My first post, though I have been lurking around for some time. I have a few (probably daft) questions. I have been a Caterham owner (www.soggster.com) for some time, and have just sold it and I’m after something a bit more practical, so I’m going for an Exige Firstly my drive is quite narrow and I was wondering how wide they are with and without mirrors (S1)?
Also if I buy one with the 170odd bhp engine, how much is it to have the upgrade to 190odd bhp and is it worth it, or are there better alternatives for sensible money (not a new engine)?
Is black the coolest colour, is it yellow? (me hides)
Re Drive they are not that wide but youll need enough space to open doors as they open out fairly wide (best description) so hoepfully it isnt too narrow with fence or wall either side… alternate is if youre slim, to wind windows down and try Dukes of Hazzard style entry and exit … (only kidding you’d have to be a gymnast).
If youre set on a 190 buy a car already fitted with the upgrade… if you’ve seen a 177bhp variant you like, try it and then try a 190 and then see if it sways you…
If you buy a “177” car, you’d be much better off buying an “Emerald ECU” & some vernier pullies, rather than going the Lotus 190 ECU route. Why? Because you can “map” the car properly so it runs smoothly at tickover/around town, plus you can optimise the engine’s power delivery.
Do a search on this bbs (eg posts by Uldis, RemarkLima, Phil & Bruno) & you’ll find lots of info about the Emerald upgrade.
Good luck with your hunt for your ideal car. Unfortunately, you’ll probably not have much choice of colour - only 600 cars were built, & not many come onto the 2nd hand market. It’s much better to buy on “provenance”, rather than colour
Technically, black is an absense of colour, but a black object is something that absorbs all visible wavelengths because the object is actually a combination of ALL colours.
In reality, only a white or silver car can be said to have no colour.
I would suggest that the perfect car colour is blue. This would mean that the car absorbs the blue part of any light falling on it, and reflects the green and red parts. These colours then combine nicely in the human eye to form a colour I like to call Lotus mustard yellow
why? My wife made me…she said that I could buy my toy as long as I bought it in a colour that can be seen. The last thing you want in a sub ton under 4’ car is to blend in. (And there is no chance of blending in in a chrome orange exige!)