RE: Lotus Exige S1: Spotted

[murraynt]

83AndyJ said:

If the seller will permit, surely the image featuring the aircraft is pic of the week / year

I agree. Stunning picture.

[Esprit]

Oh yes! At that price it's fantastic buying too!

I love mine, it's a "forever car". As long as I'm above ground, it's staying in my garage.

They're about as hardcore as road cars get, every journey is an event and makes you feel like you're rolling out onto the grid at Le Mans.





Given that one in good tune will keep supercars like F458s and GT3RSs very honest on track, all the while being depreciation proof and massive fun.

The only watchword is fragility, but then again that's true of all its rivals when used hard too. Good thing is that it's simple enough for a DIYer to tackle most tasks on them.

Edited by Esprit on Tuesday 28th January 21:21

[Stelvio1]

Awesome, awesome - they run rings around a GT3 on tight track too - the ultimate pocket rocket

[MattyB_]

I know *many* will disagree, but after 10 years of wanting one, and owning an Elise S160 previously (which I adored), I eventually bought an S1 Exige.

Maybe expectations were too high, maybe it wasn't the best example, and I was beset with lots of electrical gremlins which made every journey a "will I make it home?" affair...

But I never clicked with the Exige. The epic cabin heat, zero visibility, stark realization about how much I'd missed a removable roof....but most importantly, it was a 10/10th's or nothing car.

The Elise was huge fun at any speed. The Exige felt like it was being held back at anything other than the ragged limit. Don't get me wrong, a screaming VHPD, warm A048 tyres and the aero sucking you in to the tarmac was completely, unbelievably, uncomparitively awesome and I had lots of memorable drives and experiences in it.

But ultimately (and obviously, personally) I'd enjoy a £10k Elise more than a £25k Exige, with the obvious saving to be made.

[I WISH]

I sort of know where the guy above is coming from with respect to the overall fun to be had roof up or down with a nice sorted S1 Elise. I've had mine from new in 1998 ..... and would never sell it.
But I have to admit that the two S1 Exiges I drove a few years ago were just epic to drive.
I have often been out for a Sunday blast up the Yorkshire Dales in my S1 Elise. Always really had a real blast ..... but always wanted to come home after a good drive.
In the Exige I just wanted to keep driving until the fuel ran out.
Stunningly good to drive ..... really planted rear (the wing really works) and perfectly judged gear ratios. Even good in the wet!

Edited by I WISH on Tuesday 28th January 23:26

[ajg31]

Always lusted after the S1 Exige after seeing a friends neighbours car again and again. Better looking than the newer series cars IMHO.

Am i reading it right that the Exige V6 comes with a 6000 mile warranty?

Edited by ajg31 on Wednesday 29th January 01:07

[speedjockey]

I wish we got S1's in North America.. Absolutely love these things. IMHO much better than the S2 or S3.

[Matt Bird]

Shnozz said:

400SE Dave said:

I wouldn't say S2 Exige values are on the slide, if anything they have risen since the price of the V6 Exige was annouced.

S1 Exige will always be way more collectable, especially as more and more get engine swaps..IMO

I agree. I think the article is misleading on that front. S2 prices have hardened in the last 3 years and the market now is no lower suggesting a plateau rather than any slide. Instead, the S1 Exige has appreciated at a gathering pace over that same period and the fact that they were low volume and very different to the Elise has no doubt been behind that exclusivity (as against the S2 which is little more than a fixed top 111R).

That S1 Exige looks a bargain. The mileage isn't exactly moon and back stuff, and it's in the most sought after colour. Frankly I am amazed it's still for sale.

Sorry, I wasn't aware of this. Perhaps deceived by the rise in S1 values, can't say I had been following those of S2s too closely. Thanks for the insight, you learn something new everyday working at PH!



Matt

[Draexin]

That Exige looks spectacular!

And pictures really do make the sale. I recently sold my car by setting up a website ( www.koopmijnbarchetta.nl ) and taking lots of pretty shots.
Most Barchetta's take around 6 months to sell but with a decent story and proper pictures I sold mine in less than a month.

[Itsallicanafford]

...oh my golly gosh.

[hondansx]

If you want a real race car for the road, look no further. Another one of these cars where you wish you'd bought a few years back when they were cheap...

Had our Motorsport Elise a good few years now and it an absolute joy to drive and i love the look of the S1 - perfect proportions.

Edited by hondansx on Wednesday 29th January 16:23

[Esprit]

hondansx, always loved the look of your car, always so well presented! Shame it's no longer packing a K, but you've done a wonderful job of developing it.

[hondansx]

Thanks. We will eventually return it back to as Lotus intended, so don't worry. Got to stay competitive in the mean time though!

Have to say, miss the K's character and power delivery, and the weight does make a difference to the handling.

[Shnozz]

mmmmmmmm Speedlines. Why aren't they available for the S2

[jonnyfox]

Someone should buy it now hey Phil ;-)