Would you swap a 2006 Lotus Exige S for a 996 Turbo X50??

[lotusgeek]

So would you? I'm fortunate that I can have access to a Turbo at a below market valuation from a family member and my Exige has gone up in value. The Exige is a great spec and in excellent condition with only 24k on the clock.

I've two boys aged 3 and 4 and unfortunately the Exige is not setup like an F1 with 3 seats. However the Turbo, whilst being fast and ridiculously well specced (x50, custom colour inside and out, leather everywhere, and less than 35k on the clock etc) is heavy, in relation to a 950kg Exige, and whilst I love the rear those front lights still bother me, a lot..

I'll probably only do one, or possibly two trackdays a year so the car is for the odd drive to work, weekend fun and probably a trip to Europe once a year.

I'm torn, what would you do?

[Porsche911R]

Keep the Lotus.

[ChrisW.]

No.

I owned one and was very disappointed.

The brakes nearly got me into a lot of trouble ...

[kilarney]

No way and Im a Porsche man these days

[Slippydiff]

Decent map and exhaust, Bilstein PSS10’s or KW’s, set of six pot front calipers, 350mm discs, set of decent pads, end result an all-weather 520hp super car that’ll trounce pretty much anything out there.
Oh, and some decent tyres (not Pirellis, well maybe Trofeo’s)

[nickpan]

I was disappointed when I drove a 996 X50 and I had been saving up for one for a year +

Too quiet, too much power for our roads and not enough drama.

[ChrisW.]

Slippydiff said:

Decent map and exhaust, Bilstein PSS10’s or KW’s, set of six pot front calipers, 350mm discs, set of decent pads, end result an all-weather 520hp super car that’ll trounce pretty much anything out there.
Oh, and some decent tyres (not Pirellis, well maybe Trofeo’s)

But still a fair bit of Turbo lag ...

997 was much better ...

[MrVert]

As said above....stick with the Lotus....you'll miss it terribly if you sell

[ATM]

ChrisW. said:

Slippydiff said:

Decent map and exhaust, Bilstein PSS10’s or KW’s, set of six pot front calipers, 350mm discs, set of decent pads, end result an all-weather 520hp super car that’ll trounce pretty much anything out there.
Oh, and some decent tyres (not Pirellis, well maybe Trofeo’s)

But still a fair bit of Turbo lag ...

997 was much better ...

Quite a few yanks removing the front wheel drive from these. Surely this would add to the excitement?

[EGTE]

996 Turbo is not a "fun" car; it's devastatingly quick and capable, but actually so much so, it's not "fun".

Sold mine for a C2, which I enjoy way more.

Funnily enough, have just started looking at an Exige S (and would not go back to 996 Turbo, no way)........

[Johnd52]

I went from an 06 Exige S to a Cayman R, being the lightest Porsche I could find, and it still felt like a limo in comparison. The Turbo is way over at the other end of the GT extreme. Nothing beats the Lotus for driving feel. I still miss mine.

[lotusgeek]

Thanks all, not necessarily what I was expecting the response to be but looks like the Lotus get all the votes

[rubystone]

If the 996 is a decent chunk below market value, borrow the cash, buy it and flip it! Or if you’re not using the Exige because of the kids and think the 996 would be used more, sell the Exige.

[ATM]

Johnd52 said:

I went from an 06 Exige S to a Cayman R, being the lightest Porsche I could find, and it still felt like a limo in comparison. The Turbo is way over at the other end of the GT extreme. Nothing beats the Lotus for driving feel. I still miss mine.

How much does a Cayman R weigh in it at?

[lotusgeek]

rubystone said:

If the 996 is a decent chunk below market value, borrow the cash, buy it and flip it! Or if you’re not using the Exige because of the kids and think the 996 would be used more, sell the Exige.

It would be below market value but I'd feel guilty flipping it.

[Porsche911R]

ATM said:

How much does a Cayman R weigh in it at?

1295kg with no radio or AC.

thing is the early V6 Exige was not much lighter these days.


Closest thing to a Lotus Porsche make is the 987.2 Spyder.