I’ve read a fair bit on here and after toying with the idea of an S1 Exige for the weight advantages I have switched to getting an S2 Exige S as I can leverage it in my business.
I need one in the next few weeks so ordering new isn’t an option. I’ve been looking through Pistonheads and the known Lotus franchises and there are a few potential cars. Given my lack of Lotus knowledge and the lack of info on the Lotus site I thought I’d ask here what spec would be best given the following requirements…
Will be tracked 1-3 times per month.
Will visit the Nordschleife 4-8 times a year.
Won’t be used as a run about unless I fancy a blatt.
Given these my thoughts on spec are
Air Con required. The Europe trips will need it.
Harnesses required.
Sports exhaust.
What else?
I see some have ‘Sports suspension’. What does this mean 1 or 2-way adjustment?
Are there any other desirable options? Brake upgrades?
Lastly what are the must have tweaks from std. Geo by Guglielmi?
I thought lighter seats.
Are there much aftermarket bits like a carbon fibre spoiler, better/lighter undertray etc.
Give Lotus a ring about deivery times. They ere not as long as they used to be.
I’s try to get an Exige with sportspack, performance pack and airco. And upgrade the shocks. Either with Nitrons or Ohlins. (Dreammachines have a black one, but it is with the touring package).
Fo sportexhaust 2bular seems to be very popular. Not sure about delivery times on the exhaustsystems.
There is one with a Sports Pack on which looks good.
What does the Performance Pack add?
It upgrades it to 240hp incremently adjustable traction control big roof scoop and the big front brake setup.
I was at Castle Lotus and drove their demonstrator PP car and I must say the brakes, the extra 20hp and the roof are amazing well worth the extra money IMHO.
Then maybe get ohlins or nitrons but I would advise you to drive cars with both first to make your choice.
As for exhaust if you want some noise but also be able to go on track be wary of going to a sports cat, I did and now I have ended up with a 24x8 GT3 from 2bular to keep the noise police at bay
Looking at the used network there are only 2 with the Performance Pack I would consider, but they are demanding over �40k.
Is the PP worth that premium?
What it not be more cost effective to add Ohlins, adj ARB and firmer bushes to a Sport Packed Exige?
Its seems a shame to see so many Exiges with Touring and Super Touring! Defeats the objective of the car to me.
But looking at the network there are 2 cars I really like but both have Super Touring. Would the performance of these cars compromised on circuit with the above mod’s vs a Sports Exige
I think it is a lot of horses for courses, you really just need to go drive them to see what you prefer, IMHO the super touring is not worth it, but air con is a must or you will be hit with bad resale values. Everything else is very subjective and personal opinion. I’m sure when you drive one you will just say this is the one for me and buy it
you will need the performance pack or it will feel slow.
it not easy or cheap to fit after market and the 240+ Bhp is nice to have, and you will have to upgrade the brakes also where the performance pack has very good ones.
Is there scope for code only or will engine/SC need more cooling as well.
You could have a look at Sector111 and there Gotham upgrade, but it is not available in the UK yet as the engines are slightly different (Injectors) When it is Sinclaire are the UK resellers so I’m sure it will be on their website.
I am going to go and get another power run done as soon as I can, I have done about 400 miles since the install already. I plan on taking it to another RR where it had a power run around a year ago, so it should be a good comparison.