something a bit newer with more ooomph?
Discussion
Although I love the 135r to bits I'm thinking of swapping her for a 111r or na exige beginning of next year and I can't get my head round which to go for.
I love having a soft top but love the looks of the exige (no I'm not going topless in an exige it looks sooooooo wrong imo !)
i recon I would sway towards the elise in that instance.
I wouldn't mind chrome orange or krypton green or whatever its called theese days,
which in exige form are plentifull but the elises all seem to be boring colours
Now the other problem with the elise is boggo suspension,wheels and tyres ( I love sticky yokos) so theres extra expenditure there, whereas the exige has that sorted already.
the only other option is a honda... but then I wouldn't be getting a new(er) shiny car.... I recon by jan I'll have 22k to play with.
thoughts anyone ?
I love having a soft top but love the looks of the exige (no I'm not going topless in an exige it looks sooooooo wrong imo !)
i recon I would sway towards the elise in that instance.
I wouldn't mind chrome orange or krypton green or whatever its called theese days,
which in exige form are plentifull but the elises all seem to be boring colours
Now the other problem with the elise is boggo suspension,wheels and tyres ( I love sticky yokos) so theres extra expenditure there, whereas the exige has that sorted already.
the only other option is a honda... but then I wouldn't be getting a new(er) shiny car.... I recon by jan I'll have 22k to play with.
thoughts anyone ?
S Works said:
Drive them and see what you think. Easy to wax lyrical, better to go and try everything you can and then make the decision. Try 111R and Elise SC, NA and S Exige and a Honda'd S2... then Honda yours.
I was dreading that response... its the most expensive of the lot 10k for conversion with nitrons and big disks... :sigh: I sort of knew it in the back of my mind ! Scuffers said:
well, to be perfectly honest, a 111R or NA Exige is going to be slower/more lethargic than your current car...
if that does not worry you, then go for it, but I got the impression that's not the point?
why would the yota be slower with an extra 55 horses? the weight or something? all I know is im not happy with the output at the mo and have been warned against tuning the k above 160 so the logical step would be exige or 111r or so I thought ! if that does not worry you, then go for it, but I got the impression that's not the point?
crackthatoff said:
Scuffers said:
well, to be perfectly honest, a 111R or NA Exige is going to be slower/more lethargic than your current car...
if that does not worry you, then go for it, but I got the impression that's not the point?
why would the yota be slower with an extra 55 horses? the weight or something? all I know is im not happy with the output at the mo and have been warned against tuning the k above 160 so the logical step would be exige or 111r or so I thought ! if that does not worry you, then go for it, but I got the impression that's not the point?
if you compare the power curves of them:
http://www.dyno-plot.co.uk/dyno/dynoplot/id%3D24_3...
basically, the Yota is only going to deliver more power at cam change (6,000rpm), now, I would suggest for a road car, that's getting on for being irrelevant, now add in +100-150Kg's to blunt the responces etc, and volia!
Most 135R's make 140 - 145 bhp with induction and exhaust. The yota's make 180-190. However, the 135R weighs nearly 100kg less and has the CR gearbox which helps in-gear acceleration. Below 90mph there is very little in it between the two.
If you think you need more power, 111r or exige may not be the way to go. Elise SC or Exige S maybe, but will be pricey. I have no regrets about getting my 111s honda'd when the k series packed up. Next thing may be chargecooled SC (after a few more suspension tweaks), but the car is still bonkers fast in NA configuration - way more than the 70 bhp increase over previously would suggest.
If you think you need more power, 111r or exige may not be the way to go. Elise SC or Exige S maybe, but will be pricey. I have no regrets about getting my 111s honda'd when the k series packed up. Next thing may be chargecooled SC (after a few more suspension tweaks), but the car is still bonkers fast in NA configuration - way more than the 70 bhp increase over previously would suggest.
one thing to consider when spending £10K on a Honda, is that upon resale, you get at least £5-6K of that back ....go into a dealer and 'upgrade' to a newer 111R or Exige, and lose a couple of K on your own car immediately, pay a couple of grand extra for the new one, then more depreciation on your newer car ...mmm...thats paid for a faster Honda, that holds it value better ....I can technically 'afford' any new Lotus there is, but my money will be going into a 5-6 year old souped up Honda car personally, as its safer there than any new one....do the maths yourself and think about it
Should I?/Shouldn't I? Dilemmas seem to happen every year for the average owner. Fact is, unless you're looking at a whole new car, you're going to spend a lot of money for relatively little gain. I've seen people change Elises every year and still not be happy - I guess it's like those guys that need a girlfriend all the time but can't decide who, so they have a different girl on their arm each time you meet them...only 10 years later they're still undecided and unhappy...
kevin ritson said:
Should I?/Shouldn't I? Dilemmas seem to happen every year for the average owner. Fact is, unless you're looking at a whole new car, you're going to spend a lot of money for relatively little gain. I've seen people change Elises every year and still not be happy - I guess it's like those guys that need a girlfriend all the time but can't decide who, so they have a different girl on their arm each time you meet them...only 10 years later they're still undecided and unhappy...
Lot to be said for that viewpoint...Certainly power is a drug, the more you have, the more you want...
I got into an NA Honda the other day and though it was slow, it's just what your used to I guess...
yeah, youre not wrong Kev ...my own logic is always to add about 50bhp per year to keep one interested, then its like having a new girlfriend each year with some "enhancements" I guess 
Ive got about 18 months off now, but my imaginary Elise is still gaining power and will have 400bhp by the time Im ready to get back in it
Ive got about 18 months off now, but my imaginary Elise is still gaining power and will have 400bhp by the time Im ready to get back in it
Another option is to look at what can be done with your existing engine. Have a look here at the K10 kit http://www.dvapower.co.uk/
Less than £3k will give you a car that's probably faster than a 111R or N/A Exige in the real world. The downside is that you will be pushing the boundaries of what is generally accepted as 'reliable' power for day to day from the K.
Worth talking to Dave Andrews about it though.
Do drive the others though - you might like them.
Less than £3k will give you a car that's probably faster than a 111R or N/A Exige in the real world. The downside is that you will be pushing the boundaries of what is generally accepted as 'reliable' power for day to day from the K.
Worth talking to Dave Andrews about it though.
Do drive the others though - you might like them.
as usual the honda mafia have jumped all over someone's interest in a toyota car.
I totally share the whole exige looks better but I like convertibles debate. For me the sportsracer was the right compromise. It's nearer the exige in terms of suspension, yokos as standard and with a the hard top on looks nearly as good too, to my eyes at least. (of course a 111r with sports pack, forged wheels and hard top is essentially the same thing). It's a fantastic car to drive and own. The pro honda thing is so black and white on this forum it means sadly s
gging anything to do with a toyota (not sure why, comes across as a little insecure to me). As for the 135r being faster than a 111r or equally that power over 6k revs is irrelevant, frankly this is pure tripe. Scuffers you are thought to be very knowlegdable about the car but I think in this instance your predjudice has got the better of your better judgement.
The toyota engine is superb and a scintillating match for the lotus chassis. I own two much faster cars (in a straight line) but I'm far from bored with my 190 bhp. Personally I think an exige deserves more but for the elise it's a great unit. You can also get over 200 bhp with exhaust/induction and even lower the cam change point for those engineering purists who don't like the comedy 6200 kick in the pants.
Thought you might at least appreciate another opinion aside from the usual honda or nothing view expressed here.
I totally share the whole exige looks better but I like convertibles debate. For me the sportsracer was the right compromise. It's nearer the exige in terms of suspension, yokos as standard and with a the hard top on looks nearly as good too, to my eyes at least. (of course a 111r with sports pack, forged wheels and hard top is essentially the same thing). It's a fantastic car to drive and own. The pro honda thing is so black and white on this forum it means sadly s
gging anything to do with a toyota (not sure why, comes across as a little insecure to me). As for the 135r being faster than a 111r or equally that power over 6k revs is irrelevant, frankly this is pure tripe. Scuffers you are thought to be very knowlegdable about the car but I think in this instance your predjudice has got the better of your better judgement.The toyota engine is superb and a scintillating match for the lotus chassis. I own two much faster cars (in a straight line) but I'm far from bored with my 190 bhp. Personally I think an exige deserves more but for the elise it's a great unit. You can also get over 200 bhp with exhaust/induction and even lower the cam change point for those engineering purists who don't like the comedy 6200 kick in the pants.
Thought you might at least appreciate another opinion aside from the usual honda or nothing view expressed here.
I think you will find that 4 or 5 of us, who have been in a similar boat and then went Honda were just pointing out that a 111R isnt *that* much quicker (if any) than a 135R ...certainly not enough to warrant spending £6-7K on the change of vehicle.
theres nothing *wrong* with the toyota cars...well except maybe they put on a lot of weight ..its just that there are other proven options out there, that are better than walking into a dealer and lining their pockets, for the sake of coming out like 10bhp/ton up...oh and getting aircon into the bargain.....and not just Honda - £3K with DVA on the S2135R will bring out a nice engine indeed
..everyone has different requirements of course - there will always be those that just want a factory car, under warranty, easy resale and insurance etc, daily driver etc ..and there will be those who want the best performance per kg and pound spent for the ultimate tracktoy ...horses for courses and all that
theres nothing *wrong* with the toyota cars...well except maybe they put on a lot of weight
..its just that there are other proven options out there, that are better than walking into a dealer and lining their pockets, for the sake of coming out like 10bhp/ton up...oh and getting aircon into the bargain.....and not just Honda - £3K with DVA on the S2135R will bring out a nice engine indeed ..everyone has different requirements of course - there will always be those that just want a factory car, under warranty, easy resale and insurance etc, daily driver etc ..and there will be those who want the best performance per kg and pound spent for the ultimate tracktoy ...horses for courses and all that
Ive had a 111R, Sport Racer and now have an NA Exige and would choose the Exige everytime closely followed by the Sport Racer.
If you want a soft top then an Exige is not for you as you quite rightly said in your opening post "it is wrong" to convert an Exige. In all of the Lotus` i have owned i have very rarely taken the roof off as i didnt see the point or feel any benefit. Others will shoot me down here as some think it is the bees knees but IMO i dont agree. If you want a convertible then there are much better cars about for soft top driving. (like the Saab, MX5 or Z4
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Now this is where my experience/advice may come in useful for you, if you want an Exige then buy an Exige. If you buy something else then you will still want the Exige. I did this three times before finally buying it and wish i had done it much much earlier
If you want a soft top then an Exige is not for you as you quite rightly said in your opening post "it is wrong" to convert an Exige. In all of the Lotus` i have owned i have very rarely taken the roof off as i didnt see the point or feel any benefit. Others will shoot me down here as some think it is the bees knees but IMO i dont agree. If you want a convertible then there are much better cars about for soft top driving. (like the Saab, MX5 or Z4
.)Now this is where my experience/advice may come in useful for you, if you want an Exige then buy an Exige. If you buy something else then you will still want the Exige. I did this three times before finally buying it and wish i had done it much much earlier
Scuffers said:
The Pits said:
as usual the honda mafia have jumped all over someone's interest in a toyota car.
sorry?is reading not one of your strong points?
what exactly is pro-honda in what I have posted?
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