2005 Lotus Exige S2

Highlights

• Toyota-sourced 1.8 litre engine good for 187bhp

• Six-speed manual gearbox

• Nitron Street Series 2 road springs and dampers

• Quick release steering wheel

• Extensive service record, with “all the main foibles addressed”

Overview

The first Exige was released in the year 2000, as a more hardcore coupe version of the very successful Lotus Elise. But of course, the car we see here is the second generation Exige, which features a Toyota engine where the earlier car was powered by a Rover unit.

So this car is a little over twenty years old, but you wouldn’t think it. The Storm Titanium paint has held up very well, and the interior is showing few signs of use. 

And here’s a car that it would be hard to have regrets about. It presents well and comes with a stack of paperwork showing that, according to the owner, “all the main mechanical and electrical foibles, which affect these cars around this age, have been addressed.” Notable upgrades along the way include Nitron Street Series 2 road springs and dampers and a stage 2 exhaust.

Even the steering wheel has been upgraded to a removable item in order to make it easier to get in and out of this low-slung, wide-silled coupe. Sensible, very sensible. But, at the end of the day, it still remains a full-throated mid-engined sportscar which is as at home on the track as on the road. It would be very much a head and heart purchase, we feel.

History and documentation

• Registered 4 Mar 2005

• Stamped service books with services as follows: Apr 2005 @ 1,020 miles, Feb 2007 @ 9,389 miles, Feb 2008 @ 16,471 miles, Apr 2009 @ 25,030 miles, Feb 2010 @ 27,823 miles, Mar 2011 @ 31,625 miles, Feb 2012 @ 33,962 miles, Mar 2013 @ 36,602 miles, Apr 2014 @ 39,330 miles, May 2015 @ 43,271 miles, Sep 2018 @ 49,056 miles, Aug 2019 @ 50,728 miles, Nov 2020 @ 52,671 miles, Nov 2021 @ 55,554 miles, Apr 2022 @ 61,829 miles, Jan 2024 @ 66,983 miles, May 2025 @ 73,667 miles

• Original Lotus owner’s manual and maintenance record

• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates

• Two keys with alarm fobs

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 27 Mar 2027

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI check clear

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Simple, lightweight interior 

• Plenty of exposed aluminium 

• Grey suede dashboard upholstery

• The wide sills  appear to be in very good condition 

• Manual seat adjusters

• Fitted footwell mats 

• Door cards free from scuffs or scratches

• Sparco LN360 suede steering wheel on quick release hub, allowing easier entry and exit 

• The original Lotus steering wheel is included in the sale

• The seller tells us that all the interior features work as they should do

• Some signs of use but no damage reported 

• The seller tells us that the air conditioning works, and the condenser and pipes were replaced in Nov 2020

• Analogue instruments

• Alpine stereo

• The headlining has been replaced 

• Luggage storage behind the engine bay

Exterior

• Unashamedly purposeful sportscar styling 

• Low stance and a large rear wing 

• Storm Titanium silver paint in presentable condition 

• Carbon front splitter 

• There are some small chips and scratches from use 

• Both doors were replaced by Option1 Sportscars in Feb 2025, after the glass fibre panels were affected by osmosis

• 17-inch alloy wheels

• Yokahama AD08RS tyres 

• The seller tells us that the front tyres retain 7mm of tread and the rears have 6mm 

• The wheels appear to be free from significant scuffs or damage but do have some marks

• Lotus badges present and correct 

• The headlights have been professionally polished and lacquered 

• Windscreen glass in good condition 

• From what we can see, the underside looks clean and tidy, with some surface corrosion to the suspension and exhaust components

• Carbon fibre effect front splitter fitted by a previous owner 

• The rear diffuser has been repainted

Mechanical

• 1,796 cc mid-mounted four-cylinder engine with 8,500rpm red line

• Produces 187 bhp, and 138 lb ft

• Top speed 140 mph, 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds

• Six-speed manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• Engine bay clean and tidy

• Nitron Street Series 2 road springs and dampers fitted in Aug 2019 

• Stage 2 exhaust silencer 

• Mintex brake pads front and rear, fitted in May 2023

• Other maintenance work completed includes:

• Replacement battery in Sep 2020 

• Replacement ignition coils in Sep 2020 

• Lotus front oil cooler recall at Bell & Colvill in Nov 2020 

• Front towing eye post replaced with stainless steel in Nov 2020  

• Coolant expansion tank replace in Jan 2024

• Wheel alignment in July 2025 

• Throttle cable replaced in Sep 2025 

• The seller tells us that the car ‘is fantastic to drive; with its small-size, low-mass and communicative steering.  All the main mechanical and electrical foibles, which affect these cars around this age, have been addressed.’

• No warning lights reported 

Summary

The S2 Exige remains a desirable analogue coupe in a digital world. It takes all the best bits of classic British sportscar ownership and adds sensible features like a proper roof and a proper Japanese engine, without reducing any of the thrills or fun. 

This example looks to have been properly looked after and has some useful upgrades. Go on, you know you want to. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Guildford, Surrey.