Scottish Elises

Hey guys, thinking of returning to a squeaky plastic car after 5 years of Porsche ownership. Thinking of an Exige - always hankered after an S1 but after seeing the prices recently, realised it’s probably out of my £45k price range! Recently drove a 350 and was blown away, but I think realistically it’ll probably be between an S3 CR or a nice S2 240/260 - anybody know how the gearchanges compare between the two? And is the pre-350 shifter really that bad...

Can't say for sure but my experience over 3 different Lotuses in 19 years is, the gearchange is always better the newer you go.

Shift in my 2013 S3 Elise CR is snickerty snick

Oh and nice well cared for example of S2 Exige in our own Classifieds right now

The pre-350 gearchange in mine felt way better than the elise before it. I haven’t tried a 350 so not sure what it’s like but no issues with the pre-350 at all.

Cheers guys, I guess maybe I need to sit in a few and try it out. Can't make my mind up what I want though, keep changing my mind every day! The car in the classifieds does indeed look a cracker, unfortunately I have terrible taste in colour, and I'm after something a bit brighter! It's been ages since I've had a proper look around an S2 - are there any meets/runs planned in the next month or two?

A few.

See Meets sub forum

Quite an informative thread over on PH
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/top ... &t=1743074
Good luck

The good example prices for 240/260 S2s isn't far off V6 money. It's a slippery slope from there.

The PH thread talks a little about heatsoak. Seem to recall this kinda negates the power claims of the 240 Exiges. But as a package and an "investment", an S2 Exige may be the clever move.

Thanks for the tips. Yeah I know, man-maths is confusing things here! I had sort of had a budget of up to £45k and I really like the looks of the V6 CRs, bu at that price, you’re almost in to Sport 350 money. I think I would definitely consider a low mileage S2 if it had the 240/260 upgrade in a nice colour though....

There’s a low mileage sprint for sale, but it has a roll cage, which puts me off a little. Are there any £45k S1s out there anymore??

An S1 Exige is a beautiful thing. You won't get a better handling modern Lotus derivative IMO. I can't in my right kind say you shouldn't, but you'll end up wanting more and mods now on those are considered sacrilege.

You could have a very nice Lego Elise / VX either turbo or SC'ed for half what you'd pay for a top spec S2 Exige S, and it'll do 99% the same thing.. Although you probably already know that! You won't loose money on it either..

An S3 V6 mind you is another level IMO (though not necessarily a massive leap in straight performance terms)

Yeah, both fair comments. After owning a tweaked tubby Lego car for 7 years, I fancy something a bit different. Are the 240/260 cars much slower in a straight line?

I kinda get what you mean about modifying an S1, not that I would alter much anyway. Never been in one, although I remember how raw a sport 160 felt inside compared to the VX, which put a smile on my face! I see there is one at £49k now - is this a realistic price do you think?

Coming from the V6 side of things and having owned an (S1, had a shot of a few S2s) the S3 is night and day in terms of noise, torque, ride comfort and overall finish.

I’d go and try some to help you make your mind up!
I had toyed with selling mine this year but I just can’t bring myself to, saying that if the right offer was presented

colgy wrote: ↑

Wed May 23, 2018 11:04 pm

Yeah, both fair comments. After owning a tweaked tubby Lego car for 7 years, I fancy something a bit different. Are the 240/260 cars much slower in a straight line?

I kinda get what you mean about modifying an S1, not that I would alter much anyway. Never been in one, although I remember how raw a sport 160 felt inside compared to the VX, which put a smile on my face! I see there is one at £49k now - is this a realistic price do you think?

I doubt there is much if anything in it, but different engine experiences - torque and longer gearing on a 5-speed vs. low(er) torque and high-rev with short gearing. Both have their appeal, and depends how you intend to use it..

The whole S1 Exige thing is a bit of an self-inflating bubble tbh (from what I've read), with many not selling at the prices advertised..