Lotus Exige

Ron Earp

Admin
Well, Jeff came back over and got the Exige back today :(

That is a fantastic little car. If someone wanted a nifty head turning car for commuting back and forth to work as well as track days, it'd be hard to beat. It is very light and is the most nimble thing I've had the pleasure of driving.

Power is pretty decent, although it isn't a torque monster or anything like that. Keep it on boil and between 6k and 8k the Toyota motor really delivers very well. Body is tight, turn in sharp as a tack. Brakes, as you'd expect with so little weight to stop, are fantastic and I think they'll get better with different pads on and once they are hot. His Exige has the track pack on it so it is adjustable in a number of areas and has different springs etc.

I know some of these cars have had some bad press when compared against other "sports cars" but I just don't see it. Sure, it is noisy, loud, and doesn't have cup holders, but if you are worried about all that stuff maybe you ought to be piloting an SUV. Hell, it has AC that works and a radio you can hear - for Lotus that is phenomenal, at least in my Lotus experience! Pure enjoyable sports car I think, with just enough to drive to work and back when you want - even gets around 28-30 mpg too.

In short, I really like the car and wouldn't mind having one myself. Pricey? Well, maybe. But I don't know of anything else that you don't build yourself that has these kind of capabilities and real-world usable features. Looking forward to trying it on the track in November if I get a shot behind the wheel!

Ron
 
And now they have a super charged version. They are some sick twisted minds at Lotus - and I mean that in a good way.
 
I drove the new supercharged Exige S a couple of weeks ago. I goes ok, but is very heavy, and has nothing under 4500rpm.
Lotus have made the new models just way too heavy. The Exige S weighs 960kg!! My Series1 Elise (1997) weighs just 700kg. You cant add that sort of weight to what is essentially the same chassis, and make it a faster/better car.
Still a fantastic car, i just like mine A LOT more.
My car has a Honda K20A 2litre with Jackson Racing blower. It has 280hp to push 700kg. That's with only 5psi boost. I will be intercooling it next year and going to 9psi. Yay.

I took it to the drags for the first time (my first trip too) this week: did four runs and got down to a 12.0 @ 115mph. Happy with that, for a car i drive to work most days.
 
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completely agree with u Ron, and several times I was so near in buy one (I love also the Elise).
In italy there is a nice comunity of "wannabee pilots" that enjoy so much this pretty little english car.
I personally prefer a lot more the Mk1 version (maybe cause reminds me the gt40) and also convinced a freind in paint one in gulf livery (now the car is for sale at 28.000 euros).

Also the nicest Exige i've ever seen is a "scandal green" mk1 (the color never existed originally on mk.1s),and the car was repainted after a starting burn due to a catalyzer system bug they have on nearly all exiges mk1 produced (and almost all removed that immediately after buying the car).

I think the driving is wonderful, drove that several times in Monza (probably the worst place where to drive an elise/exige).

Another nut one (formula 3 driver) renamed his black exige into S Exige :D and here u can find some videos of those italian enthusiasts:
http://www.mytrackday.com/misanosexige2003.htm

Paolo:D
 

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Elise: maybe some of u dont know.....

The name of teh Lotus Elise came from an italian girl:D

The Elise was developed when Romano Artioli (formerly Bugatti owner) was also the owner of Lotus Cars uk (think today they are with Proton group) and thats why they never can get decent engines for such nice vehicles (I know many of u are thinking at a ford v8 based Elise as I am doing now..LOL:)).

Romano's daughter is named Elisa Artioli and so the car was dedicated to her:)

Lotus Elise: Management and Key Engineers


Paolo
 
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Here's mine !

I had it for seven years. Not quite as feisty as Tim's, mine *only* had around 200 bhp.

I used it for many sprints, hillclimbs & trackdays & usually came home with a pot!
 

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Hi Julian, love my S1. Drive it all the time. My brother has a great garage of Loti:
Series 1 Elise
Series 1 Exige
340R
 

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