Lotus Exige Cup 430 | Pic of the Week
We lauded the first Exige this week; time now to celebrate the current one
Whatever the next Lotus sports car ends up being like, it's going to have a tough job on its hands. From the Evora's introduction in 2009, the V6-powered cars above the Elise have forged an incredible reputation for outright ability, raw excitement and prodigious speed. Making something more usable is one thing; improving on the areas where it exceeds is something else entirely.
Consider the Series 3 Exiges, introduced in 2012. While a pretty radical departure from the four-cylinder models, the current Exige is still exceptionally light by modern standards (less than 1,200kg) and simply exhilarating to drive fast. The Cup 430 sits at the top of that tree; arguably a little compromised for road use, but simply mesmerising on a circuit.
The design of the Series 3 Exige isn't discussed enough, packing heaps of supercar drama into a silhouette barely four metres long. These Exiges really look superb, despite familiarity, and never more superb than when shot in glorious sunshine on what appears to be a spectacular road. With the Lotus media library now showing off all the sports cars to their best, it seemed about time they were celebrated with a Pic of the Week wallpaper. The Exige S1 would suit just nicely as well, as we were all reminded of with Wednesday's Spotted, but then so would an S2 - all the Exiges are great looking little sports cars.
And while seeing a Cup 430 in a situation like this might seem like exquisite torture at the moment, just think how good those drives will be when they can be done again. Let's hope it's soon...
The lotus is a more comfortable drive. More supple ride and better seats. I had to order inflatable lumbar cushions for the Porsche.
I have not tracked either but enjoy each equally.
Big drawback with the lotus is getting in and out plus it is expensive for what you get in terms of quality and equipment. Big plus is exclusivity and I have never got so many thumbs up in any other car. Both in the UK and especially across Europe.
If I had to do it again I would buy a used GT3 for about the same price. Better overall but slightly negative image by comparison.
Exige Cup 430 is great but Lotus put everyone off by releasing too many model updates too close together. A lot of people figured there would be a Cup 450 along before long so held off on the Cup 430. Lotus said it would be the fastest Exige with no plans to release anything faster. They were right as it turned out but cried wolf too much.
Shame, hurt sales but it's a great driving experience. Nice pic!
It’s not a Porsche, but Porsche fill that niche pretty well themselves!
It was, however, the car I chose for last drive before lockdown...Empty roads, an educated guess on lack of speed traps,blasted around for an hour or so, and then drove round town watching the pubs close down.
Will remember that day for a long time...
If I were touring myself I would take the Exige but as it was (at the time) I bought my 1 year old 430 CUP and a 3 year old 981 Spyder for just a bit more than a used 991.2 GT3 manual. The 981 Spyder is much better for touring two up than a GT3 or Exige.
Far more important, to me, in a car than excess perceived quality are:-
1 Ride quality
2 Driving position
3 Ease of placement (view out / glasshouse)
4 Steering feel
5 Throttle response
6 Gearbox & clutch action
7 Simplicity / ability to turn off systems
I would much rather have plastic trims and exposed metal interiors and know development funds had been spent on the above instead of gluing leather with fake stitching to the door panels and sticking a sat nav in a dash.....
Been saving for years to afford one, specced exactly how I want, though now I get the dialemma of buying a new elise or a used exige 350 haha.
They hold their money well and are an excellent road car.
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