Fast Exige advice please
Discussion
I’m going to sell my Mk 1 Porsche 996 GT3 Club Sport and am planning to replace it with a 997 Gen 2 GT3, again in Club Sport spec, but I’m open to considering an Exige.
My budget will allow a 430 Cup or 410 Sport purchase, but I’m not sure I need quite that much performance, or to spend that much on a car that is bound to depreciate a fair chunk over the 5 years or so I expect to keep the car. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled, but my GT3 is worth more than I paid for it nearly 13 years ago, although maintenance and consumables have not been cheap.
If anyone has driven either of these Exiges and a 380 Cup or Sport can they offer some comparative advice?
The car would be for weekend fun plus a few track days each year.
I’ll be driving a few cars before deciding, but help with narrowing down the options would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
My budget will allow a 430 Cup or 410 Sport purchase, but I’m not sure I need quite that much performance, or to spend that much on a car that is bound to depreciate a fair chunk over the 5 years or so I expect to keep the car. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled, but my GT3 is worth more than I paid for it nearly 13 years ago, although maintenance and consumables have not been cheap.
If anyone has driven either of these Exiges and a 380 Cup or Sport can they offer some comparative advice?
The car would be for weekend fun plus a few track days each year.
I’ll be driving a few cars before deciding, but help with narrowing down the options would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
You can get a 430 Cup for considerably less than a 410 if you’re clever so for me it’s a 430 Cup without doubt for the theatre.
I’ve previously owned a Elise Sports Racer and 240S Exige and didn’t see cliff edge depreciation as I have on other cars I’ve owned.
I’ve previously owned a Elise Sports Racer and 240S Exige and didn’t see cliff edge depreciation as I have on other cars I’ve owned.
Edited by And9s on Monday 26th November 21:18
Edited by And9s on Monday 26th November 21:20
You`d probably find the standard Exige 350 would be enough...they are all made for the track.
I`ve owned an Exige S roadster which is effectively the 350, driven a 380, and now own a 430 Cup. In my eye they are all brilliant...in simple £ for £ terms the 350 is probably the best car, but the 430 Cup is a real step up in performance and is very rare. Not quite sure how you will get one for less than a 410 mind you?
I think we have to face reality regarding residuals...but Lotus generally hold their values pretty well, especially the rare cars, but it would also be true that the cost of some of the newer cars means there are less people around who are prepared to put that sort of money into one, so I will find out...not that it matters because I do not think I will be selling it...its absolutely brilliant.
I`ve owned an Exige S roadster which is effectively the 350, driven a 380, and now own a 430 Cup. In my eye they are all brilliant...in simple £ for £ terms the 350 is probably the best car, but the 430 Cup is a real step up in performance and is very rare. Not quite sure how you will get one for less than a 410 mind you?
I think we have to face reality regarding residuals...but Lotus generally hold their values pretty well, especially the rare cars, but it would also be true that the cost of some of the newer cars means there are less people around who are prepared to put that sort of money into one, so I will find out...not that it matters because I do not think I will be selling it...its absolutely brilliant.
you know there is also the 460 upgrade...I bet they will go to 500hp at some point, the magic number ;-)https://komo-tec.com/Shop/en/Exige/MK3-Toyota-V6-3...
edit...they already do a 500hp...its expensive though.
https://komo-tec.com/Shop/en/Exige/MK3-Toyota-V6-3...
Edited by GTRene on Tuesday 27th November 23:33
GTRene said:
you know there is also the 460 upgrade...I bet they will go to 500hp at some point, the magic number ;-)https://komo-tec.com/Shop/en/Exige/MK3-Toyota-V6-3...
edit...they already do a 500hp...its expensive though.
https://komo-tec.com/Shop/en/Exige/MK3-Toyota-V6-3...
Edited by GTRene on Tuesday 27th November 23:33
I guess this is an engine out job, hence the huge jump in cost (plus the TVS1900 of course)
Well I had back to back test drives of a Sport 350 & Sport 410 today.
The Sport 350 was the first V6 Exige I've driven. Very impressive. I loved the power delivery and noise of the torquey engine - much less supercharger whine than I remember from the S2 I last drove. The ride was really good - not at all crashy even on poor surfaces. The steering was, of course, superb and the handling just brilliant - so much grip when cornering fast. The brakes were good and the whole car just felt so right. I'm pretty short so there was loads of room once inside. Getting in and out was not too bad & I'm sure with practice it would soon get easier.
The Sport 410 was as you'd expect even better. Very very fast, even better handling and better brakes. What an amazing car? I absolutely loved it. I think I'd like to try a Sport 380 before I finally decide, but a low miles pre-owned or demonstrator 410 is looking very tempting.
Jamie Matthews at Bell & Colvill was very helpful in explaining the different models and options. He applied absolutely no sales pressure and let me have about an hour in each car all on my own.
Just need a buyer for my GT3.
The Sport 350 was the first V6 Exige I've driven. Very impressive. I loved the power delivery and noise of the torquey engine - much less supercharger whine than I remember from the S2 I last drove. The ride was really good - not at all crashy even on poor surfaces. The steering was, of course, superb and the handling just brilliant - so much grip when cornering fast. The brakes were good and the whole car just felt so right. I'm pretty short so there was loads of room once inside. Getting in and out was not too bad & I'm sure with practice it would soon get easier.
The Sport 410 was as you'd expect even better. Very very fast, even better handling and better brakes. What an amazing car? I absolutely loved it. I think I'd like to try a Sport 380 before I finally decide, but a low miles pre-owned or demonstrator 410 is looking very tempting.
Jamie Matthews at Bell & Colvill was very helpful in explaining the different models and options. He applied absolutely no sales pressure and let me have about an hour in each car all on my own.
Just need a buyer for my GT3.
So, thanks to all for the input.
I’m picking up the Silver Sport 380 from Hofmann’s on Saturday.
http://hofmanns.co.uk/cars/lotus-exige-sport-380/
Very excited.
My GT3 is for sale here if anyone is interested
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
[/quote]
I’m picking up the Silver Sport 380 from Hofmann’s on Saturday.
http://hofmanns.co.uk/cars/lotus-exige-sport-380/
Very excited.
My GT3 is for sale here if anyone is interested
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
[/quote]
Good choice, congratulations. I have a sport 350 and will Komotec it when the warranty runs out. However a few days ago I drove a new GT3 991.2 manual. It was an awesome car but I came away thinking my Exige is so similar in so many ways that on an emotional and driving enjoyment level there is not a lot to chose between them. And a 6 month old Exige is 35% of the cost of a 6 month old GT3! You cant beat that for value.
You will now be able to see when you overtake, I just sold a LHD F355, I quite like LHD to drive and change gear with my right hand, seems more natural but its definitely a disadvantage in the UK with overtaking and road placement, you will have plenty of calls from Europe, esp. with the hammering the £ has taken!
You will now be able to see when you overtake, I just sold a LHD F355, I quite like LHD to drive and change gear with my right hand, seems more natural but its definitely a disadvantage in the UK with overtaking and road placement, you will have plenty of calls from Europe, esp. with the hammering the £ has taken!
Picked up my Sport 380 this morning. Lots of traffic on the drive home, but I went out for a quick blast on some local A roads a couple of hours ago & I still have a stupid grin on my face.
A couple of quick phone shots taken in poor light.
Love it.
A couple of quick phone shots taken in poor light.
Love it.
Edited by andy tims on Monday 24th December 08:40
andy tims said:
Picked up my Sport 380 this morning. Lots of traffic on the drive home, but I went out for a quick blast on some local A roads a couple of hours ago & I still have a stupid grin on my face.
A couple of quick phone shots taken in poor light.
Love it.
A great car think it looks the best in those colours.....A couple of quick phone shots taken in poor light.
Love it.
Edited by andy tims on Monday 24th December 08:40
Why did you go for the 380 and not the 410 in the end.
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