Exige Experience
Discussion
Hi all,
I have just signed up for an 'Exige experience' track day at Silverstone primarily to get some driving experience in an exige before a potential purchase.
I have a budget of around £18 - £19000 and will be looking at both Elise and Exige, its probably a frequent question amongst this forum but what model should i be looking for / avoid (if any?)
I intend to use it as much as possible including the commute to work although it will not be my only car, i also intend to take it to the track but in reality this will only be every so often.
A quick look at the classifieds and it seems an Exige S2 is just in my budget although a limited choice, do you think opting for a nice spec Elise would be the way to go?
I have just signed up for an 'Exige experience' track day at Silverstone primarily to get some driving experience in an exige before a potential purchase.
I have a budget of around £18 - £19000 and will be looking at both Elise and Exige, its probably a frequent question amongst this forum but what model should i be looking for / avoid (if any?)
I intend to use it as much as possible including the commute to work although it will not be my only car, i also intend to take it to the track but in reality this will only be every so often.
A quick look at the classifieds and it seems an Exige S2 is just in my budget although a limited choice, do you think opting for a nice spec Elise would be the way to go?
Ok,a few questions will answer this.
1.Do you like having the roof off your car?(i did'nt but am now converted,literally
)
2.How serious are you about trackdays?Occasional fun or hardcore?
3.Will you use it year round?
This is broadly generalising before anyone starts picking holes
If the answers are: no,hardcore and no then the Exige is for you.Semi slicks,stiffer suspension and being fixed head will lend themselves better to track work and warmer weather due to the tyres(generally speaking of course).
Your budget will get you a normally aspirated 190bhp Exige 2005/6 odd(roughly).
If its yes,occasional and yes then the Elise will suit you better.All weather tyres,softer suspension and roof off ability make it more liveable year round but will still be a load of fun on track and about 90% as quick as the Exige.
£19k will get you a 2006/7 'R'(190bhp) or a 2007/8 'S'(134bhp).
If you want serious power then a Honda or Audi converted Elise should be in your budget too
You cant really go wrong with any of them to be honest,but the advice,as ever,is to drive all of them and make up your own mind.
Just buy one at the end.
1.Do you like having the roof off your car?(i did'nt but am now converted,literally
)2.How serious are you about trackdays?Occasional fun or hardcore?
3.Will you use it year round?
This is broadly generalising before anyone starts picking holes
If the answers are: no,hardcore and no then the Exige is for you.Semi slicks,stiffer suspension and being fixed head will lend themselves better to track work and warmer weather due to the tyres(generally speaking of course).
Your budget will get you a normally aspirated 190bhp Exige 2005/6 odd(roughly).
If its yes,occasional and yes then the Elise will suit you better.All weather tyres,softer suspension and roof off ability make it more liveable year round but will still be a load of fun on track and about 90% as quick as the Exige.
£19k will get you a 2006/7 'R'(190bhp) or a 2007/8 'S'(134bhp).
If you want serious power then a Honda or Audi converted Elise should be in your budget too
You cant really go wrong with any of them to be honest,but the advice,as ever,is to drive all of them and make up your own mind.
Just buy one at the end.
However, the paintwork on mine 'looked' fine for a four year old car when I bought it on a nice sunny day in the Spring, one 'coldish' winter of being kept outside later the paint has blistered all over the top section of the passenger door. Warranty period is only 2 years and Lotus weren't in the slightest bit interested or have never admitted that there is a 'problem'. 
My understanding is that moisture is absorbed through the fibreglass which then delaminates the gel coat. Seems that damp, cold outdoor conditions are a factor.
Going purely from memory it seems to be a bigger issue on Elises. I was recently told that Exige clams are hand laid and less prone to the problem.
Anyway, at least they don't go rusty.
Going purely from memory it seems to be a bigger issue on Elises. I was recently told that Exige clams are hand laid and less prone to the problem.
Anyway, at least they don't go rusty.
warnster said:
Hi all,
I have just signed up for an 'Exige experience' track day at Silverstone primarily to get some driving experience in an exige before a potential purchase.
I hope they let you have more fun than the Thruxton Exige day. Limited to 3rd / 4th gear only and not above 5.5k rpm. A good day of instruction (if rushed and information overload to the point of frustration) but hardly an opportunity to savour the car.I have just signed up for an 'Exige experience' track day at Silverstone primarily to get some driving experience in an exige before a potential purchase.
Good luck with the purchase though; just don't let a limited Experience put you off.
griffter said:
warnster said:
Hi all,
I have just signed up for an 'Exige experience' track day at Silverstone primarily to get some driving experience in an exige before a potential purchase.
I hope they let you have more fun than the Thruxton Exige day. Limited to 3rd / 4th gear only and not above 5.5k rpm. A good day of instruction (if rushed and information overload to the point of frustration) but hardly an opportunity to savour the car.I have just signed up for an 'Exige experience' track day at Silverstone primarily to get some driving experience in an exige before a potential purchase.
Good luck with the purchase though; just don't let a limited Experience put you off.
In response to previous questions/advice i'm really not to fussed about roof off and i imagine my track days will be more for fun and every so often and yes i intend to use it all year round although i have a second car which i can use for big journeys.
Hmm i think i have just answered my own question, perhaps an elise will be better for my needs although do love the exige looks!
The Bandit said:
Ok,a few questions will answer this.
1.Do you like having the roof off your car?(i did'nt but am now converted,literally )
2.How serious are you about trackdays?Occasional fun or hardcore?
3.Will you use it year round?
This is broadly generalising before anyone starts picking holes
1. you can very easily remove the roof from the Exige looks amazing too!1.Do you like having the roof off your car?(i did'nt but am now converted,literally
)2.How serious are you about trackdays?Occasional fun or hardcore?
3.Will you use it year round?
This is broadly generalising before anyone starts picking holes
and if you want a soft top in the boot an S2 Elise / VX220 roof will fit just fine!
IMHO the Exige has much more 'presence' on the road that the Elise, I changed from a VX220 Turbo and the Elise was just too similar (but with out the power!) but the Exige S hits the spot!
Lack of rear visibility was a BIG issue but an £80 'Parking Dynamics PD1' sensor kit sorted that so can reverse better than the VX now!
I've not had the Exige long but have driven it in Snow, Ice, heavy rain & basically all the cr@p the British weather has chucked at it, and on AO48's its not much fun! just gotta be VERY carefull, I'll change the tyres to AO39's or similar when they wear out!
Elise or Exige.... Both superb cars and you'll not be disappointed with either!
re the Silverstone experience....
I did this prior to buying in the same way as you plan. It was very short (2 x 4 laps or something) but they certainly let me push the car. I even span it on my last lap.
The hot lap with the instructor at the end was a good eye opener as to waht these cars can do.
I did this prior to buying in the same way as you plan. It was very short (2 x 4 laps or something) but they certainly let me push the car. I even span it on my last lap.
The hot lap with the instructor at the end was a good eye opener as to waht these cars can do.
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