A Lotus Exige for Big Guys - is there one?

[zedhex]

I had a test drive in a Lotus Exige a while ago, and it was great fun, but just too uncomfortable for me - I am just too tall (6'4", 115kg). I could only drive it with my head banging on the roof and my knees bashing on the dash. At the time, I decided not to get one, as I just couldn't live with that. That's a pity, cos the Exige (and the Elise) are such wonderful cars to drive. But it got me thinking - what is the alternative? I want a simple sports car with light weight, fixed roof (I don't like open tops - I get skin cancer), superb handling, no frills and big enough for me to fit in. Is there anything like that out there? The only other car I can think of would be a Honda NSX, but they are increasingly rare and expensive. All the other alternatives are either too fancy, too expensive, too heavy or too old.

I need a Lotus Exige for big guys. Does such a thing exist?

[zedhex]

A noble is not a bad idea - never tried sitting in one though.

Don't need a daily - got a Mondeo for that

[zedhex]

maybe I should add: "... too heavy, too old and too unreliable"

[zedhex]

Cayman GT4 looks nice, but its not exactly 'no frills' is it? (traffic info, sounds system, stability management, aircon etc.).

[zedhex]

<puts curmudgeonly mac on...>

McLaren: too f*ckin expensive
Evora: see above
911: engine in wrong place. hate 'em.
TVR: too old, soft top, break down all the time
Z4: quite possibly the ugliest sports car in the world (to be said in a Clarkson voice)
Ultima: great on track, crap off it.
Ginetta: see above
Alfa 4C: too expensive (and Clarkson was lying)
Noble: aha... maybe we have something here.

[zedhex]

wemorgan said:

Honda Integra Type R?

er, no thanks, FWD is for people who can't drive.

Re. costs: whatever I choose has to be about the same amount as an Elise/Exige - mid 20K ish.

[zedhex]

soad said:

Do you work for BMW? It looks like the inspiration for the X6

[zedhex]

Yup - TVR Sagaris: 60K ish. Maybe I need to sell the wife+kids (although I could probably find 35K if I had to... just don't tell HID)

Edited by zedhex on Wednesday 10th February 16:31

[zedhex]

otolith said:

Wouldn't have thought a large capacity front engined car like a Corvette or TVR would be a similar sort of thing to an Exige, not in the way that a Noble might be?

That is what I am thinking. I already have a couple of front engined sports cars (a very nice 944 turbo which appreciates daily and a massively modified Soarer which doesn't), and that is precisely why I wanted an Exige - something basic, simple and fast, but with its speed coming from light weight rather than humongous power. My Soarer was last dynoed at 495bhp, and it only goes round corners sideways. You might not think so, but the thrill of that is actually wearing off a bit (just try touching the gas on a wet roundabout - it'll do pirouettes like a ballerina). I think a Noble might be just the ticket - but can I get one for reasonable money (30 - 35K ish)? I don't think so.

Maybe I should buy an Exige and just try to inflate it.

Edited by zedhex on Wednesday 10th February 17:49

[zedhex]

meh. I had a mate with one. He lived in Chelsea, and was on first name terms with all the recovery specialists in the area. I used to go to shows with him, and I have personally rescued wing mirrors and various bits and bobs. I once had to get him home by driving for ten miles, swapping batteries over, driving another ten miles, another battery swap etc. etc.

Lovely sound though.

Here's a thought: Monaro/VXR8? - simple, basic, grunty and reliable. Nothing like an Exige though. Good for going sideways out of roundabouts, so I'd be right at home.

[zedhex]

GT6 Jonsey said:

Keeping in the family ......
http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C702238

very tempting...