New Exige S owner
Discussion
So I picked up my new (to me) Exige S (the 1.8 not the new V6) earlier today from Lipscomb.
The drive back was is some pretty boring motorway around the M25 and I was actually expecting to have to endure rather than enjoy that part of it but was pleasantly surprised to find it was actually fairly civilised. Sure it's a bit noisier than my old Z4MC but quite usable.
The slip roads and the way the car feels once off the motorway though.... Wow. First time alone in the car and it really quite a revelation. I love the way the exhaust pops, definitely making up for the lack of a motorbike.
It is pretty tiring though, after 4 hours in car (driving back plus various family members wanting to go out for a spin) I'm actually quite tired!
I think part of that though may be down to the a buzzing/rattling it seems to have developed when between 2000 and 3500rpm. I can't quite tell where it's coming from, sometimes it feels like its behind in the engine bay, other times the roof and sometimes from under the seat so not even sure where to start looking. Anyone have any ideas? It's pretty loud, louder than the exhaust.
The drive back was is some pretty boring motorway around the M25 and I was actually expecting to have to endure rather than enjoy that part of it but was pleasantly surprised to find it was actually fairly civilised. Sure it's a bit noisier than my old Z4MC but quite usable.
The slip roads and the way the car feels once off the motorway though.... Wow. First time alone in the car and it really quite a revelation. I love the way the exhaust pops, definitely making up for the lack of a motorbike.
It is pretty tiring though, after 4 hours in car (driving back plus various family members wanting to go out for a spin) I'm actually quite tired!
I think part of that though may be down to the a buzzing/rattling it seems to have developed when between 2000 and 3500rpm. I can't quite tell where it's coming from, sometimes it feels like its behind in the engine bay, other times the roof and sometimes from under the seat so not even sure where to start looking. Anyone have any ideas? It's pretty loud, louder than the exhaust.
I've had mine a couple of weeks and have deduced the rattle mine has (on and off around tick over is the air intake pipe into the intercooler behind your head. It's quite a full noise, I also found a few pennies on the floor which were causing a metallic rattle under the passenger seat, had to take it out to get them out though!! I'm absolutely loving mine!
Its been a very long time since I drove an S1 and it wasn't fir long so I can't really compare the two but mine is going well.
The rattle turned out to be loose air con pipes in the sills and was sorted under warranty.
I do find the lack of rear visibility slightly odd still but most of the time its fine. Just requires a slightly more conscious effort to check the mirrors.
I've just acquired some winter tyres and new team dynamics wheels which I will be swapping over to for winter use.
So far I still like it
though I do find myself looking at Evoras.
The rattle turned out to be loose air con pipes in the sills and was sorted under warranty.
I do find the lack of rear visibility slightly odd still but most of the time its fine. Just requires a slightly more conscious effort to check the mirrors.
I've just acquired some winter tyres and new team dynamics wheels which I will be swapping over to for winter use.
So far I still like it
though I do find myself looking at Evoras.Leggy said:
Thinking of a similar model.
Had an Elise S1 a few years ago so have some familiarity.
Just interested to see how ownership has been so far?
One of my biggest concerns is rear visibility whilst driving and parking.
I have a tight drive to reverse down.
Rear visibility is sHad an Elise S1 a few years ago so have some familiarity.
Just interested to see how ownership has been so far?
One of my biggest concerns is rear visibility whilst driving and parking.
I have a tight drive to reverse down.
te. Swallow pride and fit a reversing camera and/or sensors. You can make them pretty much invisible to the exterior and makes reversing an Exige S a huge amount easier. 
I bought a set of these when I got mine
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meta-Number-Plate-Mount-...
they are barely visible and require no drilling etc. Very useful when it comes to low bollards and the small stuff you just can't see in the mirrors.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meta-Number-Plate-Mount-...
they are barely visible and require no drilling etc. Very useful when it comes to low bollards and the small stuff you just can't see in the mirrors.
Whilst its inevitable that someone will crack that "joke", the rear view vision is non-existent, especially on the supercharged cars. The rear view mirror is a total waste of time and only then serves to reduce the limited vision to the front, hence mine went in the bin. Fitted discrete sensors and rely on side mirrors and the sensors to tell if there is anything towards the middle of the car that would not be in sight of the side mirrors.
If you are on seloc have a search as Pinkie on there has a good combined sensors/camera/screen set up on her Exige S.
If you are on seloc have a search as Pinkie on there has a good combined sensors/camera/screen set up on her Exige S.
TheTalentedMr said:
I bought a set of these when I got mine
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meta-Number-Plate-Mount-...
they are barely visible and require no drilling etc. Very useful when it comes to low bollards and the small stuff you just can't see in the mirrors.
Is it hard to fit? Does it only beep when you're in reverse? Where's the beeper located? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meta-Number-Plate-Mount-...
they are barely visible and require no drilling etc. Very useful when it comes to low bollards and the small stuff you just can't see in the mirrors.
hamzamian said:
TheTalentedMr said:
I bought a set of these when I got mine
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meta-Number-Plate-Mount-...
they are barely visible and require no drilling etc. Very useful when it comes to low bollards and the small stuff you just can't see in the mirrors.
Is it hard to fit? Does it only beep when you're in reverse? Where's the beeper located? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meta-Number-Plate-Mount-...
they are barely visible and require no drilling etc. Very useful when it comes to low bollards and the small stuff you just can't see in the mirrors.
Guide here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
To be honest, it's even simpler than that guide. For one, I didn't drill a hole in the rear clam - just use the existing grommet that feeds the number plate light to push the wire into the floor of the boot.
The buzzer for it is currently mounted just behind my drivers side but not inside the cabin. I might drill through at a later date but its audible from where it sits currently and was a 20 minute installation as i was going away for the weekend. As I say, for sake of completeness I might drill through and wire it into the cabin later...if I can be a*sed.
As for the connections, couple of scotch blocks and you just add the power feed to the reverse light cable which is exposed in the boot. Hence the sensors switch on when reverse gear is selected.
It's very, very straight forward.
Shnozz said:
No, they are a piece of pss.
Guide here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
To be honest, it's even simpler than that guide. For one, I didn't drill a hole in the rear clam - just use the existing grommet that feeds the number plate light to push the wire into the floor of the boot.
The buzzer for it is currently mounted just behind my drivers side but not inside the cabin. I might drill through at a later date but its audible from where it sits currently and was a 20 minute installation as i was going away for the weekend. As I say, for sake of completeness I might drill through and wire it into the cabin later...if I can be a*sed.
As for the connections, couple of scotch blocks and you just add the power feed to the reverse light cable which is exposed in the boot. Hence the sensors switch on when reverse gear is selected.
It's very, very straight forward.
Ditto really. I fed the wire in through the number plate light holes. I ran the module into the boot on the drivers side and scotch locked onto the reverse light wires, this only engages the buzzer when you are actually reversing. Took me a while to think of that as I didn't have a guide (they don't come with fitting instructions). I did drill one small hole to run the wire for the buzzer. I mounted my buzzer just behind the drivers ear in the engine bay in the corner of the rear window, it's plenty loud enough to hear when the car is running and it saves all the hassle of getting the bulkhead trim panel off. I would estimate it took me 2 hours to do because I'm really fussy when it comes to routing wires and keeping things neat. I tape everything up and sleeve the wiring to stop any rubbing on the body.Guide here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
To be honest, it's even simpler than that guide. For one, I didn't drill a hole in the rear clam - just use the existing grommet that feeds the number plate light to push the wire into the floor of the boot.
The buzzer for it is currently mounted just behind my drivers side but not inside the cabin. I might drill through at a later date but its audible from where it sits currently and was a 20 minute installation as i was going away for the weekend. As I say, for sake of completeness I might drill through and wire it into the cabin later...if I can be a*sed.
As for the connections, couple of scotch blocks and you just add the power feed to the reverse light cable which is exposed in the boot. Hence the sensors switch on when reverse gear is selected.
It's very, very straight forward.
All in all money well spent. You will need to adjust the sensitivity once fitted but this is easy.
Lovely looking car there, and the best colour of course.
A suggestion on the parking sensor thing: the Exige is quite a bit shorter than almost any other car so when reversing into a space just check for no obstructions like random discarded cavity blocks (yes), and back in until the wing mirrors are flush with other cars. If it's a tight parallel parking situation and things look tight then go somewhere else. Even if you get in ok there is a good chance the car behind or in front will accept some of your paint on exit.
Speaking from almost 6 years / 60k miles of Exige S ownership - after a while you get the knack for selecting usable parking spaces. I'm pretty much done with lots of upgrades to my car but at no point were parking sensors on the list.
A suggestion on the parking sensor thing: the Exige is quite a bit shorter than almost any other car so when reversing into a space just check for no obstructions like random discarded cavity blocks (yes), and back in until the wing mirrors are flush with other cars. If it's a tight parallel parking situation and things look tight then go somewhere else. Even if you get in ok there is a good chance the car behind or in front will accept some of your paint on exit.
Speaking from almost 6 years / 60k miles of Exige S ownership - after a while you get the knack for selecting usable parking spaces. I'm pretty much done with lots of upgrades to my car but at no point were parking sensors on the list.
aceofspades said:
Lovely looking car there, and the best colour of course.
A suggestion on the parking sensor thing: the Exige is quite a bit shorter than almost any other car so when reversing into a space just check for no obstructions like random discarded cavity blocks (yes), and back in until the wing mirrors are flush with other cars. If it's a tight parallel parking situation and things look tight then go somewhere else. Even if you get in ok there is a good chance the car behind or in front will accept some of your paint on exit.
Speaking from almost 6 years / 60k miles of Exige S ownership - after a while you get the knack for selecting usable parking spaces. I'm pretty much done with lots of upgrades to my car but at no point were parking sensors on the list.
That's all well and good if you live in a nice rural outpost. I live in the middle of a city and 95% of my parking has to be into whatever space is available. I don't have the luxury of being able to find a deserted space elsewhere.A suggestion on the parking sensor thing: the Exige is quite a bit shorter than almost any other car so when reversing into a space just check for no obstructions like random discarded cavity blocks (yes), and back in until the wing mirrors are flush with other cars. If it's a tight parallel parking situation and things look tight then go somewhere else. Even if you get in ok there is a good chance the car behind or in front will accept some of your paint on exit.
Speaking from almost 6 years / 60k miles of Exige S ownership - after a while you get the knack for selecting usable parking spaces. I'm pretty much done with lots of upgrades to my car but at no point were parking sensors on the list.
I really don't get the aversion to sensors. It seems its seen as some attack on manhood. The reality is that the META one cost £50, took 20 mins to install and is unnoticeable to all intents and purposes. If it comes in handy a few times a year or, heaven forbid, avoids 1 minor bump in the 5 - 10 years its fitted to the car, then its paid for itself 10 times over. I never bothered on elises/TVRs, Porsches etc I have owned before as I had a semblance of rear view from the rear screen as well as the side mirrors. Without a rear view, I like the added function of sensors that can cover the middle of the car where my side mirrors wont show.
+1 to the non-existent rear view in an S.
This means that I only reverse out of my drive at night when I can tell no one is coming owing to the lack of lights.
For supermarkets, I am too incompetent to back in.
So I stand by the car and wait until the entire lane behind me is clear.
Then I jump in the car, put my 4 point harness on as fast as possible (no regular seat belt fitted) and then back out using the force while hoping no one has decided to enter the lane. Since it takes me about a minute to squeeze into the bloody harness this method is far from fool proof.
Merging onto a DC is also somewhat a matter of faith.
Just yesterday a GTR decided I was fair game and decided he would do a double lane change as he charged up my arse in the merging lane.
It's not so much of a blind spot as blind EVERYWHERE.
I had no idea where he disappeared to and had to abort my own overtake rapidly as I realised he was intent on overtaking me no matter what, even though we joined at virtually the same time and were clearly approaching a far slower car in lane 1.
Since I was 2 mins from starting the beast up - there was no way I was ragging her chilly bits.
According to the service history I have "invisible" rear parking sensors fitted.
However, I have never actually heard these in action.
I mean, I do reverse towards things from time to time, but either they don't work or I have never got close enough to anything. While my paranoia of reversing means the latter is quite possible I suspect the gremlins may be at work here.
This means that I only reverse out of my drive at night when I can tell no one is coming owing to the lack of lights.
For supermarkets, I am too incompetent to back in.
So I stand by the car and wait until the entire lane behind me is clear.
Then I jump in the car, put my 4 point harness on as fast as possible (no regular seat belt fitted) and then back out using the force while hoping no one has decided to enter the lane. Since it takes me about a minute to squeeze into the bloody harness this method is far from fool proof.
Merging onto a DC is also somewhat a matter of faith.
Just yesterday a GTR decided I was fair game and decided he would do a double lane change as he charged up my arse in the merging lane.
It's not so much of a blind spot as blind EVERYWHERE.
I had no idea where he disappeared to and had to abort my own overtake rapidly as I realised he was intent on overtaking me no matter what, even though we joined at virtually the same time and were clearly approaching a far slower car in lane 1.
Since I was 2 mins from starting the beast up - there was no way I was ragging her chilly bits.
According to the service history I have "invisible" rear parking sensors fitted.
However, I have never actually heard these in action.
I mean, I do reverse towards things from time to time, but either they don't work or I have never got close enough to anything. While my paranoia of reversing means the latter is quite possible I suspect the gremlins may be at work here.
Seems like a sensible addition to me. Years ago had a Lotus Excel. Reversed into a concrete post in a multi storey car park. £1200 repair bill. Mighty pis.ed off at the time. Can't understand this viewpoint suggesting poor use of wing mirrors. Anybody can be distracted and there are blind spots even with their use. Move with the times.
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