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The Pits
Original Poster
3,835 posts
109 months
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Is it really a viable convertible?
I have the hard top in my elise, is the exige roof exactly the same plus the scoop?
If so it's a ten minute job so doable but probably annoying after a while.
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Lawrence5
1,129 posts
104 months
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400SE Dave
666 posts
40 months
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Never coz it looks s  t
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BountyHunter
965 posts
63 months
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Lawrence5 said: not sure you would want to go far and insurance company won't be happy if someone damaged it while left roofless. google is your friend. "Here is an excerpt from the service manual: Exige Hardtop Roof: The Lotus Exige has been conceived and configured as a sports coupé with a removable roof. The aerodynamic performance of the bodyshell including the front spoiler, rear aerofoil, roof panel and tailgate have been tuned to provide the optimum handling balance with the roof panel also contributing to the flow of cooling air into the top of the engine bay. The roof panel may be removed for better access to the interior for servicing, and the car may be driven without the roof fitted, but wind buffeting and increased noise levels will be experienced. In order to avoid discomfort, and so as not to compromise engine cooling efficiency, it is recommended to restrict usage in this configuration to lower vehicle speeds." so basically the car is officially a convertible with a removable solid roof panel, insurance wouldnt have a leg to stand on if they tried to throw out any claim.
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aelord
177 posts
94 months
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About 3 or 4 times a year because you need to be sure it wont piss with rain.
It looks great I reckon.
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jfrf
370 posts
123 months
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always comes off permanently for 6 months in the summer.
I have the soft top conversion
It doesn't look that bad.
I can't say I give a toss what it looks like. It feels great.
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TOENHEEL
4,396 posts
96 months
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I wasnt keen on taking it off my old shape one however my new Exige looks great with it off i think! 
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The Pits
Original Poster
3,835 posts
109 months
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I'd be taking the roof off more for my benefit than that of other road users, so not concerned about the way it looks either way.
However I take the roof of my Elise at every available opportunity. Just trying to weigh up how much I'd miss it. I know how well Exiges drive and I definitely want some of that but I'm a huge fan of open air driving.
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08sag
52 posts
64 months
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I had the soft top conversion done on my Exige S by the dealer before I collected the car. On return home the roof came off and went under the bed! And there it stayed until I traded the car in. Like The Pits I enjoyed my views from the inside of the car and in particular the sound of the 2bular with the roof off!
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Mr Fixit
34 posts
32 months
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beware as if you have the 240 the roof needs to stay on and Lotus don't like you reving it without the longer scoop as id puts positive pressure on the charge cooler
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wilsonf1
83 posts
79 months
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Took the plunge yesterday and took the roof off! Was a beautiful day and got a great tan on the face! The air gush felt like I was doing a sky dive again, felt mental! But with the tunes pumping it was great fun. Nearly cross threaded the nut putting the roof back on - be warned! 
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scatty72
47 posts
62 months
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never had mine off....
i might suprise you all when we get what looks like a weeks worth of glorious sunshine....may be a while though....
its even got the sft top conversion, just no soft top. must admit, im not a huge fan of it topless...
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MrSimba
296 posts
82 months
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Mr Fixit said: beware as if you have the 240 the roof needs to stay on and Lotus don't like you reving it without the longer scoop as id puts positive pressure on the charge cooler sorry but have you seen just how small the intake slot for the IC is? even with the roof on its well worth taking a Dremel to it and enlarging it out as much as possible to improve flow. Really can't believe it makes any difference TBH, certainly when I had mine there were no noticeable differences in inlet temps measured on a scan gauge either with or without roof! The air gets into the IC just fine roofless, and boy does the car look good!!!  
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s111dpc
465 posts
98 months
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Ran mine all last summer with the roof off with no noticeable difference in performance / temperatures. Haven’t got around to taking it off this year yet due to the s te weather  Let's hope it improves for Brand's in August
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Mister K
75 posts
104 months
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What's a soft top kit worth, I've got one almost new condition that a need to sell.
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wilsonf1
83 posts
79 months
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Winter.... What winter! 
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JS100
203 posts
26 months
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400SE Dave said: Never coz it looks s t Agreed - sacrilege!!
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21TonyK
2,809 posts
78 months
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JS100 said: Agreed - sacrilege!! Did it once. Never again
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addz86
33 posts
55 months
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Tried it, got to the last bolt and its rounded off. b d.
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MarkExige250S
4 posts
14 months
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I did it a few weeks ago, it was bloody cold so I quickly refitted it though. When it warms up I'll definitely be taking it off again though
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