Fast Exige advice please

[andy tims]

I’m going to sell my Mk 1 Porsche 996 GT3 Club Sport and am planning to replace it with a 997 Gen 2 GT3, again in Club Sport spec, but I’m open to considering an Exige.
My budget will allow a 430 Cup or 410 Sport purchase, but I’m not sure I need quite that much performance, or to spend that much on a car that is bound to depreciate a fair chunk over the 5 years or so I expect to keep the car. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled, but my GT3 is worth more than I paid for it nearly 13 years ago, although maintenance and consumables have not been cheap.
If anyone has driven either of these Exiges and a 380 Cup or Sport can they offer some comparative advice?
The car would be for weekend fun plus a few track days each year.
I’ll be driving a few cars before deciding, but help with narrowing down the options would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[andy tims]

Well I had back to back test drives of a Sport 350 & Sport 410 today.
The Sport 350 was the first V6 Exige I've driven. Very impressive. I loved the power delivery and noise of the torquey engine - much less supercharger whine than I remember from the S2 I last drove. The ride was really good - not at all crashy even on poor surfaces. The steering was, of course, superb and the handling just brilliant - so much grip when cornering fast. The brakes were good and the whole car just felt so right. I'm pretty short so there was loads of room once inside. Getting in and out was not too bad & I'm sure with practice it would soon get easier.
The Sport 410 was as you'd expect even better. Very very fast, even better handling and better brakes. What an amazing car? I absolutely loved it. I think I'd like to try a Sport 380 before I finally decide, but a low miles pre-owned or demonstrator 410 is looking very tempting.
Jamie Matthews at Bell & Colvill was very helpful in explaining the different models and options. He applied absolutely no sales pressure and let me have about an hour in each car all on my own.

Just need a buyer for my GT3.

[andy tims]

So, thanks to all for the input.

I’m picking up the Silver Sport 380 from Hofmann’s on Saturday.

http://hofmanns.co.uk/cars/lotus-exige-sport-380/

Very excited.

My GT3 is for sale here if anyone is interested

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
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[andy tims]

The1Driver said:

Shouldn't the 380 come with a host of CF parts as standard?

Btw looks great

Thanks

It has CF Hardtop, Front cover, Side Sills, Rear Wing & Seats

Edited by andy tims on Saturday 22 December 16:16

[andy tims]

Picked up my Sport 380 this morning. Lots of traffic on the drive home, but I went out for a quick blast on some local A roads a couple of hours ago & I still have a stupid grin on my face.

A couple of quick phone shots taken in poor light.





Love it.

Edited by andy tims on Monday 24th December 08:40

[andy tims]

pete-rbfcl said:

A great car think it looks the best in those colours.....
Why did you go for the 380 and not the 410 in the end.

Cheers

The 380 was a fair bit cheaper and would still be after upgrades to 410 spec.

[andy tims]

sege said:

Congrats on a beautiful car Andy!
May I ask why you sold (or are selling) the 996? ..and how does the Exige compare?
From what I've read the 996 sounds like the most amazing of all the GT3's to drive.
Did you drive 997 before deciding on the Exige?

Thanks

I'm selling the GT3 because after nearly 13 years of ownership, whilst it's been great fun & is still a great car, I just wanted a change.

Compared to the GT3, the Exige has even faster acceleration (lighter, quite a bit more torquey and with shorter gearing) and down some back roads I know well I got a clear run on Saturday. I was able to carry a fair bit more speed than would have been comfortable in the GT3. The Exige is a bit more compliant and being lighter seems to deal better with poorly surfaced roads. The GT3 is quite lively at speed on poor surfaces, needing lots of small steering inputs, but in fairness mine's on track geo settings which does make a difference. The Exige is quite a lot louder, more of the time. The GT3 only gets loud at 5,500rpm plus. I will need a less noisy back box to avoid getting chucked off of UK track days, which is a shame, because it sounds mega. The Exige is obviously a lot more snug and less practical in terms of carrying luggage. Steering in both cars is ace, but with no power assistance the it's much heavier at low speed in the Exige.

I've been in several 997 GT3's and they are quicker than the 996's. I'd want a Gen 2 and even those are nearly 10 years old now. They are also £100k for a good one and seem to be fairly sensitive in terms of value to putting miles on them which I didn't want to be worried about.

[andy tims]

The1Driver said:

Anymore pics?

and some dealer shots of the interior.











Schroth harness ordered - only the LHS has arrive as yet.

[andy tims]

mickv said:

Glad my old car went to a pistoheader ??
Stereo remote located and on its way to Hofmanns! Enjoy it Andy.

Cheers

[andy tims]

hondansx said:

Congrats! A fellow Trophy owner too...

Currently in the same dilemma with GT3 vs Exige. Previously had a 997 GT3 and currently have a Performante but it's just too loud for trackdays and expensive to run (and consequently dents my enjoyment). I've always wanted a Gen 2 997 but they are getting on a bit now; imagine maintenance will always be fairly high. The Exige is amazing VFM in comparison.

Thanks

Just to advise - The Sport / Cup 380, Sport 410 & Cup 430's all have exhausts that are too loud for UK Tracks.

This is the solution

https://www.2bular.co.uk/exige-380/qp-track-system

but it's annoying that Lotus sell such track orientated cars that are too loud

[andy tims]

Hanger 111 are the alternative, of course.