Mark B Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 NEED HELP .... 18 months ago i had an s2 sports tourer and my best mate smacked it up for me in the rain, After spending a bad year in a boring audi tt, I've been to Nick whales and can't decide between a new 111R or Exige? Can you use the exige for an everyday car? I prefer the exige looks and i've already had an elise but everyone i've spoke told me to have the elise. Other than the exige being a coupe with different tyres is there much difference??? (performance etc ..)
GCCK Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 A few of us had a chance to sample 111r & S2 Exige on track at Donington courtesy of the new Stratstone Milton Keynes, run by RobS on here - you really should be talking to Rob. New dealership, I'm sure he'll be keen to do some deals in the first few months of opening. Exige had phenomenal grip in the dry, apparently still good in the wet - it's just standing water which catches out those cut slicks (AO48's). Owners of Exiges will provide better "living with" feedback. Amazingly planted car whereas 111r will feel closer to what you had before - more progressive, you can play with it a bit more. Personally I didn't like the power delivery of either - the power band for the second cam is impossibly narrow that even on track you drop out of it all the time and on the first cam it feels comparatively gutless. A K-series pulls much better in real world (2000-6000 rpm) driving. Before you decide, it is about 10 minutes work on an Exige to drill 2 holes, fit a couple of clips, sign a disclaimer and fit a standard short-roof S2 soft top and you have the best of both worlds: Exige looks, suspension, wheels & tyres but roofless like the 111r. A bit over £1K I believe. The disclaimer is because Exige was only type approved as a hard top - don't listen to the rubbish about aerodynamics or engine breathing.
jez_s Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 You see that's what's putting me off going for a test drive, I like torque and having tested an S2000 that power band thingy was getting a bit tedious when going for the overtake! I suppose you could get use to it and then change your driving style but i guess it's that or nothing
JohnnyM Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 I have so far had a std. s1 a sport 160s and my current exige s2 I agree with Graeme to a point and would say the following about each. std. s1 K series, you had no cam to worry about, you just revved it until you started to run out of steam at 5800RPM if i recall...... its been a while.. sport 160 you had to keep it above 4000 rpm, the more you revved, the more manic it became.... :-D nicely insane rough power delivery.... although positively rubbish low down. Exige S2 - a bit flat at the bottom end, and you spend a while learning to keep it on cam, but it is possible, you just find yourself using ratios that would have been 1 or even 2 higher in the other cars. I found it a struggle as my on my other car (Focus RS), all the torque suddenly turns up at once at a lowly 2.8k RPM. It seems insane at first, as you keep dropping off cam on upshifts if you make them too early or drop down too many cogs. but once your used to revving it a bit harder it becomes horribly addictive..... Also the comparitively flat low end looks after you in the traffic if you are a daily driver. I'm not personally, i have the RS for that.... but in the times i've used the exige daily and gone through traffic it has been superb. Johnny M
shortname Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 Had an sva S160 - you didn't have to work too hard to keep it on it's toes. Tried 111R back to back with current toy. Felt that 111R was superb fun on a test drive but would hard to keep on the boil at 8/10ths - much more than that on the public road and you'll get locked up! Power delivery in 340R is spot on - tractable and it just keeps going! And it's quite distinctive.
Snapper Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 Hi Mark I would blag a good ride out in both cars with owners that can tell you all the good and bad points... I think the Exige is a fantastic car, Its a lot easyier to use the power and keep it on the boil than the 111r. But to be honest Both cars are very good. I have to admit my Exige is a second car because it no good for what I do for a living. I can take you out for an extended drive in my S2 Exige if you want... Send me a U2U message with your contact details. I have have considered selling my Exige because I have had my holiday and toured Europe and Wales this year and I won't get hardly any use out of her untill next year. I like the Idea of next years Euro tour to be in a TVR T350. So if you want a year old S2 Exige (1st Reg 1/3/04) with 18,000 miles on the clock which would cost £ 36,000 to spec new for £ 26,999.00 Give me a call. Saving of £9,000.00 Magnetic Blue Paint, Full Touring Pack, Air Con, Extra Oil filters as per proformance pack. Removable Momo Steering Wheel, Push Button Start, Aces Change Up Lights, Fitted Fire Ex. Full Lotus Service History. Roof Mod to stop the Ratttle By Nick Whales. Pics in Garage: http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/index...CODE=12&CID=136 See Picture taken a couple of Weeks Ago on the Stelvio Pass
Scott_Mac Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 111R = Exige with soft top. Fit Nitrons and A048's and you've got better suspension aswell. BUT i do think the Exige looks better....
Snapper Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 Plus Hard Top + Splitter + Halford style rear spoiler and that realy cool looking Turtle back engine cover. Not sure if I am correct but I think there are some other suspension changes or anti roll bars
GCCK Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 Max S who appears on here occasionally has a 111r which he fitted with Exige suspension, wheels & tyres from new. Awesome piece of kit - just try staying with him on a twisty road - but that could be the driver too. He's coming on the Lincs run this weekend, so you'll see what I mean. As Jamie says, a converted 111r is still missing a few Exige bits, but not everyone prefers the Exige shape. Personally, I'd convert an Exige into soft-top if you want the best of both worlds, but money has a bearing on choice. Suppose you could make a s/c 240R convertible as well...
bermudabob Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 Suppose you could make a s/c 240R convertible as well... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ah, but doesn't the airscoop on the roof actually do something on the 240R?
Snapper Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 As Graeme say to spec a loaded 111r up with hard top, Met Paint, New wheel and suspension and tyre isn't going to be cheap. One of the reasons that I went for the Exige over the 111r was because it had the 111s wheels on it and it would then look just like the 111s I had just sold. Elise: http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/index...CODE=12&CID=161 Exige: http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/index...CODE=12&CID=136 Having driven the 111r and the Exige I found it was eaasier to use the power in the Exige set up and it felt far more planted to the road. All I can say is drive both and make your mind up as to what works for you... Both are good cars.
GCCK Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 Suppose you could make a s/c 240R convertible as well... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ah, but doesn't the airscoop on the roof actually do something on the 240R? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The air intake is real enough in the 240R as it feeds air to the intercooler, but the hole is in the bit behind the removable roof section. Removing the roof doesn't affect the intake. Presumably with soft-top in place, there is little or no difference to the airflow into the scoop either, although chances are the air when runnig open would be more turbulent. Have no idea what effect that extra turbulence would to intercooler effectiveness.
Mark B Posted July 26, 2005 Author Posted July 26, 2005 Thank you for all your advice. After a long time thinking and a good deal from nick whales i decided on the 111r Gun metal silver Red leather Sport tourer pack A/C Sports exhaust Tracker With plate transfers and the extras to be fitted, Its gonna be a long two weeks... Let me know what you think of the above and should I add anything else?
Tango190 Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 Thank you for all your advice. After a long time thinking and a good deal from nick whales i decided on the 111r Gun metal silver Red leather Sport tourer pack A/C Sports exhaust Tracker With plate transfers and the extras to be fitted, Its gonna be a long two weeks... Let me know what you think of the above and should I add anything else? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Good call Mark, no question.
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