250 Cup or Exige V6
Discussion
Both replies valid points.
For just B road blasts I already have a 182 trophy which is fantastic but does lack a good engine noise although have a new exhaust coming which should improve things
The lotus will be the last car to add to the collection & the most I will ever spend on a car hence why I really want to get it right. It’s my dream car to be loved & kept.
Currently run a van for work, camper van for fun trips & a little touring (sadly probably to be sold before ulez extension), the trophy as my weekend runabout/ shopping trolley & occasional B road blaster. The lotus’s brief is for totally self indulgent drives out, some touring, hopefully joining a lotus club & attending some events & getting into track days for fun. Also just for being special. I’m sure both Elise & Exige fit this as well as each other.
Have decided on something new (ish) as already have a long term ongoing project with the trophy & barely have time to tinker on that as much as I’d like.
I did pop in bell & Colvill a while back but Jamie was away. Some really beautiful cars down there so will have to try & get back before winter.
Would be great to hear more opinions on both the Exige & 250 cup as I’m sure I’m not the only one out there interested in buying.
For just B road blasts I already have a 182 trophy which is fantastic but does lack a good engine noise although have a new exhaust coming which should improve things
The lotus will be the last car to add to the collection & the most I will ever spend on a car hence why I really want to get it right. It’s my dream car to be loved & kept.
Currently run a van for work, camper van for fun trips & a little touring (sadly probably to be sold before ulez extension), the trophy as my weekend runabout/ shopping trolley & occasional B road blaster. The lotus’s brief is for totally self indulgent drives out, some touring, hopefully joining a lotus club & attending some events & getting into track days for fun. Also just for being special. I’m sure both Elise & Exige fit this as well as each other.
Have decided on something new (ish) as already have a long term ongoing project with the trophy & barely have time to tinker on that as much as I’d like.
I did pop in bell & Colvill a while back but Jamie was away. Some really beautiful cars down there so will have to try & get back before winter.
Would be great to hear more opinions on both the Exige & 250 cup as I’m sure I’m not the only one out there interested in buying.
I can't comment specifically on 250 Cup vs V6, but I have been through similar turmoil with my S2 Exige with the 260bhp upgrade making it the spiritual predecessor to the 250 Cup.
The S2 (or 250 Cup for that matter) look amazing, have a great presence to them and certainly turn heads - but as soon as a V6 rumbles into the car park I find an S2/S3 Elise suddenly looking/sounding very ordinary!
The V6 has the theatrics of something much more exotic, so if that's a big factor for you then I think you'll need to go V6.
In terms of driving, the two cars are as similar as they are different... if that makes sense. In some ways the V6 retains the DNA from the 4cylinder platform but in other ways it's totally different so you really need to just try them out. I went a long time without experiencing a V6 because I was terrified that it would just sell me over right away
There are plenty of owners that have transitioned from a 4cylinder Lotus to the V6 and many of them are very happy with the transition, but a not-insignificant number are also making the transition back again into S2 cars or S3 Elises'. Everybody is different but it does suggest to me that neither car is a head and shoulder winner over the other.
250 (or 260) in a ~900kg car is still very, very fast on the road. In my experience you'll only start losing big ground to a 350bhp V6 into triple figures and there's not much in it up until that point. The V6 is much more sure footed with the big fat rears, and honestly feels a bit safer to me at higher speeds.
For me it came down to my usage, I like to have a tinker (particularly over the winter months) and I like to do as many trackdays as time allows. Although the V6 is not a heavy car by any measure, it's still going to chomp through consumables a bit quicker than a 4cylinder car and the standard fuel tank is horrifically small for the rate of consumption on track.
The value for money thing is tricky, and again it applies somewhat to the S2 Exige. S2 Exige is not a million miles away from 220 Sport prices, which are not a million miles away from 250 Cup prices, which are not a million miles away from V6 prices. You can easily end up with a lot of scope creep!
As others have said, great choice to have - I still find my self keeping half an eye on the V6 market but so far I've managed to stick to my S2 guns. I might reconsider when the current range of Exige is retired for whatever comes next from the Volvo (and presumably Hybrid) era of Lotus. Having the final run-out version of the V6 Exige would be quite attractive to me I think.
The S2 (or 250 Cup for that matter) look amazing, have a great presence to them and certainly turn heads - but as soon as a V6 rumbles into the car park I find an S2/S3 Elise suddenly looking/sounding very ordinary!
The V6 has the theatrics of something much more exotic, so if that's a big factor for you then I think you'll need to go V6.
In terms of driving, the two cars are as similar as they are different... if that makes sense. In some ways the V6 retains the DNA from the 4cylinder platform but in other ways it's totally different so you really need to just try them out. I went a long time without experiencing a V6 because I was terrified that it would just sell me over right away
There are plenty of owners that have transitioned from a 4cylinder Lotus to the V6 and many of them are very happy with the transition, but a not-insignificant number are also making the transition back again into S2 cars or S3 Elises'. Everybody is different but it does suggest to me that neither car is a head and shoulder winner over the other.
250 (or 260) in a ~900kg car is still very, very fast on the road. In my experience you'll only start losing big ground to a 350bhp V6 into triple figures and there's not much in it up until that point. The V6 is much more sure footed with the big fat rears, and honestly feels a bit safer to me at higher speeds.
For me it came down to my usage, I like to have a tinker (particularly over the winter months) and I like to do as many trackdays as time allows. Although the V6 is not a heavy car by any measure, it's still going to chomp through consumables a bit quicker than a 4cylinder car and the standard fuel tank is horrifically small for the rate of consumption on track.
The value for money thing is tricky, and again it applies somewhat to the S2 Exige. S2 Exige is not a million miles away from 220 Sport prices, which are not a million miles away from 250 Cup prices, which are not a million miles away from V6 prices. You can easily end up with a lot of scope creep!
As others have said, great choice to have - I still find my self keeping half an eye on the V6 market but so far I've managed to stick to my S2 guns. I might reconsider when the current range of Exige is retired for whatever comes next from the Volvo (and presumably Hybrid) era of Lotus. Having the final run-out version of the V6 Exige would be quite attractive to me I think.
JJ55 said:
The lotus’s brief is for totally self indulgent drives out, some touring, hopefully joining a lotus club & attending some events & getting into track days for fun. Also just for being special. I’m sure both Elise & Exige fit this as well as each other.
Neither car is anything like ideal for the "some touring" bit . Of course you can do it - I've toured and dailied a motorbike - but I wouldn't any more. Luggage space is really at a premium unless you or your other half are short and have space behind the seats. And they are noisy. I'd consider an Evora (secondhand perhaps) too if you are going to do much touring - though not the track day weapon the Exige is, nor as flexible because of the weight - but there is nothing between an Exige V6 and an Evora 400 in a straight line through the gears.By contrast an Exige V6 is a lot quicker than an Elise in 60-100 region and obviously a lot more flexible.
Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 6th November 16:20
My journey has been 220 sport Elise, 350 sport, 400 Evora and 410 Exige for me the Elise was a great introduction, and guys pedal them around track very quickly, but...as soon as I drove the 350 I knew it had to be a V6, they are just more of an event (particularly the 400 / 410 with the switchable exhaust which is epic).
As for touring we did 5 days in France and 10 in France / Italy this summer, packing has to be a bit creative but is manageable if you’re not attending too many balls!
The Evora would have been more comfortable but less of an event (roof off exhaust open through the Mont Blanc tunnel and over the Alps)
Whatever you buy you won’t be disappointed, but test drive a V6 and I think I know which way you will jump.
As for touring we did 5 days in France and 10 in France / Italy this summer, packing has to be a bit creative but is manageable if you’re not attending too many balls!
The Evora would have been more comfortable but less of an event (roof off exhaust open through the Mont Blanc tunnel and over the Alps)
Whatever you buy you won’t be disappointed, but test drive a V6 and I think I know which way you will jump.
gareth h said:
My journey has been 220 sport Elise, 350 sport, 400 Evora and 410 Exige for me the Elise was a great introduction, and guys pedal them around track very quickly, but...as soon as I drove the 350 I knew it had to be a V6, they are just more of an event (particularly the 400 / 410 with the switchable exhaust which is epic).
As for touring we did 5 days in France and 10 in France / Italy this summer, packing has to be a bit creative but is manageable if you’re not attending too many balls!
The Evora would have been more comfortable but less of an event (roof off exhaust open through the Mont Blanc tunnel and over the Alps)
Whatever you buy you won’t be disappointed, but test drive a V6 and I think I know which way you will jump.
Wouldn't really disagree - except I don't know which way anyone would jump. They all have Lotus DNA and which way you might jump depends on your priorities and how "pure/raw" (choose your adjective) you want that DNA. I'd also recommend driving an Alpine A110 - you may look askance at the turbo engine or the auto box - but it has quite a lot of Lotus DNA. The new A110S may be your thing, who knows. You have a great excuse to drive any number of cars - some of which may be left-field alternatives - it should be fun trying.As for touring we did 5 days in France and 10 in France / Italy this summer, packing has to be a bit creative but is manageable if you’re not attending too many balls!
The Evora would have been more comfortable but less of an event (roof off exhaust open through the Mont Blanc tunnel and over the Alps)
Whatever you buy you won’t be disappointed, but test drive a V6 and I think I know which way you will jump.
Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 6th November 19:32
Very difficult question. Having had a standard S1, S1 160, Exige 350 & currently 430CUP I still have yearnings to get an S1 Elise. I recently drove an S3 220 CUP and loved it. i have been trying to distil what I like in the S3 Elise & my own Exiges and what is better. The Exige sounds better and has much more power. The 220 feels slow in comparison. However the 220 has better steering and is lighter and more playful. The Exige steering is not as sharp and you can feel the extra weight. For a second i thought what I want is an Elise with an Exige engine, then I thought how amazingly stupid I am ;-)
The power in the Exige is hard to turn away from. However the Elise is delicate and more accurate. Its a really tough choice and faced with a 250 CUP and a standard 350 I might be swayed by the 250CUP as lets be honest its fast enough. However how quickly would I want some more power and be moaning about the engine noise and be wanting to get into a 410/430? I lasted 12 months in my 350 before I traded it in for a 430 and now I'm happy as I know there is nothing more to hanker after (apart from a 160 S1 Elise).
The power in the Exige is hard to turn away from. However the Elise is delicate and more accurate. Its a really tough choice and faced with a 250 CUP and a standard 350 I might be swayed by the 250CUP as lets be honest its fast enough. However how quickly would I want some more power and be moaning about the engine noise and be wanting to get into a 410/430? I lasted 12 months in my 350 before I traded it in for a 430 and now I'm happy as I know there is nothing more to hanker after (apart from a 160 S1 Elise).
there seem to be a few s2 etc exige's out there with V8 longitudinal installed, they made the wheelbase a bit longer, would love one of those, I don't mean those hennessey venom's V8 cars, those are a bit expensive.
a great v8 sound, not faster than a Exige V6, but just for the sound/grunt and longitudinal mounted engine, would make it very special.
wonder if there are owners of such aftermarket build cars on here.
a great v8 sound, not faster than a Exige V6, but just for the sound/grunt and longitudinal mounted engine, would make it very special.
wonder if there are owners of such aftermarket build cars on here.
Loved my S2 Elise SC, but I'm enjoying the Exige Sport 350 even more; hiring one for a weekend decided me, using on all roads, wet and dry & with partner, luggage etc, - its difficult to tell on a brief run IMHO !
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Kiltie said:
I'm a bit late to this discussion but I've been wondering similar for a while … but I decided Cup 250.
Collection soon hopefully.
You wont be disappointed. You made the right choice imo. Collection soon hopefully.
Less trips for fuel will be the biggest thing as I know quite a few ex V6 owners that bought Cups for that main reason.
Composite Guru said:
Kiltie said:
I'm a bit late to this discussion but I've been wondering similar for a while … but I decided Cup 250.
Collection soon hopefully.
You wont be disappointed. You made the right choice imo. Collection soon hopefully.
Less trips for fuel will be the biggest thing as I know quite a few ex V6 owners that bought Cups for that main reason.
Just depends what you’re priorities are, at any given time.
Choose one and have fun! Get on with it though. as Lotus won’t be making them like this for much longer and we will all bemoan the lack of foibles.
No bad choices here. Just fun in different packages!
SELON said:
Composite Guru said:
Kiltie said:
I'm a bit late to this discussion but I've been wondering similar for a while … but I decided Cup 250.
Collection soon hopefully.
You wont be disappointed. You made the right choice imo. Collection soon hopefully.
Less trips for fuel will be the biggest thing as I know quite a few ex V6 owners that bought Cups for that main reason.
Just depends what you’re priorities are, at any given time.
Choose one and have fun! Get on with it though. as Lotus won’t be making them like this for much longer and we will all bemoan the lack of foibles.
No bad choices here. Just fun in different packages!
worth re-reading Ecoty 2018, great endorsement.
I went through this this summer, whether to get Exige or Elise. We test drove Elise 220/250cup and Exige 350/380cup, thanks to Jamie at Bell and Colvill. Although the V6 Exige were great, super quick we preferred the Elise on the roads and found the 250cup plenty quick enough. Lots of fun on the track too.
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