Elise, Exige, vx220 daily?
Discussion
TR4man said:
True, but I was thinking that if it is to be used as a daily, to be living outside and easier to get in and out, then it may actually suit the OP’s needs better.
It’s harder to get in and out of, because you can’t take the roof off 
VXT is cheaper and better, but the Europa would be a better ‘investment’.
Weekendrebuild said:
To be honest 25k isn’t going to buy an exige. as for supercharged that would be 35k plus realistically without needing major work.
It'll get you an NA S2 Exige, certainly privately.It'll also get you an S2 Elise SC, which were actually faster in a straight line than the equivalent Exige at the time because they're a bit lighter and less draggy. Less so on track around the corners.
NA Exige / Elise are essentially the same car bar some less practical aero that makes no difference on road and stickier tyres with slightly wider front wheels.
The Elise SC doesn't have the intercooler stacked on top of the engine like the Exige, but made basically the same power, at least until all the intake temps go up under prolonged use. It does mean you get better usability and the package is arguably more practical. Elise SCs were relatively expensive, and many were maxed out with touring packages with more sound insulation, aircon, and a hardtop, which gives you better daily/winter suitability. The hard tops looks smart, brings a bit more of an Exige vibe depending on car colour. They're rare, but IMO a good buy.
I dailied an early K-series S2 Elise as my only car for several years and found it very easy to live with. They have marginally more boot space than the Toyota-engined cars, to do with the packaging for the exhaust.
It lived outside parked on various terraced streets in London over my eight years of ownership. It needed a new coil pack (£20 and ten minute job), a new immobiliser (£500 or something to sort), minor paint/clam work due to other people's parking efforts, and quite a lot of new tyres. :-)
The immobiliser was annoying, but that was about it. Not bad for eight years IMO.
My more recent 2008 SC I have had for ten years. The radiator let go, the air con also let go (big whoosing sound, needed a new compressor, fairly big job). Other than that it's been trouble-free and has never left me stranded. It's so much fun, although it has not had much use over the last few years due to COVID and young children (you can't disable the passenger airbag without mucking about, which I've yet to get around to). But I'm not parting with it. It could use a suspension refresh, though - unless you're handy with such things I would get one that's already been done if you're buying at that sort of age, as it is quite a lot of labour. Or budget accordingly.
Consumables (esp. tyres and brakes) and most parts are cheap compared to running something like a Boxster, and the lightness means they tend to last better if you do drive it hard. The cars are all now appreciating too, although you already know that.
Get one before you they all get to be silly money. You won't regret it.
Edited by herebebeasties on Saturday 4th March 13:58
I've dailyed a VX220 before and it certainly took the shine off.
With your budget, maybe an Evora (this is actually my old one): https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14633696
With your budget, maybe an Evora (this is actually my old one): https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14633696
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2015-lotus-exi...
This has caught my eye .
Rather lovely but what’s the right price ?
This has caught my eye .
Rather lovely but what’s the right price ?
p4cks said:
I've dailyed a VX220 before and it certainly took the shine off.
With your budget, maybe an Evora (this is actually my old one): https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14633696
Good call! With your budget, maybe an Evora (this is actually my old one): https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14633696
p4cks said:
I've dailyed a VX220 before and it certainly took the shine off.
With your budget, maybe an Evora (this is actually my old one): https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14633696
Must have been some bird!With your budget, maybe an Evora (this is actually my old one): https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14633696
Did it happen in your ownership?
What a bargain for someone though, looks fantastic.
I ran an S2 Elise as my daily in the mid 00's, reliability wise it was fine; however, all the things that made it special became a chore. They mist up very easily, not visible to others, the lights are crap and as it was used for commuting the roads - not ones I would pick to drive on - A Roads, dual carriageways etc.
Regards a VHPD as a daily, I don't think that would be fun for long. Fantastic engine, a little highly strung for daily use. No doubt 190 bhp in an Elise circa 180kg less than an Exige is an event!
Much better run as a second car IMHO.
Regards a VHPD as a daily, I don't think that would be fun for long. Fantastic engine, a little highly strung for daily use. No doubt 190 bhp in an Elise circa 180kg less than an Exige is an event!
Much better run as a second car IMHO.
I messaged Jonny at Performance Autocare the second they posted that Evora, if it had been a +2 I reckon I might have made a way to buy it!
As for economy, that's not an issue at all - my Elise does better mpg on the commute than my diesel estate car, and the cost of consumables/servicing is lower too.
As I put in my earlier post, forget the "daily" thing. Think more like "is this my only car or not".
I use my Elise daily in the summer often, as in Monday drive it to work at the office which is across country. Tuesday, the same, etc...
Doesn't mean I want to do it in winter, or use it to pile down the motorway for 2 hours to another site. That would be miserable.
As for economy, that's not an issue at all - my Elise does better mpg on the commute than my diesel estate car, and the cost of consumables/servicing is lower too.
As I put in my earlier post, forget the "daily" thing. Think more like "is this my only car or not".
I use my Elise daily in the summer often, as in Monday drive it to work at the office which is across country. Tuesday, the same, etc...
Doesn't mean I want to do it in winter, or use it to pile down the motorway for 2 hours to another site. That would be miserable.
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