RE: Driven: Lotus Exige S

[kambites]

MagicalTrevor said:

In that case, I apologise for my sarcasm. But how is 'track mode' enabled then if not from the 3-way switch pictured?

It's not, it's a typo.

Can't see how you turn it off completely, though?

[Twincam16]

I absolutely love this.

Also - 170mph, 350bhp, 3.5 litres, forced induction, still cheaper than anything else that'll offer that and still returns superior fuel consumption if that sort of thing matters - all reminds me of a certain something:



This is very much Lotus back to its roots. Hopefully Bahar will take heed from the order book for this one and change certain aspects of his grand plan.

[Junglehop]

kambites said:

JCB123 said:

... but 9/10th of a car to me is how it looks.....

Nothing particularly wrong with that as such, but you're about as far from Lotus's target market as it's possible to get.

disagree entirely... how the thing looks is intrinsic to how well recieved it will be. Many existing Lotus drivers take this into consideration im sure

[kambites]

Junglehop said:

kambites said:

JCB123 said:

... but 9/10th of a car to me is how it looks.....

Nothing particularly wrong with that as such, but you're about as far from Lotus's target market as it's possible to get.

disagree entirely... how the thing looks is intrinsic to how well recieved it will be. Many existing Lotus drivers take this into consideration im sure

Of course, but no-one to whom 90% of the value of a car is looks is likely to consider a Lotus, in my experience. There are many, many better looking cars out there than anything Lotus have produced in recent years.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 25th April 11:36

[SFO]

lovely piece of kit. I especially like the wing mirrors, and the fact that it looks slightly awkward, and is not fully designed .. gives it soul and character.

[Dan Trent]

Sorry for the confusion on this but, for the record, the DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) modes go Tour > Sport > Race > Off. There is no 'Track' setting, as previously stated this was a typo.

The switch has to be held to the right into Race for a predetermined period in order to satisfy the regulations - it has to be a proactive choice by the driver, not able to be selected 'accidentally' - and IIRC you switch everything off by holding it to the right for longer until lots of lights on the dash illuminate yellow.

ABS, HBA and EBD remain on at all times, no matter what you've selected.

So, forget Track mode. Doesn't exist, never did.

Cheers,

Dan

[pilchardthecat]

Twincam16 said:

I absolutely love this.

Also - 170mph, 350bhp, 3.5 litres, forced induction, still cheaper than anything else that'll offer that and still returns superior fuel consumption if that sort of thing matters - all reminds me of a certain something:



This is very much Lotus back to its roots. Hopefully Bahar will take heed from the order book for this one and change certain aspects of his grand plan.

Indeed.

Straight line speed matters too, as they appear to have now realised. Add that back into the equation whilst not compromising the stuff they get right too much, and they are onto a winner.

[cirvy]

SFO said:

lovely piece of kit. I especially like the wing mirrors, and the fact that it looks slightly awkward, and is not fully designed .. gives it soul and character.

I fully agree. Almost hint of a certain product from Blackpool.

This is the first new car launch I've been excited about in years.

Well done Lotus.

[dapearson]

that back end...hideous

[TOENHEEL]

I said months ago that for the money and if the stats were genuine and it drove well enough it really was a direct competitor for a used GT3 if your in the market for this type of car and got shot down.. Regardless of what anybody thinks in my opinion it looks fking awesome and I really want one. Hoping Lotus get sorted out and I can have a drive of one.

[Shnozz]

redgriff500 said:

At last one with decent amount of power but £53K for a faster Elise - how many will they sell ?

Unfortunately not many I'd guess.

By the time the S2 Exige reached its swan song in RGB guise it was not far off £50k. Perhaps it explains why Lotus had to offer strong finance deals to shift them. From the spec of the new car it actually seems good value when contrast to the S2, or it makes the S2 appear overpriced.

I will be interested to see how the residuals perform on the new car. Earlier Exiges have been very good once they have suffered the initial (more severe) drop in price. The S1s are appreciating nicely and the S2's seem to have been static for the last few years. You'll still pay £18k - £20k for the earliest 2004 normally aspirated cars. Considering you'll pay about the same for an equivalent year 911 it shows the strength of the reasonable running costs in the second hand market (he says whilst waiting on another £2k bill to collect his car this weekend...).

I'm looking forward to trying one out, preferably on a track.

[gizard]

Dan Trent said:

Sorry for the confusion on this but, for the record, the DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) modes go Tour > Sport > Race > Off. There is no 'Track' setting, as previously stated this was a typo.

The switch has to be held to the right into Race for a predetermined period in order to satisfy the regulations - it has to be a proactive choice by the driver, not able to be selected 'accidentally' - and IIRC you switch everything off by holding it to the right for longer until lots of lights on the dash illuminate yellow.

ABS, HBA and EBD remain on at all times, no matter what you've selected.

So, forget Track mode. Doesn't exist, never did.

Cheers,

Dan

I am assuming that if the ABS is anything like it is in My 2010 Exige S then there is no cause for concern - i.e. you don't feel it activates too early as you cannot turn it off either.

[kambites]

Lotus's standard depreciation recently seems to be to lose half their value in the first two or three years, then just stop depreciating. A 25k three year-old one would be quite appealing.

[justin220]

Cant wait to see the video!

[The Pits]

"If you are someone of modest driving talent, there is much more to enjoy here than in a GT3 because the combination of mid-engined layout and quite brilliant chassis systems make it so much easier for the driver. More experienced hands will just revel in the traction control – it’s like a racer’s."

Something I've been saying for some time and being flamed by the fires of hades for doing so. Astonishing coming from CH but very welcome.

For 'modest driving talent' read people who don't drive for a living.

I just hope the reviews do enough to get people to drive this car. So far all criticism is to do with things other than how the car is to drive - it's raison d'etre. That and humiliating Cayman Rs!

[Johnny]

Love this.

Decent amount of power, top handling and good looks. Sounds great in the AutoExpress vid too.

£53k doesn't seem ridiculous for what you're getting either, IMO.

[Junglehop]

hmmm but where are they going to drive them/get that "proper" dealership experience? the fact that the dealer network is st really puts me off any modern Lotus...

[otolith]

Junglehop said:

hmmm but where are they going to drive them/get that "proper" dealership experience? the fact that the dealer network is st really puts me off any modern Lotus...

Just buy an Audi and be done with it.

[Richard A]

Wait a few years until the price drops to my sort of level, get out my fibreglass kit and S1-ise it a bit ('cos I hate aggressive looking cars) and I could seriously get into this.

[AFC1886]

Well done Lotus! Stunning car, just not in that colour!