2001 Lotus Exige S1

Please note that the photographs were provided by the seller

Highlights

• Full specialist service history
• Low mileage
• Rare and desirable early model
• Recent suspension overhaul
• Advisory-free MOT

Overview

Less is more has always been the driving force when it comes to Lotus. It's a concept that has been the very ethos behind the company's success, harking back to Colin Chapman's “simplify, then add lightness” approach to building sports cars. And it's proven to be a highly successful notion.

It's all well and good having a certain ideology to adhere to but it still has to be implemented for it to work and the Exige is a perfect distillation of that philosophy. Taking everything learnt from the hugely popular and successful Elise, Lotus poured that knowledge and experience into its follow up,the more track-focused Exige, producing a worthy successor to one of its most revered models.

Introduced in 2000, the Exige looked like a proper race car from the get go. The thing looked fast standing still and despite only having the same 1.8-litre K-Series four-cylinder carried over from the Elise, albeit a Very High Performance Derivative(VHPD), the car weighed just 780kg which meant the 177bhp could propel the car from parked to 60mph in 4.7seconds.

It would prove to be a milestone model for Lotus which remained in production for 21 years across three generations, such was its appeal, and this particular early 2001 Series 1 model is a great example. With excellent history from marque specialists and a fully stamped service book it has clearly been meticulously maintained which is reflected in how the car gets down the road.

It may be beginning to show signs of age in places but it remains a solid example and with a recent suspension overhaul is reported to be driving impeccably, which when it comes to the Exige, is the most important aspect.

History and documentation

• 2001 model year
• V5C present and correct
• In current ownership for ten years
• First registered 24 Aug 2001
• Original book pack
• Comprehensive specialist service history with original service book showing inspections at the following intervals: after sales service at 1,100 miles (2001), A service at 9,107 miles (2003), A service at 17,852 miles (2005), B service at 21,457 miles (2007), A service at 23,018 miles (2008), A service at 25,659 miles (2009), A service+cambelt at 26,234 miles (2010), A service+cambelt+aux belt at 30,080 miles (2013), A service at 30,293 miles (2014), B service at 30,492 miles (2015), A service at 31,313 miles (2016), A service at 32,295 miles (2017), service at 32,689 miles (2018), B service at 33,112 miles (2019), B service at 33,902 miles (2021), service at 35,181 miles (2022)
• Invoices for additional services at 36,692 miles (2018) - which is believed to be a typo and should read 32,692 miles, 33,902 miles (2021), 34,209 miles (2022), 35,068 miles (2023 – including cambelt and suspension overhaul), 35,168 miles (2025)
• HPI clear
• Advisory-free MOT until 27/02/2026

Interior

• Presents well overall
• Desirable bucket seats in great condition with four point Safety Devices harnesses
• Sony stereo head unit with remote control
• Door cards and headlining in good shape
• Dashboard is undamaged
• Fire extinguisher mounted in front of passenger seat
• The Alcantara steering wheel has worn and may benefit from re-covering
• Air Conditioning system does not blow cold according to the vendor
• We understand all gauges and switchgear to be fully functional
• The area under the bonnet is in good condition
• The engine bay is clean

Exterior

• Bodywork appears straight
• All panel gaps are uniform
• The body shows no evidence of any corrosion but the Laser Blue paintwork is showing signs of micro-blistering to almost every panel
• Some stone chipping to the front of the car
• The factory 17” wheels present well with a satin black finish but both rears carry some light marks to the rims
• Tyres are all Yokohama Advan Neova AD08RS models
• No evidence of any previous crash damage and the vendor informs us that no cosmetic work has been completed under their ownership
• No issues with any of the glasswork
• The underside appears to be in good shape with panels skid trays present and correct but there is some light surface rust to some of the suspension components

Mechanical

• 177bhp, 1.8-litre K-Series inline four-cylinder engine
• Five-speed manual gearbox
• Rear-wheel drive
• 0-60mph in 4.7seconds
• 136mph top speed
• Recent suspension overhaul
• No mechanical issues to report
• The vendor informs us that the engine fires up from cold without issue, the car drives well with strong performance, there are no knocks or bangs and it steers and handles very well

Summary

Built to be driven, any Exige can be forgiven a few minor blemishes here and there because it's the condition of the mechanicals and how the car drives that are paramount. Thankfully, with its excellent specialist service history, this Series 1 Exige appears to be in rude health with the vendor stating that it drives and handles as it should. With only a shade over 600 Series 1 models ever built these rare models are still very much sought after so if you're in the market for a well sorted and usable early example then this could very well be the car for you.

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 Northwood, West London.