Elise or Exige

[Monty1502]

I've been looking to see what was available since my original post and bought a Roger Becker ( RGB ) edition Elise 220 today. This will be my seventh Elise, can't wait to collect it next week.

I decided an Exige was probably too close to my Boxster S ( size wise ) and the Elise is more of a Sunday afternoon car , having said that I've been across the Alps to Italy for the Mille Miglia a couple of times in my previous Elises , looking forward to some European trips in my new car.

Thanks for all the replies

[matt5964]

Monty1502 said:

I've been looking to see what was available since my original post and bought a Roger Becker ( RGB ) edition Elise 220 today. This will be my seventh Elise, can't wait to collect it next week.

I decided an Exige was probably too close to my Boxster S ( size wise ) and the Elise is more of a Sunday afternoon car , having said that I've been across the Alps to Italy for the Mille Miglia a couple of times in my previous Elises , looking forward to some European trips in my new car.

Thanks for all the replies

Welcome to the RGB club, ours is an aspen white number 34, had it since 2019

[Monty1502]

matt5964 said:

Welcome to the RGB club, ours is an aspen white number 34, had it since 2019

I've bought No 57

[matt5964]

Monty1502 said:

I've bought No 57

Looks a nice example, needs driving though 😻

[TheOctaneAddict]

I'd be interested for your thoughts back to back comparing the Lotus with the Porsche. I've got a manual 981 base Cayman at the minute but the pull of an Elise is very strong and I really fancy one.

[keo]

TheOctaneAddict said:

I'd be interested for your thoughts back to back comparing the Lotus with the Porsche. I've got a manual 981 base Cayman at the minute but the pull of an Elise is very strong and I really fancy one.

I have had a vx220t, Elise 111r and then a 981 GT4. GT4 is a great car it gets really good reviews however I didn’t take to it and got myself a 410 Exige. I’d say Porsche is a great daily and a Lotus is a toy but still half useable. Just my opinion different people like different things.

[Actus Reus]

I have a Sport 350 with a few mods having had a 718 GT4 and my opinion echoes the above. The Cayman was faster, but I just didn't quite click with it like I do the Lotus.
I'd rather do a long motorway drive in the Porsche, though.

[Shnozz]

Exige. Next question.

[Monty1502]

keo said:

TheOctaneAddict said:

I'd be interested for your thoughts back to back comparing the Lotus with the Porsche. I've got a manual 981 base Cayman at the minute but the pull of an Elise is very strong and I really fancy one.

I have had a vx220t, Elise 111r and then a 981 GT4. GT4 is a great car it gets really good reviews however I didn’t take to it and got myself a 410 Exige. I’d say Porsche is a great daily and a Lotus is a toy but still half useable. Just my opinion different people like different things.

I'd agree with the comments above. I use my 981 manual Boxster ( switchable exhaust/ quick change gear box / alcantera steering wheel etc ) as my everyday summer car, I've bought the Elise as a more involving Sunday afternoon blast over the Yorkshire moors car. Having said that , as mentioned before I've driven previous Elise's down to the South of France Côte d'Azur to Florence/Brescia for the Mille Miglia and back over the Alps to St Moritz a couple of times and absolutely loved it !

I always feel that due to the size of an Elise, you almost "wear it" rather than sit in it and drive it. 981 certainly better for motorway trips , back roads the Elise wins every time. Collecting my RGB next Friday, it'll be my seventh Elise, can't wait !

[TheOctaneAddict]

Thanks for the responses, hope the collection goes well!

Thinking of an Elise paired with a hot hatch will mean I can have a sensible daily/motorway car and an Elise for fun trips and trackdays. Cayman does all that in one currently which makes it so hard to move on from.

[keo]

TheOctaneAddict said:

Thinking of an Elise paired with a hot hatch will mean I can have a sensible daily/motorway car and an Elise for fun trips and trackdays. .

I want a Fiesta ST as a daily but I have a boring motorway commute so think I’d be better with something more suited. Wish I had a decent commute!

[jmcvaughn]

keo said:

I have had a vx220t, Elise 111r and now an Exige 410 Anniversary. It’s a tough choice, often I think an Elise is all you need. The Exige is a bit quick. But it makes hell of a noise!

I am thinking about doing the soft top conversion on mine. I used to love my Elise with the roof off and I do miss it.

R.e. the soft top conversion, as I've told you previously...do it!

Back on topic. I've been in an S1 Elise but unfortunately have never driven an Elise of any kind. Even from the passenger seat you can feel that it is a more balanced, more "pure" experience. I wouldn't discount that.

For me, the Exige offers drama that is difficult to match at any price, is reasonably economical to run, and has an additional bit of refinement that suits me perfectly.

It's unfortunate that with the 410/420/430 Lotus arguably didn't get the out-of-the-box compromise quite right (rides too harshly, geo is too safe). So many folks don't get the geo done and don't touch the dampers, hence why they view the cars as too much and they get moved on. Additional refinement and better balance is there.

[flattotheboards]

Monty1502 said:

I'd agree with the comments above. I use my 981 manual Boxster ( switchable exhaust/ quick change gear box / alcantera steering wheel etc ) as my everyday summer car, I've bought the Elise as a more involving Sunday afternoon blast over the Yorkshire moors car. Having said that , as mentioned before I've driven previous Elise's down to the South of France Côte d'Azur to Florence/Brescia for the Mille Miglia and back over the Alps to St Moritz a couple of times and absolutely loved it !

I always feel that due to the size of an Elise, you almost "wear it" rather than sit in it and drive it. 981 certainly better for motorway trips , back roads the Elise wins every time. Collecting my RGB next Friday, it'll be my seventh Elise, can't wait !

I hope the collection all went to plan. You have bought yourself a fantastic example - I have known this car from new and it has been pampered! I was intending to buy this but couldn't make the numbers work unfortunately so I hope you enjoy it

I sent the previous owner the link to this thread and he was absolutely delighted that it is going to somebody that will enjoy it.

[Monty1502]

flattotheboards said:

Monty1502 said:

I'd agree with the comments above. I use my 981 manual Boxster ( switchable exhaust/ quick change gear box / alcantera steering wheel etc ) as my everyday summer car, I've bought the Elise as a more involving Sunday afternoon blast over the Yorkshire moors car. Having said that , as mentioned before I've driven previous Elise's down to the South of France Côte d'Azur to Florence/Brescia for the Mille Miglia and back over the Alps to St Moritz a couple of times and absolutely loved it !

I always feel that due to the size of an Elise, you almost "wear it" rather than sit in it and drive it. 981 certainly better for motorway trips , back roads the Elise wins every time. Collecting my RGB next Friday, it'll be my seventh Elise, can't wait !

I hope the collection all went to plan. You have bought yourself a fantastic example - I have known this car from new and it has been pampered! I was intending to buy this but couldn't make the numbers work unfortunately so I hope you enjoy it

I sent the previous owner the link to this thread and he was absolutely delighted that it is going to somebody that will enjoy it.

Thank for your post, I collected the Elise on Friday, absolutely wonderful car in excellent condition. The history file is exemplary and in perfect order. I've done about 200 miles since Friday lunchtime and absolutely love it. I had a minor problem with the push switch for starting so nipped down to see Dave at "Seriously Lotus" who are only about twenty miles away, he managed to sort the contact out and all is fine ( although a new one has been ordered to be on the safe side).I've also booked it into "SL" for a complete checkover and oil change, I always prefer to get this done as soon as I buy a car just so I know that everything is right and up to date, so it'll go in once the new switch arrives in a week or so. I had my previous Elise for eight years and sold last summer to fund divorce legal fees, so my new car isn't going anywhere,it's a long term "keeper" . I had the underneath of my last Elise completely stripped and cleaned and all suspension components powder coated and my new car is booked in for the same once the summer is over, I like my cars to be as perfect underneath as on top !
Please pass my regards onto the previous owner, I appreciate him keeping the car in such excellent condition.