RE: Driven: Lotus Exige S
Discussion
braddo said:
Only an opinion 
, but the Sagaris is one of the ugliest and most overstyled cars ever made, which is exacerbated by flip paint.
Griff/Chim/Cerbera/Tuscan on the other hand...
Indeed. One man's meat is anothers poison. , but the Sagaris is one of the ugliest and most overstyled cars ever made, which is exacerbated by flip paint.Griff/Chim/Cerbera/Tuscan on the other hand...
Whilst I will always will have a soft spot for TVR's, the Tuscan and Sagaris are far too overstyled and belong in a cartoon. In my view, they look a little crass. That's not to say they are bad cars, but beauty in the eye of the beholder and all....
Now a white cerbera on the other hand....
Junglehop said:
hmmm but where are they going to drive them/get that "proper" dealership experience? the fact that the dealer network is s
t really puts me off any modern Lotus...
well by buying another porsche because they have nicer showrooms is only exacerbating the problem isn't it? if you bought a lotus they'd have more money to spend on new toupes for the dealers.t really puts me off any modern Lotus...yes there's room for improvement with the dealers which Lotus are continually trying to deal with, but I for one would rather they concentrate on driving dynamics (which they do). If that isn't your priority then you probably are better off with something else.
In my personal experience, Lotus dealerships are generally better than Porsche ones in the ways that matter (customer service and technical competence). The problem is quite how few of them there are.
Having said that, the nearest Porsche dealer and the nearest Lotus dealer are about the same distance away from me (about 30 miles).
Having said that, the nearest Porsche dealer and the nearest Lotus dealer are about the same distance away from me (about 30 miles).
I was invited to the launch of the new Exige at the local Lotus dealership. It was a total farce, a few sarnies and mini-cans of coke and fanta, a few salesman that hardly knew the marque when discussing the cars, and, best of all, Lotus then failed to deliver the new Exige in time so we all stood around looking perplexed at a couple of Evoras sipping from a Mungo-sized can of Tango.
Contrast that with the invitation I had last night to the launch of the new Boxster at the local Porsche dealership. At the entrance to the car park we were met by about 4 or 5 parking stewards, guiding us to organised spaces. Walked in to me met by a coven of hunnies, immediately offering competition cards and guiding us to the bar. Champagne, red and white wine, Becks etc and constantly filling the glasses to the point I must have got through over a bottle of fizz. Canapes were fantastic (particularly the steak bites). Brief talks given by head of the dealership and then a senior chap from Porsche UK, accompanied by videos of the new car's development and heritage etc etc. Oh, and a prize draw followed, and then music played by a female DJ on the wheels of steel. And Porsche even managed to get the actual car they were launching to the event. In fact 3 of them.
Ironic thing is, the dealership was the same one that covers both marques!
I appreciate that you can pay for all the champagne and fit lasses in the price of your Pork, but if Lotus want to encroach on the market of other brands, they need to step it up in many respects, even if it is only dealership visibility. The second hand Lotus network is more visible (IMHO) than for new cars, even in the pages of EVO for example.
Contrast that with the invitation I had last night to the launch of the new Boxster at the local Porsche dealership. At the entrance to the car park we were met by about 4 or 5 parking stewards, guiding us to organised spaces. Walked in to me met by a coven of hunnies, immediately offering competition cards and guiding us to the bar. Champagne, red and white wine, Becks etc and constantly filling the glasses to the point I must have got through over a bottle of fizz. Canapes were fantastic (particularly the steak bites). Brief talks given by head of the dealership and then a senior chap from Porsche UK, accompanied by videos of the new car's development and heritage etc etc. Oh, and a prize draw followed, and then music played by a female DJ on the wheels of steel. And Porsche even managed to get the actual car they were launching to the event. In fact 3 of them.
Ironic thing is, the dealership was the same one that covers both marques!
I appreciate that you can pay for all the champagne and fit lasses in the price of your Pork, but if Lotus want to encroach on the market of other brands, they need to step it up in many respects, even if it is only dealership visibility. The second hand Lotus network is more visible (IMHO) than for new cars, even in the pages of EVO for example.
Lotus for sale: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
HorneyMX5 said:
Lotus for sale: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I see a future of badge engineered SUVs. Like the new MG. Deeply depressing.david_b said:
k-ink said:
david_b said:
The on-the-road price of my S1 111S would have been just over £30k in 2000 when new, I believe (including the few options it had such as a hard-top etc.)
To be fair you over paid. My far newer and better (imo) 111R was about 3000 less than that. The 111R is probably a "better" car in some ways, but not all - would happily swap mine for this new one though!
Looks chuffin' splendid! Not keen on the rear wing, though - wonder if there's a delete option? (Anyone handy with Photoshop?)
But I guess removing the wing would screw the aero balance, making the rear-end a tad lively?
ks! So, it's not an everyday car - 'tinnitus comes as standard' at an 80-90 cruise. Shame.
Nevertheless, I'll have one in dark metallic blue with a black cabin, please.
But I guess removing the wing would screw the aero balance, making the rear-end a tad lively?
Junglehop said:
Autoexpress fella: "...It's noisy on the motorway..." Bks! So, it's not an everyday car - 'tinnitus comes as standard' at an 80-90 cruise. Shame.Nevertheless, I'll have one in dark metallic blue with a black cabin, please.
I think it looks fantastic! First Lotus in a LONG time that I'd consider owning. Looks very much like a spiritual successor to the M12 - which as someone who used to own one is obviously a good thing - Lotus handling with a proper amount of grunt for great road performance looks a great package. Good luck to Lotus.
Also, as an aside, I'm increasingly fed up with the "haters" that seem to be all over PH's these days. It used to be a forum for proper petrolheads, now it seems more like a juvenile forum for posting ill-informed one-liners or moaning that Lotus ins't Audi. If you don't like cars like this what the hell are you doing on PH?
- Lotus handling with a proper amount of grunt for great road performance looks a great package. Good luck to Lotus.Also, as an aside, I'm increasingly fed up with the "haters" that seem to be all over PH's these days. It used to be a forum for proper petrolheads, now it seems more like a juvenile forum for posting ill-informed one-liners or moaning that Lotus ins't Audi. If you don't like cars like this what the hell are you doing on PH?
NGK210 said:
Looks chuffin' splendid! Not keen on the rear wing, though - wonder if there's a delete option? (Anyone handy with Photoshop?)
But I guess removing the wing would screw the aero balance, making the rear-end a tad lively?
Just order the Exige convertible (with a hard top). The convertible has no rear wing (or front splitter - to keep the balance right) and has the top speed limited instead.But I guess removing the wing would screw the aero balance, making the rear-end a tad lively?
Captain Muppet said:
Just order the Exige convertible (with a hard top). The convertible has no rear wing (or front splitter - to keep the balance right) and has the top speed limited instead.
I suspect the limiter is to stop the soft-top disintegrating rather than for aerodynamic purposes. 
chevronb37 said:
Lotus threads are always the funniest...
"Too heavy"
"Too expensive"
"Not powerful enough"
"Too hard to get in and out of"
"What Lotus should be building is..."
I saw the Exige S a few months ago when one of the prototypes visited our local dealer. If you think of it as a Noble M12 with a boot then you're about there. For the performance it is a bargain, and having seen it accelerate on full throttle, I can confirm it is very, very quick. I can't afford one and in fact rather like my own Exige but if I needed an every day car this would be mega.
i saw this car reviewed or writtena bout back in january in evo or car i forget which and saw it then as a modern m12 with a boot. i think in 3 years time sell the noble and get one of these id be a happy man"Too heavy"
"Too expensive"
"Not powerful enough"
"Too hard to get in and out of"
"What Lotus should be building is..."
I saw the Exige S a few months ago when one of the prototypes visited our local dealer. If you think of it as a Noble M12 with a boot then you're about there. For the performance it is a bargain, and having seen it accelerate on full throttle, I can confirm it is very, very quick. I can't afford one and in fact rather like my own Exige but if I needed an every day car this would be mega.
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