RE: Driven: Lotus Exige S

RE: Driven: Lotus Exige S

Author
Discussion

I WISH

874 posts

199 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Agree that the "carbuncle" rear bumper is a bit extreme.

Can't really see where all the extra cash has gone. OK they've had the development costs for the new rear subframe/suspension assembly and a few tweaks ... but essentially it's still a kit of parts already available to Lotus.

£53k is just a bit too rich IMHO. Exige prices have been climbing inexorably with every new model that's launched.

sperm

david_b

413 posts

242 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Ikemi said:
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.
I didn't buy it new - I paid £10k for it a few years ago, and it would probably sell for virtually the same now, so I'm quite happy with that wink The 111R is probably a "better" car in some ways, but not all - would happily swap mine for this new one though!
The RRP of a 1999-2001 S1 111S was £26,590 smile
I know, as I said mine has a few options on it - I'm not doing the classic Porsche thing of using the basic RRP when in reality that's not actually what was paid wink

Elise 111S £26,590.00
Optional equipment
Hard top £1,275.00
Leather £595.00
Metallic paint £695.00
Alarm £295.00
Radio fitting kit £150.00
Carpet mats £59.00
On the road charges £203.00
Sports exhaust £532.00
Extra 12 months warranty £495.00

Total = £30,889.00 (don't know if it had the extra warranty, but anyway, £30k+ is about right!)

FisiP1

1,279 posts

152 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Captain Muppet said:
Like an Evora?
I'll take a Cayman R thanks...

NGK210

2,866 posts

144 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Captain Muppet said:
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.
Or order a coupe with the convertible's wingless engine cover? The rear looks soooo much nicer without that 'orrible wing. And perhaps a very pointy front-end with a loose rear might be more 'entertaining'? spin




Aids0G

492 posts

148 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Is the Roadster version out yet??? that would be an ideal car for me now how to come across £53,000 hmmmm, but on price it does seem a bit of a bargain compared to a gt3 etc?

C1RVY

2,329 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
StuH said:
If you don't like cars like this what the hell are you doing on PH?
That's a fair point.

Nik Gnashers

756 posts

155 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
For a sniff under £53,000, it offers 0-100mph in 8.5 seconds and has hit 170mph at Nardo.
Thats pretty impressive tbh, but doesnt really blow me away. I guess a lotus was always more about the handling than outright performance....

lotusgeek

60 posts

144 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
All I want to know is if you can turn the traction control off fully? Anyone know? I've got an Exige S and I would not consider changing unless I knew I could remove all the computer inputs allowing me to test my lack of skill. smile

Vilhelm

406 posts

148 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
I'd rather have this:


Thorburn

2,398 posts

192 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Vilhelm said:
I'd rather have this:

I'm curious why to be honest? Similar weight, slightly lower power, interior is piss poor having looked round it at Autosport International, and it's £15k more expensive than the Exige S which everyone is calling too expensive.

Hedgerley

620 posts

267 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
lotusgeek said:
All I want to know is if you can turn the traction control off fully? Anyone know? I've got an Exige S and I would not consider changing unless I knew I could remove all the computer inputs allowing me to test my lack of skill. smile
This is a good overview of the system from the CAR review. Note the last sentence -

There are four settings: Tour, Sport, Race and Off. It works brilliantly. Tour subtly and steadfastly kills the Exige’s tendency to understeer through slower corners, without the sense of power-cutting frustration that traction-control intervention often engenders. Sport is what Lotus calls ‘the fun mode’: it allows you to play around with the chassis much more, while still having a safety net. The real brilliance is saved for Race. This mode constantly calculates and adapts itself to the maximum available traction, giving you the perfect balance between grip and slip for a mega laptime. It’s probably the least intrusive system I’ve ever tried – Ferrari 599 GTO included – and works with incredible subtly. Even Lotus gurus such as Becker are faster with the software switched on. Finally there’s off, at which point you’re on your own.

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
Nik Gnashers said:
For a sniff under £53,000, it offers 0-100mph in 8.5 seconds and has hit 170mph at Nardo.
Thats pretty impressive tbh, but doesnt really blow me away. I guess a lotus was always more about the handling than outright performance....
Does anything else offer that performance for £53k?

I don't understand how people can find the performance of this car lacking or the price expensive?

John145

2,447 posts

155 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
braddo said:
Does anything else offer that performance for £53k?

I don't understand how people can find the performance of this car lacking or the price expensive?
It's because some people don't do any research. 8 seconds to 100mph, in what language is that not daft quick for a 50k car?

Esprit

6,370 posts

282 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
WANT. I've got an S1 Exige and I think this might just be the car to keep it company in the garage! smile

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
quotequote all
braddo said:
I don't understand how people can find the performance of this car lacking or the price expensive?
Regrettably there are idiots everywhere these days!

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

264 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
I WISH said:
Exige prices have been climbing inexorably with every new model that's launched.
Can you name a car which doesn't get more expensive with each new model launched?

Actually can you name anything (that isn't an emerging technology) that doesn't keep getting more expensive?

Ikemi

8,438 posts

204 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
david_b said:
Ikemi said:
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.
I didn't buy it new - I paid £10k for it a few years ago, and it would probably sell for virtually the same now, so I'm quite happy with that wink The 111R is probably a "better" car in some ways, but not all - would happily swap mine for this new one though!
The RRP of a 1999-2001 S1 111S was £26,590 smile
I know, as I said mine has a few options on it - I'm not doing the classic Porsche thing of using the basic RRP when in reality that's not actually what was paid wink

Elise 111S £26,590.00
Optional equipment
Hard top £1,275.00
Leather £595.00
Metallic paint £695.00
Alarm £295.00
Radio fitting kit £150.00
Carpet mats £59.00
On the road charges £203.00
Sports exhaust £532.00
Extra 12 months warranty £495.00

Total = £30,889.00 (don't know if it had the extra warranty, but anyway, £30k+ is about right!)
My post probably didn't come across as I meant it to ... It was directed at k-ink, what with his comment regarding a £27K S2 111R, whereas the S1 111S was £27K basic RRP, without extras smile


Edited by Ikemi on Thursday 26th April 09:52

jazzyjeff

3,652 posts

258 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
k-ink said:
I bought one of the first 111R for around 27k ish from memory. Why has it taken soooooooooo many years for this to come out? Then there is the crazy price just for a different engine. Far too late for me as I now have a family. But even if I was in the market it seems a mad price for an old car with a new engine (ok and some minor new bits).
So in summary, you're using the fact that you're too old and decided to have children (which you knew would be a money drain) as complaints about the car? wobble

david_b

413 posts

242 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Ikemi said:
My post probably didn't come across as I meant it to ... It was directed at k-ink, what with his comment regarding a £27K S2 111R, whereas the S1 111S was £27K basic RRP, without extras smile
Ah, no probs smile

chuntington101

5,733 posts

235 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Well the V6 has added some weight! Dose anyone know what gearbox is used?