Friday 4th September 2015

Lotus vs. Porsche: Pic Of The Week

Germany's finest faces Britain's best on UK roads - full story to follow but here's the desktop decoration for now!

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We've got used to Lotus 'trying to do a Porsche' with varying degrees of success over the years. But with the Cayman GT4 it could just be the other way around, as Porsche seemingly accepts there's only so far you can get chasing bigger and more impressive numbers and perhaps feel and feedback should take centre stage again.

The speed with which it sold out would seem to support that view, potentially offering Lotus a golden opportunity to snap up potential Cayman buyers denied the chance to buy a GT4. Is the Exige really good enough to step up to the plate though? We've been driving them back to back to find out and the first fruits of our shoot can be seen here, ready to grace your desktop ahead of the full story to come.

Watch this space for more!

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)

Photo: Sim Mainey

[TTmonkey]

That Exige looks stunning.

I like the Porsche too, but the Exige just looks so special.

Shame you don't seem to see them on the road so much anymore.... I guess the price is just too high?

[JockySteer]

I'd take the GT4, but that Lotus is dripping with want as well.

[mercer868]

Oh damn that is hard!

The GT4 just clinches it for me as it's a better fit for as I like some element of comfort and extras being nearly 6ft4.

On looks in that specific photo alone I would go Lotus but of course haven't seen either in real life and would not have the yellow.

[andy_s]

Two great cars, looking forward to the main article too - should be interesting comparing the highs and lows of each. Lotus for me, but the pork is no slouch...

[chrispmartha]

Im a Porsche fan so biased, I also don't like body kits on cars, so... I think that lotus Looks Hideous compared to the Cayman.

Obviously I'm only commenting on looks and not the drive of the things.

[hughcam]

Both look great but would have to be the exige for with its aggressive stance for me.

[PorscheGT4]

I'll prob swap my GT4 for the next Exige when it has 400/420bhp and is charged cooled.

GT4 vs current Exige, GT4 no question, It's great value for money for what you get.

Come on Lotus build the Evora 400 CUP/lightweight and the Exige 400/420 charged cooled cars ASAP.

[kambites]

It'll be interesting to read the comparison - these are much more natural competitors than the Cayman and Evora, IMO.

[Biggriff]

I love the Friday pics, but why is this one so out of focus. I get the speed thing, but normally the subjects themselves are at least in focus.

[SonicShadow]

Biggriff said:

I love the Friday pics, but why is this one so out of focus. I get the speed thing, but normally the subjects themselves are at least in focus.

It's not out of focus - the front of the lotus is sharp.

[Crouchydc]

Exige for me. Maybe not the cup model pictured as I would at least like a bit of carpet and a radio as comes standard in the normal Exige S, but nothing has the raw driving feel of a lotus and the v6 finally has the power it always deserved.

[sideways man]

The Lotus is in front.



In the picture anyway

[RedTrident]

I'll preempt the review. Exige is the better car bar the gear change, finish of the interior and everyday practicality.

I'm sure there will be some mention of the stereo system as well.

[Impasse]

RedTrident said:

I'll preempt the review. Exige is the better car bar the gear change, finish of the interior and everyday practicality.

I'm sure there will be some mention of the stereo system as well.

The Porsche will have the better glovebox and be more suited for everyday trips to the supermarket. Therefore Porsche wins.

[TTmonkey]

chrispmartha said:

Im a Porsche fan so biased, I also don't like body kits on cars, so... I think that lotus Looks Hideous compared to the Cayman.

Obviously I'm only commenting on looks and not the drive of the things.

Am I missing something here...? The Porsche has a body kit on, the Lotus is designed that way... but you like the Porsche more....?

Maybe the parrot will be needed for me...?

[RedTrident]

Impasse said:

RedTrident said:

I'll preempt the review. Exige is the better car bar the gear change, finish of the interior and everyday practicality.

I'm sure there will be some mention of the stereo system as well.

The Porsche will have the better glovebox and be more suited for everyday trips to the supermarket. Therefore Porsche wins.

We both forgot the heated seats...

[C43]

I would go lotus every day of the week...the porker just does not look special enough.

C43

[British Beef]

Exige is more a race car for the road and the Cayman a road car for the race track.

For the money (if you could even buy the GT4) I would take the Exige and a pocket full of change ..... unless I was a hairdresser from Essex ;-)

[Gandahar]

Two razor sharp cars.

One safety
One cutthroat.

Nice to have a shave though, no matter how you do it.

[TheDeadPrussian]

First things first, some context – I am a serial Porsche owner with a fairly long history of owning 911s (C2, C2S, GT3, GT3 RS) and I have also owned a Boxster Spyder. For various reasons, I wasn’t allocated a GT4 initially, but that then changed a month or so ago.

In the interim I bought a Lotus Exige LF1, so here’s what happened (posted on The Lotus Forums first time around):

So I got a call last Friday offering me a Cayman GT4 – I think Porsche have created additional capacity and UK allocations based upon demand as I am aware of a few others who had similar calls at the end of last week…a simple message from Porsche: You can have a GT4, but we need a deposit immediately (within the next few hours) and the car specified by the weekend. The GT4 should be delivered in October.

Those of you with whom I have spoken will know that I originally bought the LF1 as I could not get an allocation of a GT4 or GT3 RS after a small ‘falling out’ with Porsche GB over my sale of a 997.2 GT3 RS outside of the Porsche retail network…and that the LF1 was my ‘replacement’ and that it was my first Lotus.

So, I’m afraid the LF1 is probably on the way out of my ownership – I could keep it, but it seems a little too similar to warrant holding on to it and it would give me garage space issues!
I’ll loose money of course – never a pleasant experience, but it is the price of ownership.

What I can say is that I have loved the LF1 – it is such a great car and draws praise and admiration wherever you go. It’s rare enough to be unusual and there is a great deal of ‘love’ from the general public and from fellow petrolheads for Lotus.

There are a few ‘foibles’ with Lotus ownership – I’m sure you’re all aware of them – but I have to say I have loved the car. If I had not managed to get hold of a GT4 it would definitely be staying as I think it is a wonderful machine – unparalleled steering feel and a characterful and lively engine in a small and light package.

So LF1 #10 will pass to someone else I suppose and I hope they love it as much as I have…

So in the end I chose the GT4 over the LF1, but it was a close call and without my previous exposure to the Porsche range, it might well have stayed…