A couple of things. Firstly I had always thought my Exige ownership was going to be for a year. If anybody else thinks this all I can say is do a trackday! I did one on Saturday at Goodwood and I’m keeping this car for life!! With that in mind:
I currently have a n/a Exige S2 as this was my first delve into lotus ownership, but post Saturday I want to do a little work over the winter. Question is should I chop her in against an ‘S’ or perhaps add an aftermarket one like in the Ronin thread with a 2bular?
Firstly I had always thought my Exige ownership was going to be for a year. If anybody else thinks this all I can say is do a trackday! I did one on Saturday at Goodwood and I’m keeping this car for life!!
Funny you should say that - until I got my Exige in Jan 2001, I had a habit of chopping my cars in every 12-18mths, & I expected to do the same. After doing my first ever trackday in March 2001, my life, in many ways, was transformed.
To be blunt, unless you intend doing a few trackdays a year, it’s a travesty to own one, as there’s no way you can appreciate/use its true capabilities on any road (even fookin canyons, Cousin Frank), except perhaps the 'Ring.
As to whatever you do next, just be prepared to start off on a path of improving/upgrading, which will (over a period of time) set you back between another �5K to �15K. Will start to make the 2009 Cup look reasonably priced!
hahaha, I have another tab open with the 09 Cup specs!
Well, if you can get the finances to work, that must be the way to go Given the state of the world economy etc etc, I would expect you to be able to negotiate a good price for a Cup - provided you can sell your existing Exige & do a “cash deal”.
If I was in your position knowing what I know now, I would convert your car to being SC if you want more straight line speed and better road driving ability. If you can go for one with an intercooler as it will give you better upgrade options later, speak to Wayne at Sinclaire for some good prices and options
I looked close and hard before going down the aftermarket route. Was going to cost me best part of �20 to 25k to upgrade to either a Cup 255 or S 240. If you buy a newish S2 it’s going to be worth peanuts in two years time when the S3 Exige comes along.
You pay �5k now and get 250 horses, spend �1.5k on Nitrons, �750 on brakes and keep another �5k for a rainy day (2 replacement engines).
I looked close and hard before going down the aftermarket route. Was going to cost me best part of �20 to 25k to upgrade to either a Cup 255 or S 240. If you buy a newish S2 it’s going to be worth peanuts in two years time when the S3 Exige comes along.
I haven’t seen much evidence of S1 prices crashing with the arrival of the S2, so I shouldn’t expect this to happen to S2’s when the S3 comes along, especially if it turns out to be a similar shift S1 - S2 etc.
The second hand market is very specialised when it comes to (non OEM) upgraded cars.
Sure everyone who buys a new car will take a ���’s hit, less so if you intend to keep the car.
If everyone mods their existing car rather than upgrade, there won’t be an S3 Or indeed OEM parts for S1’s & S2’s
I’m just about to fork out for a 240PP, but intend keeping it for the long term & maybe uprating (in a few years) using Lotus parts. An aftermarket modded car has limited re-sale appeal in the real world IMHO.
[quote
The second hand market is very specialised when it comes to (non OEM) upgraded cars.
Sure everyone who buys a new car will take a ���’s hit, less so if you intend to keep the car.
If everyone mods their existing car rather than upgrade, there won’t be an S3 Or indeed OEM parts for S1’s & S2’s
I’m just about to fork out for a 240PP, but intend keeping it for the long term & maybe uprating (in a few years) using Lotus parts. An aftermarket modded car has limited re-sale appeal in the real world IMHO.
Waits to be flamed [/quote]
I think you are right about the resale of a modded car. But you can always remove the mods and selll as standard, then sell on the mods ( Katana, nitrons etc).
After 2 years of Exige ownership and trackdays (lots of) I’d say go set up and brakes first. Ohlin’s and Lotus 4pot AP’s will improve your car no end and make the whole thing loads more desirable for resale. On a good day (unlike my last trackday) I’ll keep up with almost any S and if you spend a little of the change on one to one lessons you’ll drive as good as Evo and not ever bother supercharging your car! That’s just my half penny’s worth.
I’d agree that a NA & standard S are very close on track, a good driver would make a bigger difference. I wonder how the 240 will stack up in the comparison.
The S is deffo a quicker ‘real world’ road car (i.e. less effort needed to make progress).
On the road any of the SC offering are great, they are so much more relaxed to drive, all the extra torque lower in the rev range.
The sensible order is Suspension, brakes more HP interspursed with driver training
S1 Exige’s are incredibly rare (and better in many ways) compared to S2 Exiges which is why they demand a premium.
The way I looked at things was my car was worth �18.5k tops for a private sale (before the S/C conversion). I had to then spend another �20k to upgrade to an Exige S 240 which would be worth �30k after 12 months of ownership.
Alternatively I can spend �5k on a SC and have 250bhp and then another few grand getting the roof scoop and AP brakes. Sure my car won’t be worth more than �20k but I still save best part of �15k and I have more power. Worst comes to worst I need a new engine and that will be �2.5k tops.
You could probably get 10-12 trackdays for the price of a supercharger. I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll be faster after doing them than adding a s/c. Besides which you’ll be a better driver faster if you have to carry momentum everywhere.
I’d do a few (3-4) leaving the car std apart from maybe a more pointy geo from a specialist. Should be cheap as there’s naff all to adjust on a std car really.
Change the pads to RS42’s when your wear the std ones out.
When you feel more confident catching slides and are running round on the bumpstops change to Nitrons.
Doing this will also allow you to see / get pax rides with other people to see what you like (and see what actually works in real life instead of on paper).
For all you know after a few months on the scene you may decide that you want something more hardcore and/or cheaper so i’d tread carefully at first to avoid wasting any money.
yep, I’m sold. Basically killing time until the S3 appears
So Suspension = Ohlins or Nitrons?
Brakes = AP 4 pot, discs?
Driver training = Walshy?
s/c = Ronin, tnx Blacktoy!
Thanks.
IMHO
Ohlins: Best Cost: Expensive
Nitrons: 95% of the way there Cost: Half (ish)
Brakes: Just do pads and brake fluid\braided lines till the its all worn out then decide if you need better
S/C: Good choice
IMHO if you add extra power before you’ve mastered the car as is you will find it more difficult push the limits on cornering, and braking. I’d rather be the guy who complains about not getting past on the straights than the guy who’s holding people up through the corners and then shooting off down the straights thinking hes the dogs.
Get a decent ECU map to move cam change down to smooth the delivery. Either Lotus Sport or Hangar 111.
Pads, lines and fluid, and geo.
Practice
Ohlins, with new geo
Practice
IMHO if you add extra power before you’ve mastered the car as is you will find it more difficult push the limits on cornering, and braking. I’d rather be the guy who complains about not getting past on the straights than the guy who’s holding people up through the corners and then shooting off down the straights thinking hes the dogs.
Get a decent ECU map to move cam change down to smooth the delivery. Either Lotus Sport or Hangar 111.
Pads, lines and fluid, and geo.
Practice
Ohlins, with new geo
Practice
IMHO if you add extra power before you’ve mastered the car as is you will find it more difficult push the limits on cornering, and braking. I’d rather be the guy who complains about not getting past on the straights than the guy who’s holding people up through the corners and then shooting off down the straights thinking hes the dogs.
Actually already have this so proceed straight to point 1!