Real world difference of Exige & Elise

[andyc]

How much is your budget as this will make a huge difference to what you can buy?! I have a 2001 S2 with K-series (Head gasket done recently....doh!) but for an Exige of same age and quality you almost need to double your budget. I'm not sure the extra money will give that much more fun tbh. Track days will be limited probably from the location of Turiff wrt Knockhill. By an S2 Elise and upgrade the ponies
(I'll give you a shottie sometime if you like.....but if you bend it you buy it!)

[Mikie711]

Right I have a far from standard S1 Elise with Nitrons, Padgids, UCR gearbox and wildly tuned K series and a Standard'ish S2 Exige. Because of the Nitrons the Elise feels better on the road, ignoring the fact the engine and drivetrain is a pig when anything other than flat out . The Exige, in my opinion is the better car though. Stick a set of Nitrons on that and it would be streets ahead. Not sure what it is but the ride and handling is just easier to exploit on the road. Mine is NA and the 2 things I would like to change/will eventually change is the suspension, because Nitrons make a real world difference on and off the track, and the cam change point. It's fun to begin with but soon becomes a PITA. Lowering in it and smoothing it out so it's not so pronounced is the way ahead. Both Lotus and Sinclaires can do this for between £150 and £400 depending on which you use.

[Michael]

My S2 NA Exige is likely to be up for sale shortly...

I say likely since it hasn't been a sudden decision for me..... I find I am using it too little and too much on motorways now to properly justify it...especially while Im looking for a house....which Im not rushing into either....

Anyway, for me, coming from an S2 Elise, the Exige completed the Lotus experience for me. It simply ticked all the boxes, there has been no other way to describe it. If I can justify it in a years time, I'll get exactly the same again.

Good luck

[Peter]

I have the Elise SC with the sports pack on it (uprated wheels, Exige suspension and oil coolers I think???). To be honest it's a bit too severe/'fidgety for the road, and better suited to track.
I think Lotus really struggled with where this car fits in, to the point they have to say in the marketing blurb the the Exige is the track focussed equivilent..

I'd be interested to see the difference in the hands of a capable driver, the Exige has the downforce and tyres for corners yet more drag to effect accelleration and top speed.

I do love the car, 18 months on and still smiling like an idiot everytime I get in it and of course, roof off, it doesn't get much better..

[David Bryce]

Hold on a minute.............

Hello Mr Stabler, when did you appear on here matey?

(I'm not on here that much these days, some of us photographers are actually busy working )

next time your down Edinburgh way give me a shout for a drink or a drive

[scott_e]

and the cam change point. It's fun to begin with but soon becomes a PITA.

Agree with the cam point change , it is a pain. Although i would get around this by going for the Exige S which has a much smother change over due to the supercharger. Also i found running an Exige every day was great at first but during winter it lost the magic. Certainly next time i purchase i will be aiming for a cheap run-about for the bad weather days and hopefully (if affordable at the time) an Exige S for the dry sunny days. If not affordable than an Exige with lower cam change would do just fine

[ClarkyBoy]

stuff it, you dont need either, get a 340r, completely impractical, usless for everyday driving, but my got when you do get 1 day of nice weather out of a whole year its damn worth it - im not sure if im giving colin his back

nah in all seriousness, if i was you i would go for a relatively cheap S2 elise, and spend the remainder of what you would have done on and exige on upgrades for the elise, you may find out that you have ended up with a real weapon - or a Type R'd S1 if you have another car for everyday use?

[vx220]

Thanks guys for the ideas, all interesting reading. Still no firm decisions yet though, I want to make sure I get this next stage right as I will be keeping the car for a number of years before I can swop again to a 911.

Afternoon Brycie, I wondered if you came on here! I have been on here a couple of weeks, best kept secret in Scotland is this place! Love it here, MUCH better than the VX forum which doesnt do it for me! Some great people on here, made afew great friends already!

Nice to hear you got your new Elise, you having fun out there?

Cheers
Kevin

[tonyg]

Whatver you buy vx220 - enjoy it ! -(thought about a 7?)

[twisted2fit]

i know the topic is real world performance but if you compare the elise s2 s/charged with an exige s2 n/a on http://www.fastestlaps.com makes for interesting reading