Elise vs Exige

[...m...]

Originally Posted by Monsi

I will concede that I like the look of the elise better than the exige(except from behind... giggidy)

...that rather surprises me - most exige owners buy one because they prefer its appearance...

[texige]

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

So the heatsoaking I\C one the Exige is better than the VF one?

The M62 on the Exige is better than the M62 on the Katana/BWR/VF?

The fuel starving stock gas tank is better than Phil's swirl pot?

Sorry but the factory is good at maximising profit. That's what the Exige really is. Just a fancy way of taking your $$$. If you feel the Exige is worth the extra cost, go for it. But it is basically the same car.

The difference is hp and this can be easily cured with aftermarket. CharlieX tunes are as good if not better than Lotus stock tunes. That was my point. If you want to track your Lotus, an Elise with upgrades is gonna be faster and safer than any oem Exige. That's the sad truth. Don't shoot the messenger.

.... and the $10,000+ you spend on trying to make an Elise faster than a Exige will be flushed down the toilet because all you will get in resale is the same that a non modified Elise would sell for whereas the Exige will bring considerably more not to mention voiding your warranty, adding potentially a bunch of additional problems, not passing emissions .......

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by texige

.... and the $10,000+ you spend on trying to make an Elise faster than a Exige will be flushed down the toilet because all you will get in resale is the same that a non modified Elise would sell for whereas the Exige will bring considerably more not to mention voiding your warranty, adding potentially a bunch of additional problems, not passing emissions .......

While I like the look of the Exige, I specifically got the Elise so I would have more play money left over to do fun stuff to it.

Also, I was under the impression that this was a "track" related conversation until this point.

And as a side note, it has been noted PLENTY of times that a stock 05 Elise will keep up with a stock 07 Exige S after a few laps around a track, due to IC heatsoak.

[plastique999]

Originally Posted by melvinator

Never really looked at it that way but going with an elise would be much cheaper just the body style is way different but i guess with about 15 extra grand in my pocket i could do some pretty unique mods to the elise

This is the way to go...get an Elise and mod it to be unique with the extra 15 k. Hell you can make an Exise or Elige - there are members here who have replaced their front or rear clam with an Exige clam (knucklehead and Jon - who btw was selling his car).

With 15k you can throw in a blower, aero, and suspension and smoke an Exige.

[Stale_Hotdog]

The Exige does look better though : ) admit it Eddie

[UmarS2K]

I agree that the Exige looks better.

[apexdc]

As others have said, go with whatever floats your boat.

My 2006 Elise is my daily driver, but I track it also. I started doing track days in the mid seventies, so am starting to catch on a bit, while still learning something every time I go out.

For me, on the street, the Exige is too claustrophobic and, as others have said, a little too "boy racer". However, Jon's is a great example of a great look. The clean look of an Exige front clam with the simpler rear of the Elise. Very nice.

As far as the $15,000 in mods to go really fast, this would be my formula.

Convert to Sport Elise suspension and get a Charlie-X or similar tune to lower the 2nd cam engagement. This will give you a very light, very agile car with a "snappy" feeling motor that feels as light as the car. Somehow I don't envy the HP or torque of the SC cars and also don't miss that big lump mounted up high on the motor.

The final mod is $2500 for driving school, then another $2500 for an advanced school. Apply this formula and go hunt Exiges at will. (put other five grand into pocket)

Just remember that cutting five seconds off your time down the straights with a bigger motor doesn't mean much if you're fifteen seconds off the cars potential pace.

And finally, none of these really makes a lot of sense except for being so strangely and fascinatingly important and so, so much fun. So, go with the one that you can't walk away from without looking back and then learn to drive it.

[turbophil]

You exige guys are simply nuts... In fact all ya'll are nuts for even having the conversation.... When it comes to track duty---- real, unadulterated track duty, you should buy the oldest Elise you can with the fewest bells and whistles possible and the most miles possible---- i.e. cheapest...

FACT is all the Lotus shocks sans the Ohlins dampers are TERRIBLE (yep, I said it), so don't pay for LSS or track pack, as you'll have a set of Nitrons or similar in no time. The stock wheels sans the Cup wheels are too narrow, so get the "touring" wheels (Tim?) for street duty and some cheap wide wheels for the track. Also cheap with no LSS or trackpack because track pads and rocks will ruin the finish on your expensive RAC/Toybox wheels... the stock aero on Exige and Elise is garbage-- yup, garbage. The exige stuff is heavy and creates more drag than it does DF. I'd rather have no aero on the lighter elise and a good set of slicks than stock Exige aero. Both cars are sufficiently INadequate on the street, so you can enjoy the lack of god-given creature comforts like working AC and cruise control on both cars

Finally, and here's the real buzz kill. Get high milage. 1) the running gear is easy to service and wears well. 2) the Engines are junk in OEM form and consequently they ALL need bomb proofing. Yep, junk. I hear a new story or two EVERY SINGLE WEEK of a Lotus that pops an engine on the track. Interestingly enough, MOST of them are nearly stock!!! You NEED, forged pistons, better valves, better valve springs, billet oil pump gears, and a Moroso Oil pan. The bill for all of those pretty bits brand spanking new and improved with all the buomb proofing is $4,000. Doesn't matter if it's an Elise or an Exige. The Glass Engines are common in all of them.

So I reiterate, buy as cheap as you can (Elise or Exige) and spend:

-4,000 on the engine
-2,000 on suspension
-2,000 tires/wheels
-2,000 ish on Aero
-1,000-2,000 putting car on a diet and track prep (exhaust, battery, toe links, Fuel surge tank (of course) etc)

And learn to drive. You'll be way faster than most on the track... Then if money allows, go with a blower.

As for resale? It's a car that is likely heading for the track at some point or another... That should negate even the most faint dreams of resale. If you sell the car with anything other than a salvaged title, you should be happy...

With that said, Carry on. I'm going fishing so I won't be around for the flaming

Phil

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by turbophil

You exige guys are simply nuts... In fact all ya'll are nuts for even having the conversation.... When it comes to track duty---- real, unadulterated track duty, you should buy the oldest Elise you can with the fewest bells and whistles possible and the most miles possible---- i.e. cheapest...

FACT is all the Lotus shocks sans the Ohlins dampers are TERRIBLE (yep, I said it), so don't pay for LSS or track pack, as you'll have a set of Nitrons or similar in no time. The stock wheels sans the Cup wheels are too narrow, so get the "touring" wheels (Tim?) for street duty and some cheap wide wheels for the track. Also cheap with no LSS or trackpack because track pads and rocks will ruin the finish on your expensive RAC/Toybox wheels... the stock aero on Exige and Elise is garbage-- yup, garbage. The exige stuff is heavy and creates more drag than it does DF. I'd rather have no aero on the lighter elise and a good set of slicks than stock Exige aero. Both cars are sufficiently INadequate on the street, so you can enjoy the lack of god-given creature comforts like working AC and cruise control on both cars

Finally, and here's the real buzz kill. Get high milage. 1) the running gear is easy to service and wears well. 2) the Engines are junk in OEM form and consequently they ALL need bomb proofing. Yep, junk. I hear a new story or two EVERY SINGLE WEEK of a Lotus that pops an engine on the track. Interestingly enough, MOST of them are nearly stock!!! You NEED, forged pistons, better valves, better valve springs, billet oil pump gears, and a Moroso Oil pan. The bill for all of those pretty bits brand spanking new and improved with all the buomb proofing is $4,000. Doesn't matter if it's an Elise or an Exige. The Glass Engines are common in all of them.

So I reiterate, but as cheap as you can (Elise or Exige) and spend:

-4,000 on the engine
-2,000 on suspension
-2,000 tires/wheels
-2,000 ish on Aero
-1,000-2,000 putting car on a diet and track prep (exhaust, battery, toe links, Fuel surge tank (of course) etc)

And learn to drive. You'll be way faster than most on the track... Then if money allows, go with a blower.

As for resale? It's a car that is likely heading for the track at some point or another... That should negate even the most faint dreams of resale. If you sell the car with anything other than a salvaged title, you should be happy...

With that said, Carry on. I'm going fishing so I won't be around for the flaming

Phil

Excellent points.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by Demonized

Excellent points.

Thanks. Just keep'in it real

[bgsterling]

Originally Posted by melvinator

My question is which lotus is goin to be the best one to get the elise or exige. Im not going to be goin to the track and I will drive it quite often

Geez. This thread has taken a turn. Above is a quote from the original post. He's not tracking the car. Nitrons, splitters, harnesses, slicks, etc. are all pointless for this application. Unless he wants to monkey around with chips and tunes annually/biannually/occasionally, aftermarket forced induction or flashed ECUs are out of the question due to smog testing (I'm under the impression that there aren't any smog legal, aftermarket SCs or tunes, unless you count the Lotus factory model. If I'm wrong, please correct me). On the street at legal speeds, both cars are going to perform pretty much the same if you're comparing an NA Elise to an NA Exige or a supercharged Elise to a supercharged Exige. How about we put away the rulers, zip up our pants and recognize that the guy wants a cool car that makes him feel good when he's driving it, being seen in it, and turning around as he walks into a store to take another look at it.

Melvinator, if I may throw in another .02, ask yourself if you bought an Exige, would you wish you had saved the money and bought an Elise. Then, ask yourself if you bought an Elise, would you wish you would have spent the extra money on an Exige. If you can honestly answer those two questions, I think you'll know what to buy (but take a test drive or rent one first, neither are the easiest car to live with ).

-Brad

[RENDERMAN]

If you got the cash now, get an Exige or eventually you'll regret not doing so...

[MpBrady7]

Originally Posted by turbophil

You exige guys are simply nuts... In fact all ya'll are nuts for even having the conversation.... When it comes to track duty---- real, unadulterated track duty, you should buy the oldest Elise you can with the fewest bells and whistles possible and the most miles possible---- i.e. cheapest...

FACT is all the Lotus shocks sans the Ohlins dampers are TERRIBLE (yep, I said it), so don't pay for LSS or track pack, as you'll have a set of Nitrons or similar in no time. The stock wheels sans the Cup wheels are too narrow, so get the "touring" wheels (Tim?) for street duty and some cheap wide wheels for the track. Also cheap with no LSS or trackpack because track pads and rocks will ruin the finish on your expensive RAC/Toybox wheels... the stock aero on Exige and Elise is garbage-- yup, garbage. The exige stuff is heavy and creates more drag than it does DF. I'd rather have no aero on the lighter elise and a good set of slicks than stock Exige aero. Both cars are sufficiently INadequate on the street, so you can enjoy the lack of god-given creature comforts like working AC and cruise control on both cars

Finally, and here's the real buzz kill. Get high milage. 1) the running gear is easy to service and wears well. 2) the Engines are junk in OEM form and consequently they ALL need bomb proofing. Yep, junk. I hear a new story or two EVERY SINGLE WEEK of a Lotus that pops an engine on the track. Interestingly enough, MOST of them are nearly stock!!! You NEED, forged pistons, better valves, better valve springs, billet oil pump gears, and a Moroso Oil pan. The bill for all of those pretty bits brand spanking new and improved with all the buomb proofing is $4,000. Doesn't matter if it's an Elise or an Exige. The Glass Engines are common in all of them.

So I reiterate, buy as cheap as you can (Elise or Exige) and spend:

-4,000 on the engine
-2,000 on suspension
-2,000 tires/wheels
-2,000 ish on Aero
-1,000-2,000 putting car on a diet and track prep (exhaust, battery, toe links, Fuel surge tank (of course) etc)

And learn to drive. You'll be way faster than most on the track... Then if money allows, go with a blower.

As for resale? It's a car that is likely heading for the track at some point or another... That should negate even the most faint dreams of resale. If you sell the car with anything other than a salvaged title, you should be happy...

With that said, Carry on. I'm going fishing so I won't be around for the flaming

Phil

True these are all good points but the man said he had the money and wants to spend it. Some people don't like to mod and want a track ready car right out of the box which is why they buy track pack and limited slip. Not to mention he said he wanted it for a toy and not to track which probably means he's not the modification type (which is totally fine). Yea you can go "cheap" but you're still dumping $12+ grand into your "cheap" lotus, if he has the money why not buy new and have a car ready to roll and with the peace of mind of a factory warranty? It's all preference.

[turbophil]

My post was clearly more directed to my buddies who were debating the merits of one vs the other with all the track content not so much to the OP's original question.

Regarding the last about "ready to roll". I guess thats subjective. Just to be fun, I'd argue that the oldest and cheapest elise a fella could buy that still takes well to a good shine will turn near as many heads and offer very similar road enjoyment as the latest and greatest Exige our lady lotus has to offer since the two cars are so similar to the lay (ask your wife if she can tell the difference and you'll see what i mean). All the track options that lotus offers don't make the car any better on the street (IMO) and dont make the car all that much better on the track than the broom salesman special elise from 2005--- especially for a track noob that may venture out to the road course just for kicks even though he said he won't.

Packing my flyrod

phil

edit- recall that the broom salesman special from 05 was still one of the worlds best handling cars and the new exiges with all the bells and whistles don't handle THAT much better and what little they do cannot safely be disocvered on the street. Regarding warranty. Bah. A 40k mile elise has had all tye bugs worked out that its going to have. Other than the cams (which is hit and miss), these cars typically go forever on the street.

[texige]

$27,000 Elise + $10,000+ in modifications = $26,000 Elise

$37,0000 Exige = $37,000 Exige

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by RENDERMAN

If you got the cash now, get an Exige or eventually you'll regret not doing so...

Hasn't happened to me yet. The only Exige I'd consider is the Cup Car.

[melvinator]

Originally Posted by bgsterling

Geez. This thread has taken a turn. Above is a quote from the original post. He's not tracking the car. Nitrons, splitters, harnesses, slicks, etc. are all pointless for this application. Unless he wants to monkey around with chips and tunes annually/biannually/occasionally, aftermarket forced induction or flashed ECUs are out of the question due to smog testing (I'm under the impression that there aren't any smog legal, aftermarket SCs or tunes, unless you count the Lotus factory model. If I'm wrong, please correct me). On the street at legal speeds, both cars are going to perform pretty much the same if you're comparing an NA Elise to an NA Exige or a supercharged Elise to a supercharged Exige. How about we put away the rulers, zip up our pants and recognize that the guy wants a cool car that makes him feel good when he's driving it, being seen in it, and turning around as he walks into a store to take another look at it.

Melvinator, if I may throw in another .02, ask yourself if you bought an Exige, would you wish you had saved the money and bought an Elise. Then, ask yourself if you bought an Elise, would you wish you would have spent the extra money on an Exige. If you can honestly answer those two questions, I think you'll know what to buy (but take a test drive or rent one first, neither are the easiest car to live with ).

-Brad

That really hit the spot i just want a unique car one that i get excited to drive everyday and the truth is on answering those questions id be happy really with either one but like they said buy the exige otherwise ill regret it and i could see myself easily regretting not getting the exige and tubrophil your from kc im from olathe do you just track cuz ive never seen any lotus' rolling around overland park

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by texige

$27,000 Elise + $10,000+ in modifications = $26,000 Elise

$37,0000 Exige = $37,000 Exige

Have fun selling your car, I'm keeping mine.

[apexdc]

Melvinator,

Sorry, I got carried down the "better track car" path. Just go with the one that lights you up to look at.

Another thought, though. I am 6'3 and virtually never put on my top. The car is ALMOST effortless to get in and out of with the top off. With the top on, it is a PITA. Also, on the street, rear visibility is more of an issue. Elise wins there, too.

Have fun. You can't lose either way.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by melvinator

That really hit the spot i just want a unique car one that i get excited to drive everyday and the truth is on answering those questions id be happy really with either one but like they said buy the exige otherwise ill regret it and i could see myself easily regretting not getting the exige and tubrophil your from kc im from olathe do you just track cuz ive never seen any lotus' rolling around overland park

Olathe? Oh well theres the problem. We lotus drivers wouldn't dare venture to olathe!!

Not sure why you haven't seen us. There's no less than a dozen in the area. I dont drive mine daily by any means and usually just between OP and leawood. Otherwise, you will see me pulling a little trailer with tires on my way to the track.

Good luck in your search!

Phil