Newbie thinking of an Elise R or Exige
Discussion
Hi Everyone,
I'm downsizing from my BMW 650i Sport, (For Sale if anyone interested), and favourite is an Elise/Exige. Since my wife now has a very nice large car, I can have what I've always wanted. Just started looking, although really need to get rid of my car first, but not yet had any test drives.
I have a Fiat X1/9 which I've owned for a few years now and love the back to basics, mid engine handling etc., so an Elise/Exige seems the obvious choice for me. I've owned various performance cars, but straight line speed isn't top of the list. I've also currently got a Sierra RS Cosworth 3 door which I track, so the Elise/Exige would probably be spared from this and mainly used on the road, although I'd have to take it on at least once.
I have a few questions and was hoping for some help in selecting the right car for me. My budget is likely to be around the £25 to £27k mark, depending on the price I get for mine. I like the idea of the Elise as a soft top, (the X1/9 has a targa which stows in the front bonnet), and have read about Exige's going topless. Not sure I can stretch to an Exige S though so I guess it comes down to an Elise R or Exige NA.
Questions: -
1. I assume a 111R Elise is the same as an Elise R?
2. What spec should I go for in an Elise R or Exige NA, e.g. Touring, Sports etc.?
3. What about the hard top on the Elise R. What's the cost?
4. What mods could I do to an Elise R to make it more like an Exige?
5. What can I do to an Exige NA for more power etc?
6. Where's best to buy from? I guess a winter bargain could be for me.
I'd appreciate some oppinions on the Elise R v's Exige NA and whether the Exige S should be on the list. Could I really get an Exige S for my budget. I don't really want anything older than 2006 and must be low mileage.
Thanks in advance for you advice..
Cheers
K
I'm downsizing from my BMW 650i Sport, (For Sale if anyone interested), and favourite is an Elise/Exige. Since my wife now has a very nice large car, I can have what I've always wanted. Just started looking, although really need to get rid of my car first, but not yet had any test drives.
I have a Fiat X1/9 which I've owned for a few years now and love the back to basics, mid engine handling etc., so an Elise/Exige seems the obvious choice for me. I've owned various performance cars, but straight line speed isn't top of the list. I've also currently got a Sierra RS Cosworth 3 door which I track, so the Elise/Exige would probably be spared from this and mainly used on the road, although I'd have to take it on at least once.
I have a few questions and was hoping for some help in selecting the right car for me. My budget is likely to be around the £25 to £27k mark, depending on the price I get for mine. I like the idea of the Elise as a soft top, (the X1/9 has a targa which stows in the front bonnet), and have read about Exige's going topless. Not sure I can stretch to an Exige S though so I guess it comes down to an Elise R or Exige NA.
Questions: -
1. I assume a 111R Elise is the same as an Elise R?
2. What spec should I go for in an Elise R or Exige NA, e.g. Touring, Sports etc.?
3. What about the hard top on the Elise R. What's the cost?
4. What mods could I do to an Elise R to make it more like an Exige?
5. What can I do to an Exige NA for more power etc?
6. Where's best to buy from? I guess a winter bargain could be for me.
I'd appreciate some oppinions on the Elise R v's Exige NA and whether the Exige S should be on the list. Could I really get an Exige S for my budget. I don't really want anything older than 2006 and must be low mileage.
Thanks in advance for you advice..
Cheers
K
Hiya and Welcome,
I'd go for an Elise R not an S they don't have enough power,
For that sort of money your looking at nearly new Car at least 07 57, Touring and Sport's pack look for one with a hard top in with the price and it you can A/c? 26k would sound about right but that would include all bit's I've mentioned if your buying 2nd hand or a Demo. You could get a New car for around 27k but it would have Touring pack only for that sort of money.
Bargain hard it's winter's coming and you have no trade in
Boggy
I'd go for an Elise R not an S they don't have enough power,
For that sort of money your looking at nearly new Car at least 07 57, Touring and Sport's pack look for one with a hard top in with the price and it you can A/c? 26k would sound about right but that would include all bit's I've mentioned if your buying 2nd hand or a Demo. You could get a New car for around 27k but it would have Touring pack only for that sort of money.
Bargain hard it's winter's coming and you have no trade in
Boggy
The differences on the elise / exige are basically suspension and wheels. The shocks and springs are different and the front tyres are wider on a 'zige. As the 'liz is lighter, changing suspension and wheels basically gives you a very fast car.
For me I would be looking for a 111R with
2 way adjustable Ohlins (Lotus sport suspension)
Exige wheels
2bular 'zorst
Sports seats with harnesses.
Then get a decent geo
Depending on the age of the car, the brakes may need some "tweaking". The early 111R has very little brake feel, this was amended with a new pedal box on the late '05 cars. More feel can be "injected" into the brakes with good pads, braided hoses and competition brake fluid.
With those changes, you will have one of the fastest A-B (Via C,D,E and F) cars out there.
For me I would be looking for a 111R with
2 way adjustable Ohlins (Lotus sport suspension)
Exige wheels
2bular 'zorst
Sports seats with harnesses.
Then get a decent geo
Depending on the age of the car, the brakes may need some "tweaking". The early 111R has very little brake feel, this was amended with a new pedal box on the late '05 cars. More feel can be "injected" into the brakes with good pads, braided hoses and competition brake fluid.
With those changes, you will have one of the fastest A-B (Via C,D,E and F) cars out there.
21TonyK said:
I don't think it will be too long before you will be able to pick up an Exige S privately for £27K. From the sounds of things if you're primarily driving on road with it this could be the best option.
Yep early 06 Demo's (All Laser Blue) had Touring & Sport's pack's and every dealer had one, I wouldn't pay more than 27k for one of them car's end of this year early next 27kBoggy
Boggy said:
I thought induction mods were a bad idea on the Exige S?DsDetective said:
Boggy said:
I thought induction mods were a bad idea on the Exige S?Here's another http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/209996.htm
I'd leave induction on Exige s's well alone!
Boggy
DsDetective said:
Boggy said:
I thought induction mods were a bad idea on the Exige S?L100NYY said:
DsDetective said:
Boggy said:
I thought induction mods were a bad idea on the Exige S?Boggy
Boggy said:
L100NYY said:
DsDetective said:
Boggy said:
I thought induction mods were a bad idea on the Exige S?Boggy
Kev946 said:
Thanks guys. The Exige S sounds very tempting. Interestingly one of those cars is in Leicester Stratstone, and I bought my BMW from Stratstone in Derby....mmmmmmm
The '06 lazer Blue ex-demo's are good specs Kev, so well worth considering. As lomg as you like Lazer Blue that is!!They were all specced with the following -
Touring Pack
Sports Pack
Air conditioning
Lazer Blue lifestyle paint
Happy shopping!
Kev946 said:
I've checked on the Lotus Website for available stock and the Laser Blue one's don't show up. Any idea how to find what dealers still have in the demo's?
PS: Quite like the laser blue..
To be honest I would sincerely hope that no Lotus dealers would still have their original demo's as it was well over a year ago that I sold our one!!! Although if you can find one that does still have theirs then i'm sure they would be open to a very good deal!!PS: Quite like the laser blue..
L100NYY said:
Boggy said:
L100NYY said:
DsDetective said:
Boggy said:
I thought induction mods were a bad idea on the Exige S?Boggy
Oh did I just say that?Boggy
Well considering the europa could be made a lot faster an more desirable for a minimal £££ outlay on lotus's part, i'm struggling to think of a reason why it has'nt been done already.
I mean the 225hp car with touring pack should have been the launch model, and since the car seems to struggling a bit in it's current form a high powered R would seem a logical way to squeeze some more sales, with very little downsides
I mean the 225hp car with touring pack should have been the launch model, and since the car seems to struggling a bit in it's current form a high powered R would seem a logical way to squeeze some more sales, with very little downsides
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