Help - Brand New Elise R or 07 Exige NA
Discussion
I have been posting re advice to the NA Exige i have been looking at, however a dark horse has emerged on the rails.
I have been offered a brand new Arctic Silver Elise R with hard top from London Lotus at virtually the same price (nominal increase) as the Exige with 5000 miles on it.
Before people start advising me to drive both and see what i prefer, this wont be an option as they are both too far away.
In essence i am asking, what would you buy and why ??
I know to ask complete strangers which way i should spend close on £30k is madness but where better than this site to get opinions??
I shall be putting a deposit down on one of them this afternoon so any thoughts would be extremly helpful.
I have been offered a brand new Arctic Silver Elise R with hard top from London Lotus at virtually the same price (nominal increase) as the Exige with 5000 miles on it.
Before people start advising me to drive both and see what i prefer, this wont be an option as they are both too far away.
In essence i am asking, what would you buy and why ??
I know to ask complete strangers which way i should spend close on £30k is madness but where better than this site to get opinions??
I shall be putting a deposit down on one of them this afternoon so any thoughts would be extremly helpful.
Hmmmmm.
The difference is quite a lot between the two cars because of the Exige footprint. The A048s, the suspension etc is very different (more track orientated on the Exige).
Car wise, they're very similar and is visually that you should make your choice. But they do handle differently.
The difference is quite a lot between the two cars because of the Exige footprint. The A048s, the suspension etc is very different (more track orientated on the Exige).
Car wise, they're very similar and is visually that you should make your choice. But they do handle differently.
David Gray said:
I have been posting re advice to the NA Exige i have been looking at, however a dark horse has emerged on the rails.
I have been offered a brand new Arctic Silver Elise R with hard top from London Lotus at virtually the same price (nominal increase) as the Exige with 5000 miles on it.
Before people start advising me to drive both and see what i prefer, this wont be an option as they are both too far away.
In essence i am asking, what would you buy and why ??
I know to ask complete strangers which way i should spend close on £30k is madness but where better than this site to get opinions??
I shall be putting a deposit down on one of them this afternoon so any thoughts would be extremly helpful.
You must go and see the car(s). I appreciate it's a drive but i did 2000 miles before I bought my Exige. It does cost in terms of both time and fuel etc, but it's a big spend ! As to choice - depends on lots of factors - ie resale, usage etcI have been offered a brand new Arctic Silver Elise R with hard top from London Lotus at virtually the same price (nominal increase) as the Exige with 5000 miles on it.
Before people start advising me to drive both and see what i prefer, this wont be an option as they are both too far away.
In essence i am asking, what would you buy and why ??
I know to ask complete strangers which way i should spend close on £30k is madness but where better than this site to get opinions??
I shall be putting a deposit down on one of them this afternoon so any thoughts would be extremly helpful.
Personally, I think you're mad spending that much without driving them. The Exige is going to be different to the Elise due to tyres, suspension etc. With the Elise you get the flexability of soft top motoring from the off (Exige looks all wrong with a soft top to me) and the std. tyres aren't going to get eaten up as quick or be as expensive to replace.
TonyHetherington said:
Hmmmmm.
The difference is quite a lot between the two cars because of the Exige footprint. The A048s, the suspension etc is very different (more track orientated on the Exige).
Car wise, they're very similar and is visually that you should make your choice. But they do handle differently.
Cheers Tony.The difference is quite a lot between the two cars because of the Exige footprint. The A048s, the suspension etc is very different (more track orientated on the Exige).
Car wise, they're very similar and is visually that you should make your choice. But they do handle differently.
I forgot to add, it will be used every day for commutes of 5 miles each way through congested traffic.
From a financial point of view, what makes sense to you??
LivinLaVidaLotus said:
Personally, I think you're mad spending that much without driving them. The Exige is going to be different to the Elise due to tyres, suspension etc. With the Elise you get the flexability of soft top motoring from the off (Exige looks all wrong with a soft top to me) and the std. tyres aren't going to get eaten up as quick or be as expensive to replace.
You are right, i am mad.David Gray said:
I forgot to add, it will be used every day for commutes of 5 miles each way through congested traffic.
From a financial point of view, what makes sense to you??
From purely an intended use combined with financial point of view, neither a new Elise nor a nearly new Exige make much sense. Why not get a runaround/city car for your commute (as short/dull as that probably is) and then a more focused car for fun (even an S1). With the two cars you are looking at currently, not sure silver is a very good colour from a resale pov.From a financial point of view, what makes sense to you??
Well I have just sold my Elise to buy an Exige, so you could probably guess my answer.
But to be serious, the Elise was a perfect, PERFECT car. For every day use there's not a whole lot in it - and only a 5mile commute means the consumables (6k miles for A048 tyres) won't take a battering.
The Elise is slightly more subtle, more supple, and so for every day you'd swing, for sure, in favour of the Elise. Of course you get top off motoring too.
But, it's always personal preference; would you look at an Exige and wish you'd got one if you bought an Elise (no matter how new it is....as soon as it drives out the door it's not new anymore).
But to be serious, the Elise was a perfect, PERFECT car. For every day use there's not a whole lot in it - and only a 5mile commute means the consumables (6k miles for A048 tyres) won't take a battering.
The Elise is slightly more subtle, more supple, and so for every day you'd swing, for sure, in favour of the Elise. Of course you get top off motoring too.
But, it's always personal preference; would you look at an Exige and wish you'd got one if you bought an Elise (no matter how new it is....as soon as it drives out the door it's not new anymore).
TonyHetherington said:
Well I have just sold my Elise to buy an Exige, so you could probably guess my answer.
But to be serious, the Elise was a perfect, PERFECT car. For every day use there's not a whole lot in it - and only a 5mile commute means the consumables (6k miles for A048 tyres) won't take a battering.
The Elise is slightly more subtle, more supple, and so for every day you'd swing, for sure, in favour of the Elise. Of course you get top off motoring too.
But, it's always personal preference; would you look at an Exige and wish you'd got one if you bought an Elise (no matter how new it is....as soon as it drives out the door it's not new anymore).
Very good points Tony. Thanks. (still not made my mind up though).But to be serious, the Elise was a perfect, PERFECT car. For every day use there's not a whole lot in it - and only a 5mile commute means the consumables (6k miles for A048 tyres) won't take a battering.
The Elise is slightly more subtle, more supple, and so for every day you'd swing, for sure, in favour of the Elise. Of course you get top off motoring too.
But, it's always personal preference; would you look at an Exige and wish you'd got one if you bought an Elise (no matter how new it is....as soon as it drives out the door it's not new anymore).
In terms of performance, i thought the Elise R and NA Exige weree quite similar, i have come to this conclusion after reading various posts on the subject. Have i got this wrong?
Edited by David Gray on Wednesday 17th October 13:46
How much handling difference is there between same-year Elise (111)R or NA Exige? Speaking here as someone who's quite a long way off being able to own even an s1 Elise (Lotuses are very rare in NZ so expensive) but likes them and often drives them in games, which isn't quite the same...
Is it mostly just a grip difference due to sticky tyres and more aggressive setup, or is one pointier in the nose/more tied down at the rear/twitchier on the limit/easier to slide around, that sort of thing.
Is it mostly just a grip difference due to sticky tyres and more aggressive setup, or is one pointier in the nose/more tied down at the rear/twitchier on the limit/easier to slide around, that sort of thing.
lincoln lad said:
Having owned a S2 135r (i appreciate not the same as the elise in question) and now an Exige S - no doubts for me - got to be an Exige. Just awesome performance..
But, of the NA cars, the Elise, being slightly lighter, has a slight performance edge in outright acceleration and through the gears.Edited by lincoln lad on Wednesday 17th October 13:48
David Gray said:
In terms of performance, i thought the Elise R and NA Exige weree quite similar, i have come to this conclusion after reading various posts on the subject. Have i got this wrong?
You are correct. They both (the R and the NA Exige) have the identical engine; 1.8 litre 4 cylinder toyota with 189bhp.Completely identical engines.
The only difference is the "footprint". I.e. the suspension, the tyres, the wheels, the wishbones etc. So it simply handles differently. The performance and the way it drives are identical.
I'll be honest here,
I've owned 2 111R's, and now own an Exige S. If I were you I'd go for the new R as it's new and and you can always change to an Exige S in a few year's time. Get used to the Lotus way of life with a warranty. It sound's to me like you need to by a new car anyway and there's not many people who can say they've had a new Lotus. I don't think heir's enough difference between the two car's I.e. R & N/A Exige to spend that sort of money. An Exige it's really a track orientated car and unless your really into the brand you might get fed up so to speak, you can't take the roof off that easily and theirs no rear view, more money on tyre's etc etc etc. Unless you can afford a Exige S I'd leave it
Boggy
I've owned 2 111R's, and now own an Exige S. If I were you I'd go for the new R as it's new and and you can always change to an Exige S in a few year's time. Get used to the Lotus way of life with a warranty. It sound's to me like you need to by a new car anyway and there's not many people who can say they've had a new Lotus. I don't think heir's enough difference between the two car's I.e. R & N/A Exige to spend that sort of money. An Exige it's really a track orientated car and unless your really into the brand you might get fed up so to speak, you can't take the roof off that easily and theirs no rear view, more money on tyre's etc etc etc. Unless you can afford a Exige S I'd leave it
Boggy
Edited by Boggy on Wednesday 17th October 14:38
David Gray said:
I have been posting re advice to the NA Exige i have been looking at, however a dark horse has emerged on the rails.
I have been offered a brand new Arctic Silver Elise R with hard top from London Lotus at virtually the same price (nominal increase) as the Exige with 5000 miles on it.
Before people start advising me to drive both and see what i prefer, this wont be an option as they are both too far away.
In essence i am asking, what would you buy and why ??
I know to ask complete strangers which way i should spend close on £30k is madness but where better than this site to get opinions??
I shall be putting a deposit down on one of them this afternoon so any thoughts would be extremly helpful.
Elise R!!I have been offered a brand new Arctic Silver Elise R with hard top from London Lotus at virtually the same price (nominal increase) as the Exige with 5000 miles on it.
Before people start advising me to drive both and see what i prefer, this wont be an option as they are both too far away.
In essence i am asking, what would you buy and why ??
I know to ask complete strangers which way i should spend close on £30k is madness but where better than this site to get opinions??
I shall be putting a deposit down on one of them this afternoon so any thoughts would be extremly helpful.
Boggy said:
Thats the baby.Decison almost made.
I pondered this for ages and test drove both. The wife wanted the Elise because the roof comes off but it's a bit girly while the Exige just looks the muts nuts - mean and ready. I was tempted with the 111r because you can get a newer model but just did some overtime to cover the additional cost and much happier with the way my drive looks now.
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