911 turbo to Exige?

[Brinyan]

Currently have a 996 turbo, but can't help thinking I could get more fun from an Exige.
The Porsche is very well built, very reliable and doesn't hang around when it's time to get going. It is, however, quite a heavy car and feels it on smaller, twisty roads.
Wondering if anyone has gone from a 996 to an Exige and has any regrets or opinions. I'm not very knowledgeable on the Exige. Love the look of series 1, but guess a series 2 would be a more usable and available option, Exige S seems to tick the box.
I'm yet to drive an Exige, but intend to do so shortly, to see if It's as good as I hope.

[Girthsham]

Hi, I have an Exige S1 and a 996 Turbo. The Exige is just on 20k miles when I take if for MOT it will hit the magic 20k. The Exige is magic. As a dry day weekend car it is so raw. The smell of petrol, the heat of the engine in your back. It gets warm in the cabin, the level you are off the ground and the directness of the whole car. Just magic. It needs to be revved. Only up at the top of the revs does it come alive. I have experienced nothing like it before. I have driven an Exige S2 260. It was just a bit more refined. The S1 i bought after trying the S2. I am tempted to sell the Exige too, but. When will I have an S1 Exige again. Its super rare and prices are not sky high yet. They will go soon.

[rob999]

Go and try a V6 Exige, I believe that may suit your needs.
Give Bell and Colville a bell, good guys.

[renmure]

I had an Exige S and a 996 Turbo S at the same time for a couple of years.

It is far too simplistic to say that the Porsche was blindingly rapid but fairly dull and the Lotus was a bit less rapid but much more fun. But if you were simplifying it, that isn't too bad a summary.

[Brinyan]

Thanks for that. Exige sounds great - why tempted to sell though? Interesting you drove the s2, then opted for an s1. I'm assuming the s2 to be a tad more usable and reliable, though I may be wrong. The fact that there's a Toyota engine is leading me with that view.
I drove a couple of Nobles prior to getting the Turbo and just loved them. Still do. But, it seems as though a lot of time is spent keeping them going, on a DIY basis, which I don't have time to do at present.
Always seen the Exige as such a nimble, special car.

[stuttgart737]

I had a 996 turbo for 4 years and loved it but always had the same suspicion as you that an Elise/Exige might be more fun. As it turns out, they are. I now have an Elise S2 and and Exige S and recently sold a 997 turbo because I preferred driving either Lotus. They are really special cars but I have found they ruin other previously desirable options. Mind you, no bad thing as they are cheap to run and don't really depreciate.

[dunc_sx]

I went from Gen 1 Cayman S to S2 Exige but I'm afraid I'm going back to pork, hopefully another Cayman if not a 997 if I can't find the right Cayman. Not quite the same as your swap but merits a mention!

As a daily runner the Exige is just too compromised imo (I can't be bothered driving it anymore), the difference in handling in the real world is negligible although the change of direction in the Lotus can be rather good. In my opinion the worse point is the engine/drive chain, with noise and gear change losing out heavily to the pork. I've driven the two cars back to back and it really highlights the difference.

However as the other's have said the S3 exige is a smoother beast with more poke, it's possible that would suit your needs more. I liked this when I drove it but remember it's pretty much just a s1/s2 inside - big improvement in the engine though.

What one person is looking from a car is different from another though, this is just my opinion (not meaning to sound negative). Trying a few out is the only way to tell which suits you. I love the look of an exige though, nothing quite like it - plus they don't take up too much room in the garage

Cheers,

Dunc.

Edited by dunc_sx on Wednesday 13th July 13:17

[chevronb37]

I have a 997.1 Turbo and an S1 Exige. I don't really see there's much comparison between the two! Both amazing in their own right - only you can decide which appeals more.

[Brinyan]

Thanks all, it's good and interesting to hear different views.
I realise they are very different cars and both have merits in their own right.
Going away soon, so once back will get behind the wheel and make decisions.

[Girthsham]

Brinyan said:

Thanks for that. Exige sounds great - why tempted to sell though? Interesting you drove the s2, then opted for an s1. I'm assuming the s2 to be a tad more usable and reliable, though I may be wrong. The fact that there's a Toyota engine is leading me with that view.
I drove a couple of Nobles prior to getting the Turbo and just loved them. Still do. But, it seems as though a lot of time is spent keeping them going, on a DIY basis, which I don't have time to do at present.
Always seen the Exige as such a nimble, special car.

I dont know really why I want to sell, itchy feet and want to try other things. If I dont sell something the wife will do some complaining as it seems I dont sell to much but buy another. The Kseries is a reliable engine in the S1, I am lucky as there is a Rover specialist local to me. He builds Kseries to race spec and knows them inside out. I let him do my work and its cheap as chips to maintain. The Lotus specialist is about 90 mins away, I called him and asked about a service etc and he was unsure as to what engine was in the S1 Exige and he would need to go find out. So much for knowing what he was doing. The S1 is much more special in my opinion. Its so raw, you dont get much more connected with the car. The S2 would be easier to live with day to day but its not like your exige will be a daily. My friedn sold his S2 to go to the V6 exige. He loves it but said it has become much more grown up and lost its edge. Matt, drop me an email about your turbo. My bro is interested in buying one in the near future.

Edited by Girthsham on Wednesday 13th July 17:50

[jock mcsporran]

I went from X50 996 turbo to Exige S240. Both cars have their appeal but I preferred the Exige. Granted it was small, cramped, noisy and compromised but I used it for everything and covered about 20k miles in 3 years (I work offshore half the year so about 1k miles a month). Only issue I had was 3rd gear munching itself but it was only £800 for a rebuild. Only other costs were service, mot and consumables. Also managed to sell it on for pretty much what I bought it for, unlike the Porsche which cost a small fortune to run.