Exige 350, 380, 390, 410, 420 and 430 - How they differ?

[_Leg_]

Diablos-666 said:

That’s an impressive spec.

What silencer do you use to get on track? I have the 70mm non valved silencer from 2bular with the extended cans but this isn’t compatible with the KT kit (due to relocated cat).

Mine still has the factory pig snout back end on. I was going to swap it but I'm getting the 460bhp and, and this is as much of a surprise to me as anyone, haven't had any noise issues at any track days, ever flat out up the pit straight at Donni past the mic. Bizarre.

Static it's always fine too at (just under so the valves dont open) 4000rpms.

[ecain63]

Gibbo205 said:

Hi there

Looking at a 410 anniversary edition, will the stock car be too loud for a 98 decibel day at Donnington?

Yup, it'll be too loud pretty much everywhere. Even 105 days you'll fail driveby by a mile. I've heard of them failing at Spa and one pulled at the Ring

[keo]

ecain63 said:

Gibbo205 said:

Hi there

Looking at a 410 anniversary edition, will the stock car be too loud for a 98 decibel day at Donnington?

Yup, it'll be too loud pretty much everywhere. Even 105 days you'll fail driveby by a mile. I've heard of them failing at Spa and one pulled at the Ring

Great these “track cars” that you can’t use on track haha

[tactical lizard]

_Leg_ said:

Hard to say as the chap with the KT430 doesn't go at it as hard and long on track as Ishy and myself. Ours just keep going with no issues. However, the general consensus is that for 'hard at it' track work the KT 460 kit is the way to go.

Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable without a charge cooler (part of the 460 kit), gearbox cooler and uprated brakes (my OEM brakes failed at Oulton Park after a particularly hard session chasing each other round. Scared the crap out of me when the pedal went to the floor going into Old Hall. Booked in for the 343s immediately).

You cant beat Dave and John's advice at SL though. Dave wont sell you anything you dont need and whatever they build will be done right. I've raced with them too and the race cars they built never let us down in 3, 4 and 6 hour races.

My car's spec, in no particular order:

2017 Exige Sport 350
3 way nitrons
KT460 kit
KT Gearbox Cooler
SL baffled sump kit
Custom carbon wing and splitter
Alias side sills
SL harness bar and harnesses
343mm big brake kit with Carbone Lorraine pads
AIM2 dashboard
AIM2 Shift lights
AIM2 Bullet camera
Pro Alloy large capacity fuel tank
Litebox Lithium battery
Quick release steering wheel (leather for road, alcantara for track)
Matching helmet (because, posing ahole)

and I run ZZRs in the dry and Avon cut slick wets in the wet.

Here she is. We're at Anglesey on Sunday on a LoT day.

Edited by _Leg_ on Thursday 21st October 09:53

Remember seeing you at a donnington evening session a few months back, can certainly tell the difference an extra 50hp makes over a 410hp car, even ishys car was pulling away in a straight line.

Noise wise with the standard exhaust you can just about get away with a 105db static test, I did 104.6 at a Cadwell day.

If anyone needs a tubular V6 SC QP then I have a brand new available at a discount surplus to requirements.

[Gibbo205]

ecain63 said:

Yup, it'll be too loud pretty much everywhere. Even 105 days you'll fail driveby by a mile. I've heard of them failing at Spa and one pulled at the Ring

What is the easiest solution please?
Drove a 410, think I am buying it, was pretty damn awesome! Way better than the Evora 410 for me.

[Diablos-666]

Komotec / 2bular sell track friendly exhausts - around £2k
I think lotus sell them too but at a premium

[Olivera]

_Leg_ said:

My car's spec, in no particular order:

2017 Exige Sport 350
3 way nitrons
KT460 kit
KT Gearbox Cooler
SL baffled sump kit
Custom carbon wing and splitter
Alias side sills
SL harness bar and harnesses
343mm big brake kit with Carbone Lorraine pads
AIM2 dashboard
AIM2 Shift lights
AIM2 Bullet camera
Pro Alloy large capacity fuel tank
Litebox Lithium battery
Quick release steering wheel (leather for road, alcantara for track)
Matching helmet (because, posing ahole)

and I run ZZRs in the dry and Avon cut slick wets in the wet.

Here she is. We're at Anglesey on Sunday on a LoT day.

Edited by _Leg_ on Thursday 21st October 09:53

Very cool car when upgraded, but I always found it quite disappointing just how many mods were required (or omitted by Lotus), such as a half-decent sized tank, gearbox cooler, baffled sump, and chargecooler kit (if not fitted on model). In the Sport Auto ring laps the Exige 350 was outgunned down the main straight by the 110bhp less Alpine, as by that point in the lap the heat soak had killed the performance.

[Gibbo205]

Diablos-666 said:

Komotec / 2bular sell track friendly exhausts - around £2k
I think lotus sell them too but at a premium

I was hoping for a more low cost option, like a silencer I can just plug onto stock exhaust, will look rubbish but be for track only events.

[_Leg_]

Olivera said:

_Leg_ said:

My car's spec, in no particular order:

2017 Exige Sport 350
3 way nitrons
KT460 kit
KT Gearbox Cooler
SL baffled sump kit
Custom carbon wing and splitter
Alias side sills
SL harness bar and harnesses
343mm big brake kit with Carbone Lorraine pads
AIM2 dashboard
AIM2 Shift lights
AIM2 Bullet camera
Pro Alloy large capacity fuel tank
Litebox Lithium battery
Quick release steering wheel (leather for road, alcantara for track)
Matching helmet (because, posing ahole)

and I run ZZRs in the dry and Avon cut slick wets in the wet.

Here she is. We're at Anglesey on Sunday on a LoT day.

Edited by _Leg_ on Thursday 21st October 09:53

Very cool car when upgraded, but I always found it quite disappointing just how many mods were required (or omitted by Lotus), such as a half-decent sized tank, gearbox cooler, baffled sump, and chargecooler kit (if not fitted on model). In the Sport Auto ring laps the Exige 350 was outgunned down the main straight by the 110bhp less Alpine, as by that point in the lap the heat soak had killed the performance.

I bought a 350 specifically so I can modify it. Half the fun. Now with all the mods and 1100kgs pushed along by 460bhp, and a roof (I used to have an MK Indy R R1) it's the perfect track car that I even toured Scotland in earlier this year (although I generally don't use it on road but the lads from the club nagged me into it. I took something red and shouty on our last Euro club trip and just insisted it was the esprit Lotus never made. I was popular that trip, not. Haha).

[ecain63]

Gibbo205 said:

I was hoping for a more low cost option, like a silencer I can just plug onto stock exhaust, will look rubbish but be for track only events.

Be wary of cans that just bung into the tailpipe. Increased backpressure wouldn't be healthy for an engine on track.

I fully recommend the 2bular QP exhaust. Ran mine for 2 years now on a 410 with no issues.

[Diablos-666]

Gibbo205 said:

I was hoping for a more low cost option, like a silencer I can just plug onto stock exhaust, will look rubbish but be for track only events.

https://www.komo-tec.com/en/lotus-exige/mk3-toyota-v6350380/exhaust/144/db-eater-kt-track-v6

[D4SH]

Great thread as I'm also interested in moving from TVR to an Exige that can be used for road and a few trackdays a year. But not sure whether to go used 350 or go all in (on 50/50 finance) with a new FE 390/420. How much quieter is the 350 compared to the next rungs in the ladder? i.e. easy enough to get on most track days (and quieter than my decat sports exhaust Cerbera that's peeing off the neighbours )?

And is the 350 perfectly good for track or are the issues like heat soak reason enough to go 420?

[Gibbo205]

D4SH said:

Great thread as I'm also interested in moving from TVR to an Exige that can be used for road and a few trackdays a year. But not sure whether to go used 350 or go all in (on 50/50 finance) with a new FE 390/420. How much quieter is the 350 compared to the next rungs in the ladder? i.e. easy enough to get on most track days (and quieter than my decat sports exhaust Cerbera that's peeing off the neighbours )?

And is the 350 perfectly good for track or are the issues like heat soak reason enough to go 420?

I personally wanted a 410, value for money wise they seem better with prices in the 65-75k range. A 420 Final Edition are typically 85k plus and they had to be optioned up to get all the nice stuff.

For me the 410 20th Anniversary cars are the sweet spot, they came fully loaded, carbon exterior parts, interior coloured seats which I think is unique to the anniversary models and some have the AIM dash which is the only real unique option of the Final Editions, plus 10HP. So for me I searched for an Anniversary car, when I found one I purchased it. For me the only disadvantage it has over a 420 final is 10HP and AIM dash, though mine has the AIM dash as previously owner had that fitted. It has the positives of been an Anniversary model with unique coloured seats, painted roof and side scoops, exterior carbon bits and about 10-15k in my pocket. If I want the extra horses then all 410's can be easily mapped by Komotec to 430HP for around £1000.

Final Edition car is a nice thing but at circa 85k, the 410 cars around 70k seem better value. Same suspension, same car, the money saved could be used for a 460HP tuning kit and a lot of track days and fuel.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Friday 29th October 13:21

[Rocketreid]

Gibbo205 said:

I personally wanted a 410, value for money wise they seem better with prices in the 65-75k range. A 420 Final Edition are typically 85k plus and they had to be optioned up to get all the nice stuff.

For me the 410 20th Anniversary cars are the sweet spot, they came fully loaded, carbon exterior parts, interior coloured seats which I think is unique to the anniversary models and some have the AIM dash which is the only real unique option of the Final Editions, plus 10HP. So for me I searched for an Anniversary car, when I found one I purchased it. For me the only disadvantage it has over a 420 final is 10HP and AIM dash, though mine has the AIM dash as previously owner had that fitted. It has the positives of been an Anniversary model with unique coloured seats, painted roof and side scoops, exterior carbon bits and about 10-15k in my pocket. If I want the extra horses then all 410's can be easily mapped by Komotec to 430HP for around £1000.

Final Edition car is a nice thing but at circa 85k, the 410 cars around 70k seem better value. Same suspension, same car, the money saved could be used for a 460HP tuning kit and a lot of track days and fuel.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Friday 29th October 13:21

The 410 has probably always been the sweet spot in the range with most bits you want and need and great value.

No KT460 option though, it’s the KT475 which is different

[keo]

Any excuse to post a picture but here is my 20th Anniversary



As a strictly money point of view I should of bought a second hand one. I have seen a few bargains since I bought mine but I have stopped looking now. But the same dealer had a very lightly used second hand one for sale in blue next to mine. It was “only” 2.5k cheaper and when you take into account the dealer supplied my car taxed and that was nearly £2k (not sure why it’s so much guessing with it being brand new)

All being said it’s only money and I absolutely love mine. Can’t wait to get it ran in and used properly can’t see me using it much over the winter though.

Enjoy the search and you will love whatever model you get. Lotus’s really are something special

[Gibbo205]

keo said:

Any excuse to post a picture but here is my 20th Anniversary



As a strictly money point of view I should of bought a second hand one. I have seen a few bargains since I bought mine but I have stopped looking now. But the same dealer had a very lightly used second hand one for sale in blue next to mine. It was “only” 2.5k cheaper and when you take into account the dealer supplied my car taxed and that was nearly £2k (not sure why it’s so much guessing with it being brand new)

All being said it’s only money and I absolutely love mine. Can’t wait to get it ran in and used properly can’t see me using it much over the winter though.

Enjoy the search and you will love whatever model you get. Lotus’s really are something special

You own my twin.




That is mine, got it this week!

410 Anniversary in metallic orange. AIM dash, 2000 miles, 1 previous owner, soft top included, 3yr service pack, paid 73k for it.

[keo]

That was the bargain I was talking about! If I hadn’t of bought mine that would of been a lot better buy for me. Oh well! I didn’t really like Oakmere when I went there either

[custardkid]

Sweet spot is a 2016/2017 350 @c£50k
But not any for sale at the moment, and I guess will be rare as now with owners that don't look for newest car every couple of years

As people have said upgrades are readily available and not that expensive compared to switching into a 410
For 50% more or nearly double for a new car

Otherwise it looks like it's £75k for a used 410 or £87k for a new one

The used orange one in the Midlands looks a good pick

Although I'd also be tempted by the baby blue one at Silverstone, that's been in stock for at least 6mths (as has any new 410)

Edited by custardkid on Friday 29th October 14:49

[keo]

Silverstone had a very lightly used 410 for sale in blue. Looked a cracking car but the timing wasn’t right and when my car sold and I had the funds that had also sold. That made me move quicker on mine as well incase I missed out again

[Gibbo205]

keo said:

That was the bargain I was talking about! If I hadn’t of bought mine that would of been a lot better buy for me. Oh well! I didn’t really like Oakmere when I went there either

Got nothing bad to say about Oakmere so far, Simon and I think other guy is Tom both been very accommodating with letting me take cars out solo and asking questions, as a result they got a sale.