Quote:
Originally Posted by RoadDad
The Elise has a slightly faster top speed than the NA Exige due to the drag created by the Exige wing. Otherwise it is not "faster in the straights."
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...the elise is 50-100 pounds lighter and offers less drag and downforce; the exige is 50-100 pounds heavier and offers more drag and downforce, QED...
...still, those differences are nominal, really, in light of the potential for aftermarket modifications...supercharged exiges are available with a factory intercooler, but aftermarket forced injection and intercooling solutions outperform them and are readily installed in both cars, likewise aftermarket aerodynamics, suspension, weight reduction, and the like...
...the elise wins out on visibility while the exige wins out on engine bay space, but again both limitations can be remedied somewhat via aftermarket modifications...
...really it's a matter of stylisitic preference more than anything else - for myself, as a street car, i prefer the open-glass visibility and less-encumbering deck lid of the elise boot, plus its open-air styling feels more classic in my mind, but for others, as a track car, they'll prefer the enclosed-cockpit structure and more-encompassing rear hatch of the exige boot, plus its race-focused styling will feel more extreme in their minds...horses for courses, really, but in the end they're essentially the same car...
(personally, i think anyone who's sold on the exige is best-served by a 2006 naturally-aspirated model, modified to taste, but individual needs may vary)