time to decide?

General General Lotus Talk
1

ok guys time to decide, awhile ago i posted an article about the new clio v6 coming out next year, its looks amazing and am going to go to the dealer in a few days the put down my �1000 deposit, but just one thing is stopping me, a lotus exige! for the past year and a half i have loved the exige and seems the obvious choice to trade my elise in for, but as i use it everday half of me is thinking that i need a bit more comfort and luxury, but the other half is thinking, its a damm renault! and would not be able to go faster round corners than most cars do on the straights. help help help i would be using the car as a road car and not on the track. just in case you dont know the clio has 255bhp 0-60 in 5.5 and tops out at over 155mhp

2

Buy mine, you know you want to [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image]Just in case you dont know my Exige has 260+bhp 0-60 in sub 5 and tops out at over 155mph (and corners on rails [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] )

3

how many miles has the old girl done? sounds good but just 2 problems, 1. need to sale or trade my car in first before i can buy one2. insurance cost on 260bhp exige as im only 25. apart from that though its sounds great.

4

quote:Originally posted by kieron:insurance cost on 260bhp exige as im only 25.It’s nearly Chistmas, so speak with JohnO @ Autotorque on 0161 278 5226. [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

5

quote:Originally posted by kieron:how many miles has the old girl done? The old girl has done 9500 miles so far.

6

Don’t get the Renaultsport - my wife’s got a 172 and believe me, the difference in handling and acceleration is NOT that different.Eveyone I know who’s had a 3.0 V6 Sport (3) sell it after a year as its, well, to slow!!the 5.5 0-60mph are Renault’s figures, they reckon about 6.0 secs.

7

Kieron buy an Exige. A young pup like yourself will have no probs using at as an everyday car.

8

ok well nearly everyone i know has told me to get the exige, so i will go down to b+c in west horsley at the weekend. anyone know what b+c are like as my brother went there a few years back and they offered him about �7 for his elan s2. [might have been a bit more] from what i know about the exige i will have to get the 190 upgrade and get one with sports seats and sports exhaust already fitted. also is this correct that when the time comes to take her in for an mot i will have to put the cat back on the car so it passes the emissions test? again any replies most appreciated.

9

Hi KieronThis is not an anti B&C post, as I have bought two cars from them in the past (Subaru and Elise) and had no problems - just that main dealers are soooo expensive.B&C have one Exige at the moment for about �26K and in my experience are unlikely to budge more than a grandFor that sort of money you can get v good private Exiges - there are not enough around to have generally been abused by assholes - most sold by people on this site are good cars with solid histories.I bought mine in August with 190, seats and harnesses, braided hoses and uprated pads for �21.5K - a 00X with 16K on the clock.It also came with the balance of the Lotus warranty, which can be transferred for �25 and then renewed for about �600 - no not really any worse warranty wise than buying from a dealer (except I only got 6 months instead of a year)So save yourself a few grand and buy private and put the remainder towards some track days

10

MarkExcellent advice. Bought private myself, got to be sure top car tho’.

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PeskyAre you suggesting I’m Santa Claus giving insurance away for Christmas???BAH HUMBUG !!! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]JOHNO

12

Kieron,Its easy to decide. The Exige wins hands down, especially in comparison to a V6 Clio.I’m a newbie to owning an Exige, only had one for 6 weeks, but can not recommend it highly enough. For the money, and even for a bit more money, you will find it very hard to find a car that is more of a true drivers car, than the Exige. And you will find it almost impossible to find a car that you will feel so comfortable and at ease with, during the various activities involved in ownership, mainly hurling around corners at ridiculous speeds, grinning like mad Mick McMad the madman, whilst the car bombards all of your senses with everything that is going on. I’ve driven a ton of cars, and the Exige is unique. Get One.The car is not for everybody, its loud, low and a bit lumpy in slow traffic. Everybody stares at you and thinks your a mad man.And I’d concur with everybody here, do your due diligence, and get driving around the country to find a private Exige up for sale, find the one for you, and snap it up. I have had a fair amount of experience with B&C, and they have been good, if a little on the expensive side. I viewed two Exiges there a few weeks back, and they were up for around �27K at the time, For ****s and giggles I bartered with them, and got them down �1500 on both Exiges. However they were both 177’s and not 190’s. -GMan

13

thanks guys, all your advice is really apprieciated, and if i do get an exige it wil be mainly down to eveyone on here who has been really heplful and friendly. im off to b+c now only a 20 min drive to see if they have any exiges down there. just one more question as i can only drive cars and have no idea in of the mechanical side of cars, if i buy the 190 exige what if anything might i have to do to get it pased the mot? thnaks again

14

quote:Originally posted by kieron:thanks guys, all your advice is really apprieciated, and if i do get an exige it wil be mainly down to eveyone on here who has been really heplful and friendly. im off to b+c now only a 20 min drive to see if they have any exiges down there. just one more question as i can only drive cars and have no idea in of the mechanical side of cars, if i buy the 190 exige what if anything might i have to do to get it pased the mot? thnaks againTo pass the MOT? You might need to bribe someone.Seriously, with a cat on the 190 was never expected to pass the MOT. You might need to get hold of a 177 ECU and get the vernier pulleys temporarily replaced to get it through.This is why Lotus never sold any 190 Exiges/Elises/340Rs except as upgrade packs

15

BT52I thought a couple of 190 owners on here have had the emissions tests carried out and they were ok. Must check archive.

16

Yep, I had my 190 with Cat emission tested a few weeks ago. Passed very easily on fast idle (revving about 2.5k) but was 3 times over at natural idle.Have since spoke to chaps at Lotus, they have offered a ‘tweak’ to the ECU, which with the cat on should keep the emissions below MOT regs. This apparantly will only lose a couple of horses.We’ll see…