M3 CSL or Exige S?

[Great Pretender]

If you could have either, which would it be and why?

That is all. Ta.

[Great Pretender]

Two. CSL rear seats are all but redundant.

[Great Pretender]

CampDavid said:

Great Pretender said:

Two. CSL rear seats are all but redundant.

How do you mean? Redundant in terms of your use or in terms of their usability?

The only time they're unusable is on track - there are no grab handles so after two arse out ring laps your rear passenger will need a long sit down.

I love both, however I'll take the Exige. I live a few miles from Jonny Palmer's World of Stag so I'd happily take it there every month and drive it round and round and round until I'd nailed my perfect lap

I mean I don't use them. Only one person has sat in the back since I owned the car.

[Great Pretender]

stew-S160 said:

CSL over S2 Exige.
S1 Exige over CSL.

Pour quois?

[Great Pretender]

Rags said:

Thinking of selling GP?

Possibly. Need sufficient justification to let her go though.

[Great Pretender]

JungleJim said:

which is better - apples or oranges?

No. of seats notwithstanding, they offer similar credentials.

Hence the question/comparison.

[Great Pretender]

TonyHetherington said:

Yup it is a tough call.

Depends if you will EVER need that extra abilities the CSL has or not, perhaps? They will both offer driving pleasure, so it depends if you will ever need the boot or space the CSL has, or the slightly better touring capabilities?

Difficult, but fun, choice to make

You mean in terms of practicality or performance?

IME they're both similarly quick, but the Exige has the edge over the CSL in pure handling terms.

I don't use the CSL for it's practicalities though; just for driving. Hence the thought process over a switch to the Exige.

[Great Pretender]

Mermaid said:

Lotus will make more special cars in the future.

The CSL will not be surpassed as a great BMW for a long while, if ever.

If it was only one car you could keep, it would certainly be the CSL. Your position is different, and you have already enjoyed the CSL experience, or have you? Reagrdless, you could always opt for the Exige and return to the CSL as so many owners do.

I've had it on track a couple of times and it usually gets a workout on some of the local roads, but in terms of taking it back to its spiritual home, I've yet to experience that. Perhaps I should first?

[Great Pretender]

Mermaid said:

Great Pretender said:

Mermaid said:

Lotus will make more special cars in the future.

The CSL will not be surpassed as a great BMW for a long while, if ever.

If it was only one car you could keep, it would certainly be the CSL. Your position is different, and you have already enjoyed the CSL experience, or have you? Reagrdless, you could always opt for the Exige and return to the CSL as so many owners do.

I've had it on track a couple of times and it usually gets a workout on some of the local roads, but in terms of taking it back to its spiritual home, I've yet to experience that. Perhaps I should first?

Apparently the E92 M2 GTS was only a few seconds faster at the 'Ring than the CSL.

So I hear. A gap which would be closed with the fitment of decent brakes to the earlier car.

[Great Pretender]

stew-S160 said:

Great Pretender said:

stew-S160 said:

CSL over S2 Exige.
S1 Exige over CSL.

Pour quois?

Pretty obvious really. The S1 Exige would be more of an event than even a CSL. The noise they make is great too, ok, not quite CSL mental, but very good. And for the money of a CSL, you could get a Honda'd/charged S1 Exige which would be quite a bit faster.

Hmmm, not many S1s about though and from what I understand, time tends not to be very kind to them.

[Great Pretender]

Fittster said:

For road or track use?

Both.

[Great Pretender]

L100NYY said:

CSL -

Positives

Lack of depreciation
Noise
Looks
Grunt
RWD adjustability
GT like touring capabilities for 'ring trips et al
Good looks
Great on track

Negatives

Higher running costs when tracked ie tyres etc
A '3'er' rather than an out-and-out sports car (don't take that the wrong way chum)
Potential for big bills (?)
You've had lots of ///M already

---

Exige S

Positives

One of the great drivers cars with sublime handling and adjustability
Lightweight = cheap on tyres/brakes/etc when tracked
Slow depreciation
Razor sharp responses
'Tweakability' at low expense ie suspension etc
Properly quick and a real giant killer
Still comfortable enough for euro-trips and 35mpg
Cheap Toyota servicing

Negatives

Lack of space
Characterless engine note (exhaust and airbox this is somewhat rectified)
2 seats

Edited by L100NYY on Tuesday 14th December 13:49

Cheers buddy, that's what I hoped this exercise would bring.

So (ignoring any allegiance either way), which would you have?

[Great Pretender]

RobM77 said:

L100NYY said:

=CSL= -

Positives

Lack of depreciation
Noise
Looks
Grunt
RWD adjustability
GT like touring capabilities for 'ring trips et al
Good looks
Great on track

Negatives

Higher running costs when tracked ie tyres etc
A '3'er' rather than an out-and-out sports car (don't take that the wrong way chum)
Potential for big bills (?)
You've had lots of ///M already

---

=Exige S=

Positives

One of the great drivers cars with sublime handling and adjustability
Lightweight = cheap on tyres/brakes/etc when tracked
Slow depreciation
Razor sharp responses
'Tweakability' at low expense ie suspension etc
Properly quick and a real giant killer
Still comfortable enough for euro-trips and 35mpg
Cheap Toyota servicing

Negatives

Lack of space
Characterless engine note (exhaust and airbox this is somewhat rectified)
2 seats

Edited by L100NYY on Tuesday 14th December 13:47

An excellent summary

I'd like to add noise on the motorway to that though. Maybe it bothers me more than most people, but it's the main reason I run two cars. My Elise was my only car for three years, but on long trips it began to wind me up after a while, so I now run two cars - one for lugging stuff about and motorways, and one for everything else.

Therefore, from my point of view it depends what sort of driving the OP does. If he doesn't do lots of motorway runs and never needs to carry things or people around, the Exige S would win everyday for me. If, however, he needs more practicality, the CSL would be the better car of the two. I've not driven a CSL, but I have driven a standard E46 M3 and E92 M3, and with these sorts of cars, they get good ratings by being fantastic for a saloon car. The Exige is a dedicated ground up designed sports car, and in my opinion (again, not having driven a CSL), it's a far better proposition for actual driving entertainment. I'd still do the two car thing though, it suits me down to the ground. At 6am on a Friday morning when I've got to drive to Silverstone half asleep, I like climbing into a car with loads of sound insulation, 55mpg and 205/55/16s and cruising up the motorway, and at 10am on a sunny Saturday when I'm going to see my parents down a twisty B road, or on a trip down to the coast, I can take the Elise (top down!). I would never swap both for an Exige S - not a chance. I would like to own an Exige S one day though, alongside both my current cars

I have another car for motorway slogging/commuting.

This query is purely for weekend/holiday/track use.

[Great Pretender]

L100NYY said:

I fear Der might be right. I'm not entirely convinced the revvy, flyweight and delicate Exige is necessarily you GP.

I know you pedalled one avec my chum Graham up in Scotlandshire but were there any negatives from that drive that you can remember?

The only negative was the humble engine origin and the potential for build quality induced leprosy.

I loved everything else about it. Albeit I could do with a 260bhp variant.

[Great Pretender]

Animala said:

L100NYY said:

Animala said:

derestrictor said:

You simply cannot say no contest; both cars are sublime in various ways.

eerr....I think I just did?

Animala said:

Exige, no contest whatsoever

Infact there it is again, just to be sure....

Righto, many thanks for that.

Hey, anytime, don't mention it.

Bless.

[Great Pretender]

L100NYY said:

Anyhoo,

Any closer to making a decision GP? Or have Der and I confused you further......

Not really. That picture of the CSL dancing at the ring did give me the horn though.

More please

[Great Pretender]

Animala said:

derestrictor said:

Animal, life's to short to hate; a dutifully nurtured contempt, however, is perfectly acceptable.

true, but I don't think you can ever really know love until you've felt hate

Well I'm feeling hate right now if that helps?

[Great Pretender]

L100NYY said:

Great Pretender said:

L100NYY said:

Anyhoo,

Any closer to making a decision GP? Or have Der and I confused you further......

Not really. That picture of the CSL dancing at the ring did give me the horn though.

More please

Ooof!

[Great Pretender]

TTwiggy said:

How about a Noble?

Good shout but I need something in warranty that is also reliable. I can't have either with a Noble.

[Great Pretender]

adycav said:

GP don't let your previous experience put you off.

Having read your posts on here I think that you KNOW where you need to go next.

Give it another chance, but get a straight one this time...

The last one raped me hard enough to send me back into the fiscal dark ages. It'll be a while before I can afford another.

Otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion.