Thoughts about the Exige S

So after taking a test drive in the non-supercharged version back in 2006 I've had a hard time getting it out of my mind. What really got me hooked was the shear handling ability connected with a glove like feel and a high rev limit. Wanted to see if anyone here actually has experience with owning one and the general pros and cons. Thanks to all

My pharmacist has one (track only). That thing makes my 951 feel portly! Then again it makes me feel portly too - very small car. Brought back memories of driving a Renault R5turbo. IMHO would never make it as a DD. (unless you're 5'5" 140#, drive where there are no larger cars, flat smooth curvy roads)

Just know from others experiences... fantastic track toy, but terrible daily driver.

My friend has an '06 or '07 Exige S and while I have zero track time in the car I have driven it and been a passenger on numerous occasions. I hate the car. It's cramped and uncomfortable and I'm only 5'10" & 200 lbs. It takes me a good 30 seconds to get in and out of the car and I've never, ever, had so much physical contact with another man than when there are the two of us in the car. He also has harnesses so it's a good minute or two before we can get going after getting in. The lack of power steering is a bind at slow speeds, the lack of rear visibility takes a lot of getting used to (he has a camera setup that feeds through his aftermarket headunit) and the stock tyres will kill you in the wet. The seats are nice and supportive but lack padding and anything over 30 minutes in the car leads to a sore back. It also has more rattles than a spray can. But, it's a great looking car and a demon on the track. The power delivery is smooth and the lack of power steering is forgotten at speed. Turn-in is good, Braking is amazing considering the tiny calipers & rotors, steering feel is excellent, etc. As a track car you really couldn't want for more (well, except more power maybe). They actually don't feel very powerful from the driver's seat but my old Lancer just edged him out and he pulled a few cars on my C4. I don't think I could even live with it as a weekend car though to be honest. Here's a pic of his back when he picked it up and it was stock:

Well UFO, that was a nice write up. Gives one a very good idea of what it's all about, not that I've ever been interested (just on size factor alone).

Thanks to everyones concise input thus far... The car would not be a dd for me but really a w-end toy and some track duty in the near future, like I had stated in my opening post the test drive didn't provide nearly enough and all driving had been on the first set of cams (pre 6k range) but it felt fantastic. Personally for me the build quality seemed top and the rattles didn't really play a part. Right now I'm thinking of putting the 996 on the market but still researching....

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My only advice: see if you can take one for an extended drive and see if the seats wear on you like they do me. My friend says he has 'gotten used to it' but I never have. When I say I hate the car: I mean from a dd standpoint, I'd kill to have one as a track warrior. [edit] If you are really serious I can put you in touch with my friend and he will talk to you for days on end about how good the car is . He never shuts up about the damn thing! He spends his times not drooling over the car, or driving it, or talking about it, perusing this site: http://elisetalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=157

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Thanks UFO! I'll check the link out. Also how is the Evo treating you, hope your enjoying...

Funny that I should see your post just after I returned from test driving an Exige S. It really is a go cart for grown ups. No practicality. It is a track toy, but a damned fine toy. The ride is punishing, but in my mind it is worth it as long as you keep its limited purpose in mind. Getting in and out is a challenge, and you had better not be big nor heavy. It didn't seem that small inside to me, but then I'm 5'8" and I was driving with friend of similar smaller stature. The engine is kind of traditional small overachieving type. Little torque down low, but lots of power if you keep the revs up. The gearbox is quite good. This one also had a rear view camera so that you could see behind you. Backing this car up without outside assistance would be an adventure. I am told that the local Lotus club is a great group. This dealer had about 15 new cars in its inventory and the salesman sold four cars in one week. I guess they are catching on.

love how people use extreme words like "hate", "sucks" to put down a car that's a fantastic drive in its own right. you can't get lightweight, go-kiart with plenty of limo legroom. it's all about balance. get it? exlon, the lotus is a great car and a fun one that's more of a sports car than the 911 will ever be. with that said, would i "upgrade" to one from your 911... no way. yours is one of the best looking out there and you'll give up some dd niceties for the go-kart ride from the uk. if u could buy one outright, then by all means if you like the drive go for it. the car is just not my cup o' tea.

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Good review, In terms of stature I'm only 5'10 and around 168lbs and when sitting inside the exige for the fairly short drive it was pretty straightforward but agreed not for everyday.

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Good point BC, having had the 996 for almost two years I'm in that mind set to change it up a lil. Still going back and forth and nothings really set in my mind yet. Everytime I walk into the garage I still find it hard not to drool over my Speed Yellow angel!

i'd drool right next to ya - i love your ride. seriously, i always get bored with my rides, too. heck i only kept my mint m3 for like 6 months ... but with the 911... it's tough to do that much better unless you save up some real grizzles and hop into an f-car (not just more car, but also more punani pulling power)

haha. the F car will have to wait a while for me but the pun is always available nevertheless... Don't be surprised if you see the yellow car up for sale in the next few months or so...

I've driven the Exige on the track, and, if that's your thing (at any skill level), the Lotus is superb! It will reward the novice driver, the advanced driver and everyone in between. As others have said, it would be tough to drive around town (unless you're driving to the track) and even then you'll have to pair up with a buddy to take half of your stuff... It's definitely on my list of "desirable cars"... but then I'm a track junkie, not looking for *****.

The car is simply a POS. It has a great engine (due to Toyota), awesome over built gas cap bezel, and way too overkill door hinges, but that is where it all stops. These cars rattle from the factory, the handling is not that impressive (I never felt confident like the 996), and they spin out very easy. Not to mention feedback is not that great. The center console flexes like a wet noodle, the windshield frame flexes when you climb out of the car to the point it may crack (which they mention do not pull on, but how else do you get out of the car?), and the fenders feel like you can rip them off when pulling on them. There is one point of the car that simply kicks major @$$, the sound of the exhaust is spectacular, I love the way they sound!!! P.S. the engines have suffered valvetrain wear issues (cam lobe wear) on some Toy motors.........

BTW, I am 6'2" at 200lbs, this car is very hard to get in and out of. I never felt safe in it either............

Always good to get a diverse opinion on a specific subject, thanks everyone

I have never "tracked" one, but some of the guys on the GT3 board have owned a few (talk to Mooty). Anyway, I do run into them frequently on the track. The Exige in general is one heck of a track car. It handles unbelievably well through corners, and as others have stated, it similar in many regards to a go-kart. The base Exige is not that fast on the straights, but the "S" with the 220hp and now 240hp supercharger hauls like ***! When I am driving the GT3 on the track at 7/10s, very good Exige S driver's are my shadow through both the corners and straights. The car is capable, and offers a much more affordable platform regarding wear items than the 996 GT3. I spent the past year seriously considering adding an "S" to the track garage so that the wife could get interested in DEs (she thinks they are cute), and so that I could enjoy it as well... But at the end of the day, nothing fells like a Porsche on the track. There is no substitute. No Lotus for me. -Blake

A friend of mine in LA (who happens to be a little japanese girl, former automotive journalist) drives her exige S around town every day. crazy in my opinion, but incredible, incredible car. You can pick them up for a song used thanks to depreciation, and I believe you can make more power easily (pulleys and chips). I think a near ideal track day car (although honestly I am really into the ariel atom lately), but I'm not sure if I would fit with a helmet, not a lot of room in there above your head. It's very small, looks wonderful though almost like a little baby next to even a 911. We're going to do some PCH driving before I head back east, will send pics.

Yeh Atoms are fast and handle wonderful, but in all honesty a track only machine.

Ran against a Lotus at an autocross last Summer. The owner had real problems with power on/off oversteer and he told me the car had been in the shop 3 times for extended periods to replace the instrument cluster and entire wire harness. Even under warranty that's a PIA. I expect better QC on any car I would consider buying.

Exige S is a great car but don't buy it for every day use. It is not a Porsche and for sure not close to Ferrari (some owners think that they got a cheap Ferrari). Stage II exhaust which Exige comes with, sounds great. Car rattles and resonates but reason for that is no sound insulation. It adds weight and that is not Lotus philosophy. Drive Porsche track only car and I'm sure you will notice it is a bit noisy inside. Trunk leaks water. Side windows don't seal very well(some water ingress). Side windows make rattling noise (normal). Some engines have problem with intake cams. No one knows why? Maybe oil used is not correct? Instrument clusters for sure are a problem (2008 cars have improved clusters and hope is that problems are fixed with new design). 3rd gear syncros, camshaft rockers brake are problematic too; however, reason for that is people can't drive, abuse vehicle and over-rev engine on downshift- pure stupidity- and killing trans plus engine in the process. It is hard to get in and out of it. In handling Exige S is more neutral than Elise (Elise understeers a lot) you can adjust front sway bar setting on sport pack equiped cars. Buttom line is for track event you can't buy cheaper and better car than Exige S 240 (08 model with big brake kit front, 240hp engine in a little over 2000 lbs packege). It is a great little car but it is designed for very narrow purpose and lets keep it that way. It is nothing more or nothing less.

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Excellent analysis imo, thank you!

Well after some extensive research and the helpful feedback from this thread the 996 stays! In terms of looks there really is no comparison. Looking forward to modding the insides of the car this year.

The best way is to actually experience one, my friend rented one for 2 days at $140. We tore the **** out of that car, it was always at redline.

Not sure why people have issues with the interior room. I'm 6'2" 195 and had no problem once I was in the car with the seat all the way back. Getting in and out was another story... I drove one at the track and was incredibly impressed. However, I drove one around town and was not. Even as a weekend toy, it's incredibly impractical. I would not replace my 996 with one.

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I've suggested that some people don't know how to adjust the seat to let themselves fit properly in some of these cars. I'm about the same size as you and am always told that I won't fit in my Miata, though the car fits me like a glove and the seat isn't even all the way back. My seat technique: front of seat bottom all the way up, back of seat bottom all the way down, back of seat as desired, wrists resting on the steering wheel when arms are outstretched. I have more problems fitting into a Dodge Viper than the Lotus products.

Thought about one of these a while back, did the extended test drive etc. Handle really nice, engine is fun at redline, pretty weak everywhere else.. rattles, buzzes, etc. Not a good DD type of car. Then started thinking about it as a pure track toy... Came to the conclusion that I can think of much better ways to spend my money for a track toy and get a whole lot more out of it as well. The pcar is a much better dual use car with a little susp help, imho

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The Exige S seat only moves forward and backward; no other adjustments. Besides, leg room is never the issue, it's leg width room and shoulder room that has me covered in bruises.

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Oops, I think you're right. I've only been in one once and I can't recall whether it was an Elise or an Exige...I'm assuming they're essentially the same.

Seat moves only forward and backward and only driver side, passenger side is bolted to the floor and can't be moved. I'm 6,3 tall and 190lbs no problem plenty of room. Actually I don't even extend seat all the way back so one notch is still left. Exige S 240 has more race oriented seat unlike Elise. Elises VVT kicks in at about 6500rpm (naturally aspirated motor). Exige S VVT engagement is I believe below 4000rpm. Exige is a lot more drivable on the streets since makes power on lower rpm's and red line is 8500. Body wise two different cars. Front and rear clam shells are unique to each model. It is not recommended to remove roof in Exige since it is fully functional inlet for inter cooler. Personally if I could afford it, I would have probably both my Porsche and Exige S. But since I can't, Porsche is my choice. Just something about it. I know people talking about Ferrari's how much better it is and all that crap.Well friends you should see Ferrari with over 50k-70k on it - they need rebuilding. I get to drive a lot of exotic cars all the time. But there is something about that 911 makes me coming back for more.

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i hope you are kidding. lotus is a toy not a car, so rattle is part of the charm. if you dont like rattle, dont buy lotus. it's like you dont like oil leaks, dont buy porsche. any bone dry porsche is not a real porsche, sorry. lotus will out handle any 993 996 997 including GT3 or even cup cars. yours may not have been set up right. i had mine for 8 months or so, 15000 miles, not a problem. drove from BW to TH race track 600 miles non stop other than gas (10 gal tank). it's not perfect, but it's one hell of a track car or weekend fun car. if i had more garage space, i would have kept mine. btw, a much faster 3 second faster than me, GT3 driver had a fun run with a exige cup 255 at LS yesterday. the GT3 driver is a much faster/better driver than the lotus pilot and it was NOT easy for the GT3 to get by the lotus. THAT tells you something.

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Nope, and I am not taking back any words. Track piece, yes, that is it. They made it street legal and that is where it's shortcomings surface. When I say POS, I am talking of the build quality. I am sorry, I can never tell when it is going to spin out, the 996 offers way more confidence. I am talking all street here, not on the track with track tires. Take it how you want, I cant imagine a GT3 owner liking the car........