Living with a Lotus Exige?
Discussion
Have put this in GG, but thought I'd pop it in here too.
Sat here thinking about what might be my next motor, and keep coming back to the Exige.
We all know how great they are round a track, the question is how are they as a regular road car, day to day ownership proposition?
It would obviously see a bit of trackday action, but in the main would be my regular commute, weekend jaunt car, how would it fair as this?
Replies from owners most welcome.
Cheers.
Sat here thinking about what might be my next motor, and keep coming back to the Exige.
We all know how great they are round a track, the question is how are they as a regular road car, day to day ownership proposition?
It would obviously see a bit of trackday action, but in the main would be my regular commute, weekend jaunt car, how would it fair as this?
Replies from owners most welcome.
Cheers.
Edited by edx on Friday 18th January 16:04
Not an owner, but someone with the very same dilemma - so much so it needs to be sorted tomorrow...!
From my limited test drives I would say it depends on the commute. If its good roads etc I'm sure the Exige would be as good as any other car as long as you can deal with the getting in and out etc. If its a longer one or just motorway then I guess only you will know if you can hack it. Test drives probably won't help much as you'll just be blown away by it, my advice (or what I'm trying to do) is remain completely impartial and make a logical choice! Still not sure though...!
From my limited test drives I would say it depends on the commute. If its good roads etc I'm sure the Exige would be as good as any other car as long as you can deal with the getting in and out etc. If its a longer one or just motorway then I guess only you will know if you can hack it. Test drives probably won't help much as you'll just be blown away by it, my advice (or what I'm trying to do) is remain completely impartial and make a logical choice! Still not sure though...!
Can be used as a daily driver, with provisos:
1. It must have air-con. The chassis can get very warm in the summer. You can take the roof off but the person you want to sell it to in the future may not be so interested in that.
2. You'll need different tyres for road use - the Yoko A048s last around 5,000 miles and aquaplane easily in standing water. Either spend loads on Yokohama winter tyres, or less on Toyo T1-Rs and lose most of the steering feel and chassis brilliance or buy an Elise set of wheels and stick Bridgestone Potenzas or Yoko AD07s on them.
3. If you're buying an Exige S get hold of a reversing camera. Rear visibility is non-existant apart from the door mirror view.
Other than that, they're fine.
1. It must have air-con. The chassis can get very warm in the summer. You can take the roof off but the person you want to sell it to in the future may not be so interested in that.
2. You'll need different tyres for road use - the Yoko A048s last around 5,000 miles and aquaplane easily in standing water. Either spend loads on Yokohama winter tyres, or less on Toyo T1-Rs and lose most of the steering feel and chassis brilliance or buy an Elise set of wheels and stick Bridgestone Potenzas or Yoko AD07s on them.
3. If you're buying an Exige S get hold of a reversing camera. Rear visibility is non-existant apart from the door mirror view.
Other than that, they're fine.
Got an Elise s2, so granted theres differences, but my view would be if you think logical or practical you'll likely be put off, but think passion, fun, standing out from the norm, only live once, etc etc then you'll be hooked.
S2 is fine to live with generally. Sure you can't transport furniture, flat pack goods, but I can quite happily do the weekly shop (passenger seat), and generally live with it day to day - its my only car, and I get along just fine.
HTH
S2 is fine to live with generally. Sure you can't transport furniture, flat pack goods, but I can quite happily do the weekly shop (passenger seat), and generally live with it day to day - its my only car, and I get along just fine.
HTH
Having had an S2 Exige I would say that it is fine if you have reasonable parking at work.
(I work from home, but needed a car with a boot for work)
If you are going to be putting the miles on the car I would suggest a second set of wheels with some harder wearing tyres, Rear tyres last about 4000 miles an can be prone to picking up punctures.
(I work from home, but needed a car with a boot for work)
If you are going to be putting the miles on the car I would suggest a second set of wheels with some harder wearing tyres, Rear tyres last about 4000 miles an can be prone to picking up punctures.
rear visibility..thats about it
the only thing I have problems with is parking in multi-storeys at the airport and office etc...I cant get up and down the ramps due to front splitter etc ...something to be aware of depending on where you work
actually using the car daily for everything is no probs at all - S2s are quite comfy and civilised in comparison to S1s
the only thing I have problems with is parking in multi-storeys at the airport and office etc...I cant get up and down the ramps due to front splitter etc ...something to be aware of depending on where you work
actually using the car daily for everything is no probs at all - S2s are quite comfy and civilised in comparison to S1s
The Bumblebee said:
Can I ask, is it that much different to using an Elise as a day to day car which is what I do. I was thinking about upgrading to an Exige.
Having had an S2 Exige and S2 Elise (kseries)If I wanted an everyday car I would say that the Elise makes more sense with a hard top for the winter. I would also suggest having Aircon for demisting the windows in the winter as well.
With an Exige I would say aircon is a must. especially in the summer.
The biggest downfall of the Exige for everyday driving is the lack of rear visability compared to and Elise.
not forgetting the tyre issues I have mentioned.
I've been using my Exige S as a daily driver to commute since i bought it last year - i've found it easy to live with - good mpg, suspension is fine for me on a daily basis, if its very wet / standing water with the ao48's then just drive safely (like you should anyway ) - air con is a must for the summer & winter / cold weather demist - yes with the supercharged cars there is no rear visability other than the mirrors but i've had no probs yet - you just need to be more aware of your surroundings really 
I love it
) - air con is a must for the summer & winter / cold weather demist - yes with the supercharged cars there is no rear visability other than the mirrors but i've had no probs yet - you just need to be more aware of your surroundings really I love it I only use mine at weekends but as far as the tyres are concerned, I have the A048s on and driving sensibly with subtle throttle and steering in the current monsoons has presented no probs at all so far. Some people have reported aquaplaning but I do wonder what speeds they were truly doing. I really can't see the point of an extra set of wheels/tyres unless you want to drive like a nob when its wet. And you're asking for trouble if you do that in a rear wheeled, mid-engined car anyway.... If you get a crisp, clear dry day you'll be gutted you don't have the proper rubber on.
Just do it. I have yet to walk away from mine and not glance back at it. Fcuk it-if if you don't get on with it then sell it on. If you don't do it you'll always be wondering 'what if'.
The rear visibility on the NA is fine once you get used to it.
I would agree if parking is tight at work you would need to consider carefully, more because I would be paranoid some numpty would scratch/dent my pride and joy.
Just do it. I have yet to walk away from mine and not glance back at it. Fcuk it-if if you don't get on with it then sell it on. If you don't do it you'll always be wondering 'what if'.
The rear visibility on the NA is fine once you get used to it.
I would agree if parking is tight at work you would need to consider carefully, more because I would be paranoid some numpty would scratch/dent my pride and joy.
It's a piece of piss to live with an Exige, as mentioned above aircon makes it that much more so.
Dare I say it, but it even fairs up well to a weekly shop for a 2 person family!
Visibility - you get used to viewing the world through a mesh and before long you don't even notice it's there! Even for a wee girlie like myself! Quite easy to drive in heels too because of the seating position (if you're into that kind of thing).
In fact I quite miss the practicality of it compared to the replacement S1 Elise.
Do it!
Dare I say it, but it even fairs up well to a weekly shop for a 2 person family!
Visibility - you get used to viewing the world through a mesh and before long you don't even notice it's there! Even for a wee girlie like myself! Quite easy to drive in heels too because of the seating position (if you're into that kind of thing).
In fact I quite miss the practicality of it compared to the replacement S1 Elise.
Do it
!I find it pretty comfortable on long runs...not too noisy on motorways at constant speeds, did Le Mans last year in the torrential rain no worries...I have changed the tyres for this weather to Proxes and I am glad I have with the amount of standing water...
Overall spot on day to day!
Can even get the tesco shopping in!
Overall spot on day to day!
Can even get the tesco shopping in!
Yep it's very easy to live with as a day to day car. As previously mentioned get the aircon unless you like driving in a sauna, it also quickly gets the car demisted in the winter and keeps it that way.
Mine used to be a daily driver until I got a job much further from home when I got a cheap runabout as soon as the long dark nights set in. Reasons:
1) For me the A048s are part of what makes the car and I'm not prepared to compromise that. Getting at best 4000 miles and at worst less than week out of the rears means that over 3 years the cost of the C1 is pretty much covered by what I would have spent on tyres, oil and petrol in the Exige for a crap journey. Not to mention the time wasted getting the tyres changed.
2) Relative to other cars the headlights aren't that bright (yes I know they can be replaced with HID). On nights like we've had recently it's a downright scary experience on narrow, unlit country lanes given that the modern mindset is safety equals blinding other drivers.
3) Increased miles mean sooner or later some quisling in a nazi staff car will hit me. Better it's a disposable car than the pride and joy.
Reason 4 didn't hold up. I thought the C1 would be a cheap but boring way to get to work; it turns out it's cheap but great fun so has done little to reduce my chances of getting nicked by the boys in blue.
Mine used to be a daily driver until I got a job much further from home when I got a cheap runabout as soon as the long dark nights set in. Reasons:
1) For me the A048s are part of what makes the car and I'm not prepared to compromise that. Getting at best 4000 miles and at worst less than week out of the rears means that over 3 years the cost of the C1 is pretty much covered by what I would have spent on tyres, oil and petrol in the Exige for a crap journey. Not to mention the time wasted getting the tyres changed.
2) Relative to other cars the headlights aren't that bright (yes I know they can be replaced with HID). On nights like we've had recently it's a downright scary experience on narrow, unlit country lanes given that the modern mindset is safety equals blinding other drivers.
3) Increased miles mean sooner or later some quisling in a nazi staff car will hit me. Better it's a disposable car than the pride and joy.
Reason 4 didn't hold up. I thought the C1 would be a cheap but boring way to get to work; it turns out it's cheap but great fun so has done little to reduce my chances of getting nicked by the boys in blue.
I have an Exige S2 which is my everyday commute. I can see why some people would feel it was a bit too hardcore for them, but Im used to racing etc and bikes and I have no quarms about that whatsoever. I have no problems with it at all, apart from the obvious lack of boot space when you get a bit carried away with the Tesco’s trip! I have T1-R’s fitted to mine at the moment since that is what was on when I bought the car and I haven’t needed to change them yet, they are fine for everyday use and give reasonable levels of grip in all conditions. The only problem I have at the moment is commuting down country roads to work makes the windscreen filthy, and the washers are a pig to adjust to be of any use whatsoever. There is a washer kit available to sort this out for minimal cost but I haven’t got the time at the moment to fit it if I got it so I will have to cope for now.
Oh yes the only other issue is that fact that it takes forever for the car to demist fully, even with the aircon on. Think this is just cos its so damp generally at the moment tho. Not a big problem really but worth mentioning!
Other than that, all A1, take the plunge, you wont regret it!
Oh yes the only other issue is that fact that it takes forever for the car to demist fully, even with the aircon on. Think this is just cos its so damp generally at the moment tho. Not a big problem really but worth mentioning!
Other than that, all A1, take the plunge, you wont regret it!
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