Graeme from MMC here - leaving MMC

[Jacobite]

Hi Graham sorry to see you leaving MMC we've had a good crack on many occassions and good luck with your new challange whatever it is Hamish and Rorie too no doubt

[Eric K]

Aye Graeme, as others have said, I wish you all the very best for the future.

It's always been a pleasure to deal with you and I'm keen to know what you're going to be up to next.

Take care and keep in touch.

Cheers,

Eric

[GraemeLotus]

Well, I think we can all agree, that's MMC f*cked then

And another thing - Alan Bald, our senior Lotus Technician, who's the best mechanic I've worked with, is emigrating to Australia and leaves at the end of the month too - so if you want to buy one or get one fixed you'd better hurry up!

[campbell]

There is a serious gap in the market for an experienced senior Lotus Technician to establish a well-run servicing / upgrades outfit, with a clubby yet dependable ethos, with branches in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

With the right labour rates and a thorough knowledge of every Elise / variant from 1996 S1 upwards, surely this would be a sound earner. No?

[Andy G]

haha!

I dont think there is the business for multiple branches.

Interesting times ahead though

[scottishselise]

Ali....

[GraemeLotus]

There is a serious gap in the market for an experienced senior Lotus Technician to establish a well-run servicing / upgrades outfit, with a clubby yet dependable ethos, with branches in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

With the right labour rates and a thorough knowledge of every Elise / variant from 1996 S1 upwards, surely this would be a sound earner. No?

The problem is Lotus Approval for warranty work on the cars under 2 years old; most of them would want a main dealer stamp. Owners of older cars expect to pay lower labour rates (fair enough) - it's whether there are enough cars between say 2 and 6 years old to make up the bulk of a viable business .... I would reckon so, although I seem to be selling more cars into England than Scotland this year, so maybe we're going off them !! (joke)

[campbell]

I think there is a credible base of Lotus owners in the North East.

Would be interested to hear how many would be likely to use a local specialist outfit along the lines I describe?

OK, maybe the Edin and Gla branches could be consolidated into one central facility, located handily at somewhere like, oh, Harthill? No? What do you mean the M8 is still closed?

[campbell]

Ali....

?

[campbell]

The problem is Lotus Approval for warranty work on the cars under 2 years old; most of them would want a main dealer stamp.

Good point.

What does an existing independent garage need to do to gain "Lotus Approval" though, out of interest?

[GraemeLotus]

For many years I have campaigned for an Aberdeen service centre - I even managed to get Lotus to look at our Vauxhall site (now sold) in Aberdeen to have a service ramp/reception there with factory approval - they declined due to lack of parking (WTF - there were 200 Vauxhalls on site, how much Lotus parking would be required....)

Anyhoo, with the imminent increase in Lotus dealer requirements - it will be virtually impossible for an independent to become factory approved, leaving the way open for specialists....

[campbell]

Well it was worth a thought!

[GraemeLotus]

Agreed!

Anyhoo - thread drift - thanks once again to everyone for their comments, it really means a lot to me. I'd love to see everyone at the showroom one last time - perhaps an SE MMC visit one Saturday before Xmas, after (if!) the snow goes away?

And though I can contact you all through here, in many cases your contact details remain property of MMC so thus can't come with me - so please use my mobile whenever you can!

Cheers

[woody]

I'll be over in Edinburgh at the weekend, will try and pop in for one last coffee.

I'm another who hasn't bought a car off of you, but a visit to the showroom on a whim, having just been to see a VX, left wanting nothing other than an S1.

[DDtB]

Looks like I'll be in Edinburgh on Monday at some point.... so if that happens, you can expect a visit from me !! Bet you can't wait!!!!