Exige must have options and used values
Discussion
Hi, I'm seriously thinking of selling my Griff and moving on to an S3 Exige V6.
What are the desireable "must have" options or packs to look out for on these cars to ensure a decent resale chance in the future?
In terms of budget, I'm probably looking at an earlier car that's outside warranty, would early £30's buy a car with the right options and history?
Having read a few buyers guides the mechanics seem pretty reliable but I've read a few tales of clutches needing replacement at quite low mileage costing circa £2k, is this a common occurrence?
Is there anything else to look out for that's a common issue on a 3 or 4 year old car?
What are the desireable "must have" options or packs to look out for on these cars to ensure a decent resale chance in the future?
In terms of budget, I'm probably looking at an earlier car that's outside warranty, would early £30's buy a car with the right options and history?
Having read a few buyers guides the mechanics seem pretty reliable but I've read a few tales of clutches needing replacement at quite low mileage costing circa £2k, is this a common occurrence?
Is there anything else to look out for that's a common issue on a 3 or 4 year old car?
Thanks for the replies.
The roadster seems unloved!
There seem to be a fair number of cars around that have sat with dealers for some time that I guess must be Pre-regd given mileages, are Lotus struggling to shift these new?
I've just missed out on a white V6 at a main dealer which I understand has sold for £35k. It seems likely therefore that an early 2012-13 car would make a fair bit less than that privately...
The roadster seems unloved!
There seem to be a fair number of cars around that have sat with dealers for some time that I guess must be Pre-regd given mileages, are Lotus struggling to shift these new?
I've just missed out on a white V6 at a main dealer which I understand has sold for £35k. It seems likely therefore that an early 2012-13 car would make a fair bit less than that privately...
I have recently sold my company car Exige roadster for a bit under £30k...but we had to charge VAT (which was included in the price indicated), the car had 47k miles...so nicely run in, it needed new tyres, had some panel damage in the rear panel behind the drives door due to a work colleague hitting it, and the front ideally needed some paint to repair the various stone chips...I estimated £4-5k of expense...oh yes and rear brake discs and pads. Still it was a bargain and all that really needed doing was the tyres and rear brakes...and according to my local lotus specialist, it was one of the best they have driven.
CTE said:
I have recently sold my company car Exige roadster for a bit under £30k...but we had to charge VAT (which was included in the price indicated), the car had 47k miles...so nicely run in, it needed new tyres, had some panel damage in the rear panel behind the drives door due to a work colleague hitting it, and the front ideally needed some paint to repair the various stone chips...I estimated £4-5k of expense...oh yes and rear brake discs and pads. Still it was a bargain and all that really needed doing was the tyres and rear brakes...and according to my local lotus specialist, it was one of the best they have driven.
What’s the replacement car Mark? Have you left the village?Take a look here for options https://wiki.seloc.org/a/Pricing_and_Upgrades_(201...
On my 3rd V6 Exige now. On initial V6S I went for the “race pack”which gives you 4 mode Lotus DPM system including launch control, exhaust bypass valve override switch, optimised suspension.
Sweet spot for Exiges are the early Sport 350’s.
Always buy the best car you can afford , rather than the cheapest. Depreciation is minimal on a decent car, so with money being so cheap to borrow it’s not always wise to cut corners .
Happy hunting as great cars !
On my 3rd V6 Exige now. On initial V6S I went for the “race pack”which gives you 4 mode Lotus DPM system including launch control, exhaust bypass valve override switch, optimised suspension.
Sweet spot for Exiges are the early Sport 350’s.
Always buy the best car you can afford , rather than the cheapest. Depreciation is minimal on a decent car, so with money being so cheap to borrow it’s not always wise to cut corners .
Happy hunting as great cars !
urquattroGus said:
Did you swap from your Griff?
Might put plan Griff toi Exige S into action some time next year...
I sold my Griff 4 weeks ago.Might put plan Griff toi Exige S into action some time next year...
The Exige was the leading contender to replace it but then I drove an Alfa 4c, very different to the Lotus in lots of ways but both great to look at and rather nice weekend toys. The Alfa won and I picked one up last week.
Good luck with your search!
5er said:
Apparently there's an Exige value appreciation thread but I can't find it? Anyone have a link to that one please?
This one perhaps? https://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=399222...T5GRF said:
I sold my Griff 4 weeks ago.
The Exige was the leading contender to replace it but then I drove an Alfa 4c, very different to the Lotus in lots of ways but both great to look at and rather nice weekend toys. The Alfa won and I picked one up last week.
Good luck with your search!
The Exige was the leading contender to replace it but then I drove an Alfa 4c, very different to the Lotus in lots of ways but both great to look at and rather nice weekend toys. The Alfa won and I picked one up last week.
Good luck with your search!
Be interested to know your thoughts on the 4C. I've been planning a move from an Elise to V6 Exige ever since I drove one just after the launch but recently had my head turned by a pretty Italian! What a pity they didn't give it a 6cylinder engine, that's the biggest draw to the Exige for me.
Read all the 4C reviews and I'm still not put off
Just need to try and find one to test drive now without travelling the length of the country..Flat6 said:
Be interested to know your thoughts on the 4C. I've been planning a move from an Elise to V6 Exige ever since I drove one just after the launch but recently had my head turned by a pretty Italian! What a pity they didn't give it a 6cylinder engine, that's the biggest draw to the Exige for me.
Read all the 4C reviews and I'm still not put off Just need to try and find one to test drive now without travelling the length of the country..
Coming from a 5 liter Griffith, like you I was totally sold on the V6 Exige over the 4c, given the 4c's lack of cylinders. I'd driven a V6 roadster, loved the drive and noise but had some concerns over residuals, interior quality and running costs. Read all the 4C reviews and I'm still not put off
Just need to try and find one to test drive now without travelling the length of the country..The 4c reviews I'd read we're not complimentary about the road manners, however once I'd been up to Jaime Porters garage and seen a few customers cars in the flesh I absoloutley loved the looks of the Alfa. A brief test drive with Jaime in his "sorted" 4c coupe quickly sold it to me. The power of his car is incredible, the handling and grip just amazing. I bought a 4c Spider a couple of weeks later.
The 4c makes sense on so many levels- it has bullet proof mechanicals, minuscule running costs (40 mpg, £190 a year tax, 4 cylinder servicing) it actually sounds pretty awesome when giving it full throttle, and has instant torque in any gear with performance that's pretty much on par with an Exige 350. Lastly and importantly to me, it's a very rare car on U.K. Roads, with a hand built carbon fibre tub and wonderful Italian looks, I'm sure the residual value of the 4c will prove to be very much stronger than an Exige which for a weekend toy car that'll probably not cover more than 2k miles a year helps me justify it to "the war office.."
Don't get me wrong I think the Exige is a simply fantastic car too but for me, the 4c just pipped it!
Good luck with your search, there's a helpful thread in the Alfa forum that's probably worth a read and I'm sure they'll be someone in your neck of the woods that'd be happy to show you their car and take you out.
T5GRF said:
Coming from a 5 liter Griffith, like you I was totally sold on the V6 Exige over the 4c, given the 4c's lack of cylinders. I'd driven a V6 roadster, loved the drive and noise but had some concerns over residuals, interior quality and running costs.
The 4c reviews I'd read we're not complimentary about the road manners, however once I'd been up to Jaime Porters garage and seen a few customers cars in the flesh I absoloutley loved the looks of the Alfa. A brief test drive with Jaime in his "sorted" 4c coupe quickly sold it to me. The power of his car is incredible, the handling and grip just amazing. I bought a 4c Spider a couple of weeks later.
The 4c makes sense on so many levels- it has bullet proof mechanicals, minuscule running costs (40 mpg, £190 a year tax, 4 cylinder servicing) it actually sounds pretty awesome when giving it full throttle, and has instant torque in any gear with performance that's pretty much on par with an Exige 350. Lastly and importantly to me, it's a very rare car on U.K. Roads, with a hand built carbon fibre tub and wonderful Italian looks, I'm sure the residual value of the 4c will prove to be very much stronger than an Exige which for a weekend toy car that'll probably not cover more than 2k miles a year helps me justify it to "the war office.."
Don't get me wrong I think the Exige is a simply fantastic car too but for me, the 4c just pipped it!
Good luck with your search, there's a helpful thread in the Alfa forum that's probably worth a read and I'm sure they'll be someone in your neck of the woods that'd be happy to show you their car and take you out.
Thanks for your thoughts The 4c reviews I'd read we're not complimentary about the road manners, however once I'd been up to Jaime Porters garage and seen a few customers cars in the flesh I absoloutley loved the looks of the Alfa. A brief test drive with Jaime in his "sorted" 4c coupe quickly sold it to me. The power of his car is incredible, the handling and grip just amazing. I bought a 4c Spider a couple of weeks later.
The 4c makes sense on so many levels- it has bullet proof mechanicals, minuscule running costs (40 mpg, £190 a year tax, 4 cylinder servicing) it actually sounds pretty awesome when giving it full throttle, and has instant torque in any gear with performance that's pretty much on par with an Exige 350. Lastly and importantly to me, it's a very rare car on U.K. Roads, with a hand built carbon fibre tub and wonderful Italian looks, I'm sure the residual value of the 4c will prove to be very much stronger than an Exige which for a weekend toy car that'll probably not cover more than 2k miles a year helps me justify it to "the war office.."
Don't get me wrong I think the Exige is a simply fantastic car too but for me, the 4c just pipped it!
Good luck with your search, there's a helpful thread in the Alfa forum that's probably worth a read and I'm sure they'll be someone in your neck of the woods that'd be happy to show you their car and take you out.
I also only do a coupe of thousand miles a year in my current Elise (at most) so residuals are as important as running costs to me too. I've always considered Lotuses a safe place for my money and think an Exige at £35-40k will hold its value well over the next few years (as history has shown with the S2's). The 4C is a bit harder to predict for me, I'm sure in the long term they'll do well due to rarity value but I'm not sure how it'll fare in the next 3-4 years.. Used Exiges certainly seem to sell much quicker than 4C's at the moment but I guess time will tell.
Regarding running costs I've taken the view (rightly or wrongly) that the fuel & tax benefit on the 4C over the Exige is probably offset by the high 4C servicing costs (bolt tightening/2 year?) so I'm finding them pretty difficult to separate on paper. They're very different cars and I can argue an equal number of positives and negatives for each so it's really going to come down to the 4C drive (well, I hope it helps me decide one way or the other!
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