Fully Loaded Exige 190 or Butt naked 220S?

[emenel]

I need help!

I am fortunate enough to be in the queue for a new exige but I am struggling to decide between the two following cars (both very similarly priced).

What would you do?

Exige 190, Touring Pack, Aircon, Starlight Black, Lightweight forged alloys, Stage 2 Exhaust + Induction

OR

Exige S 220, Sport Pack, Starlight Black.

(I didn't sleep last night, trying to decide and doing the maths!)

[cuzza]

Are you going to track it?

Yes - 220
No - 190 plus toys

[rfoster]

220! Who needs luxuries anyway?

[Tim Netherton]

Exige S

[trimbo]

aircon is a good option, cabin can get a little sweaty in the summer........other than that it has to be the 'S' all the way

[Phil-CH]

I'd go for the standard Exige. Makes it easier to upgrade it if you ever want more than the 218bhp of the Exige-S... just my 2 cents.

[S Works]

Exige S with Aircon. Buy one without and you'll struggle to sell on.

[_topcat]

now you see, im torn. the standard(ish) exige i had was fantastic and such a hoot to drive, however the supercharger is just so addictive. the noise is mental, like a jet engine in the boot.
I would say get a standard exige fully loaded and as mentioned, you have some thing to move on too. Either way you will have a great car!

[emenel]

Thanks for your opinions guys but it seems a pretty even split.

It may have to come down to the toss of a coin.

If anybody has had recent experience of both cars and can comment on the 'real world' performance differences I'd be very grateful.

I'm leaning slightly in the direction of the S but not sure if that is purely because it is the new model and everyone is talking about it. Test drives seem pretty hard to arrange in the S at the moment.

[chris_n]

I agree with S Works - I think any Exige needs Aircon, both for resale and to make it useable it on the road year round whatever the weather. Keeps interior temps sensible in summer (opening the window doesn't help much when you're stuck in traffic on a boiling hot day) plus it helps with demisting in the winter.

As for other options you're considering on the 190, do you really need them vs the joys of a supercharger?! I spec'ed the Touring pack on my Exige but with hindsight there is nothing in it particularly worth having. Lightweight wheels - do they really make much difference? Not in comparison with a supercharger IMHO! Exhaust and induction can be added further down the line when funds permit.

I would go 220S with Aircon and metallic and ditch the sports pack. The only thing in the sports pack that it will really be a shame to lose is the traction control.

The regular Exige remains a great car, but believe me the supercharger elevates it to another level! You know it makes sense!

Chris

Edited to add - I didn't say explicitly but my opinion is based on a drive in a 220S press car last weekend which resulted in me trading up. I believe topcat has just traded up to a 240. So at least two of us were seduced out of 190 cars by that supercharger whine!

>> Edited by chris_n on Thursday 23 February 12:23

[_topcat]

Chris_n is right, i have just changedmy car. i did so because i usually only keep my sports cars for 6 month however i had the exige for 18 months and nothing was wrong with it i decided i wanted a new car.
Put it this way, if i had no lotus and going on my experience i would get the newest most supercharged one. only because as you say its the one we are all talking about and its the way the exige will go in a few months anyway. a normally aspirated exige is a great car but will soon be out of production. its your choice but i would defo get a back to back drive in them.

[Gavinr]

Have you driven them back to back? I work at a Lotus (and Jag) dealer and would have the S over the 190 any day. In my mind the supercharger transforms the car.
Of course this is all my own opinion.
Nice choice to have though.

Gavin

[bruh_la]

Phil-CH said:

I'd go for the standard Exige. Makes it easier to upgrade it if you ever want more than the 218bhp of the Exige-S... just my 2 cents.

I have to disagree. With the S you have the same supercharger system as the 240 Cup and the GT3. This means its relatively straight forward to upgrade the S up to 247 and beyond, i guess to the 285 of the GT3.

To get these improvements from the standard 190 would be very difficult.

Also as others have mentioned, the lightweight wheels are nice to have but they will not make a signicant difference to the ownership experience, neither will Touring pack for that matter.

The supercharger will make a huge difference to the ownership experience. read Chris ns' thread about his test drive.

The sports pack has traction control (which may save you one day) and a second oil cooler if you are planning track work. The sports pack "may" make sense.

Ac is a must i would say, the enjoyment of a car gets old quick if you are always too hot.

You can save the price of the ac (almost) by taking a std colour. BRG looks great as does Red.

Exige S, A/c and sports pack is my recomendation. Its basically the car i have ordered anyway.........

Ian

[GTRene]

bruh_la said:

I have to disagree. With the S you have the same supercharger system as the 240 Cup and the GT3. This means its relatively straight forward to upgrade the S up to 247 and beyond, i guess to the 285 of the GT3. To get these improvements from the standard 190 would be very difficult. Also as others have mentioned, the lightweight wheels are nice to have but they will not make a signicant difference to the ownership experience, neither will Touring pack for that matter. The supercharger will make a huge difference to the ownership experience. read Chris ns' thread about his test drive. The sports pack has traction control (which may save you one day) and a second oil cooler if you are planning track work. The sports pack "may" make sense. Ac is a must i would say, the enjoyment of a car gets old quick if you are always too hot. Exige S, A/c and sports pack is my recomendation. Its basically the car i have ordered anyway......... Ian

I agree with whats left of the above...get the Exige S in a good collor(for also a good selling afterwards)
GTRene DO IT

[emenel]

That's it...

I'm going to go with the S with A/con.

I think.

[Chris_N]

[fruitcake]

Personally I would go with a butt naked Exige 190 but if you feel the need for more speed, go for the butt naked S.

[tuscan_thunder]

emenel said:

That's it... I'm going to go with the S with A/con. I think.

If I was in your shoes, I'd do the same.

[emenel]

Thanks for all your help chaps. I'll get pictures on PH when it arrives and I can work out how to do it!

[bruh_la]

You are doing the right thing