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N/A Exige Vs. Exige S

9K views 57 replies 21 participants last post by  Ram  
#1 ·
As a current n/a Exige owner, i've been thinking. Yes, I lust after the Exige S, and the numbers, and the possiblilty of more power. BUT, I mostly use my Exige on curvy back mountain roads (Santa Cruz Mountains), and realized a few things.

First, on my fav roads, there is no way more power would do me any good, as I'm already exceeding the grip of the car, and wouldn't want to go any faster. Hitting the cams in 3rd gear while going around most mountain roads is actually as fast as I think the chassis can go. So what would more power do?

I realize that if I were on a local track, (laguna seca), that the extra power would be useful for straights and pulling out of the corners... In that case, the Exige S would win...

But REALLY, is there anyway an Exige S would go that much faster on the mountain roads I'm driving? Now at this point, I would have to say NO.

So for all you n/a Exige owners who don't go to high horsepower tracks, feel good that you really don't need an Exige S. Hell, I'd love to have an Exige S in front of me on some of my fav mountain roads, and see if he could even pull away. Most of it is driver experience me thinks.

Any reason to think my 'thinking' is incorrect?...
Cheers,
Skottoman
 
#2 ·
I don't think it's just the peak horsepower but the improved drivability - the torque to thrust you out of corners. :)
 
#3 ·
Allan Gibbs said:
I don't think it's just the peak horsepower but the improved drivability - the torque to thrust you out of corners. :)
And get you to the next corner quicker.
:D
 
#4 ·
Allan Gibbs said:
I don't think it's just the peak horsepower but the improved drivability - the torque to thrust you out of corners. :)
i drove my exige before and after the supercharger . for mountain roads that are public and you're not going [ or rather can't go ] nuts , the standard car is great . for low down torque and going even faster on track , the s/charger is greater .
skottoman , if you're happy , and you sound it , stick with the wonderful car you've got . how much is enough , on a public road anyway .
 
#5 ·
Yes agreed, on a public road, the n/a Exige is exceeding my expectations. Haven't been to the track with it yet, but at that point, i'm sure i'll want the 's'. but I can't justify the price hit for the extra 28 hp and torque...
Cheers,
Skottoman
 
#7 ·
sleepless said:
more power ==> more fun :)

Simple as that...

I agree with sleepless. For normal driving, torque is what you'd like to feel more, at least that's what I'd like to feel. I don't like driving a torquelss car everyday, which is why I have a truck. =)
 
#10 ·
Evl said:
Actually power is what matters. The car that produces the most power can be geared to produce more torque at the wheels than the car with less power but more torque at the flywheel.
Since power is a function of RPM and Torque, I respectfully disagree. Torque is the shove that you feel in your back. Torque is what makes a car feel fast. Torque is everything. Add RPMs and you get power. Gearing multiplies torque, which yields power.

Power = Torque * RPM / 5252
 
#11 ·
shokwaves said:
Not sure the worth. If you have the $ wait til the right kit comes out, would be cheaper & possibly with much more power. Also, I don't like the color matching trim. :D
I'll have mine with a warranty, thanks.

I'm not a fan of the color mathed trim either but it's only 16 bolts and shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes to change every piece of it out.
:D
 
#13 ·
redbull1983 said:
guys..don't think also about power...because the "S" weights also more than the N/A Exige...

in some track in europe, the difference between them is not too much..and imho someone must think a bit before justify the extra money..
The difference should be significant given that the Exige weighs only 5% more while has 15% more power and has a better/flatter torque curve.

The idea of "thinking a bit" with respect to sports cars seem like an oxymoron; they are purchases of the heart, not the mind.
 
#14 ·
sleepless said:
The difference should be significant given that the Exige weighs only 5% more while has 15% more power and has a better/flatter torque curve.

The idea of "thinking a bit" with respect to sports cars seem like an oxymoron; they are purchases of the heart, not the mind.
ahah:D yeah, you'r right..;-)

but we don't have to start thinking too much about sell lightness for more power...that's the point...;-)

'cause the 111 project weight of the S1 origin.....it's really far men!!
 
#15 ·
sleepless said:
Since power is a function of RPM and Torque, I respectfully disagree. Torque is the shove that you feel in your back. Torque is what makes a car feel fast. Torque is everything. Add RPMs and you get power. Gearing multiplies torque, which yields power.

Power = Torque * RPM / 5252
I'll respectfully disagree as well, and provide a little thought experiment:

Car A: 200hp: 263ft-lbs@4000rpm, 70mph 1:1 tranny gear, 4.02 final drive
Car B: 200hp: 131ft-lbs@8000rpm, 70mph 2:1 tranny gear, 4.02 final drive

Torque @ the wheels:

Car A: 1056ft-lbs
Car B: 1056ft-lbs

Exactly the same push into the seat in both cases, even though the "high-strung" engine produces only 1/2 the torque. If you bump the high-revving engine's power, it will produce more push into the seats than the high torque engine, without having to pass the slow motor in toque output.

That said, there are two things that muddy the issue: 1) it all depends on being able to get into the right gear, which is why the "torque is king" thing is so popular on the street. Its not as easy to change gear ratios as it is to boost torque with a few bolt ons. 2) you can't always be at peak power, so a wide torque curve is of course useful.

Nonetheless, if I can choose between two engines, and get to choose my tranny and final drive gears to match, I'll go for power, not torque.
 
#16 ·
I actually think we're saying the same thing except for the term power. Power is nothing more than a measure of work that an engine and gearing can do. Torque is the actual output of the engine and gearing. I think what you are calling "power" is actually "torque".

Anyway, I agree that gearing is at least as important as torque, and I agree that gearing is hard to change or even get right because of packaging issues, cost, and acceleration vs. top speed trade offs.
 
#17 ·
If you follow my math, you'll see my power = torque * rpm / 5252, same as you. :shrug: I think the difference is that we're both claiming that torque is what pushes you into the seat, but I'm pointing out that engine torque isn't what matters, torque at the wheels is what matters. Since thats a funtion of gearing, and hence rpm, when making comparisons on the engine side of the tranny, and with the ability to change gearing (which we all have to some extent with the gear lever), hp is what matters.

To recap: when comparing at the engine: hp, when comparing at the tires, torque.

(Sorry for the hijack, btw)
 
#22 ·
more power = more fun espeically for posers like me :)

more power = eaiser to merge into traffic and into another lane during traffic especially for a daily commuter like me :)

eixge s > exige - because if they cost the same, which would you pick?
 
#25 ·
I own both a forcedfed 340and the n/a exige. I will tell you that the difference is huge between both cars but the bottom line on the track is 2-3 seconds on a 2.2 mile track. The reason i used forced induction was to increase my exit speed from turns. The realization was i was not taking advantage of the cars capabilities and i was trying to make up for my poor driving. I have now driven both cars extensively and although the ff elise is still quicker i would take the n/a version on the track and compete in its class and would be very competitive.
I was at a track event last weekend in pahrump were there were porsches,corvettes and other track setup cars and the exige was very competitive. Before you decide to move up to a "s" and spend over 20k which included the difference in price as well as the depreciation on the exige take some driving lessons.(www.racespringmountain.com)