How about a 2 for 1 sale?

Buy a shifter for $1k+ and get a toe link brace for free. I think when your a kitcar Co. your not subject to recalls It's not advice or a suggestion. It's what people have written that they plan to do. Their choice. At the moment there seems to be 2 going on 3 aftermarket options. B&M lever. That sequential assy. And something Ragnorak is working on. Lotus should make their lever available on its own
Their choice? What choice? Have it break on the road and PAY BY OWNER to have it towed to the dealer for warranty replacement OR PAY BY OWNER for your own warranty work by buying an aftermarket part since Lotus doesn't want to accept the responsibility for replacing a defective part.......that is what owners plan to do to avoid being stranded on the side of the road. Either way....it's PAY BY OWNER.

It's not good PR to have your product 'out of service' in plain view of the public on the side of the road.

Lotus should make their lever replaced both part and labor for all who are plagued with a defective part through no fault of their own....by recall!

This is something that consumers will never forgive nor forget!

I suggest a group letter to petition a recall! Lotus should make their lever replaced both part and labor for all who are plagued with a defective part through no fault of their own....by recall!

This is something that consumers will never forgive nor forget!

I suggest a group letter to petition a recall! I second that. Lotus should make their lever replaced both part and labor for all who are plagued with a defective part through no fault of their own....by recall!

This is something that consumers will never forgive nor forget!

I suggest a group letter to petition a recall!
This recent article caught my attention. Note how many complaints to the NHTSA it took to get a recall investigation started.

Feds Also Looking at Benz S-Class for Gauges

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has begun an investigation into recent versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a potential problem with the vehicle's gauges. The Associated Press reports that the S-Class sedans from the 2000 and 2001 model years are the subject of complaints to the NHTSA that their speedometers and fuel gauges have failed to light. Seven complaints have been logged with the agency, and 72,000 S-Classes are being investigated for the problem, which could become a full recall if the agency determines the problem to be a flaw in the vehicle's design. My shifter struggled to go into first gear when I first got the car(it kept trying for 3rd). Now after 1000 miles it is starting to struggle with upshifting into 3rd. Is my shifter getting ready to become break too?
I'm with you on a recall. I thought it was my lack of recent shifting experience at first, as it has been many years since I had a sports car. After reading all the problems about the shifter, I'm in agreement that something is Wrong with the product design. Do we have any lawyers that can draft up a petition for recall? It's a long way to my closest dealer. My shifter struggled to go into first gear when I first got the car(it kept trying for 3rd). Now after 1000 miles it is starting to struggle with upshifting into 3rd. Is my shifter getting ready to become break too?
I'm with you on a recall. I thought it was my lack of recent shifting experience at first, as it has been many years since I had a sports car. After reading all the problems about the shifter, I'm in agreement that something is Wrong with the product design. Do we have any lawyers that can draft up a petition for recall? It's a long way to my closest dealer.
The shift lever breaking seems to have no prior symptoms. I think everyone that has reported it has said it just goes limp and falls over (no jokes). Problems shifting into first while moving are common and are mostly the result of synchro action. Double-clutching and rev-matching should make that a lot easier, once you get a feel for the right revs when double-clutching.

Significant problems shifting into 1st and 3rd sound more like linkage adjustment or some part of the linkage failing (probably at the transmission end). My shifter struggled to go into first gear when I first got the car(it kept trying for 3rd). Now after 1000 miles it is starting to struggle with upshifting into 3rd. Is my shifter getting ready to become break too?
I'm with you on a recall. I thought it was my lack of recent shifting experience at first, as it has been many years since I had a sports car. After reading all the problems about the shifter, I'm in agreement that something is Wrong with the product design. Do we have any lawyers that can draft up a petition for recall? It's a long way to my closest dealer.
That sounds more like an adjustment is needed of the cables. It's not unheard of to need the setup tweaked after everything has broken in.

You can tell if you have one of the affected shifters by feeling the shape of the shaft in the leather boot. If it's round, you're good. If it's skinny and hexagonal, expect trouble. This recent article caught my attention. Note how many complaints to the NHTSA it took to get a recall investigation started.

Feds Also Looking at Benz S-Class for Gauges

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has begun an investigation into recent versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a potential problem with the vehicle's gauges. The Associated Press reports that the S-Class sedans from the 2000 and 2001 model years are the subject of complaints to the NHTSA that their speedometers and fuel gauges have failed to light. Seven complaints have been logged with the agency, and 72,000 S-Classes are being investigated for the problem, which could become a full recall if the agency determines the problem to be a flaw in the vehicle's design.
The complaint must be filed by someone who has already experienced failure of the shifter. So, all of us who run a high risk of failure are not eligable to file a complaint. We must wait until it fails.

Are there any who have already experienced failure of the shifter who would be willing to file a complaint with the NHTSA?

Now we find out who our friend are! Thanks.

www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ I hate to say it publically, but I filed. I think it's wrong for Lotus to not recall these shifters. I hate to say it publically, but I filed. I think it's wrong for Lotus to not recall these shifters.
I'm grateful that you have filed a complaint. I believe that we can easily find 6 more people to file the same complaint.

I'm just waiting for my shifter to break of when I need to get more power to the wheels in order get myself out of harms way. I hate to say it publically, but I filed. I think it's wrong for Lotus to not recall these shifters.
Thanks, Jer. You're right and I would do it in a second.

Anymore out there? Their choice? What choice? Have it break on the road and PAY BY OWNER to have it towed to the dealer for warranty replacement OR PAY BY OWNER for your own warranty work by buying an aftermarket part since Lotus doesn't want to accept the responsibility for replacing a defective part.......that is what owners plan to do to avoid being stranded on the side of the road. Either way....it's PAY BY OWNER.

It's not good PR to have your product 'out of service' in plain view of the public on the side of the road.

Lotus should make their lever replaced both part and labor for all who are plagued with a defective part through no fault of their own....by recall!

This is something that consumers will never forgive nor forget!

I suggest a group letter to petition a recall!

Or PAY BY OWNER of your medical or funeral expenses after your shifter breaks off.

I'm not worried about the rattles, the paint finish, the stereo, etc.. I'm very worried about the core input devices on the car breaking off or failing to work.... Steering Wheels, Pedals, Shifter..... Last time I checked, any of these failing in the middle of use would be a BAD thing. Their choice? What choice? Have it break on the road and PAY BY OWNER to have it towed to the dealer for warranty replacement OR PAY BY OWNER for your own warranty work by buying an aftermarket part since Lotus doesn't want to accept the responsibility for replacing a defective part.......that is what owners plan to do to avoid being stranded on the side of the road. Either way....it's PAY BY OWNER. It's not good PR to have your product 'out of service' in plain view of the public on the side of the road. Lotus should make their lever replaced both part and labor for all who are plagued with a defective part through no fault of their own....by recall! This is something that consumers will never forgive nor forget!
I suggest a group letter to petition a recall!
The shifter is warranteed. Last I heard they will fix 'em IF/WHEN they break. They won't change 'em out preemptively. If a car owner chooses to install a B&M at his own cost for whatever reason, then that is his choice. If that owner makes that choice, his stock hex-lever won't break. Hence Lotus actually saves money in that scenario. This is not my suggestion! But that is what many folks have chosen to do. Ironically they can spend money while Lotus saves money. Then again they get a mod that may improve the shifting a bit.

My suggestion was posted several times in the past. In this thread and elesewhere. I think that Lotus should make a loose lever available either free or dirt cheap. Not sure about install bucks. As of Summer (and still?) the new lever design is only available as part of a pricey assembly.

The basic concept is to handle the situation more proactively, in a way that is respectful toward the car owners and positive towards the brand. As opposed to reactively. It's not good for owner satisfaction to be driving around with a hex lever, and have doubts about it or a breakage. Lotus also has a chance to turn a recall or potential recall into a more positive situation since in the end they are responsible anyway.

If you want to end the worries right now, you can:

1) Pay about $1800 to Lotus plus many hours of labor to replace the entire shifter assembly, e-brake, and all cables all the way back to the tranny.

2) Pay a few hundred for a B&M plus DIY labor, or pay maybe an hour of labor to a shop.

3) Weld a reinforcement onto the stock hex lever (maybe 25 bucks if you bring a loose lever to a shop)

4) Buy and install one of the upgrade consoles such as that sequential one or the upcoming Ragnorack.

5) Other?

For those who do SCCA stuff, only (1) above is legal. I hate to say it publically, but I filed. I think it's wrong for Lotus to not recall these shifters.
thanks I hate to say it publically, but I filed. I think it's wrong for Lotus to not recall these shifters.
I wouldn't be ashamed at all..if anything it's standing up for something. I guess I will be numero two. Anyone have the URL or is it just the NHTSA site? If 7 complaints from those who experienced a problem out of 72,000 Mercedes needs a look-see, how many would it take for a low volume car? Fewer than 7 I would think. nothing to be ashamed of - you may even prevent an accident from happening... I wouldn't be ashamed at all..if anything it's standing up for something. I guess I will be numero two. Anyone have the URL or is it just the NHTSA site? If 7 complaints from those who experienced a problem out of 72,000 Mercedes needs a look-see, how many would it take for a low volume car? Fewer than 7 I would think.


The Office of Defect Investigation:
www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ sorry if i missed the answer to this question, but is the 06' models going to have the same problem? no. There will be a new set of problems for 06.

the shifters were redesigned mid-2005