S2 Exige With No Roof

[GCCK]

Guess it's each to their own. When I first went looking for an Elise, I wanted a hardtop because I "wasn't interested in a convertible" but wanted the handling of an Elise. Having got one I was captivated and enjoyed it more as a convertible, and with a garage (and use as a 2nd car), left it roof off almost all the time.

 

That now being the case, here is my response cross posted from another thread. Genuinely, no offence intended but I'm curious why folks would NOT want a roof that can come off, when it appears so achievable?

 

Why should I want an Exige? The tuned S135 is as fast already, and you don't need a tin-opener to go topless.

 

I love the way the S1 Exige looks - such drama, but I've got a bit of reverse logic where the Exiges are concerned:

 

They may be fast on track days thanks to downforce and sticky tyres but to me that is missing the point. If I was racing and going for timed laps, the few 10ths you could save would be beneficial. However, for the enthusiastic dabbler, the purpose of a track day is entertainment more than outright speed. All that the spoilers & tyres do is raise the point at which the car starts to let go. Compared to a std Exige, my 170bhp+ Elise probably has more straightline speed (less drag) and lower braking & cornering speeds leading to greater adjustability and margin for control. For me, finding the limit and dancing around it is the thrill. The higher you raise the breakaway limit, the more serious the consequences of getting it wrong.

 

As Scott can testify, I'm still getting to grips with the silver car and its power ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[mattyp]

I do agree with halfpenny that the car is a coupe and i don't really have any plans to take the roof off.

 

I was led to believe that the warrenty could be void on the engine if damage was caused by overheating.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't disagree - the car is quite obviously a coupe, and that's why I bought one! I'm not going to whip the roof off the second it arrives, its just nice knowing there is that possibility if I should ever want to.

 

How will having/not having a roof make any difference to the engine temp if the roof intake is fake?

[chris_h]

smooth air flow over the mesh area of the engine cover ??

 

but i'm not sure how true that is, might just be lotus wanting to stop people taking the roof off.

[mattyp]

Sounds like dealer balls to me, but then again I know chuff all about these things!

[halfpenny]

My reasoning for getting the Exige was that I'd already had an Elise and wanted something different.

 

When the Exige came out, I liked the styling and could live without the soft top.

 

I doubt I even get close to the full abilities of the car, so the difference of a second or two probably doesn't make too much difference around a bend for me - my courage/ability (or lack of !) probably stops way before the car would let go.

 

That and the fact I couldn't afford a new 911 C4S.....

[ally]

I am no expert but i was chatting to a few very good drivers regarding the benefit of the down force from a rear fin. There is a chap in the south with an S2 with usual mods and more excitingly a turbo charged honda pumping out rediculous horse power. He doesnt believe that that a rear fin makes any difference to the handling, and hence hasnt bothered with one. Interestingly if you look at his times at the last trials at north weald he was not beaten by any other car (granted none of them had turbo's). Furthermore he felt it was the chassy rigidity that helped with cornering.

Just thought i would add that to the pot.

[chris_h]

I am no expert but i was chatting to a few very good drivers regarding the benefit of the down force from a rear fin. There is a chap in the south with an S2 with usual mods and more excitingly a turbo charged honda pumping out rediculous horse power. He doesnt believe that that a rear fin makes any difference to the handling, and hence hasnt bothered with one. Interestingly if you look at his times at the last trials at north weald he was not beaten by any other car (granted none of them had turbo's). Furthermore he felt it was the chassy rigidity that helped with cornering.

Just thought i would add that to the pot.

 

i do think that the rear wing on the exige is only there for looks, but in general a rear wing will help on high speed corners but i don't think any normal drivers will ever get anywhere near to the point where it will make any difference.

 

it would be interesting to compare a standard elise and s1 exige and an s2 exige on a fast long corner with a very decent driver and a G force meter.

 

I've been thinking about getting a pioneer Avic X-1 navigation unit as it has built in telemetry like G forces etc

 

Avic x-1

[Bramble111s]

Do we therefore all agree the difference between a 111R and Exige is therefore styling?

 

Or rather the reason 'everyday' drivers buy an exige over a 111R?

 

obviously excluding the sus and oil coolers, etc, which can be fitted to the 111R

 

Personnally I LOVE the Exige styling....

[GCCK]

Could it be that the Elise is type-approved as a soft-top and the Exige is type-approved as a hard-top. Whilst they can't prevent folks removing the Exige roof (as I understand it, fits like an Elise roof but could be wrong), they are unable to endorse it. Also, selling the Exige as hard-top only saves having to include the cost of a soft-top in the price.

 

I love the Exige styling too!