Interesting stuff HERE
So Lotus made between 2,575 and 2,600 last year but DB isn’t sure of the exact figure!
That was a loss of �6,700 per vehicle!
Good find Steve. Very interesting and almost convincing. I sincerely hope that all he says comes out to be the way…
DB is a very , very , poor CEO, and lives in another world, as I said elsewhere Atlantis. IMHO 
Personally i think DB has made a very positive and indelible mark at lotus and has revived the brand.
We just need to see the cars now (the new s/c elise, V6 exige, esprit, and MY BLOODY EVORA 
)
Tim, I’ll give you that DB has made an indelible mark, and revived the brand… 
but has increased the management overheads disproportionally , the management have failed to deliver, they don’t produce many cars now, but they do produce an inordinate amount of hot air , and PR .
Of course IMHO
What were you expecting? The published 5 year plan is only in year 2 and they have delivered against that subject to the latest hiccup with funding…
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[quote=Podger]they don’t produce many cars now
[/quote]
Have volumes dropped off only since DB arrived and isn’t that what his plan is set to remedy?
AFAIK the car production drop off is solely down the the Hicom takeover & Malasian law??
What were you expecting? The published 5 year plan is only in year 2 and they have delivered against that subject to the latest hiccup with funding…
Sounds as if it was a good plan then…not
I would have thought with your claimed background you would have been familiar with the saying “no plan survives 1st contact”? Nevertheless, DB has done most of what he said he would do.
Not sure why you have an issue with this, but if you do try posting a cogent arguement rather than just snide side-swipes…
You know with the people he does have there and if it does come off it really could be quite the thing, it’s really interesting stuff. I haven’t hid from what I believe. Plenty of doubters seem to be doubting just for the sake of it…maybe they’re purists lol. The new Exige and Elise look beautiful and the Evora GTE… I couldn’t take my eyes off it at Autosport. Up up and away…
[quote=stevegreen]I would have thought with your claimed background you would have been familiar with the saying “no plan survives 1st contact”? Nevertheless, DB has done most of what he said he would do.
Not sure why you have an issue with this, but if you do try posting a cogent arguement rather than just snide side-swipes… [/quote]
No need to , I’m happily retired, and I’m not turning company’s around now ,but my past success in doing so is funding my luxurious lifestyle , but thanks for your interest
In addition ( at no additional cost) is some suggested guidance;
You are not Superman.
Professionals’ are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs.
No combat ready unit has passed inspection.
No inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.
The side with the fanciest uniforms loses.
Murphy was a grunt.
Battle
If you are short everything except enemy, you’re in combat.
When both sides are convinced they are about to lose, they’re both right.
Planning
The important things are simple.
The simple things are very hard.
No plan survives the first contact intact.
Perfect plans aren’t.
Tactics
Don’t look conspicuous, it draws fire.
Never draw fire, it makes everyone around you nervous. 
Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo.
If the enemy is within range, so are you.
Anything you can do can get you shot, including doing nothing.
If the enemy is in range, “SO ARE YOU!!!”
If you can’t see the enemy, he still may be able to see you.
Techniques
If it’s stupid but works, it’s not stupid.
When in doubt, empty the magazine.
Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you.
If your attack is going really well, it’s an ambush.
The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
The easy way is always mined.
When you have secured an area, don’t forget to tell the enemy.
Teamwork is essential. It gives the enemy other’ to shoot at.
Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you can’t get out.
The only terrain that is truly controlled is the terrain upon which you’re standing.
The easy way generally gets you killed.
If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share objectives to take.
You can win without fighting, but it’s a lot tougher to do. And the enemy may not cooperate.
Casualties
Ammo is cheap; your life isn’t.
It’s easier to expend material in combat than to fill out the forms for Graves Registration.
Weapons
Always keep in mind that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
The law of the bayonet says the man with the bullet wins.
Tracers work both ways.
The best tank killer is another tank. Therefore tanks are always fighting each other… and have no time to help the infantry.
Armored vehicles are bullet magnets, a moving foxhole that attracts attention.
All five second grenades are three seconds.
The bursting radius of a grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range.
If you can’t remember, the claymore is pointed towards YOU.
Recoilless rifles, aren’t.
Artillery and Bombing
Suppressive fire, won’t.
Final protective fire doesn’t.
Friendly fire, isn’t.
Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately.
Incoming fire has the right-of-way.
The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
If you are forward of your position, artillery will fall short.
All-weather close support doesn’t work in bad weather.
Precision bombing is normally accurate within plus/minus one mile.
Cluster bombing from bombers is very, very accurate. The bombs always hit the ground.
Supply
Murphy was a logistician.
Things that must be together to work, usually can’t be shipped together.
Radios will fail as soon as you need something desperately.
Beer mat calculation is “2 beers x 37 men = 49 cases.”
Intelligence
Body count math’s is: two guerrillas plus one portable plus two pigs=37 enemy in action.
The enemy side always looks stronger, especially when they are firing at you, to both sides.
The othersides weapons always seem to look better than you own.
The noisiest weapons always appear to the most powerful.
The advice may have military conertation , but a lot applies in business also. 
Hey just wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt before dismissing your postings as the ramblings of an old man…I think your 2nd post makes that clear :whistle:
Back to thread gentlemen!!!
I like podgers post…and agree it applies in business too.
Ref DB can anybody justify why they upgraded the Hethel track at huge cost?? Particularly when they were not making any money and Snetterton is just down the road.Could not see the logic of that 
have there been any actual races on it yet??
Podger …one for you :
Buy cheap.
Sell Dear
Keep down the overheads.
Result
[quote=MrBean]Back to thread gentlemen!!!
I like podgers post…and agree it applies in business too.
Ref DB can anybody justify why they upgraded the Hethel track at huge cost??
Podger …one for you :
Buy cheap.
Sell Dear
Keep down the overheads.
Result [/quote]
Absolutely true Mr Bean
Podger enjoyed your military post had me in stitches cant wait to show my old (ex army) dad; however I almost totally agree with Tim, Steve and Johnny; DB has put Lotus back on the world scene first time since Chapmans days when Lotus were winning F1 (IMO)
I agree the Hicom/Malasian episode has not helped; however we are possibly (I let you business types answer that one) in the worst world recession yet and, if Lotus and the other small manufacturers come through wr then they have done well, none of us are out of it yet unless podger your living off your investment interest!!
If Lotus are sold by the present owners and Genii do take up the mantle I hope GL allows DB to run with his/Lotus 5 year plan.
Mr Bean; Hethal track upgrade anything to do with Team Lotus partial tie in before the F1 name saga?
Read an article recently that was making exactly this point - the CVs of those he has brought in are impressive and they clearly bought into his vision.
Agree the doubters don’t seem to be able to offer any real alternative - not sure who would see themselves as the purists? Original 70s/80s era owners; the new wave of S1 Elise/Exige owners; the S2 brigade…