RE: Lotus Exige V6 Cup: Spotted
Discussion
kambites said:
Is anyone going to buy a GT4 as a daily, though? I'd imagine the main use for both cars will be as weekend road cars.
I very much doubt it, especially given the limited supply of cars and the resultant effect that'll have on prices. Different people have different refinement needs from a daily and a weekend car though I guess.RobM77 said:
I agree entirely. I returned from both my Cayman S test drives thinking that it was a nice car, but rather dull, and I hated the non-linear steering and laggy throttle. The Exige V6 on the other hand, just the standard one, left me gobsmacked. The feedback, feel, linearity of controls, wonderful ride yet stiff in the corners and strong straight line speed were all simply magical. If I was to write down or somehow quantify what I want out of a sports car, the Exige V6 defines it - simple as that.Having a foot in both camps and being lucky enough to own both a Lotus ( a hopefully another one shortly ) and Porsche, it quite interesting to compare the views of other owners. Almost immediately there is something written about Lotus on this site, "the Lotus boys, my friend "The Pits" and others" are comparing them at great length to Porsche, and write rambling diatribes about why Lotus is better than Porsche. May I humbly suggest you take a read of the comments on the Cayman GT4 article, the Porsche folk never mention Lotus, it's not even in their field of vision, so all this effort slating Porsche on paper seems to me to be pretty fruitless, because in the main Porsche buyers don't recognise Lotus as a rival, all this drivel about the "type of driver, the attempt to suggest that a Lotus driver is a man or woman that puts feel above all other is in my view egotistic fantasy, you can either drive, or you can't. They are both wonderful car manufactures, one significantly more successful at this point in time than the other, but we should rejoice that they both still exist, and make such interesting cars.
FWIW I ran my standard 981S PDK at a Lotus on Track event at Silverstone yesterday and had no issues staying with all of the Exige V6 S's present, I'd say without doubt the Exige is quicker in a straight line but the Cayman seemed to allow me to carry more speed through the turns ? The lovely group of Lotus owners were slightly amazed when I told them I'd done around fourteen track days and fourteen thousand road miles all on the same set of Trofeo's !
Both are great brands, but this silly slagging off doesn't get Lotus five hundred, five thousand Pound deposits on that launch day of the Evora 400, as with the Cayman GT4, it would be far more beneficial to get out there on track in what ever form and illustrate Lotus superiority.
FWIW I ran my standard 981S PDK at a Lotus on Track event at Silverstone yesterday and had no issues staying with all of the Exige V6 S's present, I'd say without doubt the Exige is quicker in a straight line but the Cayman seemed to allow me to carry more speed through the turns ? The lovely group of Lotus owners were slightly amazed when I told them I'd done around fourteen track days and fourteen thousand road miles all on the same set of Trofeo's !
Both are great brands, but this silly slagging off doesn't get Lotus five hundred, five thousand Pound deposits on that launch day of the Evora 400, as with the Cayman GT4, it would be far more beneficial to get out there on track in what ever form and illustrate Lotus superiority.
I'm not sure I see your point there. Nobody's saying it's better to be a driver who priorities feel, or handling, or whatever it should be. We're not talking about driving ability either. All we're saying is that Porsche and Lotus offer different cars for different tastes. I haven't driven the Cayman GT4, so can't comment on that, but from the Porsches and Lotuses I have driven I much prefer the Lotuses. That's purely just a matter of preference and says nothing of my driving ability at all or which car is 'better'. As for which is faster, I'm not really interested (and surely few people are?), because timing and racing is strictly banned on both the public road and track days.
ravon said:
Having a foot in both camps and being lucky enough to own both a Lotus ( a hopefully another one shortly ) and Porsche, it quite interesting to compare the views of other owners. Almost immediately there is something written about Lotus on this site, "the Lotus boys, my friend "The Pits" and others" are comparing them at great length to Porsche, and write rambling diatribes about why Lotus is better than Porsche. May I humbly suggest you take a read of the comments on the Cayman GT4 article, the Porsche folk never mention Lotus, it's not even in their field of vision, so all this effort slating Porsche on paper seems to me to be pretty fruitless, because in the main Porsche buyers don't recognise Lotus as a rival, all this drivel about the "type of driver, the attempt to suggest that a Lotus driver is a man or woman that puts feel above all other is in my view egotistic fantasy, you can either drive, or you can't. They are both wonderful car manufactures, one significantly more successful at this point in time than the other, but we should rejoice that they both still exist, and make such interesting cars.
FWIW I ran my standard 981S PDK at a Lotus on Track event at Silverstone yesterday and had no issues staying with all of the Exige V6 S's present, I'd say without doubt the Exige is quicker in a straight line but the Cayman seemed to allow me to carry more speed through the turns ? The lovely group of Lotus owners were slightly amazed when I told them I'd done around fourteen track days and fourteen thousand road miles all on the same set of Trofeo's !
Both are great brands, but this silly slagging off doesn't get Lotus five hundred, five thousand Pound deposits on that launch day of the Evora 400, as with the Cayman GT4, it would be far more beneficial to get out there on track in what ever form and illustrate Lotus superiority.
Agree with every word. FWIW I ran my standard 981S PDK at a Lotus on Track event at Silverstone yesterday and had no issues staying with all of the Exige V6 S's present, I'd say without doubt the Exige is quicker in a straight line but the Cayman seemed to allow me to carry more speed through the turns ? The lovely group of Lotus owners were slightly amazed when I told them I'd done around fourteen track days and fourteen thousand road miles all on the same set of Trofeo's !
Both are great brands, but this silly slagging off doesn't get Lotus five hundred, five thousand Pound deposits on that launch day of the Evora 400, as with the Cayman GT4, it would be far more beneficial to get out there on track in what ever form and illustrate Lotus superiority.
redroadster said:
Would very much like to drive one,it seems owners really like it I suppose the comparison with the Porche may be settled with how much daily driving you need to do can,t see the lotus as a better everyday proposition compared to the Cayman however if used regularly on track I can see the lotus been the best car for the job .
Yes, as a daily driver it is probably too compromised in my view. This is where the Porker wins for some people. Actually Tim the whole article was comparing the Exige V6 Cup to the Cayman GT4.
If you believe they are both excellent cars, most Lotus owners would agree there, then one brand is getting the recognition it deserves while the other is being criminally overlooked. The hype surrounding Porsche is at unprecedented levels. The press has been pretty negative about the Evora 400 already. I don't believe that's particularly fair.
The GT4 is sold out already. What harm does it do to try and question some of the claims, introduce some facts into the debate and remind people that there is an alternative that is built in the UK that could do with some support?
If you believe they are both excellent cars, most Lotus owners would agree there, then one brand is getting the recognition it deserves while the other is being criminally overlooked. The hype surrounding Porsche is at unprecedented levels. The press has been pretty negative about the Evora 400 already. I don't believe that's particularly fair.
The GT4 is sold out already. What harm does it do to try and question some of the claims, introduce some facts into the debate and remind people that there is an alternative that is built in the UK that could do with some support?
The Pits said:
Actually Tim the whole article was comparing the Exige V6 Cup to the Cayman GT4.
Not only that, the very first post on Monday's Cayman GT4 "By the Numbers" article was:Noe said:
This will just give Lotus an itchy bum
I haven't studied the other five or six PH editorial team instigated Cayman GT4 threads in much detail.Impasse said:
The Pits said:
Actually Tim the whole article was comparing the Exige V6 Cup to the Cayman GT4.
Not only that, the very first post on Monday's Cayman GT4 "By the Numbers" article was:Noe said:
This will just give Lotus an itchy bum
I haven't studied the other five or six PH editorial team instigated Cayman GT4 threads in much detail.I am considering keeping my 430bhp Exige S as well the GT3 RS due to arrive this Oct, the Exige is that good on track.
I've been out in this white car at Hethel and it is a proper weapon, vey sorted and will be prepped by Lotus Motorsport to a very high standard. Am on my 7th Lotus (including previously a 211 and a 260 Cup) and the white V6 Cup at Hethel still astonished me and made me laugh out loud as to what it can do on the track.
Also to dispel a frequent myth - the Cups are perfectly useable on the road. Due to time constraints my own Cup hasn't yet been on track in its first 3,000 miles but has done a few long journeys on the road and it is fine. Yes it is focused, yes it is louder than the standard V6 due to the lack of sound deadening but it is perfectly comfortable, it even has air con and you have plenty of torque from the motor if you just want to stick in top gear and eat up the motorway miles.
Drive to the track, murder most things out there and then drive home. The performance bargain of the century if you ask me..!
240
Also to dispel a frequent myth - the Cups are perfectly useable on the road. Due to time constraints my own Cup hasn't yet been on track in its first 3,000 miles but has done a few long journeys on the road and it is fine. Yes it is focused, yes it is louder than the standard V6 due to the lack of sound deadening but it is perfectly comfortable, it even has air con and you have plenty of torque from the motor if you just want to stick in top gear and eat up the motorway miles.
Drive to the track, murder most things out there and then drive home. The performance bargain of the century if you ask me..!
240
The Pits said:
Actually Tim the whole article was comparing the Exige V6 Cup to the Cayman GT4.
If you believe they are both excellent cars, most Lotus owners would agree there, then one brand is getting the recognition it deserves while the other is being criminally overlooked. The hype surrounding Porsche is at unprecedented levels. The press has been pretty negative about the Evora 400 already. I don't believe that's particularly fair.
The GT4 is sold out already. What harm does it do to try and question some of the claims, introduce some facts into the debate and remind people that there is an alternative that is built in the UK that could do with some support?
I absolutely agree though you are being a little unfair on Porsche , or more specifically, the Motorsport division who produce consistently brilliant products. But Lotus are brilliant at the same stuff that gets Porsche all the plaudits and deserve more support for sure.If you believe they are both excellent cars, most Lotus owners would agree there, then one brand is getting the recognition it deserves while the other is being criminally overlooked. The hype surrounding Porsche is at unprecedented levels. The press has been pretty negative about the Evora 400 already. I don't believe that's particularly fair.
The GT4 is sold out already. What harm does it do to try and question some of the claims, introduce some facts into the debate and remind people that there is an alternative that is built in the UK that could do with some support?
I love the Exige V6 in all its forms and I have very high hopes and even possibly an order for an Evora 400 in the future as I am seriously excited by the prospect of how good it may be.
A better target for your ire should be the ridiculous hype enjoyed by the Alfa Romeo 4C. On paper it should be great but Alfa just do not have the engineering magic that Lotus and Porsche do and as a result its pretty much outclassed by the Elise in just about every way that matters and laughably outclassed when compared to an Exige V6 or Cayman GT4
Dblue said:
A better target for your ire should be the ridiculous hype enjoyed by the Alfa Romeo 4C. On paper it should be great but Alfa just do not have the engineering magic that Lotus and Porsche do and as a result its pretty much outclassed by the Elise in just about every way that matters and laughably outclassed when compared to an Exige V6 or Cayman GT4
A voice of reason sorely needed on the many threads discussing Clarkson's insistence that you can't be a petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa! 
hughcam said:
The Pits said:
Blowing £65k on a sportscar is a crazy thing to do. I vowed never to buy another new car again, but the Exige V6 changed all that. I couldn't do it for a car I merely admired, so I'm not remotely tempted by a Cayman or 911. I need an emotional impulse to override my better judgement against buying new. The Exige V6 is an object of sheer automotive lust! I remember thinking the F40 was expensive until I saw it in the flesh. Right there and then, if I had the means I'd have written the cheque. Normally the thought of having THAT discussion again with Mrs Pits is enough to put me off buying another car. One look at the Exige and I'm having those trousers back for a bit!
Lots of current and ex-Cayman owners have been asking about Exige V6s lately, it's a similar tale every time. They like their Caymans a lot and were very impressed to start with but have begun to yearn for something a bit more visceral, intense and communicative. It's everyday excellence becomes a bit uneventful after a while. After all, a fast Golf is an even better daily servant and a sportscar must offer some drama in exchange for some of the practicality. Porsche fans find it impossible to believe how anyone could prefer a cheap, plastic canoe made in Norfolk to their thoroughbred masterpiece of german engineering. But is it really so hard to understand? If the Cayman is as refined, precise, sophisticated and meticulous as a JS Bach recital, the Exige V6 is a Led Zeppelin concert. What for some may appear crude, uncomfortable, unsophisticated and improvised is, for others, a whole lot more fun.
Echos my feelings Lots of current and ex-Cayman owners have been asking about Exige V6s lately, it's a similar tale every time. They like their Caymans a lot and were very impressed to start with but have begun to yearn for something a bit more visceral, intense and communicative. It's everyday excellence becomes a bit uneventful after a while. After all, a fast Golf is an even better daily servant and a sportscar must offer some drama in exchange for some of the practicality. Porsche fans find it impossible to believe how anyone could prefer a cheap, plastic canoe made in Norfolk to their thoroughbred masterpiece of german engineering. But is it really so hard to understand? If the Cayman is as refined, precise, sophisticated and meticulous as a JS Bach recital, the Exige V6 is a Led Zeppelin concert. What for some may appear crude, uncomfortable, unsophisticated and improvised is, for others, a whole lot more fun.
Trouble with this thread is it makes me dive to the classifieds to look at prices of V6 Exige.
I would love one, test driven one and it it epic. The comment about being totally linear is so true and makes the car very easy to drive on limit. Unfortunately I have children so need 2+2, thank god for the Evora..
C43
I would love one, test driven one and it it epic. The comment about being totally linear is so true and makes the car very easy to drive on limit. Unfortunately I have children so need 2+2, thank god for the Evora..
C43
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