Buying an Exige or Elise for everyday use
Discussion
Im considering changing my M3 in the new year and considering either going for a new Elise SC or Exige S. I do around 200 miles a week and the only real storage space i need is enough room to carry a mail bag to drop off at the sorting office every couple of days and maybe carrying some bags for weekends away.
Which of the two does this job better?
Are the Exige/Elise toddler friendly too? meaning can i get booster seats to fit the seats?
Do the cars go over speed humps ok?
How does performance of the above 2 mentioned cars compare to the E46 M3?
I doubt ill ever be near a track day as i simply dont have time with work and football commitments so the best track car is not any priority.
Ive also got an M6, Cayman and 997 911 in my sights but the Lotus seems by far the best value but perhaps the least practical for every day useage. I do however have access to another estate car if and when i need it.
Which of the two does this job better?
Are the Exige/Elise toddler friendly too? meaning can i get booster seats to fit the seats?
Do the cars go over speed humps ok?
How does performance of the above 2 mentioned cars compare to the E46 M3?
I doubt ill ever be near a track day as i simply dont have time with work and football commitments so the best track car is not any priority.
Ive also got an M6, Cayman and 997 911 in my sights but the Lotus seems by far the best value but perhaps the least practical for every day useage. I do however have access to another estate car if and when i need it.
If your not tracking it then surely the Elise is the one to go for plus you have the added benefit of roof off motoring.
The Exige will have stiffer suspension and runs on semi-slick tyres which are'nt much fun in the wet,the Elise will be easier to live with as an every day driver.
The SC is plenty quick enough too
Nice choice of cars to have though
Edit:Both cars manage speed humps fine.
The Exige will have stiffer suspension and runs on semi-slick tyres which are'nt much fun in the wet,the Elise will be easier to live with as an every day driver.
The SC is plenty quick enough too
Nice choice of cars to have though
Edit:Both cars manage speed humps fine.
Edited by The Bandit on Sunday 20th September 00:26
TBH coming from an Elise to my Z3M you will find an Elise slow in comparison to your M3 that is a fact as i did, but an Elise/Exige will blow your M3 out the water around a track & thats about it. I am not trying to put you off because i love Lotus but unless you intend driving it around a track, you will miss the M3.
Oh baby seats now we're talking (not in a pervy way) it's my job. 
Yes there are a number of seats that will fit into an Elise, try here.
www.britax.co.uk
Yes there are a number of seats that will fit into an Elise, try here.
www.britax.co.uk
Edited by boobles on Sunday 20th September 20:48
I went from a CSL to an exige and found it a bit slow.
So have a tuned Cayman which has 340BHp and is a great all round car.
I loved the Exige but 200 miles a week will be tiresome imho
for me they are a 2nd car and great fun but not a 100 mile every day car.
as you will going for a SC Elise that will be faster than the M3, I think it has been tested to 100MPh in 11.4 and will also lick a Z3M and out hanle it my miles:-)
As for value for money 2nd hand the Cayman S has most cars licked at 30k and 300+Bhp with build to die for and it's very cheap to tune
I do miss owning a Lotus but I cannot afford to move over to a Cup 260 which atm is about the only one I hanker after and the 2nd hand ones for sale atm the dealers don't want to do a deal on.
If you want a trip to Leicester I can take you out in my Cayman S.
So have a tuned Cayman which has 340BHp and is a great all round car.
I loved the Exige but 200 miles a week will be tiresome imho
for me they are a 2nd car and great fun but not a 100 mile every day car.
as you will going for a SC Elise that will be faster than the M3, I think it has been tested to 100MPh in 11.4 and will also lick a Z3M and out hanle it my miles:-)
As for value for money 2nd hand the Cayman S has most cars licked at 30k and 300+Bhp with build to die for and it's very cheap to tune
I do miss owning a Lotus but I cannot afford to move over to a Cup 260 which atm is about the only one I hanker after and the 2nd hand ones for sale atm the dealers don't want to do a deal on.
If you want a trip to Leicester I can take you out in my Cayman S.
boobles said:
TBH coming from an Elise to my Z3M you will find an Elise slow in comparison to your M3 that is a fact as i did, but an Elise/Exige will blow your M3 out the water around a track & thats about it. I am not trying to put you off because i love Lotus but unless you intend driving it around a track, you will miss the M3.
I guess it depends .. I moved from an E46 M3 to an Elise SC and have never ever ever missed the M3. It certainly isn't any bit slower (at least up to 110mph...)
edo111s said:
boobles said:
TBH coming from an Elise to my Z3M you will find an Elise slow in comparison to your M3 that is a fact as i did, but an Elise/Exige will blow your M3 out the water around a track & thats about it. I am not trying to put you off because i love Lotus but unless you intend driving it around a track, you will miss the M3.
I guess it depends .. I moved from an E46 M3 to an Elise SC and have never ever ever missed the M3. It certainly isn't any bit slower (at least up to 110mph...)
Unless you track it, you wouldn't notice much of a difference.
As stated, i do love the Elise (i have owned 2 & would consider another) but an M3 can be just as much fun.
Paddymcc said:
Im considering changing my M3 in the new year and considering either going for a new Elise SC or Exige S. I do around 200 miles a week and the only real storage space i need is enough room to carry a mail bag to drop off at the sorting office every couple of days and maybe carrying some bags for weekends away.
Which of the two does this job better?
Are the Exige/Elise toddler friendly too? meaning can i get booster seats to fit the seats?
Do the cars go over speed humps ok?
How does performance of the above 2 mentioned cars compare to the E46 M3?
I doubt ill ever be near a track day as i simply dont have time with work and football commitments so the best track car is not any priority.
Ive also got an M6, Cayman and 997 911 in my sights but the Lotus seems by far the best value but perhaps the least practical for every day useage. I do however have access to another estate car if and when i need it.
Hi ... do it!Which of the two does this job better?
Are the Exige/Elise toddler friendly too? meaning can i get booster seats to fit the seats?
Do the cars go over speed humps ok?
How does performance of the above 2 mentioned cars compare to the E46 M3?
I doubt ill ever be near a track day as i simply dont have time with work and football commitments so the best track car is not any priority.
Ive also got an M6, Cayman and 997 911 in my sights but the Lotus seems by far the best value but perhaps the least practical for every day useage. I do however have access to another estate car if and when i need it.
I moved from an E46 M3 to an Elise SC, which I preferred to an Exige S for the soft top, rear visibility and non-semislick tyres.
I too do not have time to think about tracking the car, or about using it as a toy :-) I drive it about 250 miles/week for work.
Speed humps are ok but if you'll fit a front splitter then you'lll have to approach them really slow!
I also use it to drive my toddler to nursery and my older children around whenever it's just me and one passenger.
All kids love it. No issues with them in a suitable car seat.
Of course with a family you need an estate.mpv for family travel, but for me the Elise it's been the perfect indulgent choice.
I am very very glad I left the M3 behind.
Only thing - the car badly needs a decent exhaust. I have a 2bular. And a TRD induction kit.
Still the howl of the M3 straight-six was from another planet - but the overall feelings and joy of the Lotus leave me way happier.
The M3 would have been better only if my usage was limited to Deutsche Autobahn....
I think i need to get a test drive in a Lotus to see if i could live with one every day.
Bit of a pain since we dont have a Lotus dealer here in N. Ireland but im going to Manchester in November and might try and get to a dealer some where over there.
Cayman S is another idea but ill hold back until i get a spin in my mates new 911 and see what i think of that as well.
Bit of a pain since we dont have a Lotus dealer here in N. Ireland but im going to Manchester in November and might try and get to a dealer some where over there.
Cayman S is another idea but ill hold back until i get a spin in my mates new 911 and see what i think of that as well.
TIPPER said:
Might be worth checking out the Europa SE and then having a word with either Hoffmans or Thorney about some of the power ugrades available.
Cant stand the looks of the Europa at all. Something about them just doesnt look right.21TonyK said:
Another M3 to Exige convert here. Personally, for road use, go for a super charged car. If you want a challenge on track the NA is a good option. Just as quick as (some) SC cars in the right hands
How did you find the changeover Tony?Edited by 21TonyK on Sunday 20th September 21:38
I would be swaying more towards the Exige since the Elise is most likely going to be changed in a year or two.
Initially the rawness was exciting. Great to be in a car that you were connected to. Then boredom. No straight line speed under 6000 rprm countered by great looks. Not a road car at all. Then I discovered the track. Made the M3 look tame. NA car is great on track as it is a challenge. The Exige S is defo. a better road car unless you want to be at 9/10 all the time.
21TonyK said:
Initially the rawness was exciting. Great to be in a car that you were connected to. Then boredom. No straight line speed under 6000 rprm countered by great looks. Not a road car at all. Then I discovered the track. Made the M3 look tame. NA car is great on track as it is a challenge. The Exige S is defo. a better road car unless you want to be at 9/10 all the time.
I think if i were to go for a Lotus it would be the Exige S with some road tyres. Brand new Lotus versus a 3/4 year old M6/911 or a couple of year old Cayman S.Currently have a convertible M3 but i think ive had the roof down about 15 times in the past 2 years so a convertibles a bit of a waste of time here then theres chat of a new Elise being release in 12/18mths time plus the Exige S is more tuneable.
I've only driven a Exige S on track (my usual steer is an S1 Elise). I must say I prefer the lighter wight S1 Elise for track work but reckoned the Exige S would make a great road car with its torque (it has more than enough performance for road use) and extra solidity.
It really depends what your use is though. When it comes down to it none of the Elise derivatives makes a proper GT but they are great as 'toy' cars.
With £40kish for a GT type car then a Lotus wouldn't be on my radar (until prices of used Evoras get down there).
It really depends what your use is though. When it comes down to it none of the Elise derivatives makes a proper GT but they are great as 'toy' cars.
With £40kish for a GT type car then a Lotus wouldn't be on my radar (until prices of used Evoras get down there).
Paddymcc said:
21TonyK said:
Initially the rawness was exciting. Great to be in a car that you were connected to. Then boredom. No straight line speed under 6000 rprm countered by great looks. Not a road car at all. Then I discovered the track. Made the M3 look tame. NA car is great on track as it is a challenge. The Exige S is defo. a better road car unless you want to be at 9/10 all the time.
I think if i were to go for a Lotus it would be the Exige S with some road tyres. Brand new Lotus versus a 3/4 year old M6/911 or a couple of year old Cayman S.Currently have a convertible M3 but i think ive had the roof down about 15 times in the past 2 years so a convertibles a bit of a waste of time here then theres chat of a new Elise being release in 12/18mths time plus the Exige S is more tuneable.
/awaits flaming
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