Exige spec.......

[Aldo]

Hi there,

As per a couple of my previous posts, I'm on the lookout for a N/A S2 Exige. Ideal spec would be the Performance pack plus A/C! This is proving hard to find with the right miles and colour.

The Probax seats and harness bar are what appeal, these could be retro fitted to a Touring model in time (at a fair old cost right enough), but how important are the twin oil coolers? Are these advised if planning track days, or just a nice to have?

Also, i understand A/C is seen as almost a must have with an Exige due to it getting rather toasty in there. I don't think it would bother me personally (could be wrong), but if cars without are notoriously hard to shift should I hold out for one with?

Just trying to get a feel for whether or not i could plump for the Tourer as they seem to be easier to get hold of and at the same time should I go for a sports model without A/C?

Any of your views would be good to hear.

Cheers,
Al.

[Edinburgh 111s]

Aldo,

Not sure what spec/colour/mileage you are after, but if you want to retro fit the motor sport seats, you are talking about £1300 for the seats (that's second hand!!!), and about £150 plus fitting for the harness bar.

Could your budget strech to a Supercharged model? You could pick a good example up for as little as 23/25k, low miles and it should have the touring, and pay a little more and you will get one with the sport pack, which has the traction control, motorsport seats, twin oil coolers and harness bar.

I was in the same position as you several months ago after i sold my Elise. I ended up buying a 07 Exige "S", 7k miles, sport & touring packs, chrome orange, FLSH etc etc for 24k. For me this proved much better value than the N/A, not only are you getting a quicker, higher speced car, but one that should sell easier when you decide to sell it on.

I notice that N/A cars take a while to sell, but the "S" models sell quicker.

Exige's are fairly rare, so you might have to wait (like i had too) a few months, and be prepared to travel for the right car.

I dont know how much of an advantge the twin oil coolers are -

Good luck in your search, and give me a shout if you need any advice.....this is a subject that i have spent alot of time on over the past few months!

[kenny]

but how important are the twin oil coolers? Are these advised if planning track days, or just a nice to have?

Probably not required in Scotland unless you are planning on doing long track sessions or touring hotter climates.

[ryallm]

Personally I wouldn't buy an Exige without air con - they really need it in the summer, and are apparently very difficult to sell on without it. Re the oil coolers there was a significant change in spec to all Exiges built from May 2005 onwards. All Exiges post May 05, easily identified as this was also when they stopped putting the Lotus badge on the back and returned to the spaced Lotus lettering, have a single front oil cooler. Prior to this Touring and base spec Exiges didn't have one. The NA perf pack Exiges always had 2 front oil coolers. If you buy a post May 05 touring or base spec Exige it is a simple job to fit a second cooler as all the necessary plumbing is already in place ( I did exactly this myself), although it is debatable whether they really need the 2 coolers. I am also not sure perf pack cars are really worth the large premium they seem to command - you would probably be cheaper buying a touring pack car and then adding the sports seats and harness bar if you want them (even though this would probably cost £1500ish). As you have found there are a lot more Touring spec cars around, so it opens up the choice a bit more.

Mark

[kenny]

Slight tangent, what is included in the performance pack?
I have twin oil coolers on my 04 plate NA but I don't think I have any of the other performance pack kit. Coolers must have been specced or retro fitted by the previous owner is my thinking.

edit: found it. don't have any of the other stuff.

[ryallm]

Slight tangent, what is included in the performance pack?
I have twin oil coolers on my 04 plate NA but I don't think I have any of the other performance pack kit. Coolers must have been specced or retro fitted by the previous owner is my thinking.

edit: found it. don't have any of the other stuff.

I think the perf pack was just twin coolers, sports seats and a harness bar. You car sounds quite unusual Kenny. The twin coolers were not available as a separate option as far as I know, and they would have been a big job to retro fit due to the routing of the oils pipes through the sills.

[Cisco]

You really need the a/c in the exige primarily to clear the steamed up windows in the rain....which seems to be on every feckin day now.

And if it's mainly for the road buy a s/c car. No question. It may cost a bit more but you'll get that back when you sell it.

Take care,

Frank

[neil]

You really need the a/c in the exige primarily to clear the steamed up windows in the rain....which seems to be on every feckin day now.

And if it's mainly for the road buy a s/c car. No question. It may cost a bit more but you'll get that back when you sell it.

Take care,

Frank

Do you still get the big grin factor from the SC that you get from the NA when you hit 2nd cam?

I'd agree that air con is essential both for steamed up window and for the heat - even on a relatively cool day the Exige is a hot place to be if its being worked hard

[Aldo]

thanks for the input guys. Bit of first hand experience/advise is invaluable.

A/C does sound a must then, right oh will definately hold out for that then. And I'm going to do my best to hold out for a Sports pack model with A/C. Even if the twin oil coolers don't sound essential, the seats and harness bar is a big plus as I'm planninng track days. £1500 is quite a cost too. Saying that, a tourer at the right price.........hmmm.

Has anyone fitted the ECU to drop the cam change by 500rpm? With this done I feel it must make a massive difference. Staying on cam between changes would surely make for a quicker beasty!

I've not experienced the S yet and it would be a stretch too far for my finances at the moment anyway. Having come from big torque/linear power delivery turbo charged cars I quite liked the purity of the N/A and that cam change is addictive.

I dare say after a while I may hanker after an S. Right now I'm avoiding driving one for that reason!

cheers,
Al.

[ryallm]

Has anyone fitted the ECU to drop the cam change by 500rpm? With this done I feel it must make a massive difference.

Yes, and it does make a significant improvement. Not massive, but very worthwhile doing. Probably the best upgrade you can do for an NA Yota Elise/Exige, although many would argue that it should have come with that ECU map in the first place.

Mark

[SteveBanks]

I have the Lotus motorsport ECU and IMO it's an essential purchase for the Exige, especially on the road. If driving one for the first time then I'm in no doubt that the big 2nd cam kick is more impressive (exaggerated by the ridiculous dip beforehand) but after living with it for a while, it becomes more of a hindrance than anything else. The remap smooths everything out and makes the car more drivable, most noticeable for staying on cam between gear changes and not getting caught in that horrible flat spot exiting corners.

I'd hold out for a performance pack car purely for the seats.

Personally I'd have preferred the weight saving to having AC as I don't think the car needs it up here but my car has it so no harm done.

A few things to look out for:

If the heater resistor has not been updated to the new spec one then prepare for a clam off job to replace as the original WILL fail.

If you buy a car with a Lotus stage II then budget for a replacement as again it WILL break!

Check that the throttle body is operating smoothly on any car with an aftermarket induction kit, especially if it's a Pipercross. Trust me, it doesn't need too much dirt to damage the throttle body and they are expensive to replace. I can't speak for any other brands but I'd actually walk away from any car with a Pipercross fitted.

Oh, and if you want to buy my car...performance pack, harness, motorsport ecu, 2bular system, ali-belled discs etc. for less than any S2 Exige advertised on PH's then drop me a PM for details seriously, will be advertising it soon.

[kenny]

You car sounds quite unusual Kenny. The twin coolers were not available as a separate option as far as I know, and they would have been a big job to retro fit due to the routing of the oils pipes through the sills.

Yep, kinda curious about it. No complaints though.

[mikeyb13]

You car sounds quite unusual Kenny. The twin coolers were not available as a separate option as far as I know, and they would have been a big job to retro fit due to the routing of the oils pipes through the sills.

Yep, kinda curious about it. No complaints though.

My 04 plate is exactly the same, I have the twin oil coolers with normal seats and no harness bar so it must have been an option

And I would say air-con is a must, the car gets a tad steamy without it.

[kenny]

Do you know what dealer your car originated from?

[mikeyb13]

Gordon Lamb, down south