliant thst harry gets excited about his new purchase

[@SomannaMuthanna]

No other youtube reviewer would i watch the entire show to see the reveal. All the other ones i either go immediately to the comments for the spoiler or fast forward to the moment. Great video!

[@carneylad]

The horror story I’m having with my Eletre R is unreal. Been completely bricked for 8 weeks after being in various service centres for weeks prior to that. Nightmare.

[@drfisheye]

So a true Lotus after all. Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious.

[@jammy_rex3038]

Sorry to hear that, sounds a painful experience... Could you elaborate on your story with the car, I'm sure it will be something that others would be interested in hearing the details of? I was astonished at the lack of efficiency in the electric drivetrain when Harry tested one on his channel.

[@BertoniBertone]

Why ‘buy’ a BEV in the first place ? Not you of course …but the vast majority ‘acquire’ a BEV from a BIK tax dodge standpoint and create a use-case from there. We all make mistakes. I suspect you won’t be moving out of your car into a Taycan….?

[@cbotten106]

Hope they get it sorted for you.

[@carneylad]

@@jammy_rex3038 Without going into too much detail, the car went in due to an error with the active antiroll bars. The service centre connected it to the diagnostic computer. It crashed during a firmware update and completely bricked the car. The service centre weren't aware that the car needed to be kept on a trickle charge at both the from and rear when undergoing firmware updates so the ended up blowing the super capacitors for the 48V system which ultimately resulted in the HV battery failing. Fast forward a few weeks and Lotus had to fly a team from China to look at my car and replace some components. That was about 3 weeks ago. The car is still stuck in service and no timescales for it being returned to me. If it ever does come back, would I trust it??

[@huzaifanadeem188]

Cool spec !, Can't wait for a road trip video in this beauty!!!!

[@Scalarissa]

We had a space in the garage after moving our F430 on. My wife was all in on the Emira having owned an elan in the 90s. We held off until our friends bought one but they ended up stranded in France on their maiden voyage. Such a shame. We've since filled the space with a v12 ferrari and are delighted with it. I do hope Lotus produce a new reliable Esprit in the future. My boyhood dream car and we will make a space in the garage for it

[@MrBlaadieblaa]

You can just tell us what v12 Ferrari you got, we won't judge.

[@Scalarissa]

My avatar gives it away

[@axe2grind244]

How does one get stranded driving a car powered by a Camry engine. That sounds like outrageously bad luck more than anything.

[@Scalarissa]

​@@axe2grind244Ask Lotus. They picked it up in France and returned it 5 weeks later. Electronics was hinted at. Frankly, we left it at that. Not for us.

[@caseytailfly]

As a vintage Lotus owner it sounds like a very authentic Lotus experience 😂

[@marky9117]

Nice to know even Harry does the old “Low to high” filter. It’s my go-to setting the moment the classifieds page loads up. 😄

[@liamcooke8426]

I was thinking to myself “I wonder if that is the same colour as P1 OOV” just as you told us in the video that it is, it’s certainly a beautiful colour. I love the ever so slight hint of purple.

[@rajkohli81]

I love how Emira owners are trying to spin this, but there's no two ways to look at this.... Harry has tried his very best to promote and support Lotus, but ultimately, the product was too flawed for him to keep his own money in it.

[@anthonyknox1493]

Exactly. I think Harry said a lot about his Emira ownership without saying much at all. I remember watching his roadtrip review of his new Emira and thinking he seemed underwhelmed by it, and I suspect he's had a lot more teething troubles with it than he's letting on.

[@sutats]

+1 if you're old enough to remember the 12C was initially named MP4-12C.

[@robertdavies922]

Old enough to have one in the garage 😊

[@jimpydj]

And me 😊

[@STERNWAERTS]

sounds like a calculator model

[@tm55555]

@@STERNWAERTS excuse me, it's a fax machine and also I have one in the garage 😄

[@baoquoc3710]

Well it would be hilarious if you see a Tesla named X-AE-A12 too.

[@EleanorPeterson]

If I were in Harry's position - walking into the garage, wondering which car to take for a thrash around the B-roads - I think that more often than not I'd pick the Elan. Sophistication is all very well, but it can be a pain, too. Compared to today's ever-more bloated techno-toys, the Elan has all the sophistication of a bike, and that's what makes it [for me] such a long-term winner. How nice to have a simple, lightweight, analogue, old-school car with an entry/ignition key and ordinary door handles, a simple engine and gearbox, and a well-sorted suspension. Modern cars seem to treat the driver as an optional accessory - just part of their 'assisted cruise' specification. They decide how you can operate them (I get the impression that some won't even let you open the doors if they're not in the mood); the Elan just does what you tell it to. I like that. Yes, it's a Lotus, and yes, it'll probably go wrong, but at least you can beat it over the head with a Haynes manual and put it right yourself.

[@razor1uk610]

I wonder if Harry should get or has a MST Escort in a relatively basic/simple to trolling weapon spec that'd be as easy of usability, reliability, driver enjoyment & feel etc as the old Lotus is, does...?

[@whatsupwithsteve]

Aw Harry, I relied on your exuberant praise of the Emira and ordered one. Thank goodness my "spidy senses" kicked in after all the delays and I cancelled my order. Now it appears I dodged a bullet by not buying the Emira! Too bad because it's beautiful. I'll take these glowing reviews with a grain of salt from now on..:)

[@jayb1108]

One of the guys with a clear view and the patience and ethic to follow through and articulate it 👍👍👍 quite a mclaren fanboy though 😊

[@StarHorseLover2012]

The only thing he could find to replace an £80'000 Lotus was a £280'000 McLaren. Praise indeed for Emira, I would say.

[@TrustMeIKnowEverything]

650s are about 70 to 90k 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@JaviLavandeira]

@@TrustMeIKnowEverything Used. On a 8-10 year old car. Looks like you're the clown in the conversation.

[@jetplume]

​@@JaviLavandeira So it's much faster and better to drive despite being 10 years older, then?

[@baoquoc3710]

there are used Emiras now. You can't figures put who's the bigger clown than who.

[@davidsparavec8996]

@@TrustMeIKnowEverything That says everything about the 650.

[@tonygates4834]

Still think the Emira is a much better looking car. Thought it was a keeper Harry, especially having your chassis personally signed by the builder’s. A real shame I was looking forward to further videos on it which never materialised, shame.

[@rd5140]

Something tells me he was having issues with his emira but didn't want to throw Lotus under a bus😮

[@nickb-]

@@rd5140 No, I suspect it was more about a massive falling out with Lotus after his very negative review of the Eletre.

[@prashanthp5448]

The Emira isn’t aligned with the values and ideals Lotus fans have grown up with. It was a gamble and it will take a while before people warm up to it

[@nickb-]

@@prashanthp5448 Well, it's not a track car like the Elise or Exige, but it is 100% "aligned" with older Lotus models like the Esprit and Europa. I think of it as a modern Esprit (in fact the interior design was inspired by the Esprit)

[@lotusgroup123]

I agree, given the build-up to the collection of the Lotus we all thought we would see just a bit more of it before it was moved on. A shame.

[@biffabeau]

Thought the Lotus was a better looking car.

[@TweakRacer]

It looks like a baby McLaren 😂

[@Jim-wr9iz]

The Show Car definitely was. As you, I, and most other enthusiasts know, There's always a letdown between the concept/show version of a car to production.

[@flat4-]

Congrats Harry, this really is a car for you. I wish you many safe and fun lives with it and keep the video's coming. !!!

[@rico5192]

This story is a scarily close to my current mindset. I love my Emira, but frankly it is a gateway car to the super car world. My ending will hopefully vary only with the cover being pulled off a 600 LT. Great work man!

[@matthewelliott2213]

That's clearly a punch in the nuts to Lotus....Speechless at the frank honesty in truth-telling in this epi. Thumbs up!

[@_Ben4810]

Meh...it was mostly irrelevant to actually owning & driving an Emira. Harry just dragging up Lotus corporate info simply to pad out a video.

[@pobinr]

Why A car 4x the price of an Emira when new, so it's higher spec. As if that makes the Emira not worth owning 🤔 And what does the initial long waiting time for Emira, plus the fact the Lotus EV isn't very good, have to do with the merits of the Emira? 🤔 Unconnected events surely 🤔

[@fastricky4923]

I'm a bit disappointed by this video and the comments too. I've rewatched the videos of Harry and the Emiras - the reviews and enjoyment he expressed were very high. For those of you who say "Evora was the highwater mark", well Harry wasn't a fan of the Evora, he liked the Emira far more. So aside from having an itch for a car that retailed for three times the price, I didn't hear anything specific as to what caused the switch. Bottom line, Harry is someone who can afford a garage full of world-class, drool-worthy sports cars and also move inventory around when he likes to, so I don't think it's fair to say Lotus is now done for because he spent more to go to a MacLaren. Personally, it's a bit mad too IMHO - where are you going to drive the MacLaren in a way that exploits the sort of performance it is capable of, or that 10% more it offers over the Lotus? Me, I'd prefer the Lotus and still aspire to own one one day.

[@fastricky4923]

@@NeillStaniforth You cristalized my thoughts further. Not to file on Harry, I remain a fan but as a farm owner I would also like to think Harry has some idea about the financial structure and design marketing that would dictate an eSUV and not hold that against the company, nevermind the issues from releasing a new vehicle under a new parent company post pandemic from a company trying to remain relevant against massive rival companies etc! #emirarocks

[@carolnoel9348]

definitely a step up over the Lotus

[@EvoraGT430]

Umm it was £300K new!

[@4Kandlez]

Yes a 50k step up

[@jonoagustin870]

Wow, what a fantastic story.....Harry's just bought a "new" car for ~ 60% less than its original new cost....but its 9 years old.??....must be something very special ......and so it is !! Your infectious happiness in your new car made me re-run this video and I look forward to seeing more on this little known car and sharing your journey of its ownership. Best regards John

[@pt99810]

Terrific choice Harry and great detail in video. Your honesty, openness and authenticity are compelling. Lookingh forward to video of your driving new toy!

[@alfonsodriver1324]

What has happened to your best car, Harry! Your 1954 Land Rover 86 Inch? Kindest regards - Keep Up The Great Videos!

[@PaulFellows3430]

He still has it and uses it every day on his farm!

[@garryarmit8688]

It has been away with head gasket problems.

[@geraint8989]

Well done, KZbin, for giving me a Lotus Emira ad during this vid. Lotus marketing getting it right again.

[@mrb4211]

I got one too. Emira ad at 15 minutes 42s.

[@seanhershey3390]

I still hate black wheels on anything

[@LawrenceTimme]

Bit racist

[@mimo5383]

@@LawrenceTimme Which bit?

[@nickpage2949]

And wheels with an even number of spokes don’t work

[@8arcbal]

Agree - silver alloy wheels looks great. Good example is Harry's ex Emira.

[@mikeholling8830]

Yeah couldn’t agree more.👍🏻

[@macro6438]

Welcome to McLaren running costs! The cost of those options Harry mentions sets the future costs of spares, and also the huge cost of servicing a McLaren. This is why McLarens look like a bargain price when they come up for sale - the cost of buying one is only the start of it. But that will be no surprise for Harry!

[@Gorbyrev]

Heartily approve Harry. I am sure many of us have P1 OOV in our fantasty garage. Thorney Motorsport and other independents will play a vital tole opening up McLaren ownership to enthusiasts.

[@Chogie14]

Wall played Harry. That's a big win

[@NightfallDrives]

Congratulations Harry, great choice. Hoping to put a 650s spider alongside my Evora someday, if your ownership doesn’t bump up prices 😆 Sad to see Emira go, let me know if you’d like to sample an original Evora S for a bit 👍

[@chriswaggett163]

Thanks Harry, for walking the journey many of us take! However, I was struck by the McLaren’s horrendous depreciation made worse by the inflation adjustment factor, making it 50-66% by my rough maths. Ouch! The Lotus holds its value way better & at a 1/3rd the price is definitely not 1/3 the car. I expect servicing will be 3x too. I have contemplated the same dilemma but ended sticking with my 2017 Evora 400 as it’s sublime handling & 400bhp is perfect for real world canyon carving in Colorado, USA. The problem with McLarens IMHO is far too much unusable power outside the track that combined with insane initial MSRP & depreciation is a complete killer. Great reviews ‘though & luv the color. Enjoy.

[@garethmcrae668]

650S has depreciated and stabilised though- whereas Loti...

[@dl8538]

That is a beautiful spec. It's greatly understated but with fine details in the carbon components, with the yellow accents adding POP throughout. Congrats!!

[@andrewp634]

Wow, what a car, you can tell its special by your enthusiasm for it. Great compliment to the garage.