Elise SC for Exige 260, regret implications.

[Bebee]

An Exige 260 has been on the cards for a while now, and I would be doing an exchange or private sale for my Elise SC, I've owned the Elise from new, 09 plate, and I must have taken the roof off twice in that time.

Would I regret this exchange? I haven't tested a 260 yet, would it set me on fire? I think they look awesome!
My JC Elise drivers door is signed by Betty Clark and Ian Scott Watson, I met them while in Duns in April, this would be the hardest thing to give up.
What would you do? Stick with the Elise, or trade it for a 260?
Your opinions appreciated.

EDIT to add, I could unbolt the Elise drivers door and put it on the 260

Edited by Bebee on Saturday 11th September 08:46

[nsm3]

Unless you track the car a lot - I wouldn't bother?

I have the Exige S with the same output as your SC and find the performance plenty enough for road use?

I haven't driven an SC Elise, but I suspect that the suspension/tyres combination may be "marginally" more comfortable on the road?

You may also find the lack of rear visibility a bit of a bind, especially when you are already used to driving a similar car that does have a rear view?

But of course - all that is just my view - if you have the dough burning a hole in your pocket - go for it !!

BTW - were you in Droitwich/Worcs a week or so back - I have just checked your profile and didn't realise that there are only 25 of your cars on the road - I posted in the "spotted" thread that I had seen a JC version?

Edited by nsm3 on Saturday 11th September 09:15

[Bebee]

nsm3 said:

Unless you track the car a lot - I wouldn't bother?

I have the Exige S with the same output as your SC and find the performance plenty enough for road use?

I haven't driven an SC Elise, but I suspect that the suspension/tyres combination may be "marginally" more comfortable on the road?

You may also find the lack of rear visibility a bit of a bind, especially when you are already used to driving a similar car that does have a rear view?

But of course - all that is just my view - if you have the dough burning a hole in your pocket - go for it !!

BTW - were you in Droitwich/Worcs a week or so back - I have just checked your profile and didn't realise that there are only 25 of your cars on the road - I posted in the "spotted" thread that I had seen a JC version?

Edited by nsm3 on Saturday 11th September 09:15

The JC has dry use and always garaged, and is a 2nd car to a van with no rear view (used to it!),the ride wouldn't concern me on a 260.
The JC is a little softer since swapping 48's for T1R's, it has Bilstein sus, with twin oil coolers, is that as track ready as a 260? Not sure.

There must be another 25 JC SC in/around Droitwich/Worcs, not me sir. Would be interesting to know who that is though! Cheers.

[bogie]

its cheaper to have 2 sets of wheels n tyres, and adjustable suspension, rather than line the dealers pockets changing cars

unless you prefer the styling of the Exige of course...

they really are the same car underneath you know....always have been

[sng45]

I have an Elise SC - fantastic car - if you only drive in dry weather I don't understand why you've only had the roof off twice ?! - mine never has the roof on and I drive it in all weathers - personally I feel it's a completely different car with the roof off ( rather than on) - this is my fifth Elise and I wouldn't consider an Exige quite simply because ( as I'm aware) the roof doesn't come off.
Spend a week driving topless and you'll soon change your mind !

[otolith]

As I understand it, you can remove the roof panel from S2 Exiges?

[bogie]

otolith said:

As I understand it, you can remove the roof panel from S2 Exiges?

you can...with a kit...but it looks a bid odd to me

the Elise looks right without a roof and the Exige with one IMO

[Bebee]

sng45 said:

I have an Elise SC - fantastic car - if you only drive in dry weather I don't understand why you've only had the roof off twice ?! - mine never has the roof on and I drive it in all weathers - personally I feel it's a completely different car with the roof off ( rather than on) - this is my fifth Elise and I wouldn't consider an Exige quite simply because ( as I'm aware) the roof doesn't come off.
Spend a week driving topless and you'll soon change your mind !

I have a soft and a hard top, the hard top looks better as it's painted with the yellow stripe but it's a pain to get off on again at the mercy of the weather, the Tiv Griff I had was a lot quicker to remove the top, so I drove a lot with it off.
Question for you sir, how do you find time to drive your Elise with so many stunning cars in your collection?

[Bebee]

bogie said:

its cheaper to have 2 sets of wheels n tyres, and adjustable suspension, rather than line the dealers pockets changing cars

unless you prefer the styling of the Exige of course...

they really are the same car underneath you know....always have been

I did think about that a while ago, I was looking for some 240 wheels with 48's on but then I thought more and more about a 260 cup, I love the aggressive looks!

Edited by Bebee on Sunday 12th September 09:42

[bogie]

Bebee said:

bogie said:

its cheaper to have 2 sets of wheels n tyres, and adjustable suspension, rather than line the dealers pockets changing cars

unless you prefer the styling of the Exige of course...

they really are the same car underneath you know....always have been

I did think about that a while ago, I was looking for some 240 wheels with 48's on but then I thought more and more about a 260 cup, I love the aggressive looks!

Edited by Bebee on Sunday 12th September 09:42

I did 1/2 way on my old car, and had the S2 Exige front with Elise rear ...so it looked more aggressive, but still fine with the roof off

some people prefer the Exige rear + wing
I prefer the Elise rear for roof off use, but Exige front, with mesh, spltter, side vents etc

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2225600230039429722ryJFAs][/URL]

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2189168330039429722eajKJh][/URL]

Edited by bogie on Sunday 12th September 09:58

[sibo99]

owned a mark1 elise then moved to s2 exige also have driven 190 elise. sorry but on a quiet country road the exige stood well out in terms of a blast.
i dare say changing the tyres, wings and suspension there maynot be alot in it tho

[bogie]

sibo99 said:

owned a mark1 elise then moved to s2 exige also have driven 190 elise. sorry but on a quiet country road the exige stood well out in terms of a blast.
i dare say changing the tyres, wings and suspension there maynot be alot in it tho

for sure, out of the box, if you drive lots of ELise/Exige derivatives, there are a myriad of set-ups

and for most people, a test drive in an Exige, compared to a base Elise, will sell them on the different setup

Underneath they are the same car though, and if you know what you want, you can set them up however you like, which is part of the appeal to many people ....a bit like the range of Caterhams you can get I guess ...a car for enthusiasts to tinker with

...and if you dont like tinkering, you just walk in a dealer and change cars...each to their own and all that...some people dont like modded cars etc...

[HVAC MATT]

you can take the exige roof off and have it set up to take a soft top. I quite fancie a elise sc or exige S next and tbh it think it easier to get the exige and have the roof done as there are more of the exige S about in the second hand market and (so im told) there are more option to upgrade the exiges power. As per fitting a SC to a 111R the resale value puts me off.

[The Bandit]

Trading your SC for a 260 will cost you,what £15-20k?
So you need to ask yourself if its £15-20k more fun.I drove a 260 and was pretty underwhelmed(there seemed to be something wrong with the rear suspension which did'nt help).
My car was 100% as much fun but only 75% as fast in a straight line,i can live with that for £20k plus prefering the Elise.

[TOENHEEL]

The Exige roof does look funny removed unless its the latest my10 model like mine below, the new wing and front for some reason make it look great with the roof off.

[Herman Toothrot]

TOENHEEL said:

The Exige roof does look funny removed unless its the latest my10 model like mine below, the new wing and front for some reason make it look great with the roof off.

But then it may as well be an Elise... does look good. After going in an Exige I couldn't help but think why ? Its essentially an Elise with less roofing options.

[TOENHEEL]

Herman Toothrot said:

TOENHEEL said:

The Exige roof does look funny removed unless its the latest my10 model like mine below, the new wing and front for some reason make it look great with the roof off.

But then it may as well be an Elise... does look good. After going in an Exige I couldn't help but think why ? Its essentially an Elise with less roofing options.

IMHO the elise doesnt look anywhere near as good as an Exige, the Elise for me always looks like its missing something. I toyed with the idea of a SC Elise but having owned an Exige before i just love the looks especially the bigger roof scoop etc. I think the Exige has a lot more road presence.

[Bebee]

Herman Toothrot said:

TOENHEEL said:

The Exige roof does look funny removed unless its the latest my10 model like mine below, the new wing and front for some reason make it look great with the roof off.

But then it may as well be an Elise... does look good. After going in an Exige I couldn't help but think why ? Its essentially an Elise with less roofing options.

260 BHP agressive looks? nice to have a new motor too!

[TonyHetherington]

I sold my Elise 111S and bought an Exige S (220).

I'm glad I did because I wouldn't have known, but I still think the Elise was the better car. The Exige was great, and looked better, but the Elise was so very perfect for the road and so, cost considered as well, I wouldn't do it 2nd time round.

[TOENHEEL]

Comparing the front of my new car to a sc elise i just feel one looks purposeful and the other a bit dare i say it bland. Its all a matter of opinion though and personal taste.