RE: The £35k Lotus Exiges: Spotted

[Evoman]

SidewaysSi said:

I do love how plenty of Vauxhall VX220 owners seem to have removed the griffin from their cars. I don't see the issue but they obviously don't want people to know their sportscar is a Vauxhall. Very odd.

Back to the Exige - the S1 is a cracking car but does need a few upgrades to truly come alive IMO. As standard they are fine but somewhat uncorked.

I'd be interested to hear your take on the changes made to bring the S1 more alive?!

[GFWilliams]

Crippo said:

Which one to have?

Maybe the £14k 300bhp VX220 that’s in my garage right now, lighter than the S3 and faster than all 3 and the same weight as an S2, probably not quite as nimble as the S1 but there is a small matter of that car being more than twice the price and then some....not an insignificant thought

I’ve owned a VX220 and honestly, it’s just not as nice a place to be. I see lots of big power claims from VX220 owners, but I’m yet to see one actually lapping fast on track. I guess the value can be looked at as a telling point, people are prepared to pay £14k for a VX220 and prepared to pay over £30k for an Exige.

(Sorry if this comes across as negative, but there are way too many VX220 owners who think their beloved Vauxhaulls are way better than an Exige)

[GFWilliams]

Evoman said:

I'd be interested to hear your take on the changes made to bring the S1 more alive?!

Honda engine is a good place to start

[hondansx]

Actually, I think the K Series is hard to beat. All the engine conversions add weight on a car that is very sensitive (and this is coming from someone who's had the conversion). This is somewhat demonstrated by the VX220, as you are right, they just aren't as quick on track. In my opinion, the VHPD K Series has character even the K20A doesn't match.

Is the S3 Exige weather proof? I might go sensible next year and it seems like such good value. I'm not worried about comfort or toys, but there's no way I'm going back to having to carry around towels with me, like i did with my VX220 and Elise.

[SidewaysSi]

GFWilliams said:

Evoman said:

I'd be interested to hear your take on the changes made to bring the S1 more alive?!

Honda engine is a good place to start

I have an S1 Sport 160 but wanted to keep the original engine. I may be somewhat odd but the Honda does not appeal as much as a properly sorted K Series and I value the originality of the 'heart' of the car. My car has the following and it is a right laugh:

- Nitron dampers - NTR40 (will get them rebuilt by Hofmanns in due course)

- Upgraded toe links

- Faster steering rack (2.3 turns)

- ProAlloy rad

- Ali bells discs, braided lines and RS42 pads

- Larini CS exhaust and carbon Hurricane induction (fabulous sound)

- Set of AD08Rs

- Quaife UCR straight cut gearbox with a 3.9 final drive. Makes a massive difference with those ratios!

- Quaife LSD

- Vibratechnics engine mounts

- Lightweight flywheel

- Quickshift gearchange

- Corbeau LE Pro seats

-Harness bar and Schroth harnesses

Engine is bog standard Sport 160 at the moment but I may get some verniers and a remap. I do love the character of the engine though so don't want to lose that. Maybe a trip to Kiwi Rog in the new year is required.

After that lot, the car is a cracker and as exciting and focused as my Caterham Superlight. Love it!!

Edited by SidewaysSi on Saturday 8th September 07:49

[hughcam]

The real bargain Exige is the normally aspirated s2. A little secret that some supercharged owners wouldn’t like to admit is that they are just as quick (if not slightly quicker) than a basic non chargecooled Exige 220 after a few laps due to heat soak and the extra weight. The normally aspirated car also makes you work the car so hard to get a time that you get completely immersed in the art of driving.

As an all round proposition the s3 rules but as a car used more on the track an s2 or s1 is where I would put my money (and I did with my chrome orange s2 )

[kiethton]

hughcam said:

The real bargain Exige is the normally aspirated s2. A little secret that some supercharged owners wouldn’t like to admit is that they are just as quick (if not slightly quicker) than a basic non chargecooled Exige 220 after a few laps due to heat soak and the extra weight. The normally aspirated car also makes you work the car so hard to get a time that you get completely immersed in the art of driving

This 100% (As a slightly biased S2 NA owner), realistically you don’t want much more on the road, especially with a Larini system

[SidewaysSi]

hughcam said:

The real bargain Exige is the normally aspirated s2. A little secret that some supercharged owners wouldn’t like to admit is that they are just as quick (if not slightly quicker) than a basic non chargecooled Exige 220 after a few laps due to heat soak and the extra weight. The normally aspirated car also makes you work the car so hard to get a time that you get completely immersed in the art of driving.

As an all round proposition the s3 rules but as a car used more on the track an s2 or s1 is where I would put my money (and I did with my chrome orange s2 )

By that reckoning, it would make the S1 faster than all the S2s. Not sure if that's true.

[Esprit]

SidewaysSi said:

By that reckoning, it would make the S1 faster than all the S2s. Not sure if that's true.

An S1 in good health (bear in mind a lot of the VHPD K-series don't make much more than 170bhp or so) will run circles around most S2 Exige variants on track. The extra weight of the S2 really becomes noticeable when driving them back to back.

S2 is a much easier ownership prospect though and more comfortable to tour in. S1s are really only one level more civilised than a sport bike.