Hmm, I just can’t help but think, if the price difference is really nearly � 10K between a NA Exige S2 and an ‘S’, I really would go for a well sorted NA Exige… or if a ‘S’ is really what you want, wait a couple of months until they are more reasonably priced?
No offence to anyone owning an ‘S’, but just don’t think a � 10K difference is justified for what you get. If the ‘S’ at least had sufficient and thought-through cooling, it already would be much more attractive. Sure, tuning the ‘S’ should be no problem, but is it really a good basis? Tuning it doesn’t make the overheating any less of a problem and if you’re thinking of upgrading even higher (through Lotus) up to 255bhp, Lotus halfs the warranty. Sadly, seems to me Lotus isn’t all that confident about their product either.
Are there any working solutions yet about these issues and if yes, how much do they cost?
Plans did some work on my car last summer. They put Plans Ohlins kit, motorsport bushes, motorsport anti roll bar, motorsport toe link kit, corner weight and geo set up, motorsport battery, AP racing break kit, Ally bells, pagids, new brake hoses/fluid, twin oil coolers, accusump, decent oil, ECU reflash and some other bits and bobs which I can’t remember. I also have a “lightweight” exiges sunstrip ready to fit !
the S is a great road car but a fast track car it is not, The times on track are about the same as standard.
We are not talking about your car…there are supercharged cars that weigh 750kg, we are not talking about them either.
We are comparing a std NA exige with a std S exige.
According to lotus the std exige weighs 875 and the S weighs 935. Thats 6.8%. I stand corrected, but there is never 100kg difference between the two.
The std exige has 192hp and the S has 220hp. Thats 14.5%
So i was not far off with my estimate. I still stand by the fact that in std form the S is quicker than a NA car on track. The Top Gear times are testimaent to this.
I do agree that if you have 30,000 to spend on a used NA or S exige you could make the NA quicker than the S with the money you saved.
But that was not the point, you claimed the NA car is faster than the S on a track and when comparing apples with apples (sts with std) it is not.
I think it would depend on the track, if it was really twisty were the S has only the disadvantage of its weight, then maybe the NA car could be quicker, but we are talking a go kart track.
The S has so much more torque you have drive in all situations were the na car is still getting going. In the last two corners at hockenheim the first is a bit quicker than the second. In the na car you almost want to drop down to second to stay in the power for the second part (the first is deffo 3rd) and this upsets the car, staying in third dulls the accel onto the straight.
In the S you can stay in 3rd all the way through using the torque. The car can be balanced on the throttle better coz you are not upsetting it with a down shift in the middle of the corner. The drive onto the straight is consequently better.
I cannot imagine a normal track were a std NA car would be quicker than a std S. There may not be much in it but with the same guy behind the wheel its the S for me everytime.
Same driver, standard cars, the “S” is quicker on road and track. I have the T-shirt, done the jigsaw etc.and would pick the S any time if cash is not the main decider.
I am about to get an S myself as I think they are a terrific car, but both are great.
HTH
On-track performance between two cars with two different drivers is usually a poor reflection of the potential of the respective cars. Too much is down to driver. Even on the straights, a car exiting a corner 20 mph faster will seem to have more straight line speed.
FWIW a standard engined S2 111s on 048’s and nitrons can get around Doninington in 1:25 (I am sure a few seconds couldbe taken off that) Does that mean it is 5-6 seconds faster than the exige S in the video? I suspect NOT.
The exige S is somewhat undersprung on track and definitely needs attention paid to the suspension components to really exploit the on-track performance, but it is a lovely engine. Whether it is worth the current premium over the NA car is up to personal choice, though I would have though closer to 250 bhp was more realistic for the added price. Used 240R would be a better bet for a trackday car - lighter, accusump, suspension and most of all wheels atht allow better brake cooling.
the S did not pull away on the straight, and its a long straight at donny.
they make great road cars but i would love to see a S at 935kgs with fuel.
now if you can buy an S give it another 20 Bhp and fix the over soft suspension then yes go for it. infact just but a 240R Gremlin’s is for sale.
Not the same driver and from what i understand yours is not standard. Especially if its 100kg lighter than an S as you claim.
My S with sports pack, super sports, LSD and AC weighed 928kg with 3/4 fuel and a set of new front discs in the boot! Weighed at RED Motorsport when i had the corner weights done.
928 must be a mistake unless you have stripped stuff out.
why would you have a corner weight done with stuff in the boot ? does not add up sorry.
standard car is 935 no options at all if your lucky.
add air con 15kg
extra disks 6kg
oil coolers ?
harness bar and straps ?
LSD ?
your wheels will offset your aircon so 928 seems to light to me.
my car is as good as standard then it weighs 875 so thats Lotus figures I only say mine is 100KGs lighter because i put a S at 975kg with options.
My power is also standard just with a 500 Rpm lower change point so no change to straight line speed.
the S in that vid by what you say with all this extra torque and power should have pulled away on that back straight,
I screwed the corner up and it still did not pull away.
If your at Bedford on good Friday we can run side by side on the straight then we will see, I dont mind being proven wrong on straight line speed as you say an S should be much faster and at 928 you should leave me for dead.
I just remember the weight on the scales when we first put the car on. I removed all my crap from the boot before we did the corner weights but then i was in the drivers seat so i do not know what the total weight was then. Based on the fuel and the weight of the discs i would say my car fully fuelled but otherwise empty would weigh low to mid 930s’.
My car is in Germany so i cannot take you up on your offer of a drag race. However i have lots of mates with (std) Exiges’ and 111rs’ and i can drive away from all of them on the straights.
Hi All, I am having the same dilema at the moment, As I do not do track days would good advise be just to go for the Non S and save some money, I have seen a good standrd Exige with low milage for around 25K the similar S model slightly lower milage is up to 7 - 8 K more.
My fear is buying the standard Exige and then wishing I had got the S, Has anybody else done that and regretted it ?
I am starting to edge towards the standard model now and just get on with it.
just a couple of points in question!,who may have been quicker on the power out of the corner? how different was the amount of fuel onboard?,& what was the difference in the wieght of the driver?..having diven both cars, the ‘S’ will wipe the floor over n/a road or track!!!
I only say mine is 100KGs lighter because i put a S at 975kg with options.