Im looking to buy an S2 exige (190 not an S due to insurance, my age, price etc!) and am looking at various options around the 20k mark and slightly over. I was going to ask for advice ona couple of issues which are as follows:
I was wondering how essential the touring pack is to make the car more comfortable for day to day use. The car will be my daily commute, and so was curious as to how necessary people felt that the touring pack but especially aircon actually was. Obviously it would affect resale value without this option on. Also, is it possible to retro fit the aircon, electric windows etc?
I have been informed (correctly I assume?!) That the 06 models onwards have different seats, uprated rear lights and a different pedal box to previous models, as well as drive by wire. I was wondering if this is indeed correct and if these changes made a huge difference to the car or not, or more importantly whether or not it is worth paying extra for an 06 car to get these enhancements.
Yes, you need aircon. Essential for demisting in winter and does a good job of keeping the cabin cool in summer. Also really knocks a car on resale. As for retrofit, not realistically. Technically possible but involves a huge amount of work and would cost far more than buying a car with it in the first place.
The revised pedal box “nicer” but you can tweak pre-06 cars to get nice pedal positions etc (I did). Not everyone likes the new seats, some prefer the old and you can retrofit LED lights in 10 minutes to an older car.
If it were me I’d be looking at a mint condition earlier car rather than a later one which has been hammered. All n/a prices are likely to be hit with the new '08 models coming in so I’d buy as cheap as poss and spend a bit on upgrades and toys.
Its a funny ole game all this option mallarky. I was of the same opinion as yourself AC and touring ranked a bit higher than sports/performance and I’ve got a feeling that in the general populace these options do sell cars. On here we’re a bit more hardcore so the preferance swings more towards the sports options.
I’m really happy with mine and since I sold my other daily driver I’ve been using it a bit more often for longer trips and its actually pretty good. I’m tempted to fit a better aerial and decent speakers but apart from that its dead good. If your around the midlands (Northampton) feel free to come for a ganda and I’ll show you the ropes. My cars is a 54 plate so you can see the early seats and normal lights. I haven’t played with the pedal box yet, I wondered about it but heeling and toeing isn’t my bag really.
The air con is a must but not for the reason you’d think. The S2s have insulation in the sills and carpet on top so the hot coolant pipes inside dont heat the cabin up. The best thing is for demisting the windscreen on winter mornings.
Johnny, I was in the same quandry as yourself looking for a S2 Exige with �20k +…But ended up going silly and getting an S, which was well worth it. However…
1 - Air con is a must and does affect re-sale IMHO. This cannot be retro fitted. Most of the dealers I sp[oke to said that public demand has changed with people now wanting creature comforts over more tech less spec! However Electric windows can be retrofitted and a kit cost �250 (If I remember correctly) but it will cost. I have a touring pack on my S and to be honest its not that much of a neccesity. If I had my time again I would opt for the performance pack!
2 - The 06 upgrades shouldn’t affect your decision if you find an 05 car that is what you want. The LED lights can be retro fitted but be warned they are prone to go and its a fairly long wait as they are always on back order at Lotus. As for the fly by-wire…I have had nothing but problems and wish it was a cable set-up.
Hang on… if these are such wonderful cars why are we all open to offers?
'04,7K miles, Storm Ti, Twin Graphite stripes, snap-off MOMO wheel, Carbon ITG, Extinguisher, 1144 pads, “proper” pedal box, LED front, side and rears, Shift lights, reverse sensors, Lotus stage 1 box and cat (spare), currently fitted with custom Larini side exit and decat pipe. Full armourfend + colour coded side pods and wing.
(+ half a dozen coats of wax to keep the horse cr*p off!)
Edited to say: Only reason I’d sell is for a Honda’d S2, and Audi’d S1 or a sh*t hot Cup car.
…because in this weather any modern hatchback will leave us for dead.
Thought you wanted to return to a Caterham, so you could go on road “blats” with the 7 Club, rather than join the rest of us on track
Strewth Pesk, do you keep a little black book…
I was never that into “blatting”, everyone else was always too slow. I tracked my 7 on average 3 times a year but I’ve never got round to it in the Exige for one reason or anaother…(sounds like a new years resolution coming early…)
Ah righty, that helps a huge amount thanks!! I looked at a few today and found the 04’ models perfectly comfortable. Il also take on board what has been mentioned about the fly by wire and the aircon…though I always thought it was best to use the heater to demist the screen?!
For others reading the above please be aware that there was more to the above than meets the eye. I was a bit p’ed off with the Exige as a local garage had just ripped me off nearly �200 just to fit a set of brake pads, some one was selling my old Caterham on pistonheads for the 5th time in 18 months and we had a particularly tasty Caterham in the garage at work so it was just a bad day. The Exige is still here. I need to find a trackday I think.
For me a blat usually entails meeting a few other owners at a pub somewhere in cotswolds for a pork pie and a natter. I did get a few of the SELOC to meet in MK which was fun but it hasn’t continued…