I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news for all of my fellow UK and EU enthusiasts who might not want the market to expand, but I think I’m the first person to legally import an Exige S1 into the US under the 25-year vintage car rule.
This is #107 in New Aluminium, converted at some point to LHD. Based on older photos it previously sported an Exiges.com banner on the windscreen, which I believe would have been from it’s second owner in Germany (I think the third and most recent PO, a Belgian guy, removed it). It’s also on the registry here, which must mean the German owner was an active user at some point. I’ve searched and searched but can’t find any posts about it, so he may have just been a lurker who privately messaged someone to add it to the registry. If anyone has a lead, please let me know…would love to know more of the history!
In any case, I’m pretty smitten with the car. I had driven an S2 prior to this, but only briefly and it had been years. I had an ear-to-ear grin the entire first drive of this one. It makes my previous NA Miata and E30 M3 track cars feel sluggish…I guess it sits somewhere between those and my old 125cc kart.
Quick picture after it’s first wash last weekend. You can see my neighbor’s Ford F150 in the background for proof that it’s in the States Waiting for the license plates to arrive before I head somewhere a bit more scenic for better photos.
Ha – you’ve described my situation! I’m based in New Orleans at the moment, so I’m indeed being steamed every time I drive the car. Planning to relocate back to New England in the coming months though. Looking forward to both the climate and the backroads in the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts (although not before its first planned trackday here in September).
It does have an air conditioner, but I haven’t even tried it yet – I’ve heard how poorly they typically work and assumed it wouldn’t make much of a difference. Might give it a shot today though to see whether it’s any more livable. Good excuse for another test drive.
Yeah, just took it for a drive and the AC is sort of working, but it’s not appreciably helping with the 35C temps. Didn’t expect otherwise though.
And of course I’ve already had the dreaded immobiliser issues. Thankfully this time disconnecting the battery for five mins and reconnecting seems to have solved it, but I’ll be bypassing the next time I have a free hour to get to the module. Running like a dream otherwise though!
Congrats with the car! Spend 6 years in the US and shortly drove a miata between the moms with their suv’s and the 18 wheelers. You are a brave man haha.
Don’t think I’ll be able to drive it to New England…too many cars with too few drivers. And honestly having done the drive 4 times now (22+ hours and 1500 miles) I’m not sure that I’d love it in the Exige.
And you’re absolutely right…despite my years of Miata experience and still regularly driving my 912, the view from the Lotus on these roads can be terrifying:
Waiting for the license plates to arrive before I head somewhere a bit more scenic for better photos.
and I am sure you will enjoy your new toy.