Test drove new Lotus Exige S and older model Elise

[Shinigami]

I'll have some pictures of the Elise later tonight (TT was there during the Exige ride, so I hope he'll post his pics as well sometime), but what can I say.

The Exige hauls some serious ass. The ~220hp makes it quite fast, with the supercharger whine adding some panaché, and it's a really nice looking and handling car in general 8)

Too bad it's a bit on the expensive side... for an extra 30%, you can buy a similar SLK AMG like mine, and IMO, it's just a bit more "car" (but admittedly, some don't like all the extras of the SLK, and would prefer a more "true to heart" track car like a Lotus).

The older model Elise, which was a British Racing Green, had 170hp, and also was very, very quick. However, the horrible, totally scary brakes kinda ruined it. I mean, even planting down hard on the brakes while going 30kph, would still take more then 30 meters to stop =(

After warming them up a bit (and possibly getting rid of the layer of rust), they got a bit more effective at stopping the car, but you really need to downshift in order to stop the car... otherwise it just goes on and on...

The noise it makes was also a lot louder, less comfortable, etc... I say, if you want a Lotus, and you get to choose between an older model, and a newer one. If the price is not a problem, get a newer one. It just feels more solid, makes a more reassuring noise, less wind noise as well, better insulation, etc... etc...

In fact, I'm not sure if I broke that car during my driving session, because during some hard accelerations some 10 minutes into the drive, the engine began making a windy noise, somewhat... like empty, as if a hose broke off or something? =\

Still a cool car, but noway would I use something like this as my only ride. A newer Exige maybe, but not this older model Elise... just didn't feel "safe" and "reliable".

[SilviaEvo]

did you go into a dealership or was it someone else car?

[TT]

Thanks for putting down on "paper" your impression and thanks for bringing me along in the Exige S! Many Lotus fans complains the suparcharger flattens the power curve and they are missing the kick in the ass the NA Lotus gives you when entering the warp zone.
From the passenger side I someway prefer the linear and never ending shove the S can provide. I was in a normal Exige already and while the upper reach of the revs curve is really mad, down below it's a bit hollow while the S seems to be a killer already at 3500-4000 rpm! And I kinda like the sc whine behind your head :D

Bloody nice color too :D sadly not enough time for a proper indepth :D but very sexy car to take pictures of :D

http://img138.imagevenue.com/loc71/th_30510_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_108.jpg (http://img138.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc71&image=30510_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_108.jpg)http://img9.imagevenue.com/loc153/th_30516_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_111.jpg (http://img9.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc153&image=30516_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_111.jpg)http://img146.imagevenue.com/loc33/th_30523_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_112.jpg (http://img146.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc33&image=30523_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_112.jpg)http://img25.imagevenue.com/loc223/th_30550_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_116.jpg (http://img25.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc223&image=30550_Lotus_Exige_Mk_II_116.jpg)

[Shinigami]

Thanks for the photos TT. I seem to have left the cable for transferring photos off my Camera Phone, so the MK1 Elise pics will have to come later...

Anyway, the cars we tested were demo's from the dealer. A factory rep drove down with the Exige (thus the British plates) and left the car at the dealership for the weekend.

[DeMoN]

Im thinking about trading in my G35 for a Lotus Elise. I first wanted the exige, but from what I read, (even on their website) the Exige is slower in acceleration. I dont plan on tracking all the time, so I guess I'd get more fun on the Elise right? Besides, I get electric windows (dont like the handles on the Exige, but the plain interior on either car is OK by me).

[Wutputt]

Thanks for the pics and the review!

[AAlcHemY_]

However, the horrible, totally scary brakes kinda ruined it. I mean, even planting down hard on the brakes while going 30kph, would still take more then 30 meters to stop =(
It takes a while to get used to the non servo assisted brakes. Stopping distance from 100 is somewhere between 35-40m.

The noise it makes was also a lot louder, less comfortable, etc... I say, if you want a Lotus, and you get to choose between an older model, and a newer one. If the price is not a problem, get a newer one. It just feels more solid, makes a more reassuring noise, less wind noise as well, better insulation, etc... etc...
It's also less of a drivers car, with all the extra weight, different setup etc.


Im thinking about trading in my G35 for a Lotus Elise. I first wanted the exige, but from what I read, (even on their website) the Exige is slower in acceleration. I dont plan on tracking all the time, so I guess I'd get more fun on the Elise right? Besides, I get electric windows (dont like the handles on the Exige, but the plain interior on either car is OK by me).
Drive them both and see what you like most, never let some internet forum posts change the opinion you have.

[sentra_dude]

Wow, really cool car to test drive and nice pics TT. 8)

Interesting about the brakes, that would definitely turn me off to the car, maybe the old brakes could be upgraded to some proper brakes?

Btw, thanks for the great write-up Shinigami! :D

[gucom]

thx for the review, and thanks for the pics TT! amazing looking red exige :D 8)

[stmoritzer]

Thanks Shinigami and TT for your impresisons and pics
damn sexy little toy :D

[Erez]

sounds like fun! thanks for the review.. too bad about lotus and their prices.. i think they ask too much for a celica motor and some aluminum.. :roll: great car, looks GREAT, i love it, i really do! but not at those prices..

[360modena]

Thanks to share your impressions now waiting for the pics. I love these kind of cars, especially the abillity to beat much powered cars. I remember a vid where a guy with a 111 beat a porsche GT2 and a F40...


The noise it makes was also a lot louder, less comfortable, etc...
Tell me you record it :D

[TT]

Pics already posted : http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?p=640479#640479

[AAlcHemY_]

Interesting about the brakes, that would definitely turn me off to the car, maybe the old brakes could be upgraded to some proper brakes?

Brakes don't need upgrading, the driver does. No offence Shinigami.

[Pehtren]

Nice review, i also like the looks of this little adrenalin go-kart.

And nice pics TT, thanks :D

[DeMoN]

Drive them both and see what you like most, never let some internet forum posts change the opinion you have.

I dont think that Lotus dealership would let me test drive both the way I want to test drive them. When the cars are new, they strictly enforce the "break in" theory and they wont let me go past 4k rpm.

[Pehtren]

Drive them both and see what you like most, never let some internet forum posts change the opinion you have.

I dont think that Lotus dealership would let me test drive both the way I want to test drive them. When the cars are new, they strictly enforce the "break in" theory and they wont let me go past 4k rpm.

Are you sure. i know that when the M5 came (for clients to test it) in slovenia, and they pushed the car really har, so they fucked up the engine.

[DeMoN]

Im not sure if Lotus would let me, but BMW and INFINITI did not.

[Pehtren]

If you drove with your G, i think that should have effect on them. 8)

[DeMoN]

not sure if I should ASK if I can floor the car, or just do it?

[Pehtren]

Yes thats the mayor problem, but the car is there that you test its capabilitys. Its not there to be driven like your grandmom does. :D

So i think you should floor it.

[Shinigami]

Brakes don't need upgrading, the driver does. No offence Shinigami.
No offence taken, but do you really know what my capabilities are when it comes to driving? No, I'm not an expert, but I don't think I suck quite this much when it comes to cars ;)

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Something did not feel "right" about the brakes in this car. I did not lock the brakes (the car had no ABS), however, whilst I did try to stop the car by applying the brakes, the car kept on creeping forward. It was alarming, and it most certainly was not normal. It's simple, a car going 30kph should stop within less then 10meters when you apply the brakes, be it with or without ABS or servo's, it should not take up to 30 meters for the car to slow down!

30kph (that's less then 20mph) is not all that fast, and the Mk1 is a very light car, all the easier to get it to a stop with moderate brake pressure. But alas, it did not, it just failed to stop properly.

If you don't believe me, I'll go there and try it again, and this time, I'll record the whole deal. I personally believe something was just not right about those brakes. Either the contact sucked or there was not enough brake fluid for proper pressure. So does this make me a bad driver? I just feel confused about it...

Anyway (and not to flame you), I guess you must be an owner, or at least experienced in Elise's since your first two posts were posted in a thread about these cars, and your specific commentary on car and drive feel reflect that.

It is obviously VERY true that one should take what is being said on a forum with a grain of salt. I also always tell people to try before you buy ;) And in this case, the single experience (yes, only one, sadly enough) in an Mk1 Elise was completely overshadowed by the "superior" (at least for me) feel in a newer model Elise, Exige and an Opel Speedster. Obviously, time breeds excellense, and it should be normal for a newer model to have better comfort and build value then the older model, even if it often is at the expense of having gained weight.

Whilst my own recommendation would be to get a newer Elise, I would NOT put down an older model if one was given to me. It's a very cool little capable car, but the brakes left me cold due to the experience I had with them.

p.s. both cars were well beyond the brake-in procedure. The Exige had 4500km's (or miles... not sure, the car came from the UK factory), so there was no problem pushing it into the high revs (it was even warmed up by the previous test-drivers), and the Mk1 had something to the tune of 30,000km's, which I too revved up high AFTER I had warmed up the engine. I drove peacefully for about 15 minutes... I do respect the vehicles on the dealers lot, and won't push them hard as nuts until the engine is warm.

Demon: if you're driving alone, and the car is well past the brake-in procedure, just warm her up and play around with the revs. If you're driving with a dealer next to you, they should say it's ok to do it if the car has enough miles on it. Otherwise, it's up to you and your concience. I wouldn't max-rev any car which was not fully broken-in, even if I was driving it alone... I tend to respect the dealer vehicles a bit more then this. Just my two cents.

[cooperluke]

The Elise had road brake pads??

If it had some carbon brake pads, they don't brake until properly warmed up...

[Shinigami]

Don't know about the pads... hard to see. The rotors were metal tho'.

Even warmed up, the brakes were still not stopping properly. I'll go take some more photos. I'll see if the dealer can enlighten me.

[AAlcHemY_]

I dont think that Lotus dealership would let me test drive both the way I want to test drive them. When the cars are new, they strictly enforce the "break in" theory and they wont let me go past 4k rpm.
If you need to take the engine past 4k rpm, you are missing the point a bit imo. The Elise is kinda slow in real world situations. ( where only big hp numbers count )

No offence taken, but do you really know what my capabilities are when it comes to driving? No, I'm not an expert, but I don't think I suck quite this much when it comes to cars ;)
No, I really cannot know the driving skills you have. I'm just asuming this because almost every Elise/Exige owner thinks the brakes are broken, untill they really press on the brakes. Just take the car to a empty road and try to lock the brakes.

And yes, I'm a owner of a Elise. Sorry if my posts are a bit rude btw.

[Shinigami]

No problem Alchemy, and input from Elise owners is appreciated.

I really did try to press down full force on the brakes, to the point where any other car would have activated their ABS. But it felt like the vehicle just kept on creeping forward... But yeah, I'll go try this car out again. That is, when I get back from my business trip... argh, missing driving. This place sucks, too much traffic and taxis take 15 minutes to do a 1km trip =(