Am I going to regret this? Elise vs. Exige - Page 2 - LotusTalk

mark.r · 08-02-2006, 05:10 PM

I will make your decision even harder . . .

Imolas54 · 08-02-2006, 05:22 PM

vs

zvezdah1 · 08-02-2006, 05:43 PM

Ahhhhhhh, but the exige is just a hardtop version of the elise!

Personally, the exige, with a roll cage, is waaaaaaaay to claustrophobic for me! I've only driven the S1 exige, so limited experience with the new exige.

Chris

Imolas54 · 08-02-2006, 05:46 PM

i really wish they made the exige into a real "hardtop"....

charliex · 08-02-2006, 06:43 PM

Chococar · 08-02-2006, 06:45 PM

If you're buying a hard top for the Elise, you must not be an open-air motoring kind of person, so buy the car with the hard top built in -- Exige. For me, I hardly ever ever have the top on, and I would not even consider buying a hard top.

Eclise · 08-02-2006, 06:56 PM

Yeah, there's nothing like going topless.

teekster · 08-02-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cartoonz

Um...I prefer the look of the Elise....

+1

Darth G-F · 08-03-2006, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichS

I'm not worried about the practicality of the car at all. This car would replace the Miata because the Miata is too big and heavy, so for me it's more practical than the Miata.

That's too funny. The Miata too big and heavy? The 10AE you own is 2300lbs, mine weighed 2280 with the HDDD roll bar. The Elise is 1985lbs, but many have weighed their cars and were surprised it tipped the scale over 2000lbs. Don't trick yourself into thinking the Elise is sooo lightweight. It's just 300lbs lighter than a Miata. The Elise is head and shoulders above a Miata though, just wanted to comment on the "so big and heavy" comment about the Miata.

My Caterham Super7 by comparison, weighs 1070lbs. About half the Elise weight. You don't see me calling the Elise/Exige fat and heavy...

Back on topic, if money is no object and if you want the wow factor, the Exige is the ticket. But all magazines have tested the Elise to be slightly faster than the Exige in all acceleration test (probably extra weight and extra downforce is slowing down the Exige). Plus the Elise can easily take its top off. I heard you can take it off on the Exige, not too sure.

For me, slightly faster, lighter and convertible wins it over the Exige.

maz · 08-03-2006, 07:08 AM

i am an exige owner. if you are 80-20 tyrack versus street, get the exige. if you are 80-20 street versus track, get the elise.

Randy Chase · 08-03-2006, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

The Elise is 1985lbs, but many have weighed their cars and were surprised it tipped the scale over 2000lbs.

Speaking only to this point. Weighing the Orange Pumpkin for OneFastLotus, with hardtop and half a tank of gas, it was 1935 pounds in stock form, with hardtop, with LSD, and fatter swaybar.

My car weighs in at 1905 pounds with a full tank and a softtop top on it. One gallon less and it drops below 1900 pounds. I have added stuff to my car that should add weight.

This is on the official SCCA scales.

I will weigh my car again tomorrow.

def · 08-03-2006, 07:44 AM

I think some people weigh it while they are sitting in it so they know what it weighs on the track while driving it

here is some more discussion:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17315

pete k · 08-03-2006, 07:49 AM

I own both, love both, and there is really not that big a difference.

Visibility out the back is really tough with the exige. If you will be backing out of parking spaces a lot, the exige is harder. Then again, the exige at 120 mph is a beautiful thing.

Get what you like.

mattwhite · 08-03-2006, 08:02 AM

I had an Elise and now have an Exige. The Exige is definitely less street-friendly with the poor rear visibility and the front splitter. Mine is basically a track car, so this doesn't matter as much. Also, on most tracks, a comparably equipped Elise and Exige will run similar lap times. The Exige does have room for a supercharger, if it ever comes. Plus the Exige is a little more exclusive.

So in the end, you're paying extra for a rarer car with different looks which make the car a little less street-friendly (and a little heavier), plus the possibility of being able to add a supercharger. On balance, when I weighed all these factors, I went with the Exige, but what is important to one person may not be as important to another.

Ken Wright · 08-03-2006, 08:05 AM

Great replies. What are the mechanical differences between the two cars. Is it possible to equip an Elise to the same level as an Exige? The Exige has wider fenders but I've seen some posters putting wider tires and wheels on their Elise.

Who sells the clear engine cover for the Exige? How durable is it?

Thanks,

ken

EburgE · 08-03-2006, 08:05 AM

If you're not fixated on the "features" of the Exige, then it is largely an aesthetic question.

Go to the dealer and look at both. Choose the car that is most appealing to you. What do you want to get in every morning?

I could not vote, because you need to go with your heart on this one.

slaughtr · 08-03-2006, 08:19 AM

If your not going to spend all your time at the track, I don't know why anyone would want one of these cars with the top on. Go for the Elise.

marcw · 08-03-2006, 08:23 AM

They are really essentially the SAME CAR with slight asthetic differences. Laptimes are essentially the same with equal drivers. Compared to the Elise, the Exige is rarer and will probably hold it's value better over the long term. However, it's more expensive (will require you to tie up more of your cash), and the rearward visibility is not as good. Both have topless ability, but I seem to remember a thread regarding warranty issues if you remove the Exige roof?

bluejae · 08-03-2006, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete k

I own both, love both, and there is really not that big a difference.

Visibility out the back is really tough with the exige. If you will be backing out of parking spaces a lot, the exige is harder. Then again, the exige at 120 mph is a beautiful thing.

Get what you like.

i never back out of a parking space... i back into them...

from there on... i keep going forward

LARRY · 08-03-2006, 09:28 AM

I own an Elise.

But those pictures of the Exige are incredible. It too is a BEAUTIFUL car.

View Poll Results: Which Lotus should Rich buy?
Elise	61	65.59%
Exige	32	34.41%
Voters: 93. You may not vote on this poll

08-02-2006, 05:10 PM	#21 (permalink)
mark.r Makin' house calls . . . Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 2,610	I will make your decision even harder . . . __________________ DRS Tuned FF275 '06 Exige - Sold My racing prediction for '09 . . . the Japanese guy on the Italian bike and the Italian guy on the Japanese bike.

08-02-2006, 05:22 PM	#22 (permalink)
Imolas54 ToYoTa dRiVeR Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,370	vs vs

08-02-2006, 05:43 PM	#23 (permalink)
zvezdah1 eliseaholic! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: georgia Posts: 6,770	Ahhhhhhh, but the exige is just a hardtop version of the elise! Personally, the exige, with a roll cage, is waaaaaaaay to claustrophobic for me! I've only driven the S1 exige, so limited experience with the new exige. Chris __________________ Chris Club111 #3 06 Solar yellow/Touring/Traction Ctrl/Blk Whl Pkg/Strshld

08-02-2006, 06:43 PM	#25 (permalink)
charliex disproving HD MTBF daily Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 8,290	Attached Images __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100 ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while, you realise the pig is enjoying it.

08-02-2006, 05:46 PM	#24 (permalink)
Imolas54 ToYoTa dRiVeR Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,370	i really wish they made the exige into a real "hardtop"....

08-02-2006, 06:45 PM	#26 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,354	If you're buying a hard top for the Elise, you must not be an open-air motoring kind of person, so buy the car with the hard top built in -- Exige. For me, I hardly ever ever have the top on, and I would not even consider buying a hard top.

08-02-2006, 06:56 PM	#27 (permalink)
Eclise Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,200	Yeah, there's nothing like going topless.

08-03-2006, 07:08 AM	#30 (permalink)
maz casual exige user Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 1,106	i am an exige owner. if you are 80-20 tyrack versus street, get the exige. if you are 80-20 street versus track, get the elise. __________________ www.lotuscarclub.org "Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know." (rumsfeld)

08-03-2006, 07:44 AM	#32 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,108	I think some people weigh it while they are sitting in it so they know what it weighs on the track while driving it here is some more discussion: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17315 __________________ //kevin - 05 Graphite Gray - Red Touring / LSS / Starshield / Stage 2 + more

08-03-2006, 07:49 AM	#33 (permalink)
pete k Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 595	I own both, love both, and there is really not that big a difference. Visibility out the back is really tough with the exige. If you will be backing out of parking spaces a lot, the exige is harder. Then again, the exige at 120 mph is a beautiful thing. Get what you like.

08-03-2006, 08:02 AM	#34 (permalink)
mattwhite Drifting w/o LSD Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 213	I had an Elise and now have an Exige. The Exige is definitely less street-friendly with the poor rear visibility and the front splitter. Mine is basically a track car, so this doesn't matter as much. Also, on most tracks, a comparably equipped Elise and Exige will run similar lap times. The Exige does have room for a supercharger, if it ever comes. Plus the Exige is a little more exclusive. So in the end, you're paying extra for a rarer car with different looks which make the car a little less street-friendly (and a little heavier), plus the possibility of being able to add a supercharger. On balance, when I weighed all these factors, I went with the Exige, but what is important to one person may not be as important to another. __________________ 2007 Cobalt Blue Porsche 997S 2008 BMW M3 (M-DCT) 2006 Ducati Sportclassic Sport 1000 (Tangerine Yellow) 2001 Ducati Mh900e #18 2005 SY Elise (sold); 2006 PB Exige (RIP)

08-03-2006, 08:05 AM	#35 (permalink)
Ken Wright Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 417	Great replies. What are the mechanical differences between the two cars. Is it possible to equip an Elise to the same level as an Exige? The Exige has wider fenders but I've seen some posters putting wider tires and wheels on their Elise. Who sells the clear engine cover for the Exige? How durable is it? Thanks, ken

08-03-2006, 08:05 AM	#36 (permalink)
EburgE Super 7 Owner In Training Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Eldersburg, MD Posts: 2,416	If you're not fixated on the "features" of the Exige, then it is largely an aesthetic question. Go to the dealer and look at both. Choose the car that is most appealing to you. What do you want to get in every morning? I could not vote, because you need to go with your heart on this one. __________________ '05 Lotus Elise '07 Caterham Seven www.hals7.com

08-03-2006, 08:19 AM	#37 (permalink)
slaughtr That's not my cone Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 5,192 Images: 1	If your not going to spend all your time at the track, I don't know why anyone would want one of these cars with the top on. Go for the Elise. __________________ My car both sucks and blows. Now with added all natural smoky goodness!

08-03-2006, 09:28 AM	#40 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 12,200	I own an Elise. But those pictures of the Exige are incredible. It too is a BEAUTIFUL car. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Sports & Touring Packages, Hard Top, Stage II Exhaust, '07 Probax leather seats. Los Angeles Lotus Service by Qais at 310-200-0022. "We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T)

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08-03-2006, 08:23 AM	#38 (permalink)
marcw the obedience of fools Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kaalifornia Posts: 252	They are really essentially the SAME CAR with slight asthetic differences. Laptimes are essentially the same with equal drivers. Compared to the Elise, the Exige is rarer and will probably hold it's value better over the long term. However, it's more expensive (will require you to tie up more of your cash), and the rearward visibility is not as good. Both have topless ability, but I seem to remember a thread regarding warranty issues if you remove the Exige roof?