Exige Spec - Poss Trim upgrade?

[Guido]

I’ve been to see a S2 Exige today. Cosmetically, I can’t fault it. It’s a 08MY so has the twin airbag dash and a few nice upgrades (carbon bits/upgraded intercooler etc…). The major downside is it isn’t a TOURING spec car. No carpet, no driving lights, no aircon and no leather!!!  IMHO the seats look awful (charcoal fabric). The centre console (gear-lever/handbrake) are not lined with leather either so internally, it all looks and feels a bit low budget. Should I move on and keep looking or try and get the price reduced to a level where I can go and get everything retrimmed properly in leather (e.g Allon White Sportscars). 
 

All thoughts welcomed. 

Edited April 5 by Guido

[DeanB]

You might be able to pimp the interior but realistically you ain't retrofitting aircon. I think you are probably better waiting for the right spec car to turn up.

[duncx]

You can make and fit your own carpets cheaply and easily, driving lights are wobbly things that just make dipped beam seem even more dangerous, the Aircon would break anyway and you would be hauling round 15kg for nothing, there are standard prices on the Allon White website for various retrim options - about £1500 for the seats + doorcards IIRC?

IMHO it's far more important that the mechanicals and body are good

[winthattt]

Aircon always worked in my s2 and I appreciated it on hot days. Must have for me though the aircon in my s1 has never worked, but it does get very hot.

[DSTOR]

Hi Guy,   It’s a very limited, niche market and to a degree of course you can only consider buying what is actually for sale.   

I was looking for ages to find the right car so that probably tells you the logic I was working to.  That is I would want to be buying something I’m really happy with , and that took me a lot of time.  

Unless you are exceedingly lucky, I’d suggest you’ll never find true utopia spec, colour, condition etc. looking for a used Lotus, I guess that’s part of the ‘fun’!

Personally I would hang around for the ‘right’ car, whatever that is……. I think you will know when you see it.   My ten penneth says, if you have to ask the question, it’s not the one for you. 

Either way, good luck buddy.  👍🏻
 

 

[Guido]

16 minutes ago, DSTOR said:

Personally I would hang around for the ‘right’ car, whatever that is……. I think you will know when you see it.   My ten penneth says, if you have to ask the question, it’s not the one for you. 
 

 

I suspect you are right. Probably not helped today by taking my son to the Silverstone museum. Was rude not to pop into Silverstone Lotus whilst we were there!!  I think you can all guess the rest! 🤣

[Dave-hp]

2 hours ago, Guido said:

I’ve been to see a S2 Exige today. Cosmetically, I can’t fault it. It’s a 08MY so has the twin airbag dash and a few nice upgrades (carbon bits/upgraded intercooler etc…). The major downside is it isn’t a TOURING spec car. No carpet, no driving lights, no aircon and no leather!!!  IMHO the seats look awful (charcoal fabric). The centre console (gear-lever/handbrake) are not lined with leather either so internally, it all looks and feels a bit low budget. Should I move on and keep looking or try and get the price reduced to a level where I can go and get everything retrimmed properly in leather (e.g Allon White Sportscars). 
 

All thoughts welcomed. 

Lol, although mine is a 111R, I've charcoal fabric, no driving lights, no air con and no leather! And my centre console is unsheathed plastic! But....I have got carpets! 😉 

[DSTOR]

20 minutes ago, Guido said:

 

I suspect you are right. Probably not helped today by taking my son to the Silverstone museum. Was rude not to pop into Silverstone Lotus whilst we were there!!  I think you can all guess the rest! 🤣

Could you be tempted to a nice Red Cup260? 🤔

[Guido]

9 hours ago, DSTOR said:

Could you be tempted to a nice Red Cup260? 🤔

Yes. Lotus Silverstone had one but it sold two days ago. £46k was a little over my budget though!!!

[Guido]

Sometimes it pays to stay close to home!!  There’s a White Exige for sale on MLOC classifieds!!!   Not too far away from either. Might drop him a message 😀

[collieek]

I would wait until you can find the right spec you want, I found I could never settle and end up selling and buying the one I want which usually costs more. 

I never thought I would bother with air con but an exige can get really toasty. We did a trip to Le Mans classic in the S1 and that was enough. The other half refused to go in that again so the S2 had to have air con which was a lot better.

Edited April 6 by collieek

[Nick S1]

On 06/04/2024 at 07:53, Guido said:

Sometimes it pays to stay close to home!!  There’s a White Exige for sale on MLOC classifieds!!!   Not too far away from either. Might drop him a message 😀

I’ve been tentatively looking at S2 Exige’s myself, not much for sale at the moment.

Looks like the car from MLOC classified is now for sale with Jon Seal. Same price with the added security of buying from a dealer, assume Jon’s cars come with a 3 month warranty as standard.

[duncx]

20 hours ago, Nick S1 said:

.........assume Jon’s cars come with a 3 month warranty as standard.

Doesn't matter all that much whether he offers a warranty or not, he's a trader so you have very powerful protection through the Consumer Rights Act 2015, particularly for the first 6 months of your ownership.

Having said that (and more importantly), he has a hard earned reputation to protect. 

[Guido]

I am going to take a couple of days off next week to try some cars.

I'm still undecided to be honest.  Can't really decide between Exige S2, Exige S3 or an Elise (220bhp - in some variant or another).  All have their +/- points.  I'm leaning towards a V6 Exige but running costs (tax) are making me think really hard about it.

Price wise there is no out-and-out winner which is making it even harder.

A good blast out on Sunday in the Peaks, with all of the above cars present, will hopefully help me!

[CDM2018]

Don’t discount an Evora as a poss left field option? You get the V6 but with a little more practicality ?