Exige 350, 380, 390, 410, 420 and 430 - How they differ?

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

I have an early Emira order placed but am actually considering would I prefer an Exige or would an Exige simply be the better place to drop 60-85k?

I see lots of various models and I've kind of worked out:

350 & 380 are the older style supercharged 3.5l V6 so around 380HP is the limit.

The 390 upwards are charge cooled and thus 430 comes with ease from just a remap.

Apart from the power headline figures, how do these cars differ? 45-55k gets you into a nice 350 or 75k gets you into a 410, is the difference just 60HP and whats the score with 390 and 420 final version, just the final sticker or is there more to it? Is there a huge difference between a 350 and 410 for example and are modern 350's charge cooled and can be mapped to 430 or is it just the 390 and upwards that can be mapped to 430?

If anyone here is a Lotus expert and could put it into simple to understand what the differences are it would be appreciated please.

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

Looking at this:
https://www.oakmeremotorgroup.co.uk/used/cars/lotu...

Is 73k considered a good or high price for a 410 20th edition? What does the 20th edition give over the regular 410 version please?

[Gibbo205]

tactical lizard said:

You won't go wrong with a 20th edition, they come practically fully loaded with the important options like carbon seats and nitrons etc.

There are some 410s out there without the carbon seats. These are quite easy to identify and probably best avoided unless they are good bit cheaper than a carbon seated car. Carbon seats are like 5k from lotus!

Price wise, these cars were around 80k brand new.

Might be worth finding out if this car is this one on the video: https://youtu.be/SFCwgMUP57k

That PPF and ceramic is 2k of work.

Edited by tactical lizard on Monday 18th October 13:44

Not sure if its one in the video.

Where do people think the value of such a car would be in say 12 months with 5000 miles on the clock, if I buy at 73k what kind of trade offer can I expect in 9-12 months time on it does anyone know please?

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

Looking at a 410 anniversary edition, will the stock car be too loud for a 98 decibel day at Donnington?

[Gibbo205]

ecain63 said:

Yup, it'll be too loud pretty much everywhere. Even 105 days you'll fail driveby by a mile. I've heard of them failing at Spa and one pulled at the Ring

What is the easiest solution please?
Drove a 410, think I am buying it, was pretty damn awesome! Way better than the Evora 410 for me.

[Gibbo205]

Diablos-666 said:

Komotec / 2bular sell track friendly exhausts - around £2k
I think lotus sell them too but at a premium

I was hoping for a more low cost option, like a silencer I can just plug onto stock exhaust, will look rubbish but be for track only events.

[Gibbo205]

D4SH said:

Great thread as I'm also interested in moving from TVR to an Exige that can be used for road and a few trackdays a year. But not sure whether to go used 350 or go all in (on 50/50 finance) with a new FE 390/420. How much quieter is the 350 compared to the next rungs in the ladder? i.e. easy enough to get on most track days (and quieter than my decat sports exhaust Cerbera that's peeing off the neighbours )?

And is the 350 perfectly good for track or are the issues like heat soak reason enough to go 420?

I personally wanted a 410, value for money wise they seem better with prices in the 65-75k range. A 420 Final Edition are typically 85k plus and they had to be optioned up to get all the nice stuff.

For me the 410 20th Anniversary cars are the sweet spot, they came fully loaded, carbon exterior parts, interior coloured seats which I think is unique to the anniversary models and some have the AIM dash which is the only real unique option of the Final Editions, plus 10HP. So for me I searched for an Anniversary car, when I found one I purchased it. For me the only disadvantage it has over a 420 final is 10HP and AIM dash, though mine has the AIM dash as previously owner had that fitted. It has the positives of been an Anniversary model with unique coloured seats, painted roof and side scoops, exterior carbon bits and about 10-15k in my pocket. If I want the extra horses then all 410's can be easily mapped by Komotec to 430HP for around £1000.

Final Edition car is a nice thing but at circa 85k, the 410 cars around 70k seem better value. Same suspension, same car, the money saved could be used for a 460HP tuning kit and a lot of track days and fuel.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Friday 29th October 13:21

[Gibbo205]

keo said:

Any excuse to post a picture but here is my 20th Anniversary



As a strictly money point of view I should of bought a second hand one. I have seen a few bargains since I bought mine but I have stopped looking now. But the same dealer had a very lightly used second hand one for sale in blue next to mine. It was “only” 2.5k cheaper and when you take into account the dealer supplied my car taxed and that was nearly £2k (not sure why it’s so much guessing with it being brand new)

All being said it’s only money and I absolutely love mine. Can’t wait to get it ran in and used properly can’t see me using it much over the winter though.

Enjoy the search and you will love whatever model you get. Lotus’s really are something special

You own my twin.




That is mine, got it this week!

410 Anniversary in metallic orange. AIM dash, 2000 miles, 1 previous owner, soft top included, 3yr service pack, paid 73k for it.

[Gibbo205]

keo said:

That was the bargain I was talking about! If I hadn’t of bought mine that would of been a lot better buy for me. Oh well! I didn’t really like Oakmere when I went there either

Got nothing bad to say about Oakmere so far, Simon and I think other guy is Tom both been very accommodating with letting me take cars out solo and asking questions, as a result they got a sale.

[Gibbo205]

Am absolutely loving my 410 20th Anniversary so far, already done two track days in it and third booked for next month haha.

Had the alignment tweaked last week as last track day was getting some understeer, checked alignment and only had -0.5 negative front camber, so removed all the shims and its now just a little over -1.5 in the front and -2 in the rear. Went toe neutral on front and 20 minutes toe in per side at rear, feels better on road but track will be the real test.

Some photos from last track outing:

Edited by Gibbo205 on Monday 21st February 11:09