Exige S2 to V6

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Discussion

Zyp

Original Poster:

14,673 posts

188 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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I had an S2 240S back in 2011, but it got written of after a short time.
I've since been in a Boxster Spyder for the last 3.5 years.

I now think the time may be right to revisit the Exige.
How does the V6 drive/feel compared to the S2?

Is it a bit more compliant, less hardcore and a bit more liveable?
My concerns are I'm not getting any younger and the bones won't take a hard jarring ride for much longer laugh

I've seen a 2 year old, 10k miles V6 with a few options for sale for £48k, and also wondering if this is a fair price?
I'd also consider another S2 but mine had such a high spec I think I was spoilt, and finding one like it would be like a needle/haystack combination.

Think I've forgotten everything I knew about the Exige, so a memory refresh would be much appreciated.

simpo555

560 posts

163 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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My current car is an Exige 240S PP. Fantastic car. Aesthetically pure. Small. Relatively inexpensive. Probabably similar to what you had before. I keep looking at the V6. It's out of my budget at the moment. If I had a spare £50K I am sure one of the following would fit the bill

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

No doubt the V6 is an improvement in all repsects. Nevertheless, I'm more than happy with mine. The V6 is wider and the rear end still fails to inspire me. The size of the car is an element that slightly concerns me. Running costs are no doubt higher aswell. However, comfort and performance are undoubtedly better.

Anyway, being out of budget I don't even have to consider it. Perhaps in a couple of years time the situation might change.

As for prices, they are falling. the two cars featured have been available for over four weeks already. If they had been 'keenly' priced they would have sold already-I think. There are two relatively cheap Exiges advertised At £45K, neither of which have been snapped up, again showing prices are not as solid as one might think. Might be the time of year.

Either way, nice to see you have seen the light. I think Lotus ownership is far more rewarding than owning a Porker. Enjoy your search.

Zyp

Original Poster:

14,673 posts

188 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
Been looking at those two, but just that bit too much.

It's one of B & C's cars I've got my eye on - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Just thinking though, after looking at the others for £2k more, that the white one is quite light on spec?

simpo555

560 posts

163 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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Zyp said:
Been looking at those two, but just that bit too much.

It's one of B & C's cars I've got my eye on - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Just thinking though, after looking at the others for £2k more, that the white one is quite light on spec?
I think thats more down to the listing. Looking at the white one, it's listed with performance and sport packs, but without the detail. The other two have a more elaborate listing but probably the same level of equipment, although I'm only guessing. Either way, if you're that close, be tempted to push for the more expensive ones, at the same price as the white one. The blue one gets my vote. It's one of my top colours on an S2, and doesn't look too bad in V6 mode eitheryes

Zyp

Original Poster:

14,673 posts

188 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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Yes, I really like the blue but the wife has just got an M3 in Yas Marina blue...... Thinking driveway blue overkill...

I'd hope they could come down on price on the white one.

simpo555

560 posts

163 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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I'd still go blue-for when you're driving it. Either way, I'm sure you'll enjoy it whatever the colour.

Arun_D

2,302 posts

194 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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3 weeks ago I made this exact move, replacing my 2008 Exige S (220) with a V6.

I convinced myself its replacement would be a Cup260, having driven V6s before and coming away by still thinking the S2 is the sweet spot. I was actually planning on going to see the yellow MY10 Cup car that was for sale not too long ago, then got completely distracted by the advert for my 1yr old V6. It just looked brill, and the more and more I thought about it, the more I longed for actually 'moving up' to a car with a richer sound from the engine, bags of torque and supercar presence. In the back of my head, I also kinda knew it was going against my longing for a true track car, having found myself doing more and more trackdays in my S2. It didn't make a difference, I still bought the V6. It really sucker-punched me to the point of distraction. Anyone who knows me, will tell you this was a very odd move.

In my brief time having the car (*more on that in a at the end), I have found the road experience very much like the S2, just with nearly double the torque, a beautiful exhaust note, and crazy in-gear speed. As for the ride, overall road compliance and quality, for me, is the same as my S2 on standard Bilsteins. I wouldn't call the car any more comfortable. If anything, it's slightly more difficult to get in and out of, as the lower sill is wider. You do notice the car is wider at both ends, and can feel the extra mass. I'm sure this will be even more evident on track. The race pack DPM system is just great, I've had great fun exploring how this works.

So I'd say have a serious think, it feels very much like the S2, just as a more grown up package. We'll see next year if I regret buying it as a replacement track car when I finally take it on track, but I think it's actually going to encourage me to drive the damned thing more often on the road, maybe do some touring in it.

Any more questions, I'd be happy to help.


*ignore the fact that 2wks into ownership, the clutch packed up and the whole rear end is now coming apart (at 2000miles!) :-(


Edited by Arun_D on Friday 21st November 08:36

GTRene

16,369 posts

223 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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I like that...




CTE

1,488 posts

239 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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As I have said previously I have had my roadster since April as a daily driver. I have not had a chance to do any trackdays yet, but have done weekly long commutes and two European road trips, and basically I love driving it...clearly. For me I have not driven another road car that comes close, although I have not driven a Ferrari Speciale or similar Maclaren yet, and maybe never will. I have driven a couple of Boxtsers though, and whilst they are a good compromise, they are comparativley dull to me and a different sort of animal.
The car is very similar in many ways to the S2 but is so much more. The ride is similar and so is the responsiveness, but it does feel heavier, but in a good way. It is certianly a much better road car. I have had a passenger ride in one round Hethel, and it seemed to handle that pretty well. I do not think it will dissappoint on track.
As for getting in an out of it, yes not the easiest thing (but there is a technique), but I too am not getting any younger and I definately decided that if I do not get the car now (when the opportunity presented itself), I might not be able to use it in 10 or 20 years time...assuming I live that long of course!
Test drive one, you`ll either love it or hate it.

Zyp

Original Poster:

14,673 posts

188 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Arun - thanks for that in depth reply.
That's not great news about the clutch though - would that be covered under warranty seeing as it's such low mileage?

The black on above - really does look superb.....but black.... swirls....scratches...
I'd have to be really brave to go with it just for the upkeep alone!

Arun_D

2,302 posts

194 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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No problem. I remember the mishap with your S2 very well, so more than happy to assist, though I'm not sure I've told you all that much about the car!!

The clutch issue is under warranty. With the car being so young, and also the failure happening so soon into my ownership, I honestly couldn't see any way it wouldn't be. Currently, the diagnosis hasn't been completed, but a whole raft of likely necessary parts (and some that may not be) have been ordered, unfortunately with some arriving into December. The actual issue is one thing, but my real concern lies with the fact the rear clam, engine, and the rest of the rear end have to be removed to get to the clutch. They never go back together quite the same, do they?!


The black car above looks great, I briefly considered that one for myself, but my S2 Exige was black, and the raft of stone chips it gained and general swirly-ness that's difficult to avoid if you actually like driving the things meant I'm happy for a change this time round (Solar yellow on my V6).

GTRene

16,369 posts

223 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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this is nice too



as for stone ships etc, maybe the silver wood be an option?


240Cup

629 posts

189 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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I had an S2 240 performance pack and then one of the last Cup 260s and now in a V6 Cup.

Someone asked me to compare the V6 with the S2 the other day and the best way I could describe it is that it has all the famous Lotus DNA, such as lovely steering feel/suspension/handling but with a much more grown up/supercar feel due to that V6. It is a characterful free spinning and howling V6 as well, not a lazy one. Yes it is a bit heavier and there are certain bits of tighter twisty favourite roads where the 260Cup feels more alive and nimble but on more open sections the V6 would murder it. The extra torque in every gear makes it substantially quicker in real world conditions. I've had an F430 before as well and it is no exaggeration to say that the V6 reminds me of that..!

Don't like the back end of the standard V6 either, but you can easily in-fill the rear end matt black (either paint it or wrap it) like the Cup cars and then to me it looks the nuts.

Zyp

Original Poster:

14,673 posts

188 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
My idea, if I had a light coloured one, was to wrap the same parts as the Cup cars - they look great and it'd help break up the colour.

Either that or some stripes of some kind - something I had planned for my last one, but never got round to doing.

I now need to see if I can still get in one - popped over to Leicester today to try it but the one they had has been sold.
Squeezed into an Elise though - even without the roof it was more awkward than I remember... laugh

Can't believe my nearest dealer is now Silverstone!
So there's another issue - Silverstone don't have one in budget, so I'm loathe to go and waste their time asking for a drive if I can't buy one from them - not fair on them.

Bell & Colvill, whilst having potentially 3 cars that would suffice, is a 2.5 hr trek each way and I don't seem to have a whole Saturday free to do it between now and Christmas.

Edited by Zyp on Friday 21st November 17:34

gashead1105

558 posts

152 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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You really need to drive it.

I have a demonstrator over the weekend while my S2 is in for the oil cooler recall (which, whatever lotus seem to be saying, seems to be too much work to do in one day). My S2 is in no way standard, I've spent plenty on it and it is now just where I want it to be.

I've probably done 70 miles or so in the V6 today. Hopefully do the same again tomorrow. It's undoubtedly a great car, easy to drive, goes like stink, handles amazingly, great brakes, less rattles (but by no means none). However, in current form it's not enough to get me out of my S2. It's got a lot of torque and it's in gear acceleration is sufficiently mental for 99% of the population - I scared my wife silly and took my neighbour out this afternoon, who loved it. But it isn't that much faster than my S2, not enough to make me spend 25k on changing it anyway. It's pretty much all done at 6,200 which is when mine is coming on song. Also, the gearbox is sloppy - yes this car has done 10k as a demo but the change is very vague and it was reluctant to select first gear at the petrol station earlier. It's not as nimble and the steering provides less feedback - but with the bigger wheels it was noticeably tram lining in a way the S2 does not. I do like the way it looks, the flared arches are great. It's a bit more civilised than mine and I could see myself driving it every day. But for me to change, it needs 400hp and a louder exhaust. And ideally some ohlins dampers as well. I reckon the 2016 model year will provide the power upgrade at least.

Having written all of the above, I've just seen on seloc that Lotus seem to be offering a 4k deposit contribution at the moment. If that's on top of 0% finance as well it's a tempting offer...

GTRene

16,369 posts

223 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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you can get 430hp>

http://www.komo-tec.com/LOTUS-Exige-V6/Leistungsph...

also I believe you could go for an auto box I thought or soon?

gashead1105

558 posts

152 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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GTRene said:
you can get 430hp>

http://www.komo-tec.com/LOTUS-Exige-V6/Leistungsph...

also I believe you could go for an auto box I thought or soon?
Yes, and void the warranty. Auto box is not for me either on this sort of car.

Zyp

Original Poster:

14,673 posts

188 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
gashead1105 said:
You really need to drive it.

I have a demonstrator over the weekend while my S2 is in for the oil cooler recall (which, whatever lotus seem to be saying, seems to be too much work to do in one day). My S2 is in no way standard, I've spent plenty on it and it is now just where I want it to be.

I've probably done 70 miles or so in the V6 today. Hopefully do the same again tomorrow. It's undoubtedly a great car, easy to drive, goes like stink, handles amazingly, great brakes, less rattles (but by no means none). However, in current form it's not enough to get me out of my S2. It's got a lot of torque and it's in gear acceleration is sufficiently mental for 99% of the population - I scared my wife silly and took my neighbour out this afternoon, who loved it. But it isn't that much faster than my S2, not enough to make me spend 25k on changing it anyway. It's pretty much all done at 6,200 which is when mine is coming on song. Also, the gearbox is sloppy - yes this car has done 10k as a demo but the change is very vague and it was reluctant to select first gear at the petrol station earlier. It's not as nimble and the steering provides less feedback - but with the bigger wheels it was noticeably tram lining in a way the S2 does not. I do like the way it looks, the flared arches are great. It's a bit more civilised than mine and I could see myself driving it every day. But for me to change, it needs 400hp and a louder exhaust. And ideally some ohlins dampers as well. I reckon the 2016 model year will provide the power upgrade at least.

Having written all of the above, I've just seen on seloc that Lotus seem to be offering a 4k deposit contribution at the moment. If that's on top of 0% finance as well it's a tempting offer...
I understand where you're coming from on this, but I haven't driven an S2 for 3.5 years, so I personally couldn't compare.
Nevertheless, I appreciate your input, thanks.

ChrisG C2S

235 posts

185 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
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I went from a Boxster Spyder to a V6 Exige in December last year. I've also previously had a 997.

I know the Spyder has a strong following but for me, the Exige is a more special car and I'm enjoying it more than the Porsche. I'm lucky enough it's a third car and for weekends only so I've only done 2500 miles this year. Makes it enjoyable every time I take it out the garage. It's faster and, to me, better on the road than the Spyder. Again, personal opinion but I think it looks better than a Spyder too. Needless to say it's not as well built but I've had no quality issues with mine.

DSC_5700 by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

DSC_5686 by christopherjgrant, on Flickr


Zyp

Original Poster:

14,673 posts

188 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
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That's good to hear Chris, cheers.