Im looking to buy an Exige but not sure which is the best one to go for, an S1 or S2…any advice would be appreciated!
how much do you have to spend? and how are u going to use the car, road or track?
Its going to be a Sunday car only…im not after creature comforts, im after rawness.
As for the money, I could probably stretch to both!
Its going to be a Sunday car only…im not after creature comforts, im after rawness.
As for the money, I could probably stretch to both!
S1
Like the man says it depends what your’e going to use it for and how much money you have, however, as someone who has driven an S1 and owns an S2, here’s my observations:-
S1 - Has the more race inspired looks, the rawer driving experience & probably requires the greatest skill to drive at it’s best, if you buy one air-con is a must it gets very very hot inside the cabin even with modest outside temperatures.
S2 - More creature comforts (especially if you go for the touring pack, extra sound proofing etc), it has ABS (but not the nannying kind) and anti-lock brakes which makes a bit safer for winter road driving and gives you a bit of extra confidence, not that it can’t bite you mind! The Toyota engine is a cracker but it doesn’t develop it’s max. torgue until 6800 rpm when you get a real kick in the back.
Ther are many other differences but you wouldn’t be disappointed with either it just depends on what you’re going to use it for. For me it’s a car that’s driven every day so the S2 is my weapon of choice (others will see it differently). I reckon the S1 would be an absolute blast especially on track, and If push came to shove I could drive it every day also (maybe just with sweatier palms). As someone once said “the choice is yours”.
Thanks Alan,
Yes im after the rawness of a proper sports car in looks and i performance!
It does seem like the S1 is the one to go for!
My colour choice is black or chrome orange…any thoughts on that score?
mello yello ,
id say S1 though if you went for the S2 you d prob spend less time and money pampering the engine. VHPD can be tiresome. As for colour… get black, i used to feel special with chrome orange but everyones buying that colour now
It looks like the S1 is the way to go but as youve suggested which colour do I go for, mean and moody black or in yer face orange?
Yup Koopa, chrome orange probably was special but as always happens whatever colour’s in the brochure always sells the most (my head just about blew off when I saw the S1 in CO in the brochure, nice with the black bits too) I’d have done the same if I could have afforded one at the time. I even thought of buying my S2 in CO but was well impressed by Graphite Grey (which sounds crap & looks crap in the brochure swab) but in the flesh it’s excellent. Only one problem I’ve now seen a starlight black one in a showroom, it’s just like the bat mobile!! (oops heads blown off again)
Yes that starlight black is very coooool!
X-Posted from seloc
Before this turns into pantomime…
All you have to do is go and test drive both ideally back to back, or better still go to a trackday as a passenger and get as many rides in the different cars (all in different states of tune, levels of bling etc…) and see what really takes your fancy, it’s nice to have the choice!
I have a S1 and feel it’s a ‘machine’ while the S2 would have the more ubiqutious term ‘car’.
That said both are seriously cool cars, so what ever you choose it’s all very
SEOT.
I have a S1 and feel it’s a ‘machine’ while the S2 would have the more ubiqutious term
‘sewing’
only joking folks… couldn’t resist…
S1 - … if you buy one air-con is a must it gets very very hot inside the cabin even with modest outside temperatures
I disagree, I’ve never been too hot in my car, I just open a window. The aircon is reknowned for going wrong, and should you want to upgrade to a Honda/Audi engine it’s gonna be a PITA.
But yes, go for an S1. The S2 is a 111R with a fixed roof
S1 - … if you buy one air-con is a must it gets very very hot inside the cabin even with modest outside temperatures
I disagree, I’ve never been too hot in my car, I just open a window. The aircon is reknowned for going wrong, and should you want to upgrade to a Honda/Audi engine it’s gonna be a PITA.
But yes, go for an S1. The S2 is a 111R with a fixed roof
The S1 is a Elise sport 190 with a fixed roof , don’t start!
IIRC, the Sport190 had nowhere near the same amount of downforce as the Exige at 100mph.
The S2 though… hmm. not many degrees of difference
> IIRC, the Sport190 had nowhere near the same amount of downforce as the Exige at 100mph.
The S2 though… hmm. not many degrees of difference
mmmm a front spliter and a rear wing.
Im not having a go at S one’s , its a fantastic car but dam S1 owners who have selective memory when bringing up the 111R/Exige S2 argument.
The 177bhp Exige S1 had the same Elise alternative as the Exige S2 has with the 111R
The S2 though… hmm. not many degrees of difference
mmmm a front spliter and a rear wing.
When the original Exige was produced it was in fact one of only a few production road cars that actually produced positive down force, I cant remember the numbers, no doubt someone will be along shortly with the figures but it’s something like 60-80kg at 100mph, so the splitter and the rear wing actually do something on the S1 and are not just for show
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The 177bhp Exige S1 had the same Elise alternative .[/quote]
The Exige was actually based on the “sport Elise racer” this was the race series that made up part of the the touring car program, and to quote Lotus “The Lotus Exige is not for the fainthearted, quite the opposite in fact. Its as faithful to the racer as legislation allow, even the racer’s central driving position was considered”
Now can this be said of the S2
The S2 body parts give just over 40kg of downforce at 100mph over the Elise so there not just for show.
Im not sure what your point is about the S1 race series as the S2 has the same in the Exige S2 cup .
As for the central driving position ?? yes but its not so is this a plus.
you need to do better than a few kgs of downforce and a driving position that never made production.