Tuscan or Lotus exige 194 bhp
Discussion
Had a tuscan sold it due to nagging wife but after getting back my courage i am undecided should i go for a tuscan again or a lotus exige 194 bhp (upgraded)
Has anyone here drove an exige, i have heard they handle like nothing else and with the upgraded engine at 650 kgs this particular one that i am looking at (but havent driven yet should be quick) the tuscan i had before scared the pants off me at corners and lost traction even in a straight line at high revs.
Colin
Has anyone here drove an exige, i have heard they handle like nothing else and with the upgraded engine at 650 kgs this particular one that i am looking at (but havent driven yet should be quick) the tuscan i had before scared the pants off me at corners and lost traction even in a straight line at high revs.
Colin
Exige : pros, handling, handling, handling, oh and it's a fast car. cons, will be outdragged by a Tuscan on a long enough straight, hot noisy, noisy hot, fantastically impractical.
They really are radically different cars . . . a side by side comparison is quite difficult . . . however if the wife hated the tusker, she will be seriously p*ssed with an Exige . . . :-)
I expect that as this is PH then you'll be told to buy another Tuscan :-), but if you're after a more track orientated car, the Exige is probably the car . . .
Fd
They really are radically different cars . . . a side by side comparison is quite difficult . . . however if the wife hated the tusker, she will be seriously p*ssed with an Exige . . . :-)
I expect that as this is PH then you'll be told to buy another Tuscan :-), but if you're after a more track orientated car, the Exige is probably the car . . .
Fd
Well we have an Exige 190 and are looking at getting a TuscanS as well.
After trying an M3 a 911 and a TuscanS I have to say that for sheer driving enjoyment none of these three are even close to the Exige.
All 3 feel like trucks after the Exige, but the Tuscan does make it feel a bit gutless.
All relative though. In isolation the Exige is damn quick.
Exige will be quicker over a lap which has enough bends. Donington for example will be an Exige track, but Silverstone would be close and anything with longer straights would be disappering Tuscan rear end scenario.
At Donington I was being chased by a Tuscan and apparntly the noise on the pitwall was fantastic; a screaming high pitched silver Exige followed by a roaring black Tuscan. Looked like the Exige was running away from a monster.
Had an Elise before the Exige and in my opinion the Exige is way superior. You will hardly ever lose traction, once the tyres have heated up the grip is unbelievable.
Despite what people say the cabin doesn't really get too hot. It is also great on the road, copes with bumps better than an Elise. Over 35mpg when you aren't pushing is nice as well.
But there is NO boot at all, they are very noisy and in the wet they are completely rubbish.
I see the Tuscan as a different kind of beast altogether which is why we clearly need both.
Exige will always be my favourite though, sorry.
After trying an M3 a 911 and a TuscanS I have to say that for sheer driving enjoyment none of these three are even close to the Exige.
All 3 feel like trucks after the Exige, but the Tuscan does make it feel a bit gutless.
All relative though. In isolation the Exige is damn quick.
Exige will be quicker over a lap which has enough bends. Donington for example will be an Exige track, but Silverstone would be close and anything with longer straights would be disappering Tuscan rear end scenario.
At Donington I was being chased by a Tuscan and apparntly the noise on the pitwall was fantastic; a screaming high pitched silver Exige followed by a roaring black Tuscan. Looked like the Exige was running away from a monster.
Had an Elise before the Exige and in my opinion the Exige is way superior. You will hardly ever lose traction, once the tyres have heated up the grip is unbelievable.
Despite what people say the cabin doesn't really get too hot. It is also great on the road, copes with bumps better than an Elise. Over 35mpg when you aren't pushing is nice as well.
But there is NO boot at all, they are very noisy and in the wet they are completely rubbish.
I see the Tuscan as a different kind of beast altogether which is why we clearly need both.
Exige will always be my favourite though, sorry.
the particular model that i am looking at is x reg 10 thousand miles ecu(which means you can plug in and change the engine management(cost £2000) but is meant to be incredeble), sports exhaust ,sports seats, 4 point harness, silver with full service history.£22,000 i think its a lot of car for the money what do you say ????
What ECU has it got? An Emerald?
Only thing with buying an Exige now is that rumours are abound of an S2 Exige which might hit the residuals a bit. Of course it may not if the S2 Exige has a new engine that no one likes
The one you are looking at sounds like a decent price, although I'd want to know more about whats been done to the engine. A lotus modded 190 wouldn't have a programmable ECU. A non lotus modded one is probably better though as the VHPD engine is considered inferior to what a lot of the other tuners can get.
I'm currently hoping to complete on a 340R, but this one does sound interesting !I'm actually coming to terms with the fact that I value superb handling over straight line grunt and thinking about getting an S2 Elise - and if I didn't want a removable roof (and the IMO sexier rear end of the later cars) I would go for the Exige instead. I had a go in one at Brands Hatch a couple of years ago, and until that day I didn't know cars could stick to the road like that. Like a limpet, absolutely incredible.
ScottB was it the black with black wheels Tuscan?
If so then I'm afraid the Exige was also suffering that day, with brake pads which were causing the disks to warp, so I was going very very gently on the brakes.
I was pretty impressed with how well you were keeping up though I have to say if it was you. Changed my opinion of Tuscans quite a bit. Agree there's not too much in it.
As far as Emerald ECUs go, if you honestly think you can get a better mapping on a rolling road than Lotus have managed after 100s of hours on a dyno then go ahead. Admitedly the first 190 Lotus mapping was pretty bad, but the new one is far better. I doubt you'll be able to get an Emerald to give more power without screwing up the economy and emmissions and reliability.
I'm always hearing of Emerald ECU'ed cars having to go back time and time again for more mapping tweaks.
The 190 is plenty to be honest. If you are THAT desperate for more power get a VTEC installed.
Sports seats with hanesses are worth looking for though as they cost a lot.
If so then I'm afraid the Exige was also suffering that day, with brake pads which were causing the disks to warp, so I was going very very gently on the brakes.
I was pretty impressed with how well you were keeping up though I have to say if it was you. Changed my opinion of Tuscans quite a bit. Agree there's not too much in it.
As far as Emerald ECUs go, if you honestly think you can get a better mapping on a rolling road than Lotus have managed after 100s of hours on a dyno then go ahead. Admitedly the first 190 Lotus mapping was pretty bad, but the new one is far better. I doubt you'll be able to get an Emerald to give more power without screwing up the economy and emmissions and reliability.
I'm always hearing of Emerald ECU'ed cars having to go back time and time again for more mapping tweaks.
The 190 is plenty to be honest. If you are THAT desperate for more power get a VTEC installed.
Sports seats with hanesses are worth looking for though as they cost a lot.
The emerald is probably the best ECU for a 190, and many would disagree with BT52s appraisal of the lotus 190 engine. Other tuners can get a lot more low down torque, so it would be interesting to know who got it to 190, as lotus wouldn't fit an emerald. Also a lotus 190 is bloody unlikely to actually give 190
If you want to ask questions on this stuff, your best bet is on the Elise forum at www.british-cars.co.uk , lots of knowledgeable people there to disagree with both me and BT52
You may even be able to find out who's car it was. Alternatively www.exiges.com is a logical place to go mark
yep, that was me. the car is in at apm getting the suspension and misfire sorted. ...i love the elise/exige but if you put your trust in the tuscan and play with the oversteer it is great fun & quick on the track and will keep up with the quickest car on the le mans trip....
>> Edited by scottb on Tuesday 29th April 11:53
yep, that was me. the car is in at apm getting the suspension and misfire sorted. ...i love the elise/exige but if you put your trust in the tuscan and play with the oversteer it is great fun & quick on the track and will keep up with the quickest car on the le mans trip....
>> Edited by scottb on Tuesday 29th April 11:53
I've got an Exige at the moment and it really is a great car. Down a twisty country lane I doubt there is anything to touch it. The engine is not up to much though (mine is standard) but the handling more than makes up for it.
I love the look of the Tuscans though. The one thing that scares me about Tuscans is all the horror stories with the straight 6 engine. Sounds expensive. I know that the Exige engine is probably just as likely to go pop but if/when mine does I will stick a totally reliable 250BHP honda engine in the back and forget about it (just a shame it didn't come with one as standard).
Both cars are bang on the money though and would no doubt put a huge grin on your face.
I love the look of the Tuscans though. The one thing that scares me about Tuscans is all the horror stories with the straight 6 engine. Sounds expensive. I know that the Exige engine is probably just as likely to go pop but if/when mine does I will stick a totally reliable 250BHP honda engine in the back and forget about it (just a shame it didn't come with one as standard).
Both cars are bang on the money though and would no doubt put a huge grin on your face.
Scott, in that case you are largely responsible for our probable impending Tuscan ownership then because..
a) black with dark wheels looked so cool (appealed to Christine)
b) you were lapping so quickly (appealed to me)
However I can't say the idea of Ferrari 348 ownership appealed much more after that day... Any idea what the result was with that car?
a) black with dark wheels looked so cool (appealed to Christine)
b) you were lapping so quickly (appealed to me)
However I can't say the idea of Ferrari 348 ownership appealed much more after that day... Any idea what the result was with that car?
a good mate of mine and his first track day in the 348 (my insistence he went on it) 23k worth of damage - as he only had about 12k of insurance he has gone for second hand parts which is about 13k so he’s only a grand down - pretty lucky he had no structural damage - glad to hear my Tuscan helped to sell the concept!
A mate of mine has just done the same colours usedon his T350 www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=7&h=&t=37721
>> Edited by scottb on Friday 2nd May 21:05
A mate of mine has just done the same colours usedon his T350 www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=7&h=&t=37721
>> Edited by scottb on Friday 2nd May 21:05
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