Lotus Evora vs Exige

[RaceCarDriver]

Long trips or daily driving, Evora. You'll go deaf from long highway trips in an Exige. Suspension is way softer on the Evora, can easily be a daily driver.

Remember, you can't see well behind you in an Exige, would make it tough to daily drive, backing up in a parking lot etc.

[flyguyskt]

if you have the extra 25 or 30 grand to spend go evora without question.

[David Craig]

Originally Posted by Secret Chimp

Have you test driven one yet? Only you will be able to determine which car suits your needs.


Reasons why the Exige is not an ideal road trip car...

1. The Exige has terrible rearward visibility. That can create an issue for you when you are driving on a freeway.
2. Max space for 2 soft-sided back packs as luggage, unless your passenger wants something on her lap.
3. No cup holders standard.
4. The Exige has no cruise control. That can be a pain for long trips.
5. The car rides very low. You have to be careful entering and exiting roadways and shopping centers and you will not be able to easily see around the cars ahead.
6. It's pretty loud in the car when you are traveling at freeway speeds. You have to raise your voice quite a bit to have a conversation with the person sitting next to you. Unless your stereo is upgraded, it has to be turned up rather high to be heard.
7. If you live somewhere where the weather gets hot, the aircon doesn't typically work very well.

That being said, I more or less daily drive my Exige and I love it. I've taken it on a few 200 mi roadtrips and it's been great. I don't really care about comfort. For me, it's about fun! If you or your passenger feel like you need *any* comfort, choose the Evora.

+1 on all points.

Regarding the radio, I find that on the highway I can either have the radio on or a conversation but not both.

I did a multi-day road trip with my wife and I found the Elise to be "perfect" apart from needing the radio to be off for conversations, and the minimal trunk space.

I've also done a few multi-day trips on my own. Those had the radio "on" and I was fine.

It sounds like the Evora is more suitable for your needs. I would suggest the Exige only if you really prefer its looks.

For what it is worth I have used my Elise for 3.5 years as a daily driver and as mentioned for several long trips and I am fine with it.

[LotusCC]

Originally Posted by David Craig

+1 on all points.
For what it is worth I have used my Elise for 3.5 years as a daily driver and as mentioned for several long trips and I am fine with it.

Just to be clear sir, David Craig is capable of placing his leg above and behind his head. So, for David an Elise could clearly be quite comfortable Ingress and egress are also a non issue for such an accomplished contortionist! Lol.
Sounds like the Evora may suit your needs better. Good luck and please post pics of your new Lotus.



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[Jack FFR1846]

I have an Elise with just the touring package (softer surfaces, softer suspension). I bought it used and it has some wiz bang audio system with JL audio speakers and a 750W powered subwoofer. When I did my Radium clam kit, I removed the subwoofer because I couldn't hear the radio anyways. If you want to hear the radio at all, get an Evora.

[walter]

I can't say I've ever had the radio on in my Exige. It's just not worth it.


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[brgelise]

Yup gotta go with Evora. My long trips in Elise were always to track days which were 4-5 hours but it was loud which meant crank the stereo and no cruise which sucked most of all.
Compared to Vettes< porsches etc. Evora is the BEST riding sports car I've driven. As good as an XK!

[Amarao]

I don't know why I'm even chiming in on this since I'm just going to reiterate what everyone else said. Go with the Evora. Daily driving an Exige and especially long trips in it are not for the faint of heart. I did it for two years putting about 40k miles on it, I can't imagine many people would be capable of that.

[srwhitman]

I started with an Elise, moved to an Exige, got a regular Evora (selling it now (want to buy?) as I upgraded to an Evora S). I love both. Evora is a much cushier car for sure. Much easier to live with and get in and out of. Other than being low, I'd say the biggest problem is the wide doors but you'll have that problem with any coupe. Fortunately they have a detent and you can get in and out ok with that detent when you park next to someone but it still takes getting used to.

The Exige - well, you can do what I did and add a rear camera so you can see out the back when exiting a parking spot. Still need to check your mirrors but its not so bad.

Driving daily - well, depends on what you want. Exige is a race car for the street. Its fun to drive every day and the door is not nearly as wide so you can actually park next to others without the wide door of the Evora. But you gotta accept the gymnastics getting in and out of the car.

Exige is definitely noisier but I upgraded my sound system in both cars and it works fine. I regularly take the Exige to the track and while it definitely is noisier it doesn't bother me. On the other hand, its more like a 1.5 seater as you will be pretty chummy with the person next to you (rubbing elbows and what-not). Very cosy inside but once you get in the driving position is absolutely perfect in my opinion.

BTW, the Evora rear seats are for emergency only (for1 person, forget 2) but are useful for storage.

Bottom line - Exige is a go-kart for the street and fun even for daily driving but a bit noisy. Ultimate street/track car so if you think you'll do a lot of AutoX and/or track days definitely get it. Nice dead pedal, very easy to position the car, no one sees you so you have to look for them, point and shoot, lots of fun.

Evora - more expensive, worse gas mileage, easier to be in, quieter, less raw, still pretty fun but not as go-kart like. More elegant. No dead pedal but you can sort of prop your foot up. More torque than the Exige (even the supercharged Exige in my opinion - I have one of each although the Evora S blows the regular Evora away in this department).

Both cars get looks (of course what color you get also makes a huge difference). If you do decide you are interested in an Exige, make sure you are willing to get in and out a number of times and are ok with that.

[Sven76]

Moved from Elise to Evora. Elise had no room for bags, or say very little. With the Evora I can do 2 week holidays with my wife and golf equipment. Also more comfy ride, still all the fun!

[MTLDean]

I love my Elise to death, but as my lone daily driver? NO way. I love bombing around town, but not for occasional long trips, and my commute is really short. By the way I added a subwoofer and now the sound is awesome.

[Kevin M]

We have both and they are both hugely different cars for all the reasons already stated. Evora is your car with no question about it.
Kevin

[scm6079]

Coming from someone who loves their exige - get the evora! I have an m3 that is my daily driver. The exige is a track monster - but not a good cruiser. Forget about the radio, forget about things like cruise control - and don't expect to pack a day bag without it heating up from the exhaust if you put it in the trunk.

OP- if you said you were looking for a car to track that you could drive there, I'd say exige all the way. But for something you can enjoy as a daily driver or as a cruiser I'd personally want the evora over the exige.