Lotus Exige S2 buying advice
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I'm looking at buying a lotus Exige S2 in the near future but before I jump in I'd like some advice. I'm not talking about the obvious like milage and regular service records but more like faults on certain years and models or general things to look out for.
Also your opinion on whether an S2 vs S3 is worth budgeting for. I believe they're only going to increase in value and the S3 might drink my wallet away but the S3 is a monster looking machine!
Thanks a lot,
Paul
I'm looking at buying a lotus Exige S2 in the near future but before I jump in I'd like some advice. I'm not talking about the obvious like milage and regular service records but more like faults on certain years and models or general things to look out for.
Also your opinion on whether an S2 vs S3 is worth budgeting for. I believe they're only going to increase in value and the S3 might drink my wallet away but the S3 is a monster looking machine!
Thanks a lot,
Paul
I had an S2 Exige (Sprint with all the packs) between 2011 and 2015, and a V6 Exige between 2015 and April 2018.
I wouldn't spend £30-35k on an S2 exige when for the same price a decade newer S3 Elise Cup could be purchased instead.
That being said:
S2 exige - post 2008 should come with black clocks rather than white. You want the performance pack ideally - 240hp upgrade from 220 standard, AP 4 pots on the front, AP clutch plate, full length roof scoop. Lots of special editions as is normal from Lotus. I love the blue/white sprint scheme, others don't. JPS one is lovely, although a pig to keep clean no doubt. Last of the line RGBs are desirable. => Exige Cup 260s are super desirable, one came up on SELOC a couple of weeks ago at c45k but I would say that's strong money even with the limited run of them.... 2010MY come with a different rear spoiler. Personally I'd be looking for a 2008 year onwards but YMMV.
Common faults - the air conditioning stops working after 4/5 years and requires new sill pipes to be drilled through. TADTS. Rear toe links can fail. I uprated mine with Lotus motorsport ones. Exhaust and engine mounts are also stressed. Gearbox won't take much more than 260hp/175lb/ft of torque for a prolonged period. Be careful of power upgrades above that. Factory silencer has probably been replaced on almost all cars by now, I put a 2bular on mine (which was fab). Even the last of the line cars are a decade old now so you would probably want to see evidence of a suspension re-fresh etc. For prolonged track use you want a baffled sump to ward off oil starvation.
Checkout exiges.com for a lively community.
V6 exige is a different car entirely, it's much more of a brute than the older Exiges/Elises and is mapped to feel tremendously quick in the mid-range, but it's compromised chassis wise and both the Evora and the Elise have fundamentally better chassis' IMO. It also has a tremendous drinking problem and a tiny fuel tank, almost impossible to get 200 miles out of it on the road no matter how gently you drive it, and you can do a tank in 2 20 minute runs on a trackday. Maybe the chargecooled versions solve that issue a bit but those are a lot more money - I assume your budget is 30-40k? The gear box/clutch can be quite loud in the cabin but, again, TADTS. They are more expensive to run/service than an S2; make sure the cars you are looking at have been serviced each year regardless of mileage and the serpentine belt has been replaced at 4 years old. I wouldn't buy one that doesn't have a proper maintenance record, you could do 6 trackdays a year and only do 1500 miles...
Engines in all modern lotus' are by Toyota and they are pretty much bomb proof really, so long as you service regularly etc. All my lotus' have been looked after by Hangar 111.
Also, I wouldn't buy any lotus as an investment. You've missed the boat. My S2 exige was the only car I've had that didn't lose money in depreciation but I spend £££ on maintenance, trackdays and modifications. And that's the other point. My S2 exige did loads of trackdays over the 4 years I owned it. There were always loads of them (and porsche GT3s) on any given trackday during that time. They are designed for it, but (as with a 997 GT3), there's no way I would pay the prices they are currently with that background. I know my old car traded not so long ago at c34k and c40,000 miles, personally I'd take an Elise Cup at that price every single time.
I now have an Evora (400). It's just as quick as an S3 exige round a track and is far more useable every day also.
I wouldn't spend £30-35k on an S2 exige when for the same price a decade newer S3 Elise Cup could be purchased instead.
That being said:
S2 exige - post 2008 should come with black clocks rather than white. You want the performance pack ideally - 240hp upgrade from 220 standard, AP 4 pots on the front, AP clutch plate, full length roof scoop. Lots of special editions as is normal from Lotus. I love the blue/white sprint scheme, others don't. JPS one is lovely, although a pig to keep clean no doubt. Last of the line RGBs are desirable. => Exige Cup 260s are super desirable, one came up on SELOC a couple of weeks ago at c45k but I would say that's strong money even with the limited run of them.... 2010MY come with a different rear spoiler. Personally I'd be looking for a 2008 year onwards but YMMV.
Common faults - the air conditioning stops working after 4/5 years and requires new sill pipes to be drilled through. TADTS. Rear toe links can fail. I uprated mine with Lotus motorsport ones. Exhaust and engine mounts are also stressed. Gearbox won't take much more than 260hp/175lb/ft of torque for a prolonged period. Be careful of power upgrades above that. Factory silencer has probably been replaced on almost all cars by now, I put a 2bular on mine (which was fab). Even the last of the line cars are a decade old now so you would probably want to see evidence of a suspension re-fresh etc. For prolonged track use you want a baffled sump to ward off oil starvation.
Checkout exiges.com for a lively community.
V6 exige is a different car entirely, it's much more of a brute than the older Exiges/Elises and is mapped to feel tremendously quick in the mid-range, but it's compromised chassis wise and both the Evora and the Elise have fundamentally better chassis' IMO. It also has a tremendous drinking problem and a tiny fuel tank, almost impossible to get 200 miles out of it on the road no matter how gently you drive it, and you can do a tank in 2 20 minute runs on a trackday. Maybe the chargecooled versions solve that issue a bit but those are a lot more money - I assume your budget is 30-40k? The gear box/clutch can be quite loud in the cabin but, again, TADTS. They are more expensive to run/service than an S2; make sure the cars you are looking at have been serviced each year regardless of mileage and the serpentine belt has been replaced at 4 years old. I wouldn't buy one that doesn't have a proper maintenance record, you could do 6 trackdays a year and only do 1500 miles...
Engines in all modern lotus' are by Toyota and they are pretty much bomb proof really, so long as you service regularly etc. All my lotus' have been looked after by Hangar 111.
Also, I wouldn't buy any lotus as an investment. You've missed the boat. My S2 exige was the only car I've had that didn't lose money in depreciation but I spend £££ on maintenance, trackdays and modifications. And that's the other point. My S2 exige did loads of trackdays over the 4 years I owned it. There were always loads of them (and porsche GT3s) on any given trackday during that time. They are designed for it, but (as with a 997 GT3), there's no way I would pay the prices they are currently with that background. I know my old car traded not so long ago at c34k and c40,000 miles, personally I'd take an Elise Cup at that price every single time.
I now have an Evora (400). It's just as quick as an S3 exige round a track and is far more useable every day also.
A question like this is probably better asked on a Lotus specific forum like SELOC. There are almost certainly threads there where this has been discussed already.
Just to start you off... The S2 is brilliant. It’s very agile and a riot to drive. The supercharged cars (about 2006 onwards) provide a more linear power delivery and an addictive whine. Most people try to find one with AC. The 3 packs (touring/sport/performance) add various things with the holy grail generally being a car with all 3.
I’ve never had a V6 Exige but I do know that it’s a very different car - a bit bigger, more “grown up” and I think offering a fairly big jump in performance over an S2. Plus obviously the extra cost.
Lastly I’d say also consider a supercharged Elise. I had one before my Exige. Same engine but the Elise package is a bit more liveable with day to day.
As ever, try to drive a few examples before you decide.
Just to start you off... The S2 is brilliant. It’s very agile and a riot to drive. The supercharged cars (about 2006 onwards) provide a more linear power delivery and an addictive whine. Most people try to find one with AC. The 3 packs (touring/sport/performance) add various things with the holy grail generally being a car with all 3.
I’ve never had a V6 Exige but I do know that it’s a very different car - a bit bigger, more “grown up” and I think offering a fairly big jump in performance over an S2. Plus obviously the extra cost.
Lastly I’d say also consider a supercharged Elise. I had one before my Exige. Same engine but the Elise package is a bit more liveable with day to day.
As ever, try to drive a few examples before you decide.
Excellent, thanks chaps.
My budget is low, 20-25k, I know that'd get me an S2 from my research but with that there may be issues I need to look out for. I guess other than asking, I'd have no way of knowing a car has been track raced!
I wanted one with a full length scoop like you mentioned.
The Elise S3 is nice but slightly out of my price range and I prefer the look of the S2 anyhow.
I also will be using this daily most of the the year and I'll probably keep my current car just for practical uses and winter driving. I'm guessing almost everyone with an Exige has a secondary vehicle.
My budget is low, 20-25k, I know that'd get me an S2 from my research but with that there may be issues I need to look out for. I guess other than asking, I'd have no way of knowing a car has been track raced!
I wanted one with a full length scoop like you mentioned.
The Elise S3 is nice but slightly out of my price range and I prefer the look of the S2 anyhow.
I also will be using this daily most of the the year and I'll probably keep my current car just for practical uses and winter driving. I'm guessing almost everyone with an Exige has a secondary vehicle.
At that price you are not going to have much choice in S2 Exige, you are looking at good NA cars fetching that
Also a 220 can be made a 260 for not a huge money and lotushardtops do the long scoop roofs.
Id rather have an Elise if its going to be used a fair bit, a late 2zz supercharged car would be within budget and a better daily propositon IMO
Also a 220 can be made a 260 for not a huge money and lotushardtops do the long scoop roofs.
Id rather have an Elise if its going to be used a fair bit, a late 2zz supercharged car would be within budget and a better daily propositon IMO
With a bit of patience you’ll be able to find a supercharged S2 Elise within budget. I had mine as a daily and with a bit of compromise it was fine.
Or as already said an NA S2 Exige. I’d recommend driving one first - the NA engine doesn’t come “on cam” until close to 6000 rpm so you really need to rev it to get the performance. It’s not for everyone.
Or as already said an NA S2 Exige. I’d recommend driving one first - the NA engine doesn’t come “on cam” until close to 6000 rpm so you really need to rev it to get the performance. It’s not for everyone.
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