S2 111R or S2 Exige - help!!
Discussion
Have a £15k budget, and looked around now at Caterhams and Elises, and decided that the 111R is the way to go. I have driven one previously and really like the feel of the car. It will be used exclusively at weekend, with the odd track day and European adventure chucked in for good measure!!The dilemma:I love the look of the S2 Exige, and a few examples are coming onto the market listed at £18k. I am hopeful that if i wait until Christmas it might be possible to snap one up for £16k cash. My initial £15k budget is a stretch, so going any higher than £16k is not really do-able.What i want would really appreciate feedback on is;> Is the Exige that different to the 111R (trying to drive one this weekend to get a feel for it)> Is it realistic to think that by Christmas some dealers will be willing to shift leggy £18k Exiges for £16k?> I know that it is important to buy on condition, and would get any new car checked over by a qualified mechanic and HPI'd - but am i likely to be buying trouble at £16k/£18k? Suspension refresh, engine work etc...For anyone that has driven / owned both - i would be really interested to hear what are the pro's and cons of each car, given that it is going to be used as a toy and occasional tourer.Cheers in advance.
For your budget of £15k the 111R is the best buy. Also consider the Rover 111S, at this price you would be buying one of the last ones. I have a S2 Exige but it is very low mileage <11k and seems well built. Servicing is relatively cheap on the Toyota cars except every 6th year which is the big service. So a 54 plate 111R will be due up for its big service now, around £500. Toyota cars do have a few problems and over revving the engine on the down shift is expensive (new engine). Apart from tyres the cars a economical to run for the level of performance provided. Insurance can be costly if you are young!
I love my Exige but also loved my s2 elise (it was just a standard rover engine model) Performance wise there will be very little in it between the 111r and exige unless you put them on a track where the exige will handle a bit better although i do think you'll have to be a very good driver to notice the difference. It depends what you want the car for. If your going to track it a lot then yes the exige (but must admit mines never been on a track with me and i bought mine because i loved the look of the exige)
I do think however you won't find a good example exige for £16k. Most are coming in around £18k+ for the early s2's. If you really want an exige your better off saving a bit more money and getting a really good example.
They are both great cars and you'll be hooked!
I do think however you won't find a good example exige for £16k. Most are coming in around £18k+ for the early s2's. If you really want an exige your better off saving a bit more money and getting a really good example.
They are both great cars and you'll be hooked!
i have had both the NA Exige and a 111R and can honestly say i didnt notice any difference in the drive. To be perfectly honest i havent noticed that much difference with my current 111S so my opinion is probably worthless.
The Exige IMO does look a lot better so if its looks your going for there is your answer.
In terms of your budget i reckon you will struggle to get a decent one with what you have to spend therefore the 111R will probably suit you better and you may even get a hard top with that money.
The Exige IMO does look a lot better so if its looks your going for there is your answer.
In terms of your budget i reckon you will struggle to get a decent one with what you have to spend therefore the 111R will probably suit you better and you may even get a hard top with that money.
The suspension in a 111R is noticeably softer on road than an Exige. The Exige feels a little more planted but a bit harsher on road. Also, because the Exige hard top has a bit that covers the edge between the top and the screen it feels lower. It's not really but you lose the top 15-20mm of the screen.
Mine is one of the earliest Exiges and although it's now quite old it is low mileage and so I'd expect it to go privately for 18, more at a dealer. These cars aren't particularly seasonal and the only way to pick one up cheaply is if the seller needs a very quick sale or something isn't quite right with the car so be wary of anything that seems like a "great deal" and check the cars history very, very thoroughly.
Mine is one of the earliest Exiges and although it's now quite old it is low mileage and so I'd expect it to go privately for 18, more at a dealer. These cars aren't particularly seasonal and the only way to pick one up cheaply is if the seller needs a very quick sale or something isn't quite right with the car so be wary of anything that seems like a "great deal" and check the cars history very, very thoroughly.
taustin said:
Thanks for the replys and the offer to post the link to the yellow 111r. Buying the toy with a mate, neither of us r too keen on the lairy yellow though.
Yellow looks awesome on a Lotus (but must admit looks awful on most other cars). My Exige is storm titanium and i think it is one of the best colours but had a mate who had a yellow Exige then a yellow 135R, they really did look lovely. Might be a case of seeing it in the flesh so to speak.JACK6284 said:
Apart from tyres the cars a economical to run for the level of performance provided.
I wouldn't even say that about the tyres - looking at delivered prices for a full set of OEM tyres for other cars I've had or still have:Elise - Yokohama AD07, 175/55/16 + 225/45/17 - £470
RX-8 - Bridgestone RE040 225/45/18 - £538
350Z - Bridgestone RE050A 225/45/18 + 245/45/18 - £592
Civic Type-R - Bridgestone RE040 205/45/17 - £419
For the performance, not bad at all, I would say.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff