im having a dilema…s1 exige, s2 exige or a 111r???
dont do many miles but will be an everyday car…ive got an sti subaru at the moment, but with the other half getting a company car, im wanting to trade and get one of the above…i want something that wont feel slow compared to the sti…what do you chaps think…
ps, i have a soft spot for the exige, but which one…we used to have an s1 elise so i have lived with a lotus before…
thanks
Totally different cars to the scooby!
Scooby is really torquey in its power delivery, the lotus cars aren’t (unless S/C).
The S1 exige is more raw than the others, but is older and slightly more prone to breaking.
The S2 exige does everything that a 111r can do, even roof off (just looks odd)…just slightly better!
my 2p
IMHO I’d have an exige S
I’ve had an S2 Exige for everyday and then decided i wanted something easier for the winter. So i’ve ended up with a euro box for everyday and an S1 Exige in the garage just for fun!
My recomendation would be to do what i did. Get a shed and an S1 exige as a toy. I love my S1 much more than i did my S2.
Saying that if one car is your only option then get the S2. You won’t regret it!
probably the looks are an important factor on which you base your final decision
i owned an S1 Elise before changing to S1 Exige, was really amazed by the difference in character and performance
wouldn’t go for an S2 Exige even though these can almost be bought for the same price as I like the looks of the S1 Exige above anything else
as for depreciation in value, S1 don’t seem to drop a lot, maybe due to the fact that only 600 ish where made, where the S2 is still in production and value maybe dropping slightly (2004 Exige are 20k compared to 2000 Exige S1 18-19k)
S1 Exige is probably a little less comfortable compared to S2 Exige, but I use it as everyday car and have no problems whatsoever
all the above is just my humble opinion
I’m sure MarkyB will be here in a mo, he jumped out of a several Scooby’s into an Exige S2 SC…He’d be ya man!
As for which one I’ll make it easy for you…drop the hairdressers car go 50/50 S1 or S2!
I had an STI PPP before the Exige. You will miss the torque on the road unless you go for the S/c. The STI was a great car, the Exige is a great car but so very different. The only way you will know is to drive one.
I do miss the STI but the joy of driving the Lotus on track is worth it. Although I have a n/a version and don’t feel the need for more power on track, I do hanker for better mid range torque for the road, so can feel a Katana s/c coming on. But brakes and suspension upgrades will come first.
thanks for all the comments chaps…the search goes on…
lol at the hairdressers version…
You know Scatty truth be known if I had a bigger garage I’d have both. The S1 will need more maintenance overall but is a fab car, it is the original, looks great…the harder car . The S2 is (which I have) is a little softer but still bloody excellent, easy to work on & easy to mod. Everyone loves the Exige . Mine isn’t but I’d go SC (I’m going down the Katana route very soon) especially now they’ve stopped making the NA, for residuals reasons and familiarity.
Hi Johnny…
you wrote …
“The S2 is (which I have) is a little softer but still bloody excellent, easy to work on & easy to mod.”
Can’t agree with you on this one !
Would you believe the cost of fitting my simple diff is getting very close to �2000 !
14 hours to remove the box … 4 hours to fit the quaife…
Factory say the standard clutch is not up to the job for anything over 220 BHP… So �400 for a trd clutch is added to the bill
Johnny… when you go Katana you will have the new clutch issue too…
14 hours labour-�700
�400 for the clutch
equals �1100 extra on top of the conversion…
Then you will (maybe!) need a diff to put the power down too …
extra �850 ouch !
Theres the �2000 i,m talking about
Oh well you can’t take it with you … might aswell redistribute funds to the Lotus economy
Better get Trucking.
later m8 JK
P.S if I get any more stupid ideas like this please hit me squarely inbetween the eyes! … PLEASE?
14 hours for the clutch? I thought the book time was 10 hours? Even with 300hp my clutch is still holding up, not sure how long it will last, I think a lot is down to driving style…
You can get the TRD clutch & flywheel from toyota places such as fensport cheaper.
Then get a decent lotus independant to fit it. Thats what i did and it was much much cheaper.
edited to say “Sorry for the thread drift !!!”
Lol take as you find I’m not going to fit a new clutch or LSD till I’ve driven it however the fun part about aftermarket mods is the ongoing work each project requires… If I’d of wanted my car all singing and dancing I would of bought a 240R…but I bought mine for lots of reasons, one being education and so far so good…and yes I know I’ve had my problems but nothing that’ll put my car on AutoTrader
Trust me you’d rather be fettling your car than watching Momma Mia on a dodgy DVD for the umteenth time no matter what the problem. Good luck with the LSD, you can meet me in Cannock when it’s all done and show off your handy work!
Why would you need a new clutch on a Katana conversion?
Mines one of the first two fitted in the UK (January) and done 7k miles on top of the original 11K all with the standard clutch - Oh and my car is a track day car. Just back from the French Frolic, run by LOT- 2k miles in high temps and ‘spirited driving’ around traqks and mountain roads - no issues. When I do get a new clutch I’ll go for a lightened flywheel and Fidenza/TRD - but that’s just to wind it up quicker. Meanwhile 'yota Exige or 111R plus a Katana is the way to go unless you’re buying new - then 240/260 becomes an option.
Lol don’t ask me Bruss I didn’t mention it, lol… I think we’ve lost the point of this thread here somewhere…But I would of thought as JFK says it’s something to consider on top of such a power increase.
Where you from, anywhere near the heart of the country???
Hi Bruss,
Re the uprated clutch…
I called Russell Gibbons at the factory to ask his opinion on uprating the clutch while my gearbox was out as in the future i,m upgrading the power of my S…
His answer was clear “the standard clutch is only good for 220 bhp hence thats why we fit uprated clutches in 240 cup cars etc.”
Seems like there are plenty of upgraded Exiges out there though with the standard clutch doing just fine
For what the extra cost is while the box is out I,m fitting a TRD unit (many thanks Chris H who pointed me in the direction of Fensport… much cheaper thanks )
JK