New Exige V6. Is it the new Sagaris?
New Exige V6. Is it the new Sagaris?
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The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

263 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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looks for all the world like it in this photo



As an ex Sagaris owner myself it certainly appeals to me.

I drove an Evora S recently and that was mind bogglingly good on the road and on the track. This should only be better (well, on the track anyway).

The Evora S felt very close to my Sagaris in a straight line, (power is slightly down but torque is the same at 295ft lbs) and the Exige is 300kgs lighter! Yowzers.

Targarama

14,717 posts

306 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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I must admint, when I saw an article about this new Exige it did turn my eye. The old model isn't my style at all.

alex_gray255

6,332 posts

228 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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I'd be interested in hearing your opinions on the Evora from a Sagaris. I'm looking at that option now. Need to replace my car and the Evora S IPS 2+2 seemed the best option.

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

263 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
quotequote all
Sagaris is a very special car with a rare combination of raw appeal with capable handling as you know. There's not much out there that compares, most modern alternatives are much more refined, so if the rawness is big part of the appeal, you'll find modern alternatives a bit lacking in character and possibly excitement too.

Don't be fooled by the rather unmacho sounding name (well everything is compared to 'Sagaris' - a medieval battle axe if memory serves me correctly!), the Evora is a car of towering ability. I'd say you'll need the S after a TVR, the standard car may not be quite thrilling enough in a straight line. The 'S' however is ballistic. Overall it's a much more refined car. The engine is smooth, the suspension supple and it would cosset you on a long journey much better than the ever growly TVR. But there's a polish to everything the car does that's hard not to like. The steering and controls feel syrupy smooth and the car really flows down a UK b-road while being laser precise at the same time. An amazing trick. Personally I find the TVR gearchange never got the credit it deserved. One of the best in the business. In that regard the Evora has to come second best, but I'm told the later cars are much improved. Doubt they will still be up to the precise knuckly shift of the Saggy though.

Straight line performance is very similar, with the Evora S at least. Saggy pulls a bit harder higher up the rev range but Evora pulls more strongly lower down so it nets out at the same place. Lotus still pulls hard round to the cutout but there isn't quite the ramping up of power beyond 4k that you get in the Speed 6. Equally there's no suggestion at all that the thing is about to rev itself to pieces. That toyota engine will sit all day long at the redline without any bother at all. Badge snobs love to label it a 'camry engine'. Ignore them. It's a cracking motor, totally bulletproof and can be made to sound epic if you want.

The Sagaris was always very sorted in the cornering department but the Lotus is another level up again. I would be amazed if it didn't exceed your expectations. With more supple suspension and greater travel it inspires huge confidence and there's no gritting your teeth hoping the thing won't bottom out when the roads get bumpy. Brakes are awesome too.

In an ideal world you'd have both cars. The Sagaris is a more exotic beast. In terms of styling it's up there or should I say 'out there' with the best of them. I never tired of looking at mine and taking pictures of it. The Evora was designed from the beginning to be everyday useable and it is, more useable more of the time. It's performance is more accessible too. Put your foot down and it goes. No sweaty palms, just total obedience and reassurance. But don't be fooled by the more sober styling. It's a proper weapon. Being british it's properly set up for UK roads too, a much overlooked advantage of buying a car developed over here.

Go and give one a try, there are some cracking deals out there at the moment. And let us know how you got on.

I hope to get one myself soon too, more on that when the time is right....

alex_gray255

6,332 posts

228 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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Thanks for that! Very helpful.

I'm looking at the Evora as a daily driver and getting one for a couple of days later this week to test drive hopefully. I'll let you know how it goes.

It does sound like a very good car. We'll see biggrin


Funky

1,064 posts

250 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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alex_gray255 said:
Thanks for that! Very helpful.

I'm looking at the Evora as a daily driver and getting one for a couple of days later this week to test drive hopefully. I'll let you know how it goes.

It does sound like a very good car. We'll see biggrin
I hope it wont be replacing your beautiful sag smile

GTRene

20,902 posts

247 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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wow, nice picture, looks like a serious car, not such "toy" like anymore, me want biggrin

alex_gray255

6,332 posts

228 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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Funky said:
I hope it wont be replacing your beautiful sag smile
Not after all that work I've done to her! There would have to be some v. serious money on offer for me to do that biggrin

No, this is replacing my pretend TVR that goes to more TVR events that my real TVR tongue out

As its nearly 16 years old now, done 145k, I think it is time to retire it. Its been damned reliable and able to drive through just about any flooding or snow conditions I can throw at it, but I'm thinking its time for a change...

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

263 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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Keeping the Sag and getting an Evora, now you're talking.

thumbup

alex_gray255

6,332 posts

228 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Picked up the Evora this morning to use for the next week or so and yes, very impressed with it on the whole.

The IPS gearbox is not the best example of a techtronic type box I'm come across, but it pulls very smoothly, feels very planted on the road and has all the right power at the right time.

Not quite as raw or special as the Sag, but that is not what I'm after.

yoshizou

89 posts

181 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Lotus V6.....Please never forget that it's for Toyota minivan engineconfused

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

263 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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here we go again.... rolleyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XbbcsKCenI

...must've been one hell of a minivan...

A Lexus RX400h has a relation to the Evora V6 too. It's a very distant relation sharing very little besides similar cc.

Besides all that Lotus have extensive work on the engine, for one thing it revs higher in a Lotus than in any Toyota or Lexus application.

It's mere badge snobbery and ignorance from negatively disposed people.

if it sounds good, goes well and comes with the reassurance of Toyota reliability, what's not to like?

There are people out there still criticising the Aston V12 for being 'two mondeo engines'. No doubt there will be until the end of time....

I bet none of them have ever driven either an Evora or an Aston. banghead

Edited by The Pits on Thursday 17th November 17:03

alex_gray255

6,332 posts

228 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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The engine is as fast and as responsive as I'm looking for. And as Pit state's it is reliable, which in a daily driver is what you primarily need.

If I want something that just destroys the road when you hit the accelerator, I have the Sag for that laugh

Mattt

16,664 posts

241 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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I tried the Evora S at a Castle open day, and was very impressed.

Would be a perfect daily drive, but think it maybe too subtle for a weekend toy.

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

263 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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this thing on the other hand is weapons grade, they are talking GT3 RS pace for half the money.


GTRene

20,902 posts

247 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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it really looks like a big step up, a grown up Exige wich still can go fast around corners (they also speak of best from lotus?) but now also have some punch on the straights.

alex_gray255

6,332 posts

228 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Mattt said:
I tried the Evora S at a Castle open day, and was very impressed.

Would be a perfect daily drive, but think it maybe too subtle for a weekend toy.
ditto. Agree wholly.

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

263 months

Friday 18th November 2011
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That was Lotus's plan with the car from the start. Stealthy, understated styling, comfortable interior and ride, practical 2+2 configuration. Daily usable. It's a 911 for people with an imagination who like a sweetly balanced chassis! biggrin

PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

305 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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Have to admit that the Exige looks a lot better in black... at least from the front.

Can't get myself to like the back of the car...

justin220

5,659 posts

227 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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Evora owner signing in.. I've also owned a well set up T350, and an Exige.

I did have my name down for an Exige V6, but I'm just not sure it does it for me. I am also considering an Evora S, but feel its not different enough to justify the change. the hunt continues. I'd love a Sag!

The Evora inspires so much confidence on the road, much more so than any TVR IMO. It's not nearly as special to drive, but mine is my daily drive, and it's been good so far. Quite a good balance of excitement, and refinement.

An Evora S would be a great day to day, with a Sag for the weekends!