New Buyer-Elise vs Exige?
Discussion
Guys,
I am new to this forum so please forgive if this question has been asked before (I hope not).
My dilema is as follows: I have wanted an Elise for a few years, but have not yet taken the plunge for the following reason. I went to buy one around 2 yrs ago (I had the cash deposit) at my local dealers in Edinburgh. As I arrived at the forecourt there was a silver 'Elise Motorsport', (which looks like an Exige), but this was before the Exige had been launched. It was a standard 1997 Elise with the full Body kit fitted at Murray Motor Co in Edinburgh, with standard engine etc. I immediately fell in love with the car but when I asked about the price I quickly realised I could not afford it (£24k). Major Bummer! I looked at the other car I had gone to buy and somehow it just didn't look as good. I couldn't bring myself to buy it after seeing the Motorsport kit on the other car. I left the dealers, totally dejected and with the money burning a hole in my pocket.
Now, just last week I saw the same Motorsport car advertised for £17k in Scotland (I'm in Glasgow). I called to buy and the owner had just agreed a deal with a trader down south to p/x the car for a Porsche Carrera 2. He couldn't be pursuaded otherwise so I have lost out again!
My question is this.....do I go for an Exige (which are becoming slightly more affordable) or will I get as much fun with an early S1? Is the Exige really worth twice the price? Any advice you can give would be gratefully recieived. I do not have money to throw away, so the Exige would be a stretch....but one that I might just manage. I intend to use the car as often as I can, including some commuting to work.
Please help.....I need some honest views from owners of both.
I am new to this forum so please forgive if this question has been asked before (I hope not).
My dilema is as follows: I have wanted an Elise for a few years, but have not yet taken the plunge for the following reason. I went to buy one around 2 yrs ago (I had the cash deposit) at my local dealers in Edinburgh. As I arrived at the forecourt there was a silver 'Elise Motorsport', (which looks like an Exige), but this was before the Exige had been launched. It was a standard 1997 Elise with the full Body kit fitted at Murray Motor Co in Edinburgh, with standard engine etc. I immediately fell in love with the car but when I asked about the price I quickly realised I could not afford it (£24k). Major Bummer! I looked at the other car I had gone to buy and somehow it just didn't look as good. I couldn't bring myself to buy it after seeing the Motorsport kit on the other car. I left the dealers, totally dejected and with the money burning a hole in my pocket.
Now, just last week I saw the same Motorsport car advertised for £17k in Scotland (I'm in Glasgow). I called to buy and the owner had just agreed a deal with a trader down south to p/x the car for a Porsche Carrera 2. He couldn't be pursuaded otherwise so I have lost out again!
My question is this.....do I go for an Exige (which are becoming slightly more affordable) or will I get as much fun with an early S1? Is the Exige really worth twice the price? Any advice you can give would be gratefully recieived. I do not have money to throw away, so the Exige would be a stretch....but one that I might just manage. I intend to use the car as often as I can, including some commuting to work.
Please help.....I need some honest views from owners of both.
Depends
list your priorities -
Exige - better on track, very raw, very few creature comforts, great engine. Noisy and unless you have aircon they steam up something shocking in the winter
Elise - No roof, great for summer, none too shabby on track, much easy and cheaper to tune and upgrade if thats your bag. 10k less ! Yes there are niggles but these are well know and a 14k elise can have a great spec, so for your money the elise wins hands down.
You could buy a westfield and an elise for the same money. or spend 1k on trackdays for next year !
However - the exige will likely hold its value better and if you look around could get one for 21-22k maybe - they have all been tracked at somepoint - which is what they were made for - but if you go for one - then make sure the owner had the money to look after it.
GO and drive both !
list your priorities -
Exige - better on track, very raw, very few creature comforts, great engine. Noisy and unless you have aircon they steam up something shocking in the winter
Elise - No roof, great for summer, none too shabby on track, much easy and cheaper to tune and upgrade if thats your bag. 10k less ! Yes there are niggles but these are well know and a 14k elise can have a great spec, so for your money the elise wins hands down.
You could buy a westfield and an elise for the same money. or spend 1k on trackdays for next year !
However - the exige will likely hold its value better and if you look around could get one for 21-22k maybe - they have all been tracked at somepoint - which is what they were made for - but if you go for one - then make sure the owner had the money to look after it.
GO and drive both !
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