Lotus Exige S (S2) | Spotted
Discussion
I would say this given I own one, but unless you're going to track it and therefore want the intercooler and the downforce in the Exige, I think an Elise SC is the better option for most people. It's even lighter (with the same power), it's cheaper, and it's more practical; you can actually see out of the back, and the nose is fractionally higher. That makes all the difference with driveways, car parks, etc. with nasty approach angles.
That said, the Exige is just cooler, isn't it? Especially in Chrome Orange with black spoiler, splitter & wheels. (It's the only car/colour combo that I think looks good with black wheels.)
I drove an early S2 Elise daily, before I bought my SC. Later ones with carpets, etc. are more habitable on motorways, and if you get on with the seats really long distances are surprisingly fine provided you don't get a droning sports exhaust - I did 1000km in a day once in my early K-series S2 (back to London from Bordeaux in one hit).
The clams are a pain, especially the front one. People can't see/judge it because it's so low and it's pretty fragile. My current SC is parked on the street in London and one just has to cope and not be precious about it. It's not like it affects the handling.
At some point I'll move to the countryside and it'll have a garage to live in, at which point I'll get it all patched up and resprayed. Annoying, but then it's barely lost any value in the eight years since I bought it and it's peanuts to run, so not the end of the world. I can see how it wouldn't work if you're the kind of person who insists on their car being spotless, though.
You get used to getting in and out, although infrequent/older passengers might not appreciate it. If you have a soft top on them, they're so low that if you're reasonably tall you can just wind down the window and step over the door to get in, in really tight parking spaces. The car is quite heavily waisted, too, which helps.
I managed to get out of this one, for example:
That said, the Exige is just cooler, isn't it? Especially in Chrome Orange with black spoiler, splitter & wheels. (It's the only car/colour combo that I think looks good with black wheels.)
I drove an early S2 Elise daily, before I bought my SC. Later ones with carpets, etc. are more habitable on motorways, and if you get on with the seats really long distances are surprisingly fine provided you don't get a droning sports exhaust - I did 1000km in a day once in my early K-series S2 (back to London from Bordeaux in one hit).
The clams are a pain, especially the front one. People can't see/judge it because it's so low and it's pretty fragile. My current SC is parked on the street in London and one just has to cope and not be precious about it. It's not like it affects the handling.
At some point I'll move to the countryside and it'll have a garage to live in, at which point I'll get it all patched up and resprayed. Annoying, but then it's barely lost any value in the eight years since I bought it and it's peanuts to run, so not the end of the world. I can see how it wouldn't work if you're the kind of person who insists on their car being spotless, though.
You get used to getting in and out, although infrequent/older passengers might not appreciate it. If you have a soft top on them, they're so low that if you're reasonably tall you can just wind down the window and step over the door to get in, in really tight parking spaces. The car is quite heavily waisted, too, which helps.
I managed to get out of this one, for example:
Edited by herebebeasties on Sunday 12th January 18:46
herebebeasties said:
I would say this given I own one, but unless you're going to track it and therefore want the intercooler and the downforce in the Exige, I think an Elise SC is the better option for most people. It's even lighter (with the same power), it's cheaper, and it's more practical; you can actually see out of the back, and the nose is fractionally higher. That makes all the difference with driveways, car parks, etc. with nasty approach angles.
That said, the Exige is just cooler, isn't it? Especially in Chrome Orange with black spoiler, splitter & wheels. (It's the only car/colour combo that I think looks good with black wheels.)
I drove an early S2 Elise daily, before I bought my SC. Later ones with carpets, etc. are more habitable on motorways, and if you get on with the seats really long distances are surprisingly fine provided you don't get a droning sports exhaust - I did 1000km in a day once in my early K-series S2 (back to London from Bordeaux in one hit).
You get used to getting in and out, although infrequent/older passengers might not appreciate it. If you have a soft top on them, they're so low that if you're reasonably tall you can just wind down the window and step over the door to get in, in really tight parking spaces.
I managed to get out of this one, for example:
Strewth. Even if I could have squeezed into the car, I'd have felt compelled to wait for the driver of the Range Rover to return to ask what, in their tiny, tiny mind, they were thinking when they parked like that.That said, the Exige is just cooler, isn't it? Especially in Chrome Orange with black spoiler, splitter & wheels. (It's the only car/colour combo that I think looks good with black wheels.)
I drove an early S2 Elise daily, before I bought my SC. Later ones with carpets, etc. are more habitable on motorways, and if you get on with the seats really long distances are surprisingly fine provided you don't get a droning sports exhaust - I did 1000km in a day once in my early K-series S2 (back to London from Bordeaux in one hit).
You get used to getting in and out, although infrequent/older passengers might not appreciate it. If you have a soft top on them, they're so low that if you're reasonably tall you can just wind down the window and step over the door to get in, in really tight parking spaces.
I managed to get out of this one, for example:
Europa1 said:
Strewth. Even if I could have squeezed into the car, I'd have felt compelled to wait for the driver of the Range Rover to return to ask what, in their tiny, tiny mind, they were thinking when they parked like that.
I actually parked the Elise with that Rangie in situ. (Designated parking space.) But yes, what a twit!Sion111R said:
Had an S2 Supercharged 111R whilst well in to my forties.
Sold it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Only saving grace is I still have an S1. And a modified Type R integra as a daily.
I am now some way in to my fifties.
Don’t pigeonhole cars by what age you are or what will people think of you.
Enjoy them whilst you can.
You sir have immaculate taste in cars!Sold it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Only saving grace is I still have an S1. And a modified Type R integra as a daily.
I am now some way in to my fifties.
Don’t pigeonhole cars by what age you are or what will people think of you.
Enjoy them whilst you can.
From a fellow Lotus fan (but can't afford to buy one) over 50 years old, who is currently hoping to buy an EP3 Type R soon (not an Integra but I cant afford those) and agrees 100% with your outlook......
Mark83 said:
TheOrangePeril said:
Although far less affordable than an Elise (for obvious reasons) I'd love one of these as a daily driver. Tiny footprint so perfect for parking, plenty of room for shopping on the passenger side, can even strap in your bags for life securely with a racing harness if so specced. Perfect.
As a former-owner who had to wait for the driver of the car parked next to me to return so I could get in my car, it's not so perfect everyday. You need the doors wide open to get in and out.Edited by Mark83 on Sunday 12th January 10:03
ate one too said:
BigTed234 said:
What a bunch of fairies! I daily drove an S2 Elise for 7 years and put 70,000 on it.
Top lurking BigTed ... I presume you are made of rubber and have tinnitus now ... 
herebebeasties said:
I would say this given I own one, but unless you're going to track it and therefore want the intercooler and the downforce in the Exige, I think an Elise SC is the better option for most people.
As an Exige owner, I largely agree with this. The SC Elises make a lot more sense in most ways, and had I not sold my 111R to free up some house move cash I would still have it today, and it would be SC'd by now 
I'm a real fan of the 2ZZ though, I think it's got a little something that the later Elise SC engines don't have - so for me it would need to be an early Elise SC or a converted 111R (or as it happened, an S2 Exige...!)
The "downforce" in the Exige is a bit irrelevant I feel, but the looks are something that I just had to have - and even though the intercooler is awful in its OEM format, it does mean that the Exige has better/cheaper tuning routes than the equivalent Elise - with dealer recognised upgrades of 260bhp readily available for ~£1500 depending on how you do it and you can go 300+ if you don't mind throwing gearboxes at it. It's a bit more difficult to get the Elise much higher than 220bhp, but of course not impossible.
A1VDY said:
BigTed234 said:
What a bunch of fairies! I daily drove an S2 Elise for 7 years and put 70,000 on it.
Psychopath.. Sion111R said:
Had an S2 Supercharged 111R whilst well in to my forties.
Sold it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Only saving grace is I still have an S1. And a modified Type R integra as a daily.
I am now some way in to my fifties.
Don’t pigeonhole cars by what age you are or what will people think of you.
Enjoy them whilst you can.
Nice. DC2 or DC5 and any pictures plus list of mods done?Sold it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Only saving grace is I still have an S1. And a modified Type R integra as a daily.
I am now some way in to my fifties.
Don’t pigeonhole cars by what age you are or what will people think of you.
Enjoy them whilst you can.
I'm another who is not convinced on the 'daily' aspect. I have what I think is a perfect pair of real world cars - a Golf R Estate for daily duties and an Elise S2 111R for weekend runs. I love that two cars with similar 0-60 times (victory to the Golf I think) are so utterly different to drive in every respect. I love the Elise on the right road but would not want to use it for many of my long motorway schleps. I do it about once a year to remind myself why I don't!
That Exige looks wonderful. I prefer these cars roof off but understand it's a simple enough mod on the Exige. Plus, great winter hard top! If I had spare cash I'd be very tempted.
That Exige looks wonderful. I prefer these cars roof off but understand it's a simple enough mod on the Exige. Plus, great winter hard top! If I had spare cash I'd be very tempted.
Lol at the Rover Unit being more exciting even though the S1 was a lot lighter! The 2zz was a massive step in the right direction Lotus choose it due to the emission restrictions and it was a far more responsive & aggressive engine it breathed really well in standard form and that had 3k of lift instead of 2k of in Corolla and Celica that kept it in the power band more. The 260 S2 was an absolute animal.
Retset said:
I'm another who is not convinced on the 'daily' aspect. I have what I think is a perfect pair of real world cars - a Golf R Estate for daily duties and an Elise S2 111R for weekend runs. I love that two cars with similar 0-60 times (victory to the Golf I think) are so utterly different to drive in every respect. I love the Elise on the right road but would not want to use it for many of my long motorway schleps. I do it about once a year to remind myself why I don't!
That Exige looks wonderful. I prefer these cars roof off but understand it's a simple enough mod on the Exige. Plus, great winter hard top! If I had spare cash I'd be very tempted.
I hate driving my S3 on motorways not so much because it’s beyond the car’s remit (it has cruise control and surprisingly comfy seats), but because it feels like such a waste...That Exige looks wonderful. I prefer these cars roof off but understand it's a simple enough mod on the Exige. Plus, great winter hard top! If I had spare cash I'd be very tempted.
dufunk said:
Lol at the Rover Unit being more exciting even though the S1 was a lot lighter! The 2zz was a massive step in the right direction Lotus choose it due to the emission restrictions and it was a far more responsive & aggressive engine it breathed really well in standard form and that had 3k of lift instead of 2k of in Corolla and Celica that kept it in the power band more. The 260 S2 was an absolute animal.
Personally I prefer a well set up K Series. Doesn't have the ultimate speed of the Toyota but a more interesting/exciting engine IME.Great cars the S2 Exige. 
I wanted one since they came out but when I eventually had the money to buy one the nice ones were fetching well over £30k.
I then did the man math and ended up buying a year old Elise Cup (Big aero version) instead for £37k.
Haven't regretted it. Its a great car. I find it has a similar stance too.
I wanted one since they came out but when I eventually had the money to buy one the nice ones were fetching well over £30k.
I then did the man math and ended up buying a year old Elise Cup (Big aero version) instead for £37k.
Haven't regretted it. Its a great car. I find it has a similar stance too.
Edited by Composite Guru on Monday 13th January 11:18
SidewaysSi said:
dufunk said:
Lol at the Rover Unit being more exciting even though the S1 was a lot lighter! The 2zz was a massive step in the right direction Lotus choose it due to the emission restrictions and it was a far more responsive & aggressive engine it breathed really well in standard form and that had 3k of lift instead of 2k of in Corolla and Celica that kept it in the power band more. The 260 S2 was an absolute animal.
Personally I prefer a well set up K Series. Doesn't have the ultimate speed of the Toyota but a more interesting/exciting engine IME.Again biased but I have a VX220, owned for nearly 10 years. For some of those years it was my only car and I daily'd it. Ice on inside of the windscreen, frozen locks, less than ample heat from the heater (in comparison to other cars) and how noisy/cold it could be were all manageable in my youth. Also, work was flexi so I didn't matter as much if I arrived half an hour after I intended.
Now I'm older, the daily drive has gone through many iterations but the things that made the VX fun would now annoy me. A comfy seat, ease of access, heated seats, pre-warmed car etc are all much nicer than having my t1ts jibbled all the way to work. Funnily enough, that wasn't an issue 10 years ago.
The VX is now far more hardcore than it used to be, stiffer suspension, lower, supercharged. It probably gives 90% of what the exige does with regards to driver reward. Certainly far closer to the exige than it is to normal road cars.
Now I'm older, the daily drive has gone through many iterations but the things that made the VX fun would now annoy me. A comfy seat, ease of access, heated seats, pre-warmed car etc are all much nicer than having my t1ts jibbled all the way to work. Funnily enough, that wasn't an issue 10 years ago.
The VX is now far more hardcore than it used to be, stiffer suspension, lower, supercharged. It probably gives 90% of what the exige does with regards to driver reward. Certainly far closer to the exige than it is to normal road cars.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff