PDA

View Full Version : Sept 06: Lotus Exige Mk II in depth


TT
09-05-2005, 06:22 PM
Hello guys, here I am adding yet another "in depth" ;) now I will take a break and should be back to regular pics for at least one or two updates ;)

But for now, let's focus in this sexy lady!

Just 3 previews, but there are 25 high-res on the website
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_020.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth.html)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_029.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth.html)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_040.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth.html)

The car is owned by a new friend of mine and since I am putting together a little photoshoot day with some locals in October, he volunteer to go check out a couple of places with his car ;) so yes, I've got a ride in this car too :love:

Something I learnt only some months ago: you can easily remove the roof on the Exige and that's pretty damn cool.. yes, less hardcore and focused maybe, but you can always put it back in place when you go lapping some race track. On the road it is very nice and it lets you experience the engine sound much better.

The most shocking thing is how hard it is to slide inside.. yes, you SLIDE, inside and way DOWN. To step inside an Enzo or Murcielago isn't easy, beware, but the Exige was the "worst" I experienced to date. Especially because, no only you need to go across the wide part between you and the seat, but especially because inside it is sensibly smaller than the forementioned supercars. It's really tiny as you can imagine if you saw one in the metal, and inside you are basically touching the driver's arm. For the legs there is plenty of space, it's just not wide at all :D.
The seats are damn good.. racing seats obviously, supporting but very nice to be in them. On a long drive I was told they aren't that comfy actually.
Anyway, the car started, the engine is kinda quite.. it's still a Toyota unit afterall, the suspensions are very firm, every input on the wheel seem to instantly have an effect on the car you feel cocooned inside but it's pretty scary to be in town with SUVS or ppl carrier beside and above you.
Anyway once out of town, the engine can be revved and it was. At 6000 rpm you have some sort of VTEC/VANOS wathever effect, can't remember how it is called in the Toyota engine, but its the moment when everything goes mad and you are kicked in the ass with the needle climbing much faster, the soundtrack becoming crazy and so on :)
Intoxicating, I doubt I could avoid passing the magic mark on every gear all of the time!
The car really seems a great pleasure to drive and Alain the owner already racked 14'000 km on it in a few months!

We are used to see it in flashy colors.. orange:
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/2982/lotusexige071tv.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotusexige071tv.jpg)

yellow
http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/7084/lotusexige021zx.th.jpg (http://img270.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lotusexige021zx.jpg)

or even lime green (sadly never seen one)

But I think it rocks in this dark grey and it's really a nice photogenic car.. looking cool from every angle!

I am sure somebody will moan about the muffler tip. It's actually just applied "around" the original double tips. A present of the owner's sons.. he couldn't just dump it so that's why it is there ;)

Top stuff this little Exige, really amazing and even if this location wasn't perfect, it was a pleasure to shoot it!

nurbrun
09-05-2005, 06:27 PM
OMG NICE PICS AGAIN TT!!!

What a car!! i love the reviews keep'm comin :wink:

awesome car and i really like that color on the exige. :love:

ferrarif1fan89
09-05-2005, 06:33 PM
i love that car with those wheels and that color! man, its perfect! i LOVE those wheels!

No.1
09-05-2005, 07:01 PM
i had no idea that the hardtop was removable on the exige. makes me rethink that car entirely.

Same here.... is this standard?

Anyways, your a lucky sod, TT, but we love you for the pretty pictures you keep giving us :D

dingo
09-05-2005, 07:04 PM
I would prefer it in black, but this colour still looks very sexy! :drool: The exhaust tip isn't that bad IMO. :)

Some great pics in there, except for the one where a 3-series ruins the shot. :P

antonioledesma
09-05-2005, 07:16 PM
:D great car TT... I will use some of your bandwidth to download those excellent pics of yours and that grey babe :wink:

Mers
09-05-2005, 07:49 PM
I saw one in light beige with green stripes, in paris, in june...very nice review, of a very nice car TT;...

EnzoLover
09-05-2005, 09:18 PM
Nice ride :D

VVTL-i its the system of Toyota

psykonesz83
09-05-2005, 10:10 PM
VVTL-i to be exact

dutchmasterflex
09-05-2005, 11:03 PM
man that car is beautiful.. i wasnt aware they made a targa top version of the exige.. looks damn great.. definately a car i wouldnt mind having as a daily driver.. i would easily put up with the "uncomfortable" seats (i'd make sure my trips were fast ;) ) and gettin in and out of the car...

it's still a nice treat to see a regular elise here in the states, i still have yet to see an exige in person..

TT
09-06-2005, 03:16 AM
Thanks EnzoLover and psykonesz83 for the exact term :)



i had no idea that the hardtop was removable on the exige. makes me rethink that car entirely.

Same here.... is this standard?

...

It is optional: there is a tiny modification to do and of course you need the soft roof just in case, but doable on every Exige yes :)

I would prefer it in black, but this colour still looks very sexy! :drool: The exhaust tip isn't that bad IMO. :)

Some great pics in there, except for the one where a 3-series ruins the shot. :P

:fuck:

man that car is beautiful.. i wasnt aware they made a targa top version of the exige.. looks damn great.. definately a car i wouldnt mind having as a daily driver.. i would easily put up with the "uncomfortable" seats (i'd make sure my trips were fast ;) ) and gettin in and out of the car...

it's still a nice treat to see a regular elise here in the states, i still have yet to see an exige in person..

Actually it is not a targa top version: you can remove the roof on every Exige ;) it's just that not many owners are interested in that. Even on the Mk I if I am not wrong

LotusGT1
09-06-2005, 03:29 AM
About these indepth pages, why don't you place the editorials you write down here on those pages as well? Would be better IMO...

stmoritzer
09-06-2005, 03:58 AM
A nice describtion of the car, thanks TT !
My friend has a Opel Speedster, and it's exactly the same, very difficult to enter and you sit elbow to elbow :wink:

For the car, I don't like it that much, the color is special, the car looks "angry" and "wild"

sikx5
09-06-2005, 05:53 AM
Another review, Lucky you TT!!

I saw one on the road the other day for the first time(was a very bright red colour), they look so mean and aggressive, a very nice package though for the occastional track days...

And when it hits Lift at 6,000RPM that toyota engine just screams and moves very rapidly....They are the same engine in the celicas if im not mistaken, zz somethin..Nice pics BTW. :mrgreen:

TT
09-06-2005, 09:22 AM
About these indepth pages, why don't you place the editorials you write down here on those pages as well? Would be better IMO...

Well, actually I considered it, but well, first of all, passenger impressions might be a bit biased and not truly describing the car and second, I want to keep my website basically pictures only, that's why I never considered a forum and such. That's why I decided to just post the pics :-)

adamwich
09-06-2005, 09:53 AM
Very nice pictures! I also didn't know you could remove the roof - very cool!

Wutputt
09-06-2005, 12:40 PM
Strange colour for an Exige. And I actually don't like it. Still this is an awesome car and great pics you took. Btw, did you tried to enter the car with the hardtop mounted or with it removed?

TT
09-06-2005, 05:44 PM
awesome TT, now this guy being your friend and all, when is he going to let you take it for a spin??

Well, you know, nice cars' owner who will let you drive even if they know you are not that common and I can perfectly understand. I will never ask for sure, and in this case I really doubt he will really offer it. He cherish his lady too much, it would be like asking him to have fun with his wife I fear :D but it's all good, I would maybe be the same :bah:

Strange colour for an Exige. And I actually don't like it. Still this is an awesome car and great pics you took. Btw, did you tried to enter the car with the hardtop mounted or with it removed?

Ah yes, indeed, I saw this coming. I tried with no roof at all, I guess with the hardtop or the soft one it would simply be impossible to do in a public place :D


About "in depth", I just realized I could put also Shin's SLK55 in there since I have 15 pics of it which should be enough for a decent coverage (even if not in the best locations, but still...).