Fast Exige advice please

[Olivera]

CTE said:

You`d probably find the standard Exige 350 would be enough...they are all made for the track.

It doesn't have an intercooler or chargecooler, so performance will very quickly drop off on track.

It baffles me why Lotus don't fit what is 1970s technology.

[sege]

Congrats on a beautiful car Andy!
May I ask why you sold (or are selling) the 996? ..and how does the Exige compare?
From what I've read the 996 sounds like the most amazing of all the GT3's to drive.
Did you drive 997 before deciding on the Exige?

[andy tims]

sege said:

Congrats on a beautiful car Andy!
May I ask why you sold (or are selling) the 996? ..and how does the Exige compare?
From what I've read the 996 sounds like the most amazing of all the GT3's to drive.
Did you drive 997 before deciding on the Exige?

Thanks

I'm selling the GT3 because after nearly 13 years of ownership, whilst it's been great fun & is still a great car, I just wanted a change.

Compared to the GT3, the Exige has even faster acceleration (lighter, quite a bit more torquey and with shorter gearing) and down some back roads I know well I got a clear run on Saturday. I was able to carry a fair bit more speed than would have been comfortable in the GT3. The Exige is a bit more compliant and being lighter seems to deal better with poorly surfaced roads. The GT3 is quite lively at speed on poor surfaces, needing lots of small steering inputs, but in fairness mine's on track geo settings which does make a difference. The Exige is quite a lot louder, more of the time. The GT3 only gets loud at 5,500rpm plus. I will need a less noisy back box to avoid getting chucked off of UK track days, which is a shame, because it sounds mega. The Exige is obviously a lot more snug and less practical in terms of carrying luggage. Steering in both cars is ace, but with no power assistance the it's much heavier at low speed in the Exige.

I've been in several 997 GT3's and they are quicker than the 996's. I'd want a Gen 2 and even those are nearly 10 years old now. They are also £100k for a good one and seem to be fairly sensitive in terms of value to putting miles on them which I didn't want to be worried about.

[The1Driver]

andy tims said:

Cheers

The 380 was a fair bit cheaper and would still be after upgrades to 410 spec.

If I had the option between the two. I think I'd go for the 380. Regardless of the price... Those dive planes would've sold it for me!

Anymore pics?

[andy tims]

The1Driver said:

Anymore pics?

and some dealer shots of the interior.











Schroth harness ordered - only the LHS has arrive as yet.

[mickv]

Glad my old car went to a pistoheader 🙂
Stereo remote located and on its way to Hofmanns! Enjoy it Andy.

[andy tims]

mickv said:

Glad my old car went to a pistoheader ??
Stereo remote located and on its way to Hofmanns! Enjoy it Andy.

Cheers

[GingerMunky]

Think I saw this on Facebook too, great looking spec. Love the red pin stripes and especially the carbon fibre door sills

[Quags]

What a stunning looking machine, congratulations. Something most of us Lotus fans can only dream of!

I'm currently trying to turn £8k into £30k for an Elise S

[hondansx]

Congrats! A fellow Trophy owner too...

Currently in the same dilemma with GT3 vs Exige. Previously had a 997 GT3 and currently have a Performante but it's just too loud for trackdays and expensive to run (and consequently dents my enjoyment). I've always wanted a Gen 2 997 but they are getting on a bit now; imagine maintenance will always be fairly high. The Exige is amazing VFM in comparison.

[andy tims]

hondansx said:

Congrats! A fellow Trophy owner too...

Currently in the same dilemma with GT3 vs Exige. Previously had a 997 GT3 and currently have a Performante but it's just too loud for trackdays and expensive to run (and consequently dents my enjoyment). I've always wanted a Gen 2 997 but they are getting on a bit now; imagine maintenance will always be fairly high. The Exige is amazing VFM in comparison.

Thanks

Just to advise - The Sport / Cup 380, Sport 410 & Cup 430's all have exhausts that are too loud for UK Tracks.

This is the solution

https://www.2bular.co.uk/exige-380/qp-track-system

but it's annoying that Lotus sell such track orientated cars that are too loud

[CTE]

Not that I am on any commission or anything, but I`ve just had mine changed with a Hangar 111 back box...completely different sound with a much deeper tone low down and much quieter and less shrill at high revs. Not had it measured at a track yet but its going to be less than 98 db. Will probably do Snetterton this Friday...
Yes weird Lotus got this so wrong?

[andy tims]

Hanger 111 are the alternative, of course.

[GTRene]

oooh...
they already have a Komo-Tec Lotus Exige EX530 and that sound, sounds fast as well
at around 56sec they start driving it, but before that also great shots of that type Exige.

first impressions, 100 to 200km/h in just 5.6sec, it also has a sequentielle 7 speed box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KV5kDW-U0Y&fe...