Help me out with S2 Exiges

[dank]

So i am debating buying an S2 Exige. I have always wanted an Exige, and the S2 seems to be the one for me. Wasn't hugely impressed with the S3, and especially the price, and now S1's are silly money, so the S2 seems to fit the bill.

I have seen some S2's in the classifieds for around 20k, and they just don't seem to be selling, is there a reason they aren't selling!? I don't want to punt 20k into one, and then it's a money pit,

I appreciate the supercharged version is more expensive, but i am looking more for Exige entry, as have a 911 Turbo for all out speed, but i miss the connection you get with elise / exige / vx220!

any advice what to look for and pay would be appreciated

[kiethton]

Hoping I can help out here as I picked up my Exige a couple of weeks ago now:



Mine is an '07 with <30k miles and literally mint

My experience when looking was to buy on condition and the quality of the service history - make sure no expense spared and the previous owner has had it for a decent amount of time and is a little OCD. I also didn't want a boring colour which made the search slightly longer/more selective.

I typically browsed all of the normal channels - PH, eBay, Autotrader but also SELOC (mine was from a L/T owner and SELOC memeber) but was ok to travel for the right car as there aren't that many in reality.

[dank]

thanks! That colour combination is what I am after too!

is 20k realsitic for a decent Exige?

don't want to spend more than that, so might have to go for 111s elise instead?

[kiethton]

IMO no, reckon you'll only get ropier/higher mileage exige's for that, mine wasn't that much more mind, £20k + 20%

[Composite Guru]

I was the same as you. Always wanted an S2 Exige S but couldn't find the right car.
Ended up getting an Elise 220 Cup instead.
Figured that they will be a rarer car in the future too so worth the outlay.
Turns a lot of heads too.

[dank]

i do like those too, but more like 40k!

would need to shift the 911 to get one, and want to keep the Turbo....

Elise 111s S2 i think

[kambites]

I think a £20k Exige is realistically going to be a bit scruffy these days; prices do seem to have drifted upwards at the bottom end of the market and mos Elise/Exiges end up looking scruffy because Lotus made the paint out of cheese and the interior "leather" is about 10microns thick.

Also worth bearing in mind that early S2 Exiges are getting on a bit now but some of the cheapest cars out there probably haven't had a suspension refresh yet, which will probably set you back four figures unless you do it yourself.

[kenny.R400]

[quote=Composite Guru]I was the same as you. Always wanted an S2 Exige S but couldn't find the right car.
Ended up getting an Elise 220 Cup instead.
Figured that they will be a rarer car in the future too so worth the outlay.
Turns a lot of heads too.


Yep same here, really wanted an S2 Exige and searched long and hard to find a low mile car. I really wanted a numbered ltd. edition car and finally a beauty of a Sprint came up at Will B's place. We were roughly a £1000 apart on doing a deal. I just couldn't push any further on an 8 year old car.

So I did push a little further in the end but put the money in to an Elise Cup, and I love it. Never yet seen another one at the shows and meetings I've attended.

Edited by kenny.R400 on Thursday 10th August 08:26

[Composite Guru]

kenny.R400]omposite Guru said:

I was the same as you. Always wanted an S2 Exige S but couldn't find the right car.
Ended up getting an Elise 220 Cup instead.
Figured that they will be a rarer car in the future too so worth the outlay.
Turns a lot of heads too.


Yep same here, really wanted an S2 Exige and searched long and hard to find a low mile car. I really wanted a numbered ltd. edition car and finally a beauty of a Sprint came up at Will B's place. We were roughly a £1000 apart on doing a deal. I just couldn't push any further on an 8 year old car.

So I did push a little further in the end but put the money in to an Elise Cup, and I love it. Never yet seen another one at the shows and meetings I've attended.

Edited by kenny.R400 on Thursday 10th August 08:26

Hi Kenny, it's Matt from the FB group.
The one who bought Chris's car. &#128512;

[kenny.R400]

Hiya Matt, I'd a feeling it was the same car mate! Nice one.

[dank]

I have seen this nice yellow Exige S2 at Lotus Silverstone, and i am quite interested in this!

What do people think? low mileage, and from Lotus dealer, so will be mechanically all good? Nitrons etc

looks good, obviously has been tracked, but that's not an issue?

price seems highish, but that's main dealer?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[r1chardh]

There's a lot of info on SELOC, well worth the entry fee if you haven't joined already, and it's fairly likely someone there will know the car.

[Tickle]

dank said:

I have seen this nice yellow Exige S2 at Lotus Silverstone, and i am quite interested in this!

What do people think? low mileage, and from Lotus dealer, so will be mechanically all good? Nitrons etc

looks good, obviously has been tracked, but that's not an issue?

price seems highish, but that's main dealer?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Don't know the actual car but it seems to be priced well, good spec and low miles. 111r's are advertised to circa £20k for similar miles.

[schrodinger]

Looks like that is a non-supercharged car (typically much less sought after). Plus A/C not mentioned (I don't think) which is a must have - for resale if not for you (these cars get a lot of heat soak when used hard, you can cook in the cabin!).

The difference to a good 240hp supercharged with a/c will be about 6k, and it'll be worth every penny.

ETA: just re-read your earlier post re wanting to spend 20 not 30... imho then go for an elise not exige. As above, n/a, non a/c exige will be hard to shift even if right for you.

Edited by schrodinger on Monday 14th August 18:04

[dank]

thanks for the info

Yes my aim was to keep for a year or two then sell on, but if it's going to be hard to re sell, then it's not the car for me... not at 24k either!

[simpo555]

Air con is desirable. However, even without, it will always hold its value and certainly doesn't become 'difficult' to sell. Just have to respect the price differentials at time of sale between one with and one without. If choice was Exige S2 without air con or an Elise with, for similar money I'd still take the Exige.

[dank]

does seem to be a fair few S2 Exiges in the classifieds that just won't shift, the lazer blue one for 21.5k has been on there for 6 months!

[greenamex2]

dank said:

does seem to be a fair few S2 Exiges in the classifieds that just won't shift, the lazer blue one for 21.5k has been on there for 6 months!

Please stop pointing these out to people...I am watching them and waiting for the prices to drop a bit more to match my funds in the autumn/winter!

But yeah, the NA ones aren't shifting, either for the Exige or the Evora's. Despite this there are still some quite "hopeful" prices in some dealers.

[dank]

ha ha! Yes i know, i know!

Does seem odd though that the n/a's just don't sell....why? please someone explain!?

[greenamex2]

dank said:

ha ha! Yes i know, i know!

Does seem odd though that the n/a's just don't sell....why? please someone explain!?

They aren't as fast...for only a little less money.

If you are going for a fast car, presumably you are going to go for the fastest one? You only have to see how Exiges have been modified.