Janner

Is this a good idea, a bad idea or just plain daft? Had the P1 for 2 years and want to try something different. Any suggestions welcome.

Cheers

stevencotton

Take one out for a test drive and see what you think. I plan on an S1 Elise later this year, fantastic little cars if you don't mind the practical shortcomings.

Mark_BT52

Wait 12 months.
Exige is going to drop like a stone I reckon, just like the old one did.
Especially when they announce the supercharged version.

Mark

Janner

I will probably wait until they start hitting the second hand market. Not paying over 30k for it anyhow.

Cheers

wall

Exige S1 was great (been in one many times as I had an Elise 111S so went to heaps of lotus meets) jus had a nasty engine profile, was hot as hell, and needed abs.

Well guess what? S2 has a new much smoother engine, comes with air-con, and has abs.

If I had the $$$ and didn't need a back seat I'd buy one immediately! Try one NOW! You'll put the deposit down as soon as you do I think

The Mini Daddy

DONT BE FLIPPIN DAFT, stick with the impreza, there faster and dont have the hairdresser appeal!!!

rumpler

LOL - we need a direct comparison. Same course same driver etc.
I know Top Gear. Where did any of the Scooby set finish... below the S2 Exige thats where, as well as other much more expensive machinery.

They make the perfect 2nd car but are a little tiring for the daily drive. Thats my experience with the S1 but the S2 is supposed to be a little more user friendly.

Janner

I think I can live with it every day but will get a test drive first. As for the P1 been there done that now want a different type of car. I hate to say it but Subaru haven't really got anything that interests me now.

I was looking at Evos or maybe a Type 25 but now I am drawn towards the hairdresser car

PPPMAT

It is basically a track car - and importantly rear wheel drive. They are awesome when used in the way in which it was intended

kieron

did you see the exige s2 on top gear driven by the stig, on slick tyres on a damp track, still got the 6th fastest time ever on the programme, on a track its amazing, and on road much more user friendly than the s1

see www.exiges.com for all the info you need

Chris_S199

Not to take anything away from the Exige, but I thought the TG track was designed by Lotus?

Chris

rumpler

You really think it will make any difference?
The old ones were very hot inside from the reports I have heard. Have the new ones got AC now that works?

wall

New ones indeed have air, abs, and a new engine. Which really takes care of the only 3 flaws of the old one (hot as hell, locks wheels, rough engine).

If you are an enthusiast and don't need a back seat then IMO it is THE car to have.

Janner

Nope, dont need no back seat. Didn't realise there was a 3 month waiting list. Must admit that all the reviews I have seen of the car are very impressive. Am I right in saying it has the same bhp per tonne as the P1?

Tim-Grove

I fail to see how the Exige has any "Hairdresser Appeal" You ever had a ride in a Elise or Exige??? They’re a little to hardcore for most blokes never mind a fookin hairdresser. And I’ll think you find the Exige wont drive it’s self like “some other” cars do.

Brendan Hughes

Stick with the car that has chav appeal

CTR

It appears to, according to the knowledge in Evo mag.

Think The Mini Daddy needs to actually drive an Exige

Janner

I think I need to, too!

Off to speak to dealer and book a drive methinks

MooseRacer

LMAO


Way off the mark on all counts.

kart_man

I'm going through the same dilema just now about elise/exige/vx220.

New Elise has the same engine and same power as the exige but with a soft top, so that's what I'm thinking about. A bit less 'extreme' admittedly, but a pretty sweet convertible.
I had an elise out for a drive on Tuesday, and it's awesome. Found the steering a bit light, but handling was superb. New engine is pretty sweet too, expecially when the vvti kicks in . Take one for a drive and see what you think.
There is virtually no storage though - so seriously think about that if it's to be an only car !!
My biggest problem is that I've got over 3k in points to use towards a new vauxhall. That knocks a nice lump off the price of a VX, and there's not much between them other than the badge ! Decisions, decision !!

Dave

kart_man

I think you're getting the Lotus mixed up with the MG mate !!!

igratton

I have the pleasure of regularly driving a friends elise on track and its a great car.
I have also enjoyed driving an S1 exige on track - again a wonderful car.

I did the scoob thing for about 5 years and owned three of the cash-zapping b@$+@rds (Including a modded P1 WR) but it got a bit boring.

By comparison the scoobs will drive themselves right up until the point you reach the limits - they are great confidence inspiring cars and can be driven pretty quickly by most if not all. On or over limit driving in one is a different story.

The elise/exige/vx cars are reasonably friendly - but there is the whole new element of RWD to explore (if you haven't played RWD) with the added bonus of having the engine just about over the back wheels.

Until a few years ago I'd never 'really' driven RWD cars - I'm not professing to be good at dealing with RWD cars but its far more interesting and fun than AWD - its also very satisfying when you hook up a slide and don't spin

I guess what I'm trying to say is if you want to play on tracks - RWD is most fun.

Go drive one - you'll love the S2.

Dark Blue Mark

A guy I work with has far too much money, and took a circular saw to the roof of his exige... Now a convertable!

Just another point, it really makes me laugh when people quote top gear times of one car being 0.0001 seconds slower than another on track, so its a fair bit slower, and therfore crap. So many threads end up like that... Get real, 99% of people on here cant drive a car toanywhere near its limits, so its pointless quoting these things...

Stick to worrying whether you can get an uprated DV for it instead

MB

The Mini Daddy

At the end of the day the scooby isnt an over grown rover 214 and yes i have driven both an s1 and a 2 and frankly my old mans 944 turbo wud ****e all over it in a straight line. i will give it its due in the twisty bits but....


GET A REAL CAR M8, DONT MESS AROUND WITH THIS ROVER S****

CTR

Are you for real?

The S2 Exige has a Toyota Engine in it. Smaller then a Rover 214 anyway

Tim-Grove

HA HA HA

Rover 214???? Mmmm yeah OK then fare enough, that kind of comment really does blow you cover mate, now everyone can see you know jack ****

P.S we were talking about Scooby's and Lotus's, who mentioned anything about Porsche turbos????

MooseRacer

You really are a silly little boy.

Mark_BT52

Exige is simply in a different league for driving enjoyment.
Top Gear track is too fast to do it any favours, get on a proper track like Donington and it is awesome.

I disagree about needing ABS though. Nice to have, but don't think I have ever locked a wheel on the road.
New one needs air con a lot more as it is much hotter in there than the original.

Best Elise varient yet. But I'd still wait for them to get a bit cheaper.
Can pick up a bargain S2 190 now though. That will be quicker.

Mark

igratton

Nothing wrong with those kind of Porsches either.

968 Clubsport or the more rare 968 CS with the turbo - I've never had the pleasure of driving one but they are said to be amazing. I was over at donington on Wednesday evening and there was a lovely white track-prepped CS - was going really really well.

For similar money to an S2 exige you could buy yourself

1 x 968 clubsport (or switch out with any other 15K car such as S1 Elise, Westfield etc. etc.)
1 x Trailer
1 x Good quality tow car

and have lots of fun.

Some nice 968s here
http://www.specialistcarsltd.co.uk/porschesales968.html

depends on what you want.

Chris L

Now the 968 is a fab car. I think even Porsche would admit that the 944 turbo wasn't their finest hour. Incidently, if we're talking performance figures - 944T 0-62mph: 5.4sec, S1 Exige (177 bhp) 4.7sec (roughly 4.3 for the 190bhp version), S2 Exige 5.2.

OK, at the top end the 944 would pull away, but I don't think the straight line arguement really stacks up on the road (and certainly not the track). Given that the Elise / Exige in all its variants is a far superior handling car and I think you are struggling.

Hairdresser's car? - SO far wide of the mark it makes me laugh MGFs, MR2s, 206CCs I'll grant you - but not a proper sports car like the Elise (and the Exige isn't even a soft top).

Chris