Silly question about the Exige

[Daston]

Hey fellow brit car owners!

I am toying on the idea of selling my Tuscan in the future and purchasing an Exige.

First reason would be the Toyota engine is a damn slight more reliable and I also feel the exige will be a good car to start off Sprinting without the fear of the engine going pop.

The thing that has confused me with the Exige is the roof, is it a fixed roof or is it targa? I have seen some shots of ones with no roof but wasnt sure if there were just Elises with the sports body work...

Cheers

[Esprit]

S2 Exiges can have the roof removed. It's not MEANT to be removable, and there are claims from Lotus that cooling on the S/C cars is reduced with the roof off (scoop feeds the intercooler) but it's doable.

All you've got to do is unbolt the roof (5 fasteners I think) and lift it off. You can even drill and fit the soft top mounts so that a soft-top can be fitted in place of the factory roof, which means you can take a roof with you.

Personally, I can't stand the look of Exiges without the roof, but some people don't mind it.

The S1 Exige roof is not removable as the rear clam and engine cover both mount to the roof.

Edited by Esprit on Monday 21st June 00:17

[Daston]

Esprit said:

S2 Exiges can have the roof removed. It's not MEANT to be removable, and there are claims from Lotus that cooling on the S/C cars is reduced with the roof off (scoop feeds the intercooler) but it's doable.

All you've got to do is unbolt the roof (5 fasteners I think) and lift it off. You can even drill and fit the soft top mounts so that a soft-top can be fitted in place of the factory roof, which means you can take a roof with you.

Personally, I can't stand the look of Exiges without the roof, but some people don't mind it.

The S1 Exige roof is not removable as the rear clam and engine cover both mount to the roof.

Edited by Esprit on Monday 21st June 00:17

Thanks, it would be an S2 I would be looking at I think however not for another 18 months or so. Got to get my engine rebuilt and at least enjoy it for another year.

[vetteheadracer]

I had a 2004 NA S2 Exige and you can take the roof panel off with the aid of a star bolt ratchet. The big problem is where to put the roof panel once it is off!

[Munkeyfeet]

Its a DIY or £400 job at Lotus to get the elise top on it.

I think it looks good with the soft top and means in the summer you can enjoy the sun and then in the winter you have a hard top!

Perfect.

[zebra]

Munkeyfeet said:

Its a DIY or £400 job at Lotus to get the elise top on it.

I assume you refer to 400 quid with a second hand soft top?

[Munkeyfeet]

No as in £400 just for the conversion. The soft top then has to be bought separately.

That is what I have been led to believe.

About to embark on S2 Exige ownership! Daily drive, hence I want the conversion too.

[vetteheadracer]

I saw a Club Racer Exige at the Eurotunnel before Le Mans with a soft top conversion, dunno if this was standard on the Club Racer edition or aftermarket?

[Stephanie Plum]

Aftermarket. Lot's of people do it - try and find a s/h roof though as new ones are ££££s.

[Munkeyfeet]

Stephanie - how much is ££££?

[b14]

Second hand going for around £350. New are way more than that.

If the Lotus conversion (ex soft top) is £400 DONT DO IT. The only work required is to fit the "grommets" for the back ends of the roof support bars to the same place that they are in the Elise. This involves drilling two holes in the fibreglass - not difficult provided you have measured properly. In short it is just not £400 worth and something which you can do yourself.

[The Bandit]

The grommets are about a tenner and it takes around an hour of careful measuring,marking and drilling.
Also helps if theres an Elise owner about so you can take some dimensions!

[Exige77]

If you want a convertible why not buy an Elise and get a hard top ?

Exige with roof of is not right. You will have to answer for your crimes when you meet your maker and him upstairs always keeps his roof on his Exige !!

Ex77

[Daston]

I did think about the elise but I am thinking of Sprinting so an Exige will be more track focused out of the bag, I am right in thinking that arn't I? At the moment the Tuscan pretty much never has its roof on as I do like a hoon when the sun is out and ejoying the wind (who dosn't).

[21TonyK]

Daston said:

I did think about the elise but I am thinking of Sprinting so an Exige will be more track focused out of the bag, I am right in thinking that arn't I? At the moment the Tuscan pretty much never has its roof on as I do like a hoon when the sun is out and ejoying the wind (who dosn't).

The only significant difference is the Exige suspension and tyres both of which you will probably want to upgrade anyway so an elise is just as good a starting point.

Edited by 21TonyK on Wednesday 23 June 10:16

[Shnozz]

I'd either search for a sport 190 (although hens teeth) or just buy a 135R and pocket 10k. Sure, it's got less power and a k series, but it's cheap to fix if it breaks, unlike a sp6.

[b14]

21TonyK said:

Daston said:

I did think about the elise but I am thinking of Sprinting so an Exige will be more track focused out of the bag, I am right in thinking that arn't I? At the moment the Tuscan pretty much never has its roof on as I do like a hoon when the sun is out and ejoying the wind (who dosn't).

The only significant difference is the Exige suspension and tyres both of which you will probably want to upgrade anyway so an elise is just as good a starting point.

Edited by 21TonyK on Wednesday 23 June 10:16

Exige steering is quicker as well IIRC

[21TonyK]

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