RE: Lotus Exige Cup 430
Discussion
Adam3441 said:
SidewaysSi said:
Adam3441 said:
It will be interesting to see what the next generation Cayman GT4 offers in terms of price and performance. I’d laugh if it ended up undercutting the price of the Equivalent Exige.
I got the latest Lotus prices emailed to me today. My spec of Exige 430 would come out at over £110k. Silly really.
Why would you laugh? The Cayman is not as good as thever Exige.I got the latest Lotus prices emailed to me today. My spec of Exige 430 would come out at over £110k. Silly really.
And it is a lot more than a pure track car - I don't know why people see these as just track cars as they also work brilliantly on road.
Edited by SidewaysSi on Friday 10th November 20:39
Interesting banter. I have had most iterations of the GT3, and tracked them all and Cayman GT4 and tracked that and I have an Elise and tracked that so I feel well placed to judge. They are all damm good track cars and the relative performance differences are irrelevant, a well driven GT4 will lap just as quickly as an averagely driven Exige. For me it's more about how they feel and how much satisfaction there is to be enjoyed in learning how to get the best out of them. I am looking forwards to where the R8 RWS fits into my personal pecking order.
At broadly the same price point for me the Exige is slightly the odd man out as it doesn't offer the same high quality robust environment and broad spread of ability (or luggage space) when not on the track. At £80K, my Cayman was £82K, the Exige would be spot on the money IMHO
At broadly the same price point for me the Exige is slightly the odd man out as it doesn't offer the same high quality robust environment and broad spread of ability (or luggage space) when not on the track. At £80K, my Cayman was £82K, the Exige would be spot on the money IMHO
I'm lucky enough to own a 3-11 and GT4. Both are brilliant fun on road and track: the Lotus is superior on short to medium sized circuits and untouchable in terms of grin-inducing early Sunday morning blasts; the Porsche, by contrast, is far better suited to longer citcuits like Spa and the Ring (plus getting there and back!) as well as longer road trips.
Looking forward to the next interation of both cars, even if my piggy bank isn't.
Looking forward to the next interation of both cars, even if my piggy bank isn't.
bigmowley said:
Interesting banter. I have had most iterations of the GT3, and tracked them all and Cayman GT4 and tracked that and I have an Elise and tracked that so I feel well placed to judge. They are all damm good track cars and the relative performance differences are irrelevant, a well driven GT4 will lap just as quickly as an averagely driven Exige. For me it's more about how they feel and how much satisfaction there is to be enjoyed in learning how to get the best out of them. I am looking forwards to where the R8 RWS fits into my personal pecking order.
At broadly the same price point for me the Exige is slightly the odd man out as it doesn't offer the same high quality robust environment and broad spread of ability (or luggage space) when not on the track. At £80K, my Cayman was £82K, the Exige would be spot on the money IMHO
I agree. The current Exige has an upper intrinsic value no matter how much BHP and carbon they fit to it. At over £100k other things become important like interior materials and certain mod-cons. At broadly the same price point for me the Exige is slightly the odd man out as it doesn't offer the same high quality robust environment and broad spread of ability (or luggage space) when not on the track. At £80K, my Cayman was £82K, the Exige would be spot on the money IMHO
At £98k basic for this Exige I don’t expect to pay extra for air con (£1200), mats (£100), sound deadening (£500) carpet (£350), A-frame at £2600 (to attach harnesses which are necessary for track use). If you want the full battery cut off and extinguisher that’s £1300.....each!!
For a nicely specced Exige 430 you’re looking at well over £110K once it’s on the road.
It’s a lovely thing but eye watering price unfortunately.
diablodavs said:
Nearly bought a 350 last month, no mention of this model in the dealership at all, glad I waited now! Looks like it’s worth the bit extra to me at least
Why would it impact your decision if you were looking at the 350? You were already looking at the entry model as opposed to a high-spec Sport 380 or Cup 380.I can see why those considering a Cup 380 may reconsider (or be a bit miffed if they've just bought what they thought was a range topper), but someone buying a 350 already has the option of higher spec/performance models.
It’s more the ability to do trips where the exige falls down. Driving to the ring and around it for example. Hell driving to donnington from Essex! It’s just not a comfortable car to spend multiple hours in. At a lower price I think more people could justify this sacrifice. For 100k I ( and I imagine others) would like something that can be enjoyed more of the time. Still looks bloody amazing though.
stuno1 said:
It’s more the ability to do trips where the exige falls down. Driving to the ring and around it for example. Hell driving to donnington from Essex! It’s just not a comfortable car to spend multiple hours in. At a lower price I think more people could justify this sacrifice. For 100k I ( and I imagine others) would like something that can be enjoyed more of the time. Still looks bloody amazing though.
I suppose this is why it's not expected to sell in "Porsche" numbers. For most people it's a ludicrous car, especially at that price. For people who actually want what it offers though, it looks a bargain compared to most of the competition (although as someone noted above, kit cars can make it look decidedly expensive even by that metric). Ultimately I guess it's aimed very much at people who have multiple cars for different purposes and will probably have another car for touring (probably a 911).
Edited by kambites on Saturday 11th November 08:32
stuno1 said:
It’s more the ability to do trips where the exige falls down. Driving to the ring and around it for example. Hell driving to donnington from Essex! It’s just not a comfortable car to spend multiple hours in. At a lower price I think more people could justify this sacrifice. For 100k I ( and I imagine others) would like something that can be enjoyed more of the time. Still looks bloody amazing though.
Really? I genuinely don't understand this at all - they are very comfortable IMO. Your definition of hell may differ to mine..stuno1 said:
It’s more the ability to do trips where the exige falls down. Driving to the ring and around it for example. Hell driving to donnington from Essex! It’s just not a comfortable car to spend multiple hours in. At a lower price I think more people could justify this sacrifice. For 100k I ( and I imagine others) would like something that can be enjoyed more of the time. Still looks bloody amazing though.
They aren't that bad, IMO. I drove my S1 with Probax seats and 4pt harnesses from Swindon to Inverness and to be honest it was more comfortable than the Fiesta ST we have now!I've never found them uncomfortable (with the right seats, the Sport 160 seats I used to have were a bit crippling as zero padding on the back). They ride pretty well and unless you are very tall the seating position is good.
SidewaysSi said:
Really? I genuinely don't understand this at all - they are very comfortable IMO. Your definition of hell may differ to mine..
If you fit (and don't mind wearing ear-plugs) they're fine but they suffer from a severe lack of driving position adjustment and they're hopeless for especially fat or especially tall people or for anyone with restricted mobility. The thing desperately need an adjustable steering column at least. I've used my Elise as a daily for ten years, but I had to modify the interior to be able to drive it comfortably (only a steering column spacer but it made the difference between "barely derivable" and "comfortable"). It's still not going to match a proper GT or even a compact exec for its ability to eat miles though, it's just too... hyperactive.
kambites said:
I suppose this is why it's not expected to sell in "Porsche" numbers. For most people it's a ludicrous car, especially at that price. For people who actually want what it offers though, it looks a bargain compared to most of the competition (although as someone noted above, kit cars can make it look decidedly expensive even by that metric).
Ultimately I guess it's aimed very much at people who have multiple cars for different purposes and will probably have another car for touring (probably a 911).
This is my thinking too. I have driven several Lotus, raced one too, but never owned one. I own and have owned all sorts. The Cup 380 looked great when it came out and I started following the ads for those, but this car seems to have blown it away. I was hoping my next car was a 991.2 GT3 but that seems not to be, hence I scan the reviews and classifieds. For me I like a range of capabilities and I’m lucky to be able to afford a few things at once. That’s where this Lotus fits for me, part of a portfolio of cars with different capabilities. Ultimately I guess it's aimed very much at people who have multiple cars for different purposes and will probably have another car for touring (probably a 911).
Edited by kambites on Saturday 11th November 08:32
For me I think I’d go lightly used as we all know there will be another latest and greatest derivative model out soon. Let that happen and then buy. As everyone’s said, frustrating for the 380 buyers, but Lotus has form. To be fair though, they are a tiny manufacturer that can’t really afford a fully new range and hence they work iteratively with what they have and do a good job of it.
Love it, I would love a V6 Exige at some point. Got to agree with a few comments about the rate of 'new' models coming out and dealers not mentioning to customers that a new version is imminent (maybe a case of Hethel not telling dealers?). Saying that, punters should know the brand and 'new' model antics by now.
A couple of pics on Lotus FB page of a grey with silver wheel colour combo 430... looks fantastic on the move!
A couple of pics on Lotus FB page of a grey with silver wheel colour combo 430... looks fantastic on the move!
I spoke to a Lotus dealer earlier this year at a track day. Lotus are hard work and keep the dealers on their toes by not giving dealers a “heads up” about new editions. This dealer had ordered some new Elise’s for the showroom......only to find out too late that Lotus were fitting the lovely new exposed gear mechanism in the Elise. The upshot was that the dealer now had several new Elise’s in the showroom with the now undesirable old gear mechanism.
Potential customers call into the showroom for info on a new Lotus they’ve seen on social media. The dealer has no word from the factory and hasn’t checked Twitter that morning so looks foolish when they have no idea what the person is on about. Good old Lotus.
Potential customers call into the showroom for info on a new Lotus they’ve seen on social media. The dealer has no word from the factory and hasn’t checked Twitter that morning so looks foolish when they have no idea what the person is on about. Good old Lotus.
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