Exige S v's CSL

Exige S v's CSL

Author
Discussion

Craig!

Original Poster:

349 posts

204 months

Friday 31st October 2008
quotequote all
I'm not really into versus topics, but I just wondered if there is many people here who have gone from an Exige S to a CSL, or the other way round? What were your thoughts and impressions, any regrets?

Car is mainly used for back road driving and a good few trips to the Nurburgring every year. I currently own an Exige S, done 7200 faultless miles and have loved every moment of it, but still have the thoughts of a CSL in the back of my mind.

Edited by Craig! on Friday 31st October 15:02

FlintyGP

74 posts

216 months

Friday 31st October 2008
quotequote all
I have owned a CSL but never owned a Lotus.

All i can add is that on track, the CSL laps quicker. Had a fantastic day at Snetterton with passenger ride in the Exige S, well driven too.

Anything else?

terryb

990 posts

251 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
Craig, I went from an Elise R (190bhp toyota engine) to a CSL. The CSL is much more practical for driving over to the Nurburgring or indeed for any long distances - just eats up the miles in relative comfort, whilst always being able to bring a big smile to your face with what must be one of the best engine sounds in any car ever made.

The SMG gearbox is great once you understand how best to set it up and on the track is simply amazing - fastest possible gearchanges without taking your hands off the wheel and blipping the revs on downshifts to make your own heel and toe efforts in a manual seem feeble smile

Try and get a good test drive in one - indeed if you're interested in buying one then my 54 plate is currently up for sale with less than 30k miles on the clock. But I'm holding out for a decent price as it's worth it - there are too many cheap CSLs on the market at present smile

Road Pest

3,123 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
FlintyGP said:
All i can add is that on track, the CSL laps quicker.
Really? http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/powerlaps.shtml

Doesn't look like it laps quicker than the normal aspirated one to me.

Edited by Road Pest on Sunday 2nd November 12:58

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
twas a wet lap, worth about 4 secs so up there with FQ400

Road Pest

3,123 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
shim said:
twas a wet lap, worth about 4 secs so up there with FQ400
Yep it was, they should put that on the leader board really. Apparently the CSL was on nearly slick tyres as well.

Edited by Road Pest on Sunday 2nd November 13:59

FlintyGP

74 posts

216 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
I recall TopGear did a moist/wet lap on Cup tyres - 'interesting' experience even for pro drivers. A dry lap on warm Cups would give a huge difference although i'm not sure about their claim of 4 seconds.

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
Road Pest said:
shim said:
twas a wet lap, worth about 4 secs so up there with FQ400
Yep it was, they should put that on the leader board really. Apparently the CSL was on nearly slick tyres as well.

Edited by Road Pest on Sunday 2nd November 13:59
no it was on Cups, standard CSL road tyres, but a little more grip!

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
FlintyGP said:
I recall TopGear did a moist/wet lap on Cup tyres - 'interesting' experience even for pro drivers. A dry lap on warm Cups would give a huge difference although i'm not sure about their claim of 4 seconds.
i think it was a pretty wet lap on Cups Top Gear did, which i think they say is 2-3 secs wet to dry time difference

Cups in the wet are prety bad so i think 3-4 secs is more like it

woppum

1,137 posts

193 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
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I concur

Road Pest

3,123 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd November 2008
quotequote all
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_in_a_Reasonably-...

It said on here it was on nearly slick tyres. I give up!

Andyt25

1,190 posts

255 months

Tuesday 4th November 2008
quotequote all
Craig, not going to give you a long pros and cons post but just wanted to say I've had 8 Lotus and now have a CSL....would I sell it for a Lotus...No def not....If you do test drive you need to make sure it's a long one as you need to understand the gear box and you will not get that on a 20 mmin drive.

Rags

3,644 posts

243 months

Tuesday 4th November 2008
quotequote all
My friend Lee sold an exige S for a CSL only a few days ago.

He will be able to give a good response to this thread.

Andyt25

1,190 posts

255 months

Tuesday 4th November 2008
quotequote all
Rags said:
My friend Lee sold an exige S for a CSL only a few days ago.

He will be able to give a good response to this thread.
Rags did he have a red Exige S and the 911 GT2. He's discussing it over on the CSLregister.....Must say his S looked like a bargain. Although wasn't the Exige his wifes daily drive and he used the GT2.

Craig, it would be worth you signing onto the WWW.CSLREGISTER.COM as there are a few Lotus owners on there that have gone to CSL's

Edited by Andyt25 on Tuesday 4th November 14:21


Edited by Andyt25 on Tuesday 4th November 14:22

shim

2,050 posts

215 months

Tuesday 4th November 2008
quotequote all
Road Pest said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_in_a_Reasonably-...

It said on here it was on nearly slick tyres. I give up!
that iw WIKIPEDIA THOUGH


it was on CUPS as thye always do it on manufacturers equipment and CUPS are standard on CSL

interestingley thye say -7 secs for very wet and on CUPS it woul dbe even more so CSL should be in top 10............rubbish!

GT Two

3,070 posts

199 months

Wednesday 5th November 2008
quotequote all
Andyt25 said:
Rags said:
My friend Lee sold an exige S for a CSL only a few days ago.

He will be able to give a good response to this thread.
Rags did he have a red Exige S and the 911 GT2. He's discussing it over on the CSLregister.....Must say his S looked like a bargain. Although wasn't the Exige his wifes daily drive and he used the GT2.

Craig, it would be worth you signing onto the WWW.CSLREGISTER.COM as there are a few Lotus owners on there that have gone to CSL's

Edited by Andyt25 on Tuesday 4th November 14:21


Edited by Andyt25 on Tuesday 4th November 14:22
Yes we had a red Exige S which has gone now, It was a lovely car for a trackday or in nice weather but the CSL is good at most things. And feels much quicker.

Around a tight circuit it would be close but put the CSL on something with a couple of long straights and I can see the Exiges arse being kicked.

Would I trade back?.... No way.

Would I ever want another Lotus?.... maybe a 211 for trackdays!

jackal

11,249 posts

289 months

Friday 7th November 2008
quotequote all
Craig! said:
I'm not really into versus topics, but I just wondered if there is many people here who have gone from an Exige S to a CSL, or the other way round? What were your thoughts and impressions, any regrets?

Car is mainly used for back road driving and a good few trips to the Nurburgring every year. I currently own an Exige S, done 7200 faultless miles and have loved every moment of it, but still have the thoughts of a CSL in the back of my mind.

Edited by Craig! on Friday 31st October 15:02
an exige has arguably the best steering feel of any car at any price... the CSL quite possibly the worst

case closed I think

m12_nathan

5,138 posts

266 months

Friday 7th November 2008
quotequote all
jackal said:
Craig! said:
I'm not really into versus topics, but I just wondered if there is many people here who have gone from an Exige S to a CSL, or the other way round? What were your thoughts and impressions, any regrets?

Car is mainly used for back road driving and a good few trips to the Nurburgring every year. I currently own an Exige S, done 7200 faultless miles and have loved every moment of it, but still have the thoughts of a CSL in the back of my mind.

Edited by Craig! on Friday 31st October 15:02
an exige has arguably the best steering feel of any car at any price... the CSL quite possibly the worst

case closed I think
Only if you base your entire appraisal of a car on steering feel which you'd have to be retarded to do.

Also I don't think you've driven a well set up CSL, a 996 GT2 owning friend thinks mine is on a par with his car now, it's no Elise derivative but then as you say not much comes close to them in that area.

I'm sure the additional steering feel would be a great consolation to an Exige S driver every time a CSL came past on track too wink

jackal

11,249 posts

289 months

Friday 7th November 2008
quotequote all
m12_nathan said:
jackal said:
Craig! said:
I'm not really into versus topics, but I just wondered if there is many people here who have gone from an Exige S to a CSL, or the other way round? What were your thoughts and impressions, any regrets?

Car is mainly used for back road driving and a good few trips to the Nurburgring every year. I currently own an Exige S, done 7200 faultless miles and have loved every moment of it, but still have the thoughts of a CSL in the back of my mind.

Edited by Craig! on Friday 31st October 15:02
an exige has arguably the best steering feel of any car at any price... the CSL quite possibly the worst

case closed I think
Only if you base your entire appraisal of a car on steering feel which you'd have to be retarded to do.

Also I don't think you've driven a well set up CSL, a 996 GT2 owning friend thinks mine is on a par with his car now, it's no Elise derivative but then as you say not much comes close to them in that area.

I'm sure the additional steering feel would be a great consolation to an Exige S driver every time a CSL came past on track too wink
why do you think that a csl is faster than an exige on circuit ?



m12_nathan

5,138 posts

266 months

Friday 7th November 2008
quotequote all
Personal experience.