I have had a search for general advice and couldn’t come up with much, so please excuse me if I am being a dumbass newbie!
I am looking to buy a new S2 Exige, and could do with a bit of help. I understand what comes with the Touring Pack and the Performance Pack, but what would you guys recommend I choose? It will be a second car (Focus RS is day to day car), mainly for weekends (80%) and track days (20%).
The dealer says Touring Pack is the best option, but would love to hear real owner’s opinions. Also, is there any point trying to haggle them down from list price? Will I get anywhere?
If tracking a lot then extra oil coolers of performance pack handy. Otherwise I’d get touring pack as on mine which is fine. Well worth haggling to see if you can get money off, depends what options you are buying with it i guess, you might be able to get a sports zorst thrown in for free. Always best to play the delaers off against each other and see who can do best price.
Personally, I’d go with the Performance pack. The oil coolers are gonna help and the harnesses on track (where such a special car was really designed to be anyway!) are going to add safety and add that racecar feeling wherever you drive it. Plus, it’ll weigh less than the touring pack with all its ‘bits’!
Thanks for the answers guys, not really helped make up my mind though as you both said the opposite!
Anyone else got a view?
Is it possible to get the oil coolers fitted as a factory fit option with the touring pack, or can they only be supplied as part of the performance pack?
Is it possible to get the oil coolers fitted as a factory fit option with the touring pack, or can they only be supplied as part of the performance pack?
Matt
From my experience, buying the S2, Lotus and the dealers are very inflexible, LSD is listed in the glossy but just could not get a price either from various mails to Lotus or speaking to the salesman at the dealers. So the chances of having the twin oil cooers fitted with the touring pack are just about zero However there were a few posts kicking around a month or so ago where folks were saying they had ordered the touring pack and had been supplied with the oil coolers as well. I have yet to see one of these but the posters were convinced they had been fitted.
My advice, stop dallying and GET THAT PERFORMANCE PACK ORDERED. Another benifit is that with the performance pack fitted the main benifit will be that it’s easier to take the roof off in summer coz there aint no sun visors fitted
John
…folks were saying they had ordered the touring pack and had been supplied with the oil coolers as well.
I’m not sure that was on UK cars. They seem to be specced as std overseas.
Another benifit is that with the performance pack fitted the main benifit will be that it’s easier to take the roof off in summer coz there aint no sun visors fitted
Performance pack has got to be the way. Seats are great, you can’t hear the radio above 40mph anyway so that DAB one isn’t worth it and everytime you drive it on the road you’ll be thinking about the next track day booking so you can really use it, oil coolers and harnesses and all.
All dealers I spoke to were happy to throw in a sports zorst, I didn’t get one as a) my car was a cancelled order (no waiting!) and b) places like Goodwood etc are so strict on noise I didn’t want to risk being kicked off a track day.
Probably the only way to make a real saving is to find a dealer with Exiges in stock coming up to year end.
Last question, I promise! Do you still get normal seatbelts as well as the harnesses?
Matt
Normally they would take the inertia reel belts out. When my harnesses were fitted I requested they left the inertia’s in, which they did. For normal use I just have the shoulder straps pulled back through the holes in the seat and let the lap belts hang by the side. Sure it adds a little extra weight by keeping them but if you want to shed that extra weight lose the roof
John
LOL! If I did ever want to take the roof off, how easy a job is it to do? For purely informational reasons of course, obviously I would never actually commit such a despicable act…
I have heard that from '05, the touring pack will be fitted with the oil coolers as standard.
The roof is easy to take off. I was shown at a dealer. Few minutes and a couple of tools. Just needs the two holes doing above head for the internal support piece for the soft roof to attach.
I had to take the roof off of mine to apply some silicon spray because it was squeaking so much -it is identical to a short tail S2 roof so only takes 2mins to take off.
If you want to save weight buy the base car with no options as it is 875kg vs 916kg with all the options. (incidentally despite the lack of leccy windows on the performance pack the doors still feel as heavy as the touring!) I like the idea of having both harnesses and inertia belts for the driver but this is a dealer fit option rather than being done at the factory so ask them what can be done. Big plus for the performance pack are the lightweight wheels as these cost a fortune to add later! I think a couple of cars that were destined for overseas markets ended up going to uk customers hence there are a few touring packs with twin oil coolers around -its mad that lotus don’t let you choose!
Whichever one you get you won’t be disappointed with