…having diven both cars, the ‘S’ will wipe the floor over n/a road or track!!!
But surprisingly perhaps not an S1, go figure!
Ian
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.
What have you driven before? If you’re coming from a Scooby/big BHP/etc you’ll think the non-S is a bit flat. Both will go round corners as quick (if anything the N/A very slightly faster) and that’s really what Loti are all about.
You really should track it, it’s what the car is made for. You’ll get nowhere near the capabilities of it on the road.
Ian
Thanks for your reply, My current car is a 325 BMW, I did a few years ago have a very standard Impreza Turbo which I though was fast but probably nowhere near the STI / Prodrive models.
I did have a test drive as a passenger only in a standard Exige and I did think it was quick but not like the first time I drove the Subaru despite the fact that the Exige would have been a faster acceleration.
If it’s of any value (i’m unfortunately not yet an owner ) - I recently did a course at Silverstone and used the Exige quite a bit on track, and on the South circuit for the ARDS test. The instructors there were of the almost unanimous opinion that there was virtually nothing between the NA and the S round the track, and if anything most of them preferred the NA version of the car for three reasons:
(1) they didn’t think the standard brakes on the S were up to the job for sustained track-work.
(2) they felt the S was marginally less wieldy - it didn’t feel as though it changed direction quite as easily, especially through corners like “Island”
(3) the throttle reponse was not as good on the S (although I don’t know if their fleet of NA Exiges are 05 or 06 FBW throttle models)…
I’d have said (other than the brakes bit) that unless you go on track and drive them back to back you’re not going to be aware of those differences. I guess, if it’s what you want, for road use the extra straight line shove in the back you get with the S will be much more apparent.
I’ve been having the same "To ‘S’ or not to ‘S’ " dilemma, and i’ve decided that even if i had the cash to stretch to an ‘S’ (after my upcoming house move) I’ll still be getting a NA version. Look out for my impending “Is it worth paying more for the 06 model just for a track-weapon?” thread…to which i know every other reponse is going to be “get an S1”!
I agree with all the comments above that there is not much difference on track however, the S in my opinion is a lot more useable as a daily driver as you don’t have to ring its neck to make swift progress.
Just my 2p…
Road only - S2 S
Road & Track - S2 NA or S
Track only - S1
Alternatively, buy a 111R & fit all the track biased goodies & get the best of all worlds (…runs for cover )
LotusSI
"having diven both cars, the ‘S’ will wipe the floor over n/a road or track!!! "
lol ok then hope your S is there at Cadwell on the 24th 
Now, now, that’s not what trackdays (especially Exiges.com days) are all about.
Ian
Yet to come across an S on track thats ‘wiped the floor’ with my n.a Exige.
30 bhp will never be enough to wipe the floor with any other car
surely with the same driver then a 15% increase in power and a 20% increase in acceleration (to 60) will see a significant reduction in lap time?
Don’t forget its a touch heavier, and at a circuit like, say, Oulton, you can keep the n.a Exige on cam for pretty much the whole lap so the increase in torque is negated.
That said if I was buying another Exige it would be an 'S’or Cup
An S with good suspension is fast and I cannot keep up but standard S suspension is just to soft and I think it hurts it on track big time.
1k would sort it out though.
Don’t forget its a touch heavier…
Which is high up.
Ian