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

[Paul_M3]

ecain63 said:

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.

Just going back to this, for anyone interested I'm going to do a thread on the TheLotusForums over the weekend about how I made my 'plug-in' track exhaust.

I've had a few people message me privately about it, so may as well do a detailed thread with all the parts and work required.

Like Gibbo said, it looks rubbish, but it's done the job so far and nobody outside of the track day will ever see it on the car. More importantly there are no back pressure issues (and it's cheap).

[D4SH]

Really helpful advice here (as always) hoping to go see some cars next week...

[skircoatshed]

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

There are no bargains anymore. You could pick up a six month old 410 for 62K at the start of 2020.

Lovely car by the way.

[Diablos-666]

Not the best day at Cadwell, car kept coming out of sport mode and into a soft safety mode (no warning lights but car wouldn’t rev properly). I think it’s the brake light switch switch than I changed for an after market one.
It’s now with SL for the KT460 upgrade kit…

[JCW]

Random question:

At a height of 1.91m would I fit in to either an Exige or Evora to save me wasting a dealer’s time? I tried a 350C which I badly wanted but removing the seat cushion to fit in was too much of an ask.

Informative thread btw, so thanks to all.

[Paul_M3]

JCW said:

Random question:

At a height of 1.91m would I fit in to either an Exige or Evora to save me wasting a dealer’s time? I tried a 350C which I badly wanted but removing the seat cushion to fit in was too much of an ask.

Informative thread btw, so thanks to all.

Obviously this will partly depend on your leg / torso ratio, but to give you a point of reference:

I am exactly 6ft. I have my seat 2 clicks away from the backstop. When wearing a crash helmet my head still isn't brushing the roof.

You'd certainly be snug, but it may not be impossible.

[JCW]

Thanks for your response, much appreciated.

[Belgarion]

JCW said:

Random question:

At a height of 1.91m would I fit in to either an Exige or Evora to save me wasting a dealer’s time? I tried a 350C which I badly wanted but removing the seat cushion to fit in was too much of an ask.

Informative thread btw, so thanks to all.

I'm 1.94m and fit just fine in my Exige 350. Wearing a helmet for trackdays might get snug though not undoable I don't think. Not particularly graceful getting out, especially if in a tight space but the drives more than make up for it.

Worst problem such as it is, is that I can't see between 60 and 120 mph on the analog speedo without scrunching my head down. There is a digital km/h speedo on the prehistoric LCD screen, so not hard to maintain legal speed on motorways etc.

[ecain63]

Seeing the traffic lights change might be more difficult for you. I'm 6ft and find I have to stop far enough back to avoid the roof obscuring the view of the lights.

[Gibbo205]

Am absolutely loving my 410 20th Anniversary so far, already done two track days in it and third booked for next month haha.

Had the alignment tweaked last week as last track day was getting some understeer, checked alignment and only had -0.5 negative front camber, so removed all the shims and its now just a little over -1.5 in the front and -2 in the rear. Went toe neutral on front and 20 minutes toe in per side at rear, feels better on road but track will be the real test.

Some photos from last track outing:

Edited by Gibbo205 on Monday 21st February 11:09

[Diablos-666]

Had my first trackday of the year this week, it was also the first since the KT460 upgrade. The car felt great, no issues although my front discs are now toast so have ordered a new set of floating 343mm Alcon’s from SL. Also ordered a bigger 60L fuel tank as I was using a third of a tank each session.

[Duf77]

Hi all - really interesting thread this one.

Due to test drive a 410 cup (stock demo car) next week and though obviously personal preference it seems older 350's or the 390's are overall more rounded? I doubt I would be tracking mine more than once a year if I take the plunge (and I so want to take the plunge) but plenty of B-roads to enjoy close by so what can I expect from the 410 over the 390, perhaps physically on the car and emotionally from a week-end jolly perspective? Will certainly be wildly different to the V12 Vantage!

I spotted this 380 so how does that fit in to things: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13237293

Value wise vs when this thread started, seems like prices have held well. Good news for current owners and cant see how in light of their demise depreciation is going to hit them hard.

The other two Im checking out are:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13125017
and
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13095881

Appreciate any views / Cheers

[Diablos-666]

My take - the 380 is considered the best looking Exige but remember the rev limit has been reduced to 6500/6800 from the usual 7k. Lotus used a smaller s/c pulley to gain a few more horses but had to reduce the rev limit. This model doesn’t come with a charge cooler.

I believe both the 390 and 410 come with a charge cooler which means you have more power and the 7k rev limit. Both can be tuned.

My preference out of the 3 is the 410, mainly because I like the colour and it’s the most powerful.

Good luck with whatever you choose. They are all great.

[Paul_M3]

The 390 and 410 both have charge coolers and gearbox coolers I believe. On the road I doubt you’d really notice the power difference.

The 410 will have carbon front panel, boot panel and wing. Many prefer this look.

In terms of driving, I think the biggest difference may be the suspension. The 410 will have 3-way adjustable Nitrons. I don’t think that the 390’s got this (but I’m not 100% sure). As well as being better on track, I’ve heard that the Nitrons are actually better on road too.

[J66JBo]

I have a 350 and in my opinion it is more than enough for the road. Living in the north of Scotland means the hassle of removing and servicing the Nitron dampers every 4(?) years was a downside when looking at the more powerful models. If I ever do want more power a can always kit a kit from Komotec. Mine does have lots of factory carbon so feels particularly special for a 350.

[Olivera]

Diablos-666 said:

My take - the 380 is considered the best looking Exige but remember the rev limit has been reduced to 6500/6800 from the usual 7k. Lotus used a smaller s/c pulley to gain a few more horses but had to reduce the rev limit. This model doesn’t come with a charge cooler.

No chargecooler sounds absolutely pants. Lack of one is probably why in the Exige 350 SportAuto ring lap it was performing like a 200 bhp car down the back straight.