Exige S - Should I?
Discussion
Having a difficult conversation with myself at moment, interested in your thoughts.
I'm coming back to Blighty after 20 years overseas and am thinking of what toy to give myself to remind me of those days.
Original thinking was to bring back my LHD 997 GT2 (I love it and would find it hard to part company with it after 4 years of fun) but I am having sleepless nights worrying about the hassles of a LHD car, insurance issues, resale, import, IVA test, etc...
The easy thing would be to cut and run but I have struggling with what to buy because car values in Dubai are lower than UK - the GT2 sale would only give me a GBP60k war chest (not even enough for a 2nd hand GT3).
This is where the Exige S comes in.
What's it really like to own? After owning the GT2 (also had GT3 prior to GT2) in busy city traffic for the last 4 years I am used to impracticality, heavy clutch, engine noise and a hard ride, so not worried about that.
Has anyone done a leap from 997 GT's to Exige S? What was this change like?
I'm coming back to Blighty after 20 years overseas and am thinking of what toy to give myself to remind me of those days.
Original thinking was to bring back my LHD 997 GT2 (I love it and would find it hard to part company with it after 4 years of fun) but I am having sleepless nights worrying about the hassles of a LHD car, insurance issues, resale, import, IVA test, etc...
The easy thing would be to cut and run but I have struggling with what to buy because car values in Dubai are lower than UK - the GT2 sale would only give me a GBP60k war chest (not even enough for a 2nd hand GT3).
This is where the Exige S comes in.
What's it really like to own? After owning the GT2 (also had GT3 prior to GT2) in busy city traffic for the last 4 years I am used to impracticality, heavy clutch, engine noise and a hard ride, so not worried about that.
Has anyone done a leap from 997 GT's to Exige S? What was this change like?
I would just do it apparently they are epic cars (never driven the Exige) although if you want something a little more grown up an Evora (driven this, it's really good) is a great alternative too. Both ride sublimely and handle, well, like a lotus should. Brilliantly.
Check out this (albeit old) vid, the minor issues he highlights will have been rectified in newer models
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcjnpJofT_k
Check out this (albeit old) vid, the minor issues he highlights will have been rectified in newer models
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcjnpJofT_k
Edited by Oilchange on Monday 25th November 19:03
Get over to SELOC, quite a few owners over there now. The get yourself to a Lotus dealer and test one, try an Evora S as well. For an everyday car, consider the Exige Roadster, the loss of the rear wing and subsequent rear vision make it much more liveable in traffic. Lotus build quality is nowhere near Porsche, equipment is very basic, but nine info this matters once you've pulled away!
I picked up my first Elise en-route from Heathrow when returning to the UK after an assignment, 9 years and 85000 miles later I still take the Lotus shopping and turn 2 mile errands into 25 mile blats!
I picked up my first Elise en-route from Heathrow when returning to the UK after an assignment, 9 years and 85000 miles later I still take the Lotus shopping and turn 2 mile errands into 25 mile blats!
6 weeks and 2 days into my Exige V6 ownership with approx 650 miles now done. All I can say is wow it really is very nice to drive with great feel and feedback. I'm using mine as a daily until the snow arrives. Aircon works, heater works, lights are great and the radio works if you keep the speed down!
5 days and 240 miles into my Roadster (although Im glad I opted for removable hard top) and absolutely loving it. Im not sure that at my age I could climb out of it in my suit and retain any shred of dignity, so I have a daily as well (M135i - strange thread on comparing the two a few weeks back!). On price point vs performance it's unbeatable - I tested a GT3 before I bought this and there was no way I could justify the extra expense of even going second hand GT3.
there is only one downside to these cars and that's the slightly cramped cabin afaic. im 6.1 and it doesn't bother me but does make H&T impossible, but so what, i can get my 3 yo son on a baby seat next to me and that was my only worry after being comfortable !
don't worry about day to day. i have had mine since Aug and have done over 5k miles in it.... its easier to dive than an elise due to the drive train. it will sit on the motorway at 80mph ticking over. im learning all the time about the v6. i assume you have driven an s2 exige so to give you some sore of indicative benchmark.... it feels slightly heavier than the old exige (a good thing in my eyes), more planted, more grip and a hell of a lot quicker to boot. its more quiet uless you floor it, it feels far more grown up in character and is capable of lazing about pulling off in 2nd gear. you can tour round europe in it (i did as have others in the Cup version)... although i found the suspension slightly too soft on track. thats not to say it wont stop you being quicker than most stuff out there (but a low powered Cat will be far more fun as was the case with my s1 exige
)
now for the upsides....
it feels, goes and looks like a genuine mini super car. its an exige with a v6 so it does sound genuinely exotic at last. its 2x more fun to drive than an italia and get far more attention too (so stay off the wild colors unless you really are the attention seeking type !!!!! mines in a custom flat grey and its crazy enough as it is imo, each to their own) ... the suspension is soft enough to get about quite comfortably in london (pothole city) whereas the gt3 will be an overly stiff nightmare.
then there's the relatively low running costs for what you get added to the fact that they are rare as hell.
if you go for a test drive chose a demo car that has more than 1k miles on it and take it out for more than an hour. mine transformed at 2k and then again at 5k miles. before then the engine and g box felt way too tight which was off putting.
hope that helps and good luck
don't worry about day to day. i have had mine since Aug and have done over 5k miles in it.... its easier to dive than an elise due to the drive train. it will sit on the motorway at 80mph ticking over. im learning all the time about the v6. i assume you have driven an s2 exige so to give you some sore of indicative benchmark.... it feels slightly heavier than the old exige (a good thing in my eyes), more planted, more grip and a hell of a lot quicker to boot. its more quiet uless you floor it, it feels far more grown up in character and is capable of lazing about pulling off in 2nd gear. you can tour round europe in it (i did as have others in the Cup version)... although i found the suspension slightly too soft on track. thats not to say it wont stop you being quicker than most stuff out there (but a low powered Cat will be far more fun as was the case with my s1 exige
) now for the upsides....
it feels, goes and looks like a genuine mini super car. its an exige with a v6 so it does sound genuinely exotic at last. its 2x more fun to drive than an italia and get far more attention too (so stay off the wild colors unless you really are the attention seeking type !!!!! mines in a custom flat grey and its crazy enough as it is imo, each to their own) ... the suspension is soft enough to get about quite comfortably in london (pothole city) whereas the gt3 will be an overly stiff nightmare.
then there's the relatively low running costs for what you get added to the fact that they are rare as hell.
if you go for a test drive chose a demo car that has more than 1k miles on it and take it out for more than an hour. mine transformed at 2k and then again at 5k miles. before then the engine and g box felt way too tight which was off putting.
hope that helps and good luck
Hi, I'm in a very similar situation to you, returning to the UK from Dubai, 997 GT3 in tow. I'm taking mine back, the IVA test etc… is not much hassle, and you can sell the car after 12 months back in the UK VAT and Duty free.
There are some companies that will pick your car up from the port, make the mods needed (fog lights, front lights etc) and do the test for you also and then deliver your car. Yes you have to pay for it, but it's very little hassle.
I would take the GT2 back, LHD in the UK is fine, go on a euro road trip this summer in the GT2 and enjoy it mate. As good as an Exige is, it's not going to replace the GT2.
Msg me if you want any help, I can give you some pointers/contacts.
There are some companies that will pick your car up from the port, make the mods needed (fog lights, front lights etc) and do the test for you also and then deliver your car. Yes you have to pay for it, but it's very little hassle.
I would take the GT2 back, LHD in the UK is fine, go on a euro road trip this summer in the GT2 and enjoy it mate. As good as an Exige is, it's not going to replace the GT2.
Msg me if you want any help, I can give you some pointers/contacts.
RedTrident said:
I'm thinking very seriously of getting back in to a lotus. The roadster looks perfect for what I need. I'm currently living in a city centre with parking in a multi storey car park. Anyone used their new lotus in one?
yes, my v6 has been parked in multi's in central london, milan, barcelona and paris. no problem. go for it....
am0611 said:
Having a difficult conversation with myself at moment, interested in your thoughts.
I'm coming back to Blighty after 20 years overseas and am thinking of what toy to give myself to remind me of those days.
Original thinking was to bring back my LHD 997 GT2 (I love it and would find it hard to part company with it after 4 years of fun) but I am having sleepless nights worrying about the hassles of a LHD car, insurance issues, resale, import, IVA test, etc...
The easy thing would be to cut and run but I have struggling with what to buy because car values in Dubai are lower than UK - the GT2 sale would only give me a GBP60k war chest (not even enough for a 2nd hand GT3).
This is where the Exige S comes in.
What's it really like to own? After owning the GT2 (also had GT3 prior to GT2) in busy city traffic for the last 4 years I am used to impracticality, heavy clutch, engine noise and a hard ride, so not worried about that.
Has anyone done a leap from 997 GT's to Exige S? What was this change like?
I came from a 997 GT3RS to an ExigeS and don't miss the GT3 at all. The 997 really didn't get into it's stride until 120+ which is fine if you just use it as a track car. The ExigeS - all the fun up to 3 digit speeds. More fun and a fraction of the costs made it a no brainer.I'm coming back to Blighty after 20 years overseas and am thinking of what toy to give myself to remind me of those days.
Original thinking was to bring back my LHD 997 GT2 (I love it and would find it hard to part company with it after 4 years of fun) but I am having sleepless nights worrying about the hassles of a LHD car, insurance issues, resale, import, IVA test, etc...
The easy thing would be to cut and run but I have struggling with what to buy because car values in Dubai are lower than UK - the GT2 sale would only give me a GBP60k war chest (not even enough for a 2nd hand GT3).
This is where the Exige S comes in.
What's it really like to own? After owning the GT2 (also had GT3 prior to GT2) in busy city traffic for the last 4 years I am used to impracticality, heavy clutch, engine noise and a hard ride, so not worried about that.
Has anyone done a leap from 997 GT's to Exige S? What was this change like?
Candellara said:
I came from a 997 GT3RS to an ExigeS and don't miss the GT3 at all. The 997 really didn't get into it's stride until 120+ which is fine if you just use it as a track car. The ExigeS - all the fun up to 3 digit speeds. More fun and a fraction of the costs made it a no brainer.
This would be considered heresy and worthy of a fatwa among porsche fans it's also something you'll never read in a car magazine despite it being entirely true.
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