Anyone else tempted by one of these ??
Discussion
mollytherocker said:
No doubt they will be great to drive but £62k? Nah.
I am a fan of lotus, for example the Evora is a great drivers car (apart from that god awful gear shift) but about 15k overpriced in my view.
The sales figures would support my view.
Not so sure, I know Lotus have gone through a tough time recently and consequently, I think are only just starting to be delivered now.I am a fan of lotus, for example the Evora is a great drivers car (apart from that god awful gear shift) but about 15k overpriced in my view.
The sales figures would support my view.
My mate has an S2 Exige S which is an easy match for my car on most of our favourite A/B roads.....which is a bit astonishing given its 1.8 ltr 220 BHP engine vs 3.6 TT 480 BHP
These things are rocket-ships due to relative lack of weight. Very raw & fun to drive also !!Ok, so say you manage to get your hands on one of these for 62K (that's for the even lighter Cup version)...,,I'm thinking will deliver GT3 RS levels of fun and still be worth 40+ in 3 yrs time ?? When you compare that to cost of a new 911 of equal performance (of which there isn't one as yet)...is a veritable bargain
Hmmmmmmm
mollytherocker said:
No doubt they will be great to drive but £62k? Nah.
I am a fan of lotus, for example the Evora is a great drivers car (apart from that god awful gear shift) but about 15k overpriced in my view.
The sales figures would support my view.
I drove an evora S immediately afterwards. Now ive always liked driving the evora, there is much to praise, but honestly, it can't hold a candle to this new car for sheer thrills, fun and connectivity. Its a 0-100 in low 8's car, and will be stonking quick on track once owners get them dialled in so in my book 60k isn't too bad. The main thing is though it something new, dramatic and interesting and has its own niche all to itself.I am a fan of lotus, for example the Evora is a great drivers car (apart from that god awful gear shift) but about 15k overpriced in my view.
The sales figures would support my view.
346 BHP, 0-60 3.8....circa 1,000kg
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/lotus-announces...
No PASM, PDCC, PDK, PTV, Power steering + etc etc....just a raw, mean, rare road racer
Porsche, take note, this is what some of us still want really !!
Zyp said:
I should be getting a call from my dealer any day now, as soon as Lotus get their finger out.
I've specced one up to about £56k, but I need to drive one for a decent length of time before I think about buying one.
Loved my old 240S....
If you don't mind me asking, which dealer ?I've specced one up to about £56k, but I need to drive one for a decent length of time before I think about buying one.
Loved my old 240S....
The one I have tried to contact twice now never returns my calls ! Either they don't like Porsche drivers or want to keep these things for themselves
Have been on their website to try and spec one up but seems all you can choose is model + colour....think we have been spoiled with the Porsche Configurator
OggyDJ said:
If you don't mind me asking, which dealer ?
The one I have tried to contact twice now never returns my calls ! Either they don't like Porsche drivers or want to keep these things for themselves
Have been on their website to try and spec one up but seems all you can choose is model + colour....think we have been spoiled with the Porsche Configurator
I'd guess this one http://www.stratstone.com/dealers/lotus-dealer-lei...The one I have tried to contact twice now never returns my calls ! Either they don't like Porsche drivers or want to keep these things for themselves
Have been on their website to try and spec one up but seems all you can choose is model + colour....think we have been spoiled with the Porsche Configurator
purpleperil said:
OggyDJ said:
If you don't mind me asking, which dealer ?
The one I have tried to contact twice now never returns my calls ! Either they don't like Porsche drivers or want to keep these things for themselves
Have been on their website to try and spec one up but seems all you can choose is model + colour....think we have been spoiled with the Porsche Configurator
I'd guess this one http://www.stratstone.com/dealers/lotus-dealer-lei...The one I have tried to contact twice now never returns my calls ! Either they don't like Porsche drivers or want to keep these things for themselves
Have been on their website to try and spec one up but seems all you can choose is model + colour....think we have been spoiled with the Porsche Configurator
Oggy - try this link - http://www.lotusdriversguide.com/Downloads/Priceli...
Having just sold my 964 C2 (sold to a dealer in Germany within 48 hours of being advertised!) I'm on the lookout for a new weekend b-road hooner / occasional trackday car.
Can't afford a new Exige (would never buy a new car full stop) but started looking at the Europa... having done the 911 thing there is definitely a Lotus-shaped itch in my life...
Joel
Can't afford a new Exige (would never buy a new car full stop) but started looking at the Europa... having done the 911 thing there is definitely a Lotus-shaped itch in my life...
Joel
Zyp said:
purpleperil said:
OggyDJ said:
If you don't mind me asking, which dealer ?
The one I have tried to contact twice now never returns my calls ! Either they don't like Porsche drivers or want to keep these things for themselves
Have been on their website to try and spec one up but seems all you can choose is model + colour....think we have been spoiled with the Porsche Configurator
I'd guess this one http://www.stratstone.com/dealers/lotus-dealer-lei...The one I have tried to contact twice now never returns my calls ! Either they don't like Porsche drivers or want to keep these things for themselves
Have been on their website to try and spec one up but seems all you can choose is model + colour....think we have been spoiled with the Porsche Configurator
Oggy - try this link - http://www.lotusdriversguide.com/Downloads/Priceli...
The one I'm interested in is the V6 Cup just announced at the Autosport show (as per my pics). This is 100kg lighter and while still a road car, is even more track focused than the regular S (so I guess more like a GT3 RS than a GT3).
We are definitely spoilt with the Porsche website and Configurator, it's obvious Lotus put a lot more effort into developing their cars than they do actually selling them
. Nearest dealer to me is in Cheshire....have requested info from them twice already and got zero response 
Anyway, need to decide which way to go and then, just go and see them I think !Definitely am tempted - what a brilliant car. If the 991GT3 is £120K+ then this makes a lot of sense to me. I bought a Lotus in preference to a 911 (better feel, communication etc as well as cheaper to run). I think it looks brilliant and obviously is not too shabby to drive (EVO car of the year if that means anything).
Lotuses are far less practical that Porsches which harms their appeal to the general public but if all you care about is driving (i.e. a GT Porsche kinda fellow), they are hugely appealing.
Jackal, I would be interested in how you felt this compares to the 996GT3/RS.
Lotuses are far less practical that Porsches which harms their appeal to the general public but if all you care about is driving (i.e. a GT Porsche kinda fellow), they are hugely appealing.
Jackal, I would be interested in how you felt this compares to the 996GT3/RS.
My honda'd S1 exige is around 320bhp and just 830kgs. Yet to see a new Exige on the road/track (they will be rare for some time to come) but I'd be interested to see how they stack up.
For all the thrills with much less outlay... a S/C Honda'd or Audi Turbo Elise can be had for the high teens ... No driver aids at all, no PAS, no ABS ... and the lack of driver aids will be a benefit in a few years time when car mechnicals are so good they don;t break down, its just the sensors and electrics that fail on you!
For all the thrills with much less outlay... a S/C Honda'd or Audi Turbo Elise can be had for the high teens ... No driver aids at all, no PAS, no ABS ... and the lack of driver aids will be a benefit in a few years time when car mechnicals are so good they don;t break down, its just the sensors and electrics that fail on you!
SidewaysSi said:
Definitely am tempted - what a brilliant car. If the 991GT3 is £120K+ then this makes a lot of sense to me. I bought a Lotus in preference to a 911 (better feel, communication etc as well as cheaper to run). I think it looks brilliant and obviously is not too shabby to drive (EVO car of the year if that means anything).
Lotuses are far less practical that Porsches which harms their appeal to the general public but if all you care about is driving (i.e. a GT Porsche kinda fellow), they are hugely appealing.
Jackal, I would be interested in how you felt this compares to the 996GT3/RS.
Hello mate, being honest you can't compare them. They are totally different cars. Even the very low down driving position, tiny intimate cockpit and immediacy of the feedback in the Exige means that this side of a caterham there is no other car like it. A GT3 is gnarly, raw, rear engined, there to be grappled, wielded and tamed ... the Exige V6 is a smooth, fluid, perfectly balanced mid with a degree of compliance and suppleness that actually belies its looks and will surprise you. I would jump into the V6 and fly down to the Alps in one go with absolutely no hesitation at all. The two cars have been developed with different philosophies to give completely different experiences IMO and in an ideal garage you would have both, no question.Lotuses are far less practical that Porsches which harms their appeal to the general public but if all you care about is driving (i.e. a GT Porsche kinda fellow), they are hugely appealing.
Jackal, I would be interested in how you felt this compares to the 996GT3/RS.
In general, the ride, body control, road manners and dynamics are a lot more finely perfected in a Lotus. If you've come from other marques then its a whole new world. The new Exige doesn't know what tramlining is, or camber chasing, bumpsteer, unsettling mid corner bumps, harshness etc.. If you like to revel in chassis perfection then the Lotus is for you. If you like the challenge to make imperfection sing then the GT3 is for you. I personally love and can live with both !
TBH, you can't even compare the Exige to the Porsche mids like the cayman/Boxster IMO. As good as the latter are, they are aloof and bus like in comparison. The Exige is a true baby le mans experience, the feeling of connectivity is one step away from a Caterham ... like the very wheels themselves feel like they are extending straight out of your bare hands. The only other car I can liken it to is the now defunct Noble M400 but the noble didn't have the beautiful ride, handling and feel of the Exige. The Noble also felt like a bigger car as well and not nearly as nimble or scalpel-like.
As an aside, a good friend of mine works in the Motorsport dept. and works with all the race cars and Cup and Cup R. He told me that the Cup cars are just even better with the extra weight loss, it makes quite a difference. I think they might hold their value better than the straight road cars but the only problem is I think they only have a 6 month warranty. The 3 year warranty from lotus is a string selling point as well.
My deposit would have been down 2 weeks ago. I've got so much crap going on the early part of this year though that I cant commit to one just yet.
Edited by jackal on Thursday 24th January 13:07
OggyDJ said:
That's great, thx !
The one I'm interested in is the V6 Cup just announced at the Autosport show (as per my pics). This is 100kg lighter and while still a road car, is even more track focused than the regular S (so I guess more like a GT3 RS than a GT3).
We are definitely spoilt with the Porsche website and Configurator, it's obvious Lotus put a lot more effort into developing their cars than they do actually selling them. Nearest dealer to me is in Cheshire....have requested info from them twice already and got zero response Anyway, need to decide which way to go and then, just go and see them I think !
Cup - http://www.lotuscars.com/sites/default/files/docum...The one I'm interested in is the V6 Cup just announced at the Autosport show (as per my pics). This is 100kg lighter and while still a road car, is even more track focused than the regular S (so I guess more like a GT3 RS than a GT3).
We are definitely spoilt with the Porsche website and Configurator, it's obvious Lotus put a lot more effort into developing their cars than they do actually selling them
. Nearest dealer to me is in Cheshire....have requested info from them twice already and got zero response Anyway, need to decide which way to go and then, just go and see them I think !These are the only brochures I've had from the dealer!
jackal said:
SidewaysSi said:
Definitely am tempted - what a brilliant car. If the 991GT3 is £120K+ then this makes a lot of sense to me. I bought a Lotus in preference to a 911 (better feel, communication etc as well as cheaper to run). I think it looks brilliant and obviously is not too shabby to drive (EVO car of the year if that means anything).
Lotuses are far less practical that Porsches which harms their appeal to the general public but if all you care about is driving (i.e. a GT Porsche kinda fellow), they are hugely appealing.
Jackal, I would be interested in how you felt this compares to the 996GT3/RS.
Hello mate, being honest you can't compare them. They are totally different cars. Even the very low down driving position, tiny intimate cockpit and immediacy of the feedback in the Exige means that this side of a caterham there is no other car like it. A GT3 is gnarly, raw, rear engined, there to be grappled, wielded and tamed ... the Exige V6 is a smooth, fluid, perfectly balanced mid with a degree of compliance and suppleness that actually belies its looks and will surprise you. I would jump into the V6 and fly down to the Alps in one go with absolutely no hesitation at all. The two cars have been developed with different philosophies to give completely different experiences IMO and in an ideal garage you would have both, no question.Lotuses are far less practical that Porsches which harms their appeal to the general public but if all you care about is driving (i.e. a GT Porsche kinda fellow), they are hugely appealing.
Jackal, I would be interested in how you felt this compares to the 996GT3/RS.
In general, the ride, body control, road manners and dynamics are a lot more finely perfected in a Lotus. If you've come from other marques then its a whole new world. The new Exige doesn't know what tramlining is, or camber chasing, bumpsteer, unsettling mid corner bumps, harshness etc.. If you like to revel in chassis perfection then the Lotus is for you. If you like the challenge to make imperfection sing then the GT3 is for you. I personally love and can live with both !
TBH, you can't even compare the Exige to the Porsche mids like the cayman/Boxster IMO. As good as the latter are, they are aloof and bus like in comparison. The Exige is a true baby le mans experience, the feeling of connectivity is one step away from a Caterham ... like the very wheels themselves feel like they are extending straight out of your bare hands. The only other car I can liken it to is the now defunct Noble M400 but the noble didn't have the beautiful ride, handling and feel of the Exige. The Noble also felt like a bigger car as well and not nearly as nimble or scalpel-like.
As an aside, a good friend of mine works in the Motorsport dept. and works with all the race cars and Cup and Cup R. He told me that the Cup cars are just even better with the extra weight loss, it makes quite a difference. I think they might hold their value better than the straight road cars but the only problem is I think they only have a 6 month warranty. The 3 year warranty from lotus is a string selling point as well.
My deposit would have been down 2 weeks ago. I've got so much crap going on the early part of this year though that I cant commit to one just yet.
Edited by jackal on Thursday 24th January 13:07
As an added bonus, whilst I am not patriotic at all, there is a certain sense of pride driving a British(ish) car amongst the sea of Germans...
Zyp said:
Cup - http://www.lotuscars.com/sites/default/files/docum...
These are the only brochures I've had from the dealer!
I find it ironic that they put the electronic driver aids pack (Lotus DPM) into the Cup version as standard.These are the only brochures I've had from the dealer!
I've only driven an Exige once on track, else its been Elise Trophy cars. Would love to try this new car, but has been stated already, its a lot of money.
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