S2 Exige S vs. S2 Elise Honda

[edb49]

Been doing my sums comparing the Exige vs. Honda'd Elise.

Taking the numbers here:
http://www.grouplotus.com/car/car_tech_specs.php?i...

And the numbers here, but adding 12-15% for transmission loss:
http://www.brooke-kensington.co.uk/phond2.htm

The Honda seems to put out the same power and a bit more torque than the Exige. Has anyone driven both, and how do they compare? Especially thinking about power bands.

[jamwill79]

An NA Honda Car would be a fair bit quicker the the Exige S especially if it was a light S1. An S2 converted car is still going to be at least 100 kg's lighter if not more than the S, so will also be better in the corners.

This is only my view bit I had an Exige S for a year and I've now got a Honda SC S1 Exige.

Edited by jamwill79 on Saturday 19th January 15:57

Edited by jamwill79 on Saturday 19th January 15:58

[edb49]

Wasn't expecting there to be a weight difference between the S2 Elise and S2 Exige to be honest, 100kg is huge!

[bogie]

yep- even the new Elise SC is 900Kg whereas an Early S2 Honda will be 800Kg ish...a top spec Exige can be as much as 930-940Kg

[jamwill79]

Well, I've got my Honda Sc car down to around 750kg with a fair bit of effort. A Honda S1 elise would be lighter still. A Honda S2 elise would be around 780 ish with not too much effort. Compare this all to the weight of an Exige S at 930kg or more.

[edb49]

Where does all the weight come from on the S2 Exige? (Over the S2 Elise)

[bogie]

the weight increase on the Toyota engined cars was from things like aircon, abs, airbags, sound deadening, heavier engine/box, heavier rear subframe, Exige has hand made thicker clams etc etc

if you are new to Lotus, and want a factory car with warranty thats pretty quick then get an Exige S or Elise SC etc and you cant go wrong.

If you are a trackday hero, and/or had an ELise before/still have one, then the option of upgrading your own car or buying an early one and modding it may appeal

[S Works]

I can tell you now, that an Exige S is slower than an NA Honda'd S2 Elise. For starters there's the massive weight difference, then there's the 1.8l vs.2l engine, then there's the gearbox differences. You can hold the Honda'd car in gear for longer than most Exige S's seem to.

Exige S is still a great car though. You'll be delighted with either I'm sure.

[bjc388]

IMO the figures only tell part of the story ... if possible it would be worth getting a drive in a Honda'd car. In the same way that the Exige S punches harder and faster than than the n/a toyota engine, the honda converted cars that I've driven or had pax rides in definitely feel like they punch harder and faster yet again throughout the rev range.

Edited by bjc388 on Sunday 20th January 11:00

[kevin ritson]

bogie said:

If you are rubbish at trackdays and want to make up time on the straights, and/or had an ELise before/still have one, then the option of upgrading your own car or buying an early one and modding it may appeal

Edited by kevin ritson on Sunday 20th January 11:01