250 Cup or Exige V6
Discussion
Hi Everyone.
First time posting in here.
I have been a big Lotus fan for many years and I’m finally starting to get life sorted out enough to justify a third car! Obviously I really want to have a Lotus.
Having looked around I have come to a bit of a conundrum as I like both the Exige and the Cup 250. To be really honest I would love a 410 sport but it’s a bit expensive for me at this stage.
Usage would hopefully be a few track days a year as a friend who races has offered to coach me for free as my ultimate plan is to race. But on the road the rest of the time it would used for days out with my wife. Maybe the odd weekend away as well.
Would the Elise be a bit cheaper to run for track days as lighter smaller engine etc?
Anyone driven or owned both? Opinions would be great.
I have looked at older cars but embarrassingly I really want the exposed gearbox linkage and I think the seats and everything of the current interiors is fantastic. In minimalist Lotus way.
First time posting in here.
I have been a big Lotus fan for many years and I’m finally starting to get life sorted out enough to justify a third car! Obviously I really want to have a Lotus.
Having looked around I have come to a bit of a conundrum as I like both the Exige and the Cup 250. To be really honest I would love a 410 sport but it’s a bit expensive for me at this stage.
Usage would hopefully be a few track days a year as a friend who races has offered to coach me for free as my ultimate plan is to race. But on the road the rest of the time it would used for days out with my wife. Maybe the odd weekend away as well.
Would the Elise be a bit cheaper to run for track days as lighter smaller engine etc?
Anyone driven or owned both? Opinions would be great.
I have looked at older cars but embarrassingly I really want the exposed gearbox linkage and I think the seats and everything of the current interiors is fantastic. In minimalist Lotus way.
Driven both. I found the Elise was at the limit of what it was capable of in terms of power. I think you'd get very bored of it on the road. The Exige was much more capable with the bigger engine and I'm looking forward to longer trips in mine. I went for a 410 but the test in the 350 was more than enough to satisfy me.
ntiz said:
Hi Everyone.
First time posting in here.
I have looked at older cars but embarrassingly I really want the exposed gearbox linkage and I think the seats and everything of the current interiors is fantastic. In minimalist Lotus way.
ha, I have the same idea/feeling about the exposed gearbox linkage (sadly) somehow it looks way more sport/modern/special?First time posting in here.
I have looked at older cars but embarrassingly I really want the exposed gearbox linkage and I think the seats and everything of the current interiors is fantastic. In minimalist Lotus way.
don't know, but sadly they are in the newer cars, meaning more money aaaah ;-)
don't know if those newer cars (starting with those open linkage) have also more better goodies/upgrades?
or can you upgrade a older Exige/Elise with the same open linkage etc...hm.
I can't comment on an Exige but a supercharged Elise has proved enough car for me for road use. It's got plenty of punch for low grade A and standard B roads which is where I spend most time.
It's small, light and cheap to run and has an endearing simplicity about it.
I previously had TVR Tuscan which had way more performance but could rarely be fully exploited.
On larger tracks I imagine the Elise might become frustrating.
It's small, light and cheap to run and has an endearing simplicity about it.
I previously had TVR Tuscan which had way more performance but could rarely be fully exploited.
On larger tracks I imagine the Elise might become frustrating.
Only you can decide. Try a few.
See how you feel about them. I’ve had both (a 350 Sport and now a 220 Cup). Currently in the 220 Cup. Both cars are great. Exige is more powerful and more explosive. Ultimately I use mine for fun road driving and occasional track days.
I would suggest you’d might be best to graduate up through the cars and power. Although, if you’re looking to race, then think about what are you going to be racing in?
Enjoy looking. Plenty of good Lotus dealers out there to help you with extended test drives.
See how you feel about them. I’ve had both (a 350 Sport and now a 220 Cup). Currently in the 220 Cup. Both cars are great. Exige is more powerful and more explosive. Ultimately I use mine for fun road driving and occasional track days.
I would suggest you’d might be best to graduate up through the cars and power. Although, if you’re looking to race, then think about what are you going to be racing in?
Enjoy looking. Plenty of good Lotus dealers out there to help you with extended test drives.
My plans for racing are actually stuff like 60s F3. So nothing like a Lotus really. Mentioned racing mainly because I intend to get out on track a fair amount.
I’m in 2 minds about going for the exige. I am extremely lucky to have a car loving Dad who insured me on all his cars since I was 21. Have driven lots of Ferrari’s and Porsche’s. Worried the Elise might not have the oomph. Which the exige would give me.
But on the other I kind of like that the Elise isn’t crazy powerful. Perhaps more usable on the road. Plus have been told for learning how to be quick on track starting with less powerful car is good.
Will have to try both. Terrible problem to have.
I’m in 2 minds about going for the exige. I am extremely lucky to have a car loving Dad who insured me on all his cars since I was 21. Have driven lots of Ferrari’s and Porsche’s. Worried the Elise might not have the oomph. Which the exige would give me.
But on the other I kind of like that the Elise isn’t crazy powerful. Perhaps more usable on the road. Plus have been told for learning how to be quick on track starting with less powerful car is good.
Will have to try both. Terrible problem to have.
You are right, the V6 Exige is a great fun car but in some ways a bit of a blunt instrument on track, it is far more challenging and rewarding to maintain momentum through the turns in a lighter less powerful Elise...and you can leave your braking much later. The other bonus is the Elise is far cheaper to run on track, not that the Exige is silly, but the Elise will run all day and be light on consumables. Again the Elise is a blast on any B road and plenty fast enough.
I also agree that you are better off learning braking and turning points, car balance on and off throttle etc etc in a less powerful car...all you will do in a more powerful heavy car is go hammering down the straights, hit the brakes and either over or under cook it and make a mess of the corner...and think you are going quickly when you are not.
I would say to balance this, that you ought to get an Elise that is reasonably well set up for the track, so it will have better brakes, and more race orientated springs, dampers and suspension settings.
I also agree that you are better off learning braking and turning points, car balance on and off throttle etc etc in a less powerful car...all you will do in a more powerful heavy car is go hammering down the straights, hit the brakes and either over or under cook it and make a mess of the corner...and think you are going quickly when you are not.
I would say to balance this, that you ought to get an Elise that is reasonably well set up for the track, so it will have better brakes, and more race orientated springs, dampers and suspension settings.
SELON said:
Only you can decide. Try a few.
See how you feel about them. I’ve had both (a 350 Sport and now a 220 Cup). Currently in the 220 Cup. Both cars are great. Exige is more powerful and more explosive. Ultimately I use mine for fun road driving and occasional track days.
How noticeable is the lack of weight in the Elise verses an Exige on a typical twisty B road?See how you feel about them. I’ve had both (a 350 Sport and now a 220 Cup). Currently in the 220 Cup. Both cars are great. Exige is more powerful and more explosive. Ultimately I use mine for fun road driving and occasional track days.
I ran a Cayman and an Exige at the same time and direction changes were much quicker in the Exige. Just curious how big the step change is between Elise and Exige?
Had them both, currently running a 250 Cup.
The Elise is so nimble and very easy to drive quickly, the V6 Exige obviously has more power (too much for the road really) and feels quite a bit heavier. In particular, in the Exige I could feel the higher centre of gravity on the back end and the understeery front end with standard geo.
The open gearchange is a real positive for the later Exige 350 etc, so much better than the earlier V6S. In the Elise it makes no practical difference, the closed change on the Elise is very slick.
The engine note of the Exige is glorious and the brakes are truly epic, much better than the Elise.
However, for pure driving I prefer the Elise, others will disagree
The Elise is so nimble and very easy to drive quickly, the V6 Exige obviously has more power (too much for the road really) and feels quite a bit heavier. In particular, in the Exige I could feel the higher centre of gravity on the back end and the understeery front end with standard geo.
The open gearchange is a real positive for the later Exige 350 etc, so much better than the earlier V6S. In the Elise it makes no practical difference, the closed change on the Elise is very slick.
The engine note of the Exige is glorious and the brakes are truly epic, much better than the Elise.
However, for pure driving I prefer the Elise, others will disagree
All that has been said is good advice ,
I’ve ran an Elise 220, Exige V6, Exige 380 Sport and a Cup 430. All great cars but also different
If you Track the big circuits you will wish for more power and a good starting point if you intend doing so would be an Exige 350 sport assuming you can stretch the funds.
It will give you enough power but also not too hard on consumables and the V6 noise is a bit special . Also great to upgrade from should you want to
I’ve ran an Elise 220, Exige V6, Exige 380 Sport and a Cup 430. All great cars but also different
If you Track the big circuits you will wish for more power and a good starting point if you intend doing so would be an Exige 350 sport assuming you can stretch the funds.
It will give you enough power but also not too hard on consumables and the V6 noise is a bit special . Also great to upgrade from should you want to
bcr5784 said:
Boring stuff. Not sure how much the wing on the 250 Elise interferes with rear vision - but it's not too bad on 220. Dire on an Exige (and Evoras now) with that slatted rear window so I'd want a reversing camera.
Exige S models (the early V6) doesn't have much of a visibility problem, since the rear cover is glass, and you look out from between the rear wing and the boot spoiler.Did you get out & test any cars yet op?
I’m in the same position as you but not ready to buy for a few months. It’s a tricky dilemma. I think an Elise 250 cup would be more fun & more usable for regular road fun along with being cheaper to run on track days. However the noise/ engine/ looks/ potential for major upgrades appeals for the Exige.
I also don’t like how close in price the 2 are. Even though the 250 is the rarer car it pushes me a little towards the Exige on a value for money basis. What do these cups end up selling for new as the same ones have all been sat for sale for months which makes me wonder if lotus dealers just refuse offers on the price.
I’m in the same position as you but not ready to buy for a few months. It’s a tricky dilemma. I think an Elise 250 cup would be more fun & more usable for regular road fun along with being cheaper to run on track days. However the noise/ engine/ looks/ potential for major upgrades appeals for the Exige.
I also don’t like how close in price the 2 are. Even though the 250 is the rarer car it pushes me a little towards the Exige on a value for money basis. What do these cups end up selling for new as the same ones have all been sat for sale for months which makes me wonder if lotus dealers just refuse offers on the price.
JJ55 said:
Did you get out & test any cars yet op?
I’m in the same position as you but not ready to buy for a few months. It’s a tricky dilemma. I think an Elise 250 cup would be more fun & more usable for regular road fun along with being cheaper to run on track days. However the noise/ engine/ looks/ potential for major upgrades appeals for the Exige.
I also don’t like how close in price the 2 are. Even though the 250 is the rarer car it pushes me a little towards the Exige on a value for money basis. What do these cups end up selling for new as the same ones have all been sat for sale for months which makes me wonder if lotus dealers just refuse offers on the price.
I've had my exige S (v6) for a few months now. It's essentially too fast to use on the road the way $deity intended. Buy carefully.I’m in the same position as you but not ready to buy for a few months. It’s a tricky dilemma. I think an Elise 250 cup would be more fun & more usable for regular road fun along with being cheaper to run on track days. However the noise/ engine/ looks/ potential for major upgrades appeals for the Exige.
I also don’t like how close in price the 2 are. Even though the 250 is the rarer car it pushes me a little towards the Exige on a value for money basis. What do these cups end up selling for new as the same ones have all been sat for sale for months which makes me wonder if lotus dealers just refuse offers on the price.
In truth most cars these days are too fast for the road conditions and speed restrictions...but the good thing with the Elise/Exige is that they are also very engaging to drive at sensible speeds and in many ways the Exige more so because of the challenge to control the torque. At least you can listen to the lovely noise form the engine as opposed to a relatively calm 4 cylinder.
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