S2 Exige versus S3 Elise (both supercharged)
Discussion
This is a tangential follow on from a previous thread about what to to buy.
For this question please do consider both having the supercharged ~220bhp 1.8 Toyota engine.
Body panels, and cost aside, is there a lot of a difference between an S2 Exige and an S2 or 3 Elise?
Heart says Exige just because it's an Exige, head says for same initial outlay you could be in a 10 year younger car.
For this question please do consider both having the supercharged ~220bhp 1.8 Toyota engine.
Body panels, and cost aside, is there a lot of a difference between an S2 Exige and an S2 or 3 Elise?
Heart says Exige just because it's an Exige, head says for same initial outlay you could be in a 10 year younger car.
Different engine between S2 and S3. The S3 (aside from the early ones) do not share the same 2zz which is, to me, a nicer engine.
Aside from that, between Elise and Exige is body panels and suspension.
But many have been tweaked over the year comes suspension refresh time.
Get an s2 Elise supercharged. There is one or two in the classifieds which seem to be very well looked after and sorted car. Drives the same as the Exige, removable roof, and a large chunk less.
Aside from that, between Elise and Exige is body panels and suspension.
But many have been tweaked over the year comes suspension refresh time.
Get an s2 Elise supercharged. There is one or two in the classifieds which seem to be very well looked after and sorted car. Drives the same as the Exige, removable roof, and a large chunk less.
The Elise will offer a slightly more refined experience (though not much) and is possibly a bit easier to live with on a daily basis.
The older 2ZZ engine in the Exige is a bit more characterful and the whine from the supercharger is more pronounced. The early S3's have that engine but there aren't ever that many around for sale as they changed to the newer engines quite early on in S3's life (2011 if I remember correctly).
I haven't owned an S3 (though I have driven one) but I've had both an S2 Elise SC and an S2 Exige. If I were picking again I'd probably have the Elise.
The older 2ZZ engine in the Exige is a bit more characterful and the whine from the supercharger is more pronounced. The early S3's have that engine but there aren't ever that many around for sale as they changed to the newer engines quite early on in S3's life (2011 if I remember correctly).
I haven't owned an S3 (though I have driven one) but I've had both an S2 Elise SC and an S2 Exige. If I were picking again I'd probably have the Elise.
I have an S2 Exige. Fell in love with the mini LeMans prototype look when the S1 version came out. The S2 was a bit watered down but for me an entirely more usable car. I had an Elise S1 along the way but the S2 Exige box absolutely had to be ticked at some point. Just one of those things was never going to go away.
Now that I have it, I can be a little more rational about it and say that if the draw of the Exige body shape isn't huge for you, an Elise almost certainly makes most sense. My Exige won't be going anywhere, it's a keeper but I always think that if I just wanted an Elise shaped package, the Exige ticks fewer boxes than an Elise. The suspension and tyre differences are largely irrelevant nowadays especially since so many won't be wearing the original springs and shocks etc and the tyres will be long gone. Much of the other changes were optional and many Elises would be fitted with the same bits anyway. The big advantages the Elise has is A, rear visibility (you cannot see anything out the back of an Exige S) and B, you can take the roof off. Now, technically you can take the roof of an S2 Exige, you can even fit a soft top, but since it has a roof scoop (and the rear spoiler), IMO they just look plain weird with the roof off or a soft top fitted. And I guess £ for £ you can buy a better Elise that Exige.
I don't know that much about the differences with the S3 engine other than that initially they were less tunable (I think maybe to do with charge cooling?) and they rev to 7k rather than 8.5k. I don't hear many complaints about them but I must say, I do love the way the S2 revs. Otherwise S2 vs S3 isn't necessarily much different unless you can bag a late one with an exposed gearshift as that really is a big selling point. The late S2 Exiges (08 onward) have the same dash as the S3 as well. S2 and S3 much more similar than S2 vs S1.
Now that I have it, I can be a little more rational about it and say that if the draw of the Exige body shape isn't huge for you, an Elise almost certainly makes most sense. My Exige won't be going anywhere, it's a keeper but I always think that if I just wanted an Elise shaped package, the Exige ticks fewer boxes than an Elise. The suspension and tyre differences are largely irrelevant nowadays especially since so many won't be wearing the original springs and shocks etc and the tyres will be long gone. Much of the other changes were optional and many Elises would be fitted with the same bits anyway. The big advantages the Elise has is A, rear visibility (you cannot see anything out the back of an Exige S) and B, you can take the roof off. Now, technically you can take the roof of an S2 Exige, you can even fit a soft top, but since it has a roof scoop (and the rear spoiler), IMO they just look plain weird with the roof off or a soft top fitted. And I guess £ for £ you can buy a better Elise that Exige.
I don't know that much about the differences with the S3 engine other than that initially they were less tunable (I think maybe to do with charge cooling?) and they rev to 7k rather than 8.5k. I don't hear many complaints about them but I must say, I do love the way the S2 revs. Otherwise S2 vs S3 isn't necessarily much different unless you can bag a late one with an exposed gearshift as that really is a big selling point. The late S2 Exiges (08 onward) have the same dash as the S3 as well. S2 and S3 much more similar than S2 vs S1.
I have a S3 Sport 220. The S3 elise has the 2ZR engine compared to the 2ZZ engine of the S2 exige. I believe 2ZZ is similar to a honda vtec and has the higher second cam so the torque band is higher up on the rev band and the engine likes to be driven hard, for track/enthusiastic driving this is great and really engaging. The 2ZR doesn't have the second cam has so lower down torque band and doesn't rev as high but the torque is usually more usable if not pushing it. Both are tunable relatively easily to 30bhp where the gearbox, I think the same in both, is at its limit.
The newer the car the better the build quality, that's not just between the S2 and S3 but also between early and later S3s. Overall both are great cars and will keep their value. I think if it is more road based use I would have a Elise but if its mainly track would go for the Exige.
The newer the car the better the build quality, that's not just between the S2 and S3 but also between early and later S3s. Overall both are great cars and will keep their value. I think if it is more road based use I would have a Elise but if its mainly track would go for the Exige.
Interesting question. I was looking for an S1 Elise, and then ended up with an S2 Exige when I had the opportunity to increase my budget. Very similar, but for me I didn’t want to get an Elise when the budget stretched to an Exige. It’s been a great car to own, although I’d still like to have an S1 Elise. It may be that I get an S1 Elise to go with the S2 Exige. Sorry, long way of saying if you have the option, I’d go Exige.
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