S1 Exige

[clanger]

Best Elise variant to date? - I reckon so - best power to weight ratio so far out of the Lotus factory (211 excepted) and styling that Pininfarina would be proud of

[Hollywood Wheels]

Agreed. I love my 160, but I could have actually had an S1 Exige when I got it. Big regret.

[slatess1]

When i was quite abit younger i had the chance to sit in a black s1 exige for sale in a garage near my home and i wanted one from that moment. Now im lucky enough to own one and its part of the family

Edited to say its definately the best car ive ever owned & driven but then i am bias and i would say that...

Edited by slatess1 on Saturday 18th October 15:41

[steveavxt]

The only Exige to have IMO.

[Esprit]

Was always going to be the car I HAD to have.... despite a love-hate relationship at the moment (costing me megabucks and spending a year in bits), I still love it and will never part with it

[Kylie]

For looks how could you not like them. For engine reliability....from what I hear My choice would have to be the 111R

[Esprit]

Kylie said:

For looks how could you not like them. For engine reliability....from what I hear My choice would have to be the 111R

I've seen just as many Toyota-engined Elises toss their cookies on track as I have Rover K-engined ones Kylie.

But yes, the VHPD engine is certainly the sort that you want to make sure you treat well.... but by all accounts if you get one with a good history and treat it well it should go reasonably well.... it's also possible to rebuild them a lot more strongly if and when they let go, but there's an up-front cost attached to that.

[Gooby]

Esprit said:

Was always going to be the car I HAD to have.... despite a love-hate relationship at the moment (costing me megabucks and spending a year in bits), I still love it and will never part with it

what is happening?

[Kylie]

Esprit said:

Kylie said:

For looks how could you not like them. For engine reliability....from what I hear My choice would have to be the 111R

I've seen just as many Toyota-engined Elises toss their cookies on track as I have Rover K-engined ones Kylie.

But yes, the VHPD engine is certainly the sort that you want to make sure you treat well.... but by all accounts if you get one with a good history and treat it well it should go reasonably well.... it's also possible to rebuild them a lot more strongly if and when they let go, but there's an up-front cost attached to that.

Yip I would love to see how a S1 Exige goes that hasnt been thrashed to an inch of its life. Sadly I figured most have a high % of track day miles on them, as thats what they are built for. I think yr going to have a well sorted motor whens its finished

[sa_20v]

Just get a S2 Exige with touring pack, air-con and decent radio system - it does everything, and after a long journey you won't wish you were dead.

[R.P.M]

For me the S1 Exige is THE Lotus of the past 20 years, and a true classic in the making (if not already!). The problem I've got is that I have no time or space in my life for one at the moment. You see, I have to have a lotus that I can use everyday, (Seriously, no other car will tempt me out of bed every morning for the daily grind!) and in an s1, business communications can get a little strained whilst cruising at maximum attack on our sunny, deserted British roads.

..............One day rodders, one day.

Rpm

ps Clanger's are you sure about the Pininfarina bit!?

Edited by R.P.M on Monday 20th October 23:04

[Pesky]

R.P.M said:

ps Clanger's are you sure about the Pininfarina bit!?

You'll have to excuse Clanger - he's not only a serial polygamist from Yorkshire, but also king of the drunken eBayers

[jke11y]

sa_20v said:

Just get a S2 Exige with touring pack, air-con and decent radio system - it does everything, and after a long journey you won't wish you were dead.

hmmmmmm nah you are okay

[sa_20v]

jke11y said:

sa_20v said:

Just get a S2 Exige with touring pack, air-con and decent radio system - it does everything, and after a long journey you won't wish you were dead.

hmmmmmm nah you are okay

Better looking too!

[steveavxt]

I personally think the s2 exige lacks the drama compared to the s1 when it comes to looks. The s1 is just insane where the s2 is much more refined (not what I would want for a track racer)

[CooperS]

Your all going to burn me on a cross here but can you retro fit aircon there’s a amazing Purple S1 going for 19k and would love to get it but with no aircon I think it couldn’t be my everyday car even though im only doing 30 miles a day...

What’s peoples thoughts on this? is aircon a necessary? I drove a S2 exige and after getting it out of the tight car parking space (the dealer didn’t pull it out of ) i was so hot i was glad for the aircon....

Edited by CooperS on Tuesday 21st October 15:54

[jke11y]

The windy thing on the door is my air con.

If you really are worried about no air con, you are buying for the wrong reasons.

[slatess1]

jke11y said:

The windy thing on the door is my air con.

Second that! dont be a big girls blouse!!

[sa_20v]

jke11y said:

The windy thing on the door is my air con.

If you really are worried about no air con, you are buying for the wrong reasons.

Windy things? I have electric windows!

I track my S2, and use as a daily driver - best of both Worlds. I'm likely to get flamed for this, but the S1 Exige just isn't as dramatic in styling.

[Thorburn]

sa_20v said:

I'm likely to get flamed for this, but the S1 Exige just isn't as dramatic in styling.

To my eyes the S1 Exige looks like a homologation special, the S2 looks like a line built model (which I guess is the case). The S2 is perhaps better resolved stylistically, but the S1 has a raw competitive look.

Personally I'd take the S1, but both are fine cars