zip106

Getting itchy and feel I need to try one of these - obviously not a daily car but for a weekend toy.

Was looking at a GT3 996.1 or 2 but can't justify spending the sort of money they command for cars that old.
And I'm fed up chucking money at older Pork.

Always had a hankering for the Exige and now they've stopped making them perhaps this is the time to get one of the last ones built.

Anyone had any experience of living with one?
I know it's going to feel 'kit-car' compared to the Porsche and no where near as fast in a straight line, but straight lines don't particularly interest me now.

Blimey, what to do!

scatty

iTrader: (1)

prob the only car id swap the scoob for, an exige...

the mrs used to have an elise as a daily drive....apart from the knicker showing getting in and out, a cracking car.....

an s1 exige with a civic type r engine in would suit me a treat...

zip106

Hmmm... the getting in and out is a concern.

I've sat in one and when I'm in it there's enough room.
Just being 6' 4" makes me look a **** getting in and out!

Dingdongler

Could you please put up some pics so we know exactly what you are talking about?

Thanks

Dingdongler

Zip, I've often wondered about buying a car like this. It's a different concept to owning a 'proper' car but sounds like it would be great fun. Sadly I've never managed to drive one.

In terms of straight line speed, doesn't the Exige S do 0-60 in sub 4.5secs?

Camoscooby

iTrader: (5)

I would have one

zip106

The one I'm going to look at (hopefully) tomorrow is an S with the Performance and Sport upgrades.

The 62 sprint is despatched just under 4 secs. so comparable with the Porsche.

Performance pack gives it a different ECU, bigger roof air-scoop, reconfigured engine, traction control with launch

http://cdn.images.pistonheads.com/ai.../2626046-1.jpg

MMT WRX

6'4" I think you'd wear it rather than get in it.

A guy has one where I do some work and he raves about his. He uses it as a daily and travels a fair distance to and from work. He also tracks it quite a bit and he loves it. How the **** you'd get in one at 6'4" though.

zip106

I can get in one - just very cumbersomely!

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

Deffo have one of those, mate had a s2 exige and it was a cracking car, only problem was putting a bottle in the boot and went round a corner quick and it slid inside and cracked the shell

MMT WRX

Well I'd say go for it then, I doubt you'll get anything that has a more involved drive.

zip106

Chrispy - how was it day to day and what were the running costs like?

zip106

I reckon Trouty may disagree with that

MMT WRX

Yea I know

Just had a quick look on PH, it looks the bollox mate.

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

It wasn't an s so it was just the nasp toyota lump but it was really quite reasonable from what he said, for what it was it was actually quite economical as well. Seemed much better than the s1 elise another mate had

scatty

iTrader: (1)

im 6 ft 4 and managed to get in and out ok.....its an art form and once mastered its a doddle....oodles of room inside,well enough and a great driving position, although you may find the wheel close to the knees....

not driven an exige, just the elise but id imagine its the same inside, but the s2 is obviously newer....

Anger

iTrader: (4)

A mate has a S2 Elise with the Honda type R Supercharged lump in it... its a flyer and sounds the bollox

Moley

iTrader: (9)

..... shame he drives it like a girl!!!

Anger

iTrader: (4)

Well he did have a Cappuccino Gary

Steve vRS

I've never driven one but been a passenger but it is pure comedy getting in and out

Steve

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Your logic is flawed though as the 911 GT cars have glacial depreciation, especially the 996 GT3s. Mk Is are appreciating now!!!


They are fantastic to drive - I thought of buying one once. The main limitation is that it is a genuinely useless car other than for the pure love of driving. The only car as pure and even more useless is a Caterham 7.

Probably because I am getting older and more cautious, when I am on track I'd like to think that if I bin it I will be in something that might protect me. I love the pureness of these cars but don't really like driving them so much.

zip106

I know what you mean with regards to the appreciating 1's, but at the age they are, there's a lot more money to be spent on keeping them going.
The SY MK 1 that I enquired about appeared to need the diff overhauling and quite a few other bits at a cost of several £ks.

For now, I think I want a similar type of car but one that hopefully won't cost me much in repairs and running.

My ultimate aim is to wait for 997 GT3's to come right down to a sensible cost in a few years time.

Useless?
Damn right they are!

But as a third car - I think it's liveable

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Mine cost me a pair of discs in two years. Not exactly breaking the bank. Find a decent one and you will be fine. Exiges need care too!

Third car - you will be fine. Go for it!

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I have just remembered why I am here at all. I was on what used to be the two year waiting list for an Elise.

Eighteen months in I got bored waiting as a brand new STi V was available immediately. I bought it and joined Snet (when it had 300 members!).

zip106

My 'mint' 6 year old car has cost me £4500 in 2 years...

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Two issues...



...you were unlucky...



...it was a turbo



...996 GT3 is just as involving as an Exige...



...and both with throw you off if you don't treat them right

Dingdongler

Zip, if you bought the 996 GT3 from an OPC/good independent then you would hope its been checked over and will come with a warranty won't it? So at least one years worth of trouble free motoring.

The Lotus may well be cheaper to fix when it goes wrong, but I reckon it must go wrong more often than a GT1 engine based Porsche?

I know its a third car but at least with the Porsche you could go away with the wife for a weekend and take a suitcase. Or even nip out to get a few bags of shopping from the supermarket.

I know what you mean about driving an older car though, I too have an issue with paying what is quite a large amount of money for any car that is over 5 years old

MMT WRX

I think one thing that could put me off an Exige is how minimalistic and intimidating it may feel around other traffic, I'll bet all you can see are wheel nuts and exhaust pipes. Having said that, as a third car, you're probably only going to be useing it for a bit of b road hooning without the ankle biters anyway.

Looking at the depreciation on PH I don't think your taking that much of a financial risk, they seem to hold their own. So as you say scratch that itch and get a 7GT3 later on.

Just another thing though, is the Exige an Avensis/Aura/Corolla with a body kit on?

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

At your height you wont fit with a helmet on. You'll be pushed without one...

I owned a S1 Elise and at 6'3" fitted fine but with the rag top off



I was at Mallory last Thursday for the Apex organised event and an old TD mate turned up in his Honda Exige S. This is Nitron fitted and the PAX laps were super impressive when it came to handling.

I took him out in my bike powered ZX10R MAC#1


He said the sense of speed was the biggest impression over his. It is very quick though - 336 BHP/ton and there's not even a windscreen

Lotus ownership can be just as expensive as scoobies, but are devastating on track. The MAC#1 or similar will come in at less than half its price though and for the speed 'hit' you wont get anything better

Matteeboy

Not the same car at all but similarish - I tested an Elise 111R with some test driver bloke from Lotus - Adrian something or other.

Yes it handled beautifully, yes it went well, yes it was super agile BUT the interior was so flimsy and crude it looked like it would last a week, it had the soundtrack of a Barryboy Nova (and shared an engine with a Corolla) and of course there is no space AT ALL!

I was a little disappointed overall.

Also had a good look around a brand new Morgan two weeks ago - yes it looks classic and good but again the fit and finish was appalling - REALLY bad. Handmade (our Defender is largely hand built!) does NOT mean better especially if it's British.