Lotus Exige S

O

original guvnor

Elite
 Nottinghamshire
Does anyone have any experience of these? I was just wondering what people thought of the supercharged engine, handling, reliability, servicing costs etc.

The 0-62 in sub 4 secs and 0-100 in mid 8's appeals I must admit. I like the looks too.

EDIT:- I should say I'm talking about the latest S3 version.
 
Depends what you want the car for...i ran a elise 135r as a daily driver for about 6 months and even drove it from nottingham to aberdeen a few times..fun around town, hard work and tireing on journeys and forget taking a lady out in one if she wants to ride in comfort or she intends to get in or out with any dignity...great car though.
 
my friend had one and the engine was the same as my toyota celica, 1.8vvtli with supercharger and charge cooler. so a great engine and i was blown away with the way it performed.
 
The new one is 3.5 litre supercharged version again based on a Toyota engine.

Steven - preference is still NA (and a 997GT3) but I am slightly worried they are starting to go up in price rather than come down a bit! So just looking at possible plan B's. A supercharger would be less of an evil than a turbo so less of a compromise!

I'm also starting to look at Atoms and Caterham R500's too! But I'd need a much nicer daily drive than current if I went for one of those.

All academic this year because I'm in the middle of a £25k refurb project on the house so this is 2015 planning at the earliest.
 
original guvnor said:
Does anyone have any experience of these? I was just wondering what people thought of the supercharged engine, handling, reliability, servicing costs etc.

The 0-62 in sub 4 secs and 0-100 in mid 8's appeals I must admit. I like the looks too.

EDIT:- I should say I'm talking about the latest S3 version.
Click to expand...

I know nothing other than what I have read - but its high on my list of "if i had unlimited funds" - I think everything about them is amazing
 
original guvnor said:
preference is still NA (and a 997GT3) but I am slightly worried they are starting to go up in price rather than come down a bit! So just looking at possible plan B's. A supercharger would be less of an evil than a turbo so less of a compromise!
Click to expand...

Fair enough. Would you use the Exige as a daily driver? They're still fairly basic inside aren't they. Not sure I'd like one as a DD. That said, Exige as a weekender Yes Please!
 
I have had a serious two exige and on the good hand it was one of the best looking and best handling cars I have owned, Not that quick but I know the V6 are very quick, But on the other hand it was the most noisy uncomfy rately car I have ever owned, I went to wales in it for the day and on the way home I would have swapped it for anything with the slightest bit of comfort to it, When I walked in the door at home I felt like I had been in a boxing match, Glad I owned one though, :D
 
Always liked these and the most recent one is a serious performer, I did consider the one before the V6 model to replace my TVR at one stage and I think they would make a great weekender :driving: wouldn't be keen on using one as a daily though.
 
Oooo would love one , cannot offer any advice on the S3 really different animal to the S2 what I had. On paper looks a hoot and they look epic really quite special when on the road at full chat, I would also say it should have excellent residuals so all in all not a bad choice , ... its funny looking back out of all the cars I have had I think I enjoyed the Exige the most even over the Porkers :o
 
I had a S2 Exige S 220hp for a while and it was good fun as a track car, although heatsoaked it's intercooler to the point that the engine retarded it's timing to a level where a standard S2 Exige would overtake it (190hp). Fitted a Forge but still did it a bit, needed a chargecooler.

Mine had adjustable nitrons and A048s and it handled well. Never managed to run the brakes out either.

Would I have another? Yes. Did it feel like it could handle more power, yes.

I love the whole lotus thing - that chassis design never seems to date and the feedback from it is just sublime.
 
Considering a test drive. There are some nice ones up for late 40's on PH. SWMBO not impressed with ingress/egress situation though! :D
 
Not quite the same but daughter used to have an Elise many years ago and it sure went round corners fast as I'm sure an Exige will :driving:
 
sold my elise before getting my Zed, every drive was an event (not always a good one) :x
Mrs Smartbear hated it because of the extremely high sill hindering access & the noise of it (the stage1 exhaust & TRD airbox didnt help!)
I started using it less & less because i wanted us to both enjoy the car.
I enjoyed it but wouldnt buy another one.
regards
 
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