RE: Lotus Exige S3 | PH Used Buying Guide

[flukey5]

I want one of these so badly. Need to make it happen ASAP.

Looking for an early 350 for the 'open' shifter, though I think I prefer the glass back earlier cars than the louvre'd later ones. Just something about being able to see the engine from the outside....

I'll probably end up going for an elise though, simply because the cost and maintenance of the exige is another level up.

Edited by flukey5 on Monday 26th October 10:06

[Kent Border Kenny]

sidesauce said:

Ferrari get accused of making their look too aggressive, festooned with too many slashes and creases.

Lotus somehow never attract the same level of criticism.

Hmmmm....

They have a completely different purpose though.

[anonymous-user]

I can't imagine anyone steps out of their Exige S and thinks, "Hmmm, that was nice but what I really need is an Elise".

[Tickle]

rockin said:

I can't imagine anyone steps out of their Exige S and thinks, "Hmmm, that was nice but what I really need is an Elise".

Quite a few have gone V6 to Elise Cup (220, 250).

[SidewaysSi]

rockin said:

I can't imagine anyone steps out of their Exige S and thinks, "Hmmm, that was nice but what I really need is an Elise".

Err....Are you sure?!

Have you driven them or are these just thoughts floating about between your ears?

[kambites]

fastraxx said:

The evora is a significantly superior chassis.

It's 15 years newer so it damned well should be. Of course part of the Evora's advantage comes from having a structural roof which means, unlike with the Elise and Exige, you can't take the roof off.

I think the plan was always to replace the Elise/Exige with something VVA based but somehow Lotus always managed to get sidetracked by something else.

Edited by kambites on Monday 26th October 10:06

[anonymous-user]

SidewaysSi said:

Have you driven them or are these just thoughts floating about between your ears?

Yup, although both can entertain for a few minutes Exige S struck me as perhaps the quickest four wheeled vehicle on this planet. Unbelievable level of performance.

[fastraxx]

kambites said:

It's 15 years newer so it damned well should be. Of course part of the Evora's advantage comes from having a structural roof which means, unlike with the Elise and Exige, you can't take the roof off.

I think the plan was always to replace the Elise/Exige with something VVA based but somehow Lotus always managed to get sidetracked by something else.

Edited by kambites on Monday 26th October 10:06

Evora is 15 years newer than S3 Exige chassis?

[lotuslover69]

rockin said:

I can't imagine anyone steps out of their Exige S and thinks, "Hmmm, that was nice but what I really need is an Elise".

I have not only known of people who have done this but gone and bought an early S1 Elise. Some seem to think the S1 Elise is the best of all the elise variants produced. Also the s1 elise is significantly cheaper than something like an s3 exige.So if running a 35k lotus doesnt make sense anymore they can sell the Exige and buy an s1 elise and have 20k spare.

[flukey5]

lotuslover69 said:

I have not only known of people who have done this but gone and bought an early S1 Elise. Some seem to think the S1 Elise is the best of all the elise variants produced. Also the s1 elise is significantly cheaper than something like an s3 exige.So if running a 35k lotus doesnt make sense anymore they can sell the Exige and buy an s1 elise and have 20k spare.

Interesting. I've always wanted a v6 exige but money might not allow. Maybe an s3 elise isn't such a bad compromise?

Edited by flukey5 on Monday 26th October 11:11

[CABC]

SidewaysSi said:

Cracking cars which is a given. Some may prefer an Elise re.size/fun/cost.

yep, i think the Elise is the most fun road car and Evora S1 great for sports GT work. Exige compromised in the middle somewhere. Track work would change priorities.

[fastraxx]

flukey5 said:

Interesting. I've always wanted a v6 exige but money might not allow. Maybe an elise isn't such a bad compromise?

It's better in many ways for many lotus owners. Sub 1 tonne and much more around ethos of chapmans 'adding lightness' - I know several exige/evora owners have went back to s1-3 elise for this reason.

[Flat6]

Love mine, any excuse for a pic



This was after a full day of driving around the Yorkshire Dales yesterday with some other Lotus pals. Even through some pretty treacherous conditions early on it was still pure bliss.
I think it's fair to say my old Elise 111R was probably as much fun, if not more in some circumstances but the Exige is much a better all-rounder and laps up the boring bits in-between much better than the Elise could. They're all great cars though and really get under your skin like nothing else, probably why people hang on to them for so long...

[SidewaysSi]

The thirst, extra costs of consumables and relative lack of agility of the Exige mean plenty of Lotus people "go back" to an Elise.

The latest Cup cars are brilliant things. Or go older if you want to shave off more weight.

[Shnozz]

fastraxx said:

flukey5 said:

Interesting. I've always wanted a v6 exige but money might not allow. Maybe an elise isn't such a bad compromise?

It's better in many ways for many lotus owners. Sub 1 tonne and much more around ethos of chapmans 'adding lightness' - I know several exige/evora owners have went back to s1-3 elise for this reason.

The Elise/Exige DNA is very apparent through all the generations and what makes the car so special. Whilst the S3 Exige to me gives it the "right" level of performance so as to not embarrass yourself, the S1 is still a fantastic car to drive and still feels so incredible in its balance and lightness.

If an S3 Exige is a stretch, I would say you will enjoy an S1 Elise and the bonus is you'll have cheap running costs and most likely see the value of it rise.

[Tickle]

Flat6 said:

Love mine, any excuse for a pic



This was after a full day of driving around the Yorkshire Dales yesterday with some other Lotus pals. Even through some pretty treacherous conditions early on it was still pure bliss.
I think it's fair to say my old Elise 111R was probably as much fun, if not more in some circumstances but the Exige is much a better all-rounder and laps up the boring bits in-between much better than the Elise could. They're all great cars though and really get under your skin like nothing else, probably why people hang on to them for so long...

Great pic, ultra rare 260 Elise in shot too.

...gutted I was too soft to come out

[kambites]

fastraxx said:

Evora is 15 years newer than S3 Exige chassis?

Yes because the S3 Exige tub is the 111-tub with light modifications which was released in 1996 in the S1 Elise.

[fastraxx]

kambites said:

Yes because the S3 Exige tub is the 111-tub with light modifications which was released in 1996 in the S1 Elise.

Yes but there is no reason why they could not have improved the chassis for the s3 exige in the same way they have a much stronger evora chassis?

[kambites]

fastraxx said:

kambites said:

Yes because the S3 Exige tub is the 111-tub with light modifications which was released in 1996 in the S1 Elise.

Yes but there is no reason why they could not have improved the chassis for the s3 exige in the same way they have a much stronger evora chassis?

No reason except cost, which is a pretty good reason when you're Lotus.

The Evora chassis is based on a completely different architecture.

[fastraxx]

kambites said:

No reason except cost, which is a pretty good reason when you're Lotus.

The Evora chassis is based on a completely different architecture.

Yes, I appreciate that. Great cars, nonetheless but as a trackcar, id prefer to be sub 1 tonne.