Exige Questions
Discussion
I'm on the hunt for a 2 seater sports car with a sense of occasion which has naturally brought me round to the exige.
I've never driven one so of course that is next on the agenda. My question to owners would be firstly, is it actually quick? If not, what is the cost of upgrading? As my budget would be low 20's, around 22-23, I guess I could get into a standard exige and just about have it supercharged, or get an S but have no change for any upgrades.
I'm used to speed, coming mainly from bikes, so need a decent amount of power to get excited about, but will the exige be enough?
I've never driven one so of course that is next on the agenda. My question to owners would be firstly, is it actually quick? If not, what is the cost of upgrading? As my budget would be low 20's, around 22-23, I guess I could get into a standard exige and just about have it supercharged, or get an S but have no change for any upgrades.
I'm used to speed, coming mainly from bikes, so need a decent amount of power to get excited about, but will the exige be enough?
To asnwer your question I think its fair to point out that Lotus have never really been about straight line grunt but about the ride/handling balance and also the driving sensation. I've a suspision the boggo S2 Exige won't feel quick enough - the S definately feels gruntier. However there are upgrades for the standard car which should see you with 260ish bhp and reasonable torque.
Worth asking some questions on Seloc as there are are few there thatt have gone this route and would be able to answer your questions.
Another possibility would be to look for an S1 Elise with a Honda transplant and then talk to someone like Scuffers on here about supercharging it. There are also Audi and Ford Duratec converted cars around.
Worth asking some questions on Seloc as there are are few there thatt have gone this route and would be able to answer your questions.
Another possibility would be to look for an S1 Elise with a Honda transplant and then talk to someone like Scuffers on here about supercharging it. There are also Audi and Ford Duratec converted cars around.
If you want acceleration and a sense of straight line speed forget an NA car. You will want to go to an Exige S as a starting point, then, for about £1100 you can get the injectors changed and a remap to take it up to 240+
Alternatively a cheap NA car can have a SC bolted on for about £4-4.5K.
This is all based on straight line speed. Personally I'd got for an Exige S, get used to it, learn to drive ir properly and go from there.
Me, I'm still trying to get the best from an NA Exige.
Alternatively a cheap NA car can have a SC bolted on for about £4-4.5K.
This is all based on straight line speed. Personally I'd got for an Exige S, get used to it, learn to drive ir properly and go from there.
Me, I'm still trying to get the best from an NA Exige.
Thanks guys. This is the key isn't it. Part of the point is to go to something that's more focused at a slower speed, but it's hard to get rid of that addictive feel of crazy fastness (and yep I just made that word up).
I test drove a TVR T350 a few weeks back, as that is also on the list of possibles, and although it felt fairly quick the build quality was below par but that was a particularly bad example... so I'm also looking out for them too. The Exige keeps coming back to me though, in black or white, as something that would fit the bill.
I'll check out that owners club also, thanks for the tip!
ETA: 12TonyK, your right, coming from a twin turbo (albeit a BMW) I know exactly what you mean! I'd be looking at crazy caterhams or bike powered cars if I didn't need to use it during the week sometimes come rain or shine.
I test drove a TVR T350 a few weeks back, as that is also on the list of possibles, and although it felt fairly quick the build quality was below par but that was a particularly bad example... so I'm also looking out for them too. The Exige keeps coming back to me though, in black or white, as something that would fit the bill.
I'll check out that owners club also, thanks for the tip!
ETA: 12TonyK, your right, coming from a twin turbo (albeit a BMW) I know exactly what you mean! I'd be looking at crazy caterhams or bike powered cars if I didn't need to use it during the week sometimes come rain or shine.
Edited by Trixman on Monday 31st August 20:17
if a T350 only feels "fairly quick" then you need to be test driving 300bhp Audi or Honda Elises, which will feel slightly quicker, and more manic (due to gearing)
get yourself down a Lotus dealer and have a go in an Exige S, with 220bhp ish ...and about 2-3 secs slower to 100mph than the slowest modern TVRs im afraid
get yourself down a Lotus dealer and have a go in an Exige S, with 220bhp ish ...and about 2-3 secs slower to 100mph than the slowest modern TVRs im afraid
How does a T350 compare handling-wise to a Lotus? How fragile are they (T350s) in general - for track etc?
Been round in circles - Elise S1, Caterham, TVR, keep Europa etc. At the moment, it's either go for a T350, maybe Tamora, or spend a bit (wheels, brakes) on Europa and keep it for a while before maybe going Evora later next year.
Nothing wring with Europa, other than wanting a change not a daily driver, more for highdays holidays and trackdays.
Don't fancy an Exige or S2 at the moment.
Been round in circles - Elise S1, Caterham, TVR, keep Europa etc. At the moment, it's either go for a T350, maybe Tamora, or spend a bit (wheels, brakes) on Europa and keep it for a while before maybe going Evora later next year.
Nothing wring with Europa, other than wanting a change not a daily driver, more for highdays holidays and trackdays.
Don't fancy an Exige or S2 at the moment.
Trixman said:
RonnieP said:
Lotus S/C Elise is more than quick enough 
not as fast as some recent TVRs, but it will get you to the next corner (and around it) and home 
Why do you say the elise and not the exige? Do they handle that differently? not as fast as some recent TVRs, but it will get you to the next corner (and around it) and home Trixman said:
Personally feel it's more important for a car to feel fast. Why I was looking at this kind of car, so close to the ground and raw that it must feel faster than the others... whether it is or not is not really that important in the grand scheme of things.
Which kind of contradicts what you said in your first post, but hey ho I think you are looking in the right place none the less
feels fast is different - a high power S1 or early S2 with the roof off, 200bhp, and the feel fast on a bumpy b road
TVRs are a another kettle of fish, weve had 2 in the last 8 years, done 70K in them, with just niggles really, BUT I wouldnt buy one with the intention of running it as a track toy
An Elise/Exige really has got that one covered - you can do a trackday every weekend in one, and the running costs are still not that high at all, for the type of car. They really are light on consumables compared to anything else remotely interesting IMO
I would always ask - why do you want an Exige in particular? you pay a premium for them, but an ELise can be made to go the same (most do) they really are the same car
TVRs are a another kettle of fish, weve had 2 in the last 8 years, done 70K in them, with just niggles really, BUT I wouldnt buy one with the intention of running it as a track toy
An Elise/Exige really has got that one covered - you can do a trackday every weekend in one, and the running costs are still not that high at all, for the type of car. They really are light on consumables compared to anything else remotely interesting IMO
I would always ask - why do you want an Exige in particular? you pay a premium for them, but an ELise can be made to go the same (most do) they really are the same car
I agree with Bogie...
got to drive a t350 round Snetterton, and I was actually really impressed, it was the first TVR I have driven that actually goes round corners (relatively), however, good as it was, by lunchtime the tyres were shot, and the brakes not far behind.
If your buying the car for trackday fun, I would not consider a TVR or the like unless you have deep pockets.
I think I know what your getting at about feeling fast, with the TVR some of it is in the way it accelerates, the whole noise/vibration/sensations does take some beating, however, an Elise can be made to go just as fast (if not considerably faster)
for example:
http://www.mytechnology.co.uk/videos/1504.mpg
got to drive a t350 round Snetterton, and I was actually really impressed, it was the first TVR I have driven that actually goes round corners (relatively), however, good as it was, by lunchtime the tyres were shot, and the brakes not far behind.
If your buying the car for trackday fun, I would not consider a TVR or the like unless you have deep pockets.
I think I know what your getting at about feeling fast, with the TVR some of it is in the way it accelerates, the whole noise/vibration/sensations does take some beating, however, an Elise can be made to go just as fast (if not considerably faster)
for example:
http://www.mytechnology.co.uk/videos/1504.mpg
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