Exige 360 for Road and Trackdays?

[MikeE]

Hi all,

This is my first post on the Lotus forums but I've been elsewhere on PH since the beginning of time! I've had a couple of Caterhams in the past, the last one being a Duratec 2.3l, 280BHP, 515KG aeroscreened track car, that was 2004-2011 though and I've been out of fast track focussed cars since then.

So I fancy another track capable car but as I'm now inevitably that bit older I'd also like something I can use on the road too, the occasional Euro trip to the Swish passes, Sunday morning blasts through the country.

So a couple of weeks ago I test drove a Caterham 620S in the Gatwick Caterham dealership and then tried a 620R at Donnington (one of BookaTracks hire cars) for a few laps.

Whilst I don't doubt the 620Rs track capability and fun I'm concerned I'm going to spend £58K on a car thats so track focused I just won't use it on the road.

So my mind is turning towards an Exige S3, I haven't driven one yet but I've heard great reports about them on road, question is how capable out of the box are they on track? I really don't want to buy something I then have to add dry sump, track suspension, uprated brakes etc. Is it going to be track capable out of the box?

This would be a third car BTW so doesn't need to be used as a daily.

I appreciate there's likely to be many threads on this subject already so apologies for asking again but any input from those in the know will be highly appreciated

Thanks,
Mike

[MikeE]

Thanks for the reply, good to hear the views of another Caterham driver, they're so capable and exhilarating on track they're difficult to beat but I don't think I can tolerate the limitations of their road capability, and like you I'm over trailering to and from trackdays.

So my budget is around £55k and I want something that I can use on road and track without having to upgrade brakes etc. Does a used 350 sport deliver this? Could I get a used 380 Sport or Cup for that money? Does the roof come off these models or do I need to buy a roadster?

I'm going to try and book a test drive at Bell&Colville this weekend but it will be good to go there with a basic understanding of the model line up pros and cons!

[MikeE]

nw942 said:

The V6 Cup has baffled sump, 2-way Nitrons, A-frame, and race seats with harnesses.

http://www.lotuscars.com/racing/exige-v6-cup

Once in, it's quite a comfortable place to be and 3-4 hour stints behind the wheel are no problem. But as stated, it's a bit noisy, especially in the wet.

When you say the Cup has baffled sump, Nitrons etc is this the full on 380 or is there a 350 Cup?

[MikeE]

cypriot said:

be careful with a 380, as its very very loud, and unless you change its exhaust, you won't be allowed on to most tracks!

Ok good to know but is a standard 350 Sport going to be ok for noise on most trackdays?

[MikeE]

Ok I have a test drive booked at Bell&Colvill on Saturday to try the 350 Sport and maybe a 380 too.

Assuming I like the Exige and I decide to buy new, what sort of discount should I be pushing for as a cash buyer with no part ex required?

[MikeE]

Porsche911R said:

MikeE said:

Ok I have a test drive booked at Bell&Colvill on Saturday to try the 350 Sport and maybe a 380 too.

Assuming I like the Exige and I decide to buy new, what sort of discount should I be pushing for as a cash buyer with no part ex required?

12% depends if you want the 50/50 interest free deal

Has anyone experience of achieving a similar discount in the last 3-6 months as 12% seems 'ambitious'

[MikeE]

Porsche911R said:

MikeE said:

Has anyone experience of achieving a similar discount in the last 3-6 months as 12% seems 'ambitious'

have you seen all the stock sitting about all summer ? It's now end of season, even less are selling if that were possible !

you can buy a Sport 380 for £64k and it's been for sale since March ! and brand new Sport 350 for just over £50k if a pre reg.

the 50/50 deal costs a bomb for the dealer so cash buy I would go in at 15% off, walk away wait for a phone call and accept a 12% deal, Try the Scottish dealer.

as was posted even over the CUP models only 11 sold, people don't really by New Lotus's as they are all a muchness so if you have one people tend to keep them.

a 2nd hand Sport 350 at £50k seems the way to go and a visit to Komotec to finish it off. (be lighter than a older cup car and have a working gear change)

Thanks for the response. I'm tempted by a new 350 Sport but if as you say I can get one (stick Car I presume) for just over £50k why would I buy used for £50k?

Can you point me at the March 2017 380 stats still for sale please?

[MikeE]

DaveGB said:

Porsche911R said:

you can buy a Sport 380 for £64k and it's been for sale since March ! and brand new Sport 350 for just over £50k if a pre reg.

a 2nd hand Sport 350 at £50k seems the way to go and a visit to Komotec to finish it off. (be lighter than a older cup car and have a working gear change)

For clarity the 380 is second hand. Where are the new 350's at £50k as cheapest on PH is £57k and that doesn't have 2 peice brakes (worth it for track days) ?

Agree re SH 350 being sweet spot....even in the wet....but then I'm biased



To OP, unless going hardcore track days a decent V6S or preferably Sport 350 makes a great car for road and track. Took my V6S to Swiss Alps last year no probs. Very civilised inside, able to listen to music etc.




Also had 3 x caterhams, but Exiges are so much more civilised whilst still giving decent perfomance.

Re understeer, a bit more neg camber on front and some stickier tyres will sort that.

Cup cars have 1 years warranty whereas the others have 3 years, which still covers for you tracks days, which is nice to know.

Worth noting how far you are from Lotus dealer , as you could end up visiting a few times for warranty work. For my original Evora S I went back 3 times in 9 months, leaving car each time, so doubled mileage. V6S went back once in 2 months. Evora 400 went back 3 times in 10 months. Exige 350 has been back once in last 2 months.

Good luck with search.

Edited by DaveGB on Saturday 9th September 22:48

I was that same restaurant on the Grimsell Pass 2 weeks ago! We did Grimsell, Susten, Gotthard and Furka passes in a day in a hire car (Renault) and that's what convinced me that I needed something more civilised than a Caterham 620R to do the mountain passes in future.

Ref the discounts, went to my local dealer yesterday and specced up a new 350 Sport at £64,200. Max discount I could get for cash was £6,200 (6.5%) and that would be the same % for a stock car. So I struggle to see that 12% is possible unless I find a stock car thats hung around for a long time as the spec is wrong.

I test drove a 350 Sport and then a 380 Sport. 350 is great but the 380 was epic and I think it's made the decision difficult now. Head says new 350 and leave the option open to upgrade in a couple of years but my heart says go for a new 380 now and get an aftermarket exhaust for trackdays (likely another £2K).

[MikeE]

schrodinger said:

MikeE said:

Max discount I could get for cash was £6,200 (6.5%) and that would be the same % for a stock car. So I struggle to see that 12% is possible

Pardon my dumb maths, but isn't 6200/64500 about 9.5%?

12% would be 7740 off... not far away...

Sorry was very early when i posted that, list £64,200 discounted to £64K so £4,200 discount is 6.5%

[MikeE]

Managed to find a dealer that will do a 8.5% discount on an 350 Sport at £58,900 or 380 Sport at £69,320 so getting closer to the double digit discount


As the 380 is now below £70K OTR then I'm even more tempted to go the extra and get one. Regarding the exhaust, the suggestion is if I'm only doing 2 or 3 trackdays a year then just pay the extra and take it to Silverstone on a no noise limits day

So now to think about the paint, the above price was for a £900 metallic (dark grey or the metallic blue) but my wife really likes the Fire Red which is an extra £800 beyond the metallic cost, plus some gold highlighting/pinstripes/wheels etc, so I've asked the question in a separate thread whether I can get that done aftermarket for a reasonable fee

[MikeE]

Porsche911R said:

MikeE said:

Managed to find a dealer that will do a 8.5% discount on an 350 Sport at £58,900 or 380 Sport at £69,320 so getting closer to the double digit discount

, plus some gold highlighting/pinstripes/wheels etc, so I've asked the question in a separate thread whether I can get that done aftermarket for a reasonable fee

just buy this then
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Don't like the interior!

That'll end up the same cost as speccing one myself and having it built, including visiting the factory for a tour so would rather go the new route, unless a used 380 close to me spec (not the yellow one in Cheshire) comes on the market for close to £60K