Exige S2's - Current market
Discussion
I'm probably a year away from doing anything about this but you know how it is when you get an idea in your head.
I fancy a toy. Was thinking of building a Caterham but concerned about how much I'd use it. I had an S1 111S for a while and thoroughly enjoyed that but not sure I could stomach paying so much for one these days knowing what I sold mine for! Have always loved the S2 Exige, mainly for the shape and I quite like the NA 1.8 variant. So I think there's a reasonable chance I'll go for one, maybe back end of next summer if values haven't crept out of reach. My questions:
1) Would £25k get me a very good N/A at current market rates?
2) Are probax seats worth holding out for?
3) I want AC, I assume from looking that most cars have this?
4) Will I need to pay more, less or the same for a mad colour? Big fan of kermit green or orange.
5) I assume normal road tyres are widely available in correct sizes? I'm not a big fan of semi slick type tyres on road cars.
6) These cars are getting on a bit now, should I hold out for one that has had some major surgery or are all foreseeable bills relatively unscary?
7) Even if I have a slight preference for the N/A version, should I consider a supercharged variant just to ensure there is a market for it if I were to sell or are all models in demand?
8) Are values seasonal or pretty steady?
I fancy a toy. Was thinking of building a Caterham but concerned about how much I'd use it. I had an S1 111S for a while and thoroughly enjoyed that but not sure I could stomach paying so much for one these days knowing what I sold mine for! Have always loved the S2 Exige, mainly for the shape and I quite like the NA 1.8 variant. So I think there's a reasonable chance I'll go for one, maybe back end of next summer if values haven't crept out of reach. My questions:
1) Would £25k get me a very good N/A at current market rates?
2) Are probax seats worth holding out for?
3) I want AC, I assume from looking that most cars have this?
4) Will I need to pay more, less or the same for a mad colour? Big fan of kermit green or orange.
5) I assume normal road tyres are widely available in correct sizes? I'm not a big fan of semi slick type tyres on road cars.
6) These cars are getting on a bit now, should I hold out for one that has had some major surgery or are all foreseeable bills relatively unscary?
7) Even if I have a slight preference for the N/A version, should I consider a supercharged variant just to ensure there is a market for it if I were to sell or are all models in demand?
8) Are values seasonal or pretty steady?
1) yes
2)not really
3)not sure? I get the impression the system is weak anyway
4)colour can affect prices ,but you can be waiting for ages for colour/ spec you want
5)road tyres Ad08 are great and not noisy
6)bills ok ,body work can be expensive
7)your call,I have an n/a and love it ,would I go sc? yes but the price difference was too much for me at the time.Also if you haven't been in one try to They are louder in the cabin than the elise and it can get hot . Some say there isnt much around a track in it .
8) steady
2)not really
3)not sure? I get the impression the system is weak anyway
4)colour can affect prices ,but you can be waiting for ages for colour/ spec you want
5)road tyres Ad08 are great and not noisy
6)bills ok ,body work can be expensive
7)your call,I have an n/a and love it ,would I go sc? yes but the price difference was too much for me at the time.Also if you haven't been in one try to They are louder in the cabin than the elise and it can get hot . Some say there isnt much around a track in it .
8) steady
Edited by peter2704 on Wednesday 6th June 20:28
In my opinion the Probax seats are worth the extra. For me the seats are the perfect shape and far more comfortable than the older seats especially if you're in them for a long period.
Go and try a car with, and a car without them and see what suits you best. But remember Lotus is all about driving and the way the car communicates what's going on with you. A big part of that communication between you and the car comes through the seat so it's important to get it right.
Go and try a car with, and a car without them and see what suits you best. But remember Lotus is all about driving and the way the car communicates what's going on with you. A big part of that communication between you and the car comes through the seat so it's important to get it right.
kambites said:
Re question 6: they're mechanically pretty solid but an average mileage early S2 Exige is probably going to need a suspension refresh sooner rather than later which will run into four figures.
Thanks. Had considered that one. That's the sort of thing I quite like to do myself but I would assume many will have had some attention already. peter2704 said:
1) yes
2)not really
3)not sure? I get the impression the system is weak anyway
4)colour can affect prices ,but you can be waiting for ages for colour/ spec you want
5)road tyres Ad08 are great and not noisy
6)bills ok ,body work can be expensive
7)your call,I have an n/a and love it ,would I go sc? yes but the price difference was too much for me at the time.Also if you haven't been in one try to They are louder in the cabin than the elise and it can get hot . Some say there isnt much around a track in it .
8) steady
I agree with all of this2)not really
3)not sure? I get the impression the system is weak anyway
4)colour can affect prices ,but you can be waiting for ages for colour/ spec you want
5)road tyres Ad08 are great and not noisy
6)bills ok ,body work can be expensive
7)your call,I have an n/a and love it ,would I go sc? yes but the price difference was too much for me at the time.Also if you haven't been in one try to They are louder in the cabin than the elise and it can get hot . Some say there isnt much around a track in it .
8) steady
Only had mine (1.8 N/A) a year now, would have wanted/preferred a SC but they were out of budget at the time (<£25k).
A/C is fairly common but make sure that the weak pipe has been changed (costly labour intensive job). Mine is an '07 so newer lights etc, and <30k miles when I got it and 100% perfect with full history (every year, not just mileage) so worth finding a good one - was a grand or so within budget for me.
Tyres - my R888's are now nearly gone (and lethal in the wet), currently looking at AD08R's as a good balance - with the larini it's too noisy for most track days anyway....
peter2704 said:
if you do go for one you may find yourself just standing and looking at it (I do ,sad I know ) but there is just something about them…..
Yes, I must admit, it's more the looks than any other factor that's swaying me to Exige rather than an Elise. Shouldn't matter but it does! The sensible side of me is saying that a 111R would save me a few £k, and I'd be able to see out the back but they're not pulling at the heart strings. Thanks for all the great advice folks.
If I'm reading right then:
Big jobs to look out for - oil cooler recall (I assume on SC cars)
AC - pipe repair
Suspension refresh
Probably don't mind doing the suspension aspect myself though I'll need to factor the cost in.
Probax seats look a bit 50/50. I didn't mind the seats in 111s but 7 years since I sold it so I was a bit younger back then!
I bought one of these on Sunday.
Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
simonpieman said:
I bought one of these on Sunday.
Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
Where is this strapline?Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
Anyway, I totally agree. Do it!
simonpieman said:
I bought one of these on Sunday.
Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
S/C or N/A?Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
I've had 3 Exiges now, all of S2 variety.
Two were n/a and one s/c'd.
Out of all of them my favourite was the n/a. Just personal preference.
I agree with everything that's been said above.
Cracking little car. You can use them daily but it depends what you're used too.
My wife and I drove all the way to the south of France in ours and also to Scotland from Southampton.
Had the Probax seats and they were very comfortable. Got out of the car from every journey fresh as a daisy.
Find a good one based on history and owners. I wasn't fussed on colour as long as it wasn't black. I hate black cars as they lose all their lines.
They are uber cheap on servicing and hardly touch brake pads or discs due to lack of mass.
They eat rear tyres. Front not so much.
Would I have another? Yes.
Will I buy another? No.
I'm saving up for a S3 Sport 380.
Two were n/a and one s/c'd.
Out of all of them my favourite was the n/a. Just personal preference.
I agree with everything that's been said above.
Cracking little car. You can use them daily but it depends what you're used too.
My wife and I drove all the way to the south of France in ours and also to Scotland from Southampton.
Had the Probax seats and they were very comfortable. Got out of the car from every journey fresh as a daisy.
Find a good one based on history and owners. I wasn't fussed on colour as long as it wasn't black. I hate black cars as they lose all their lines.
They are uber cheap on servicing and hardly touch brake pads or discs due to lack of mass.
They eat rear tyres. Front not so much.
Would I have another? Yes.
Will I buy another? No.
I'm saving up for a S3 Sport 380.
simonpieman said:
I bought one of these on Sunday.
Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
S/C or N/A?Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
simonpieman said:
I bought one of these on Sunday.
Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
Enjoy.Holy mother of God.
It's raw and connected. You strap yourself in and then sort of detonate a bomb as you charge forwards. It's like someone turns up the colour on your existence. The strap line says: "Love life. Love Lotus". I absolutely do.
I should have done this 5 years ago.
Pics later.
I've just got my S2 Exige back on the road after a couple of years and my God it's an event to drive. Turning in to a sweeping bend and feeling the grip load up the steering wheel followed by a 2nd cam exit is difficult to beat.
p.s. I've had mine nearly 8 years and I can't see me selling it anytime soon.
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